USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 79
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James Trowbridge is a native of Litch- field, Litchfield county, Connecticut, where he was born March 11, 1819. Ilis parents were James and Lucy (Parmalee) Trow- bridge, both natives of Litchfield county. James is one of the ninth generation of Trowbridges, originally from England. He received a common school education, and when sixteen years of age began learning the tailor's trade, which occupa-
tion he followed while in that State. Early in March, 1856, he started west, and after spending two weeks on the road, ar- rived in Tama county, Iowa, on the 24th of the month. He immediately settled on section 16 of Columbia township, on land purchased for him by Leonard Stoddard. lle now owns 80 acres on this section Mr. Trowbridge belongs to the Republican party. He is at present a Trustee of the town, and at different intervals has held other offices of trust. During 1853 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Julia Mun- ger, a native of Litchfield, Connecticut, and a daughter of Truman and Margaret L. (Hart) Munger. They bave two child- ren living-Charles II. and Lillian E.
Joel Iloag was born in Greenfield, Ulster county, New York, on the 14th of July, 1809. He is a son of Elisha W. and Lydia Hoag. His father was born in New York State and his mother in Massachusetts Soon after Joel's birth, the family removed to the eastern part of Pennsylvania and subsequently to Ohio. His educational ad- vantages were very limited, but he inher- ited a taste for study from his parents, who were well educated people and had been teachers ; he, therefore, by diligent application to his books during leisure hours, acquired a good education in the English branches. 1le remained in Ohio until 1853 and while there made farming his principal business. During 1853 he made a trip to Tama county, Iowa, and in December of that year entered a farm in Richland township. He then returned to Ohio and in 1856 came here for the pur- pose of making a permanent settlement. Ile lived in Richland township until Au- gust, 1859, at which time he came to his
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present location, on section 23, of Colum- bia township. In politics, he was for- merly a Whig and became a Republican with the formation of that party. Mr. Hoag has held the office of Clerk in Rich- land and Trustee in Columbia township. He has always taken a very active interest in educational affairs and has held several school offices. During 1857 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Margaret Jane Beale, a native of Butler county, Penn- sylvania, and a daughter of John and Jane Beale, also of that county. She came to Iowa with her parents in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Hoag belong to the Society of Friends and are members of the Hick- site denomination. They have seven chil- dren living-Benjamin Franklin, Lydia, wife of I .. C. Noble, a member of the Board of Trade of Chicago ; Elisha W. B., Theodore Appleton, Ira, Ann Dillia and Nellie.
Wm. F. Eshbaugh is a native of Penn- sylvania, born in Northumberland county of that State on the 7th of February, 1842. His parents are J. A. and Mary (Follmer) Eshbangh. In 1850 he removed with his parents to New York State. He was reared on a farm and attended the district schools near his home during the winter months, until fifteen years of age ; after which, he attended the University at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, six months, and subsequently spent the same length of time at the acad- emy in Wilson, Niagara county, New York .. During 1859 he came to Tama county with his parents, and at the time intended to sce his parents settled here, and then com- plete his studies in the east ; however, the opportunity never offered itself. In the spring of 1860 he began farming, and Au-
gust 15, 1861, enlisted at Marshalltown in company B, 2d Iowa Cavalry, as a pri- vate. Later, he became a bugler and served as such until he enlisted as a vet- eran in 1863. In July of 1862 he was taken prisoner at Booneville, Mississippi, and confined in the prisons of Mobile, Macon and Libby, until November of 1862, when he was paroled, and near the last of the year exchanged. Previous to the time of Mr. Eshbaagh's imprisonment, he was in several skirmishes and engage- ments, and had a number of narrow es- capes-at one time having his horse shot from under him. He participated in the entire siege of Corinth and was employed in skirmishing on the line of road from Memphis to that place. Upon returning to his regiment, he was in the engage- ments at Palo Alto, Birmingham, Colliers- ville, Coldwater, Salisbury and Moscow, also on the Soag Sinith raid in February, 1863. Subsequently, he participated in the battles of Old Town Creek, Tupello, Hurricane Creek, Lawrenceville, and the engagement at Naslıville, Tennessee. An- gust 15, 1865, he was discharged at Nash- ville on account of disability, and has never since entirely recovered hls health. For several years after leaving the army Mr. Eshbaugh could do but little work of any kind. Ile now lives on section 17, where he owns a fine farm of 200 acres. In politics, he is a staunch Republican, and has held the office of Town Trustec three years, the office of Justice of the Peace five years, besides having been Town Assessor. During 1866 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Bur- ley, of Columbia township. Eight children were born to them, six of whom are liv-
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ing : Alice, Ned, Lois, Blanche, Merle and an infant. The family are members of the M. E. Church.
