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 81
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Mr. Cummings is a native of lowa, born in Fre- mont County, October 7, 1851, and is the son of R. T. and Mary A. Cummings. In his childhood the family removed to Mills County, this State,
where Albert grew to manhood, receiving a com- mon-school education, and assisting in carrying on his father's farm. On attaining his majority, with little or no means he came to Monona County, as above stated.
Mr. Cummings was married in this county, De- cember, 19, 1875, to Miss Sarah E. Dailey, the daughter of Andrew T. and Jemima Dailey, and they have growing up around them a family of five children, to whom they have given the follow- ing naines : Andrew T., Myrtle A., Mabel B. Valda and Earl.
OREN BARNEY, who is engaged in the sale of furniture and in the undertaking business at Mapleton, came to that village January 8, 1878. and erected a building on the south side of Main Street, between Third and Fourth, and engaged in harness-making. which he followed until December 1, 1886, at which date he sold out to llenry A. Hayungs. He then bought the furniture business of J. D. Giddings, which he has carried on ever since, having on hand a full line of furniture and is doing an excellent business.
Mr. Barney was born in Will County, Ill., July 24, 1853 and is a son of Winship Barney. Ilis father came to Will County, Ill .. early in the '50s on his way to California, and there his fam- ily were taken sick, and his wife died of cholera. After returning to Cass County, Mich., where he resided some time, about 1861, he removed to Porter County, Ind .. and from there to St. Joseph County, in the same State, where he died April 13. 1871. The mother of our subject, Mary (Rock- well) Barney, died in August 1854, having had six children of whom Loren was the youngest. The latter remained at home until some eleven years of age, when he started out to work for himself on a farm as a laborer. Ile eame to Sas County, lowa. and for a time was employed in the same avocation after which he returned to Grand Rapids, Mich .. and was in the employ of the Lake Shore & Mich- igan Southern Railroad Company. In a store at South Bend, Ind., for about a year he was em-
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ployed as a clerk. after which he returned to Sac County, this State. and after serving an apprentice- ship at the harness-making trade, bought the shop and engaged in business ou his own account. From there he came to Mapleton as above noted.
Mr. Barney was married April 23, 1876, to Miss Naomi Cromer. who was born in Sac County, Iowa. April 10, 1855, and who died August 8, 1877. leav- ing one child, Lulu E., who was born February 9, 1877. On May 9, 1879, Mr. Barney was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe A. Wilber, a native of Canada, who was born JJuly 25, 1847.
Mr. Barney is a member of Maple Valley Lodge. No. 399. I. O. O. F. of Monte Cristo Lodge, No. 205. K. P., and of Division No. 33 Uniform Rank. K. P., all located at Mapleton.
6 MIOMAS B. LUTZ, attorney-at-law, of Ma- pleton, was born in Pittsfiekl, Pike County. Ill., March 6, 1851, to Adam and Nancy (Fernier) Lutz, natives of Pennsylvania, of Ger- man and Scotch descent, respectively. His parents were married in Pennsylvania, and removed to Pike County, IN., in 1852, and in 1855 came West, set- tling in Linn Co., Iowa. During the cyclone that swept through the latter county in 1860, the house in which they lived was destroyed, and the mother of our subjeet seriously injured, and a brother and sister killed. His mother died in February, 1861.
After her death Thomas lived with Michael N. Kramer until he was twelve years of age, after which he strove for fortune on his own account, saving his money with rigid economy that he might attend college. Entering the Western College, of Linn County, now Toledo, Tama County, he there remained, closely engaged in study, for about one year, after which time he eked out his income by school teaching, and attending school until he en- tered the Law Department of the Iowa State I'ni- versity, from which he graduated June 20, 1882. He then entered the law office of J. C. Leonard. of Cedar Rapids. and there remained most of the time until July 19, 1883, when he came to Mapleton. and opening an office commenced the practice of
aw. January 1, 1886, he formed a partnership with J. D. Rice, with whom he remained just one year, since which time he has carried on the busi- ness alone. Ile is a member of the Baptist Church. and of Monte Cristo Lodge, No. 205, K. of P.
