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 47
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
While a resident of Cole County, July 11, 1863, Mr. Skidmore entered into a matrimonial alliance. wedding Miss Elizabeth Skidmore. the daughter of Benjamin and Hanna Skidmore, and by this union they have been the parents of two children-Esther and Shirley.
ORATIO SKIDMORE, the brother of Ter- tius B., came to Monona County with the latter and made his home in Lincoln Town- ship for about eight years. He then mar- ried Mrs. Barbara (Thorall) Johnson, of Lake Township, and remained in the latter section until his death, which occurred May 15, 1882. He was born in England in 1840, and came to the United States with his parents and settled in Wiseonsin. At the age of fourteen years he went to Australia to visit his brother. Four years later he returned home, and in 1861 enlisted in Company K, Second Wisconsin Infantry, with whom he served three years. After his discharge he remained in Wis- consin for a time and then went to Missouri and with his brother came to this county.
S ETH SMITH, SR., deceased, the first set- tler of Grant Township, and at one time a very important member of the farming community of that and other portions of the county, was a native of New Hampshire, boin
in 1803. When he was but a child he was taken by his parents to the Genesee Valley, in New York, where he grew to manhood. He was twice married, the first time in New York State, when he wedded Miss Sophia Leach, a native of Vermont, with whom he removed to Olno abont 1833. There was born to them a family of eight children : Levi, Lois. Andrew, Francis, Emily, Ellen, now Mrs. Socrates Smith, Seth, JJr., and Chloe.
Mr. Smith and his family came to Council Bluffs in 1852, and in December of that year located some land on section 3, Grant Township, to which he removed in 1853. His wife died July 24, 1856. on section 13, Kennebec Township, where he had removed in 1856, and a few years after he espoused Mrs. Hannah Bayliss, who became the mother of five children : Frederick, Fanny, Emma, May and Jesse. Mr. Smith died on his farm on section 7. Kennebec Township, in November, 1876.
Mr. Smith was a natural mechanic. and could do almost anything with blacksmiths' or gunsmiths' tools, but preferred to follow the latter trade. as there was the most money in it. In an early day he did considerable work for the Sioux Indians, they paying him well for repairing their fire arms. Fle was also appointed Government blacksmith on the Omaha Reservation, upon which he spent con- siderable of his time from 1858 until 1862. He built the first cabin in what is now Grant Town- ship in 1853, and the frame house on section 13. Kennebec Township, now forming a part of the residence of Socrates Smith, in 1856.
marele
W B. BAILEY, an industrious and energetic farmer of Franklin Township, living on section 11, is a native of Penobscot County, Me., and was born in 1844. lle is the son of Da vid and Mary Bailey, natives of Maine, of English ancestry. Ilis father, who was a descendant of the famous Dudley family, followed farming and lum- bering in Maine, and died there in the winter of 1849; the mother died in 1846.
W. B. Bailey came to Monona County in Febru- ary, 1866, from Lewiston, Me., and at once went
116
MONONA COUNTY.
to work; for Watts &JVan Dorn, in their sawmill southwest of [Onawa. "The following spring and summer he was engaged logging for the same firm, and continued in their employ until April, 1868, when he rented a farm and commenced agricultural pursuits. In 1872 he bought forty acres of land. on section 26, Franklin Township, upon which he moved the following spring. Two years later he sold this tract and, after farming on a rented piece of land, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, most of which he brought under cultivation. In 1875 he removed to the city of Onawa, and on- gaged in the butchering business. in which he remained until the summer of 1879. Having pur- chased eighty acres of land in Ashton Township. he removed there in the latter year, and made his home in that locality until 1885, when he removed to the place where he now resides on section 11. township 83, range 46. in which he had purchased a two-thirds interest,
Mr. Bailey was brought up in his native State, and acquired the education so prized by the youth of New England. and made his home in that section until coming to this locality. He was married. July 26, 1867, to Miss Augusta Haynes, by whom he had five children -- Nellie; Albert, who died in infaney; Walter, Alice and Albert, who also died in infancy. On the 20th of February, 1876, Mrs. Bailey "passed to the pale realms of the shades of death," and is buried in the Onawa Cemetery, May 12, 1880. Mr. Bailey again entered into mat- rimony, wedding Miss Nellie Gray, a native of Canada and the daughter of John Gray, of whom a sketch appears in this volume, and by this mar- riage is the parent of five children-Mary. Frank. John, Josie and Halford.
