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 42
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July 30, 1865, in Green County. Wis., Mr. Brooks and Miss Mary L. Clemmer were united in marriage. The lady is a daughter of Joseph N. and Elizabeth A. Clemmer. By their union Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have been the happy and indul- gent parents of seven children, of whom the fol- lowing is a record: William Jasper, born Septem ber 20. 1868; George W., March 26. 1871; Perey Neal, March 4, 1880; Lloyd, November 20. 1881; George Roy, May 21, 1883, and two that died in infancy. George R. died August 27. 1872. and Percy Neal, August 17, 1880.
Beicon OHN W. KONKLE,a veteran of the late war, came to Monona County in February, 1882. and settled on the farm on seetion 22, Lake Township, where he now lives.
Mr. Konkle was born in Hardin County, Ohio, May 19, 1844, and is a son of John and Sarab Kon kle. lle received his education in the district schools of the Buckeye State, and lived at home with his parents upon the farm until he was eighteen years old. But the surge of rebellion had swept over the land and the Government was calling for men to defend the I'nion. Our subject, though but lit- tle more than a boy, felt the fires of patriotism burning strongly in his breast,and in August, 1862, enlisted in Company D, Forty fifth Ohio Infanty. and set out for the seat of war. In the forefront of many a stricken field the flag of his gallant regi- ment was found, and young Konkle was always present when duty called. During the terrible seige at Knoxville, Tenn., when Burnside's com- mand was entirely surrounded for twenty days by
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Sweetwater, Tenn., at Franklin and in the sauguin- ary engagement at Nashville, our subject bore him- self gallantly. He also participated in the race through Kentucky and Ohio in the summer of 1863, after Gen. John Morgan, who was then mak- ing his famous raid. At the elose of hostilities, Mr. Konkle was mustered out and discharged at Columbus, Ohio. in June, 1865, and shortly after- ward joined his parents who had removed to Edgar County, Il1. Four months later he returned to Ohio, where he made his home for about two years. One year he spent in Michigan, returning to Illinois where he resided until 1869. In the fall of that year he removed to Fremont County, Iowa, where he had made his home until coming to Monona County. There were no improvements upon his place where he settled in Lake Township, except that about sixty aeres had been broken. With the vim characteristic of the man he went to work and has brought it all to a high state of cul- ture, and has a neat and handsome place, well-im- proved.
The marriage ceremony which united the destin- ies of John W. Konkle and Miss Louisa J. Koons. took place in Edgar County, Ill., November 2, 1869. They have been the parents of seven chil. dren, all of whom are living: Alvin A., born Aug- ust 18, 1870; Lula P., October 9, 1872; Lora M. and Cora S., twins, born February 27, 1877; Bertie L., born March 27. 1881; Verda E., March 1, 1884 ; Alma J., July 31, 1887. Mrs. Konkle is a native of Dearborn County, Ind., and daughter of Samuel and Margaret Koons.
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R OBERT PATRICK, deceased, one of the pioneers of the eastern part of the county, and one of the first to settle in what is now St. Clair Township, was a native of Shelby County, Ky .. and was born in 1812. When about twenty-two years of age, on account of lis aboli- tion sentiments, he removed to Indiana, and settled in Decatur County. There he resided twenty-nine . years on a farm which he had entered, but in 1865
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removed to Monona County with his family, and located upon section 22, 84, 42, in what is now St. Clair Township. Here he died January 28, 1883.
In 1831 he married Miss Nancy Black, who hore him eight children, and is still living, hale and hearty, at the advanced age of seventy-six years.
- HI. WONDER. Some men are born to be the leaders of the opinions of other men. and some to follow the bent of ideas not their own. Of the former class we have an excel- lent representative in the late able and energetic editor and proprietor of the Whiting Herald.
Mr. Wonder is of German descent and a native of Ohio, was born in Reedsburgh, Wayne County, Ohio, November 9, 1849, and is the son of Enos and Jane (Miller) Wonder, both of whom are natives of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the former born in 1826, and the latter in 1827. Early in the "50's," the family removed to Greene County, Ind., from which, in 1870, the father and mother came to Iowa and for some years made their home in Taylor County. From there they moved on to a farm in Franklin County, and, a few years later, to Harrison County, where they now live in their declining years.
