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 75
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Mr. and Mrs. Blackman have been the parents of three children: Frank M., born September 12, 1879; George B., March 3. 1882; and Clay E., February 1.1886.
Mr. Blackman has never been a member of any church, is a Democrat in politics, of prohibition proelivities and has had thrust upon him several local offices, which he has felt it his duty to accept, chief among which is that of Trustee. Township Clerk, etc. He is the present Secretary of the school board of the district township, and gives considerable time and attention to educational matters.
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E DWIN J. HULL, a substantial and well-to- do farmer of Willow Township, is actively identified with the agricultural interests of the county. He was born in New Ilaven County. Conn., December 23. 1838. and is the son of David and Rebecca A. (Tuttle) Hull. representatives of one of the historic families of this country. When about thirteen years of age, he removed with his parents to Brauch County, Mich., and five years later with them to JJohnson County, Iowa. He re- mained beneath the home roof-tree until April 24. 1861, when he started across the plains with an ox team, bound for California's golden shore. Start- ing in April, on the 23d of September he reached the Umatilla Indian reservation, Oregon, where he remained until June of the following year, and then
went into mming at Auburn, Ore. From there, in December, he removed to Grand Round Valley, where he entered a piece of land, upon which he lived until 1865, at which date he went to Boise County, Idaho, and again engaged in mining. In the latter place he remained until the fall of 1876, except the winter of 1869-70, which he spent with his father in Iowa County, this State, but in the fall of 1876, he came to Monona County and settled on a rented farm in Willow Township, where he lived for about three years. Taking up his home on section 16, he then commenced its improvement, and as soon as it was in the market. in 1884, pur. chased it, and has there made his home ever sinee.
Mr. Hull was married March 6, 1870, in Keokuk County. Iowa, to Miss Harriet Irwin, and they are the parents of six children : Mary E., William L., George R., Ruby M., David J. and Estella M.
ILLIAM WININGER eame to Monona County in the fall of 1871, and settled on the farm where he now resides, on section 15, Willow Township. Of his farm of forty aeres, which he had purchased a short time previous, he broke about twelve acres the following spring, and put up a small house. To this land he has added un- til he now owns some two hundred aeres, which is well improved. When he came here there were but few settlers, probably only about six families.
Mr. Wininger was born in Seneea County, Ohio, February 8, 1841, and is the son of Adam and Mary (Sheller) Wininger. He remained at home with his parents until August 15, 1861, when, in response to the needs of his country, he enlisted in Company E, Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and, being mustered into the service at Tiffin, was forwarded to the scene of hostilities in Kentucky. The noble regiment of which he was a part. formed a portion of the columu under General Buell, who re-enforced General Grant at Shiloh, and participated in the engagement of the second day, when the tide of the rebellious hordes was turned backward. About the 1st of May following, our subject was taken sick and was sent te the hospital, and from there sent
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home on a furlough, Rejoining his regiment on convalescence, he engaged in the march over the Cumberland Mountain, and was again taken sick and carried in an ambulance to Murfreesboro, and from the latter sent to Nashville, Tenn. November 20, 1862, he was discharged for disability, and re- turned to Mercer County, Ohio, whither his parents had removed, and there remained until the fall of 1863. 1Ie then returned to the county of his birthi. In the spring of 1865, he came to Iowa, locating in Iowa County, and in 1870 removed to Montgomery County, Kan., where he remained until coming to Monona County, as above stated.
Mr. Wininger was united in marriage October 28, 1868. at lowa City, Iowa, with Miss Naney E. Rumple, the daughter of William and Mary J. Rumple, and their home has been blessed by the advent of one child, Althea M., born February 16, 1872.
AMES P. UTTERBACK, one of the enter- prising members of the farming community of Lake Township, has his home on section 28. Ile is engaged in farming and general stock-raising, and is one of the most respected and esteemed citizens of that portion of the county.
