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 62
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In 1875 our subject again went to California, and from San Francisco to Portland, Ore., and the Columbia River, and engaged at mining near Canyon City. June 12, 1876, he started for home by way of Camp Harney, through southern Oregon, with a team to Winomokkee, Nev .. on the Central Pacific, by which and its connections he arrived at his home July 4, following. His father, who had come to this county in 1866, and located at Grant
OIIN T. EAST, a prominent farmer of Ken- nebec Township, living on section 14. came to Monona County, September 20, 1869, and on the 2d of November, 1870, after pur- chasing the relinquishment of the claim of Charles Tucker, who had settled on the land about two years before, took up his present farm as a home- | Center, Grant Township, was killed by the falling
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of a tree, when chopping in the woods, near Smith- land, Woodbury County, January 21. 1868. Ilis mother died here July 12, 1883.
Mr. and Mrs. East have had a family of six chil- dren, of which the following is a record: Arthur Il., who was born June 17, 1868, died Novem- ber 23, 1883; Addie L. was born March 1, 1870; Charles A., born March 13, 1872; Zimrie W., born February 17, 1875; Merlin A., born January 9, 1877, died February 17 of the same year, and Cora J., born March 25, 1881.
ORNELIUS VAN DORN, a pioneer of Mo- nona County, and the second settler in the township of Grant, was born in New Jersey, June 2, 1793. In his youth he received a common- school education and grew to manhood in the place of his nativity. Early in life he removed with his parents to Saratoga, N. Y., where, for some time they were engaged in carrying on a hotel. From that celebrated spot, with the family. our subject removed to Ohio, when about twenty years of age and settled in Richland County.
On his marriage, in 1822, Samuel Wilkinson, his father-in-law, gave the bride, as a wedding present, a forty-acre tract of land and he purchased ? like amount. This, as was common in that day in the Buckeye State, was heavily timbered, and young VanDorn set to work to clear it up preparatory to tilling the soil. On this tract of land he made his home until 1854. In October of that year he came to lowa. Locating in Fayette County, he rented a farm about a mile southeast of West Union, where he resided all winter. From there he rode on horse- back the following May to Monona County, on a tour of investigation and back in June, to rejoin his family. In July, having determined to locate here, he loaded a portion of his household goods and with his wife and two of his children started for his newly selected home. Three of the family remained in Fayette County to take care of the crops, and there were rejoined by the father some two months later who returned to close up his busi- ness there. After selling off the results of his
labors there he started for Monona County with the balance of his family and arrived at his home here October 28, 1855.
Mr. Van Dorn, as shown in the historieal portion of this work, purchased the okl Seth Smith farm on section 3, Grant Township, the site of the first settlement in the township, so that both first and second settlers were located upon the same tract. This he improved and upon it made his home until taken from this world by death, October 13, 1876.
Cornelius Van Dorn was married in Washington Township, Richland County, Ohio, June 12, 1822. to Miss Mary Wilkinson, a native of Lexington. Ky., and daughter of Samuel Wilkinson, who died September 23, 1879, having been the mother of thirteen children: Lavinia, born April 25, 1823, the wife of Samuel Bixler, residing in Ohio; Jane C .. born October 15, 1824, died in California July 6, 1886; Emily A., Mrs. William Bowers, born Novem- ber 17, 1826, living at Decatur, III .; Virgil, born in Richland County, Ohio, July 4, 1828; Washington. born March 6, 1830; Hannah, Mrs. G. Long, born January 30, 1832, residing in California; Martha S., Mrs. William Burtun, born September 27, 1834, re- siding in Onawa; Amanda L., Mrs ... Sharon, of Ore- gon, born May 27,1836 ; and Elizabeth, in July 1839; Livingston, March 15, 1841; Burgess, August 15, 1842, living at Spokane Falls, Wash. ; James, born October 17, 1844, engaged in the real-estate business in the same city; and Mary, born July 21, 1846, died June 18, 1861, the first death in Grant Town- ship.
ILLIAM L. COONES, one of the old settlers of Monona County, now residing m Lake Township, on section 17, came here in October, 1856, and settled on land now owned by Tobias Fegenbush. At that early day there were only three families beside himself in what is now Lake Township, those of Edward Clark, James Stillwell, and Frank Brooks. Ile re- mained here until the 19th of May, 1857, and then returned to Warren County, Ill., where he made his home until August, 1871. At the latter date he started with a team for Council Bluffs, and in
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that city spent the following winter. In March. 1872 he again came to Monona County, settling ou a rented farm on section 17. One year later he removed to section 21, but in the spring of 1874 returned to the former place. He was engaged in tilling the soil of this farm until March. 1881. when. having purchased the place where he now lives, he removed on it.
