USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing a history from the earliest settlement to the present time biographical sketches; portraits of some of the early settlers, prominent men, etc. > Part 64
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frost depth to different places around his grounds where he has hydrants. Other things are made convenient in proportion. The place first settled by William A. Reel is now owned by H. B. Paris. When Mr Will- iam A. Reel built his house on the old home place, it was probably the finest
house in the county at the time, and, with lumber and everything else so ex- pensive, the house cost about $S,000. At Mr. Reel's close of office, January, 1882, the Council Bluffs bar presented him with a fine gold-headed cane, in token of their good will.
JAMES TOWNSHIP.
THOMAS BEATTY, farmer, P. O. Han- cock, was born in Fayette County, Penn., September 25, 1845, son of William and Charlotte (Gable) Beatty, he born in Fayette County, Penn., September 4, 1814, she in Preston County. Va., now West Virginia, July 4, 1821. They are farmers, and are living in James Township. They are the parents of nine children-four sons and five daughters. Our subject received his educa- tion in his native State, and also attended school some in Muscatine County, this State. He came to James Township in 1874, and purchased 120 acres of land, eighty acres of which cost $S per acre, and the balance $15. He made improvements on the place, and sold it in 1875 at $20 per acre. In 1877, he bought 200 acres of improved land at $22.50 per acre. In 1880, he added eighty acres of prairie land, costing $10.50 per acre, which he uses as a pasture. He added forty acres of improved land at $25 per acre in 1882, and now has a good farm of 320 acres, which is a good proof of the wisdom of Greeley's advice-" Young man, go West." Our sub- ject is not married. He is an Odd Fellow, Valley Lodge, No. 439, and also a member of the A. H. T. S. In politics, he is a Dem- ocrat.
SAMUEL D. BLAKELY, farmer, P. O. Hancock, was born in Allegheny County,
Penn., November 22, 1849, son of James P. and Rebecca (Crouse) Blakely. His father was a farmer, born in December, 1820, and is now living in Henry County, Ill. The mother of our subject was a native of Wash- ington County, Penn., and died in Henry County, Ill., in October, 1873. They had five children-three boys and two girls. Our subject was educated in Orion Academy, Henry County, Ill., and also went to school in Washington County, this State. He taught school for a number of years in Illinois and this State. He has been Secretary of the School Board for two years. He came to Illinois in 1857, where he farmed and taught till 1878. when he came to this township and purchased eighty acres of land in James Township at $12 per acre. He set out an or- chard, built a good house, and otherwise im- proved it. He engaged in general farming. He was married, April 13, 1882, near Dub- lin, Washington County, this State, to Lizzie M. Bathurst, born in that county August 22, 1855, daughter of R. C. Bathurst, born in Pennsylvania in 1825. Mrs. Blakely's motlı- er was born in Washington County, this State. Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the Methodist Church. In politics, he is a Democrat.
H. C. BRANDES, farmer, P. O. Hancock, was born in Germany April 14. 1852, son of
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H. C. and Dorothea (Katz) Brandes, both na- tives of Germany, he born in 1813, and died in the place of his birth in 1858; she born in 1813, and is still living in her native coun- try. They had four children-one son and three daughters. Our subject received his education in Germany, and began life as a farmer. He came to the United States in 1869, and located in La Salle County, Ill., where he lived until 1877. He then came to James Township, where he had purchased 160 acres of land at $8 per acre in 1874. He built on this place, and otherwise improved it. In 1879, he bought 120 acres at $12.40 per acre, and in 1880 added eighty acres at $15.50 per acre. which, with eighty acre at $15 per acre which he purchased in 1882, give him a good farm of 440 acres, which contains good buildings and other improve- ments. He engages in general farming, and feeds stock in the winter. He was married. in Forest, Livingston Co., Ill., March 11, 1874. to Magdalena Miller, born in La Salle County, Ill., December 3, 1857, daughter of Nicholas and Katharina Miller, he born in Alsace, Germany, January 28, 1829; she in Boston, Mass., June 29, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Brandes have four children-George Henry, born February 12, 1876; Walter E., born December 28, 1878; Celia M., born January 11, 1880; and Ada Josephine, born February 15. 1882. Our subject has filled several township offices, and is now a Township Trustee for a second term. He is a member of the German Evangelical Association, and in politics is a Republican.