691169
OIIN W. BROOKS, who is the proud and happy owner of a handsome and fertile farm on section 9, Lincoln Township, is one of the early settlers of this portion of the county, Ile came here with his parents in the fall of 1866, and settled with them on a farm which they took up on section 20. Three years later he
removed to his present place of residence, a pieee of land which his father had purchased for him in the spring of 1866. When he first came to this locality the township was in its original wild state. the grass growing from eight to ten feet high. Twice, in early days, he was caught away from home by prairie fires, which then swept with pro- digious rapidity through the long grass. and, although mounted on horseback both times. had a narrow escape from a horrible death.
Mr. Brooks was born in Erie County, N. Y., September 2, 1815, and is the son of E. W. and Eliza Brooks. When he was abont ten years of age the family removed to Green County, Wis .. where he grew to manhood and received the rudi- ments of his education, and from there came to Monona County, as above stated. On their arrival here the entire wealth of the family was but $20, from which humble beginning he and his father have wrought out their present well-to-do circum- stances, a record of which any man might well feel prond.
The most important event in Mr. Brooks' life occurred November 9, 1867, in Onawa, when he led to the marriage altar Miss Mollie C. Kramer, the daughter of Jones and Margaret Kramer, and a native of Center County, Pa. Four children have come to bless their home, three of whom are living- Margaret A., the eldest, being taken from them by death November 9, 1879. The others are: Louise, Sylvia and Clayton.
OHN KELSEY, a highly respected resident, and one of the most thrifty and successful farmers of Franklin Township, bas his home on the northeast quarter of section 35. He came to Monona County in the spring of 1869 and at once located upon the farm which he had pur- chased while in Ohio, the year previous. It was then in a totally wild condition, but by business tact. energy and ability, he has brought it to a high state of cultivation and improved it in a superior manner. Ilere he has made his residence ever since. Mr. Kelsey is a native of Ireland, having been
417
MONONA COUNTY.
born in the city of Limerick, in 1843. At the age of fourteen he left the Emerakl Isle and came to the United States, landing at New Orleans, La. From there he proceeded at once to Clermont County, Ohio, and began life on his own account at farming, and from that point came to Monona County as stated above. In 1870, he returned to Ohio, and was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Murphy, a native of Ireland. and brought his bride to the new home he had founded in this county.
Although a Democrat formerly, Mr. Kelsey now affiliates with the Republican party. and during the late Civil War was a stanch upholder of the rights of the Union, and was in the employ of the Govern- ment in the bridge and road construction depart- ment for some time. He has won for himself since coming here an enviable reputation as a high- spirited and high-principled man, and has the re- spect and esteem of the whole community. Al- though starting in life a poor boy. he has, by hard work and able management, acquired a position among the well-to-do farmers of the country. Both he and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and are zealous Christian people.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey are five in number, and bear the names of Rose E., Charles B., Lawrence E., James T. and John J., all at present still residing at home with their parents. They have all received ample facilities for availing them- selves of the educational advantages offered in the county, and are an interesting family of young people.
ARON MCCLEEREY, who is engaged in farming on section 34, Maple Township, is a son of William McCleerey, mentioned elsewhere in the pages of this book, and who was one of the pioneers of this county. Aaron came to Monona County with his parents in the fall of 1855 and remained at home, assisting his fa- ther in farm work until twenty-six years of age, when he commenced life by working out by the month, and in this manner saved money enough to purchase some cattle with which he engaged in breaking. He purchased land on section 26, and 1
lived on it and other pieces until March, 1884, when he removed to his present residence, where he owns some three hundred and twenty acres. Ile was born in Madison County, Ind., September 14, 1839, and came to Iowa in 1854, and to this county the succeeding year.
Mr. MeCleerey was married September 15, 1865, to Martha A. Iluffman, a native of Lexington. Ky. She became the mother of the following children : George M., Evalina, Osborn, Ada Gay and Ida May, twins, Charles G., Bertha E , Maud and Grace.