Mr. Lutz was united in marriage, May 20. 1885. with Miss Florence M. Cameron, who was born in Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, Iowa, and is a daughter of J. R. Cameron, a former resident of Mapleton. Of this union there has been one child, Florence Josephine, born May 27, 1886, and who died with diphtheria, Februay 13, 1889. J. R. Cam - eron was born in Pennsylvania, and removed with his parents to Stark County, Ohio, in his youth. He came to Towa, and was married at Cedar Falls to Miss Mary E. Knapp, a native of New York, who came to Iowa with her parents in 1854. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Cameron located at Maple ton, and engaged in the grain, real-estate and mer- cantile business, in which he remained until the spring of 1889, when he removed to Omaha, where he still resides.
Mr. Lutz's father, who was a farmer and carpen- ter by occupation, died in Linn County, in June, 1885.
- OHN OUTHOUSE, deceased. was one of the old pioneers of Monona County, and one around whose settlement cluster many rem- iniscences of the early days at Preparation, was born in Bertie County, N. C., August 15, 1786. At the age of twenty years he removed Westward with the adventurous pioneers of "the dark and bloody ground," and settled in Trigg County, Ky., then in the woody wilderness. There he made his home until 1819, when, still moving upon the frontier of civilization, he removed to Clinton County, Ill., among its earliest settlers, and there made his home until [836. While a resident. of the latter place, in 1835, under the ministry of Eller George M. Hinkle, he was converted to the faith, and joined the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints, a religious denomination in which he continued faithfully and zealously until his death. In company with a number of his co-
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religionists, in 1836, he removed to Caldwell County, Mo .. and settled upon a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he had all im- proved, but which. in 1838, owing to persecution and priesteraft, he was compelled to sacrifice for a trifle, and flee for his life on account of the upris- ing of the Missouri mobs, whose rage was excited by his religious beliefs and views on the slavery question. With about twelve thousand of the peo- ple of the church he removed to Adams County, Ill., and in 1840 or 1841 settled at Nauvoo, the city of the church, from which he was again driven out in 1847, a short time after the assassination of Joseph Smith. Leaving the colony he returned to Clinton County, where he remained till 1831, after which. in Andrew County, Mo .. he made his home until 1853, when he came to Iowa and settled in Pottawattamie County, and thence, on the 4th of April 1854, came to this county and settled at Preparation with his son George. lle died in Bel- videre Township, October 15, 1864, and his body lies buried in the township, in its cemetery.
Mr. Outhouse was married, in Trigg County, Ky., February 5. 1818, to Miss Martha Smith, a native of Bertie County. N. C., who was born May 11, 1800, and she was the mother of eleven chil- dren, four of whom are living. She is making her home now with her son George, in Jordan Town- ship. She has been blind for the last sixteen years.
ARDY MORENIEAD, farmer and veterin- ary surgeon, residing on section 29, Frank- lin Township, came to Monona County in October, 1867, and engaged in the retail liquor trade at Onawa. lle remained in that line of trade until March 1, 1868, after which he followed teaming and freighting. In the fall of ' 1869, in company with his brother John C .. he pur- chased the one hundred and sixty-acre farm where he now lives.
Hardy Morchead was born in Mercer County, Ill., April 1, 1839, and is a son of James and Ma- tilda (Hardy) Morehead, a sketch of whom is given in connection with the life-narrative of his brother
John C. Our subject was the sixth child in a fam- ily of nine, and grew to manhood in his native county, attending the district schools and assisting his father in the labor on the farm. While peace- fully pursuing the avocations of his quiet life, he was rudely awakened by the tosein of war, that sounded through our land, calling on the freemen of the North to the defense of "best government the world has ever seen." At a time when all sought to flock to the defense of their country and tlag, Hardy volunteered, enlisting May, 25. 1861, in Company I, Seventeenth Illinois Infantry. The regiment was organized at Peoria, and went into camp of instruction at Alton, but the times were such that but little time could be given to drill, and they were soon forwarded to the scene of bos- tilities. They were with Gen. Fremont on the ex- pedition to Cape Girardeau. A history of this regiment would be a history of the war in the Southwest, for wherever the engagement was the hottest, there was found this body of heroes. At Fredericktown, Fts. Henry and Donelson, Pin llook, Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, witnessed their daring courage. Mr. Morehead with a detachment of his company participated in the attack on Holly Springs, Miss., and was there taken prisoner Decem- ber 29, 1862. After remaining in limbo for some time. he was exchanged, and returned to the regi- ment June 5, 1863. During the siege of Vieks- burg he remained with his comrades, after which he was transferred to Company F, Fourth Regi- ment, Veteran Reserve Corps. He was discharged June 20, 1864, but immediately re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, receiving his final dis- chage at Springfield, Ill., November 12, 1865. ]Iis last service was acting as gnard at the tomb of Pres- ident Lincoln in Oakwood Cemetery, in that city. Part of the time he was duty Sergeant, and after- ward Sergeant-Major, which rank he held at the date of his discharge. In October. 1864. he was promoted by the War Department to the rank of captain in a regiment of cavalry, but on the latter being changed to the infantry arm, he resigned his commission.