WILLIAM M. CROUCH, farmer, P. O. Hancock, was born in Ripley County, Ind., October 4, 1839, son of John and Maria (Markland) Crouch, both natives of Kentucky, he born in 1818, and she in 1822. The father died in this State in 1879, and the mother in 1873. They had twelve children -- three sons
and nine daughters-of whom the sons and four daughters are now living. Our subject received his education in Indiana and this State, and began life as a farmer. August 2, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry, Company A, Capt. Williams. He was engaged in the battles of Arkansas Post, siege of Vicksburg, Chattanooga and Look- out Mountain. He served three years. He was married, December 19, 1868, in Clinton County, this State, to Esther Adams, born in Pennsylvania May 9, 1845, daughter of James and Sarah Adams, both natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Crouch had four children-one boy and three girls-of whom there are liv- ing Lulu, born in 1869; and Bertha, born January 18, 1882. Our subject came to James Township in 1874, and purchased 320 acres of land at $11 per acre. He has since made some substantial improvements, includ- ing a five-acre grove and an orchard. He engages in general farming. Our subject has filled some township offices, and is at present Township Trustee. He is a member of the A. H. T. S., and in politics is a Re- publican.
S. M. HILDEBRAND, farmer, P. O. Han- cock, was born in Rockingham County, Va .. March 26, 1847, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Paul) Hildebrand, he born in Virginia in 1811, and is still living, in Iowa City, this State. The parents had five children-three sons and two daughters. Our subject re- ceived his education in Virginia and this State. March 29, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, Capt. W. Gore. He took part in the engagements at Spanish Fort, Mobile and Whistler Station. He re- ceived an honorable discharge September 5, 1865. He was married, in Iowa County, this State, February 23, 1871, to Miss Julia F. Cole, born in that county February 20, 1853. daughter of Stewart and Sarah P. (Dennis)
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Cole, both natives of Illinois, he born in 1824, and she in 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Hilde- brand have two children-Willie, born June 1. 1873; and Alta, born March 23, 1875. Our subject came to James Township in 1875, and purchased eighty acres of land at $10 per acre. He has since made many substantial improvements, including an orchard of 200 trees and a grove. He carries on general farming. He is a member of the Christian Church, and of the A. H. T. S. In politics, he is a Republican.
JUDSON B. HOGATE, farmer, P. O. Oak- land, was born in Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio, September 24, 1853, son of Nicholas and Anna (Dolbow) Hogate, he born in De- cember, 1816, in New Jersey; she born in Delaware in 1818. They were farmers, and are now living on the old homestead in Jeffer- son County, this State, where they have lived for twenty-eight years. They had five chil- dren -- two boys and three daughters. Our subject received his education in Jefferson County, this Sta e, and began life for himself by clerking one year in a grocery store in Ot- tumwa, Iowa, after which he went to farm- ing. CHe was married, February 20, 1873, in Fairfield, this State, to Anna Moore, born in Jefferson County in 1855, daughter of Rob- ert and Sarah Ann (Stewart) Moore, he born n Indiana in 1317. she in Pennsylvania in 1828. In the month following his marriage, our subject came to this county, locating in Pleasant Township. In September, 1878, he purchased eighty acres in James Town- ship, Section 31, paying $11.25 per acre, STEPHEN JAMES, farmer, P. O. Oak- land, was born in Lorain County, Ohio, June 23, 1823. son of George F. James, a farmer, born in Stockbridge, Mass., and died in Lorain County, Ohio, in 1863. The mother of our subject was born in Stamford, Conn., and died in James Township in 1864. forty acres of which were already broken. In 1879. he bought forty acres more at $14 per acre, and in 1881 purchased another forty acres at $17 per acre. He now has a good farm of 160 acres, which is all under cultiva- tion. He engages in general farming, and keeps a stock of Norman horses. He has 'The parents had six children-three boys and
filled several township offices. In religion he is Evangelical, and in politics he is a Demo- crat. He has one child, Robert Edward, born August 13. 1874. Mr. Hogate's father and brother Jesse were in the late civil war.
