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 74
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
IEUT. SAMUEL T. CAMERON, a promi- nent, influential and affluent farmer of Cooper Township, residing on section 1. was born in the county of Waterloo, now Welling- ton, Upper Canada. January 17, 1834. His father William Cameron. a native of the same place, was born about 1804, and grew to manhood and adopted farming as a calling. which he followed in the Dominion all his life. Ile was married in To. ronto. Cana la, about 1823, to Miss Cecelia Bently. a native of Montreal, born about 1808, who died in Linn County, lowa, in the spring of 1855. They had a family of four children-Charles, Emma de- ceased, Ann and Samuel T. The latter, the young- est child of his parents, received in youth an excel- lent education in the land of his birth, and until he attained his majority remained at home assisting his father in carrying on the farm.
1
On reaching man's estate our subjeet came to the United States and located in Linn County, Iowa. where he was engaged in farming until 1862, when, on the Ist of October, he enlisted in Company K. Sixth Iowa Cavalry. With the most of his regi- ment he passed the succeeding winter at Camp Hendershott, Davenport, but on the 1st of May, 1863, came across the State to Sioux City, and from there went into Dakota with the expeditions under Gen. Sully, participating in the engagements at White Stone Hill and Fallen Springs, and cam-
paigned throughout the length and breadth of that great territory. In the fall of 1864 the regiment went into camp at Sioux City, and in the spring Mr. Cameron was commissioned as Second Lieutenant of the Second United States Infantry, and pro- ceeded to Ft. Larned, Kan., where his company was stationed. Ten days later he received orders from Gen. Sully to again report at Sioux City to take command of the battery of the expedition which he was organizing, and started again from Sioux City on a campaign through the northern part of Da- kota to Devil's Lake. and through the Moose River Country. While on the march they received no- tive that Capt. Fisk with his company, was sur- rounded near the Black Hills, some two hundred and eighty-eight miles from Ft. Riee. from which point. after reaching there, with two pieces of ar- tillery. Lieut. Cameron proceeded with the troops under Col. Dill to the scene of the conflict, and rescued the imperiled men. Returning to Sioux City late in the fall he reported at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., where he was mustered out of the service, Nov. 27. 1865, and returning to Linn County, sold his property and removed to Hamilton County, this State, whenee three months later. he removed to his present residence on section 4, Cooper Township. He has a farm of some five hundred and forty acres, a large share of which is improved where he carries on an extensive stock business.
Mr. Cameron was married in 1849, in Canada, to Miss Sarah Rice, a native of Waterloo County, that Dominion, and the daughter of Charles Riee. They have a family of eight children-Charles II., Robert, Priscilla, Jane, William, David D., Clara and Mark M.
OHN ELWELL, deceased, an old pioneer of Onawa and a former business man of that village, came to Monona County in the fall of 1859 with a stock of goods which he sold on commission for Kirk & Sawyer. of Sioux City. With the money thus made and from some fortu- nate deals in real estate, he obtained money enough to start for himself, and being of good business ability, became possessed of some means and owned
605
MONONA COUNTY.
some landed interests. He was born in Salem County, N. J., November 22, 1795.
Our subject received a practical education and embarked in the mercantile business at Salem, where he remained for several years. At the same time he filled the position of Cashier of the Salem Bank, but investing his means in lands in the vicinity of Milwaukee, lost his all in the panic of 1837. After this he was engaged in business in Maryland. In 1856 he came to lowa and settled at Sergeant's Bluff. | and there purchased land and made his home until he came to Onawa. He was a financier of some prominence in his day, writing able articles on po- litical economy for the various newspapers and corresponding on the questions of finance, with Salmon P. Chase, F. E. Spinner, Hugh MeCullough, Ex-Governor Opdyke, of New York, an ! others, some of the letters being still in existence. Ile re- mained single through life and died at Onawa.
OSEPII W. LANE, a thriving and industri- ous farmer and stock-raiser of Sioux Town- ship, living on section 34, was born in P'otta- wattamie County, Iowa, near Council Bluffs. November 10, 1850, and is the son of Johnson F. and Matilda (Kelly) Lane. His parents were among the earliest settlers of Monona County, lo- eating at Preparation as early as 1852, and with them he remained in this locality, until 1865. The family then went to Mills County, in this State, where our subject resided for about eight years, and received a good practical education in schools of of that locality.
