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 57
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Mr. and Mrs. I'hl are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and are concientious in the dis- charge of their religious duties. In all his deal- ings with his fellow man, Mr. Uhl has a due regard for the principles of honor and integrity, and is generally estcemed and respected by the entire community. He has been highly successful in a financial manner since coming here, and ranks among our most affluent citizens.
OIIN R. DRUMMOND is a worthy citizen of Ashton Township, residing on section 21. where he is actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was born in Clark County, Ind., January 15, 1851, and is the son of James T. and Eliza A. ( Ramsey) Drummond, na- tives of Indiana. His mother died when our sub- ject was quite small, leaving three children -- Anna, David T. and John R. The father is still living in Henry County, this State.
llaving received an education in the district schools and assisted his father in the manual labor attendant upon farm life until 1875, John R. then left home in Henry County, whither the family had removed, and sought work with his team in I'nion County. For awhile he found employment in breaking the prairie sod, but the last two years of his residence in the latter locality were put in on a rented farm, from which he raised two crops. lu March, 1878, he came to Monona County, and having but limited means, leased a farm upon which, and other rented pieces of land, he resided five years, and then, having accumulated some lit-
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tle capital, purchased his present farm of eighty acres, thirty-five of which he has under the plow. Most of his attention is given to stock-raising, he keeping on hand from thirty to forty head of cat- tle at all times. A thrifty grove of maple trees and an acre of orchard beautify and add to the value of his place.
Mr. Drummond was united in marriage, April 19, 1877, in Union County, Iowa, with Miss Emily A. Hoar, the daughter of Williamn and Elizabeth (Dugdale) Hoar. Her parents were natives of Eng- land who emigrated to the United States and lo- cated in New Jersey, from which State they came to Union County, Iowa. From the latter locality they removed to Monona County, and are residents of the village of Mapleton at the present writing. By this union there have been born five children to Mr. and Mrs. Drummond-Hattie Belle, Charles Henry, Leroy, Iva May and Lola. Mr. Drummond and his family by their genial manners and innate refinement, have won the love and respect of the entire neighborhood, and are regarded as a valuable acquisition to the community.
ERRY ALLEN, a farmer living on section 21, Franklin Township, eame to Monona County in March, 1871, and settled in Kennebec Township. After following farming two years be removed to Onawa, where he was engaged in carpentering and teaming for about the same period of time. In 1875 he removed to Bureau County, Ill., and there spent the time until 1880, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Then re- turning to Monona County, he has since been fol- lowing the same vocation in Franklin Township. lle bought the farm where he now lives in the fall of 1882. It contains one hundred and twenty acres of fine arable land,
Mr. Allen was born in Bureau County, Ill., Feb- ruary 10, 1844, and is the son of lacomiah and Deborah (Britt) Allen. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Pennsylvania. The parents settled in Bureau County in 1836, where their death took place- the former, June 13, 1864.
at the age of eighty-three, and the latter in Octo- ber, 1878, aged sixty-nine. They had a family of eight children, seven boys and one girl, of whom Perry was the third.
Perry Allen was reared upon the farm in Bureau County and received his education in the excellent schools of that locality, but a time of trial had come " that tried men's souls," for arrant traitors had assaulted the government of our country and insulted its flag. In response to a call from the President, Perry enlisted, September 1, 1861, in a company of men raised in his native county for Gen. Jim Lane's famous regiment, but which was assigned to the Seventh Kansas Cavalry , and known as Company D. During the following winter he served with the regiment on the border between Missouri and Kansas,and then went with them to the seat of war. His services extended until the fall of 1861, during which time he engaged in the bat- tles of Corinth, Coffeeville, Juka, Tupelo, and many others, receiving a slight wound at Kossuth, Miss. He received his final discharge September 28, 1864, and returned to his home in Illinois where he was engaged in farming until he came to Monona County.
Our subject was united in marriage, in Bureau County, Ill., December 22, 1868, to Miss llester A. Richards, who was born in DuPage County, III., December 26, 1851, and by this union is the par- ent of three children: Irma G., born July 12, 1870; Claude A., March 10, 1872; and Orson P., Novem- ber 16, 1873.
Mr. Allen is a member of llanscom Post No. 97, G. A. R .; Monona Lodge, No. 380, I. O.O. F .. both at Monona; and of Bleneoe Assembly No. 1022. K. of L.