Mr. Coones was born in Louisville, Ky., August 22, 1833, and is the son of John and Rebecca Coones. While an infant in arms he was taken by his parents to Clark County, Ind., where he was reared to manhood. Reared upon a farm, he drew his education from the district schools of the neigh- borhood and remained at home until attaining his majority. In 1854, he commenced life for him- self, working out for different farmers in the vicin- ity of his father's' home for some two years. At the expiration of that time he came to Iowa and remained in Tama County until October, 1856, when he came to Monona County as above stated.
Mr. Coones was united in marriage at Louisville, Ky., Angust 11, 1851, with Miss Mary C. Fegen- bush, the daughter of Tobias and Caroline (Ber- ringer) Fegenbush, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this ALBUM. By this union there has been a family of six children: Sarah E., born May 29, 1855; William A., September 24, 1858; an infant boy that died unnamed, born December 11, 1859; Clara C., March 31, 1861 ; Rhoda R., July 11, 1863, and George W., March 15, 1870.
ENRY W. C. HAMM AN, a prosperous farmer of Maple Township, was born De- cember 6. 1836, in Germany, and received his education in the Fatherland. In 1852 he came to the United States with his parents, but on their arrival at New York his mother died in that city. With his father he came to lowa and settled in Clayton County, where the former died January 2, 1887. Henry remained at home until the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Fourth Missouri Cavalry at St. Louis, as a musician in what was known as Siegel's Body Guard, and |
served about two years. The company of which he was a member being mostly engaged in the ad- vance, was always placed in peril, and on one ex- pedition was cut off from the column for over a week and given up for lost at headquarters. They hid in corn fields, subsisting on the raw corn, but finally made their escape. Having been injured by the fall of his horse, Mr. Hamman was sent to the hospital and from there received his discharge, returning to his home in Clayton County. He en- gaged in the mercantile trade at Ottumwa, Iowa. whither he went and where he remained till 1871, when he removed to Listonville, now Danbury, Woodbury County, in which village he engaged in farming until the fall of 1879, when he came to Monona County.
Mr. Hamman was married in the fall of 1879 to Mrs. Elizabeth D. (Busacker) Levaranz. She was born in Germany, April 13, 1846, and in that country married Joachim Range, who died, leaving three children-Wilhelmina M. E., born September 21, 1866; Fritz, born February 8, 1867; and Marie, born JJanuary 8, 1869, who died in the fall of 1874. Coming to America in 1871, she was again united in marriage in Wisconsin with William C. Levaranz, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1870, and settled in Clayton County, lowa. In 1871 he came to Monona County a 'd purchased the farm upon which Mr. and Mrs. Hamman now re- side. lIere he made his home until October 7, 1877, when he started out on horseback to hunt up the cows. Not returning his family grew anxious about him, but in spite of all inquiries and searches nothing could be heard either of him or the horse. His wife was left with but small support for herself and two children, and for two years awaited his coming anxiously, but giving him up for dead, in the fall of 1879 she was united in marriage with Mr. Hamman. A few days after the ceremony the absent husband returned to his home but his mind was gone. Hle had been taken insane after leaving home, and was found near the railroad track near Logan, in Harrison County, badly bruised and in an insane condition, and was placed in the poor- house of that county. The horse was never heard from, and it is supposed that he was assaulted and
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robbed for the sake of the animal, but the matter still remains a mystery. Hle was taken to the in- sane asylum at Independence, where he died, leav- ing two children: Anna, born October 4. 1873. and John, [ born November 18, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. , Ilamman have had three children: Bertha, born March 6. 1879; Henry. March 2, 1881 ; and Emma, born June 30. 1882. The family are members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics Mr. Hamman is a Democrat.
E RICK K. LEE, one of the industrious and influential citizens of Jordan Township, re- siding on section 26, came to Monona County in the spring of 1877 and purchased one hundred and twenty-five acres of wild land, which forms a part of his present farm, By hard work, energy and judicious economy, he has added to this until he is now the proud possessor of a fine farm of two hundred and sixty acres, all well fenced, and one hundred and twenty acres of it under cul- tivation, the balance being devoted to stock pur- poses, to which he gives a considerable share of his attention.
