USA > Iowa > Monona County > History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 39
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1886 .- J. D. Rice, W. M .; S. Ary, S. W .; J. G. Martin, J. W .; F. Griffin, S .; C. I. Whiting. T .; J. D. Giddings. S. D .; P. C. Dorothy, J. D .; J. W. Curtis. S. S .; E. L. Crow. J. S .; J. G. Englehorn, Tyler.
1887 .- The officers were the same, except: J. E. Scott. S. D .; J. G. Englehorn, S. S. : W. D. Crow, J. S., and J. D. Giddings, Tyler.
1888 .- J. E. Scott, W. M .; C. E. Cooper, S. W .; G. If. Hollandsworth. J. W .; F. Griffin, S .; W. W. Hamilton. T .; J. D. Riee, S. D .; J. E. Duschl, J. D .; W. J. Harris, S. S .; E. L. Crow, J. S .; L. L. Scott, Tyler.
The present officers, (1889) are: J. D. Giddings, W. M .; S. Ary. S. W .; G. U. Hollandsworth. JJ. W .; F. Gritlin. S .; W. H. Leathers, T .; J. D. Rice, S. D .; J. E. Dusehl, J. D .; J. E. Scott, S. S. ; C. E. Cooper, J. S. ; L. L. Scott, Tyler.
The lodge is in a flourishing condition, and has a membership of between forty and fifty. November 28, 1887, they removed into their new hall, having been organized and held their meetings in what was known as Rice's Hall np to that time. Their present quarters are handsomely fitted up and fur- nished, and the members take great interest in the work of the order.
Maple Valley Lodge, No. 399, I. O. O. F., was organized September 15, 1879, by F. J. Kincaid, D. D. G. M., of Sioux City, with the following named charter members: James A. Hutton, Loren Barney, L. S. Chandler, A. R. Wight and C. A. Robertson. The first officers were: J. A. Hutton, N. G .; Loren Barney. V. G .; C. A. Robertson, S., and L. S. Chandler, T. The following named have ocenpied the office of Noble Grand for the years mentioned: L. Barney, 1880; C. A. Robertson, 1880; D. Harris, 1881; C. A. Robertson, 1881; William Bruns. 1882; L. Barney, 1883; Charles I. Whiting and E. A. Hemphill, 1883; E. A. Hemp- hill and Edward Quick, 1884; JJ. G. Iddings and G. W. Johns, 1885; C. J. Whiting and G. W. Car- hart, 1886; G. W. Carhart and T. E. S. Lapham, 1887; L. Barney and Edward Quick, 1888; G. W.
Carhart, the first half of 1889; and the following is a list of the officers of the lodge for the present term, the last half of 1889: JJ. A. Berry , N.G. ; II. W. Groves, V. G .; Edward Quick, S .; J. G. Iddings. T.
Monto Cristo Lodge. No. 205, Knights of Pyth- ias, was organized July 20, 1888. several prelimi- nary meetings having been held. The charter members were the following named: William Davis, B. F. Roe, John Blough, L. E. Bruner. W. D. Val- entine, F. W. Brooks. W. W. Jones. J. C. Ham- mond, Alf. Wooster, J. W. Cox, G. W. Carhart. L. Wilhelm, 1. 1). Welton. S. H. Carhart, T. W. John, W. D. Crow, Thomas Martin, E. II. Rapier. L. D. Pierson, E. L. Crow, N. T. Wood.
The first officers were the following named: William Davis, C. C .; W. D. Valentine. P. C. C .; G. W. Carhart, V. C .; John Blough, P .; L. K. Bru- ner, M. of F .; W. D. Crow, M. of E .; B. F. Roe, K. of R. and S .; Alf. Wooster, M. of A .; A. E. Roach, I. G .; W. W. Jones, O. G .; A. D. Welton. L. Wilhelm and Thomas Martin, Trustees.