AMES C. FLEMING, a prominent resident of Sherman Township, living on section 31, was born in Suffolk, near Woodbridge, Eng- land, November 22, 1842, and is the son of James and Sarah (Godbold) Fleming. Ilis father, a native of Essex, was born in 1821, and died in 1845, leaving but one child, James, the subject of
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this sketch. When the latter was about four years of age, he was brought to the United States by his mother and her second husband, George Brunker. The little family located near Buffalo, N. Y., where James commenced his schooling. At the age of fourteen the latter came West with'his mother and step-father, and settled in Winnebago County, Wis. Early in life our subject was initiated into hard work. commencing labor on a farm at a ten- der age. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits for seven years, when, during the Civil War, he unlisted August 24, 1862, under the name of James Brunker, (he being known by his step-father's name at the time.) in Company D, Thirty-second Wiscon- sin Infantry. Being accidentally hurt before the regiment was engaged in hostilities, he was honor- ably discharged from the service February 17, 1863, at Memphis. Tenn., and returned to his home in the Badger State, and was employed in lum- bering until 1871, when he came to Monona County , locating in. Sherman Township, where he has since made his home.
Mr. Fleming was united in marriage, July 24, 1869, with Miss Ermina Hyde, of Fond du Lac. Wis., a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and the daughter of Ephraim S. and Mary ( Reynolds) 1 Flyde. Her father was born in Vermont, in 1794. and her mother in Canada, near Ottawa, in 1815. After their marriage they removed to the State of New York, and had a family of twelve children, of whom Mrs Fleming was the youngest.
Mr. and Mis. Fleming are the parents of seven children, as follows: Sarah M., born April 10. 1870. now Mrs. George Waymire; George E., born June 7, 1871, and died July 27, 1875; Minnie G .. born May 7, 1873; James E., January 9, 1875; Fred A. E., December 25, 1880; Albert L., No- vember 1, 1884; and Bernard E., March 13. 1887.
During the first three years after this little fam- ily came to Monona County, they had very hard work to make a living, as all the money they had was put into the farm they purchased. The grass- hopper plague struck the country the year they came, and bothered them eight years. After that they got along better, although at times they seemed almost swamped and did not know which way to turn-losing hogs with cholera and horses
by what is known as the Bottom disease. They struggled on in this way until at last they can see their way out, with all their debts paid, and are in comfortable circumstances, and thankful to the Lord that they are living in a land of peace and plenty.
OSEPH S. MAUGIILIN, one of the leading citizens of the village of Onawa and Monona County, was born in York County, Pa., June 2, 1823, and is the son of John and Mary (Smith) Maughlin, both of whom were, also natives of the same section of the Keystone State. Ilis father, who was born in December, 1788, was a carpenter by trade but part of his life followed farming. He was the son of William Maughlin, who Lis supposed to have been born either in Scotland or the North of Ireland, and was the son of one of the Jacobites who fought for Prince Charles Edward at Collo- den in 1746, and on account thereof was compelled to flee to this country and settled in York County, Peun. John Marghlin was a member of the Pres- byterian Church but afterward joined the Unite ? Brethren, and died in September. 1881. Joseph HI. Manghlin's mother, formely Miss Mary Smith, was the daughter of Joseph Smith, a native of the North of Ireland, of Scottish ancestry, who came to America in early life and grew to be an impor- tant and prominent member of the farming com- munity of York County. Pa., until his death which occurred about 1850. The family of Smiths were a connection of the clan of McGregor, celebrated in story and the annals of Scotland. The family of Reed, celebrated during the American Revolu- tion, were connections of William Maughlin's wife.
Joseph S. Maughlin, after grounding his educa- tion in the common schools of his native county, was in attendance at Jefferson and Franklin colleges, being graduated from the latter. lle entered the Theological Institute of the Associate Presbyterians at Cannonsburg, Pa .. after leaving which he was licensed to preach the Word of God by the Alle- gheny Presbytery. After having charge of a church in Indiana, he organized a congregation at
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College Springs, Iowa, about 1857. During the rebellion he took an active part in the hostilities along the Missouri line. Early in 1865 Mr. Maugh- lin came to Monona County, having charge of the American Emigrant Company's business, and set- tled at Onawa. Since then he has made this his home and has been engaged in many of the busi- ness enterprises of the place. He has always taken an active interest in whatever will develop and benefit the town or county. Ile was quite promi- nent in the erection of the High School building and has held several positions on the board of ed- ucation. Shortly after coming to Onawa, Mr. Maughlin was elected to the office of Superintend- ent of common schools of the county and served in that capacity with considerable credit and honor.