W. II. Wonder was reared in Indiana. and ac- quired in the country schools of that locality, by hard labor, the rudiments of a fair education which he has largely supplemented by an extensive course of reading and continual study. When about eighteen years of age he began the study of music in a country singing-school, and, having a great aptitude for it, learned rapidly and soon ac- quired a good musical education. For four years he taught vocal music, thus accumulating enough money to pay his tuition for a year in the musical conservatory at Terre Haute, Ind. After leaving this institution, for abont a year he acted as leader of the choir in the Central Christian Church, in the same city, and during the same time held several musical conventions. Ile made vocalism and its teaching his business until 1881, when he established a paper at Mondamin, Harrison County, Iowa, to
which he gave the name of the Mondamin Indepen- dent. Ile filled the editorial chair of this journal for about eighteen months, when he sold it to D. W. Butts, its present proprietor, who two years later removed it to Little Sioux. In February, 1885, Mr. Wonder came to Monona County, land- ing in Whiting on the 6th of February, and estab- lished the Herald, the first number of which was issued February 21, 1885. Hle made this one of the best local papers in the county, and carried it on until October, 1889, when he sold it to its present proprietors. It was the only Democratic newspaper in Monona County, and a history of it is given in detail in another portion of this work. Mr. Won- der having been appointed to the office of Post- master in the latter part of December. 1885, entered upon the discharge of his duties in February, 1886, and continued until November 15, 1889, when he was succeeded by Charles Thomas.
Mr. Wonder was united in marriage Sunday, January 23, 1870, with Miss Sarah E. Beaman, a native of Indiana and a daughter of John and Mary (Lucas) Beaman. Their home has been brightened by the advent of five children: Etlie, Enos Elmer, deceased ; Etta, Stella and Fred W.
ACOB R. FOLWELL. Among those who have helped develop West Fork Township. and have made a record there of being ex- cellent practical farmers, there is perhaps none that lills a more important niche than the gentleman of whom this personal narrative is written and who is living upon section 31, West Fork Township. He is a native of Ilolmes County, Ohio, born January 31, 1844, and is the son of James A. and Cyrilla Folwell. In his childhood he removed to Madison County, Iowa, with his parents, where he received his education, and remained for about eight years. At the age of thirteen years he started out to win life's battle for himself and made his home with W. Il. Easton, in Adair County, this State. In 1862 he started for the great West, and was employed in various capacities at a number of places on the Plains, making no particular place
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his home. for six years. In June, 1868, he came to Monona County and went to work on the grade. on the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, then in course of construction. He continued at this work, and in keeping boarders, the hands working on the road, until the spring of the following year when he broke up about twenty acres of land on a farm on section 24, 85, 46, West Fork Township, belonging to him and his brother. The remainder of the season he was employed in railroad work, after which he was engaged in hauling logs and lumber to the sawmill near Onawa. Early in 1870 he settled on the farm in section 25, from which he removed to his present residenec on section 31, 85, 15. in March 1873.
Mr. Folwell was united in marriage June 30, 1870, in Ashton Township, with Miss Isabel MeCain, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of S, W. and 11. McCain, natives of the Keystone State, and by this union is the parent of three chiklren: Ella M., James A., and Evalyn, all of whom are living at home with their parents.
S OCRATES SMITH, one of the well-known residents of this county. has his home on section 13, Kennebec Township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock- raising. He was born in Lyons, Monroe County, N. Y., May 28, 1813. His father, Ebenezer Smith, a native of Massachusetts, served well and gallantly in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, entering the service with his father, Abner Smith, and seven brothers, and served his country for four years, the others remaining about a year longer. lle was a farmer, miller, and a distiller at the town of Arcadia, in Wayne County, which had formerly been a part of Phelps Town, and died in that locality in 1844. Ilis wife, formerly Miss Sarah Appleton, died in 1865. Abner Smith, the grandfather of our subject, after a long life of use- fulness, died in Chester, Mass., reaching the ad- vanced age of one hundred and four years.
