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 66
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FREMONT BENJAMIN. attorney, Avoca. dates his residence in Avoca back to July, 1875. He was born in Schuyler County, N. Y., and, prior to his coming West, he had spent about 'eight years in the schools of El- mira, grdanating from the Elmira Academy while Prof. J. Dorman Steele was Principal of that institution. He came to Avoca and engaged in school-teaching, but, concluding to study law, he entered the office of John Ledwich. He subsequently took a course in the State University of Iowa, from which he
graduated in 1881. In February, he was admitted to the bar in Johnson Connty. Iowa, and, in the following June, he was admitted to practice in the United States Courts. He began practice in Avoca in April of 1881, and has succeeded in establishing a good busi- ness. In political affairs, he has taken an active part with the Republican party. He is a member of the MIt. Nebo Lodge, No. 297. A., F. & A. M., of which he is the pres- ent Secretary.
J. B. BLAKE, Postmaster, Avoca. so well known through his official position in Avoca and vicinity, has been a resident of Potta- wattamie County the greater part of the time for the past twenty-two years. He was born in Worcester County, Mass .. where he was educated, and where he remained a resident until his seventeenth year. He then went to Boston and entered a wholesale house, where he remained three years. His first year's sal- ary was $50; the second, $75: and the third year. $100. He then came West, and stopped for a few months in Omaha. He then went to Crescent City. where he designed engag- ing in business, but, finding the climate to him so unhealthy that he contracted ague, he was obliged to make a change, so went to Denver, Colo., where his brother, Charles Blake, resided, and who erected one of the first houses ever built in that famous city. Mr. Blake spent about one year there, when, his health admitting, he returned to Potta- wattamie County. His life from this date until he settled in Avoca in 1874 was a series of changes, the time being spent mainly in Crescent City. Council Bluffs and Loveland.
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He removed from the latter place to Avoca and engaged in the retail boot and shoe business, which he continue until he was appointed Postmaster of the Avoca office, by President Hayes. He was re-appointed by President Arthur, and is at present en- gaged in the discharge of his duties, and is unquestionably a substantial, worthy citizen of the prosperous little city.
T. F. BOGUE, farmer, P. O. Avoca, born in Vermont in 1832, son of T. F. Bogue, who died in 1865; his mother died in 1872. Subject lived in Vermont until 1859, when he went to California, living there until 1869. The first four years were occupied in mining, the next three in freighting, and the balance he lived in the western part of Utah Territory. Returning to Vermont in 1869, he remained there one year, when he came to this county and bought his present farm from Henry Davenport, paying about $13 per acre for the same. It is located two miles from Avoca; consists of 120 acres, nearly all in cultivation; there were few improvements on the place when he bought it, only twenty acres broken and the land all fenced. He raises corn and hogs principally. Subject was edu- cated in the common schools of Vermont, Castleton and Brandon Seminaries, and mar- ried, in 1969. Miss Caroline B. Hall, of Ver- mont, daughter of David Hall; they have three children. all boys. Subject is a Repub- lican, a member of the Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 297, A., F. & A. M., and was three years in the Crown Point Iron Mines in New York State. He was through two Indian outbreaks in 1866 and 1867, the worst being that of the Goshoot, the tribe being almost annihilated by Capt. Smith. One of Mr. Bogue's horses was shot by an Indian while he was driving a stage. However, a soldier, who was sit- ing on the seat beside him, soon dispatched " Poor Lo."
J. A. BUNNELL, farmer, P. O. Avoca, born in Portage County, Ohio, January, 1836, son of Charles and Margaret Bunnell: moved from Ohio to Illinois in 1846, settling in Winnebago County, living there until 1852, when he went to Iowa. His father, however, had gone to Clinton County, Iowa, in the fall of the previous year. while he remained in Illinois, attending school. His home for some years after this was either in Shelby or Pottawattamie County until after the war, when he came to this township. He attended the first school that was ever taught in the township, which was a successful institution for those days. Subject was married in Au- gust, 1856, to Miss Sarah J. Headlee, daughter of Joshua Headlee, born in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell have eight children-five boys and three girls-one daughter married and living in this town- ship. Subject enlisted, October 14. 1863, in Company M, Ninth Iowa Cavalry; served until the close of the war, under Col. Trum- bull; was stationed along White and Arkan- sas Rivers, being in only one pitched battle, with Shelby's men, near Duvall's Bluff. Af- ter leaving the army. he sold his farm in Shelby County, and bought his present place, his farm now consisting of 600 aeres, well improved. There is a grove of thirty acres, a large house, etc., on it, and the products are principally stock and corn. On his ar- rival here, his entire capital was 75 cents, and he worked at anything he could find to do, coming with an uncle who had lost his eyesight by being blown up in a well while working for Buford, of Rock Island, Ill. He helped this uncle all he possibly could; got a yoke of oxen, went to Nebraska in 1854, and broke prairie, working through the sum- mer. He lost one of his cattle, which re- quired six months' work to pay for it. In 1856, he went back to Nebraska, broke prai-
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rie, hauled wood to Omaha in the winter, putting all his earnings into land at $1.25 per acre, and he soon made a start in the world. He has hauled wheat to Council Bluffs and sold it for 30 cents per bushel; also sold and dressed hogs as low as $1.25 per hundred. He is a Republican; has held several offices, and may feel proud of his past record as a self-made man.