A. N. HALLADAY, farmer, P. O. Oak- laud, was born in Dearborn Co.anty, Ind., March 22, 1828, son of Asariah and Polly (Johnson) Halladay. His father was a farm- er, born in New York in 1791; was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1856 in La Porte County. Ind. The mother of our sub- ject was a native of Vermont, and died in the same place as her husband, in 1860. They had nine children-six boys and three girls. Our subject received his education in Fort Wayne, Ind., and began life as a farmer. He was married, in Porter County, Ind., De- cember 25, 1850, to Elizabeth Elliott, born in Ohio October 28, 1832, daughter of Sam- uel and Mary (Carter) Elliott, he born in Ohio. Our subject came to James Township in 1868, and, in 1873, purchased 120 acres of land at $8 per acre, which is now improved, and contains an orchard and a grove. He engages in general farming. His children are six in number-Frank S., Lydia, Anna and Annis (twins), Carrie and Charley. Mrs. Halladay died March 7, 1880. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject has been Township Trustee, and has filled other offices in the township. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was Master of his lodge for two years. In politics, he is a Republican.
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JAMES TOWNSHIP.
three girls. Our subject began life as a farmer; lived in his native State fifteen years, when he removed to Indiana, where he re- mained until 1852. He was married, in Porter County, Ind .. November 12, 1849, to Charlotte Reynolds, born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., daughter of Hugh Reynolds, born in the same county. In 1852, our sub- ject came to this State, locating at Fort Des Moines, where he lived for three years. He then came to James Township, this county, where he purchased 200 acres of wild land at $6 per acre. He made improvements on it, and, in 1863, sold it at $10 per acre. He then bought 120 acres-eighty acres at $6 and forty acres at $S per acre. He has made many substantial improvements on this place, including an orchard, a nice grove and good buildings. He has also dealt in land to some extent, having bought, improved and sold over three hundred acres. He engages in gen- eral farming Mr. and Mrs. James have six children-Carrie, William, George, Lysan- der, Anna and Nettie. Our subject has filled many township offices. He is an A., F. & A. MI., Ark Lodge, No. 335. In politics, he is a Democrat. In his younger days. Mr. James was very fond of traveling and has been over the greater part of the United States and most of the Territories.
THOMAS H. JEFFERSON, farmer, P. O. Oakland, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, February 23, 1839, son of William and Elizabeth (Hewitt) Jefferson, both na- tives of England, he born April 24, 1804, and died in August, 1878, in Black Hawk Coun- ty, this State; she. born September 2, 1801, and died in the same place as her husband. February 12, 1878. They were farmers, and had four children -- three sons and one daugh- ter. Our subject received his education in his native connty, and began life as a farm- er. He was married, in Erie County, Penn.,
March 22, 1864, to Rose M. Stewart, born in that county October 12, 1842. Sheis the daughter of Simeon and Hannah (Blakeslee) Stewart, he born in Genesee County, N. Y., October 2, 1795: she born in Chenango County, N. Y., January 8, 1808. Our sub- ject came to this State January 15, 1868, lo- cating in Black Hawk County. The follow- ing year, he moved to Missouri, where he en- gaged in farming. In 1872, he came to this county and purchased eighty acres in Bel- knap Township, at $12.50 per acre. In 1876, he bought 160 acres more, at $10 per acre. In 1879, he traded the first eighty acres for 160 acres in James Township, where he now resides, and has a good farm of 320 acres, including a grove and an orchard. He en- gages in general farming, and raises and feeds his own stock. He has three children -- Stewart S., born March 13, 1865; Char- ley C., born February 26, 1869; and Thom- as W., born August 19, 1874. Our subject has served the township several times in an official capacity. In politics, he is a Demo- crat.
