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 86
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VILLAGE OF MOOREVILLE.
This place was staked out in 1869, by Henry Beach, a Methodist preacher. The same year William Davidson built a store and opened a stock of goods. He con- tinned this business here about two years ' and sold to Mr. Greenleaf, who ran it eleven months and sold to C. B. Messer, who continued only a few weeks when it again changed hands, C. A. Williams, the present proprietor, being the purchaser. lle afterward erected a larger building and has a good trade. He is a native of Niagara county, New York, and came here from LaPorte, where he had been clerk- ing in a drug store.
In 1869, Livermore & Beach started the building of a mill, which was completed in 1871. Captain Moore, a native of New Jersey, bought Livermore's interest, and in company with Beach, ran the mill a short time. Then Moore bought Beach's interest. Ile soon after sold a half in- terest to his nephew, Charles Moore, and later sold the other half interest to Thomas Carter, who soon bought Charles Moore's interest. In 1879, Captain Moore took his half interest baek, and Ben- jamin Bruner bought the other half and in company they ran it a few months, when it was burned. Mr. Bruner's wife bought Captain Moore's interest and the mill was rebuilt in 1880. It is two and one-half stories high, with a basement 30x37 feet. There are three runs of buhrs and machin- ery for making first-class flour. It is now run by Benjamin Bruner.
Benjamin Bruner was born November 24, 1841, in Sandusky county, Ohio. His parents were Christian and Sophia Bruner. In the fall of 1851, the family came to
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Iowa and after spending the winter in Iowa City, came the following spring to Tama county. They first settled in How- ard township, and were one of the first families in the county. Mr. Bruner was married, September 30, 1863, to Miss Mary E. Harbaugh, a native of Medina county, Ohio. Immediately after marriage Mr. Bruner settled in the village of Monticello and, in company with his brother, bought his father's mill at that 'place. In 1869, they sold the mill and Mr. Bruner pur- chased a farm in Howard township, on which he lived until 1875, when he sold, and bought, in connection with his broth- er, a flour mill in York township. Four years later, he sold his interest in that mill and bought a half inte:est in the mill at Mooreville, which he still operates. HIe has three children: Carl F., John G. and Robert J.
The only practicing physician in Moore- ville is Dr. C . W. Knott. See Medical chapter.
Ths first postoffice was established here about 1870, as Mooreville, and Captain Moore, who named the office, was the first postmaster. William Davidson, as depu- ty, had charge of the office until J. R. Williams succeeded Captain Moore. Since that time Mr. Williams has held the office. There is a daily mail from Dysart.
A shop was started in this village about 1870, by John and William Tiller. There have been several blacksmiths in town since that time. The present shop is con-
ducted by Daniel McIntire who came in 1880, and in 1882, purchased the black- smithing business of C. A. Williams. Mr. MeIntire is a native of Lancasterhire, Eng- land, born March 22, 1840. When but twelve years of age he was apprenticed to a blacksmith in Scotland, and after serving six years, went to Dublin, Ireland, where he worked at his trade three months. 1Ie then returned to England and was em- ployed in a machine shop at Liverpool a number of years. During his residence in that city, he spent three years in the employ of the Guion Steam Ship Com- pany. On the 12th day of April, 1875, he started for the United States, and upon landing in New York City, procedcd to De Soto, Wisconsin, for the purpose of visiting a brother, who resided there. From De Soto, he came to Traer, Tama county, where he followed his trade two years, in company with S. Hyde, and then located at Reinbeck, Grundy county. There he engaged as a journeyman a short time and then opened a shop of his own, which he run about two years. At the expiration of that time, he returned to Traer, where he resided until 1880, and then settled at Mooreville, where he ran the blacksmith shop for C. A. Williams two years, and then purchased the stock and has since carried on the business him- self. Mr. MeIntire was married in 1864 to Miss Margaret Bootle, who has borne him five children-Robert, Daniel, Mar- garet A., Janet G. and Peter.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXVII.
