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 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
Mr. Morrison was born at Sanbornton Bridge, now Tilton, N. II., near Lake Winnepesaukee, about 1820, and was reared on a farm. lle learned the mason's trade in Boston, Mass., and at that voca- tion, labored for several years. From the latter city he removed to St. Charles, Ill., about 1850, and from the latter came here as detailed above. He was married, while in Boston, to Miss Mary N. Page, a native of Bristol, Me., who was born in 1818, who became the mother of two children: Herbert E., of whom a sketch may be found in these pages; and Mollie E., now the wife of George E. Warner, whose life narrative is also included in this ALBUM.
ULIT'S T. CUTTER. Among the young men who are engaged in business in the ris- ing little village of Castana, and who are helping to build up that place, is the subject of this epitome. Mr. Cutter is a native of Kenne- bec Township, Monona County. Iowa, and was born July 2, 1869. He is the son of Benjamin F. and
Lizzie (Day) Cutter, natives of Maine, who settled in this county in 1856. He received his education in the district schools of his native township and was early initiated into the hard work attendant upon life on a farm. Hle assisted in carrying on his father's place until he was some seventeen years of age. at which time he started out in life for himself and at first carried on agricultural pursuits for about a year. In December, 1886, in company with John R. Oldis, he erected and stocked a livery barn in the village of Castana, which they operated together for a short time. Soon Mr. Cutter retired, his partner purchasing his interest, but in September, 1887, our subject repurchased the business and is at present engaged in carrying it on. He is a young man full of life and energy, and of good business habits and prom- ises to make a mark in this world.
G RASON VANDOVER, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 15, St. Clair Township, is " one of the fading line of blue" that stood in the "red front of battle" in defense of their flag and country. He is a native of Perry County, Ind., and first opened his eyes beneath the roof of his parents, John and Lucinda Vandover, October 20, 1843. When about sixteen years of age, in company with his widowed mother, he came to lowa, and in June, 1852 located in Wapello County. The same fall they removed to Appanoose County, where he was living at the time of the outbreak of the rebellion. August 21, 1862. feeling called upon to aid in the suppression of the Confederacy, he enlisted in Company C, Thirty- sixth lowa Infantry and was mustered into the service at Keokuk, October 4, following. With his gallant comrades he was engaged at Mark's Mills, El- kin's Ford. Camden, Helena, Jenkin's Ferry, and other places during the Little Rock expedition. Many of the men yielded to the malarial influences of that baleful climate and died, and April 25, 1864, to add to their misfortunes, the regiment, with the exception of some sixty men, were captured by the rebels. Mr. Vandover being on detached duty,
3.87
MONONA COUNTY.
escaped this calamity. Returning to Duvall's Bluff, he was there mustered out, August 20, 1865. receiving his discharge August 24, 1865, and re- turned to Appanoose County. There he remained until the spring of 1868, when he moved to Monroe County, from which, in the spring of 1872, in company with O. B. and A. J. Reynolds, he drove through to Monona County, spending some thirteen days on the road, and settled on the farm where he now lives. Ile put up a small frame house, and commenced the cultivation of the soil and has prospered in most of his undertakings. In 1875 he erected the dwelling in which he now lives, a neat, comfortable and commodious one.
While a resident of Appanoose County and before shouldering his musket, June 12, 1862, Mr. Vandover was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Reynolds, a native of Wayne County, Ind., and daughter of Gordon and Rachel Reynolds, and by this union is the parent of eleven children : John E., born April 2, 1863; Sarah E., June 6, 1866; Mary E., January 14, 1868; Marshal O., July 26. 1870; James A., August 27, 1872; William A .. January 4, 1874; Hiram E .: Adolphus R, Sep- tember 28, 1879; Clarence A. E .. August 27, 1882; Isaac E. and Adda P., August 28. 1884. These are all living except John E., who died July 5, 1863, James A .. December 22, 1874. Adolphus R., October 18, 1879, and Clarence A. E., Feb- rnary 4, 1883.
W ILLIAM H. DAVIDSON, a respected mem- ber of the farming community of Lincoln Township, having his residence and real estate upon section 15, came to Monona County in the spring of 1882, and the first year raised a crop on a rented piece of land. The following fall he purchased the home where he now lives.