When Socrates Smith first left home, on attaining his majority, for about three years he was engaged
in horse trading, and then entered into speculating in wheat, and having made a large amount of money easily lost it without much effort. During the years 1847-48, he was engaged in the raising and distilling of peppermint in Wayne County, N. Y., and had one of the finest plants for that purpose in the world. He was the first to use steam tubs, in- stead of the old fashioned way of boiling by the direct application of heat, thus making the oil quite as clear as water, and raised its price five cents above the market in the English trade. Selling ont this factory in the latter part of 1818, in 1849 he went to Carlton, Ky., with Gen. Butler, and bought horses and took them to Montgomery, Columbus and other places, and disposed of them. This business he continued until 1853, when he went onto the plantation of the Widow Chambers, near Montgomery, Ala .. and took charge of about one hundred and ten slaves, cotton pickers, and some ninety common field hands. Ile acted as overseer on this place until 1861, in the meantime running a small plantation of his own which he had purchased with some sixteen blacks. This latter, with the chattels, he sold at the breaking out of the war and started for the North. He had about $2,500 worth of goat and sheepskins and Spanish moss which he shipped to New York, but which, on ac- count of the bloekade, never got any further than Savannah, Ga. After selling his horse, saddle and bridle to Alexander IJ. Stephens for $250, he went to New Orleans and on the steamer "Empress" eame to St. Louis. On the way up some parties on the shore ordered them to land, thinking to rob them, but through the persuasions and influence of Mr. Smith and another party, and their being given a hogshead of sugar and two sacks of coffee, the boat was allowed to proceed without molestation. Under the act of 1843, the father of our subject was en- titled to one hundred and sixty acres of land and $500 for his service during the Revolution, and after bis death his children drew this, assigning the money to their mother and the land to Socrates.
On reaching the North at Keokuk, Mr. Smith walked to Sioux City, where he found employment and after a short time spent at that point and at Yankton, came to Monona County and made a set- tlement and has here remained ever sinee.
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May 12, 1867, Socrates Smith was united in mar- riage with Miss Ellen Smith, the daughter of Seth and Sophia ( Leach) Smith, the former of whom was the pioneer settler of Grant Township, and of whose life work a sketch appears in the pages of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of four children : Euretta, Charles F., Lycurgus D .. and Inez.
HARLES T. NORRIS, an enterprising and thorough going agriculturist of St. Clair Township, residing on section 14, made a settlement upon that spot on coming to the county in February, 1882. He had purchased the land in 1879, and the two following years had broken up about sixty acres of the sod and had erected a frame house and barn, previous to his removal here, Business tact, properly directed energy and judic- ious economy have increased his store until he now owns a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, one hundred and sixty of which are under tilth and are well improved.
Mr. Norris was born in Delaware County, Ohio. May 22, 1841, and is the son of William G. and Phobe M. (Roth) Norris. He remained with his parents until he was some eighteen years of age, and then removed to Holly Springs, Tex., to take charge of a large cattle ranche belonging to his father. Two years later he returned to Delaware County, where, in the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry. Being forwarded, after receiving instructions in the manual and movements, to the Army of the Shen- andoah, he participated with his gallant regiment in the hard fought and sanguinary battle at Win- chester, and took a part in the famous charge of the Federal troops over the stonewall defense that afternoon. On down through the valley, our troops, under command of General Shields, swept victori- ously until Port Republic was reached, when the fortunes of the conflict turned the other way. Dur- ing the latter engagement, Mr. Norris received a flesh wound, which, however, did not lay him up. Hle took part, also, with his brave and gallant com- rades in the second battle of Bull Run and in the
battle of Cedar Mountain, in which he received two wounds and was sent to Carver Hospital at Wash- ington. From the latter he was sent to Portsmouth Grove, R. I., and there discharged, in December, 1863, and returned to his home in Ohio.
Three years later he removed to Tama County, lowa, but only remained there about two years, re- turning to the home of his father and renting the old homestead. There he remained four years longer, after which, in Bowling Green, he ran a livery stable for two years. After living five years more on the old home farm, he came to Decatur County, Iowa, and in that and Harrison County, made his home until coming to St. Clair Township, Monona County, Iowa.
Mr. Norris was married October 27, 1864, in Delaware County, Ohio, to Miss Aminda C. McMaster. a native of that county, and they are the parents of eight living children: William G., Clara A., James W., Arthur E., Olulu B., Aminda B., Rebecca M. and Margaret F., and are now the happy grandparents of two noble boys, the sons of William G., Jr., and Dolly (Loyd) Norris, the daughter of G. E. Loyd of St. Clair Township.