JOHN COAKES, livery, Avoca, born in Canada in 1840, son of Samuel Coakes, a painter. Subject has two sisters in Avoca, and one brother in the Sandwich Islands. He left Coburg, Canada, with only $5, cross- ing Lake Ontario in the Maple Leaf; landed in New York in 1860; enlisted in the Thirty- fourth New York Regiment (Col. Suter), in the fall of 1861. His first battle was Fair Oaks; was in the seven days' retreat with McClellan; at the battle of Antietam; both fights at Fredericksburg, being with the Army of the Potomac all the time, and mustered out. July 3, 1863, at Albany. He worked in livery stable in Palmyra, N. Y., then went to Detroit, Mich., continuing in the same busi- ness for six years, when he came to Avoca, in July, 1870, and opened business for himself, with two buggies and four horses, Avoca at this time not having more than twenty build- ings. Now he has a stable 34x146 feet, con- taining nine rigs. He was married, in the fall of 1864, in Detroit, to Miss Rozina Kier- sey, who died in the fall of 1878, leaving two children-one boy and one girl. Subject's parents are both dead.
ENOCH CUSHING, farmer, P. O. Avoca, born in Tamworth, N. H., about fourteen miles from the White Mountains, in 1829; lived there until twenty-one years old; edu- cated in the common schools: raised on a farm, and lived in different places in New Hampshire until 1862, when he moved to Massachusetts; he worked at farming, car-
pentering-in fact, all kinds of work -- and for fourteen years was employed in a shoe manufactory employing 6,000 hands. In Massachusetts, he raised vegetables for the Boston market; after five years at this busi- ness, went into the dairy business for one year, and, in December. 1868, he came to this county; settled at what is known as New Boston, living there for one year, owning a dozen horses and a saw-mill. Moving to Avoca, he was the first carpenter, and did the first work in this line which was done in the town: stayed there one year, sold out to Abel Harris and moved onto his present farm. When he came to this county, he had only $200; bought eighty acres of land from the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company in 1869; made a small payment on it: built a house on it in 1870: moved onto it: had only one horse; no farming tools: only made a payment of $100, with a wife and six small children depending on his efforts, but since that time has paid for the original eighty acres, bought and paid for 160 acres more, so that the farm now consists of 240 acres of fine land, with a good barn and dwelling house erected thereon, the dwelling costing $1,600. The farm is well stocked and improved. This has all been done by farming. He married, in 1849, Miss Charlotte Bugel, of Barrington, N. H. They have six children-three sons and three daughters, all living at home. Subject is politically a Greenbacker.
E. W. DAVIS, banker, Avoca, born in Dan- ielsonville Conn., in 1839; his mother still lives there; father died in 1861. They had a family of eight children-five girls and three boys-all living. Subject went to Michigan in 1863 : remained there three years: traveled for one year; went to Harlan, this State, in 1867, remaining there four years, when he moved to Avoca, in April,
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1871, engaging in merchandise, under the firm name of E. W. Davis & Co .; opened a bank in August, 1872, and built a new building in 1874, the firm name being J. W. & E. W. Davis, organized with a capital of $25,000. but in 1876 the capital was raised to $50,000. Subject is a Freemason, and was married, May 20, 1874, to Miss May Ben- ham. of Cascade, Dubuque County. this State. They have two children-Vinnie D., aged seven: and Joseph V., aged two.
