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 66
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ELSON A. WILLSEY, a prominent, wealthy and influential farmer of Maple Township, having bis home on section 14, came to Monona County when a boy of some nine years of age, in August, 1855, with his father, William II. Willsey, the pioneer settler of Maple Township, mentioned elsewhere in this work, and grew to manhood in this county, receiving his education in its common schools. Ile has always devoted his attention to farming pursuits, and now resides upon the old homestead upon which his father settled on coming to the county. lle is a native of Henry County, Ill., born November 17, 1846, and is the son of William Il. and Sarah Jane (Cunningham) Willsey.
Nelson A. Willsey was married October 10. 1869, to Miss Margaret Muckey, a native of Wau- kesha County, Wis., born November 29, 1853. She is a daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Kelley) Muckey. Her father, a native of New York, of German ancestry, emigrated with his parents to Wisconsin in early life, where he was married. Iler mother was born in Canada, March 17, 1829. They came to Monona County in the fall of 1862 and settled on section 24, Maple Township, where the father died October 15, 1869. The mother is still living upon the old homestead. Of their family of eleven children, six boys and five girls, Mrs. Will- sey was the fifth.
Mr. Willsey is the parent of ten children, as fol- lows: Vernon II., born January 9, 1872; Arabella A., born February 1, 1873, died March 7, follow- ing; Mary G., born February 28, 1871, died Feb- ruary 13, 1877; William J., born August 13, 1875; Nelson L., born April 25, 1877, died September
SCALES
RESIDENCE OF N. A. WILLSEY, SEC.14. MAPLE TOWNSHIP.
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12, 1878; Millie M., born September 15, 1878; Minnie P., January 1. 1880; Charles A., born De. eember 27, 1883, died September 16, 1884; Ilar- riet E., born October 3, 1885; and Franeis W., born January 17. 1889, died the 28th of the same month.
Mr. Willsey, in politics, is a Republican, and has filled several of the local offices in the townshp. Ile is a member of Monte Cristo Lodge, No. 205, K. of P., at Mapleton. and one of the most re- spected citizens of the community.
A view of Mr. Willsey's beautiful residence, with the surrounding grounds, is given in the pages of this work as one of the representative places of Maple Township.
OSEPH D. WOODWARD, Among the farmers and stock-raisers of Grant Town- ship, who occupy a prominent place in their chosen occupation, must certainly be men- tioned the gentleman whose name is at the head of this brief epitome. He is one of the largest land holders in the county, owning some eighteen hun- dred and sixty-eight acres, lying in the towns of Grant and West Fork, five hundred of which are under cultivation, the balance being devoted to the cultivation of grass, or in pasture, with the ex- ception of five hundred acres which are covered with timber. He has some four tenant houses upon his land, and a broom factory which has a large capacity. He is also, largely interested in the stock-raising industry, in which he has been emi- nently successful. Some fifteen years ago he pur- chased a handsome residence in the city of Onawa, to which he removed with his family, where he makes his residence, although during the week he spends his time on his farm, only being found at the county seat during Saturday and Sunday.
The father of our subject, Joseph Woodward, was born in Franklin, Norfolk County, Mass., in 1787, and received in youth the advantages of an education in the district schools. He grew to man- hood, and having learned the harness-making trade, removed to Burlington, Vt., where he carried on
that business for a number of years. Moving from there to Fairfax, Franklin County, in the same State, he set up his shop at the end of a toll bridge. and, while carrying on his trade, collected the tolls. There he remained until the spring of 1834, when he removed to Monroe County, N. Y., where, ow- ing to failing health, he devoted a part of his time to gardening, as well as working at his trade. In the town of Rush, Monroe County, N. Y., in 1862, he received the grim summons of death, and passed to his reward. He had married at Burlington, Vt., at the age of twenty-four. Miss Lucy Wilmarth, who was born in Vermont in 1792, and died about the year 1872, in Monroe County, N. Y. They had a family of seven children, three of whom are living.
Joseph D., the fifth chikl, was born at Fairfax, Franklin County, Vt., October 10, 1827, and when but six years of age, was taken by his parents to Rush, Monroe County. N. Y., where he grew to manhood. He received an excellent education in the schools of that locality, and at the age of twenty-one, engaging in life for himself, followed broom-making for a living, a business that he has followed at various periods, ever since. He also, was engaged in teaching school in the Empire State where he made his home until 1853, when he re- moved to Port Washington, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and in the latter remained some three years, engaged at broom-making, manufacturing about sixty thousand in that time. From there, in June, 1855, Mr. Woodward came West, and locating in Monona County, entered some six hundred aeres of land in Grant and Maple Townships. Ile re- turned to Ohio, and in April, 1856, returned and settled permanently upon seetion 17, in Grant, the journey taking some five weeks and four days, at that time.
