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 64
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Mr. Williamson was united in marriage Novem- ber 23, 1847, in Huntingdon County, Pa., with Miss Mary Davis, a native of that State. and daughter of John C. and Nancy Davis, By this union they family of eleven children: William G., Hiram, Anna L., John D., Howard C., Samuel K., James E., Martin E., Alexander C. Henry and Joseph- the last two are deceased,
G SU'ST PETERSON, a leading Scandinavian farmer of the town of West Fork, residing on section 21, came to Monona County in 1877, and went to work for Judge C. E. Whiting. In the spring of the following year he entered the employ of Lewis Pike, with whom he remained four years, at the end of which time he rented of W. B. Whiting the farm upon which he now re- sides, and carried on farming, on shares, for two years. In the spring of 1885, he formed a partner- ship with W. B. Whiting, with whom he is engaged in the cattle business, devoting a large share of his attention to the rearing of Short-horns.
Mr. Peterson, a native of Sweden, was born March 8, 1858. His mother dying when he was yet an infant, he was taken by an unele, with whom
he remained until about sixteen years of age, when, with a view to the advancement of his fortunes and freedom to rise in the world, be came to America. Ile located in Chicago, on coming to this country, in the spring of 1874, but a short time after re- moved to I'nion County, Dakota, where he made his home until the fall of 1877, after which he came to Monona County, as above stated.
The marriage of Mr. Peterson took place in Onawa. June 10, 1886, the bride being Miss Bertha Wicklund, the daughter of A. and Bertha Wick- lund. Of this marriage there have born been two children-Roy II., born May 14, 1887, and Maud E., born April 16, 1889,
LIVINGSTON VAN DORN has seen per- haps as many of the changes that have taken place on the Missouri Slope as any other man residing in this county, having been early inured to pioneer life, when this region was yet in its infancy. A son of that sturdy pio- neer, Cornelius Van Dorn, the second settler in what is now Grant Township, he came to Monona County with his parents when about thirteen years of age and has practically been connected with its growth and upbuilding from that to the present time.
S. Livingston Van Dorn was born in Richland County, Ohio, March 15, 1841, and is the son of Cornelius and Mary ( Wilkinson) Van Dorn, whose life history has been given elsewhere in this ALBUM, and at the age of twelve years came to Iowa with his parents who settled in Fayette County. From the latter point, in 1855, he came to Monona County, and with his father and mother settled on section 3, in Grant Township, when its only other settler was Seth Smith. Here he has remained ever since. Ile received his education in the pioneer schools, rough cradles of learning, around whose hallowed walls cluster so many fond memories, and grew to manhood amidst the delightful scenes, of his youthful days. In assisting his father in carrying on the home farm, he remained beneath the parental roof until attaining his twenty-second
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MONONA COUNTY.
year, at which time he engaged in farming, a busi- ness which he has followed ever since. He is the owner of one hundred and two acres of excellent land on sections 2 and 3, all of which is well im- proved. The buildings upon it are of an excellent character and a large share of his attention is given to stock-raising.
Mr. Van Dorn was married. April 4, 1882, to Miss Elizabeth Ross, a native of Richland County, Ohio, born March 29. 1851, and daughter of Will- iam and Jane (Fletcher) Ross. By this union there have been born four children, only one of whom is living-Florence J., born March 31, 1886. The others were two that died unnamed in infaney, and Blanche, who was born February 27, 1889, and died July 1. following.