OHIN TRIMBLE, one of the old pioneers of Monona County, came here in 1859, and on the 9th of March, that year, took up his residence at Old Mapleton. The following year he moved on to the Ilamilton Wiley farm which he had rented, and lived there until 1863. In the latter year he removed to the place of Seth Smith, Sr., and there made his home for five years, engaged in tilling the soil. In November, 1868, he filed a claim under the homestead law upon eighty acres of land on section 12, Kennebec Town- ship, where he now lives. He proved up upon this place which was found to be upon the railroad grant, and, notwithstanding his prior right, his title was invalidated and he was compelled to pur- chase it again of the railroad company.
Mr. Trimble is a native of Franklin County, Ohio, and was born October 10, 1819, beneath the humble roof of his parents, Abner and Polly (Haw- thorne) Trimble. In his infancy he was bereft of both parents, and, without a loving mother's care, was raised by a Mr. Roberts, with whose family he remained until he was about ten years of age. From that time until attaining lus seventeenth year, he lived with William Sullivan, but on attaining man- hood commenced driving stage for what was after- ward the Ohio Stage Company. He remained with the latter about six years, and then moved on west- ward and at Chicago and Milwaukee, was employed for about fifteen years in the same business, at first for Frink & Walker, and later for the Wisconsin Stage Company. In the barns of the last nam.e l
418
MONONA COUNTY.
company, and in the livery business on his own account. he remained for nearly five years and then traveled with June & Turney's circus for one sea- son. Drifting to Council Bluffs in January, 1859, he there heard of this county, and came here as above stated, and has made this his home ever since.
Mr. Trimble was married October 10, 18:16, to Miss Sarah E. Wilcox, a native of Kentucky, who was born January 24, 1824, and who is the daugh- ter of Benjamin and Flora ( McCormick) Wilcox. ller father died in Kentucky, February 21. 1836, and her mother in Illinois, whither she had moved, June 23, 1880. Of Mr. and Mrs. Trimble's family of four children, the following is recorded as the date of their birth: William W., September 15, 1817, who died November 2, 1855; John A .. February 10, 1850; Charles F., February 10. 1852 : and Marietta E., July 23, 1854. William W. died November 2, 1857.
AVID G. HUSTON, a respected and valued citizen of Castana, who is engaged in the manufacture and sale of harness, etc., came to Monona County from Missouri, March 25, 1884, and for about a year worked out at farm labor by the month. The succeeding two years he was engaged in farming on his own ac- count on a piece of land which he had rented, and February 28, 1888, having erected a building twenty feet square in the village of Castana. com- menced the harness making business. Never hav- ing learned the trade, he hired a man to do his work, but by close application and natural ability he acquired the trade, and has carried it on ever since. When he started in this line, $70 repre- sented his whole capital, but he now has his build- ing paid for, and carries a good stock, and has a large and growing trade.
Mr. Huston was born in Osage County, Mo .. November 14. 1861, and is the son of David C. and Louisa ( Branumn) Huston. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, born about 1831, and re- moved to Missouri, and during the late Civil War,
being conseripted into the confederate service, was killed in battle in the fall of 1863. The mother, a native of Osage County, Mo., died there October 13, 1875.
Our subject attended the district schools of his native county, until 1873, and then entering the graded school at Chamois, in the same county. finished in one term. His education being com- pleted. he commenced life by working for his uncle, B. F. Hull, on a farm, and remained with him about five years. At the expiration of that time, still following the same vocation, he was in the em - ploy of his brother-in-law for some four years, and then came to Monona County as above stated. IIe is a young man of great promise and ability, and deserves all the success he has met with.
F6 RANKLIN G. OLIVER, a prominent citi- zen and leading farmer of the town of Franklin, living on section 25, is one of the county's earliest settlers. Ile came here with his father in July, 1857, and for some two months made his home in the old court house at Ashton. From there, in September, he removed to Onawa, then just laid out, and being a carpenter by trade, assisted in the erection of the first buildings in that place. He followed his occupation until July, 1861, when he removed to the farm, which he owned in connection with his father, to which they have added from time to time, until they now pos- sess upwards of a thousand acres.