Mr. Woodward, October 16, 1855, at Port Wash- ington, Ohio, was united in marriage with Miss Almira A. MeMath, the Rev. Allen Gatskill officia- ting. The lady, a native of Ohio, was born in Har- rison County, April 15, 1836, and is the daughter of James and Almira (Lawrence) MeMath. Of this union there has been born a family of eight children, of which the following is a reeord: Plin. H., who was born February 16, 1858, married Miss
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Kathegne ( . Bbckurir, October 16. 1880, and is the father of three children, now living in Wells County, Dak. ; Orrin P., who was born February 6, 1859, is now in Wyoming Territory; Jesse D. was born March 18. 1860, and is a resident of Tacoma. Wash .; Cora A., who was born October 9, 1861, was married October 9, 1883, by George A. Oliver, of Onawa; Rose M., was born November 28, 1863. James O. was born May 12. 1866; Rollo D., Sep tember 29. 1867; and Eva MeMath. July 24, 1869.
ILLIAM H. OTTO is one of the leading and successful farmers of Grant Township, and has his residence on section 24. He owns some one hundred and sixty acres of land, all of which is well improved.
Mr. Otto was born in Northumberland County, Pa., September 12, 1815, and is the son of Adam and Elizabeth ( Veile) Otto. His father was born in Northumberland County. d'a., where he followed school teaching for many years, and afterwards en- gaged in farming and in carpentering. He was married in the latter locality, September 17, 1839, to Miss Elizabeth Veile, a native of the Keystone State, who was born December 18. 1809, and who still survives him. living in Sioux City, Mr. Otto dying at Trevorton, Pa. They had a family of four children: Mary A., now Mrs. W. P. Pannell, of Sioux City, was born September 5, 1840; Rebecca and Anna, twins, born February 26, 1843, died, the former in Dane County, Wis., Septem- ber 25. 1865, and the latter in Wayne County, Ohio, November 17, 1855; and William II. Will- jam II. was about a year and a half old when he was taken by his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. At the age of ten years he started out in life to earn a living .for himself, working for neighboring farmers until 1861. Enlisting in Company K, Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, September 12, of that year, after a short time spent at Camp Dennison, he proceeded with the regiment to the scene of hostilities in Kentucky and served until discharged in June. 1863, partici- pating in the battles of Somerset, Mills Springs,
Cumberland Gap, Tazewell, Hall's Gap and in many a skirmish with the noted guerrilla Morgan, through Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. At the battle of Perry ville while acting as assistant sur- geon, helping to dress the wounded, he was taken prisoner and remained in the rebels' hands some three months before being exchanged. On receiv- ing his discharge he returned to Ohio, but in 1864 removed to Mt. Carroll, Carroll County, III., from which, shortly after, he removed to Dane County, Wis, and between those two States worked, back and forth, at farm labor and in dairy work for some time. On the railroad for three years, and in painting about two more, he passed the time at Ft. Atkinson, Wis., and after a summer spent at Columbia, Mo., returned to Illinois and engaged in farming. Two years later, having once before been in this State, he came to Iowa and worked on the College ground at Ames, but February 7, 1872, came to Monona County.settling in Center Township where he took up a claim of one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, and went to farming. Ten years later he removed to Kennebec, section 9, where he was engaged principally in sheep raising. In 1885 he settled on the farm where he now resides.
Mr. Otto was married January 20, 1876, to Miss Mary Emma Edgar, a native of Scott County, Iowa, who was born August 6, 1854, and who had come to Woodbury County in 1866, and this county two years later. Of this union there has been a family of five children: Ira E., Wilber Willard, Grace Mary, Edith Clara and Ivy D.
AMUEL DEXTER HINSDALE, a thor- ough and energetic farmer of Franklin Township, having his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 24, where he makes his home, came to Monona County, May 14, 1865, and settled in Onawa. At that time he pur- chased the farm where he now lives and commenced its improvement and cultivation, making his home, at the time, at the county seat where he remained until the spring of 1867 and then moved his family to their present residence.
