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 61
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noble band the wade the famous raid under Gen. Grierson, for the purpose of destroying the Trail- roads through Central Mississippi."and in the rear of Vicksburg, and the column of which he was a member, some five hundred strong under Col. llatch, becoming separated from the main body. fought their way back through a large number of the enemy. In September, 1864, Mr. Porter was mustered out, and returning to Davenport, was dis- charged October 1, 1864. After remaining in Linn County, Iowa, until sometime during the following winter, he went into Wisconsin, and spent that sea- son until the spring of 1865, and after that made his home in Jackson County, this State, until the spring of 1869. when he came to Monona County, and settled upon a rented farm, from which, two years later, he removed to his present residence.
Mr. Porter was married November 20, 1867, to Miss Emma C. Koontz, a native of Bedford County, Pa., and a daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Winegardner), Koontz, and their four children have been born upon the following dates: James H., September 25, 1868; Richard October 27, 1870; Charles, October 20, 1872; Nellie B., February 28. 1876.
C LINTON M. WILEY, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on sections 1 and 2. Belvidere Township, residing on the former, was born in Brimfield, Peoria County, III., June 19, 1856, and is the son of Edwin and Eliza- beth (Wilson) Wiley. Ilis father, a native of Ver- mont, was born in Windom County, October 5. 1820,"and after receiving his education, and attain- ing man's estate among the Green Mountains, came West in 1841, and located in Peoria County, Ill .. where he engaged in sheep raising until 1855. At that time he moved into Brimfield, a village in the same county, and entered into the mercantile trade, but several years later, commeneed farming in the vicinity, and was pursuing that vocation when taken from this world by death, April 15, 1873. He was married at Westmoreland, N. H., in the fall of 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Wilson, who still survives him, and makes ber home at Brimfield.
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They were the parents of four children: Solon W., born December 1, 1858. who died May 1, 1876; Clinton M., our subjeet; Walter L., born in 1863; and May, born in 1865, who died in 1869.
Clinton M., the second child, received a com- mon-school education, of a good practical character, in the county of his birth, and was reared beneath the parental roof until attaining his nineteenth year, at which time he left home. Ile came West to Monona County, and for about five years worked for an unele, who had large interests here. At the expiration of that time he purchased a half- interest in seven hundred and twenty acres of land, on seetions 1. 6, 7 and 12, Belvidere Township, and commenced its cultivation. A division taking place between the partners in 1886, Mr. Wiley be- came the owner of one hundred and twenty well- improved aeres, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising.
The marriage of Mr. Wiley took place March 22, 1880, the bride upon the occasion being the daugh- ter of Charles C. and Hannah ( Williams) Perrin, natives of New York State, who settled in this county in an early day, as shown in a sketch of their lives in this volume. Her name was Miss Han- nah Perrin, and she was born in Monona County, Iowa. By this union there have been born two children : Bessie, May 28, 1883, and S. Howard, April 1, 1887.
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AMUEL G. IRISH, a prominent old settler of Monona County, residing at the village of Whiting, was born in Chittenden County, Vt .. November 3. 1811, and is a son of Stephen and Miranda Irish. His father, in early days, followed the trade of a blacksmith, a profession "held in repute by the people," but later in life engaged in farming. He was also a na- tive of the Green Mountain State, born June 15, 1758. As a specimen of his handiwork and as a relic of bygone times, Mr. Irish retains in his possession a log chain made by his father, which
must be in the neighborhood of one hundred years old, and is excellently well preserved.
Our subject remained at home until attaining his majority, partially learning the trade of carpen- ter, and then removed to the State of New York, where he worked out by the month at farming, for two-thirds of a year, without losing a day. Fin- ishing nis apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, he followed it for a number of years, in fact until 1855, when he came to the West in search of a home. Settling in Allamakee County, Iowa, he there remained about a year. In company with Peter Mantor and some twelve others, he went to Dodge County, Minn., where he located a claim upon which he made his home some three years. A town site was laid out by them, with the under- standing that Mr. Mantor was to have it if he woukl put up a grist, and saw mill, and on names for the new village being suggested, Mr. Irish gave as his choice, Mantorville, a name which it bears at the present time. From there he removed to Kan- sas, but two months of fever and ague drove him and his family back across the Missouri River into Missouri, and purchasing a farm in Clinton County, that State, he there remained until 1858, when, after a week or two spent in Monona County, he removed to Bon Homme County, Dak., where he remained some three years engaged in farming and stock- raising. Early in the war Mr. Irish received a commission as First Lieutenant in the Dakota Cavalry, and was in actual service for some three months, when he resigned. In the spring of 1864, when the columns under General Sibley were driv- ing the savage fiends who had perpetrated the fear- ful murders along the frontiers of Minnesota, to their fastnesses in the mountains, Mr. Irish and his family, in common with most of the settlers of that seetion of Dakota, fled to Yankton for safety, and a short time after came to Monona County and purchased a farm where he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits for nearly twenty years. Some laughable incidents related by him of those early days may be found elsewhere in the pages of this work.