Johnson F. Lane, the father of Joseph W., was born in Virginia in 1809, and was engaged in farm - ing all his life. From the Old Dominion, he re- moved to Illinois, and to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1841. Coming to Monona County in 1852, with the settlers at Preparation, he imme- diately assumed an important part in the county's affairs. At the first election, April 3, 1854, on the organization of Monona County, Johnson F. Lane. was chosen the first sheriff, and served in that office until his death, which occurred at Preparation in i on section 5, Willow Township, where he now
1854. His wife. Matilda (Kelly) Lane, was born in Tennessee, in 1815, and died in Chase County, Neb., March 30. 1886, having been the mother of six children, four of whom are living: Clara Mo- lissa, living in C'alifornia; loshua M., in Nebraska ; Francis E., in California, and Joseph W.
Ever since he was large enough to do anything. Joseph Lane has depended upon himself for a liv- ing. and has always followed farming. In 1872. from Mills County, he removed to Sioux Town- ship. Monona County, and engaged in farm labor. where he has since remained. Ten years later he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on seetion 34, then entirely in a will state, to whichi he has added some forty aeres. He has about fifty acres under cultivation, he devoting a share of his attention to stock-raising, and has a good residence and fair outbuildings.
At Glenwood, Iowa, November 3, 1873, Mr. Lane was united in marriage with Miss Lewese Scott. a native of Canton, Ill., born March 3, 1853, who is the mother of seven children, of whom the following is a record: James A., born May 18, 1875; Jennie D., November 26, 1876; Matilda C., January 30, 1879; Olive M., August 23, 1881; John, May 14, 1883; Charlie. April 17, 1886; and Lewese, July 29, 1888.
E LLING THORESON. In March 1867, the subject of this epitome, a leading farmer of Willow Township, in company with Halver Strand, came from La Crosse County, Wis., to Monona County, in search of a location in which to settle, and after a three weeks' visit, returned to his home in the Badger State. Both gentlemen. at once. took steps towards moving to this locality, and about the middle of July, in company with Ole E. Strand and others, they returned to Monona County. Mr. Thoreson located on the farm where he now lives, but took up his residence in a small log cabin which he had built on section 32, across the line in Soldier Township. In 1881 he put up his present residence, a neat and tasty farm house.
606
MONONA COUNTY.
makes his home. He purchased, at first. some forty arres of land. to which he has added until his prop- erty now : mbraces three hundred and twenty acres in the home farm, and about fifty acres more of hay land on the Soldier River. These above men- tioned were the pioneers of the Norwegian settle- ment in this part of the county.
Mr. Thoreson, the son of Thor and Thora Elling- son, was born in Norway. March 17, 1832, and re- ceived his education and early training in that country. June 1, 1856, he crossed the ocean to the United States, and on landing on Columbia's shore, came at once to Wisconsin, and settled in Manito- wor County. After working in the pineries for about a year, he removed to Dane County, in the same State, where, for two years, he found employ- ment at farm labor, and then removed to La Crosse County. After laboring in the same way for about a year in that locality, he rented a farm, and three years later purchased a piece of land upon which he made his home until coming to Monona County as above noted.
Mr. Thoreson was united in marriage in Norway, in February, 1853, with Miss Gure Johnson, the daughter of John and Ingebur Ingerbretson, and by this union they have one child, Nettie.
ARL OTTO, a farmer residing on section 15, Franklin Township, came to Monona County in 1872, arriving at Onawa, where he located December 21. of that year. lle was engaged in various kinds of labor until the spring of 1875, when, having purchased a team, he rented a farm of Hon. Addison Oliver and com- menced its cultivation. He remained upon that piece of land until 1883, when he removed to his present home, having purchased the property the year previous. To his original investment in eighty acres he has since added from time to time until he now owns some two Inindred acres of as good land as there is in the county. Ile has it under an excellent state of cultivation. and all of the im- provements are of an excellent character.
In Prussia, Germany, March 6, 1813, Mr, Otto
was born beneath the roof of his parents, August and Mary (Ollett) Otto, who were also natives of that kingdom. The mother died in the old coun- try in February, 1873, after which the father of our subject, who was a bricklayer by trade. came to the United States and settled in Niagara County, N. Y., where he died in March, 1879. Both pa- rents were members of the Lutheran Church.
Carl Otto grew to manhood in his native coun- try, and owing to the poverty of his parents could only give a portion of his time to acquiring an ed- ucation. As soon as he had reached an age when it was possible he commenced working out on the neighboring farms, and at whatever he could turn his hand to. In 1872, after his mother's death, he came to the United States with his father, landing at New York City April 18. The succeeding seven months he spent in Niagara County, in the same State, after which he came to Monona County, as above stated.
