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 80
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OHIN BARCUS, farmer, living in Sherman Township, came to Monona County in April, 1863, and brought his family here about the Ist of October of the same year, traveling from Lieking County, Ohio, with a horse team. With him came his mother-in-law, Mary Kelley, and her son Jackson.
Mr. Barcus is a native of Maryland, born June 14, 1807, and is the son of George and Sarah (Prichard) Bareus. Ilis father dying when our subject was about seven years of age, he remained at home working on the farm, and in maturer years took charge of the homestead. In November, 1829, he married Isabel Burgess, who died in Septem- ber, 1850, leaving seven children. The next year he was united in marriage with Miss Fidelia Buck, who became the mother of five children and died May 12, 1881.
C HARLES STRU BEL. Among " the brave boys in blue," veterans of the late Civil War, who are engaged in agricultural pursuits in Monona County, after having heroically defended the existence of the Government, is the subject of this sketch, a resident of Jordan Township, resid- ing on section 17. He was born in Morris County,
N. J., July 2, 1830, and is the son of John and Eliza (Tintel) Strubel, the former also being a na- tive of the same county, who was born July 12. 1804, and engaged until his death, in 1883, in farming in that locality. The mother died in the spring of 1853, at Newark, N. J .. having been the mother of eleven children, nine of whom survive.
Charles Strubel remained at home beneath the parental roof, assisting in carrying on the farm until attaining his twenty-second year, when he re- moved to Western Pennsylvania, and in the neigh- borhood of Pittsburg was employed as a coal miner for several years. At the Catfish furnace, in Clar- ion County, in the same State, he was employed during the winter of 1854, and the following year, but in the winter of 1855-56 he removed to Butler County, and remained there until 1859 at the Wil- ley Roy furnace. March 10, 1859, he started for Illinois, and locating in Grundy County. was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until August 6. 1862. Upon that date, prompted by patriotism and a nation's peril, he enlisted in Company C, Seventy- sixth Illinois Infantry. He participated in many of the prominent engagements in the departments of the C'umberland and the Tennessee, and during the famous siege of Vicksburg, spent some forty days in the trenches. At Champion Hills and in the second battle of Jackson, he performed a manly part, and with his gallant regiment remained in service for three years and nine days, his discharge being dated August 15, 1865. Returning to his home in Ili- nois, he there made his home until the following spring, when he came to Iowa, and located in Kos- suth County, near Algona. where he was engaged in farming for about eight years. In July, 1874. he came to Monona County, settling in Kennebec Township, from which, two years later, he removed to his present home, where he now has some one hundred and sixty acres of land, one hundred and five of which are in cultivation and well improved. He is devoting considerable attention to the stock- raising interest in which he is quite successful.
Mr. Struble was married June 4, 1853, at New- ark, N. J., to Miss Margaret Ledy, a native of New York City, who was born October 2, 1832, and the daughter of Thomas Ledy and his wife. resi- dents of Pennsylvania. Of Mr. and Mrs. Strubel's
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family of twelve children, the following is a rec- ord: John Thomas, born May 1, 1854, deceased ; Mahinda, who was born in Clarion County, Pa., in September, 1855, is now the wife of Humphrey Mount. of Turin ; Lizzie, born in Butler County, Pa., in Jannary, 1857, is the wife of Charles Fes- senden; George Frank, who was born in the same county, in January. 1859; William H., was born in Grundy County, IL., in 1861, and married Isabella Ward, and lives in Jordan Township; Thomas Grant was also born in Grundy County, May 1, 1866; Ella G., was born in Kossuth County, Iowa, June 11, 1868, and is the wife of Evans S. Jones, of Jordan; James Oren. was born in Kossuth County, February 23, 1870; Ira E., was born in the same place, April 21, 1872; Minnie E., was born May 4, 1875; Joseph E., was born in Monona County, August 17, 1880; Frank married Lorinda Morton and resides on the home farm.
LEXANDER NEWMAN, a highly re- spected and esteemed citizen of Center Township, residing on section 9, dates his residence in Monona County from March. 1876. In partnership with D. L. Wiley, he then purchased about one hundred and sixty acres of land to which they kept adding from time to time until in 1884, having some five hundred and twenty acres he purchased the interest of his partner in the property. JIe has, since then, sold to his sons all of the land, with the exception of about eighty acres. This has upon it a commodious and tasty res- idence, is well cultivated and, with its grove of ten acres of trees. presents a beautiful appearance. About twelve head of cattle, four head of horses and sixty head of hogs represents his property in the way of stock.