Mr. Norris has been a resident of this town ever since first coming here, with the exception of three years spent in Morton County, Kan., whither he went in 1885, in search of health, and there engaged in the improvement of one hundred and sixty acres of land. This, in 1888, he disposed of and returned home.
E LIJAH W. COPELAND, deceased, came to Monona County some time during the year 1873, from Marshall County, Ill., and pur- chased about one hundred acres of land on section 26, Kennebec Township, upon which his widow now resides. To this original investment, land has been added from time to time, until the farm now contains some two hundred and ninety-five acres.
Mr. Copeland was born in Brewer, Penobscot County, Me., January 18, 1844, and was a son of Benjamin 17. and Susan ( Waters) Copeland. When our subject was about nine years of age. he was
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brought to Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, by his parents, who settled in that locality. During the late Civil War, Benjamin F. Copeland entered the service, and being captured by the rebels, was sent to Libby Prison, where he most likely died, as he was never heard of afterward. His widow lived with her daughter in Wisconsin until the latter died, but in June 1876, came to this county and made her home with her son, and died here July 18, 1886, at the age of sixty-seven years. Elijah Copeland was reared in the eastern part of this State, where he made his home until coming to Monona County, and for several years was exten- sively engaged in dealing in cattle. Ilis health failing him, he went into the agricultural imple- ment business at Castana, with W. H. Waple as a partner, and continued in that line until October 3, 1887, when he sold out to Mr. Waple. He died December 26, 1888.
April 8, 1871, Mr. Copeland was united in mar- riage with Miss Nancy Ilall, a native of New York. and a daughter of John R. and Mary (Stewart) llall. ller father died in the winter of 1887, the mother having preceded him in death in 1848.
Mrs. Naney (Hall) Copeland was born Septem- ber 1, 1846, and received an excellent education in the district schools, finishing at the academy at Ar- gyle, Washington County, N. Y., her native town. After teaching at home several terms, she was in- duced by an unele living in Illinois, to come to that part of the Union, and was engaged in school teaching, when she made the acquaintance of her future husband, and came with him to Monona County. She has been the parent of the following named six children : Kate II., John F., Helen F., Mary E., Susy M., and Laura. John F. died An- gust 11, 1879, at the age of two years.
U'GHI LYTLE, deceased, one of the earliest settlers of Monona County who took a prominent part in the organization of the same in the spring of 1854. came here and settled at the village of Preparation, in 1853. He wa- a native of Ohio. born May 29, 1810, and
when about thirty-eight years of age removed to Illinois and settled in llaneock County. Thence. in 1848, he went to St. Louis, Mo., and in the fol- lowing year to St. Joseph, the same State, where he made his home for several years. ITe had spent about six months in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in the summer of 1848, where he engaged in farm- ing, and in 1853, came to Monona County, and settled. He was elected the first Treasurer and Re- eorder of the county, and re-elected his own suc- cessor in August, 1855. Before the expiration of his term of service, however, he resigned the posi- tion and in April 1858, was chosen to fill the office of County Superintendent of common sehools. le died September 30, 1881. after a life of usefulness and activity.
ENRY W. CUNNINGIIAM, the present City Marshal of Onawa, came to this county January 1, 1866, and during the first summer worked out on a farm. lle then took up the mason's trade which he followed during the summer months, teaching in the winter, which he followed until the spring of 1868, when be removed to the farm which he had purchased on section 14, Franklin Township. There he re- mained engaged in the tilling of the soil, until the spring of 1882, when, renting his place, he re- moved to Onawa, where he has since made his home. working at his trade during the summer and teaching sehool in the winter months. He was elected Marshal in March, 1888, and re-elected in the spring of 1889. As Assessor of the village of Onawa he is also serving his second term.
Mr. Cunningham was born in Franklin County, Me., April 26, 1844, and is a son of Jeremiah E. and Mary A. (Hitchcock) Cunningham, both of whom were natives of the same locality. In the fall of 1876 his parents came to Monona County, and made their home with their son until their death. Both of them died in 1869, the mother February 22, and the father April 16.