Mr. Utterback was born in Indiana, December 3, 1848, and is the son of Charles and Eliza Utter- back. When he was quite a small boy he removed with his parents to Mills County, lowa, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the district schools. Reared upon a farm, his attention was early brought to bear upon that subject, and he was initiated in his youth into all the hardships attendant on an agricultural life. Ile remained at home assisting his father in carrying on the farm, until his marriage, which took place December 19, 1869, at which time he led to the altar Miss Jane Cummings, a daughter of R. T. and Mary Cum- mings. The young couple settled upon a farm in the neighborhood, which he had rented, and there made their home until September, 1873, when they came to Monona County, Locating at first on a leased farm in Lincoln Township, he remained there one year and a half, but in the spring of 1875
he came to Lake Township. He purchased a farm on section 29, which he improved and cultivated until the autumn of 1884, and then disposed of it and bought the land in section 28, where he now lives.
Mr. and Mrs. Utterback are the parents of eight children, as follows: James S., Oliver HI., Clyde A., Warren I., Sarah 11., Mary S., and Wallace A., and Walter A,, twins.
M. MURDICK, an energetic and active farmer of Lake Township, came to Mo- nona County, in July, 1885, settling on section 27, Lake Township, where he bought an un- improved farm. During that summer he put up a good frame house and broke about seven acres of the land. The following season he put about thirty acres more under cultivation. On this place he has sinee made his home.
Mr. Murdick was born in York County, Canada, and is the son of John G. and Hannah Murdiek. When he was but about two years of age he was brought by his parents to the United States. The family settled in Iowa County, Wis., and there made their home until 1863. In the spring of the same year they removed to Dakota County, Neb., our subjeet accompanying them, and in the latter place grew to manhood.
Mr, Murdick received the elements of a good education in the common schools of the country, and remained at home with his parents, assisting in carrying on the home farm until the spring of 1872. Starting out for himself in life, that year he went to Page County, Iowa, but in the fall of the following year removed to Plymouth County, in the northwestern part of the State. There he made his home until 1878, and from that date un- til 1885, in the adjoining county of Woodbury, from which he came here as noted above.
ILLIAM F. MOORE, who is engaged in carrying on the blacksmith business at On- awa, was born in JJefferson County, lowa, December 15, 1854, and is a son of llenry and Mary
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Jane (Harper) Moore, natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. After their marriage his parents immigra- ted to America in May, 1838, and after landing at New York, proceeded to the neighborhood of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where the father engaged in farming. In 1849 or '50 they removed to lowa and settled in Jefferson County. In 1862 they went to Deca- tmn County, and in 1863 settled in Ringgold County where they died. the mother in May. 1885, and the father in 1885. They were the parents of ten chil- dren: Nancy. Thomas II., Margaret, deceased; Mary J .. Henry R., Elizabeth S., Emily N., George W., Benjamin C. and William F. The parents were members of the I'nited Brethren Church.
Our subject remained at home until attaining his twenty-third year, when he engaged in farming for himself in Decatur County, and there he remained until 1879. He then removed to Ringgold County, and for three years he followed the same line of life. The next two years he spent in Adair County, but in July, 1885, came to Onawa and purchased a half interest in the blacksmith-shop with Garrett Ingersoll. In the fall of 1887 Mr. Moore pur- chased the other half interest, and has carried on the business since that date.
Mr. Moore was united in marriage January 19, 1876, with Miss Martha A. Lamb, who was born in Wapello County, Iowa, in March 1857. They are the parents of four children: Warren H., born Feb- ruary 14. 1878; Lucy G., June 15, 1881; JJennie M., June 18. 1883; and Charles A., October 14, 1884.
OHN BROOKFIELD GARD. Among the very earliest settlers of Monona County, was the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, who came here in 1852. He came from Cass County, Mieh., and settled on section 20, Franklin Township. The land was all surveyed but had not yet been placed in market. He took up a claim upon which he built a log cabin about 18x20 feet in size, with puncheon floor, and roofed it with shingles split out by hand from bolts sawed out from cottonwood trees. When the land came
into market, he entered some seven hundred aeres, a small portion of which he brought under culti- vation. Into the house which he had built he re- moved his family, consisting of a wife and eight children, four boys and four girls, in February, 1853. He came from Michigan with the intention of going to Oregon, but on his arrival at Council Bluffs, was engaged to haul supplies to Sioux City for the Indian agents. In crossing this county he stopped at the house of Aaron Cook, on section 30, Franklin Township: Seeing the advantages of this country for stock-raising,as cattle could be win- tered without hay, they living on the rush beds through the winter, he decided to settle here. lle lived on his farm until 1859, with the exception of one year, when having buitt a house in Onawa, in which John E. Sellick now lives, he made his resi- dence there. During the Pikes Peak excitement he went to Colorado, remaining about two years. and then went to Idaho. A few years later he re- Inrned to Loveland. Larimer County, Col., where he is now living. He was naturally of a restless temperament and a great traveler, and in 1816 crossed the plains to Oregon. and after passing the winter there, returned home by the same ronte. About 1849 he went overland to California, re- turning by water.