After his discharge Mr. Morehead went to Rock Island, II]., where he was engaged in a foundry for a short time, removing from there to his old home
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in Mercer County. In July. 1867, he came to this State and located at Missouri Valley, and engaged in peddling tinware until he came to Onawa. He has been in the veterinary practice since coming to this county and before, having read up on this subject while in the service.
Mr. Morehead was married September 23, 1865, i at Moline, Il., to Miss Jane Williams, who was born in Mercer County, Pa., September 2, 1819. They are the parents of seven children, as follows: Ilarry, born September 27, 1866; Eva, October 2, 1869, died January 11, 1873; Clyde, born May 20, 1871; May, August 6, 1875; Rose, July 30, 1877; Elmer, December 13, 1884, and Hardy, May 29, 1887.
EWIS PIKE, a member of the firm of Pike & Co., proprietors of one of the largest and best cattle ranches in Monona County, has his residence upon section 21, West Fork Town- ship. 1le came to Monona County in the fall of 1871, and for two years was engaged in the stock business at Onawa with his brother. but in March, 1875, removed to his present residence on what is known as the N. A. Whiting homestead, where he has remained ever since. Ile is the managing part- ner of the stock business of Pike & Co., who con- trol over two thousand acres of land, and devotes the greater share of his attention to the raising and handling of thorough-bred and grade cattle, chiefly Polled Galloway, Durham Short-horn and Hereford cattle, and has met with eminent success in this line. Their ranche, which is one of the most ex- tensive in the county, is a model for neatness and convenience, and is well adapted for their purposes, and his residence one of the best in the county.
Mr. Pike was born in Kennebec County, Me., November 21, 1843, and is the son of Peleg F. and Mary C. (Cofren) Pike. His father was a native of the same county, and was born December 11, 1813. Ile was reared upon a farm. but took a con- siderable share in the political affairs of that sec- tion of the country. representing the district in the Lower House of the State Legislature for two terms, and in the State Senate for twice as long. The mother of our subjeet, also a native of Kennebec
County, was born August 15, 1815, and June 12, 1839, was united in marriage with Peleg F. Pike, and reared a family of seven children, of whom Lewis is the second.
Lewis Pike was reared to manhood upon the pa- ternal aeres, and remained beneath the home roof- tree until 1871, when he came to Iowa and Mo- nona County, as above stated.
Appreciating the Divine suggestion that "it were not well for man to live alone." January 21, 1875, Mr. Pike took unto himself a life.partner in the per- son of Miss Eva M. Whiting, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of Newell A. and Eliza (Criner) Whiting, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this department of the present work. By this union they have had five children, of whom the following is a record: Newell W., born September 3, 1876; Ford P., October 29, 1879, died Febru- ary 21, 1879; llarold L., born June 1, 1880; Ar- thur C., May 6, 1883; and Robert B., May 12, 1887.
EVERT E. BAKKE, the proprietor of the wagon manufacturing shop, at Onawa, was born in Norway, February 13, 18:17, and was reared upon a farm, receiving his ed- cation at the usual country schools. Learning the carpenter's trade with an elder brother, he was en- gaged in that line of business until in April, 1866. when he crossed the ocean to America and for a short time was employed at his trade in Chicago. From the latter eity he went to Dane County. Wis., and opened a wagon-making shop but only re- mained until July, 1867, when he came to Onawa. Ile was in the employ of others, making and re- pairing wagons, until about. 1879, when he com- meneed work for himself. In the fall of 1886 he erected his present shop on block 65. on West Broadway, where he still carries on business.
Mr. Bakke was married June 26, 1881, in Union County, Dak., to Miss Lena Swanson, a native of Sweden, who was born August 23, 1856, and who came to America with her parents in 1868, and took up her residence with the family in Union County. They are the parents of four children: Edward
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A., who was born May 23, 1882; Emily O., April 19, 1881: Anna L., July 9. 1886, and Matilda J., June 17, 1888.