John A. Eshbangh is a son of Anthony and Barbara ( Roming ) Eshbaugh, born July 24, 1819, in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. The father died when John was fourteen years old. He lived on the farm until 1836, then went to Columbia county, same State, where he remained but one year, then returned to his native county, and shortly after, again removed to Columbia county. While making these changes, John worked by the month at farm work. In 1840 he was married to Miss Mary Follmer, a native of Pennsylvania. Nine children have been born unto them, six of whom are now living-William F., Francis, Caroline, now wife of Wm. II. Stoddard ; Susan B., Daniel O. and Charles H. Columbia county was subsequently divided, and Mr. Eshbaugh lived in that part which became Montour county. The following ten years after his marriage were spent in Montour and Northumberland counties, after which he removed to New York, where he re- mained until 1859, then came to Tama county, this State. He spent one winter in Toledo, and then moved into a log cabin situated one mile west of his present farm. In 1863, Mr. Eshbaugh settled on his pres- ent place on section 17, of Columbia township, where he now owns 120 acres of land. For the past six years Mr. Esh- bangh has been suffering severely with rheumatism.
Frank Eshbaugh is a native of North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, where he was born October 19, 1843. Soon after his birth the family removed to Niagara
county, New York. There he remained until 1859, at which time he came to Tama county, lowa, with his parents. During October of 1862, he enlisted in Company F., Sixth lowa Cavalry, under General Sully, and served against the Indians. In 1863 he was with the noted Captain Fisk party, and had many hair-breadth escapes from the red men. He was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, November 1, 1865. Mr. Eshbaugh then returned to Columbia township and engaged in farm- ing. He now owns a fine farm of 120 acres in section 18. At present he is one of the Trustees of the town. March 1, 1870, his marriage with Miss Emergene Tomlinson, occurred. Three children have been born to them, but only one, a daughter, Grace, is now living.
Moses Pickett settled in Richland town- ship, Tama county, in 1856. Hle is a na- tive of Ohio, born in Knox county, in Sep- tember, 1833. His parents are William and Margaret (Sofa) Pickett. Soon after his birth the family removed to Bureau county, Illinois, and there Moses passed his youth and early manhood. He was reared on a farm, and as his father lived on the frontier there was but little time or chance for attending school. Mr. Pickett remained in Bureau county, occul- pied in farming, until March, 1856, at which time, as stated, he removed to Rich- land township, this county. There he en- tered a farm of 80 acres on section 7, which he partly improved and then sold. In March of 1861, he came to Columbia township, settling on section 26, where he owns 640 acres of land valued at $35 per acre. In politics he is a Republican. His marriage with Miss Mary Gray, a native
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of indiana, occurred in 1859. They have two children living: Luella S. and Wal- lace.
John Cory was born in Cornwall, Eng- land, on the 20th of November, 1831, and July 1, 1849, he, in company with his mother and family, left Old England, and after a long and stormy voyage of fifty- four days landed in New York city, Au- gust 23. The father had preceded them the year before. Their first winter in this country was spent in Jefferson county, Ohio, after which they settled in Belmont county of the same State. John remained in that county engaged in farming until 1862, at which time he came to Iowa. IIe first settled on section 24, of Columbia township, where he remained two years and then removed to section 25. During 1869, he purchased and settled on a farm on section 26. Mr. Cory now owns 240 acres of land, 160 acres of it being on sec- tion 26-his present home-and under cultivation; the remaining 80 acres lie on section 24, and 50 acres of that are also un- der improvement. In politics he is a Re- publican and has held the office of Town- ship Trustee. lle is a strong advocate of temperance. In 1852, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Mary E. Yates, a native of Ohio They have six children: William II., Charles E., Joseph II., Fran- eis W., Anna E. and Mary M. The fami- ly are members of the Society of Friends.