Mr. Irish is the parent of four children-Colum- bus G., Washington C., Omer and Jerome. Three of them, Columbus, Omer and Jerome entered the
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Union Army during the Rebellion and served three years and three months. Columbus and Je- rome there contracted diseases incident to a soldier's life from the effects of which they have since died.
NGUS O. GRAY. junior partner of the firm of Cunningham & Gray, dealers in hard- ware, lumber, etc., in the village of Blen- coe, is one of its most enterprising mer- chants. Ile is a native of Canada, having been born at Komoka, November 1, 1854, and is the son of John and Mary ( Fisher) Gray, and of Scottish ancestry. He received his education in his native land, and there made his home until the spring of 1871. when he came to Monona County with his parents, and their ten other children. by way of Clinton County. His father, John Gray, purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Blue Lake, near Onawa, and entered upon its cultivation. For about twelve years Angus O. taught school in the neighborhood of the county seat, but in 1883, entered into the mercantile trade. forming a part- nership with Samuel Cunningham. and putting in a hardware stock, in the village of Bleneoe, has con- tinned in that line ever since. After coming to this county, wishing to finish his education prop- erly, he returned to the place of his birth, and for nearly one year attended the Komoka Seminary.
OVEAD.I. TISDALE, a successful and well- to-do farmer of Maple Township, having his home on section 26, is a native of Iowa, born in Jackson County, January 2, 1856, and is the son of Myers and Emily (Tisdale) Tisdale. In his youth he received an education in the country schools in the neighborhood of his father's farm, and was early initiated into the hard work attend- ant upon agricultural life. He was reared to man- hood beneath the parental roof, and there remained until the spring of 1874, when he made a trip to Monona County, and, after spending the season
here, went further on, and located in Kansas. Two years later, not being satisfied with his situation there, he returned to this state and settled in Mon- ona County, purchasing the farm where he is now living, in connection with his brother William E .. who also resides upon the place. The farm con- tains one hundred and twenty acres, the most of which is under cultivation and fairly improved. Mr. Tisdale, October 23, 1888, was united in mar- ringe with Miss Louie Manson, a native of Center Township, Monona County, who was born January 20, 1869,and is a daughter of David and Abbie Man- son, old settlers of Monona County, now living on Soldier River, just across the line in Crawford county.
The brothers Tisdale are engaged in mixed farm- ing, and are meeting with fair success, being im- bued with the excellent qualities of industry, per- severance and economy, and are quite popular and esteemed in the community.
EREN JENSEN, a well known and much ยท valued citizen of Mapleton Township, re- siding on section 1,came to Monona County in the spring of 1879, and for three years made his home in Center Township. In the fall of 1882 he sold out and removed to his present resi- denee. where he has a well tilled farm of one hun- dred and twenty aeres, which is well improved.
Mr. Jensen was born near Fredereksborg, Den- mark, September 18, 1846, and there grew to man- hood, receiving the elements of his education in the common schools and at an evening school and early in life apprenticed himself to learn the painter's trade. August 1, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Margareta Christiansen, a native, also, of Denmark, born March 29, 1847. In 1873, leaving his wife in the old country, he started for the United States, and after landing at New York, ar- rived in Chicago, July 4, of that year. Going to Sterling, Ill., he worked steadily at his trade for three years under one firm and one foreman. He had about $35. when he commenced work, and at the end of the three years had saved $1,450,
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with which bo reti aed in his native jand with the expectation of remaining there. Owing to the dif- ference in their way of condu ting business and the small chance of making money, he brought his family to> Amerier in the fall of 1877. and returning to Sterlin, rr-entered the employ of the Keystone Manufacturing Company, with whom he remained until coming to Monona County as above stated. He is the father of six children, born as follows: Sophia M. September 19. 1873; IJansen 11 .. Femgary 23, 1879; Dora K. M., June 10. 1880; Nora ( ., October 29, 1882; Susie A., April 22, 1885; and Almon C., born June 13. 1888, who died April 12, 1889. Of these, Sophia was born in Denmark ; Hansen in Illinois, and the balance in Monona County, Iowa. In his political views Mr. Jensen is independent of the trammels of party lines, although he rather inclines to the broad platform of the Democratic party.