JAMES S. LAWRENCE. farmer, P. O. Oakland, was born in La Salle County, Ill., February 1, 1853, son of Isaac B. and Caro- line E. Lawrence, he born in Pennsylvania May 2, 1824, and died in Marshall County, Ill., in 1865; she was a native of Ohio, born July 4, 1826, and is still living, in Polk County, this State. They were farmers, and had nine children-six sons and three daughters. Our subject received his school- ing in many different localities, including La Salle, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Ill., and Polk and Johnson Counties, this State. He began life as a farmer. He came to Johnson County, this State, in 1870, and lived there until 1877, after which he lived in Shelby County, this State, where he rented land for one year. He then came to James
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Township, this county, and purchased eighty acres of partly improved land, paying $12 per acre. He has since made some substan- tial improvements on the place, having put up good buildings and set out trees. He carries on general farming. July 4, 1875, he was married, in Johnson County, this State, to Arabella Moore, born in that county March 13, 1860, daughter of William W. and Phœbe S. (Robert) Moore, both natives of Ohio. Her father was born July 21, 1834, and died August 4, 1864, in Andersonville Prison, having been wounded and captured at the battle of Atlanta. Her mother was born July 12, 1834, and died in 1871, in Johnson County, this State. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have had four children-George Ellsworth (deceased), Myrtie Maud, Ernest Roy and Marion Oliver. Our subject has filled township offices. In religion, he is Evangelical, and in politics is a Republican.
W. W. LIVINGSTON, farmer, P. O. Han- cock, was born in Scott County, this State, April 25, 1854, son of Hugh and Elizabeth Livingston, he born in Pennsylvania in 1804, she in England in 1805. They are farmers, and are living in Avoca, this county. They had eleven children-five sons and six daugh- ters. Our subject received his schooling in Illinois. He was married, in Rock Island, Ill., August 14, 1874, to Miss Mary A. B. Crawford, born in Henry County, of that State, in 1856, the daughter of Edward Craw- ford. The year following his marriage, our subject came to James Township, and, in 1878, purchased eighty acres of prairie land at $16 per acre. He has made many sub- stantial improvements, including an orchard and shade trees. He carries on general farming. He has four children-Ella, James B., Charles E. and Cyrus Dixon.
JOHN MCCONAUGHEY, farmer, P. O. Oakland, was born in Marion County. this
State, April 13, 1854, son of James and Mary Ann (Wiers) McConaughey, he born in Guernsey County, Ohio, and she a native of Pennsylvania. The parents are farmers, and are now living in Marion County, this State. They had eight children-three sons and five daughters, of whom the sons and three daugh- ters are now living. Our subject received his education in his native county. He was married, February 28, 1877, to Miss Frances E. Myers. They have two children-Doro: thea May. born November 8, 1877: and Clyde Losen, born in 1881. Our subject came to James Township in 1877, and rented land for three years, after which he purchased eighty acres of prairie land at $10 per acre. He has since made some good improvements on this place, and engages in general farm- ing. He is a member of the Christian Church, and in politics is a Republican.