GUSTAV DIEDERICH, merchant, Avoca, born in Minden, Germany (Minden Town- ship named after his birthplace), came to the country February 2, 1862, landing in New York; came to Avoca from Davenport, this State, in 1870, where he kept a grocery and crockery store. He now keeps a general stock. and has a branch at Hancock. His wife died in April, 1882. They were married in 1868. He is the father of five children, viz., Gustav, fourteen ; Louise, twelve: Frank, ten; Josephine, seven; Karl, five. He takes an active interest in politics; was the first Recorder of the city; held office four terms. has been Mayor since, except one year spent in Europe; belongs to the order of I. O. O. F .; business increasing, yearly sales being $24,000; does a large business in forward- ing express to Europe; also does a general banking business for European cities; is the agent for the principal European steamship lines, and also of the Pacific Railroad Com- pany.
H. S. GREEN, farmer, P. O. Avoca, born near Brockport, Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1829; raised in Ashtabula County, Ohio; lived there until 1868, when he went to Illinois; stopped with friends near Ottawa, where he was teaching for two years. He is the son of Caleb Green, who died in 1S40; his mother, at the age of eighty-eight, died in Septem- ber, 1881; he is one of twelve children. one
brother and one sister dead. He was educat- ed in Ashtabula County, Ohio, going to school with B. F. Wade, nephew of B. F. Wade, of the Nineteenth District, Ohio. He has been farming most of his life, and, while in Ohio, was in the dairy business; married. in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1853, Miss Sarah J. Wood. born in New York and raised in Ohio. They are the parents of four children -one daughter dead and three sons living. Subject came to this township in the spring of 1870, buying raw prairie, paying $8 and $10 per acre for same. The land was owned by Mr. Hitchcock. of Boston, and sold by N. P. Dodge, of Council Bluffs. The farm is well improved now, consisting of 290 acres. mostly under cultivation, with large build- ings, groves, orchard, etc .. thereon. He came here just as the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad commenced carrying freight, and was in Shelby when the first freight was delivered there, it being a keg of whisky. Mr. Green is a Democrat.
R. S. HART, agricultural implements, Avoca, is one of the oldest as well as one of the leading business men of Avoca. He is a native of Juniata County, Penn., where he was educated and spent the early years of his manhood. In 1867, he came West and located at Council Bluffs. Abont one year after his arrival. he entered the employ of Messrs. Shugart & Lininger, and engaged in the sale of agricultural implements. He re- mained in their employ about two years, and then went to Avoca, where he engaged in the stock business for about two years. The rap- id development of the new country creating a demand for farm implements, he was shrewd enough to see the advantage of es- tablishing a good business house in this line at Avoca. The result has proved the correct- ness of his judgment. In 1875, he formed a partnership with Mr. Shugart, of Council
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Bluffs, and at once began an extensive busi- ness in the implement line and in buying grain. Their success is perhaps due to the carefulness of their selection of any and all articles of goods in which they have dealt. The Furst & Bradley and Weir plows and cultivators, Bain and Schuttler wagons, and Buckeye reapers, mowers and twine-binder, and Brown corn-planters, are samples of the character of their goods. They also have an extensive trade in carriages and buggies. They supply agents at Oakland and Harlan with some lines of their goods, in addition to their retail trade. Mr. Hart has the entire management of the business, Mr. Shugart be- ing so extensively engaged in the same line in Council Bluffs as to require his time and attention. An annual sale of goods amount- ing to $40,000 is the best evidence of Mr. Hart's ability as a financier. In addition to his mercantile business, Mr. Hart has a fine farm of 240 acres, located near Avoca, where he takes a pride in keeping some good stock. Mr. Hart has been only interested in politics to the extent of helping fill the local offices with just and honorable men. His time and energy have been given to the building up of his business, and to such men as he and Mr. Shugart is Avoca largely indebted for her growth and prosperity.