Mr. Otto was married in Germany. April 7, 1866, to Miss Augusta Hier, who was born in that Em- pire, September 19, 1818. By this union they are the parents of four children-William, born May 3, 1868; Minnie, June 5, 1870; Charles, January 10. 1880, and Albert. JJanuary 29, 1881. Ile and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. and in politics Mr. Otto is a Democrat.
Mrs. Otto is a daughter of Charles and Mary (Heins) Hier, natives of Germany, her father born in 1814, and her mother August 12, 1812. The father died in the old country, October 9, 1865, since which time the mother has made her home with Mrs. Otto.
ON. CHARLES C. BISBEE, deceased, one of the pioneers of Monona County, and one of its most valued citizens, who was many times called upon to fill some of the import- ant offices in the county in an early day, was born in Genesee County, at the town of Bethany, Jan- uary 1, 1813. He received some edneation in his early youth, but his father dying when our subjeet was but a child, he was bound out by his mother,
607
MONONA COUNTY.
At the age of seventeen he eommeneed the battle of life for himself, and being determined to have an education, by hard and persistent work, pursu . ing somewhat the course taken by our late lamented President James A. Garfield.finally fitted himself for Middlebury College, which he attended, and was graduated therefrom August 21, 1833. In company with a Mr. Spaulding, he opened a seleet school in Bakersfield, Vt., and was engaged at the head of that institution until 1848 or 1850. when he ac- cepted a professorship in a college at New Orleans, La. In 1857, he returned to his Green Mountain home, whence in 1856, he eame to Monona County, locating in Belvidere Township. By the purchase of land warrants he obtained about forty aeres on section 11, 83, 44, but by good business tact in- ereased this so that at the time of his death, he was the owner of five hundred and fifty aeres all well- improved.
In 1865 Mr. Bisbee was elected to fill the office of County Judge, and served in this connection for two years. IIe was the first County Superin- tendent of the seliools of Monona Counts, and served several terms in the same office at various periods after that. In 1861 he was chosen County Surveyor, and has held many minor offices. lle died in Belvidere Township, June 21. 1871, deeply mourned by all.
Mr. Bisbee, August 28, 1845, married Miss Eunice M. Wheeler, a native of Vermont, born in the town of New Haven, November 12, 1818, and died in Belvidere Township, February 28, 1875, and with her husband is buried on the old homestead, on a spot picked out by Mr. Bisbee. They were the parents of four children: Charles W., of whom a sketch appears elsewhere; George S., living in Los Angeles, C'al .; Francis O., deceased; and Marcella P .. now Mrs. M. Inglis, of Los Angeles, C'al.
The Bisbee family are lineal descendants of one of the Puritan fathers that settled on the bleak shores of New England, early in the seventeenth century, as the following geneological table will show. Thomas Bisbee was born in Sandwich, Eng- land, and came to America in 1634, settling in Seituate, Mass. He had a son by the name of Elisha "The Glover of Marshfield," who was promi- nent at the taking of Lonisburg. Ilis son, llope-
still, had a son by the name of lohn, who was the father of Jolin Bisbee, and they were both farmers in Pembroke, Mass. The latter's son, John, the grandfather of C. C. Bisbee, died at the age of fifty-two years. leaving seven children-Roxana, Belinda, Rizpah, Charles, Jason, Jotham and Pat- tie. Charles Bisbee, the father of Charles C .. died at the age of forty-one, leaving three children. our subject, Roxy and DeWitt. On his mother's side our subject was of English and Irish extraction, his maternal grandfather. Sanders, by name. being a deseendant, in the second generation, from a gen- tleman of that name. who came from England. and who married a lady by the name of Oliver, who was of Irish ancestry.
Charles Bisbee, the father of C. C. Bisbee, was born in Springfield. Vt., and his mother in Sudbury. in the same State. They were persons in moderate circumstances, and of fair education, as were all of their ancestors.
OHN W. SMITH, the President of the Ma- pleton Bank, came to that village in August, 1878, and engaged in dealing in stock which business he still carries on. He became as- soeiated with the direction of the bank, April 1. 1884, and was chosen its president in 1886. He is one of the large landholders of the courty, owning some twenty -six hundred and forty aeres, and is one of the leading business men of the community in which he makes his home.