Having considerable means when he came to this locality, he took an active part in the organization of the Monona Land Company, and was of great benefit in the community. He was an upright man and his word was as good as his bond, and, although possessing but a limited education, had the rare fac- ulty of conveying his meaning in a few words in conversation or writing. He was born near the State line in Union County, Ind., and removed in an early day with his father's family, who settled at St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich.
R RANK HAWKINS, proprietor of the new meat market at Onawa, came to that village in October, 1874, and worked at his trade of carpenter for some two years. He then took up farming as an avocation, which calling he followed
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for three years, when, returning to the village, for two years was engaged in blacksmithing. Putting in a billiard hall, he continued in its management until February 15. 1888, when he purchased his present business, which had been established by F. C. Case, Jr., the previous December.
Mr. Hawkins was born in Buchanan County, Mo., January 24, 1853, and is a son of William and Sarah (Martin) Hawkins, His parents, who were natives of England, came to the U'nited States in 1849, landing at New Orleans, from which they came by river to St. Joseph, Mo. His mother died at Savannah, Andrew County, Mo., in 1859, having been the mother of five children, of whom our sub- ject was the second. His father still makes his home at Voris, Buchanan County, being the present Postmaster of that village.
Our subject grew to manhood in his native State, and after receiving an education in its common schools, learned the carpenter's trade in 1874 at which business he was employed until coming to Onawa. He was married November 18, 1878, to Miss Ida O'Connor, a native of Cedar Falls, Black llawk County, Iowa, who was born April 12. 1863, and is the daughter of Frank O'Connor of Onawa. They have had five children: Bert, born January 19, 1880; John H., May 18, 1881; Glen, born April 23, 1883, died May 15, 1885; Rosa, born March 2, 1885 ; and Katie, January 24, 1889.
E ZRA DE WOLF, a prominent, energetic and successful farmer of Maple Township, was born in Erie County, Pa., May 19, 1840, and is the son of Iliram and Sibel De Wolf. In his youth he received a good practical education in the common schools for which the Keystone State is noted, and grew to manhood in his native county. On attaining his majority, although reared a farmer, he adopted engineering and bridge building as a calling, which he followed in the oil regions of Pensylvania until 1867. In search of a larger field for his efforts, for he determined to resume farming, he came to Iowa, and locating in Linn County, en- gaged in agriculture and there made his home until
October, 1882, when he removed to Monona County, and the following February settled on the farm upon which he now lives, on section 25. He has a fine property, embracing some two hundred and forty- five acres, lying all in the township, which is well cultivated and improved. In politics he is a Re- publican, and is filling the position of Township Clerk and has been the President of the district school board for three years. He is a member of Quarry Lodge, No. 404, A. F. & A. M., and the secretary of Maple Valley Farmer's Alliance.
Mr. De Wolf was united in marriage August 20, 1867, with Miss Annie E. Kelso, a native of Erie County, Pa., who was born June 18, 1846. By this union they have had six children, born upon the following dates: Lillie May, June 13, 1868; Albert K., November 13, 1869; Sarah E., February 6, 1872; Isora, May 25, 1875; Effie, November 20, 1879; and Edith M., September 24, 1883.
Mr. De Wolf is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and has met with a great success since coming to this locality, and has grown deservedly popular with the-better class of people in the community.
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ULIUS WARREN COX. M.D., a practicing physician and surgeon, located at Mapleton, came to that village in May, 1884, and en- -=
- tered upon the duties of his profession. Ile is a native of Peoria County, Ill., born October 7, 1855, and is a son of William and Rachel ( Walter) Cox, natives of Ohio and West Virginia, respec- tively. His parents, when married, in Indiana. settled in 1848 in Peoria County, Ill., upon a farm, where the father died in May, 1881. The mother is still living in the same locality.