William Cory is a native of England, and was born in Cornwall, June 2, 1839. His parents were Henry and Mary (Rowe) Cory, natives of England. The family came to America in 1846, and first located in Jefferson county, Ohio; later they re- moved to Belmont county, and in 1856,
settled in Henry county, Illinois. Will- iam's early life was spent on the farm and his education was obtained in the dis- triet schools of that day. In 1857, they removed to Clark county, Missouri, and there Mr. Cory was engaged in farming until 1863, at which time he came north to Tama county, Iowa. He purchased and settled on a farm of 40 acres on sec- tion 23, of Columbia township, and now owns 160 aeres in the township, all of which is under cultivation. In politics he was formerly a Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln; but at the second election of U. S. Grant, went over to the Greenback party. Mr. Cory held the office of Township Clerk two terms and had the honor of being the first Republican elected to said office; he was also the second Republican of his town- ship elected to the office of County Su- pervisor, in which capacity he represented Columbia two years. He was Justice of the Peace eight years. In February of 1861 be was united in marriage with Miss Mary S. Peck, a native of Porter county, Indiana. Nine children have blessed their union: Martha A., Samuel A., Henry D., Mary E., John and Ella D. (twins) Wil- liam, Benjamin and Inez. Their daugh- ter, Ella D., is now deceased, Mr. and Mrs. Cory are members of the M. E. Church.
Captain J. II. Lauderdale, one of the largest farmers of Columbia township, is a native of Livingstone county, New York, where he was born March 21, 1828. Shortly after his birth the family removed to Genesee county, that State. There he grew to manhood on a farm and at the age of twenty-two removed to Walworth
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county, Wisconsin, where he purchased a mill and engaged in the milling business in connection with farming. During the fall of 1861, he raised Company I, of the 13th Wisconsin Volunteers, and served as Captain of that company nearly two years. lle was then honorably discharged on ac- count of sickness, having been taken with an attack of hemorrhage of the lungs. Mr. Lauderdale spent the winter of 1863- 4 in Wisconsin, and the following spring came to Tama county, lowa, and located on section 19, of Columbia township. He now owns 400 aeres in one body and a timbered lot on the lowa river. In poli- tics he is a Republican and has held the office of County Supervisor, besides sever- al of the township offices.
Thomas M. Malin, an enterprising farm- er of Columbia township, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, May 21, 1824. His parents were Minshall and Julia A. (Bar- ton) Malin, natives of Pennsylvania. In early life he received a fair common school education, and later, learned the carpenter trade of his father, which occupation he followed until 1862, when he became en- gaged in farming. During the spring of 1-66, the subject of our sketch removed to Tama county, Iowa, and immediate y lo- cated on section 14, of Columbia township, where he now owns a farm of 120 aeres, eighty acres of which is under cultivation and the rest is timber. In politics he is a Greenbacker and is a strong advocate of soft money He has held the offices of Township Trustee, Justice of the Peace and School Director. Mr. Malin was mar- ried, in 1849, to Miss Martha J. Yoeum, also a native of Belmont county, Ohio. She is a daughter of Mark and Mary
(Street) Yocum, natives of the same county. They have eight children living: George M., Mary E., Emma J., Laura W. A., El- mer M., William Ellis, Anna V. and Ra- chel C.
Geo. M. Malin, a son of Thomas and Martha Jane (Yocum) Malin, is a native of Ohio, born in Belmont county, of that State, July 24, 1851. During the spring of 1866, he removed, with his parents, to Tama county, Iowa. He received a common school education, and after his settlement in this county, spent four winters in teaching- his first school being in district No. 6, of Columbia towhship. In the fall of 1876, he was married to Miss Amy Spire, daughter of Christopher Spire. The fol- lowing year Mr. Malin removed to his present place, where he now owns 160 acres of well improved land. Mr. and Mrs. Malin have three children living- Mabel F., Ellis C. and Thomas M. In politics Mr. Malin is a Republican.
John Doyle was born in county Wex- ford, Ireland, in October, 1834. During 1853 he came to America, and first set- tled in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where he soon engaged in farming. In 1865 he removed to Scott county, Iowa, and at the end of three years, came to Tama county, settling on seetion 28, Columbia township, where he now lives on a fine farm of 200 acres. Mr. Doyle was married in 1861, to Miss Ellen Enright, a native of Ireland, and born in 1839. They have ten chil- dren living-Annie, born July 31, 1862 ; Michael, born February 14, 1864 ; Maggie, born August 7, 1865 ; John, born Febru- ary 3, 1867; Maurice, born March 31, 1869; Peter, born August 28, 1871; Dennis, born
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October 5, 1873; Martin, born November, 19, 1875; Mary, born October 28, 1877; Stephen E., born May 22, 1881.