Mr. Manghlin was united in marriage April 7, 1853, with Miss Mary McCaskey, daughter of James and Jane (Kirkwood) MeCaskey, born in Belmont County, Ohio, in September. 1826. They have had born to them three children-Flora .J .. now teacher in the public High School at Onawa ; William J., present Clerk of Court of Monona County ; and James Albert also a resident of Onawa, in the grain business.
The Maughlins were a long-lived race. his grand- father dying when upwards of eighty years and his father when ninety-three. A cousin of J. S. Maughlin's grandmother, George Reed, was a, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
RS. SARAH THOMPSON, who is residing upon her farm on section 10, in Spring Valley Township, was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., February 8. 1837. and is the daughter of Thomas and Percy ( Baldwin) Cur- tis. Her father was born August 27, 1799, and her mother September 10, 1802. both in Vermont. Having joined the Latter Day Saints, her parents left New York in her infancy, and spent the sum. mer at Kirtland, Ohio. From there they went to Missouri, and while on the road, her father died. ller mother went on to Far West, Missouri, and was there during the Mormon troubles at that place. I
From there they went to Lima, Ill .. and finally to the City of Refuge, Nauvoo. In the meantime her mother married Edward Johnson.
After the assassination of Joseph Smith, in 1811. the family started with the other members of the church for their unknown destination toward the Pacific Coast, but only went as far as Council Bluffs. From the latter village they went to St. Joseph, Mo. At the latter place the subject of this sketch was married to llenry Thompson, in Feb- ruary, 1853. From St. Joseph they moved to Cin- cinuati, Ohio, and later on to Warsaw, Ill., from which place, in 1860 they came to Preparation. Ilere and in the vicinity she has made her home ever since. By her marriage Mrs. Thompson had four children-Francis L., Alice B., Henriettie, and Traverse C. During the War Mr. Thompson en- listed in the army, and like so many others who went to the front, never returned.
In 1865, Mrs. Thompson was again married, this time to Miles Outhouse, and is the mother of four children-Edward C., David G., Ernest R., and Sarah K. All but two of the family are members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- ter Day Saints.
S AMUEL I. KESTERSON, came to Monona County, December 27, 1882, and settled on section 9, Lincoln Township, but one year later disposed of that place, and located on section 6, where he now resides. In 1886, be sold the farm, but has lived on it, and cultivated its rich and fertile soil ever since.
Mr. Kesterson was born in Hamilton County, Ind., November 20, 1851; and when quite a child was taken by his parents. Thomas and Nancy W. Kesterson, to Tippecanoe County, where they set- tled upon a farm. In 1867, the family removed to Champaign County, Ill., where he remained with his parents until he was some twenty-two years of age. He had received in his youth a good practical common-school education, and was early taught the principles of husbandry. When starting out in life for himself, he was united in marriage with
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Miss Lizzie Wilson, the ceremony taking place in Champaign County, Ill .. October 1, 1874. In 1877 he went back to Indiana, but in October 1878, returned to Homer, Champaign County, where, April 3, his wife died, leaving two children-Nan- nie M. and Hubert A. Mr -. Kesterson was of Eng- lish parentage, and in carly life united with the Methodist Church, and lived a devoted Christian until her early death, when she was but twenty-one years of age. After a year spent at Homer, Mr. Kes. terson moved on his father's farm. Two years later he went to Chicago, and for one winter acted as conductor on the Madison Street car line. Ile re- turned home by request of his father, who dying July 24, 1881, he remained there for a time.
Angust, 18, 1881, Mr. Kesterson married Miss Carrie Siner, at U'rbana City, and by this union is the parent of three children-Millard B., Benja- min Il., and Carrie R. Mrs. Kesterson was born in Vigo County, Ind., October 20, 1857. Her father, James Siner, a native of Virginia, was born Oeto- ber 7, 1806, and married Miss Matilda Evans, Sep- tember 19, 1837, and was the father of six children -- Sarah, Asenath, John, Benjamin, Ruth E., and Carrie.
Mr. Kesterson and his mother came West to- gether, and she made her home here until her death, which occurred June 4, 1886. She was born Octo- ber 1. 1820, and in early life she sought of Christ, and thereafter lived a devoted Christian life.