The Doctor, who was the fourth in a family of eleven children, was reared to manhood upon his father's farm, attending the common schools in his youth. In the spring of 1877. he commenced life as a drug clerk at Smithville. 11 .. where he remained some three years and a half. After attending Amity College, in Page County. Iowa, for a year, he entered the Medical Department of the łowa
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State University, at Iowa City, October 1, 1880, in which he remained one term. He then returned to Page County and resumed his duties as drug clerk, and remained there until the fall of 1883, at which date he removed to Danbury, Woodbury County, and engaged in the practice of medicine. From the latter place he came to Mapleton, as already stated. In the fall of 1885, he re-entered the State I'niversity, from which he was finally graduated March 3, 1886. He is a member of Monte Cristo Lodge, No. 205, K. of P .. of which he was one of the organizers and charter members.
Dr. Cox was married October 20, 1886, at Mapleton, to Miss Cora Bridges, a native of Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, who was born August 7, 1869, and is a daughter of John T. and Mary (Kline) Bridges. They are the parents of one child, Lewis Monroe, born October 21, 1887.
S AMUEL POLLY, M. D., a practicing phy- sician and surgeon, residing on section 2 6 in the town of Fairview, is a native of Greenville, Darke County, Ohio, and was born November 29, 1821. Ilis fatter, James Polly, was a farmer in his earlier days, but later in life engaged in the mercantile trade. The latter was born October 18, 1801, and was the son of William and Jemima Polly, the father of whom was born December 24, 1776, and died January 13, 1847; the mother, born December 22, 1778, died Decem- ber 22, 1840. The mother of our subject Priscilla (Owens) Polly, was born September 25, 1803, and was the daughter of Samuel and Libbie (Bell) Owens, natives of Kentucky, both of whom died in Darke County, Ohio.
In his youth Dr. Samuel Polly attended school and assisted upon the farm, where he remained un- til nineteen years of age. February 4, 1841, he was united in marriage with Anna Mote, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of Jonathan and Susan- nah (Kesler) Mote, the former of whom was born in Georgia and removed with his parents to Ohio at the age of fourteen; the latter was a native of North Carolina. About a month after his mar-
riage Samuel commenced housekeeping on his fathi- er's farm, near Greenville, on the day that W. II. Harrison was inaugurated President. and engaged in agricultural pursuits and in working at the car- penter's trade, for about two years. At the expi- ration of that time he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Downing at Salem, Ran- dolph County, in the same State, and on the 7th of March, 1817, commenced practice in partner- ship with his late instructor. Three years later the firm was dissolved, but Dr. Polly still carried on his practice in the same locality until the fall of 1855, when he removed to Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa. Until June 4, 1872, he was ranked among the leading physicians of that locality. Ile then came to Monona County and located on seetion 25, Fairview Township, still following his profession. In the spring of 1881, the river having washed away the greater part of his farm, he removed the buildings to another piece owned by him on seetion 26. where he now lives. By a common freak the river, by its change of course has again restored most of the land, which is becoming quite valuable for pasture, timber, etc. In connection with his practice he has always owned several farms, whose operations he carries on under his own supervision.
The Doctor and Mrs. Polly are the parents of five children-Ephraim E., born February 9, 1842; Pris- eilla B., February 26, 1844; James, born February 13, 1846, and died September 7 following; Curtis, born February 12, 1848; and Jonathan, June 5, 1850. The Doctor is a stanch Republican in poli- ties, and a strong advocate of prohibition.
ENRY KRATZ, one of the enterprising farmers of Franklin Township, having his home on section 19, was born in Germany, September 8, 1846. His parents, John Philip and Mary Catharine Kratz, were both natives of the German Empire, who left the vine-clad hills of the land of their birth and came to the New World in search of a home in 1851. They settled in Pottawattamie County, this State, where they re- mained until 1856, at which date they came to Mo-
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nona County, being among its earliest pioneers, and located on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 20. ITere the father died in January, 1866. The mother is still living, and resides at Randolph, Cedar County, Neh.
Henry Kratz was the third child in a family of six born to his parents, and crossed the stormy At- lantic with the family in 1851. The days of his youth were passed in Pottawattamie and this county, receiving his education in the pioneer schools of the period. These rude cradles of learn- ing were erected of unhewn logs and covered in with a dirt roof. Later on he attended school at Onawa.