Mr. Newman was born in Fulton County, Pa., April 26, 1835, and is the son of George and Mary (Fields) Newman. both of whom were born in the Keystone State, the former in 1815. and the lat- ter in 1820, and died there in 1865 and 1871. re- spectively.
Our subject, the third child in a family of four,
was reared upon a farm and remained at home un- til his twenty-fourth year, when, marrying, he started in life for himself on a farm which his father had given him. For about six years he was thus engaged in that neighborhood, and then selling out removed to llenry County, Ill., where for about seven years he had charge of the four hundred- acre farm of D. L. Wiley. After tilling the soil on a rented farm in that vicinity for a few years, he formed the partnership above mentioned, and came to Monona County.
January 13, 1856, Mr. Newman married Miss Catherine F. O'Connor, who died February 13, 1863, leaving four children: Mary E., born No- vember 29, 1856; Ellen C., December 28, 1857; George S., August 4, 1859, and Dennis O., Febru- ary 22, 1861. October 22, 1863, he contracted a second matrimonial alliance, the lady upon tliat oe- casion being Miss Susan Betts, who died July 12, 1884, leaving the following four children: Charles II., born March 11, 1864; Laura B., June 14, 1866; Orinda B., September 4, 1867; and Ida M., Mareh 15, 1875. For a third time Mr. Newman essayed matrimony, wedding Miss Celia Troth, December 24, 1884. The lady is a native of Mills County. Iowa. Of his children all are living except Ida Mae, who died July 5, 1876.
As a relic of bygone days, Mr. Newman has in his possession a silver teapot, an heirloom in the family that was bought by one of his ancestors, at the sale of George Washington's effects, which took place in 1789, just previous to that patriot's inau- guration as President. It is a curiosity of historical importance, and is absolutely priecless.
AURENCE JACOBSEN, a leading farmer of Franklin Township, having his home on section 5, was born in Tromnhjem, Norway, January 23, 1836. His mother died in the old country May 8, 1889, but his father still makes his home in that Kingdom.
Mr. Jacobsen was reared in the land of his birth, and made his home here until 1866, when with the object of seeking in a newer country that fortune
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which was denied him at home, in company with his brother, Olaus W., he crossed the ocean to the United States. Ile went at once to Michigan, and for two years labored hard in a sawmill. Seeing but little ehance for improvement in that line of life, he declared his intention of becoming a citi- zen of the United States, and taking out his first papers of naturalization, removed to Clay County, Dak., where under the beneficent laws of a foster- ing government. he took up a homestead. Settling down upon it, he commenced its improvement and cultivation, and in time acquired a perfect title. There he remained, peacefully engaged in agricul- ture, until the fall of 1881, when he sold out and came to Monona County. arriving here in Septem- ber. He at once purchased forty aeres of land on section 5, to which he has added from time to time until he now has a fine estate of two hundred and ten acres, one hundred of which he has brought to an excellent state of cultivation.
Mr. Jacobsen is the second in a family of seven children born to his parents, the others being Ola, Enoch, Olaus W .. Nicholena, Ingobor (. and Mat- tie. lle was united in marriage while in Clay County, Dak., August 25. 1881, with Mrs. E. Olson, but has no children. He is a man of considerable mark in the community, and has the respect and esteem of all who know him.
RANCIS DUNGAN, a leading farmer of Franklin Township, living on section 29, eame to Monona County in February, 1879, and purchased his farm of one hundred and twenty acres. upon which he now lives. This is one of the oldest places in the county, being a part of the land entered by Aaron Cook, the first settler in the county. Ile now owns one hundred and sixty aeres, one hundred and twenty-five of which is under cultivation, the balance being timber land.
Mr. Dungan was born in Mercer County, Ohio, March 16, 1821, and is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Roebuck) Dungan. His father is a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Maryland. His
parents were married in Ohio, and in 1829 removed to Noble County, Ind., when there were only five families in that subdivision of the State. The mother died there in 1843, having had a family of twelve children, of whom our subject was the eld- est. The father, who was born December 20, 1801, was again married and had one child. lle removed to Towa in 1853, and settled at Six Mile Grove, Harrison County, and engaged in farming. Ile died at old St. John's, in the same county, April 21, 1888. At one time he was one of the largest land- owners in that section, but previous to his death sold out and lived a retired life.