Lemuel Sexton, a son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Wood) Sexton, was born in Madison county, Indiana, on the 18th of March, 1833. He was reared on a farm and received a good common school education. Mr. Sexton remained in his native county until thirty-two years of age, with the exception of two years spent in Grant county, of that State. During the spring of 1865, he removed to Tama county, and the following year purchased a farm, which he afterwards sold. In 1868 he settled on section 33, Columbia township, where he now owns 82 acres of land. In politics he is a Democrat and has held the office of Town- ship Trustee five years. Mr. Sexton was married in 1855 to Miss Nancy Lucas, a native of Ohio. She died in 1863. Hc was again married in 1870, to Angeline Ward, a native of Indiana. They have two children living : Charles and Emma.
The following brief history of Honor- able William Hartsock, is a fine illustra- tion of what self-reliance can accomplish under discouraging circumstances. Wil- liam Hartsock is a native of Knox county, Ohio, born May 20, 1852. Ifis grand- father was born in 1749, in the city or fortness of Kehl, in the grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, and emigrated to Ameri- ca in 1753. William's father was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Wil- liam's mother was Miss Amy Cox, a grand- niece of Dr. Benjamin Rush, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and was a descendant of an officer of that name in Cromwell's army.
His father was a wealthy farmer, and owned extensive mill property, but he engaged in an unlucky enterprise, that of shipping flour from Brownsville, Pennsyl- vania, to New Orleans. In this he was not successful, as the flour spoiled in transportation. Having lost most of his property, he gathered up what he had left and came to Knox county, Ohio. Here William was born in 1825. When he was twelve years of age his father realizing the fact that an old settled country was not the place for a poor man, very wisely concluded to emigrate to Illinois, and set- tled in Green county of that State. Will- iam remained with his parents on the farm, having only educational privileges of very inferior district schools during the winter months. Here his father died in the fifty-first year of his age, without hav- ing accumulated much property. After the Black Hawk purchase, when the excitement ran high for cheap lands, im- migrants came on horse back, in wagons and every way except on railroad, to secure land in the new Territory. Young Wil- liam, who was the i seventeen years of age, started on horse back to what is now the great State of Iowa. Ile crossed the Mississippi river at Burlington on the 7th of April. When eight miles north of that place, he was overtaken in a heavy hail-storm, and, seeing a cabin in the dis- tance, attempted to reach it. The storm became so severe that he had to dismount, his horse became unmanageable and got away, taking with him William's entire outfit, which consisted of an axe and iron wedge which he was carrying in a pair of old fashioned saddle bags. On reaching the cabin, the pioneer told him there was
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another settler about four miles further on the road, and the horse would probably stop there. After partaking of the kind hospitalities of the pioneer, the next morning he started in search of his horse which he found at the place suggested by his host. He took a claim in his mother's name nine miles southwest of Iowa City. After making some rude improvements he went and moved his mother and family, with a team consisting of one yoke of cattle, to their new home. After the struggle common to pioneer life, they finally secured a title from the Govern- ment to their home. As money was scarce and employment that would com- mand money, hard to obtain, he concluded to try steam-boating, which occupation he followed for two years on the upper Miss- issippi and Ohio rivers. In 1853 he was married and moved still farther west, set- tling in Keokuk county, on a farm which he had purchased in 1850. While a resi- dent of Keokuk, Mr. Hartsock made many friends, and in the fall of 1867, was elected by the Republican party to the office of Representative by a large major- ty; a position which he held one term giving satisfaction to his supporters. In the spring of 1870, Mr. Hartsock and family came to Tama county and settled in Columbia township, since which time he has been engaged in farming. Through- out his life he has endeavored to maintain a high standing as a man of high moral integrity, always realizing that a clear head, a strong hand, and an honest pur- pose would always insure success. His habits have been strictly temperate, and he was an earnest advocate of the constitu- tional amendment,as voted for by the people
of Iowa, June 27, 1882. He has been a member of the Christian Church for many years. Mr. Ilartsock was first married to Miss Catharine Heaton, of Clarksville, Pennsylvania, with whom he lived until November 26, 1868, when she died, leav- ing him the care of five children, three daughters and two sons, and in 1869, he was married to Mrs. A. A. Biggs, a widow, who is his present wife. Mr. Hartsock has a happy home with all the conven- iences of the modern farmer.