EV. CHARLES NORTHROP LYMAN, pastor of the Congregational Church at Onawa, was born at Hartford, Conn .. May 14, 1835, and is a son of Diodate B. and Eliza (Vibbert) Lyman, natives of Connecticut. llis father, who was born at Manchester, Novem- ber 17, 1809, spent his life upon a farm. In 1867, he came to lowa and settled in Harrison County, and died at Dunlap, February 13, 1888. Ile was the son of Daniel Lyman, who was born in East Ilartford, Conn., January 5, 1768. and who married Miss Lydia M. Brewster, a lady who was born May 7, 1672, at Lebanon, in the same State. They were the parents of seven children. Both he and his wife died in Connectieut, the former December 9, 1854, and the latter about 1863. The father of Daniel Lyman was Deacon Joseph Lyman, and through him the family is traced back in England and Scotland to the twelfth century. The grand- mother of our subject, Lydia MI. ( Brewster) Lyman, was a direct descendant of Elder William Brew- ster, one of the Puritans who came over in the Mayllower in 1620. Eliza (Vibbert) Lyman, the mother of the subject of our sketeh, was born at Manchester, Conn., March 23, 1812.
Charles N. Lyman, the second in a family of five children. was reared upon a farm, receiving
the rudiments of his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. and for one or two terms attended the academy at Manchester. At the age of seventeen years heexperienced religion and began the preparation for the ministry. Entering Monson Academy, he there remained two years, and in the fall of 1854 matriculated at Yale Col- lege. After remaining at the latter two years. he spent twelve months in teaching, and then, return - ing to the college, was graduated by that institu- tion in July, 1859, in a class of one hundred and twelve. Ile engaged in teaching, and soon entered the Yale Theological Seminary at New Haven which he left in February, 1862, and took up his work in the ministry as pastor of the Congrega- tional church at Canton Centre, Conn., having been ordained and installed in October of that year.
In the summer of 1864, resigning his pastorate, Mr. Lyman enlisted as a private in the Thirteenth Connecticut Infantry, but his congregation would not accept of his resignation. preferring to grant him leave of absence instead. Shortly afterward he was appointed Chaplain of the Twentieth Con- neetieut Infantry, which was a part of the Twen- tieth Corps, and was ordered to join the regiment at Atlanta, and was present with them in their ex- pedition through Georgia and the Carolinas, and at Raleigh when Johnson surrendered. After par- ticipating in the Grand Review at Washington, he returned to his native State and resumed his pas- toral duties, and there he remained until October, 1868, when he came to lowa and took charge of the Congregational Church at Dunlap.
January 1, 1871, Rev. Mr. Lyman came to On- awa, since which date he has been connected with this elinrch and has grown necessary to the people of the community. 1Ie has also served most ac- ceptably three terms as County Superintendent of schools in this eonnty, and has been the Chaplain of Hanseom Post, No. 97, (. A. R., since its organiza- tion. and was one of the charter members of that society.
Mr. Lyman was united in marriage October 13, 1863, at New Haven, Conn., with Miss Eveline Up- son, a native of Berlin, Hartford County, Conn., who is the mother of four children: Charles Rus- sell, who was born at Canton Centre. Conn .. Janu-
MONONA COUNTY.
ary 19. 1867. died November 21. 1881; The- ron Epson, born at Dunlap, Iowa, September 7, 1870; Winthrop Brewster, born at Onawa, Iowa, July 11, 1872, and George Henry, born in the lat- ter city. March 9, 1876.
OSEPH J. REYNOLDS, an industrious and energetic farmer and stock-raiser of Sherman Township, having his residence upon section 4, dates his citizenship of Monona County from the 22d of July, 1871. He is a native of Dover, Ohio, and was born April 29, 1842.
Levi Reynolds, the father of our subject, was born in North Carolina in 1796, and removed to Ohio early in life. His later years were passed in Winona, Minn., where he died November 22, 1869. Joseph's mother, Martha (James) Reynolds, was born in Ohio, February 12. 1813, and was married in the same State, December 12, 1839. She died in the Buckeye State, December 30, 1845, hay- ing been the parent of three children: Lydia Jane. who died in the fall of 1869; Joseph J .. of whom this sketch is written; and one unnamed, that died in infancy.
Joseph J. Reynolds, received his earlier education in the place of his birth, and at the age of twelve years removed with his father and sister to St. Paul, Minn., and from there to Winona, in the same State. Leaving home at the age of sixteen years, he commenced to work out at farm labor in Winona County, which he was following at the breaking out of the war.