Mr. Bakke has a farm on section 17, Lake Town- ship, which he purchased in company with his brother Edward, which has since been divided. This is well improved and under cultivation and is a valuable piece of property.
ACOB KELLER, who has a fertile and pro- duetive farm of about eighty acres of land on section 10, Lincoln Township, where he makes his residence and carries on agrienl- ture, came to this county in October, 1874, and purchased this place. There was no improvement upon it at that time, so during the following win- ter, he resided in the timber about four miles west of it and labored at the sawmill. In the spring following, he erected a house into which he and his family removed about the 1st of May. In this they resided until the spring of 1877, when they lost the house and all its contents by fire. Ile at once put up the honse in which the family have resided since. When he came to Monona County the en- tire wealth of Mr. Keller would hardly reach $150 but he has now a fine farm upon which are excel- lent improvements, and is considered one of the well-to-do people of the township.
Jacob Keller is a native of Switzerland, born Oc- tober 5, 1844, and is the son of Michael and Eliza- beth Keller. In the spring of 1864, with his parents, he emigrated to America, landing in New York City on the 22d of March. In a few days the family came to Will County, Ill., and there set- tled and here Jacob resided until the spring of 1866. The next two years of his life were spent in St. Louis, Mo., from which city he returned to Illinois and located in Kankakee County, and in the latter made his home until the spring of 1873. While there, March 25, 1868, Mr. Keller was united in marriage with Miss Louisa M. Johnson, a native of Erie County, Pa., and the daughter of William and Euphemia Johnson. He settled in Madison County, Neb., on going to that State in 1873, and
took up a homestead, but being unfortunate enough to lose his crops for two years through the grasshoppers, and although he had taken there a capital of over $1,000 was glad to get away with his household goods and other stuff, to the value of $150. Hle then came to Monona County.
Mr. and Mrs. Keller have had a family of seven children, of whom the following is recorded: Will- iam 11., born December 21, 1869, who died Sep- tember 12, 1870; Albert E., born October 13. 1872; John B., January 23, 1875; Lottie M., March 26, 1879; Elmer C., January 13, 1883; Wallace A .. March 13, 1885, and Edith L., March 29, 1888.
Mrs. Keller was born in Erie County, Pa., March 5, 1843, and remained in that portion of the Key- stone State until the fall of 1859 when she removed with her parents to Will County, 111.
L EVI D. ERSKINE, one of the pioneers of Grant Township, who, although still mak- ing his home upon his farm in that locality, on section 28, is extensively engaged in the stock business at Ute, Mapleton and Charter Oak. having yards at each place, and in the grain business at the village of Ite. is also a member of the firm of L. D. Erskine & Co., carrying on, in company with his son, Charles E., the grocery and meat business at the latter named place. Ile came to Monona County in December, 1866, and settled on the farm which he now owns on section 28, Grant Township, when there were but few settlers in that section of the county. lle improved the place and brought it under cultivation and has since made his home upon it. For the last twelve years he has been en- gaged in buying and selling stock and about three years ago, when the Milwaukee road was completed through this section, he built cattle yards at the above villages, where he now operates. The same year he built his grain warehouse in Ute, buying -lots for the same as soon as they were in the market.
Mr. Erskine is a native of Oswego County, N. Y .. and first opened his eyes upon this world August 14, 1840, at the home of his parents, Edward and
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Marinda ( Morse: Erskine. Drawing his education, which is a good practical one, from the schools of his native State, he grew to manhood on his fa- ther's farm, and there remained until attaining his twenty-sixth year. Following Horace Greeley's advice. he then came West "to grow up with the country," and located in Monona County.
Mr. Erskine was married February 14, 1866. in Oswego County, N. Y., to Miss L. L. Thomas, the daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Thomas. By this union there has been born a family of five children-C. E., C. B .. A. E., E. B. and Q J.
ENJAMIN L. MILLER, a prominent and prosperous agriculturist of Grant Township, and one of its representative citizens, has his residence on section 26. Ile was born in Monmouth County, N. J., May 7, 1832, and is the son of Gilbert and Katurah ( Morrison) Miller. Ilis father, a native also of Monmouth County, born in 1792 was there reared to manhood, until attaining his twentieth year. During the last war with Great Britian in 1812-15, he served in the I'nited States service, and. later on, left New Jer- sey and settled in Wayne County, Ind., about 1838, Six years he was engaged at farming there, but in the fall of 1844 came to Iowa and located in Lin County, where he carried on a farm for a number of years. From there he removed to Missouri and in four or five years back to lowa, and made his home in Polk County till 1870, when he made his appearance in Monona County and took up some eighty acres of land. Ile died at the residence of his son Benjamin in 1876. Ilis wife died in Polk County, lowa. They had a family of seven chil- dren, of whom our subject is the sixth.