E RVIN CUSHING, a young, intelligent and enterprising farmer of St. Clair Township. residing on section 12, came to Monona County in May, 1883, and, in partnership with his brother. Caleb, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land where he now lives, and broke up about fifty of its acres. After building a house and feneing a portion of it, they returned to Potta- wattamie County, where they remained until the spring of 1887, at which date they permanently located upon this farm.
Ervin Cushing, born in Rochester, Strafford County, N. II .. December 31, 1859, is the son of
Enoch and Charlotte (Buzzel) Cushing. With his parents. when yet a child. he removed to Massa- chusetts, and remained near Boston about five years. At the expiration of that time the family came to lowa and settled in Pottawattamie County. He re- mained beneath the parental roof until he came to Monona County, as above recorded.
September 6, 1885, in Pottawattamie County, took place the most important event in Mr. Cush- ings life, as upon that day he was united in mar- riage with Miss Laura Brown, a native of Henry County, Ill., who was born December 12, 1865. When she was about twenty-two months old, owing to the death of her father. she was adopted by Joel and Miss Kate Brown, with whom she removed to Pottawattamie County, in the spring of 1872, and with whom she made her home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Cushing have a family of two chil- dren-Joel J., born June 9, 1886; and Ilerbert C'., whose birth took place February 18. 1888.
G EORGE A. OLIVER, a member of the firm of Oliver Bros. & Tillson, attorneys-at law, in the city of Onawa, is a native of Wood- bury County, lowa, having been born at Sergeant's Bluff, January 17, 1858, and is the son of the Ilon. Addison and Ilannah (Towne) Oliver, mentioned elsewhere in this volume, While an infant in arms not yet a year old, he was brought to Monona County by his parents, and has here grown to man- hood, in the city of Onawa. Ile received his edu- cation in the schools of that community, and after graduating from its highest department, entered the academic branch of the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, where he pursued his studies during the terms of 1877-8. Entering the Law Department of the same institution, in the fall of the latter year. he was graduated therefrom in 1879. In 188I he was appointed Railway Postal Clerk on the Illinois Central Railroad, on the route from Ft. Dodge to Sioux City. In 1883 his run was ex- tended from Dubuque to Sioux City, and he re- mained in that position until March, 1866. In the latter month he was transferred to the Chicago,
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St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad, handling the mails between St. Paul and Council Bluffs until August. 1886, when he was removed for "offensive partisanship." In January, 1887, Mr. Oliver formed a partnership with Stephen Tillson, Jr., and the firm thus formed engaged in the law and real- estate business. In December, 1887, J. F. Oliver was admitted to a partnership, and the style changed to its present form.
Mr. Oliver was united in marriage, October 9, 1884, with Miss Cora A. Woodward, a native of Grant Township. this county, who was born Oeto- ber 9, 1861, and is a daughter of Joseph D. Wood- ward, who settled in that part of the county in 1857, and a history of whom appears elsewhere. By this union there have been born two children- George E., born January 19, 1886, and Eva A., whose birth took place August 24, 1887.
In his political views Mr. Oliver is a stanch Re- publiean, and is a fair representative of the rising young men of that party. He has served as Jus- tice of the Peace in Onawa, and has talents that mark him out for high political preferment. So- cially he is a member of Monona Lodge, No. 184, Knights of Pytbias, of which body he was one of the organizers. Mrs. Oliver is a consistent mem- ber of the Congregational Church.
OHN PERRIN. of Sioux Township, deserves special mention as being the oldest living resident of that subdivision of the county, having settled there with his father in the fall of 1855. 1Ie was born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. near Council Bluffs, September 15. 1849, and having been in this county from childhood, has been closely connected with the growth and de- velopment of the same.
John Perrin's father, Charles Perrin, was born in Washington County, N. Y., April 25, 1812, and on attaining manhood, was united in marriage with Hannah M. Williams, who was born in Vermont, about 1811. The family came to Iowa in an early day. and settled in Pottawattamie County, and in 1855 made a permanent settlement in Sioux Town-
ship, Monona County, where the father of our sub- ject died, March 26, 1889.
John Perrin, the third in a family of eight chil- dren born to his parents, was reared upon a farm in this eounty, and received his education in the rough pioneer schools of the neighborhood. On reaching the age of twenty-one years, he started out to engage in life's battle for himself, adopting the vocation to which he had been bred, that of farm- ing, which he has followed ever since. In 1880, he purchased eighty acres of land on section 36, in Sioux Township, to which he has since added eighty acres more, and has brought the whole of it to a high state of cultivation, and has it well-improved.