The subject of our sketch was reared to man- hood in Indiana. receiving his education in the dis- trict schools. lle was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Baughman, who died in Harrison County, Iowa, having had four children, only one of whom is living: Andrew, born March 22, 1854, now a resident of Sioux City. Mr. Dungan re- moved to Harrison County and settled upon a farm. where he was living at the time of the break- ing out of the war. At the third call of the Presi- dent for troops he enlisted in Company E, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, October 4, 1862, and served in the ex- perlition under Gen. Sully, in his expedition against the Sioux Indians on the Northwestern frontier. Their principal engagement was the battle at White Stone Ilill, in which our troops severely punished a band of the savages. After three years' service our subject was mustered out at Sioux City, re- ceiving his final discharge November 9, 1865, at Dubuque. Ile returned to Harrison County, whence he came to Monona County as above stated.
Mr. Dungan was married the second time June 5, 1873, to Mrs. Maria Barnett, nee Evans. who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. December 27, 1834. She was married in Trumbull County, Ill .. whither she had removed, October 21, 1852, to David F. Barnett, a native of White County. Ill .. July 29, 1829. In the spring of 1865 the family removed to Harrison County, Iowa, where Mr. Barnett died January 17, 1871. Ile was the father of eight children, as follows: Thomas, born De- cember 18, 1853, who died January 7, 1871; Fran- cis Marion. born October 21. 1855; Laura, Octo- ber 31, 1859; William. October 25, 1862; Mary E.,
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July 17. 1865; Lizzie. July 27. 1867; and Lue, July 1, 1870. Lizzie Barnett came to Monona County with her mother, and received her edu . cation at the Onawa High School. She commenced teaching school in April, 1885, and has continued in that profession ever since. the last term being the fall of 1889.
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ILLIAM J. EVA, of Onawa, was born in lowa County, Wis., December 26, 1843, and is the son of llenry and Grace (Paul) Eva. His father, a native of Scotland, went in early life to Cemborne, Cornwall, England, where he was married. He came to America in 1830. and settled in Iowa County. Wis., during the time of the Black Hawk War. Henry Eva was a butcher, and followed that business in Wisconsin, until 1851, when he went to California via Cape Horn, and died at Sacramento in 1852. The mother of our subjeet was born on the Isle of Guernsey, in the English Channel, in 1820, and is still living at Lemars, lowa.
William J. Eva, the third of a family of eight children, received his education in the common schools of his native county, and worked. at farm- ing and other labor until 187t, when he went to Spirit Lake. Fowa, and from there to Windom, Minn., and in the latter place worked at harness- making for some two years. From the latter place he proceeded to Worthington, Nobles County, Minn., and engaged at his trade until the fall of 1876, when he started for Onawa, arriving in that city December 4. After working for Theodore Wheeler one year, and Holbrook Bros., for the same length of time, in the harness-making business, he purchased the stock, and since that time has been carrying on the business, the only establishment of the kind in Onawa. Mr. Eva is the proprietor of the Jefferson Square livery stable, on the corner of Sixteenth and Cass Streets, Omaha, Neb., eoming into possession of that property in the spring of 1889.
January 2, 1864, Mr. Eva enlisted in Company F, Third Wisconsin Infantry, as a recruit. and,
joining that famous regiment at Wartrace, Tenn .. participated in most of the battles leading up to, and including the capture of Atlanta and the subse- quent march to the sea, through the center of the Confederacy. After participating in the grand re- view, he was sent with the regiment to Louisville. Ky., where he was mustered out of service and dis- charged August 6, 1865, and returned to his home in Wisconsin. He is a member of Hanseom Post, No. 97, G. A. R., at Onawa, and of Monona Lodge, No. 380, I. O. O. F., at the same place.
Mr. Eva was united in marriage, at St. James, Min., October 9, 1875, with Miss Luey E. Manning. who was born in East Cambridge, Mass., June 23, 1856, and is a daughter of Nelson II. Manning, a native of Nova Scotia: ller father settled in LeSeuer County, Minn., about 1859, and served as lieutenant in a Minnesota regiment under General Sibley, in the fall of t863, against the Sioux Indians and assisted to put a stop to the massacre of that year. Afterwards, taking up a homestead in Cottonwood County, he was elected to the legisla- ture and served two terms, but in 1875, returned to Massachusetts, where he still resides. His wife, formerly Eliza N. Lockhart. was a native of Massa- chusetts.