Mr. Davidson, a native of Ashland County, Ohio, was born September 11, 1849, and is the son of Richard H. and Sophia Davidson. In his childhood he was taken by his parents to Charlotte, Eaton County, Mich., where he received his education, and grew to manhood's years. When about twenty
years old, he started out in life for himself. loca- ting in Gentry County, Mo .. but three years later. came to lowa, and in Fremont and Mills Counties spent about six years of his life, coming from the latter to Monona County. The most of his life having been passed upon a farm, he has acquired a thorough knowledge of agricultural methods, and, being of an energetic disposition, has achieved a considerable snecess in that line.
Ilaving a natural desire to establish a home of his own, and surround himself with the influences of domestic life, he wooed and won Miss Fannie Napier, to whom he was united in marriage in Cass County, Neb., December 27, 1872. Life's labors have been lightened, and their homes made more pleasant by the advent of three children, whose birthis are recorded as follows: Minnie A., Decem- ber 6, 1873; Charles V., September 19, 1877; and Woodie E .. December 6, 1888. all of whom are still living with their parents.
OIIN T. LOYD. The farm of this gentle- man, which is two hundred acres in extent, is situated on sections 15 and 16, St. Clair Township, his residence being on the latter, where he settled in the year 1882. He was born in Sullivan County, Tenn .. September 16, 1848, and is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Loyd, natives of Virginia. In 1850 he was brought by his par- ents to the State of Iowa, and settled with the fam- ily in Davis County, and from there, three years later, they removed to Appanoose County, where he received his education in the common schools. and grew to manhood on his father's farm. Ile re- mained beneath the parental roof until attaining his twentieth year, and then commenced the battie of life on his own account, working ont by the month and farming on rented land for some five years. Removing to Schuyler County, Mo., he was there engaged in farming until 1873, when he moved to Nebraska, where he farmed until 1875. Removing from there to Sullivan County, Mo., he was engaged in farming there until 1877. Remov- ing to Sehuyler County again, he there carried on
MONONA COUNTY.
a farm. but in August, 1878, removed back to Sulli- van County, where he worked at a sawmill until June 30. 1879, and July 1. started for Monona County, Iowa. Ile rented some land in Crawford County, and farmed there until the spring of 1882. when he removed to Monona County, and settled on the place where he now lives, which he had pur- chased in 1882. It was then a raw prairie, barren of all improvements, except a "dug-out," in which he took up his residence. On coming here he im- mediately broke up about forty aeres of land, and put in a cropand from these beginnings has brought his place to a high state of culture, and has it well- improved in all respects.
Mr. Loyd was married January 28, 1869, in Davis County, lowa. to Miss Esther Holcomb, a native of that county, and a daughter of Randolph and Phoebe Holcomb. By this union there has been born ten children which bear the following names: Lettie A. Emmarettie (., Elias H., Catha- rine, Joseph M., Ephraim W., Brison Burr, Zeola .I .. Effie Maud, and William Fayette.
Mr. Loyd has met with considerable success since coming to this county, which is well-merited by his industrious habits. judicious economy, and with his family enjoys the regard and esteem of all who know them.
OIIN K. MOCASKEY. Among the promi- nent people of the county still residing in Onawa, is the gentleman whose name graces the head of this sketch. He was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in April, 1831. In 1855 he removed to Indiana, where, in September, 1861, he enlisted in Company C. Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry and served until June, 1864 when he was discharged on account of wounds. lo 1866 he came to Onawa and engaged in mereantile pursuits. In 1869 he was elected an officer of the court, and served in that otlice and that of Auditor some fourteen years. lle has also served on the County Board. Ilis connection with the Monona County
Gazette is shown in the history of that journal in this volume. Mr. McCaskey was married Febru- ary 14, 1870 to Miss Lizzie A. Sheer, who is the mother of three children.
OSEPH W. GRIFFIN, who is engaged in carrying on the livery stable business at the village of Whiting. eame to Monona County in October. 1873. and settled on a farm on seetion 17, Lincoln Township Engaged in im- proving it and tilling its soil, he there made his home until the fall of 1878, when, with a desire for change, he removed to West Point, Burt County, Neb. But one year had elapsed when he removed back to his farm in this county but six months later went to Sloan, Woodbury County, selling his place. The next year he rented a farm in Lake Township upon which he raised a crop and then settling in Whiting, engaged in his present business and has met with a fair success.