Mr. Lee was born near Christiana, Norway,'May 25, 1845, and is the son of Knudt and Carrie (Erickson) Lee. Ilis father. a native of the same locality in Norway, was born February 28, 1886, and was engaged in farming in his native country until 1850, when he crossed the ocean, bringing with him his wife and children, and located in Dane County. Wis., where he engaged in farming, making that his home until 1883, at which date he came to Monona County. After farming about four years in Jordan Township he sold his land, but still makes his home bere, with his son Erick. About 1840 he married Miss Carrie Eriekson. a lady born in Nor- way, March 8, 1822, who died in Monona County April 8, 1805, having some nine children.
Erick Lee grew to manhood on his father's farm in Dane County, Wis., and received in youth a good, common-school education. At the age of twenty-one years he went to work for himself on some rented aeres, where he carried on threshing during the season until 1876, At that date he re-
moved to lowa and, locating in Webster County. for about a year was engaged in carrying on a farm, at the end of which time he settled in this county. as above stated.
Mr. Lee, July 11, 1870, in Greene County, Wis .. was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Bohn, a native of Norway, born near Christiana, September 29, 1853, who died November 18, 1887. in Monona County. Of their children the following is a record: Christiana was born July 14, 1872. in Green County. Wis .; Anna Carina, June 5, 1874, in Green County: Knudt, in Webster County, Iowa, October 4, 1876; Clara, in Monona County, De- cember 23. 1878; Hannah Maria, August 5, 1881; Isabella, born January 9, 1883, and died October 1, 1889. and Henry. born August 25, 1886.
ENRY L. GILMORE, who is engaged quite extensively in stock-raising on bis large farm of two hundred and ninety aeres on section 21, Sioux Township, which he has well improved, is a native of Ohio. He was born March 22, 1832, and is a son of Menzy and Ma- tilda Gilmore, the former of whom was born in Massachusetts, June 9, 1792, of Scotch-English an- cestry, and the latter born in Vermont February, 17, 1797. They were married in Vermont in 1819, and four years later emigrated to Ohio. The father died in the spring of 1880, having been the parent of twelve children, only six of whom are living.
Henry L., the fifth child of his parents, was reared to manhood in the Buckeye State and re- ceived an excellent education, and on reaching his majority adopted teaching as a profession. For eighteen years he followed this business with im- mense snecess, but in 1865 removed to Butler, DeKalb County, Ind .. where he engaged in the lumber business and continued in that line of trade until about 1884, when he came to Monona County and, locating on the farm where he now lives, in- itiated his present business.
Mr. Gilmore received his higher education in lliram College, then under the Presidency of James A. Garfield, and at the widely-known University
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at Oberlin. Obio. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company B. Forty-first Ohio Infantry, but, for some reason or other, never entered into active service.
Mr. Gilmore was united in marriage, August 17, 1857, with Miss Minnie Wheeler, a native of Ohio. By this union they have had two children, of whom the following is recorded : Byron H., who was born in 1858, married Miss Idla MeCurdy, a native of Indiana; Clara, who was born in 1862, married Edward Seaton.
Mr. Gilmore is a member of Forest Lodge No. 269, A. F. & A. M., located at Butler, Ind. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Turin.
ILO J. HENDERSON, the popular land- lord of the St. Paul Hotel, at Rodney, and proprietor of the livery, feed and sale stable at the same place, came to Monona County in 1868, with his parents. John C. Ifen- derson, his father, was a native of Susquehanna County, Pa., where he grew to manhood and re- ceived a fair education. At the age of thirty years he came to Iowa, and in Scott County took up a tract of land and commenced its tillage. From there he removed to the neighborhood of Muscatine, where he followed the same vocation for seven or eight years, moving thence to Atchi- son County, Mo., and in 1868 came to Monona County and took up eighty acres as a homestead on section 32, Grant Township, and is still a resi- dent of the county. He was married about 1850 to Miss Eliza Boice, a native of Ulster County, N. Y., who was born February 13, 1827. They had a family of seven children-lda, deceased; Milo J. Burton, living in this county; Henrietta, deceased; Jennie, Mrs. David Carter, of Glen- wood, Iowa; Lettie, at home; and Chapman.