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Mr. Hinsdale is a native of Bureau County, Ill., born July 3, 1837, and is the son of George and Elizabeth ( Baggs) Hinsdale. Ilis grandfather, Samuel Hinsdale, was a prominent resident of Bal- lardvale, Essex County, Mass., where he died, and where George Hinsdale the father of our subject was born. The latter grew to manhood in the Old Bay State, but moved to Illinois in 1831. Ile settled in Bureau County, of which he was one of the earliest pioneers, and followed farming until his death, which occurred May 18, 1889. Ilis wife is still living on the old homestead and is the oldest settler now living in that county. She is the mother of eight children, of whom Samuel D. was the second. The old folk were members of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father was one of the original abolitionists of the Gerritt Smith type.
Samuel D. grew to manhood on his father's farm in Burean County and received his education in the log cabin school houses of the period. He re- mained at home until 1860, when he was married and engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself. This he has followed ever since. This marriage occurred October 9, 1860, at which time he wedded Miss Helen Pieree, a native of Peoria County, III .. who was born October 9, 1843, and is the daughter of William and Nancy ( Wasson) Pierce, natives of the State of New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Hinsdale are the parents of eight children, viz .: Nathan N., born May 15, 1862; Margaret S., January 26, 1861; William P., July 12, 1866; George D., January 21, 1869; Adison O., August 13, 1871; John T., September 9, 1876; Jean M., November 14, 1878; and Henry C., July 1, 1883.
AMES BALLANTYNE, an extensive far- mer of Jordan Township, resides on section 25, where he has a large and productive farm of some six hundred and forty aeres, one hundred and eight of which he cultivates, de- voting the remainder to the raising of horses, cat- tle and hogs. The improvements upon his place are of the better class, and are arranged for his con-
venience and comfort. Mr. Ballantyne was born in the County of Roxburgh, Scotland, October 26. 1826, and is the son of John and Janet (Turnbull) Ballantyne, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in this volume.
At the age of fifteen,our subject came with his parents to America, after receiving in his youth the elements of a sound education, and his father having joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the family settled at Nanvoo, Hancock County, Ill., where for about three years, they re- mained. In 1845, with a little band of emigrants of the Saints. our subject journeyed in company with his father's family, to Texas, where the father died in the fall of 1846. James remained with him until his death, and with the church people during their rough experience in Texas, and in 1858 removed with the latter to Indian Territory. locating in the Cherokee nation, where he was en- gaged in the manufacture of salt for about two years, after which he removed to lowa, settling in Shelby County, where he passed one winter. In the spring of 1861, he commenced work for S. E. Dow, on his ranch, and remained with that gentle- man for some eight years. At the expiration of that time, he removed to Little Sioux, but one year later, in the spring of 1870, came to Monona County, and settled on the one hundred and sixty- aere farm in JJordan Township, which he had pur- chased a year before.
Mr. Ballantyne was married, September 13, 1855, at Mountain Valley, Bexar County, Tex., to Miss Abigail E. Andrews, a native of McNairy County, Tenn., born November 8, 1839, and a daughter of J. A. and Nancy D. (Richardson) An- drews, who were members of the little band of Mormon emigrants spoken of above. They have had a family of nine children by this marriage- John O., Joseph M., Omandagus, Nancy M., Jen- nette ('., Robert A., Mary Emma, James O., and and Fanny C. Mr. Ballantyne is one of the most highly respected citizens of the township, and has held the office of Treasurer of the same, continu- ously, for over fifteen years.
Of Mr. Ballantyne's family the following is a record: John O., was born November 11, 1856. in Texas; was married December 25. 1878, to Miss
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Martha E. Putnam, born in Dow City, Iowa, April , and in December, of the same year, went to the 13, 1861, who died January 3, 1889, having had seven children. Joseph M., was born May 26. 1860, in Indian Territory, and died in Kansas July 6, following. Omandagus was born July 7, 1861, in Dow City, Iowa, and married Miss Lizzie Olson. Nancy M., was born January 29, 1864. and is the -- wife of C. F. Putnam. Jennette C., Mrs. Ole Amunson, was born October 30.1866. Robert A., was born October 1, 1870. Mary E .. born July 29. 1873, died February 21, 1874. James O., was born May 6, 1876. Fanny C., was born November 3, 1879. Mrs. J. C. Ballantyne, her work in life being finished, "passed to the cold realm of the chambers of Death," January 3, 1889, leaving a disconsolate family.