This lodge has a handsomely fitted up Castle Hall, and is highly prosperous, both financially and otherwise. The present officers are: G. W. Car- hart, C. C .; W. Davis, P. C. C .; John Blough, V. C .; J. W. Cox, P .; J. C. Hammond. K. of R. and S .: L. E. Bruner, M. of F .; W. 1. Crow. M. of E .; W. W. Hamilton, M. at A .; L. Barney, I. G .; W. W. Jones, O. G .; W. D. Valentine, D. D. G. C. The present membership is about sixty-five.
Mapleton Division, No. 33, U. R. K. of P., was instituted January 21, 1889, with the following charter members: J. C. Carritt, B. D. Butler, W. C. Roe, W. W. Hamilton, A. J. Lynch, J. W. Cox, G. E. Spotswood, E. L. Crow, W. D. Crow, W. W. Jones, A. D. Welton, N. T. Wood, G. W. Johns, J. C. Hammond, L. Barney, C. II. Beam, G. W. Carhart, C. W. Gould, C. R. Nixon, W. W. Maple, E. E. Richards, Alf. Wooster. J. P. Wells, Thomas Martin, N. A. Wilsey, M. L. Dudley, E. H. Rapier, I. A. Maines.
The following officers were installed as the first to fill those places, and still hold the same positions: W. W. Hamilton, Sir Kt. Com .; J. W. Cox. Sir Kt. Lieut. Com .; E. L. Crow, Sir Kt. Herald; W. W. Jones, Sir Kt. Guard; G. W. Johus, Sir Kt. Senti-
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nel; L. Barney, Sir Kt. Recorder; and B. D. But- ler, Sir Kt. Treas.
Iloskins Post, No. 87, G. A. R. was organize 1 June 22, 1882, and the following officers chosen: C. A. Robertson, C .; William Keaggy, S. V. C .; M. Morgan, J. V. C .; J. Q. Adams, Q. M .; II. W. Scribner, A .; George Dedriek, Chap. ; II. T. Jonas, O. D .; Ilarvey Huffman, O. G. Since then B. F. O'ntter, W. H. Budd and J. Q. Adams have filled the position of Commander. The following is a complete roster of the officers and members as at present constituted, with company and regiment of each taken from the books of the adjutant:
Com .- John Q. Adams, Company L, Fourth lowa Cavalry.
S. V. C .- William Smith, Company A, Thirty- fifth lowa Infantry.
J. V. C .- Henry Ash, Company E, Eighth Wis- consin Infantry.
Adj't .- Theodore F. Wooster, Company D. Thir- teenth New Hampshire Infantry.
Q. M .- Dexter A. Hall, Company A, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry.
Surgeon-II. D. Nourse, Company L, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Chap .- J. B. Kelley. Company M, Eighth lowa ('avalry.
O. D .- W. S. Pershing, Company G, Second Kansas Cavalry.
O. G .- Hugh Nealey, Company C, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry.
Q. M. S .- Jesse Kesling, Company D, Eleventh Ohio Cavalry.
S. M .- George Dedrick, Company A. Fourth Iowa Cavalry.
W. L. Keaggy, Company I, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry.
Harvey Hoffman, Company F, Twelfth and Thir- teenth Illinois Cavalry.
E. I. Nourse, Company F, Eighty-third Penn- sylvania Infantry.
B. F. Cutter, Company L, Fourth Iowa Cavalry.
Alfred Robins, Company E, Thirty-second Iowa Infantry.
Elias Holliday, Company 1, Thirty-ninth lowa Infantry.
M. J. P. Jenness. Company D, Third Vermont Infantry.
Joseph Ernst. Company E, Sixteenth Iowa In- fantry.
John A. Carroll. Company F, Eleventh Indiana Infantry.
Robert Carroll. Company K, Forty-seventh In- diana Infantry.
Park G. Ordway, Company L, Fourth Iowa Cav- alry.
Samuel Heisler, Company E, Sixth Iowa Cavalry.
Abram Ledam, Company H, Forty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
Peter Hawley, Company A, Twenty-ninth Indi- ana Infantry.
A. J. Powell, Company A, Ninty-eighth Ilinois Volunteers.
C. A. Miller, Company G, Seventh Iowa Cav- alry.
James T. Grass, Company G, Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteers.
James D. Giddings, Company E, Eleventh Penn- sylvania Infantry.