Miss Anna Meachan, a native of Massachusetts, and daughter of Solomon and Mariah D. Meachan, was the choice of Mr. Perrin for a life partner, and winning her consent, they were united in marriage December 27. 1882. Since that happy event three interesting children have brought light and joy to their household, to whom they have given the names of Lillie M .. George W., and Roy F.
ATRICK G. DUNDON, an old settler of Monona County. came here in October, 1862, from Sun Prairie, Wis. After two years spent in prospecting, he filed a elaim on the south half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 6, Ashton Township, upon which he has since made his home. To this real estate he has since added ten acres of timber. and one hundred and twenty acres of arable land on seetion 1. Ile has about one hundred and twenty acres under cultiva- tion, the balance being meadow, besides which be has leased some four hundred acres on sections 8 and 17, and keeps about fifty head of cattle, twenty-two of horses, and one hundred and fifty hogs.
Mr. Dundon was born about three miles east of the town of New Castle, west, County Limerick, Ireland, in the spring of 1838, and is the son of John and Ellen (Kennelly) Dundon, the former of
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whom was a farmer. and died in the old country in 1852; the mother died there in 1885. Patrick was the eblest in a family of six children, the others be- ing: Michael, living in the West; Mary, in Phila- delphia; Joanna, in Australia; Ellen, who died in Ireland; and James, in the boot and shoe business at Sioux City.
Our subject remained at home until 1862, but in the spring of that year crossed the ocean, and located in Canada. In the fall of the same year he went to Dane County, Wis., and from there to Monona County as above stated. lle was married at Onawa in the spring of 1868, to Miss Mary Whalen, who has been the mother of seven chil- dren-John, Mary, Jane, Ellen, Joanna, who died April 8, 1875; Agnes and Celia.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Dundon was a farmer some three miles south of Rochale, County Limerick, Ireland, who died about 1817. his wife following him to the grave about 1852. Patrick Kennelly, his maternal grandfather, died in Ire- land about 1849. llis wife, Ellen Nolan, in 1838.
Mrs. Patrick Dundon is a native of Ireland, born in 1837. Iler father was a fisherman on the coast, and was lost at sea, and her mother dying about 1846, she was brought up by her uncle, James Whalen, near Clifton, County Galway. The latter removed to New York, and ran a hotel there. While in Ireland he was a farmer.
E NGEBRET KNUDSON came to Monona County in the spring of 1866 in company with E. Evenson, George and Andrew Swenson and Hans Tyverson and settled on the farm where he now lives, on seetion 33, Soldier Township. There were no improvements upon the place and for years he lived in a log shanty and "dug-ont," and broke np the land little by little. He has now a neat and comfortable house, 11x22 feet on the ground and a story and a half high, and has about eighty acres of land under cultiva- tion.
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Mr. Knudson, was the son of Knud and Sarah Engebretson and born in Norway, January 29,
1839. In his youth he received the education com- mon to the children of that kingdom, and there grew to the years of maturity. In April. 1866, he crossed the broad ocean to America, and on land- ing on these shores, started at once for Perry, Wis. From there he went to La Crosse County in the same State and in the latter place made his home until coming to Monona County. On his arrival in this country he was absolutely penniless, besides owing a debt of $100 and on account of sickness in his family was some time before getting a start in the world. But honest effort and judicious economy have brought their reward and he now ranks with the other agriculturists of easy circum- stances in the county.
In Norway December 7, 1865, Mr. Knudson and Miss Mary Anderson, were united in marriage. She was the daughter of Andrew and Sarah Ander- son, and became the mother of three children- Gustav A., deceased, Sarah, deceased and Anna C. llis wife died in Monona County, June 15, 1883, and October 23, 1884, Mr. Knudson married Miss Mary Christianson, the daughter of Ingar and Engebret Christianson, and by this union is the parent of three children-Inga, Sarah and Clara O.
ETER JOHNSON, an industrious and re- spected citizen of Sioux Township, en- gaged in general farming and stock- raising on section 13, where he has one hundred and eighty-four acres of well improved land and good buildings, is the third child of Jens and Inger Maria (Cristensen) Nelson, a sketch of whom is given in this book in connection with that of their eldest son, Nels Johnson.
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