S. A. KING, farmer, P. O. Avoca. born in Orange County. Vt., April 13, 1$25, son of John King, who died in Indiana in August, 1852; his mother died in Dover, N. H. Sub- ject lived in Vermont until he was nine years old, when he was taken to Lowell, Mass .. where he lived until he was thirteen years old, when he went to Huron, Ohio. remaining there until he was eighteen years old, when he rode on horseback to Galena, Ill., to try his fortunes in the lead mines. Living there about nine months, he got discouraged, hav- ing caught the ague. He started back to
Ohio, but, finding he could not stand the ride. he stopped at Rockford, moving from there to Ottawa about the time the canal was finished from Chicago to La Salle; lived in Ottawa three years, when he went to Lake County, Ind His father, having moved there some time before, was very sick, ard died from this sickness. He settled up the busi- ness and took his step-mother to Ohio. While at Rockford, he freighted to Chicago; would haul wheat the eighty miles for 20 cents per bushel, and, on reaching the city, would fre- quently have to sell for 373 cents per bushel. taking shelf goods in payment, not even get- ting groceries; he hauled pork for 30 cents per hundred, sold for $1.50 per hundred, and, on his return trip, would take emigrants who landed from the steamboat to any place they wished, taking him all over Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. This was before there were any railroads in this part of the country. While in Ohio, after taking his step-mother there, he married, in April, 1853, Miss Hannah Studwell, born in New York State. The same spring, he started West again, stopping at La Porte. Ind., stay- ing nearly a year, when he started to Iroquois County, Ill., February, 1854, staying there until August. 1855, moving to Tama Coun- ty, Iowa, where he bought eighty acres of land. paying $5 per acre, building a cabin on it. the next year he sold out for $10 per acre, moving onto better land: he lived in Tama County for nearly thirteen years. when he moved to this township, in June, 1860, driving his stock across country, moving his goods and family in wagons. When they came here, there were no neighbors for about five miles north and twelve miles east. but south of them, around Lewin's Grove, there was quite a settlement. He paid $900 for his first eighty acres of land, and now has 240 acres, his principal business now being
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stock-raising. Politically, he is a Green- backer, though, until lately, was a Republic- an. Has six children --- three boys and three girls. one girl and one son married and away from home, the others still living at home. After his arrival in Tama County, he had to go to Iowa City. sixty-two miles away, for everything they bought.
H. S. KNOWLES, M. D., Avoca, born in New York State in 1827, came here from Findley's Lake, N. Y., where he had been practicing medicine for five years; gradnat- ed. in 1857, at the Kalamazoo College. Mich- igan, and took his medical courses in the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, in the winter of 1874-75, and in the Chicago Ho- mæopathic College in the winter of 1877. The Doctor's first practice was in Wisconsin, where he practiced for six years. Going to New York, he practiced five years. when he moved here, where he has practiced for twelve years. Subject's office is at his house, where he keeps a large stock of homeopathic med- icines. He and his wife are engaged with son in-law. the firm being known as P. C. Backus & Co., in a 99-cent store, containing an endless variety of fancy goods and furni- ture, and are doing an extensive business. Subject was married, December 25. to Miss M. L. Francisco. Her father. B. S. Francis- co, was born just after parents came from France. and her family are noted for their longevity. Her father, joining the army when he was over sixty year sold. is still liv- ing. at the age of eighty-two. One of her great-uncles lived to be one hundred and twenty-four years old. Her mother died in November. 1 81. at eighty-three years old. Dr. Knowles' ancestors are also long-lived. His mother died at the age of eighty-four. His grandparents (Knowles) lived to be be- tween ninety and one hundred years old. Dr. and Mrs. Knowles had five children, but
only three are living-one daughter, at home; one daughter, Mrs. Backus is in a large fancy store in Omaha; the other daugther, Mrs. J. J. Hipsley. is in a wholesale and retail book store in Fort Dodge, this State. The Doctor has quite an extensive business in Avoca and surrounding country.
ERNEST P. MACOMBER. M. D., physi- cian and surgeon. Avoca, born in Massachu- setts in 1854. son of Dr. A. P. Macomber. a physician of Atlantic. this State, who was his son's preceptor through his medical course at college. Dr. A. P. Macomber is a grad- uate of New York University, and practiced the old-school system for fifteen years, but now and for twelve years he has practiced the new (homeopathic). Subject has been in Avoca one year. succeeding Dr. F. K. Dabury. who was in practice here for four years, and came from the vicinity of Long Branch. N. J., where he had been living four years. He is a graduate of the New York Homoeopathic College; also attended a course in the Medi- cal Department in Columbia, N. Y .. and a session of lectures in the Long Island Hos- pital. He received his early education at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass., and Goddard Seminary, Barre. Vt. He is a member of the New Jersey and Iowa State Homeopathie Societies, and has been quite successful in his practice here, which is quite extended, taking in Oakland, Carson. Han- cock and Shelby. Dr. Macomber and Dr. Knowles are the only homoeopathic physi- cians in Avoca.