Mr. Smith was born in Jackson County, lowa, August 7. 1852, and is the son of A. C. and Martha (Hawkins) Smith. His father, a native of Naslı- ville, Tenn., located at Galena, Jo Daviess County, Ill., in a very early day, and was there engaged in lead mining. From there he went to Jackson County, Iowa, among its first settlers, and took up land under the pre-emption law. In the latter lo- cality he was married to Miss Martha Hawkins, a native of Pennsylvania, and there made his home until 1867, at which date be removed to Clinton ('ounty, this State, where he is still living.
Our subject, the third in a family of four ehil-
608
MONONA COUNTY.
dren, was reared upon a farm. receiving his educa- have the only place for a grist mill to be run by water-power on the Sioux River. with good rock bottom, ete. Well, owing to a rise in the Sioux, for which the stream is somewhat noted, the roek bottom water-power disappeared, and J. E. tired of lighting green-head flies and mosquitoes, removed tion in the common schools of the neighborhood, and at the Commercial College at Mt. Vernon. He has always followed farming and stock-dealing as a business. a calling for which he has special apti- tude. He removed to Clinton County with his parents in 1867, and there remained until coming ; to the town of Ashton. where he engaged in hotel- to Mapleton, as above noted.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage JJanuary 28. 1877, to Miss Chloe M. Hart, a native of Clinton County, lowa, and is a parent of three children: Edna Belle, who was born March 10, 1879; Stella, March 28. 1882; and Clotilde, January 28. 1885.
Mrs. Smith is an active member of the Baptist Church of Mapleton,and a sincere Christian woman. Mr. Smith is a member of the Quarry Lodge, No. 404. A. F. & A. M., of Mapleton, and at one time filled the position of secretary of the Maple Val- ley Driving Park Association, of which he was a leading member and originator.
E. MORRISON, the subject of this sketch, and one of the well-known pioneers of Mon- ona County, was born at Sanborton Bridge, now called Tilton, Belknap County, N. II., February 11, 1820. He spent his early life on a farm among the rugged hills, and when about eighteen years of age, he went to Boston, where he learned the trade of a mason and plasterer, and worked at it until 1843, when he married Mary U. Page, of Bristol, Me., and removed to his farm near Sanborton Bridge, where the family resided until 1849. he working most of the time at his trade in Boston. In 1849 he removed to St. Charles. Ill .. where he was engaged in contracting. and was also superintendent of the bridge erected across Fox River, by the old town Air Line Railroad Com- pany. Owing to failing health. and a desire to see the West, in April, 1856, he removed to Monona County, Iowa, landing June 1, 1856. on the banks of the Sioux River, on land now owned by Joe B. P. Day, where it was proposed to have a town. that would be the future county seat of Monona County, erect a mill and start a "boom," they claiming to
keeping for one year. removing in 1857 to Onawa, where he had erected a hotel, known as the Onawa Ilouse, and with which the early history of Onawa and Onawa people are intimately connected. He was agent for the Western Stage Company, and the hotel was known far and wide as the best hotel between Council Bluffs and Sioux City, and in fact was headquarters for many years, for all public and social gatherings held in Onawa. Many of the okl pioneers will remember and cherish the good old times held under the hospitable roof of Morrison's Hotel. Mrs. Morrison was the guiding spirit, and many a tired and weary traveler owes her a debt of gratitude, which time 'eannot efface. She was one of the noble band of pioneer women, who worked and foiled, that others might reap. Kind, patient, and gentle, her memory will ever live in the hearts of the old settlers. She departed this life September 23, 1871. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morrison: Herbert E., born August 26, 1844, and Mary E., born March 28, 1846. now the wife of George E. Warner. In August, 1864, Mr. Morrison sold the Onawa House to A. T. Bigelow, and removed to his farm on section 16, township 83, range 45, Monona County, where he engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising until 1874, when he removed to the town of Onawa, building the brick house now owned by J. R. Thurston, which he occupied until 1882, when be bought the Onawa Ilouse, and re- sumed the hotel business. Continuing the same until November, 1887, he sold the hotel and removed to Arroyo Grande, Cal., where he now re- sides. Mr. Morrison was one of the original mem- bers of the Monona Land Company, that laid out the town of Onawa, and one of the best known and most publie-spirited men. He was always active in all public enterprises, and helped largely to build up the town of Onawa, his bump of hope was large, and when he said "by lightning it has got to go,"
609
MONONA COUNTY.
it went. He was a member of no secret organiza- tion, and a strong temperance man, and noted particularly as being out-spoken and frank in all matters. We hope his declining years may be spent in peace and quiet beneath the genial skies of Southern California.