J. II. Smith is a son of John B. and Sarah (Hoover) Smith, and was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1826. He lived in his native county until about thirteen years of age and then re- moved to Indiana county of that State, where he grew to manhood, after which, he returned to Clearfield county, and there remained until 1862. At that date Mr. Smith came to Iowa, and located in Scott county, where he followed farming until 1870, then came to Tama county and set- tled on his present farm on section 34, Columbia township, where he now owns 240 acres. He has held the offices of School Director and Town Trustee. Mr. Smith's second marriage occurred in 1862, at which time Miss Phæbe Patterson be -. came his wife. She was born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1838, and is a daughter of John and Nancy (Ray) Pat- terson. Nine children have been born to them: Sarah A., born October 8, 1863; Luella M., born May 1, 1865; Rebecca I. II., born December 8, 1867; Luranda H., born September 11, 1868; Clara A., born June 10, 1870; Morris HI., born January 29, 1872; Eva D., born December 9, 1874;
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
Walter J., born June 24, 1876, and died August 16, 1876; Lucretia E., born Septem- ber 6, 1879.
James Phillips is a native of New Ilamp- shire, and was born in the town of Rox- bury, Cheshire county, July 27, 1807. His parents were Leayitt and Mary (Hinds) Phillips. James was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools of Roxbury. When twenty-three years old, he removed to Chautauqua county, New York, where he lived four- teen years and then located in Erie county, Pennsylvania. There he engaged in farm- ing until his removal to Tama county, Iowa, in 1858. Mr. Phillips first bought a farm of 160 acres in Howard township, but soon sold it and purchased one in Toledo township, two and a half miles west of Toledo village. Ile farmed there thirteen years and then settled on section 15, of Columbia, where he has since resided. Ilis first marriage occurred in 1829, at which time he was united with Miss Lou- isa Hinds. She bore him five children, four of whom are now living, Henry, Jessie, Thomas and Lonisa, and died in 1840. Mr. Phillips was again married in 1841, choos- ing for a help-meet, Miss Emily Woodruff. Three children were born to them, two of whom are living, William and Elizabeth. This wife died in 1856. The following year he led to the alter Louisa Jane Kelly, a native of l'ennsylvania. They have one child living, George.
Martin Keup was born in Bavaria, August 9, 1824. His youth and early manhood were spent on a farm in his native country. During 1853, he came to America and first settled at Princeton, Bureau county, Illinois, where he spent six years
working in a brick yard, and then pur- chased a farm of 40 acres, upon which he lived until his removal to Tama county, Iowa, in 1873. Ile settled on section 29, Columbia township, where he now owns an excellent farm of 193 acres, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. Keup was joined in wedlock, in 1857, with Eliza Shmoll, who bore him nine children, eight of whom are living: Catharine, Andrew, Mary, Eliza, Annie, George, William and Eva. She died on the 4th of March, 1876. The subject of this sketch again married, April 19, 1877, choosing for a wife Eliza- beth Sanderhee, who was born at Hanover. Germany.
Robert M. Powers is a native of Illinois, born in Hancock county, of that State, December 11, 1856. IIe is a son of Abner and Martha E. ( Strong ) Powers. In 1869 the family removed to Iowa county, Iowa, where they settled on a farm. After receiving a good common school education, the subject of this sketch attended lowa College one term. In 1873 his parents came to Tama county, locating on a farm in Columbia township, where his father died in 1878 ; his mother still lives. Mr. Powers taught his first term of school during the winter of 1876-7, at school No. 7, of Wheatland township, Carroll county. Since that term he has been con- stantly teaching in the winter, with the exception of the winter of 1879-80. He is now holding a term of school at No. 8, Columbia township.
ORGANIC.
Application was made on the 5th day of February 1856, by Joshua Burley, that the township of Richland be divided and a new one formed to be called Columbia,
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
and it was so ordered by the County Court, containing township 82, range 15, west of 5th principal meridian. The first elec- tion was held at the house of Joshua Bur- ley, on the 7th day of April, 1856, with the following result : Milton C. Gettis and Ilenry C. Morrison, Constables ; John D. Gettis, George W. Morrison and George II. Stoddard, Trustees; Leonard Stoddard, Clerk ; William T. Hawley, Assessor. There were 21 votes polled.
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