Benjamin removed with his parents to Indiana in childhood, and was about ten years of age when he came to Iowa. At the age of twenty-two years, having received a fair common-school education, he started out in life for himself and, on a rented farm in Linn County, engaged in tilling the soil. Two years later he removed to Nodaway County. Mo., and in that and Grundy County, carried on
agricultural pursuits for about three years. The climate not agreeing with him he returned to Lin County, but three years later moved to Polk County, still following the same line of life, and lived in the latter section for four years, Remov- ing to Harlan, Shelby County, he there engaged in the grocery business. which he carried on for about two years. In rafting railroad ties for the l'nion Pacific railroad, on the Missouri River to Omaha, was his business for the next two years. he residing in Harrison County, but in the fall of 1869 he came to Monona County, and located on section 26, Grant Township, where he now owns eighty acres of land and upon which he makes his residence.
Mr. Miller was married December 24. 1851, in Linn County, Iowa, to Miss Rebecca J. Cotterell, a native of Ohio, who died in Monona County, Aug- ust 13, 1877, having been the mother of eight chil- dren : Manfred, born in Linn County, Iowa, Sep- tember 3, 1859; Alvin, born in Nodaway County, Mo., June 16, 1862; Sarah MI., Lydia L., Mary C., Gilbert A., Laura Belle, and one that died in in- fancy. Mr. Miller was again married at Sioux City, Iowa, to Miss Rebecca J. Samer, a native of Pennsylvania, who died leaving one chikl. Alice, born in Woodbury County.
HIRISTIAN WILKINS, farmer, residing on section 18, in the town of Franklin, is a na- tive of Germany, who was born July 19. 1853.
His early life was passed amid the beautiful and historic scores of the land of his birth, but, at the age of twelve years, in company with his eldest brother. Lewis, he sought a new home in the "Land of the Free." Landing at Castle Garden, New York, the youthful emigrant sought work upon the farms in the vicinity of the metropolis and soon found a place where he could be useful. He con- tinued to work out by the month in that locality until 1878, when having accumulated some little capital, by the thrift and economy common to his race and people, and hearing of the excellent
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about seventy-eight years old. Our subject, the , Norway who had come to America in 1869 and youngest of a family of five children, went with his settled in that city. They are the parents of eight children-Simon P., Bernie, Ida. Martha, Olga, Leonard. Herman and an infant. parents in 1850 to Chester, Kane County, Md., where he grew to manhood. October 9, 1861, he enlisted in Company C. Second Maryland Infantry, and Mr. and Mrs. Olsen are both members of the Presbyterian Church, still holding their connection with the congregation of that denomination in Cherokee. served in defense of his flag and country in the de- partments of West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley and participated particularly in the conquest before Lynchburg. He was discharged from the service and returned to his home, where he re- = mained until his parent's death and he had settled up the estate. after which he came to Iowa.
Mr. Harris was married at Onawa June 9, 1882, to Miss Isabel Esley, who was born in Indiana March 22, 1837, and they have one adopted child, Minnie, born in October, 1885. Both Mr. and Mrs. Harris are members of the Methodist Epis- eopal Church and he is a member of Hanscom Post, No. 97, G. A. R. of Onawa.
Francis Esley. the father of Mrs. Harris, was a native of Kentucky, but was reared in Indiana and there he married Miss Eliza Long, a native of Washington County, Pa. In 1839 he removed to Iowa from which in 1851 he went to Mercer County, Ill., where he died January . 14, 1855, his wife preceding him in death in January, 1853.
EDER OLSEN, the senior member of the firm of Olsen & Hammer, merchant tailors at Onawa, was born in Norway, January 15, 1841. He grew to manhood in the land of his birth, where he received a good com- mon-school education. In early life he learned the tailor's trade which he followed in his native country until 1868. at which time he crossed the Atlantie to the United States and was employed at his trade for nine years in Chicago. Ill. In 1877 he removed to Whitewater, Wis., where he made his home, following his trade, until the spring of 1887, when he located in Cherokee, lowa. In April, 1889, he came to Onawa and formed the present firm.
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