GRANT TOWNSHIP.
This territory comprises all of Con- gressional township 86 north, range 15, west of the fifth principal meridian. The surface is quite rolling, with many deep ravines in the southern part. The soil is a rich, dark loam, inclined to sandiness, in places. The township is well watered. Twelve Mile creek rises on section 18, and flowing through sections 8, 9, 10, 15, 14, 23 and 24, makes exit at the northeast corner of section 25. Given creek enters the township on section 1, and run- ning in a southerly direction through sec- tions 12 and 13, makes confluence with Twelve Mile creek on section 24. Four Mile creek enters on section 30, and run- ning in a southeasterly direction through sections 29, 28 and 23, leaves the town- ship on the southwest quarter of section 34. Along these streams there are rich bottom lands. There is but little timber in the township. "Five Mile Grove, " on section 23, originally contained about eighty acres, consisting of oak, cherry and poplar mainly, but in an early day this was mostly cut off. It remains at present about its original size and is covered with a thrifty growth of young timber. There is also a small grove on the southwest quarter of section 32. This is all the native timber in the township.
The township is mostly settled by a class of people born in Scotland or of Scotch extraction. They are an indus- trions, enterprising class of citizens, having good farms, comfortable homes, and well improved lands.
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & North- ern railroad crosses this township, entering on the northeast corner of section 25, run- ning thence northwest through section 24, and traversing the west half of sections 13 and 12, leaves from section 2.
SETTLEMENT.
The first persons to settle in this town- ship were Conklin and Cornelius Gay. They came in 1855 and located on section 23, where they built a small cabin and re- mained until 1857, when they removed to Buckingham township, where Cornelius died in 1865. Conklin, with the family of Cornelius, are now residents of Hum- bolt county.
The next to arrive in the township was Evander Murdock, who arrived in 1857, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 33. He was from New York State, was a married man and their son Clarence was the first white child born in the township. They now live at Cedar Falls.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
The next settler was Jasper II. Scott, who came with his family in 1859, and built his cabin on the northeast corner of the north- west quarter of section 36, where he still resides.
In 1850, David Heath and Lorenzo Hall arrived and lived in the house formerly occupied by Olleslangher and Butler, on section 23. They remained about seven years when they removed to Kansas, where Heath was shot by his step-son. Hall now lives in Wright county.
In 1858, John Fleming, from Pennsyl- vania, purchased a tract of 400 acres of land. He was never an actual resident, but improved his farm and took an actual interest in church and township affairs. IIe died here May 25, 1868.
In 1861, William and Walter Kline came ; the former finally settled on sec- tion 29, where he yet resides, the latter settl d on section 34, and is still living in the township. Andrew Dodd came the same year and settled on section 34, where he still remains.
William Kline is a Pennsylvanian by birth, as were also his parents. They had nine children ; William being the eldest, born in October, 1826. When he was sixteen years of age his parents emi- grated to the then new country of Ohio, settling in Wayne county, here they en- gaged in farming. Here William assisted his father until attaining his majority, and at this time entered a mill to learn the miller's trade. After mastering this trade, he leased a mill, and getting married com- meneed business for himself. Ile re- mained in his business until 1853, when he engaged in farming for one year. In 1854, he removed to Johnson county, Iowa,
and engaged in farming until 1861, then came to Tama county, locatnig in Crystal township, where he remained until March, 1865, at which time he located on his present farm on section 29, Grant township. Mr. Kline takes an active interest in educa- tional matters both in the township and his own district, and on the organization of the township was elected a member of the first School Board. At this election he was also given the office of Justice of the Peace, which office he still holds, and has held since his first election, with the ex- ception of one year. August 22, 1850, Mr. Kline was joined in wedlock with Miss Sarah Ellen MeVicker, born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1829. Her parents moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Kline have had nine children : John, Catherine Ann, William Penn, Vir- gil A., Byron C., Jane Adaline, Agnes A., Ida Belle and Mary Estella.