On the 29th of April, 1861. in response to the first call of the President for troops to quell the rebellion, Mr. Reynolds enlisted in Company K, First Minnesota Infantry, a regiment that has im- mortalized itself on many a stricken fickl. Leaving St. Paul in July, he was sent with the regiment to Alexandria, Va., and became a part of the famous Army of the Potomac. On the bloody fields of Bull Run, under both MeDowell and Pope. Manas- sas' Gap, Williamsburg, Harper's Ferry, and An- tietam, he proved his manhood. In the fall of 1862, he was transferred to Company I, First
United States Cavalry, with whom he participated in many engagements. Fredericksburg, Kelley's Ford. Williamsport, Foxtown, Brandy Station, and in the awful slaughter of the three days battle on the field of Gettysburg, he was ever foremost with his gallant regiment, and was present in some forty- two engagements throughout the war. It was his good fortune never to receive a scratch. On the 29th of April, 1864, at Culpeper Court House, Va .. he received an honorable discharge, and re- turned to Winona County, Minn., where, Cincin- natus like, he returned at once to the plow.
In February, 1869, Mr. Reynolds removed to Dakota, locating near Springfield, where he re- mained until July, 1871, and then came to Monona County, and settled on the farm where he now re- sides. This property contains some two hundred acres of most excellent land, lying on sections 3 and 1, all of which is well improved.
Mr. Reynokls was married in Floyd County, Iowa. to Miss Amanda Adams, who was a native of this State and who died in Dakota, September 16, 1870. Mr. Reynolds then married ¿Miss Amelia Adams. July 8, 1871, who died a little later. For a third time Mr. Reynokls essayed matrimony, July 30, 1876, wedding Miss Lovina Odell, a native of Wis- consin. They have a family of six children : Levi 1., Roland, Joseph W., Martha, Royal and Della; and an adopted child, Louden.
Mr. Reynolds is also engaged in the live-stock business at Blencoc, in this county.
RANK L. DAY, another representative of that well-known pioneer family, is the son of F. A. and Harriet P. (Squire) Day, and was born in Hallowell, Me., July 1; 1832. 1le came West with his father's family in 1855, and with them settled in Monona County. For about three years he made his home beneath the parental roof, and then removed to his farm on section 8. In the spring of 1863, he engaged in the fur busi- ness for a Missouri River company, with whom he remained until 1866, when he opened the store at Old Castana, which latter he carried on until
539
MONONA COUNTY.
Christmas day, 1878. lle then sokl out, and re- moved to his present home on section 5, 81, 43. In the summer of 1874 he built a grist-mill, which he still owns and operates, lle was married De- cember 21, 1853, to Miss Abbie L. Davis, a native also, of Hallowell, Me., who has been the mother of one child, George P., born April 11, 1861, now the cashier of the Merchants' Bank of Sioux City.
B D ERNARD D. HOLBROOK, one of the firm of Holbrook & Bro., bankers, at On- awa, is a descendant of one of the first colonists of New England. From Morse's Genealogical Register we find that Thomas IIol- brook. a native of Dorsetshire, England, sailed from Weymouth, on the south coast of "white- cliffed Albion" on the 20th of March, 1635, with his wife, Jane Holbrook, and four children, John, Thomas, Anne and Elizabeth, and came to the Plymouth Colony, Mass., and settled at Weymouth. Ile died in 1674. Thomas. his second son, who was born in England in 1625, and was, therefore, ten years old when he crossed the water, hecame one of the leading citizens of the towns of Scituate, Weymouth and Braintree, and died in the latter place in 1697, leaving a family of children, among whom we may find Deacon Peter Holbrook. The latter was born in 1655, and died May 3, 1712. at or near Mendon, in the Old Bay State. Among his children was John, who was born September 24, 1679. He married Miss Hannah Chapin, and after raising a family, departed this life, full of years, May 11, 1765, at Bellingham. Ilis widow died at the same place, April 12, 1770, in her eighty-sixth year. Josiah, the son of John and Hannah Holbrook, was born January 17, 1714. lle served in the Colonial militia through both of the French wars, and in the latter years of his life transplanted his family from Massachusetts to New York State, settling at Pompey. There he died February 4, 1873. Ile was the husband of two wives, Peggy Ives and Mary Moffett, and had a family of children. One of these. David. whose birth occurred July 28, 1760, served as a soldier
during our struggle for independence, receiving a severe wound at the battle of Bennington. After the Revolution he settled at Lafayette, N. Y .. where he engaged in the practice of medicine, and there died November 29, 1832.