E DWARD M. CASSADY. one of the leading spirits in the mercantile circles of the vil- lage of Whiting, has been identified with the interests of Monona County since 1868. arriv- ing in this vicinity in February, of that year. Ile at first rented a place, but in the early fall pur- chased a farm, then in its native wild state, and the same season broke some of it up. This was on section 25, township 85, range 16. He erected a house on the place during the next winter, into which he removed in the spring of 1869. There he remained, engaged in agricultural labors, until 1874, meeting with abundant success. Although part of that time was marked by the terrible expe- rienee of the grasshopper plague. In 1572, when the insects were about at their worst, they seemed to have missed our subjeet's growing crops, and he obtained large prices for the abundant products of his field, corn bringing sixty five and seventy cents a bushel at his crib. In 1874 he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on sections 11 and 14, of the same township to which he removed, to which he later on added two hundred and forty acres more of land in section 7, township 85, range
45. All of this property he is still possessed of. lle carried on his agricultural and bneolie pursuits until 1880, when he removed to the village of Whiting, and entering into a co-partnership with Will C. Whiting. embarked extensively in the gen- eral merchandise trade. The firm still continues to carry on the business, and are noted as being among the most enterprising and public-spirited merchants of the thriving village.
Mr. Cassady was born at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, not far from the beautiful shores of Lake Erie, on the 25th of September, 1848, and is the son of Micha I and Julia ( Fosmyer) Cassady. His father was a native of Ireland, and born in 1820. lle came to the United States in 1836, and after remaining sometime in New York, located at Painesville, Ohio, where he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1863. The mother of our subject was born in New York, in 1828, and was the daughter of Henry and Olive (Ellsworth) Fosmyer, also natives of New York. Her parents removed to Canada, and from there to Kirtland, Ohio, with the intention of uniting with the Mormons, but changed their minds and settled there, and there remained until their death. Mrs. Michael Cassady, the fourth in a family of seven children, came to Monona County in the fall of 1868, and lived with Edward M. until her death, May 16, 1885. She had eight children: James; William, deceased; Edward M., John H .; Julia, deceased ; Eliza, Mrs. M. O. Utterback; Charles S .; and Elizabeth, Mrs. W. A. Koon.
Our subject was the third in the family, and re- mained at home assisting in earrying on the home- stead until February, 25, 1864, when he enlisted at Cleveland, Ohio, in Company A, Tenth United States Infantry, in which he served three years. Ile joined his regiment at Ft. LaFayette, N. Y., where, while he was sick, the regiment left for the front and took part in the Wilderness campaign. Our subject joined his comrades, and with his regiment was engaged in the conflicts before Petersburg, June 18, 19, 21, 1864, and in those on the Weldon Railroad and at Poplar Church. From there they went to New York to gnard from any riots at the polls during the Presidential election, and were afterward stationed at Buffalo. In January, 1865,
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Cassady, who was one of the youngest soldiers to enlist, went home on a sick furlough, and rejoined his regiment six months later, and was stationed near Washington. They were ordered from there to Ft. Ripley, Minn., where, February 25, 1867, our subject was honorably discharged. From the latter State he returned to his home in Ohio. but October, following, he came to Iowa as stated above and in February, following. from Fremont County to Monona County.
Our subject was united in marriage. September 7, 1878, with Miss Ida N. Whiting, who was born in Johnson County, Iowa, July 4, 1851, and the daughter of the Hon. Charles E. and Nancy (Criner) Whiting, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. She came to this county with her parents, and re- ceived her preliminary education in the district schools. She commenced teaching school in her sixteenth year, and taught for four terms, and in 1878 entered the Iowa State University, where she remained for four years.
Our subject was one of the charter members and first officers of Hanscom Post, No. 97, G. A. R .; is a Republican, and has held several local offices.
Ilewins, who was born June 28. 1787. and died October 10. 1861, he died December 17 1856. in Hallowell. Me. having had only two children: Franklin Augustus, and Francis Jerome. He was a hatter Ey trade, carrying on that business until Franklin was about fifteen years old, when he pur- chased land at llallowell Cross Roads and remained a farmer for life. For a short time during the war of 1812-15, he joined the United States Cavalry. During the latest years of his life "Uncle Frank" as he was called, dwelt in the city of Hallowell.