HENRY RAPP, farmer, P. O. Minden, was born in Germany September 14, 1831, son of Johannes and Magdalena Rapp, both natives of Germany, he born"April 17, 1806, and she in 1806. Her father is still living in his native town, where the mother died. They had nine children-five sons and four daughters-of whom three boys and two girls are now living. Our subject received his education in his native place, and began life as a farmer. He came to the United States in 1851, landing in Baltimore, Md. He went to Frederick, Md., where he learned the tanner's trade. He then went to Union- town, Fayette Co., Penn. In 1854. he came to Ottawa, La Salle Co., Ill., where he was married, January 31, 1856, to Eva Maier, born in Germany December 24, 1833. She is the daughter of Johannes and Maria (Hell- stern) Maier, both natives of Germany, he born in 1789, and she died in 1844, in her native town. In 187S, our subject came to James Township, this county. and purchased
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JAMES TOWNSHIP.
eighty acres of wild land at $8 per acre. He improved it, and, in 1880. bought forty acres more at $10 per acre. Mr. Rapp has filled several township offices. He has had nine children, of whom there are living John C., Lena, Mary C., Henry and Louisa. Our subject is a member of the German Evangel- ical Association. He was a Mason, and a member of the German Benevolent Associa- tion of Ottawa, Ill. In politics, he is an In- dependent. One of Mr. Rapp's sons has just finished a course of study in the German Church at Mt. Pleasant, preparatory to en- tering the ministry of the Methodist Church.
H. H. ROUNDS, farmer, P. O. Hancock, was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., in April, 1844, son of Hiram and Lucinda (Hastings) Rounds, both natives of Richford, Vt., he born in 1804, and died in San Bernardino County, Cal., in August, 1868; she born in 1805. and died in Leavenworth. Kan., in 1869. They were farmers, and had six chil- dren-four sons and two daughters. Our subject received his schooling in Dane Coun- ty, Wis., and Illinois. He was married, April 13, 1866, in Anamosa, Jones County, this State, to Elizabeth Brock, born in Lake County, Ill., March 18, 1839, daughter of Robert and Katharina (Blair) Brock, he born in New York City in 1804, and is still living, in Fairbury, Jefferson Co., Neb. He is a farmer. Mrs. Rounds' mother was a native - of Canada, born in 1807, and died in Clinton County, this State, in 1871. Our subject has six children living, and two deceased (who were twins). Those living are Eugene Henry, born February 7, 1867; Stephen W .. born August 15. 1869; John W .. born March 15, 1871; Cora Isabelle, born June 25, 1873; Alice M., born February 3, 1875; and Mary C., born December 19, 1879. Our subject came to James Township. this . and Etta Maude, born December 18. 1876.
county, in 1873, after having lived one sum- mer in Nebraska. He purchased eighty acres of prairie land at $7 per acre, and, in 1877, added forty acres of improved land at $15 per acre. He made several subsequent purchases, including twenty acres at $16.50 per acre, forty acres at $21.25 per acre, the two latter purchases being improved land. In 1881, he bought eighty acres of prairie land at $12.50 per aere, and now has 260 acres of good land, and carries on general farming. In politics, he is a Republican.
MARTHA E. SAGE, Oakland, widow of Charles S. Sage, who was born in Berlin, Hartford Co., Conn., January 4, 1845, son of Ralph and Katharine (Marcy) Sage. Mr. Sage died March 27, 1879. He was a farm- er, had filled several township offices, and was a Republican in politics. He enlisted in the Union army during our late civil war, and served four years, up to the close of that bloody conflict. He came to this county in 1871, locating in Center Township. March 25. 1876, he removed to James Township. where he purchased 160 acres of improved land at $15 per acre. He was married, Jan- nary 31, 1870, in Fenton, Whitesides Co., Ill., to our subject, then Martha E. Stevens. born in Bradford County, Penn., February 28, 1847. She is the daughter of Solon and Charlotte (Smith) Stevens, he born in Brad- ford County, Penn., October 17, 1820, and she a native of New York State, born Sep- tember 22, 1822. The parents are still liv. ing in Whitesides County, Ill., and are farmers. They had seven children-one boy and six girls-of whom one girl is deceased. Our subject received her education in White- sides County, III. In 1880, she built a one- and-a-half-story frame house, 16x24, well fin- ished. Her two daughters are living with her -- Lotta Callista, born December 5, 1870;
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Our subjeet lives on the place, but rents the land, having general farming done thereon.