RANK STEPHENSON, a successful general farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 11, 84, 46, Lineoln Township, came to Mo- mona County in 1881, and settled on the farm where he now lives, which was somewhat improved at that time. He is a native of Clinton County, Mo .. born September 20, 1851, and the son of Hiram and Sarah F. ( MeBeath) Stephenson. In his childhood and youth, he remained with his par- rents and received a good practical common-school education, and was fully initiated into the various departments of farm work. At the age of nineteen years he was married, and upon a farm in his native county took up the burden of life's work, which he continued there until coming to this eounty, a period of eleven years, which were filled with the usual difficulties, vicissitudes of fortune, successes and reverses. On the whole his life there was suf-
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liciently prosperous to show his entire fitness for the business which he had chosen. In search of a newer locality, in 1881 he came north, and settled in Monona County. Here his success has followed him and he is to-day one of the well-to-do farmers of this community.
August 10, 1870. Mr. Stephenson was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Swackhammer, a native of Ohio, whose birth took place April 14, 1853. She is the daughter of John and Eliza (Prost) Swaekhammer, residents of Clinton County. Mo. She has been a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband and has always assisted him in the management of his labor, by her kindly advice and sympathy, bearing her share of the household la- bors. Two children have come to bless their home-Ida, born October 14, 1871 ; and Roy, born October 27, 1879.
ILLARD D. CROW, the present Chairman of the Board of County Supervisors and one of the leading agriculturists of Monona County, is a resident of the village of Mapleton. where he is engaged in dealing in stock and looking after his large farming interests.
Mr. Crow was born in Linn County, Iowa, Octo- ber 7, 1849, and is a son of Edward M. Crow. His father. a native of Orange County, Ind., was born June 4, 1816, and grew to manhood in the county of his birth. In the fall of 1837 he came to Iowa and was the first settler in what is now Linn County, where he still resides, living upon the farm which he took from the government at that early day. Ile was married November 14, 1839, to Miss Eliza Bennett, who became the mother of two children. After her death he married Mrs. Emeline ( Bowman) Lewis, who was born at Springfield, Ill., May 3, 1825, and who died in Linn County, July 17, 1857, having been the mother of three children-Willard D., Edward L., and Nancy E. December 8, 1861, Mr. E. M. Crow was again united in marriage, wedding Miss Sarah A. Wall. a native of Ohio, who died November 3, 1872. Mr. Crow is a Democrat in polities and has been a member of the Board of
Supervisors of Linn County for some twelve years.
WV. D. Crow was reared upon a farm in the county of his birth, and received in youth a good, practical, common-school education. At the age of twenty he made a trip through the West, in the States of Colorado and Kansas, and thus spent some two years. Returning to his home, he was there united in marriage January 28, 1875, with Miss Louisa Birk, a native of Ohio, who was born March 6, 1851, and engaged in farming in that county, where he remained until the spring of 1882. At that time he came to Monona County and settled on a farm in Cooper Township, where he now has some four hundred acres well improved and under a high state of cultivation. In 1887 Mr. Crow removed to the village of Mapleton, at which village he has since resided.
In the fall of 1885. receiving the nomination for County Supervisor, at the conventions of the Dem- ocratic and Union Labor parties. Mr. Crow was elected to that otlice and re-elected to the same position in 1888. Tle is the present Chairman of the board. He is a stanch Democrat in his polit- ical view, but has a strong sympathy for the rights of the workingmen of which he is a representative. He is a member of Quarry Lodge, No. 404, A. F. & A. M .; of Monte Christo Lodge, No. 205, K. of P., and of the Mapleton Division, No. 33, Uniformed Rank of the latter order, all located at Mapleton.
Mr. C'row is the parent of two children-Louisa Maud, who was born March 19, 1876, and Leon D. who was born March 21. 1881.
IIARLES HI. GROOM, a young. intelligent. and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of St. Clair Township, residing on section 2, was born in Appanoose County, lowa, December 2, 1854: When he was about nine years of age he was taken by his parents. David and Mary A. (room, to Macedonia. Pottawattamie County. where he finished his education and grew to man's estate. There he remained until March. 1871. when he came to Monona County and for about four years was employed at farm labor in the town-
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ships of Cooper and St. Clair. In August, 1878. he had purchased an improved farm, the place where he now lives ; he was employed in raising crops on a rented tract of land until January 12, 1882, when he took up his residence on his own place with his wife, he having just been married, the ceremony taking place January 3, 1882. 1his wife, formerly 1 Miss Josephine Heisler, was born in Cooper Town- ship. Monona County, April 4, 1864, and was the daughter of Sammel and Mary lleister. The young couple settled down to the cultivation of the land and the improvement of their home and have she- ceeded in making it a' fine and productive place. Mr. Groom having learned the true principles of i agriculture in his youth. has availed himself of every circumstance, and now, though young in , and Lettie R.
years, is ranked among the able and well-to-do farmers of that locality. A large circle of friends and acquaintances bears testimony to the esteem in which they are held in the community.