Mr. Gritlin was born in Roane County, Tenn .. October 9, 1843. He remained at home with his parents on a farm until attaining his eighteenth year when, commencing life for himself, he was conscripted into the Confederate army, in the spring of 1863, and remained in the service for over a year. He came North and was engaged in traveling around and in a desultory life, sometimes at one thing and sometimes at another, until 1868, at one time being with a survey party on the line of the Union Pacific Railroad. Finally, March 18, 1868, he was united in marriage at Newman Sta- tion, Jefferson County, Kan., with Mrs. Phube L. Koon, and remained in that vicinity, on a farm, for some two years. In 1871 he removed to Cass County, Neb., and between that place and Mills County. Iowa, spent the time until coming to Monona County.
Mr. and Mrs. Griffin are the parents of four children of which the following is a record: Ade- Ila L., born November 11, 1869, married Frank Reed, November 23, 1887, and is now living on a farm in Ashton Township. Effie C., was born January 3. 1872. The birth of Frederick W. took
389
MONONA COUNTY.
place August 19, 1874. Lula E. was born Novem- ber 13, 1876, and died September 1, 1883. Mrs. Griffin, a daughter of Freeman and Martha Bun- neli, was born in Crawford County, Pa., in 1835.
W ILLIAM BURTON, one of Monona County's earliest settlers, now a resident of Onawa, came here October 5, 1855. Ile was born at Great Barrington, Mass .. September 22, 1826, and is the son of David and Mary ( Wil- mot) Burton. llis parents dying inghis infancy he passed through a precarious condition and eonld get but little schooling. In the spring of 1851 he went to California but the next year he returned to New England where he engaged in farming until he came to Monona County. He has held the po- sition of Postmaster at Ashton, Justice of the Peace, and was County Treasurer for two terms. He moved to Onawa in 1858, on the change of the county seat. Mr. Burton was married January 1, 1857, to Miss Sarah M. VanDorn, and they are the parents of eight children, two of whom are dead.
G EORGE R. NORTON, a citizen of the city of Onawa, who is engaged in farming in Franklin Township, was born in Windsor, Kennebee County, Me., and is a son of Simon D. and Nancy (Lord) Norton. Both parents were natives of Maine, in which State they were married and where the mother is still residing. The father died in September, 1872. The latter was formerly engaged in farming, but for six years previous to his death was engaged in the mercantile trade.
Our subject, the youngest in a family of seven children, remained at home, receiving a common- school education, and assisted in carrying on the farm until sixteen years of age, at which time he went to work for the Boston Machine Company's Locomotive Works, and remained some two and a half years. In August, 1870, he came to Monona county and engaged at farm labor for a time. In
1879 he purchased a farm, and has carried on agri- cultural pursuits from that date until the present.
Ile was married at Onawa. March 8. 1877, to Miss Jennie F. Elliott, who was born at St. Charles. Kane County, HI., August 20, 1856, and is a daugh- ter of Timothy Elliott, one of the pioneers ofgMo- nona County. They are the parents of six children: Webb, born December 1. 1877; Jessie V., February 14, 1878; Ward, September 20, 1881 : Vera, July 3. 1886; Lois, June 20, 1888, and George R., Jr .. September 13. 1889.
Mr. Norton is a member of Monona Lodge,' No. 380, 1. O. O. F., at Onawa.
AMES W. ENGLISH, of Lincoln Township, is engaged in the tillage of the soil upon his farm on section 28, upon which he settled on coming to Monona County in 1885. The place was improved and under cultivation at the time of his purchase.
James W. English, the fifth son of William and Martha English, was born in Kent County. Ontario. in the Dominion of Canada, August 28, 1842, there being a family of eight children, seven boys and one girl, all who grew to maturity but one. In childhood he received a fair education in the com- mon schools and at the age of eighteen commenced learning the shoemakers' trade at which, after he had fully mastered it. he worked for about fifteen years. Early in 1885 he determined to come to the United States and crossing the border came westward in search of a home which he found in Monona County, as above noted.
Believing in the Divine suggestion that "it is not well for man to live alone," on the 18th of March, 1873 he was united in marriage with Miss Maria E. Hamil, a native, also, of the county of Kent. Canada. and daughter of Joseph and Eliza- beth Hamil, she being third in a family of fifteen children, nine girls and six boys born to her pa- rents. Around the hearth of Mr. and Mrs. English are gathered a family of eight children, the register of whose birth is as follows: Parthenia A .. Feb- ruary 1, 1874: Margaretta E .. June 18, 1876; Will-
390
MONONA COUNTY.
iam A., January 21, 1878; James A., March 12, 1880; Sarah E., November 21, 188]; John H., October 30, 1883; Andrew W., December 12, 1885; and Alvingston, October 30, 1889. The first six were born in Kent County, Canada, and the last two in Lincoln Township, Monona County, lowa.