Franklin G. Oliver was born in Franklin County, Me .. February 19, 1835, and is the son of George W. and Ilannah R. (Adams) Oliver, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and while a boy removed with his father's family to Illinois. Hle received an education in the latter locality, and early in life adopted his father's trade, that of car- penter, as a vocation. He was married at Elgin. Kane County, Ill., November 29, 1855, to Miss Esther Connor, a native of Erie County, N. Y. The lady was born May 27, 1837, and is the daugh- ter of Parker and Esther Connor, natives of Massa- chusetts and New York, respectively. The latter
119
MONONA COUNTY.
were married in the Empire State, and in 1848 removed to Du Page County, Ill., where the father died in 1852, at the age of fifty-two years. The mother, who was born November 29, 1809, re- moved to Kane County, where she is still living. She was the mother of eleven children, Mrs. Oliver being the third girl, and the fifth child. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are the parents of fourteen children. of which the following is a record: Martha D. was born July 2. 1856 : Lurena D., January 29, 1858; Caroline E., October 28. 1859; Flora E., May 13. 1861; George W .. April 5, 1863; Emma A., August 20. 1861; Parker C., February 25, 1866, and died November 28, 1875; Mary E. was born March 13, 1868. and died November 25, 1875: Fanny A. was born July 25, 1869, and died March 17, 1870; Sylvia A. was born December 29, 1870, and died November 23. 1875; Eva C. was born December 9, 1872; Franklin G. was born March 19, 1875; Freddie L., May 21, 1877; and an infant nnnamed, was born February 2, 1879, and died February 15, the same year.
In politics, Mr. Oliver atfiliates with the Repub- lican party. and has held several of the local town- ship offices.
ESLEY ROBBINS. who is residing on sec- tion 8, Lincoln Township, is engaged in carrying on his farm of three hundred and sixty acres, partly lying in that section, and partly on section 17, and has succeeded in accumulating a fair share of this world's goods. He is a native of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, and was born Sep- tember 16, 1854. In April 1859. he was brought by his parents, John D. and Ilannah Robbins, to Iowa, and with them settled in Bremer County. Ile received a common-school education in the lat- ter place, and there grew to manhood. remaining beneath his father's roof. In 1865, again with his parents, he removed to Monona County, and set- tled at what was known as Tieville, but two years later moved upon the farm which he now owus on section 17. There his parents died. Upon the old
homestead our subject made his home until the spring of 1888, when he purchased the place upon section 8, where he now lives, retaining at the same time the farm, to which he fell heir.
Wishing to establish a home of his own, and to surround himself with the pleasant influences of domestic life, April 16, 1876, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Laura J. Ingham, the daughter of F. E. and Mary J. Ingham. By their union they are the parents of live children, who bear the fol- lowing names:" Anson C., Willard, Hugh, Eddie. and Theodore.
Mr. Robbins has passed a quiet and happy life since coming here, and has taken great interest in the upbuilding of the township, particularly in the cause of education and morality, and merits and re- ceives the respect and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances.
IRAM HOLLISTER (deceased,) came to Monona County. in April, 1872, and after renting a farm on section 13, took up a homestead on section 18, Maple Township, upon which he made his home until 1876. At that (late he sold out and with his family removed to Woodbury County. from which he returned to the old neighborhood, in March, 1879, and settled on the farm where his widow still resides. He was a native of Steuben County, N. Y., and removed with his parents, in childhood, to Pennsylvania. From there he went to Indiana and then went back to the Keystone State, and when he was about ten years of age he eame west and settled in Wisconsin. In 1870, our subject removed to Adams County. this State. from which locality he came to Monona County two years later. He experienced religion at an early age and united with the Methodist Church, and remained an earnest working Christ- ian until his death, which took place November 4, 1886. Ile was married in Iowa County, Wis., De- cember 1, 1859, to Miss Sarah Batman. The lady was born in Putnam County. Ind .. April 9, 1845, and is a daughter of William and Ephiza (Stuhl) Batman. natives of Kentucky and North Carolina,
420
MONONA COUNTY.
respectively. Iler parents had been taken to Indi- ana, in childhood, and grew to maturity in Putnam County. where they were married May 21, 1821. In 1849 they removed to lowa County, Wis., where they made their home for twenty years, thence removing north to Vernon County, in the same State. In the fall of 1875 they removed to Woodbury County, Iowa, where the father died April 2, 1879. lle was born August 27, 1821. The mother of Mrs. Hollister is now living at HIol- ly Springs, Woodbury County, having been the mother of twelve children.
1
Mr. and Mrs. Hollister have had given to them " committed to his charge, marked his business career eight children : Frances, Emma, deceased, Clara. William, Hiram A., Joseph, Catherine and Ida.
Mr. Hollister, in former years was attached to the Republican party, but previous to his death changed his views and affiliated with the Demo- crats. His widow, a zealous and earnest Christian woman, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is eminently respected in the commu- nity.