llenry L., the fourth child of Dr. David and Mehetabel (Wells) Holbrook, was born in Onon- daga County, N. Y., February 28, 1799. Ile re- ceived the elements of his education in that part of the great Empire State, principally at Pompey Ilill. While there, in his younger manhood. he spent several years in teaching school, but about 1828 he removed to Somerset County, Pa., and for several years was principal of the Somerset Academy. While residing there, May 12, 1829, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Con- nelly, a native of that county, who was born in 1804. In 1834 he removed to a farm which he had purchased in the vicinity, where he made his home until 1865. In the spring of that year, with his family, he removed to the State of Iowa and settled in Monona County, where he made his home until called away by death, February Il, 1874. his wife only surviving him until the 30th of May following. Mr. and Mrs. II. L. Holbrook were the parents of seven children: Charles H., of the firm of Ilolbrook & Bro .. bankers, of Onawa; Eggleton W .; Bernard D., of whom this sketch is written; Norman Bruce, now President of the Iowa County Saving Bank, at Marengo, Iowa; Marcellus, the President of the Valley Bank, at Missouri Valley. Harrison County; Emily J., the wife of Herbert E. Morrison, of Onawa, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; and Mary B., the wife of M. A. Freeland, one of the leading busi- ness men of Onawa, whose life narrative is given in another part of this work. Henry L. Holbrook was, during his residence in Somerset County, one of its leading citizens and a stanch and trusted member of the Democratic party and filled the office of County Surveyor there for many years. Ile never engaged actively in business after mov- ing to Iowa. Of sterling integrity and simple tastes, like most of the race from which he sprang, the result of his life, upright and simple. has had its influence upon those left behind. and will prove "footprints on the sands of time" to
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MONONA COUNTY.
ary 19. 1867. died November 21. 1881; The- ron Upson, born at Dunlap. Jowa, September 7, 1870; Winthrop Brewster, born at Onawa, Iowa, July 11, 1872, and George Henry, born in the lat- ter city, March 9, 1876.
OSEPH J. REYNOLDS, an industrious and energetie farmer and stock-raiser of Sherman Township, having his residence upon section 4, dates his citizenship of Monona County from the 224 of July, 1871. He is a native of Dover, Ohio, and was born April 29, 1842.
Levi Reynolds, the father of our subject, was born in North Carolina in 1796, and removed to Ohio early in life. His later years were passed in Winona, Minn .. where he died November 22, 1869. Joseph's mother, Martha (James) Reynolds, was born in Ohio, February 12. 1813, and was married in the same State, December 12, 1839. She died in the Buckeye State, December 30, 1845, hav- ing been the parent of three children: Lydia Jane, who died in the fall of 1869; Joseph J .. of whom this sketch is written; and one unnamed, that died in infancy.
Joseph J. Reynolds, received his carlier education in the place of his birth, and at the age of twelve years removed with his father and sister to St. Paul, Minn,, and from there to Winona, in the same State. Leaving home at the age of sixteen years, he commenced to work out at farm labor in Winona County, which he was following at the breaking out of the war.