Our subject, the eldest of four children, grew to manhood on a farm in his native State and received
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a high school education. At the age of eighteen he commenced teaching school which he has fol- lowed mostly every winter since. Ile was married in Ashton Township, Monona County, December 24, 1873, to Miss Ada M. Norwood, a native of Warren County, Pa., and daughter of F. M. Norwood, who came to Monona County in 1867, and settled in West Fork Township. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are the parents of four children: Gifford Il., who was born May 15. 1876; Leonard E .. August 27, 1877; Claude B. F., Jannary 24, 1879, who died November 18, 1879, and George 11., born November 6, 1886, who died December 28, 1886. In politics Mr. Cunningham is a Demo- crat.
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OIIN W. REED, an extensive and promi- nent farmer and stock-raiser of St. Clair Township, came to Monona County in August, 1859, with C. F. Buss and settled in the southeast part on the Boyer River in that section of the county, that was afterwards annexed to Crawford County, one of the earliest settlers of that locality. There he made his home until August 18, 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Twenty- ninth fowa Infantry, and was mustered into the service at Council Bluffs, December 1, 1862. On the 4th of July 1863, he participated in the battle at Helena, Ark., and with his gallant com- rades took part in the expedition that resulted in the capture of Little Rock. The most important campaign in which he had a part, was that from Little Rock to Camden. He left the former city March 23, 1864, and reached the latter about April 17, having four engagements with the rebels in that time at Terre Noir Bayou. Elkin's Ford. Prairie d'Ann, and Liberty. On their road back they had a hot and bloody conflict at Jenkin's Ferry, in which they met with some loss. In February 1865, he, with the regiment. was ordered to Navy Cove, Ala., and in March and April of that year was in the entrenchments during the siege of Spanish Fort and continually under fire. June Ist they sailed across the Gulf for Brazos Santiago, Tex., where they remained until the latter part of July.
Returning to New Orleans, he was musfered ont August 10, 1865, and returned home, and again took up his home with Mr. Buss on the Boyer. In 1870, he settled on a farm on section 33, St. Clair Township, he having purchased eighty acres of land that spring. Ile put up a small house and commenced the cultivation of the soil and having prospered in his undertakings owing to intelligent and well directed efforts, has added to his farm, piece by piece, until he is now the owner of some five hundred and sixty acres of highly productive and fertile land. When he located here there were but few settlers. and those that were here were all living in sod houses or "dug-outs," and the house which he erected that spring, and in which he still resides, was the first frame building put up in St. Clair Township.
John W. Reed, the son of Joseph and Margaret .J. (Jaques) Reed, was born in Pickaway County. Ohio, May 7, 1837. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania.
On the 12th of June, 1870, in Soldier Township, Monona County, Mr. Reed was united in marriage with Miss Hettie E. Agens, a daughter of IIenry and Mary A. Agens. To them have been born five children upon the following dates: Jesse M , May II, 1871; Nellie, July 17, 1873; Gertie L., March 15, 1875; Harry C., July 10, 1882, and Effie M., November 26, 1888. Nellie was transported to her heavenly home, September 2, 1874.
ONATIIAN E. MORRISON. Among the old settlers of Monona County, there are per- haps but few who are more widely known than this the pioneer hotel keeper of the vil- lage of Onawa, Monona County. He came to this sec- tion of the State in August, 1855, in company with Timothy Elliott, and Joe B. P. Day, with a view of looking up a location for a town site on the line of the proposed Iowa C'entral Air Line Rail- road, and being entirely satisfied with the result of his observation here, returned to St. Charles, Kane County, Ill. In June, 1856, Mr. Morrison came
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back to Monona County with his family and others, and located on the Sioux River, near where Cas- tana now stands, in the town of Kennebec. In a short time, however, Mr. Morrison removed to the village of Ashton, then the county seat and engaged in hotel keeping. Being one of the Monona Land Company, he was interested in the new village of Onawa, then just laid out, and in July. 1857, com- menced the erection of a hotel at the latter point, the old Onawa House, which he carried on until August, 1864.
Selling the hotel and the business Mr. Morrison removed to his farm on section 16, Franklin Town- ship, where he was extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising for ten years. In the fall of 1874. having erected a fine brick residence, he removed to Onawa. In 1882 he again purchased the old hotel and continued its landlord until 1887, and in Nov- ember, of that year, owing to failing health, he re- linquished the business, and removed to Arroya Grande, San Luis Obispo County, Cal. In the fall 1889 he returned to this his old home.
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