During the trying times of the late Civil War, Henry Kratz's heart beat in response to the calls of his adopted country, and in September, 1864,he enlisted in Company I, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, and joined his regiment at Atlanta, Ga. He par- ticipated with that heroic body of men in their march through the heart of the Confederacy to the sea, under their matchless leader, General Sherman, and in all the battles and skirmishes of that famous campaign. After taking part in the Grand Review at Washington in the summer of 1865, he was mustered out of service, receiving his discharge at Davenport, Iowa, September 5, 1865. lle imme- diately returned to his home in this county and resumed his agricultural labors. He has but a small farm, but devoting the bulk of his attention to the raising of small fruit for the market, derives consid- erable revenue from it.
Mr. Kratz was married June 3, 1872, to Miss Martha A. Brown. The lady was born in Ohio, January 30, 1856, and is a daughter of James and Priscilla ( Robinet) Brown, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Virginia, who were married in Ohio, and settled in Iowa County, this State, in 1857. The family came to Monona County in 1869, and located in West Fork Township, but a short time after removed to Franklin Township, and engaged in farming. Her father died here March 5, 1885, having attained the age of eighty years; her mother still resides here in the township. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Kratz have been the parents of
seven children-lda J., born September 16, 1872, who died October 3, 1873; Elizabeth, born July 5, 1874, who died February 5, 1875; Eva, born Au- gust 3, 1875; Frank A., August 3, 1876; Sarah J., September 5, 1878, who died February 5, 1880; Willie, born February 16, 1882, who died in July, 1882; and John E., born July 28, 1883. Mr. Kratz was one of the charter members of Hanscom Post, No. 97, G. A. R., at Onawa, with which he still holds connection.
LFRED HI. STRAND, an industrious far- mer living on section 16, in the town of Fairview, was born in LaCrosse County, Wis., February 1, 1857, and is the son of Halvor H. Strand, a native of Norway, who had come to America, and settled in that section where he carried on a farm.
In the fall of 1873, our subject, with his parents, came to Monona County, and settled in the town of Fairview on section 10, where the father was engaged in agriculture. Alfred was employed in assisting in carrying on the farm, and in attend- ance upon the district schools until 1878. when he went to Minneapolis, Minn., and spent three years, at the Augsburg Seminary. In the summer of 1881, he returned to the county of his birth and was employed in farm labor until the fall, when, returning to Fairview Township, he taught in school district No. 1, the fall and succeeding sum- mer terms. After an attendance of five months at the Sioux City Iligh School, he again took up school teaching, which he followed until bis mar- riage. This latter event took place June 2, 1881, at which time he wedded Miss Lena Gullickson, the daughter of Knud and Maria Gullickson, na- tives of Norway. Shortly after this the young couple removed to Valley City, Barnes County, Dak., but after farming there until the Ist of September, fol- lowing not finding the country up to his idea, he re- turned to Fairview Township, and rented his father- in-law's farm. lle was employed in agricultural toil on rented farms and in teaching school, until March 20, 1889, when he purchased one hundred
MONONA COUNTY.
acres of improved land. on sections 16, 21 and 23, Fairview Township, where he is at present living.
Mr. and Mrs, Strand have had three children- Herbert M., who was born August 23, 1885, died May 12. 1887; Edgar R., born June 24, 1887, died August 29, 1888; and Samuel L., born March 31, 1889. Mr. Strand is a Republican in polities, has held the office of Town Clerk since 1883, and has also held the office of Justice of the Peace, and is a Notary Public. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
RS. MARTHA GLENN, ne KENNEDY, is the only surviving child of Thomas and A. Melsina (Thompson) Kennedy, both of whom are deceased. She was born at Quincy. Adams County. Ill. May 6, 1863, and came to Monona County with her parents when about seven years of age. Here she was reared, re- ceiving her education in the common schools and in the higher educational institutions at Onawa, and September 9, 1880, was united in marriage with Robert Glenn, a native of Ireland, and is the parent of one child. Thomas K., born August 31, 1881. Mrs. Glenn is the owner of her father's homestead, to which she has added until it now con- tains three hundred and thirty-five acres, on sec- tions 19 and 20, all of which is well improved, and has a fine residence and three good tenant houses upon it.
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