Mr. English is engaged in general farming and pays some attention to stock-raising in which lat- ter he has met with considerable success, the rich lands of the Missouri bottom affording fine forage and with but slight cultivation, raising large crops of corn. In his youth having learned the princi- ples of agriculture, he is now profiting by the les- sons so early instilled into his mind.
C LIVER DAVIS, a respected and esteemed farmer of the town of Lake, having his home on section 6, came to this county in June, 1865. At that time he settled in Kennebec Town- ship, on a small farm which he purchased, and there made his home until 1880. In the latter year he sold the place and purchased the farm of two. hundred and forty acres where he now lives. This was at the time without any improvements.
Mr. Davis was born in Lee, Strafford County, N. H., February 21, 1821. When he was about nine years of age his parents, Mr. S. and Mrs. L. Davis, removed to Somerset County, Me., where he grew to manhood. In the district schools of the time and place he imbibed the elements of a good common-school education, and assisted his father in carrying on the farm nntil the fall of 1850, when the excitement over the discovery of gold in the rich placers and gulehes of California lured him to that far off land. He was engaged in searching for the golden dust with some success until June, 1853, when he returned to Maine. During his absence his mother had died, and for the first year after his return he carried on the old homestead farm, but growing dissatisfied he sold out and moved to Dane County, Wis .. where he engaged in farming for about ten years. Having heard of the fertile region lying in the great Missouri bottom, in 1865 he left his home in the " Badger State " and drove across
the country with an ox-team, and after an extended trip located in Kennebec Township, this county.
In Palmyra, Me., November 10, 1850, Mr. Davis and Miss Rebecca P. Lowell were united in mar- riage. They have a family of four children, born as follows: Lydia J., November 2t, 1851; Fran- zisker E., June 10, 1855; Alderado S., January I, 1857; and Lois A., April 22. 1859. Mrs. Davis is a daughter of Thomas and Eliza Lowell, and was born in Stafford County, N. U.
IMOTIIY ELLIOTT, an old pioneer of the county, was born in Norfolk County, Mass., October 12, 1819, and after attaining man- hood engaged for eight years in school-teaching. He then entered the ministry of the Universalist Church, where he remained eight years more. Ile came to Monona County in 1855, and removed here the following year, and settled at Onawa in 1857. In 1861 he embarked in the mercantile bus- iness, which he still carries on.
RS. CATHERINE FOLCK nee HOOK, set- tled on the site of what is now the city of Onawa, November 1, 1854. She owned a tract of forty acres of land which was pur- chased by the Monona Land Company, and is part of the ground platted.
Mrs. Folck was born in Berne, Switzerland, De- cember 15, 1805. She was married in her native land-but her husband dying, she came to the I'mited States in 1826, in company with her father, John Martin Hook, and settled in Pennsylvania. While residing there she married John Shoates, and was the mother of three children. Her husband came West in search of land and died. The widow removed to Greene County, Ohio, and in due time was united in marriage with Abraham Folck, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. They removed to Clinton County, Iowa. while this was
391
MONONA COUNTY.
yet a territory, about 1835, and there Mr. Folck engaged in farming and millwrighting. He built a mill in that section of the country which he ran for a number of years. During the excitement at- tendant upon the discovery of gold in California, in March 1849, he crossed the plains to the new Eldorado, where he engaged in mining. He was the part owner in one of the first quartz mills set up in that region. He died there about 1852. Mrs. Folck remained in Clinton County, until she came Monona County, as above stated, and put up the first building in Onawa. This was a small log shanty, about 14x18 feet in size, covered in with a sod roof, and during the winter of the big snow, in 1856-7, this building was entirely covered. It was situated near where N. B. Whiting's hardware store now stands. In making the sale of the land, she reserved three lots upon which she afterwards built a new house, in which she lived for many years. Her last days were spent with her daughter. Mrs. Rockwell Jewell, her death occurring July 23, 1884. She was the mother of seven children, four of whom are now living. She was a member of the Lutheran Church and a conscientious Chris- tian woman.