Franklin Augustus Day was born July 9, 1809, . in Kennebec County, Me. At the district school, the academies of Monmouth and Hallowell and the Wesleyan Seminary at Readfield, he gained an ex- cellent practical education. He started out in life for himself at the age of eighteen by working on his uncle's farm for $8 per month and board. Investing his wages in a watch and clothing he taught a district school the following winter. lle continued to teach for three winters and one summer, a part of the time at the large town school. In 1831 Mr. Day went into a general store in com- pany with Laban Lincoln, at Hallowell, remaining about five years. During the next two years he was a member of the firm of Day & Jackson. The following year was spent in North Carolina, where he learned to detest that "peculiar institu- tion" which John Wesley pronounced "the sum of all villainies." Returning to Hallowell he went into the mercantile business again. Two years later his brother, Francis J., became a member of the firm, assisting him to carry on the business about eight years. During all these ten years F. A. Day served as Collector and Treasurer of the old town of Hallowell, having been elected to that office in 1845. After living one year at Middle- field, Conn., and one year at Perth Amboy, N. J., he moved with all his family to Monona County, in 1855.
RANKLIN AUGUSTU'S DAY, now a resi- dent of the village of Castana, and one of the pioncers of this county, is a descendant of the English Puritans. Ilis genealogical table commences with Robert Day, who was born in England in 1605,and came to America in the "Hope- well," Captain Burdock, from London in 1624. Robert Day died in Ipswich, Mass, leaving a large family. llis son, Thomas Day, was born in 1643, and died in 1718, having one son. Thomas. born about 1670 and died in 1750. The latter had a son, Jeremiah, born in 1713, who died in 1788, and who was the father of John Day, born March 4, F. A. Day married Miss llarriet Proctor Squire, who was born in Somerset County, Me., March 31, 1809, and who died in Monona County. January 28, 1876, having been the mother of four children, of which the following is a record : Franklin Au- gustus Lincoln was born July 1, 1832; Joseph 1751. The latter married his cousin, Miss Sarah Day, and removed from Ispwich to Winthrop, Me., in 1795, with a family of five sons and three daughters. He died in Maine October 12, 1820. Francis, the second son of John Day, was born February 11, 178t. lle married Miss Elizabeth , Bowles Proctor. May 31. 1831; Francis Jerome
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Preston, June 28, 1836; and llarriet Elizabeth Consuelo, July 9, 1811. These four children all became school teachers, are all married, all are now living in Monona County, and there are twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Shortly after coming to this county our subjeet lost the greater part of his property by going surety for a friend. He fitted out at St. Charles, Ill., and came through with six oxen and a span of horses, camping on the Little Sioux River, in De- cember of the coklest winter ever known in Iowa. HIe bravely and energetically bore the hardships and privations of pioneer life. He was elected a member of the County Board of Supervisors for a number of years, and by his honest labors earned the gratitude of the people, and served as Postmas- ter at Areola, and also at his store in old Castana. Ilis occupations were various until 1878, when he became a member of the widely known mercan- tile firm of F. A. Day & Co. Five years later he sold out to Wm. T. Day & Co., and since then has been leading a retired life, aiming only to set- tle up his past business affairs.
Although our subjeet is the son of a Baptist deacon, he has never been a member of any church, or indeed of any society. secret or otherwise. Re- ligously he is, and has been, a persistent Free- Thinker. While of a domestic nature and habit, fond of games and amusements, he has opposed the use of intoxicating liquors and tobacco, and has never failed to bear testimony against saloons and all betting and gambling.
Mr. Day was a member of the old Whig party. Ilis last vote as such was cast for Gen. W. If. Har- rison, in 1840. From that time until 1856 he was a Garrisonian Abolitionist, and did no voting. There were twelve votes thrown in Kennebec Township on that year by himself and others, all of them for John C. Fremont. Since that eventful date he has been a warm and devoted Republican, taking a deep interest in the public affairs of both Nation, State and county.
Mr. Day has travelled the rough and thorny road of a wide experience, especially since eom- ing to Monona County ; his present position and success in life have been achieved by persistent hard knocks. Despite the fact that he has been a
vehement advocate, a rough-and-ready controver- sialist, his opponents have not failed to give him credit for honesty, ability and sincerity. Kenne- bee Township, or in fact Monona County. contains but few citizens who are more widely known or more respected aud esteemed than the gentleman of whom this annal is written.