JOHN SENN, farmer, P. O. Avoca, was born in Switzerland April 24, 1826, son of Joseph and Mary (Ieckly) Senn, both natives of Switzerland, he born in 1788, and died in Scott County, this State, April 12, 1870; and she died in the same county in 1863. His father was a harness-maker, and was the fa- ther of eleven children-nine boys and two girls-of whom five boys are now dead. Our subject was married, in Havre, France, De- cember 27, 1855, to Kathrina Solond, born in Switzerland in 1828, and died in Le Claire, Scott County, this State, in 1863. Her parents were natives of Switzerland, and also died in that country. By her our sub- ject had five children-three boys and two girls-of whom three are living-Louie, Au- gust and Edward. Mr. Senn was married a second time, October 28, 1865, to Margaret Woller, born in Holstein, Germany, May 8, 1838. Her parents were both born in the latter place, also. Mr. and Mrs. Senn had six children-Henry, Julius, Bertha, Lena (deceased), Maggie and Lillie. Mrs. Senn died in James Township, this county, in 1876, to which township our subject came in March, 1874, and purchased 160 acres of prairie land at $12 per acre, after renting for four years. He now has good buildings on his place, and has made some substantial improvements, including an orchard and a grove. He engages in general farming. Has been Road Supervisor. In religion, he is a Catholic, and in politics a strong Demo- crat.
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uary 11, 1865. They were the parents of four children-three boys and one girl. Our subject received his education in his native land, and began life as a farmer. He came to the United States in 1865, and went to St. Louis, Mo., and from there to Council Bluffs, where he remained for three years. Here he was married, April 17, 1869, to Bertha Tetz- laff, born in Germany October 6, 1846, daughter of Martin and Louise (Brisemeis- ter) Tetzlaff, both natives of Germany. After his marriage, our subject removed to Mills County, this State, where he rented land for two years. In 1871, he came to James Town- ship, this county, where he purchased eighty acres of land at $7 per acre. He improved it, and now has a grove and an orchard. He engages in general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Stroebele have five children-Emil H. O., Mary E., Theresa E. Edward J. and Viola O. In religion, Mr. Stroebele is a Catholic, and his wife a Lutheran. He is an Odd Fellow, Humboldt Lodge, No. 174. In pol- itics, he is a Republican.
HERMAN VIETH, farmer. P. O. Minden, was born in Germany May 17, 1848, son of Michael and Charlotte (Gatting) Vieth, both natives of Germany. His father was born in 1820; was a carpenter; came to the United States in 1870, and is now living in James Township, where the mother is also living. Our subject received his education in his na- tive country, and began life as a cabinet-ma- ker. He was married, in Ottawa, Ill., Au- gust 6, 1872, to Amelia Jacobs, born in Phil- adelphia, Penn., September 29. 1850, daugh- ter of Henry and Katharine (Machetanz) Ja- cobs, both natives of Germany, he born in 1824, and she in 1826. Our subject was a merchant in Neola for four years, after which he sold out and came to James Township and in 1875, purchased eighty acres of land
JOSEPH STROEBELE, farmer, P. O. Oakland, was born in Germany July 9, 1841, son of Ottmir and Elizabeth (Selbherr) Stroe- bele, both natives of Germany, he born in 1800, and she in 18OS. They both died in their native town, he in 1872, and she Jan- i at $7 per acre. He put up some fine build-
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ings, and has otherwise improved his place. He engages in general farming. He has five children -- Emma, Henry, Eddie, Nellie and Minnie. He is a member of the German Evangelical Association. He is an Odd Fel- low, Neola Lodge, No. 410, and is also a charter member of the Legion of Honor, Ne- ola. In politics, he is a Republican.
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