HARLES F. EGGLESTON, the junior mem- ber of the firm of Joslin, Eggleston & Son, general merchants at Maple Landing, is the son of John S. and Mary (Jividen) Eggleston, and was born in Douglas County, III., February 1. 1861. He came to Monona County when about five years of age, with his parents, as related in the biography of his father in this volume. He was reared to manhood in this county, obtaining bis education in its excellent common schools. July 1, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Etta M. Dennis, daughter of Erastus and Minerva Dennis, and for a year carried on farming on rented land in Lincoln Township. In January, 1885, he purchased a farm on seetion 10, 83, 46, in the same township, but in the spring of 1888 moved to the farm upon which he now resides on
section 17, and in August, 1888, entered into a partnership with his father and brother-in-law in the store. Ile is the parent of two children-Selina E. and Bessie L.
NDREW J. PATRICK, one of the pio- neers of St. Clair Township, and one of its prominent and leading citizens, is en- gaged in the insurance and collection busi- ness at the village of L'te. besides being its present Postmaster. Ile came to Monona County in the fall of 1865, a single man, with the family of his father and brothers, and with the former settled on section 22. Ile remained with his parents until 1870, when he moved to his own place on section 26, and, as a commencement to the improvements. built a log house of the usual size and broke some forty aeres of sod. Five years later he sold this place to his brother, George, and moved back to his father's homestead, where he has resided ever since.
Mr. Patrick was born in Decatur County, Ind., April 30, 1843, and is the son of Robert and Nancy (Black ) Patrick, a sketch of whom is given else- where. He received his education in the district schools of that region, and made his home with his parents until August 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, Sixty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and was forwarded to Nashville, Tenn., where the regiment passed the winter. On the bloody field of Chicka- mauga, "the River of Death," with his gallant regiment, he withstood the brunt of many a fiery charge and participated fully in the glories of that bloody day. In the siege of Chattanooga and the storming of Mission Ridge, at Charleston and in other confliets, he heroically bore a part. In April, 1864, he was detailed to take charge of the provision train to the front, and while in the per- formance of this duty, June 3, had his leg broken, which laid him up for some three months. On provost duty, in the city of Chattanooga, he passed the time until Gen. Hood advaneed on Nashville, when, rejoining his regiment, he followed its colors into the thickest of the awful earnage that marked
314
MONONA COUNTY.
the fearful battle before that place. On the utter rout of the Confederate forces, Mr. Patrick took part in following their retreat, and was present and in action at the battle of Decatur, a place where he had fought once before that year. He re- turned to Chattanooga, and there remained until June 23, 1865, when he received his discharge and returned to his home. In the fall of the same year he started by team, with his family, for Monona County, reaching their place, in what is now St. Clair Township, November 1, 1865.
April 30, 1871, in Maple Township, Monona County, Mr. Patrick was united in marriage with Miss Fannie E. Adams, who died October 31, 1876, after having been the mother of three chil- dren, born upon the following dates: Joan O., April 15, 1872; Angeline M., March 27, 1874; and Cora A., March 1, 1876. September 26, 1882, in Washington County, Neb., Mr. Patrick again essayed matrimony, wedding Miss Rosa Geary, a native of England, and the daughter of George and Eliza Geary, and by this union is the parent of four children, as follows: Robert G., born July 5, 1884, died August 16. 1885; John A., born July 4, 1885; Arthur W .. April 25. 1887; and Al- fred E., April 28, 1889.
Mr. Patrick received the the appointment of Postmaster at U'te, August 8, 1889, and is the pres- ent incumbent of that office.
JOMAS J. PERRIN. The farm belonging to this well-known gentleman located on sections 29 and 32, Spring Valley Town- ship, is noticeable on account of the thoroughness with which it has been cultivated, its handsome and comfortable building, of which a view is given in this work, and the general air of thrift and indus- try which pervades the whole place, and shows con- clusively that the proprietor is a thorough master of agriculture.
1
Mr. Perrin was born in Walworth County, Wis .. September 5, 1811, and is the son of Charles C. |
and Hannah ( Williams) Perrin. His parents were natives of Troy, Rensselaer County, N. Y., and af- ter their marriage removed to Walworth County, where they settled in an early day. Having united with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Charles C. Perrin came to Council Bluffs in 1845, and while a resident there, enlisted in the United States army during the Mexican War, and served some two years. Returning to Council Bluffs by way of Salt Lake, he came to Preparation in 1853, being among the first to locate at that vil- lage. lle was engaged in farming, and made his home at that point until his death, which took place March 25, 1889, when he had reached the age of seventy-seven years. ITis wife died in the same township, May 14, 1871.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.