Miles W. Richmond, Company K, Ninth Iowa Infantry.
J. W. MePherson, Company ti, Thirty-ninth In- liana.
E. E. Scott. Thirty-third Illinois.
Myron Booth, Company I, Second Iowa Cavalry.
Gem City Assembly. No. 10,029, Knights of La- bor, was organized at Mapleton, April 19, 1887, by M. L. Wheat, S. M. A, and is to-day in fair work- ing order, with a good membership of earnest workers. J. A. Wilcox was delegate to the State assembly in 1887. and Alf. Wooster in 1888.
The Mapleton Business Men's Association was organized June 28, 1889, with the following officers : J. W. Cox, President; H. A. Hayungs, First Viee- President; J. B. Comly, Second Viec-President; G. H. Hollandsworth, Treasurer; Alf. Wooster, Secretary ; and J. W. Cox, Alf. Wooster, William Leathers, William Davis and II. A. Hayungs, Ex- ecutive Committee. Meetings are held monthly, on the second Wednesday of each month.
The Maple Valley Driving Park was laid out by a joint stock company in the summer of 1886. The association, which was formed about that time.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
ISAAC ASHTON.
ABIOGRAPHICAL.
SAAC ASIITON. This honored pioneer, the third settler within the limits of what is now Monona County, and who for many years was a resident of the township that rightly bears his name, will long be held in remembrance by the people of this section of the State. From the time that he came here, when the county contained the families of Aaron W. Cook and Josiah Sumner, he has seen it grow, develop and fill up with an in- dustrious, thriving people, until it is what it is to-day.
Mr. Ashton was born in Hampshire County, Va., July 4, 1811, and is the son of Joseph and Mary Ashton, both of whom were, also, natives of the Old Dominion. When Isaac was yet a child the family removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, then in the wilderness. where, sometime thereafter, the father died. Four years after the latter event the widow and her family removed to Lieking County, in the same State, where she, eventually, died. In the fall of 1832, Isaac Ashton was united in mar- riage, in Licking County, Ohio, with Miss Ruth Driggs and made his home in that locality until the fall of 1842, when he removed to Hancock County, III. In the spring of 1846 he came to lowa and located in Farmington, and went to work in a sawmill. Soon sending for his family, he there made his home about a year, after which he removed to Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, where he took up his resi-
dence with his family. In the spring of 1848 Mr. Ashton entered into the service of the general Government, assisting in the removal of Ft. Kear- ney to Grand Island, in the Platte River, and was thus engaged for five months. Returning to his home, he was engaged in farming in Pottawattamie County the following year, but in the fall of 1850, reports of the country north of that point pleasing him, he eame to what is now Harrison County, and located at what is now Little Sioux, with the in- tention of making it his home.
In December, 1851, a Frenchman, by the name of Charles Rulo, drove by his cabin with a load of provisions, bound for Sergeant's Bluffs, and hired Mr. Ashton to assist him with an extra team. The trail led them through this county, and when they arrived at the beantiful grove on what is now section 32, Ashton Township, which has since been known as Ashton's Grove, he was struck with it although it was dreary winter and thought it the loveliest spot that he had seen, notwithstanding the ground was covered with snow. He said to him- self, " Here I shall make my claim." Leaving the Frenchman to proceed alone, from this point, the next day, January 1, 1852, Mr. Ashton cut four logs and laid the foundation of a cabin. Here he removed his family in February following, as shown by the history of Ashton Township in this work. Here Mr. Ashton made his home for many years, and as settlers located around him became one of
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the prominent nien of the county. In 1856 he erected, at the once promising village of Ashton, an hotel. which he carried on for some years. Having disposed of all his landed interests in Monona County, Mr. Ashton is now passing his latter days in Little Sioux, Harrison County.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashton are the parents of eight children, as follows: Caroline, who was born in Illinois, July 2, 1843; Henry, who was born in the same State, in 1845; Mary, deceased, who was born in Kanesville in 1817; Steplien, who was born in l'ottawattamie County in the fall of 1849; Mo- linda. who was the first white child born in Monona County, born .June 11, 1852; Ella, who was born in Monona County in 1854; Isaac, deceased. who was born in 1856; and Bion. deceased, born in 1858. A portrait of this old pioneer adorns one of the pages of this ALBUM.