ERBERT E. MORRISON. Among the prom- inent business men of the city of Onawa, who have taken so large a part in its de- velopment and who have been such impor. tant factors in its present prosperity, there is none better known than the gentleman whose name heads this sketel.
Sanbornton Bridge, N. H., was the place of Mr. Morrison's birth, which occurred August 26, 1844. Ile is the son of Jonathan E. and Mary N. (Page) Morrison, a sketch of whom may be found in this volume, While still a small child he was brought by his parents to Kane County, Ill., and thence six years later, to this county. Here he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the excellent schools of Onawa. His studies being ended he engaged in farming and stock-raising with his father, at which he remained until 1866. Ilis rising merits being appreciated by a discerning jublie, in the fall of that year he was elected to the office of Clerk of the district court, in which he served one term. On the 28th of November.1868. he
was appointed by the board of county supervisors, to fill the office of County Judge, and by a change in the law became ex-officio County Anditor, a po- sition which he occupied until January 1, 1870. Re- tiring from the office he was appointed postal clerk on the Sioux City & Pacific Railway, having the route from Missouri Valley to Sioux City. In 1871 he resigned the position to accept that of cashier in the banking house of Holbrook & Bro .. at Onawa, with whom he remained nearly fifteen years, or until April 1, 1889. Steady adherence to business and a faithful performance of the duties throughout life and pheed him in an enviable po- sition in the community.
For many years Mr. Morrison was closely iden- tified with the Republican party, but suffering a change of views. he now coincides with the princi- ples formulated in the Democratic platforms and is now Chairman of the Democratic County Commit- tee and is a strong Democrat. In local affairs he lias taken a great interest serving as Mayor of the city of Onawa, for six years, and as a member of the council at different times and is the present City Treasurer. He is also President of the Onawa Fire Department, and is considered a most efficient ofli- cer in that position.
Mr. Morrison was united in marriage, October 29, 1867, with Miss Emily J. Holbrook, a native of Somerset, Somerset County, Pa., a sister of B. D. and C. H. Holbrook, of Onawa. They are the pa- rents of four children: Ilarry L., Page E., Bruce H., and Marion 11.
G EORGE P. WILEY. Monona County con- tains its full quota of young men who lill sundry and honorable positions in the vari- ous departments of professional and business life, and among them there is not one better or more favorably known considering the short time of his residence here, than the gentleman whose name heads this sketeh. He is engaged in the banking business in the growing village of Castana, having located there in July, 1888, on the 4th of Septem-
121
MONOĊ A COUNTY.
ber following he opened business in a building which he had just erected. Mr. Wiley was born in Peoria County, Ill., May 23, 1865, and is the son of James M., and Mary M. (Brooks) Wiley. Ilis father was a native of Vermont, born March 21, 1818. In Ilenry County, Ill., he laid out the thriv- ing city of Galva, where he carried on the real-es- tate business until March 1887, when he died, leaving a large fortune he had acquired by his own exertions.
George P., in the public schools of Galva laid the foundation of his education, and studied therein until 1884, when he matriculated at Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. Three years later, while in at- tendanee at that institution, his father died, and quitting his studies he assumed a man's place in the administration of his father's estate. After settling up the estate he began looking for a loca- tion in which to engage in business, and invested some money in farm property in Kansas, which he still holds. Owing to the influence of a brother who has been a resident of Maple Township for eight or nine years, he was induced to come to Monona County, and decided to start the bank and rast his lot with the live people of Castana.
October 2, 1888, Mr. Wiley was united in mar- riage with Miss Mattie Il. Evans, a native of Deca- tur, Macon County, Ill., a graduate of Knox College, where their acquaintance was formed. She is the daughter of Thomas L. and Anna E. (Child's) Evans. Her father has filled the position of county superintendent of schools in Macon County, for some years most acceptably.
AMES E. HAZLITT, editor and proprietor of the People's Press, of Mapleton, assumed the charge of that paper July 28, 1888, suc- ceeding J. M. and M. H. Wrigley. Mr. Haz- litt was born near Baltimore, Md., July 11, 1858, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Ward) Hazlitt, both natives of Ireland. Ilis father came to the United States with his parents when he was about eighteen years of age. and the mother when she was about seven. They were reared and married in
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.