OIIN M. MOUNTAIN. one of the intelli- gent, well-educated men, who have helped develop this country, and who have borne their share in the education of the rising generation, is now a farmer and stock-raiser on sec- tion I. Belvidere Township. Ilis father, Thomas Mountain, was born in Lincolshire, England, Oc- tober 15, 1810, and received in youth the education common to his class. his family being farmers. In 1852 he emigrated with his family to the I'nited States, and sought in the Great West the opportu- nity for achieving wealth and independence denied him in his native land. Settling near Elkhorn, Wis., he there took up life's work, and is still en- gaged. though advanced in years, in running his farm. October 1, 1834, he married Miss Charlotte Maidens, who is still living, having had a family of eleven children, of whom John M. was the third.
Our subject was born in Lincolnshire, England, June 6, 1840, and at the age of twelve years crossed the ocean with his parents and settled in Walworth County, Wis lle there grew to manhood, receiv- ing in his youth an excellent district school educa- tion, supplemented by a course at the Milwaukee Commercial College. August 21, 1862. filled with patriotism for his adopted country. he enlisted in Company I, Twenty eighth Wisconsin Infantry,
front. They were in garrison at Columbus, Ky., for a short time, after which they were transferred to Ilelena, Ark., where Mr. Mountain, having been taken sick, was sent to Memphis, and from there to St. Louis, and in the hospital of the latter place, was honorably discharged September 3, 1863, and returned to Wisconsin. After some further school- ing, in the winter of 1864, he came to Iowa, and Monona County, and taught the school at Mapleton one term. He returned to Wisconsin in the spring, and the next winter was engaged in teaching in the neighborhood of his home, but in the fall of 1867, returned to Monona County, from which time until the spring of 1871 he was engaged in "teaching the young idea how to shoot," teaching some eighteen terms. On the latter date he commenced agricul- tural pursuits upon the farm where he now lives, which he had purchased about a year previous, and which he has well improved, and brought to a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Mountain was married, October 1, 1871, to Miss Ellen Tyers, a native of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, born July 26, 1859. She is the daughter of Charles and Ann (Busby ) Tyers, na- tives of England, the latter of whom died April 30, 1888, in Monona County. By their union Mr. and Mrs. Mountain have had a family of six children : Charlotte A., born December 10, 1875; Lucy E., born October 10, 1877, who died May 1, 1878; Elsie E .. born March 3, 1879; Ella M., March 25, 1880; Rose E., July 3, 1882; and Edith J., Oeto- ber 2, 1884.
ILLIAM D. ROUNDS. the proprietor of the Riverside Stock Farm, on section 17, Center Township, came to Monona County in the spring of 1876, from Peoria County, Ill., and, in company with D. L. Wiley, under the firm name of W. D. Rounds & Co., purchased some two hundred and forty acres of land, and entered into the stock business. To this they added, from time
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to time, until in March, 1885, they dissolved the partnership. They then owned some seven hun- dred and sixty aeres, of which Mr. Rounds re. served the two hundred acres on section 17, where he now lives. All of the improvements upon it are due to his efforts, and the fine residence in which he lives was put up by him in 1885. About one- half of his farm is under the plow, the balance be- ing seeded to grass and in pasture. Our subject is devoting a large share of his attention to the breed- ing and rearing of road horses and fine cattle. and is meeting with excellent success.
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Mr. Rounds was born in Bennington County, Vt .. August 10, 1843, and is the son of Daniel and Esther (Dean) Rounds. llis father was born in Rhode Island, in 1790. but reared in Vermont, and came to Illinois in 1856, and died in Peoria County. October 3, 1873. His mother, a native of Chester, Vt., also died in Illinois, in 1885. They had a family of seven children-Maria, Lydia, Mary A .. deceased; Oliver D., Esther, William D. and Ed- ward D.
William D. Rounds, having received a fair edu- tion in his youth, at the age of nineteen, started for the Pike's Peak gold mines in 1862, and re- mained in that region, mining most of the time. until the following January, when he returned to Illinois. Ile was there employed in farming until the spring of 1865, when, in response to the last call for troops, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Illinois Infantry. and was engaged in garrison and guard duty below Nashville at the cessation of hostilities. lle was mustered out of service at the latter city, and given his discharge at Springfield, Ill., September 18, 1865.