Milo J. Ilenderson was born in Scott County, Iowa, November 12, 1854, and removed with his parents to the various localities in which they set- tled, and was about twelve years of age when the family came to Monona County. Receiving the
most of his education in the schools of this county, he here grew to manhood, and at the age of nine- teen years started out in life for himself, renting a tract of land in Grant Township, which he tilled for some eight years. Removing to Woodbury County he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, where he carried on his agricultural labors until October, 1888, when he sold out and removed to Rodney, purchasing the St. Paul Hotel. About a month previous to this he had opened a general store at Ticonic, but only remained there some thirty days. lle had purchased the livery barn previous to coming here.
Mr. Henderson was married, December 31, 1877, in Grant Township, to Miss Cora E. Morris, who was born in Potter County, Pa., November 21, 1859, and is the daughter of Mark and Freelove Morris. Of this union there have been four chil- dren-Edna Blanche, who was born October 27, 1879, and died October 31, 1882; Effie J., who was born in Woodbury County August 19, 1883; Guy Hall, who was born in Woodbury County, March 12. 1885; and Boll J., who was born August 31, 1886.
OHIAN DONNER is a prominent representa- tive of the German race, who have trans- planted to the fertile lands of the Northwest the habits of economy and thrift character- istic of that people, and have, by the exercise of those virtues, risen from comparative poverty to a state of ease and comfort. Ile is a resident of the town of Franklin, living on section 15, where he settled in 1866.
Johan Donner was born in Prussia, October 12, 1828, and there received in youth the rudiments of a good common-school education. Attaining man- hood's years, he sought to earn his living at any work that he could find to do, and was there mar- ried January, 21, 1855, to Miss Sophia Miller, a native of the same kingdom, who was born Novem- ber 9, 1829. Perceiving the impossibility of bet- tering bis condition in the overcrowded labor markets of the Old World, he decided to scek a new home in the Great Republic of the West. an.l
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accordingly. in October. 1863, he started for New York. After eleven days spent on the voyage he landed on America's shore, and immediately pro- ceeded to Buena Vista. Fayette County, Ohio. where he found employment in a stone quarry. There he remained until the fall of 1866, at which time he came to Monona County, arriving at Onawa : on the 224 of October. He purchased forty acres of land on section 15, Franklin Township, for which he paid $280. which land was entirely un- improved. Ilis means being limited, he erected a primitive log cabin, 16x21 feet in size, in which he and his family made their home until 1882. By this time, having acquired more means, be built the neat frame residence, 18x28 feet in size. and a story and a half in height, in which be now lives. Since then he has added forty acres to his farm, and has brought the most of it, by energetic and intelligent labor, to a high state of cultivation.
Mrs. Donner departed from this life November 17. 1879, dying of a cancer. She was the mother of five children : Mollie, born September 18, 1856; Minnie. December 6, 1858; Augusta December 5. 1860; Louisa, October 1, 1869, and Frederick, whose birth took place June 15, 1873. Mr. Donner and his family are members of the Lutheran Church. at Onawa, of which denomination he is an active and zealous member. Ile was prominently identified with the organization of the society, was one of its original members, and was one of the leading promoters in the building of the church edifice.
SAAC U. RIDDLE, the popular Supervisor and old pioneer of Soldier Township, came to Mo- nona County in the spring of 1865, in company with his brother, Moses, walking most of the way from their home in Story County, arriving at the house of Mr. Agens, April 6. After looking the country over Mr. Riddle purchased, on the 16th of April, the southwest quarter of section 4, Soldier Township, where he now resides. He broke up about ten acres of sod that season and made his home with his brother, in a little cabin on the lat- ter's place. but boarded most of the time with Mr.
Agens. In the fall his sister came out to keep house for her brother which she did for about nine months, when she was married and then his father and mother came out and took up their residence with him, remaining until the fall of 1866, when the father purchased a farm and moved to Craw- ford County, In the fall of 1868, up to which time he lived with his brother Moses, he removed to his own place and made his home in a "dug-out" cabin and in the spring of 1880 erected his present resi- dence.