D. S. McCONNAUGHEY, M. D., Avoca, born in Lawrence County. Penn., July S. 1537. came to Avoca April 4. 1852, from Washing- ton County, this State. having arrived in Den- mark, Lee County, this State, in 1852. and living there two years before he went to Washington County. He attended the Den- mark Academy for two years. the Washington
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College several years; enlisted, in 1861, in Company H. Eleventh Iowa Infantry; dis- charged in 1862, at Fulton, Mo .; returned home and commenced the study of medicine; re-enlisted, in the summer of 1862, in the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry; remained with the regiment one year; discharged in 1863, at Vicksburg; returned to Washington, this State; resumed the study of medicine, at- tending a course of lectures at Rush Medical College in the winter of 1865-66; graduated in 1866-67, at Keokuk, this State; began the practice of medicine near the present town of Riverside, this State; moved, in 1869, to Marshall, Henry County, this State; remained there seven years, returning to Riverside, re- maining there five years, when he removed to Avoca, where he has a large and constantly growing practice. Subject was married, Oc- tober 31, 1867, to Miss Josie Terry, daugh- ter of J. L. L. Terry, of Washington, this State. They had two children-Zetta, born in 1869, lived nine years and died at River- side; and Harry D. Subject is a Repub- lican and a Freemason.
N. MEREDITH, farmer, P. O. Avoca, was born sixteen iniles north of Peoria, in 1829, son of J. B. Meredith, who is still living; his mother is dead, and his only brother lives in this township. Subject received a com- mon-school education in Illinois, and mar- ried, in Illinois, in 1852, Miss Clarissa Reed, born in Illinois, daughter of Simon Reed, who was one of the first settlers in that part of the State: her parents are both dead. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have four children -- three boys and one girl Subject came to this county from Peoria County, Ill., in Septem- ber, 1859, and has lived here since, with the exception of two years. In the spring of 1833, he went across the country to Califor- nia, having been gone four years. While there, he was mining, teaming and farming.
Returning to Illinois, he lived there until he moved to Iowa. He bought his present farm in 1868, from John Childs, paying $6.25 per acre. The farm contains 120 acres, mostly in timber, in what is known as Lewin's Grove -in fact, occupying the same place which Mr. Lewin first settled. Subject takes no in- terest in politics, and has not voted since the war. When he came to his present place. there were hardly any improvements. Mov- ing into the old log cabin built by Lewin, and lived there until it was burned down, but now has good farm buildings. He raises corn principally, but also does some business in stock.
T. O. MEREDITH, agricultural imple- ments, Avoca, was born in England in 1844. son of Thomas Meredith, who still lives near Lewis, and was married, January 1, 1872, to Miss M. J. Marsh, of Cass County, born in Indiana, and daughter of Enoch Marsh. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have two children, both boys. Subject has two brothers and one half- brother, all living in Cass County. Subject came from Lewis, Cass Co., Iowa. in March, 1872, and has followed his present business since coming here. He was raised on a farm adjoining Lewis, and came to this country with his, parents when only eight years of age, and settled in Madison, Wis., remaining there about two years, then moved to Cass County, Iowa, making that his home until he came here in 1872. He voted the Repub- lican ticket until the fall of 1881, when he joined the Greenback party. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
O. B. NELSON, merchant, Avoca, came to Avoca in the spring of 1871; commenced business in 1873, and clerked for two years. He is a native of Denmark; his mother, com- ing here last year, is still living. He mar- ried, in 1877. Angie Reynolds, of Avoca, who is a native of New York. They have two
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children. viz .. Edna. five years old; and Meta, four. He carries a large stock, doing a business of $33,000, and employs four clerks; handles dry goods, boots and shoes, a full line of groceries, and also some of the lead- ing sewing machines. Is a member of the I. O. O. F .; been Deputy for two terms, Con- ductor and Past Grand. In 1873, his broth- er, M. B., came and engaged in the hardware business, but died in 1879, leaving a wife and one child.
WAIT H. SANDERS, farmer, P. O. Avoca, born in New York State in 1810, living there until a young man, when he emigrated to Michigan: living there for twenty-six years, he moved to this State, settling in Davenport, in 1854, remaining there for sixteen years, when he removed to Avoca. He was raised on a farm, but followed mechanical pursuits from 1836 until he came here, in August. 1870, settling in Avoca, though buying a farm one and a half miles northeast of Avoca at the same time; lived in Avoca four years, but followed farming and the improvement of his land. He bui't the City Hotel of Davenport, the Post Office Bloek in the same town, be- sides many other large buildings. Subject never served an apprenticeship or attended a mechanical school. but taught himself the mechanical arts. The first year he worked at the trade, his boss thought he was a regular mechanic, and put him in as foreman of a gang of hands, he had such a thorough knowledge of the business. Subject was married, at Ypsilanti, Mich .. about 1844, to Miss Sarah J. Wakeman, of New York City. He has four sons and one daughter living. Three of the sons are at home, and his daugh- ter is now Mrs. Scott Williams, of Hancock, Iowa. There is only one son married. Mrs. Sanders died in June, 1879. When subject came to this township, his farm was all open, and no improvements thereon whatever, but
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