ILLIAM I. MAUGHLIN, the present Clerk of the District Court of Monona County, was born in Page County, Iowa, September 12, 1858, and is the son of Joseph S. . and Mary (McCaskey ) Maughlin, who are men- tioned at length elsewhere. He was brought to Monona County by his parents and here grew to manhood and received his education. Entering the lowa State University, at lowa City, he was graduated therefrom in 1885, and entered into the real-estate business at Onawa. In the fall of 1886 he was elected to his present position. April 25, 1888, Mr. Maughlin was united in marriage with Gertrude C. Chapman, and is the parent of one child, Edward K.
OIIN F. JONES, who is engaged in carrrying on the livery and sale stable in the village of Ute, was born in Mills County, Iowa. March 27, 1853, and is the son of Robert and Olive (Dodge) Jones. Ile remained at home with his parents until he had attained his twentieth
year, when striking out in life for himself, he went to Fremont County. where in company with his brother, Stephen, for two years he was engaged in farming. Removing to Jewell County, Kan., about that time, he purchased some land which he made and improved into a good farm. Two years later he returned to Mills County. where he remained until the spring of 1882, at which date he came to Monona County. On section 26, in Center Town- ship, he bought a farm upon which he resided, cul- tivating its soil, until August, 1887, when on the laying out of the village he removed to Ute, and in partnership with his brother Stephen, he erected one of the best livery barns in the county and em- barked in his present business. Early in 1888 he purchased the interest of his partner and now man- ages the business alone. Of an accommodating disposition and having ample facilities for the transaction of his business and good and new stoek, he is building up for himself a large and increasing trade.
Mr. Jones, in March, 1880, in Jewell County, Kan., was united in marriage with Miss Lennie Maganety, and they are the parents of two children, to whom they have given the names of Cleota and Polly.
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ARON W. COOK, deceased, the first settler in Monona County. was born in Otsego County, N. Y., September 25, 1807. His father was a farmer and ran a sugar bush at the foot of the Allegany mountains in that por- tion of the "Empire State." In his youth Aaron received a good education, and early in life learned the trade of a miller and millwright. At the age of twenty-one years he removed to Delaware, Dela- ware County, Ohio, where he found employment at his trade, and eight years later was engaged in running the engine in a paper mill at that place. While there thus employed. he married Miss Mar- tha Harsher, in about the year 1832, and she be- came the mother of four children: Barbara Ann, James, Joseph and Jacob. When the last named was about two or three months old, about the year 1842, Mrs. Cook died, and some two years subse-
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363
quent, Aaron Cook was again married, the lady on this occasion being Mrs. Louisa Leggett, the wed- ding taking place near Delaware. By this union were born two children : Sarah Jane and Mary El- len. In the fall of 1847 Mrs. Cook was also called away by death. The same season Mr. Cook came to lowa, stopping for a time at Council Bluffs, but spent the following winter at what is now Florence, Neb., then "Winter Quarters." In the fall of 1848, he located at Council Bluffs, where the following fall he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Moore, who became the mother of three children : Elmira, David, Elizabeth. She is still living, mak- ing her residence with her son-in-law, John Jones in Colorado.
In September, 185t, in company with his son James, and Josiah Sumner, Mr. Cook made a trip to this county in search of bee trees, and seeing the advantages of the country, they returned here the last of October of the same year with their families, and made a permanent settlement as already detailed in these pages. He made his home in this county from that time until January 1, 1856, when he sue- eumbed to an attack of liver complaint-and passed to his rest beyond the grave. His sons, James and David, are still residents of the county.
R ERDINAND KESSLER. One of the best situated and most productive farms in St. Clair Township is that of Mr. Kessler, who, in 1882, entered on section 22 the land which now forms his farm, and which was then some one lun- dred and twenty acres in extent. Since then, when it was in nowise different from the prairies around it, he has, by diligent, persevering and intelligent effort, transformed it from a grassy wilderness into a model of productiveness, utilizing every part and making it of use. He has now a farm of some two hundred aeres, a neat, handsome and commodi- ous residence and good barn, and ranks with the well-to-do farmers of the community.