Mr. Riddle was born in Holmes County, Ohio, March 9, 1837. and is the son of Matthew B. and Eleanor (Underhill) Riddle. In 1859, he removed to Story County, his parents having preceded him the previous year. About May 20, of that year, he went to Polk County, Iowa, where he followed mason-work during the summer and fall of 1859, but returned to his home in December and re mained in Story County until entering the army. In June, 1861, Mr. Riddle enlisted in Company E, Third Jowa Infantry, one of the most gallant regi- ments that left our noble State, and one that won for itself immortal glory. At Blue Mills, Mo., the regiment met the enemy for the first time, and although greatly outnumbered, held their own. On Shiloh's bloody field the Third Jowa, under the immediate command of their division General, Stephen A. Julburt, protected the flank when W. H. Wallace's men broke and ran, and were highly commended in the general orders of the day. At Hatchie River, Matamoras, and at the siege of Vicksburg he participated in the contlict with his regiment, but June 24, 1863, was detached from the company while lying in the front of the latter named place, and sent to brigade headquar. ters. Hle never rejoined the company but partici- pated in most of the engagements in which his regiment took part, at Jackson and on many another field. At the expiration of his term of service he was sent to Davenport, Iowa, where he was mus- tered out and discharged, June 22, 1864, and returned to Story County, where he remained until coming to this county, the following year. He has taken an active and prominent part in the develop- ment of the county, especially the eastern portion, and has watched its growth from the day when
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there was but one family and two other men beside himself and brother within its limits, to its present population and prosperous condition. Twenty-four years have made a vast difference in the county.
Mr. Riddle was married May 3, 1898, to Miss Mary Koontz, a native of Bedford County, Pa., who was born July 1. 1835, and is the daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Winegardner) Koontz. Of this union there have been born four children -- John J., Matthew B., Clark C. and Frank F. Mr. Riddle was elected a member of the Board of Su- pervisors in November. 1883, and has served in that capacity ever since, being re-elected to the position three times, the last being the hard cam- paign of November, 1889.
IRGIL VAN DORN, the son of Cornelius and Mary ( Wilkinson ) Van Dorn, a sketeh of whom is given elsewhere, was born in Richland County, Ohio, July 4, 1828, and received in his youth a practical, common-school education. Ile grew to manhood in the Buckeye State. After attaining his majority in April, 1850, he went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama and locating in Nevada County, that State, engaged in mining for about ten years. Ile removed, at the expiration of that time, to Butte County, where he embarked in the eattle business upon a ranch and made his home there until the fall of 1887, when he came to Monona County and purchased land. Ile now makes his home with his brother Living- ston. a prominent and influential farmer living on seetion 3, in Grant Township.
ILLIAM E. ROBERTS, the station agent of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company at Turin, and the Postmaster of that village, was born in Leicestershire, England, March 15, 1840. Ilis father. John C. Roberts. a native of the same county, born October 7, 1811, was a teacher as well as a farmer, and was a re-
markably well-educated gentleman, reading and speaking several languages. About 1833 he mar- ried Miss Lydia Faulkner, a native of the same section, born December 18, 1812. In 1845 the family removed to the United States, and after a few years spent in Quebec, Canada, settled at Ken- osha, Wis., where the father has been engaged ever since, in teaching. There was a family of seven children: Robert F., Lydia E., John H., William E .; Esther H1., deceased; Richard A. R., who died in the army ; and George F.
William E., the fourth child, crossed the ocean with his parents in childhood, bound for America, and landed at Quebec, from which. after several years' residence in Canada, he landed at Kenosha, Wis., May 11, 1850. In the latter city be grew to manhood, and being carefully edueated by his father, has become an excellent scholar. At the age of eighteen years. he commenced teaching, and was thus employed, when on the 19th of April, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, First Wisconsin Infantry, known as the Park City Grays, and was in the engagemen at Falling Water, Va. The regiment having been enlisted under the three months' call, in August of the same year he was mustered out at Milwaukee, and returned home. One year later, August 23, 1862, he re-enlisted, this time in Company I, Thirty-third Wisconsin Infan- try, in which he was commissioned as First Lieu- tenant. Throughout the campaigns in Tennessee and Kentucky, including the famous siege and cap- ture of Vicksburg, and the subsequent movements around Chattanooga, and on the road to Atlanta, he bore a gallant part, but being disabled by sick- ness, April 1864, at Natchez, Miss., he resigned his commission and returned to his home in Wisconsin, and engaged in farming for about a year and a half. For the two succeeding years he was the sta- tion agent of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Woodworth, and was then transferred by the same company to Chelsea, Iowa, where he performed similar duties for four years and a half. After two years service at Delmar, Iowa. he left the service of the company, and entered into the law business at the latter village, but a short time afterward re- moved to Clinton, where he was engaged on the Herald for some sixteen months as business man-
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