Around their fireside gathers a family of three children, who have been born upon the following: dates : Perey M., October 1, 1882; Roy L., February 26. 1885; and Marguerite C .. August 13, 1887.
ILLIAM U. S. G. POLLY, a resident of the town of Lincoln, who is engaged in farming on section 10, 81 and 46, is the son of William and Jemima Polly, and was born in Osceola, the county seat of Clarke County, Iowa. lle was taken by his parents, when about eight years of age, to Cass County, Mo., but three years later returned to the place of his birth with them, and there made his home until the fall of 1875. At that time the family removed to Monona County and settled in Lake Township, where he remained with his father and mother until November 16. 1881, upon which day, he was united in marriage with Miss Etta Weems. The young couple moved into the village of Whiting, where they set up housekeeping, and where Mr. Polly followed team- ing for about a year. Having been reared to agri- cultural pursuits, his attention was then drawn in
that direction, and, renting a farm in Lake Town- ship, has pursued that avocation ever since, mostly on rented land in Lake and Ashton Townships. In the spring of 1889, having, by industry and economy, amassed a little capital, be purchased the farm upon which he now lives, and has entered upon the tillage of its acres. This farm, which is in one of the best sections of the county, is highly produetive and valuable for its fertility and sitna- tion.
Mr. Polly and his amiable wife are the happy and indulgent parents of three children, who have come from time to time to gladden their hearts and make brighter their path of life. These interesting little ones bear the names of Daisy M., Bessie J.
ILLIAM D. BASSETT. Among the num- ber of bright. bard working, plucky young farmers who are helping to develop the resources of Sherman Township, of which they are residents, is the subject of this epitome. Although at this writing he is but twenty-three years of age he has already taken a position among its most ac- tive and leading agriculturists and his one hundred and twenty-aere farm, on section 14, the site of his home, shows his entire fitness for the business which he has chosen.
William D. Bassett, was born in Bethlehem, Litchfield County, Coun., October 30, 1866, and is the son of William II. and Mary J. (Coles) Bassett. His father, a native of Watertown, Conn., was born in 1843, and was of Puritan ancestors, and has followed farming as a business for the most of his life. The mother of our subject, formerly Miss Mary J. Coles, a native of the same State, who was born in 1850, died in July, 1885, at Blen- coe, Iowa, where the family had settled in the spring of 1884. Early in 1888. William II. re- moved to Burlington, Col., near which village he is at the present carrying on a ranche.
William 1. the eldest of a family of seven chil- dren born to his parents, was reared in his native State, attending the public schools at Watertown,
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from which he drew the elements of an excellent education until he was some fifteen years of age. In the spring of 1884 he removed with his parents to Monona County, the latter having decided that in the great West was a larger field for their efforts toward competency and a better chance for their children. William resided at Blencoe with his fa. ther until about nineteen years of age, when he commeneed life on his own account and in the spring of 1889 purchased the farm where he now lives. This is well improved, has upon it a neat and commodious house and a comfortable barn. The greater share of his attention is given to the raising of horses, one of the most lucrative branches of the stoek business.
Mr. Bassett was united in marriage March 5, 1889, with Miss Julia Brown, a native of Pennsyl- vania, and the daughter of Anthony and Julia ( Manley ) Brown.
LBERT CUMMINGS, an energetie farmer of Lineoln Township and one who has been the architect of his own fortunes, came to Monona County in the spring of 1872, and was in the employ of different farmers in various sections of the county, engaged in agricultural labor, for about three years. The next five years of his life he spent in tilling the soil of several rented farms, endeavoring to raise sufficient capital to permit him to purchase a place of his own, and being endowed with a strong frame and willing mind, by hard work and economy he brought sue- cess to attend his efforts. As the crowning point of his life he was thus enabled to purchase a farm upon which he now lives, on seetion 5. Lincoln Township, which was then totally unimproved. The same virtues that he had already displayed were here brought into play, and by their exereise he has developed what was wild land into an ex- cellent farm.
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