On the 29th of April, 1861. in response to the first call of the President for troops to quell the rebellion. Mr. Reynolds enlisted in Company K. First Minnesota Infantry, a regiment that has im- mortalized itself on many a stricken field. Leaving St. Paul in July, he was sent with the regiment to Alexandria, Va., and became a part of the famous Army of the Potomac. On the bloody fields of Bull Run, under both MeDowell and Pope. Manas- sas' Gap, Williamsburg, Harper's Ferry, and An- tietam, he proved his manhood. In the fall of 1862, he was transferred to Company I, First
United States Cavalry, with whom he participated in many engagements. Fredericksburg, Kelley's Ford, Williamsport, Foxtown, Brandy Station, and in the awful slaughter of the three days battle on the field of Gettysburg, he was ever foremost with his gallant regiment, and was present in some forty- two engagements throughout the war. It was his good fortune never to receive a seratch. On the 29th of April, 1864, at Culpeper Court House, Va., he received _an honorable; discharge, and re- turned to Winona County, Minn., where, Cincin- natus like, he returned at once to the plow.
In February, 1869, Mr. Reynolds removed to Dakota, locating near Springfield, where he re . mained until July, 1871, and then came to Monona County, and settled on the farm where he now re- sides. This property contains some two hundred acres of most excellent land, lying on sections 3 and 1, all of which is well improved.
Mr. Reynolds was married in Floyd County, Iowa, to Miss Amanda Adams, who was a native of this State and who died in Dakota, September 16, 1870. Mr. Reynolds then married [Miss Amelia Adams, July 8, 1871, who died a little later. For a third time Mr. Reynolds essayed matrimony, July 30. 1876, wedding Miss Lovina Odell, a native of Wis- consin. They have a family of six children: Levi L., Roland, Joseph W., Martha, Royal and Della; and an adopted child, Louden.
Mr. Reynolds is also engaged in the live-stock business at Blencoe, in this county.
RANK L. DAY, another representative of that well-known pioneer family, is the son of F. A. and Harriet P. (Squire) Day, and was born in Hallowell, Me., July 1; 1832. He came West with his father's family in 1855, and with them settled in Monona County. For about three years he made his home beneath the parental roof, and then removed to his farm on section S. In the spring of 1863, he engaged in the fur busi- ness for a Missouri River company, with whom he remained until 1866, when he opened the store at Old Castana, which latter he carried on until
539
MONONA COUNTY.
Christmas day, 1878. lle then sold out. and re- moved to his present home on section 5, 81, 43. In the summer of 187 f he built a grist-mill, which he still owns and operates, lle was married De- cember 21, 1853, to Miss Abbie L. Davis, a native also, of Ilallowell, Me., who has been the mother of one child, George P., born April 11, 1861, now the cashier of the Merchants' Bank of Sioux City.
3 ERNARD D. HOLBROOK, one of the firm of Holbrook & Bro., bankers, at On- awa, is a descendant of one of the first colonists of New England. From Morse's Genealogical Register we find that Thomas HIol- brook, a native of Dorsetshire, England, sailed from Weymouth, on the south coast of "white- eliffed Albion" on the 20th of March, 1635, with his wife, Jane Holbrook, and four children, John, Thomas, Anne and Elizabeth, and came to the Plymouth Colony, Mass .. and settled at Weymouthi. He died in 1674. Thomas, his second son, who was born in England in 1625, and was, therefore, ten years old when he crossed the water, became one of the leading citizens of the towns of Seitnate, Weymouth and Braintree, and died in the latter place in 1697. leaving a family of children, among whom we may find Deacon Peter Holbrook. The latter was born in 4655, and died May 3, 1712, at or near Mendon, in the Old Bay State. Among his children was John, who was born September 24. 1679. He married Miss Ilannah Chapin, and after raising a family. departed this life, full of years, May 11, 1765, at Bellingham. His widow died at the same place. April 12, 1770, in her eighty-sixth year. Josiah, the son of John and Hannah Holbrook, was born January 17, 1714. He served in the Colonial militia through both of the French wars, and in the latter years of his life transplanted his family from Massachusetts to New York State, settling at Pompey. There he died February 4, 1873. He was the husband of two wives, Peggy Ives and Mary Moffett, and had a family of children. One of these. David, whose birth occurred July 28, 1760, served as a soldier
1
during our struggle for independence, receiving a severe wound at the battle of Bennington. After the Revolution he settled at Lafayette, N. Y., where he engaged in the practice of medieine, and there died November 29, 1832.