TEPHIEN M. BLACKMAN. One of the most enterprising, prosperous farmers and large land owners of Monona County is the gentleman of whose life a brief sketeh is here given and who is a resident upon section 15, Spring Valley Township. Ile is the owner of a farm which contains some five hundred and seven- teen acres, all lying in that township. He is engaged in general farming, but is especially cm- ployed in stock-raising, his place being thoroughly well stocked with a high grade of cattle and ex- cellent strains of horses.
Mr. Blackman is a native of Iowa, having been born at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County. March 19, 1851, and is the son of George .J. and Harriet (Staley) Blackman. His father was born in Canada, April 15, 1828, and was a son of Stephen Blackman, a native of England. The latter. born December 2, 1784, was a soldier in the British army, came to America with the troops during the second war with the United States in 1812-15, and receiving his discharge here, settled in Canada, and there married Miss Deborah Barnham. September 22, 1817. In 1834 he came to the United States. lIe became a convert to the Mormon faith and a follower of Joseph Smith, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and removed with him in 1838, from Missouri, where he had settled, to Nauvoo. After the assassination of Smith, which took place July 27, 1844, at Carthage, in company with many of his co-religionists, he came to Coun- cil Bluffs in 1846. In 1852 he removed to Harrison County and from there, in 1854, he came to Prep- eration, and commenced farming operations and there died in the faith which he had adopted, De- cember 20, 1858. His wife was born at Elizabeth- town, Canada, July 1, 1791, and died January 12, 1850.
George J. Blackman, the father of our subject,
removed with his parents to Nauvoo, Ill., and from there to Council Bluffs. In the latter city, June 11, 1850, he was united iu marriage with Miss llarriet Staley, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., who was born .July 9, 1829, and was the daughter of Conrad and Hannah (Tripp) Staley. ller parents were born at Erie, N. Y., the former January 1, 1802, and the latter January 24, 1801, and died, her father October 8, 1846, and her mother August 24, 1835. They were married in New York State September 15, 1822, and were the parents of two boys and two girls. George J. Blackman settled at Magnolia, llarrison County, in 1851, and was one of the pioneers of that section. where he is still living, engaged in farming and fruit raising. He and his family are still members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Stephen M. Blackman, the eldest in a family of nine children, was reared upon a farm in Harrison County and after receiving the rudiments of his education in the pioneer district schools, finished at the Magnolia lligh School. At the age of twenty years he commenced life, teaching school for sev- eral years in llarrison County and in Spring Valley Township, this county, having come here in the spring of 1873. He followed farming during the summers and teaching in the winter months. lle was married in Harrison County, April 13. 1873, to Miss Almira Jarvis, a native of Jo Daviess County, Wis., born December 23, 1853, and with his young wife settled on the west half of the north- west quarter of section 22, Spring Valley, on land which formerly belonged to his grandfather. Here his daughter, Hattie A., was born October 28. 1874, and here the mother died November 4, 1874. En- gaged in tilling the soil and building up his for- tunes, Mr. Blackman has made his residence here ever since and has highly prospered in all his un- dertakings, his success being the result of remarka- ble industry coupled with a natural business ability and foresight and he is to-day, rated among the affluent and well-to do people of the county.
September 20, 1877 Mr. Blackman again essayed matrimony, being united with Miss Mary E. Keu- nedy, a native of Crawford County, lowa, and the daughter of Samuel G. and Mary ( Howorth ) Ken- nedy, and who was born June 2, 1856. Her father
6:14
MONONA COUNTY.
a native of Pittsburgh. Pa .. bom September 1. 1831, was of Irish descont. his father, Charles Kennedy, having been born in that Island. Her mother. Mrs. Mary (Iloworth ) Kennedy. a native of Eng- land was born November 18, 1833, and came to America with her parents, when some nine years old. and settled in Crawford County, Iowa. where she and Mr. Kennedy was the first couple married. The father died in Crawford County in 1859, and the mother afterwards married John B. Moorhead, a prominent farmer of Spring Valley Township. mentioned elsewhere in the pages of this volume. She was the mother of two chil Iren: Mrs. Black- man and Ida A .. the wife of George Pugsley of Harrison County.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.