On the soil of the German Empire, at Reggen- beuren, in the Kingdom of Baden, Mr. Kessler was born, January 28, 1849, and was reared in the
home of his parents, Mattaus and Theresa I. Kess- ler. As is customary in that land, he received an excellent education in his native tongue, and there made his home until April 26, 1871, learning early in life the blacksmith's trade. On the date above given he sought in a freer land, and among more liberal institutions, the chance for wealth and social position denied him in the land of his birth, and crossed the ocean to America, settling at Kingston, N. Y. He followed the blacksmith's trade there for a few months, and thence removed to St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich., where he spent some two years. After another year passed in Muskegon, the same State, he went to the Black Hills, Dak., but being run out by the Indians, went to Chey- enne, Wyo., and from there to Denver, Colo. After a short time spent in the latter city, being entirely out of money, he was compelled to cross the plains on foot, walking from the mountains to Shelby County, lowa, and in the latter village was employed for a short time as a journeyman black- smith. Entering into partnership with his em- ployer, he carried on the business, and finally bought out the latter and remained there until 1882, when, selling the business, he came to Mo- nona County, where he has since resided.
Mr. Kessler, January 22. 1876, at Muskegon, Mich., was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. Fundinger, a native of Penkingen, Baden, Germany. Unto them has been born a family of nine chil- dren, as follows: Louisie Amalie, born October 1, 1876; Franz Joseph, September 12, 1878; Fri- derik Wilhelm, who was born February 10, 1880, and died August 17, 1880; Mary Theresia, bom February 25, 1881 ; Ferdinand Leo, August 1, 1882 ; Henry Wilhelm, September 6, 1881; Anna Katha- rina, March 18, 1886; Sovia Karlina, October 15, 1887; and John Anthon, July 11, 1889.
ILLIAM G. DOROTHY, one of the most prominent citizens in St. Clair Township and one of its earliest settlers, came to Monona County June 6, 1873, from Wapello County, by team, in company with B. F. Booher,
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Wesley Jones, Christopher Wilson and John Q. Dorothy. After remaining a few days with his brother, J. R., and with E. Vandover, who had both been here about two years, he purchased the tract of land on section 10, where he now resides, then totally unimproved and the same summer commenced its cultivation, breaking about thirty acres and put up a small one-story house 14x16 feet in size. When he settled here people were "few and far between," there being but about twenty-eight voters in St. Clair Township. Here he lias resided ever since and having built him a new house in the summer of 1881, is enjoying life as he should.
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Mr. Dorothy was born in Haneock County, Ill., May 22, 1843, and is the son of Archibald and .Jemima (Bullington) Dorothy. His father was born in Washington County, Ky., October 23, 1821, and with his parents removed to Edwards County, Ill., when still a small boy. There Archibald was reared and received his education and attained to man's estate, after which he removed to Hancock County. and to Wapello County, Iowa, in 1844, where he is still living. lle has in his possession land in that locality for which he received the pa- tent from the Government about 1847 or 1848, which has never been transferred. The mother of our subject, Mrs. Jemima (Bullington) Dorothy, a native of Orange County, Ind., was born June 22. 1823. Early in life she was left an orphan, and was reared to womanhood by an elder sister. She married Archibald Dorothy in Henry County, lowa, where she was living, in July, 1842, and in the spring of 1844 removed to Wapello County, Iowa. She was the mother of eleven children.
When our subject was about eleven months old he was taken by his parents to Monroe County, Iowa, where he grew to manhood and received his education. He remained beneath the parental roof until March 8, 1864, when, having married, he re- moved to a farm of his own near his father's homestead, and with his young wife set up house- keeping. There he remained until May 22, 1873, when having sold his property in that loeality be came to Monona County and has made this his home ever since.