Henry L., the fourth child of Dr. David and Melietabel (Wells) Holbrook, was born in Onon- daga County, N. Y., February 28, 1799. He re- ceived the elements of his education in that part of the great Empire State, principally at Pompey Hill. While there, in his younger manhood. he spent several years in teaching school, but about 1828 he removed to Somerset County, Pa., and for several years was principal of the Somerset Academy. While residing there, May 12, 1829, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Con- nelly, a native of that county, who was born in 1804. In 1834 he removed to a farm which he had purchased in the vicinity, where he made his home until 1865. In the spring of that year, with his family, he removed to the State of Iowa and settled in Monona County, where he made his home until called away by death, February 11, 1874. his wife only surviving him until the 30th of May following. Mr. and Mrs. 1I. L. Holbrook were the parents of seven children: Charles H., of the firm of Holbrook & Bro., bankers, of Onawa; Eggleton W .; Bernard D., of whom this sketch is written; Norman Bruce, now President of the lowa County Saving Bank, at Marengo, Iowa; Marcellus, the President of the Valley Bank, at Missouri Valley, Harrison County; Emily .I., the wife of Herbert E. Morrison. of Onawa, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; and Mary B .. the wife of M. A. Freeland, one of the leading busi- ness men of Onawa, whose life narrative is given in another part of this work. Henry L. Holbrook was, during his residence in Somerset County, one of its leading citizens and a stanch and trusted member of the Democratic party and lilled the office of County Surveyor there for many years. Ile never engaged actively in business after mov- ing to lowa. Of sterling integrity and simple tastes, like most of the race from which he sprang. the result of his life, upright and simple. has had its influence upon those left behind. and | will prove "footprints on the sands of time" to
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MONONA COUNTY.
lead his descendants for many generations in the paths of moral rectitude.
Bernard D. Holbrook, of whom this narrative is written, was born in Somerset County, Pa., May 22. 1831, and is the third son of Henry L. and Mary (Connelly ) Hofbrook, above mentioned, and was reared to manhood in that portion of the Keystone State. He received his elementary edu- cation in the common schools of his native county. finishing with a year at Jefferson College, Canons- burg, Washington County, Pa. Then a few years were passed in working on the home farm in sum. mer and teaching country schools in winter until March, 1855, when he came to Iowa County, Iowa, where he engaged in surveying and in the study of law. In November, 1856, be returned to the place of bis birth, where he remained through the following winter, pursuing his legal studies. In the spring of 1857 he came to Monona County. Ile had been here in the summer of 1855, in company with C. E. Whiting and others from lowa County, and had invested his earnings in Monona County lands. On his arrival, in 1857, be and his brother. C. Il., became interested in the Monona Land Com- pany and surveyed and platted the town of OD- awa. During that summer he was engaged in surveying in the neighboring Territory of Ne- braska, and spent the following winter at Omaha. In the spring of 1858 he returned to Onawa and at the spring term of the District Court was admit- ted to the bar, Judge M. F. Moore being on the bench. Hle carried on the practice of law, at the same time being engaged in the real estate business in connection with his brother, Charles II. His law business he transferred to Monk & Sellick in 1867, up to which time he had prosecuted it continu- ously. In 1865 the firm of Holbrook & Bro. had commenced the general banking business in con- nection with their real estate dealings, and to this Mr. Holbrook devoted his entire attention after giving up his law practice. Ile has been promi nently identified with public affairs, having served as a member of the board of county supervisors, Mayor of Onawa, and many years as one of the board of education of the latter city.
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