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C HIARLES I. WHITING, Cashier of the Ma- pleton Bank, and one of the leading citizens of that prosperous village, was born at Hunts- ville, Ala., December, 6, 1855, and is a son of New- ell A. and Eliza Whiting, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in the pages of this ALBUM. Ile came to Monona County with his parents in the spring of 1858, and grew to manhood in the then little village of Onawa, receiving his education in its graded schools. He also was in attendance at Bayliss's Business College at Dubuque and Des Moines, and assisted his father in the latter's store at Onawa until the fall of 1877, when he removed to Mapleton, and in company with his uncle, Bax- ter Whiting, engaged in the hardware business un- der the firm name and style of Whiting & Co. This was one of the pioneer mercantile establish- ments of the place, and was operated by them until March, 1881, when they disposed of it to James Garrison, by whom it is still carried on. The Ma- pleton Bank, which was organized September 1, 1878, by Baxter Whiting, W. H. Bliss and Charles I. Whiting, demanding his entire attention, our subject, in March, 1881, assumed the position of Cashier, which he has held ever since. The bank had originated in their hardware establishment, oc- cupying one corner of their store room, but on their selling out to Mr. Garrison it was removed to its present handsome quarters. A close atten- tion to the business needs of the community, and a courteous and affable manner toward all with whom he comes in contact, have won Mr. Whiting a warm place in the hearts of almost the entire com- munity, and he is one of the most popular business men of that section of the county. Notwithstand- ing his business cares, which have ever given him
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES |. WHITING, VILL. OF MAPLETON.
.s.
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ample employment, he still takes time for reading, thought and study, and keeps himself thoroughly well-posted upon matters of general interest. Ile is a young man who labors not for self alone but may always be found aiding the enterprises calcu- lated to advance the interests of the community in which he has cast his lot. lle has taken charge of the Mapleton Park, under direction of the village board, and has made it what it is, a place of beauty and the pride of the people. He has served in the city government, both on the village board and as Recorder, with considerable ability and credit to himself, and is ever foremost in all public enter- prises.
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Mr. Whiting was united in marriage, September 25, 1879, with Miss Flora E. Giddings, a native of Luzerne County, Pa., who was born March 8, 1860, and is a daughter of James D. and Mary Gid- (lings. Her father was for years a merchant at Onawa, but is now a resident of Mapleton. Of this marriage there have been born two children-Mary E., July, 19, 1880 and Flora S., June 25, 1883.
During the summer of 1889 Mr. Whiting com- pleted at Mapleton one of the finest residences in the county, at a cost of over $10,000, including grounds, which is a model of modern architecture and convenience. Heated by furnace, lit by gas, with hot and cold water, bath rooms, electric bells, etc., it leaves little to be desired as a place of resi- dence. A view of this, the finest dwelling house in Monona County, may be found on another page in this volume.
Socially Mr. Whiting is a member of Quarry Lodge, No. 404, A. F. & A. M., at Mapleton, and of Maple Valley Lodge, No. 399, I. O. O. F. 1lis wife is a member of the Episcopal Church.
stead, Tucker returning to Indiana. Here Mr. East has made his home for the greater portion of the time since.
John T. East was born in Greene County, Ind., January 17, 1812. and is the son of John Il. and Mary A. East. llis father was a native of North Carolina, born in 1807, and settled in Indiana at an early date. In the spring of 1842, our subject, an infant but a few months old, was brought to lowa by his parents, who located in Davenport. Four years later the family removed to Linn County, where they made a permanent settlement in the spring of 1846. After receiving his education in the district schools, February 22, 1859. in company with his father and others, he started for Pike's Peak, but on their way, discovering a large number returning disappointed from that locality, they concluded to change their destination to California, which they accordingly did. After engaging in mining in the latter country, at which they made but little money, in the fall of 1861 the father returned to lowa, but our subject remained another year. During the summer of 1862 our subject was offered a position on the special police force of San Francisco at a salary of $100 per month, but having made up his mind to return home, it proved but a little temptation, and in November of the same year he came back to Linn County. For the fol- lowing two years he was there engaged in farming, but, in the spring of 1865, removed to Monticello, Jones County, Iowa. where he commenced learning the blacksmith's trade. While a resident of that city, May 29, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Maria E. Butler, a native of Oswego County, N. Y., born .January 12, 1845, and after making his home there for some three years, drove through to Monona County, as above stated.
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