After farming for some seven years, in Peoria and Iroquois Counties, in 1872, Mr. Rounds re- moved to Stark County, and was foreman on N. Burnam's stock farm for some eighteen months, Mr. Burnam being in the leather business in Peoria. After that we find him again engaged in carrying on the old homestead in Peoria County, until the spring of 1876, when, in search of a wider field for his efforts, he came to Monona County, where he has since remained. When Mr. Rounds came to this county he was without capital, putting
in his time against some $5,000 furnished by his partner. He was one of the first men to start the cultivation of blue grass in the county, sowing, in 1879, some two hundred bushels of seed. At the time of their separation, the property invoiced something like $33,000, most of which was made in cattle. They also planted some twenty acres of forest trees, and seventy-five bushels of walnuts, all of which have thriven excellently.
Mr. Rounds was married, in the spring of 1869. in Peoria County, III., to Miss Anna L. Buyers, a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and the daughter of Andrew and Jane E. (Kennedy ) Buyers, the lat - ter of whom died at Bloomington, Ill., April 18, 1887.
The grandfather of our subject, Oliver Rounds, a native of Rhode Island, was a prominent trader in the West India trade. and died in Bennington County, Vt., about 1850.
ARTIN CLEMON, a representative citizen of Jordan Township, and an enterprising and successful farmer, having his home on section 36, is a descendant of the bold Sean- dlinavian Berserkers of the ninth and tenth centu- ries, that carved out kingdoms for themselves in England, France and Italy. Ile was born in Nor- way, near Govig, August 27. 1850, and is the son of Ole and Elizabeth ( llansen) Clemon. His father was born in the same locality in 1822, and after spending many years on a farm in the land of his birth, in 1868 with his wife and children, immi- grated to America, landing at Quebec, Canada. From that port the family moved at once to Rock County, Wis., where the father purchased a farm and made his home for four years. Selling out, he then removed to Monona County. and settled in Soldier Township, where he is now living. About 1845 he married Miss Elizabeth Hansen, an ac- quaintance of his childhood, and daughter of Hans Torgussun.
Martin Clemon, the fourth child in a family of nine. came to this country with his parents, and grew to manhood in Rock County, Wis. At the
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age of twenty six years, leaving the parental roof, he started out in life for himself, locating on the site of his present farm, where he purchased eighty acres of wild land. Going to work with the energy and perseverance comnon to his race, he broke up the soil himself. and erected the buildings, and has been so successful in his efforts, that his farm now embraces some two hundred and forty acres, one hundred and ten of which are under cultivation, the lalance being devoted to the stock-raising branch of the business.
Mr. Clemon was united in marriage, June 2. 1 1877. at the residence of Ole Severson. in Willow Township, this county, with Miss Adeline Sever- son, a native of La Crosse County, Wis., born July 13, 1859.
To Mr. and Mrs. Clemon has been born a fam- ily of six children, of whom the following is a re- cord: Olins, April 1. 1878; Matikdla, May 15. 1880; Luella, November 9, 1881; Rosella, February 11, 1881; Honora, April 7, 1886; and Elma, May 13, 1889.
OHIN PETERSON, farmer, residing on see- tion 16, Fairview Township, is a native of Vermland, Sweden, born September 15, 1
1843, and is the son of Peter Johnson, a na- tive of Sweden, also, who is still living in that kingdom, and who served for over thirty years in the Swedish army. John was reared in his native land, but June 9, 1862, crossed the broad ocean to the great Republic of America, and settled at Nee- nah. Winnebago County. Wis., where he was en- gaged in farming and railroad work during the summers, and in the winter time by the Oconto Lumber Company, on the Oconto River in that State, for Sve years. Becoming acquainted with Miss Clara Olson, who was on a visit to that part of the Badger State, he was filled with a desire to see Monona County, her home, and returned with her to this part of the country in 1878. On the 7th of April, of the same year, he and Miss Olson were married, and in December following, com- menced housekeeping in a part of his father-in- law's house. The next spring he rented the John
"Hansen farm, but in August following, bought a farm of forty acres of land on section 9, and built him a small house, into which he moved. In 1883 he disposed of this and removed to Beadle County, Dak., where he took up a homestead of one hun- dred and sixty aeres, purchasing eighty aeres more. Five years he lived there, after which he sold out, and returning to this county, rented the place where he now lives, which he purchased in the spring of 1889. He has a neat and well-finished house 24x48 feet in size, and a good barn 16x24 feet, surrounded by about three acres of grove.
Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are the parents of the fol- lowing children : Carl John, born April 6, 1880, died April 28, 1886 ; Osear, born January 22,1882; Mabel Ellen, October 2, 1883, Palma Lena, December 23, 1885, and Clarence Newell, April 29, 1888.
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