Mr. Dorothy was married December 24, 1863, to
Miss Mary A. Booher, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Peter and Ilannah (Danforth) Booher. They have had a family of eight children: Archi- bald F., Emma A., Cora F., Edward H., Marion W .. Milton R., Nellie J., and Howard. They have also taken to rear one of Mr. Dorothy's sister's ehil- dren, Gertie E. Vandover, both of whose parents are deceased.
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G EORGE ROSS, who is engaged in farming on seetion 20, in the town of Spring Val- ley, was born in Jackson Township, llar- rison County, Iowa, March 13, 1856, and is the son of William and Salina (Johnson) Ross. Both of his parents were natives of England. his father born in Yorkshire, September 6. 1834, and his mother in Chieshire, April 4, 1836. Jonathan Ross, the paternal grandfather of our subject, came to the United States from England, and settled in New Jersey, when his son, William, was about eleven years of age. From that State, in 1851, he removed to Council Bluffs, and a short time after to Crescent City, Pottawattamie County, where he is still living, having reached the age of seventy-eight years.
William Ross, the father of our subject, is a resi- dent of Jackson Township, Harrison County, where he is engaged in earrying on a large farm. Ile is the parent of nine children, of whom our subjeet is the second. George was reared upon his father's farm, and received the elements of a good educa- eation in the common schools of his native eounty. but on his marriage left the parental roof and es- tablished a home of his own on a farm in Harrison County. There he remained until March 8, 1886, when he came to Monona County and settled on the place where he now lives. In his political views Mr. Ross is a Demoerat, but sometimes votes the Union Labor ticket. Having the inter- est of the agricultural elasses at lieart, he was for some time connected with the Farmers' Alliance.
Mr. Ross was united in marriage in Harrison County, Mareh 13, 1878, with Miss Sarah Ballan- tyne, a native of Monona County, Iowa, and the
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daughter of Andrew Ballantyne, who is mentioned at length elsewhere in the pages of this ALBUM. Into them has been born a family of five chil- dren, as follows: Leslie, born March 2, 1879, who died September 7, 1884; Floyd, born February 20, 1881; Robert, born May 7, 1883, and died Sep- tember 8, 1884; Fred, born October 2, 1885; and Ruby, January 28, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are consistent members of the re-organized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter- Day Saints.
AMES COOK, now a prominent and in- fluential citizen of Sherman Township, re- siding on section 7, was one of the earliest pioneers of this county, as already shown in the history of the settlement of the same and the details given below. lle is the oldest living res- ident representative of that old pioneer family whose name is so interwoven with the annals of Monona County.
Mr. Cook was the son of Aaron W. and Martha (Hursher) Cook, and was born in the town of Del- aware, Delaware County, Ohio, September 25, 1837. Ilis mother dying when he was quite a small child he was brought up without the influence of a moth- er's love, although his father was married twice af- ter this. He came with his father's family in 1847 to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and after spending a few month's at " Winter Quarters," now Florence, Neb., took up his residence in Pottawattamie County. In the fall of 1851 James came with his father and Mr. Sumner up the Missouri Bottom, in search of the honey made by the wild bees, and discover- ing the large amount of rush beds in the county upon which cattle could be fed all winter, and the proximity of the timber to the river bank, the elders decided to return here and make a settle- ment, bringing what cattle they could get of their neighbors to keep through the winter at twenty-five cents a month per head. Returning here the same fall they drove a herd of about one hundred and fifty head, which James herded in the above mentioned beds, and assisted the family in settling themselves in one of the three de-
serted shanties which they found on seetion 30. For several years he herded cattle in this man- ner, and took a large share of the hard work off of his father's shoulders, although he was but a hoy at the time. After the decease of his father, which took place January 1. 1856, James took charge of the family, and kept them together for about two years. On the breaking out of the Pike's Peak excitement our subject, in company with others, started for the newly discovered mines, but on their road thither changed their minds and went on to California. He remained in the latter State, engaged in mining, some eight years, but in May, 1867, returned to Monona County. Finding that the rest of the family had deserted the old homestead, he took charge of it, and having pur- chased the rights of the other heirs in it, has brought it to a high state of cultivation. This is situated en sections 7 and 8, Sherman Township, his resi- dence being on the former. Here he has remained ever since.
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