Walter Kline was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1829. When twelve years of age he removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and received a common school education. In 1853, he came to Iowa, first stopping in Johnson county and afterwards going to Muscatine and other places in the State. In 1861 he came to Tama county where he has since resided. In 1864, on the 27th of October, he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Eldridge, a native of Franklin county, Ohio. She was the widow of Ely Eldridge to whom she was married in 1861, in Crystal town- ship, by Rev. David Donaldson, of the M. E. Church. The fruit of this union was one child-Henry E. September 15, 1861, Mr. Eldridge, through patriotism, enlisted
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
in the 28th Iowa Infantry, serving until his death on June 30, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Kline are parents of six children, Clara M. and Amra I., (twins), Ely L., John W., Wesley S., and Majory E. Mrs. Kline is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which she joined in 1860.
In 1864 1. P. Dinsdale arrived and se- leeted a farm on section 24. He is still liv- ing in the township.
The settlement of this township was not very rapid. The next year, 1865, the Whannell family came and settled in this neighborhood, mostly in Crystal town- ship. Thompson Weir was also one of the settlers of this year.
Robert Whannell is a son of John and Margaret (Kelley) Whannell, who were na- tives of Scotland. They came to America in 1857, and settled in Knox county, Illinois. Ilis father died at that place July 29, 1864, from the effects of an injury received at Dixon, Illinois, while returning from a trip to Iowa. The family consisted of the par- ents and five children,-Peter, now a resi- dlent of Crystal township; Thomas also living in that township; Jane, deceased ; John and Robert. The two latter named are residents of Grant township In 1865, the mother, with Thomas, John and Robert, removed to Tama county, settling in Crystal township, where Peter had pre- ceded them ; she made her home with her children until her death on June 29, 1869. Robert was born in Scotland on the first of March, 1842, and eame with his parents to the United States. He was reared on the farm and has since made farming his busi- ness with good success. His education was acquired in the common schools of Scotland and Ilinois. He came to Iowa,
as above stated, with his mother and set- tled in Crystal township where he re- mained until 1873, when he moved upon the land where he still resides in Grant, which he had previously purchased. Politi- cally, Mr. Whannell is an advocate of Re- publican principles, and has held various local offices. On the 23d of January, 1873, he was married to Miss Jane Wilson, a native of Connecticut, born December 20, 1847. She is of Scotch extraction, her parents, West and Margaret (Dryman) Wilson being natives of Scotland. They came to the United States in July, 1846, and settled in Connecticut where they re- mained until April, 1856, when they re- moved to Tama county, lowa, and located in Crystal township. Here the mother died in March, 1860, and the father, who has since married again, is still a resident of the township named. The result of the first marriage was nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Whannell are the parents of one child, Westina Maggie. They are members in good standing of the United Presbyterian Church, and are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them. John Whannell is one of the enterprising and thrifty farmers of Grant township. Ile was born in the parish of Colmonel, Ayr- shire, Scotland, August 4, 1839. In 1857 he came with his father's family to Knox county, Illinois, where they engaged in farming. Here John grew to manhood, receiving a common school education. On August 5, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 102d Illinois Infantry, his captain being Edwin H. Conger, the present State Treas- urer of lowa. With his regiment he took part in many of the hard battles of the war, including Ressaca, Peach Tree Creek,
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
Kenesaw Mountain and New Hope Church, South Carolina, where he was slightly wounded. He was also with Sherman on his successful march to the sea, and at the grand review at Washington, where he re- ceived his discharge dated June 6, 1865, and was mustered out in Chicago. He then returned to his ho're, and in July came to Tama county, settling in Crystal township, where he engaged in farming with his brothers' Peter, Thomas and Robert. He was married November 5, 1870, to Miss Ann Preston, a native of England, born August 12, 1847. When five years of age her parents emigrated to Canada, and her mother died a few years later. Her father died when she was fifteen, and at the age of seventeen she came to Tama county, Iowa. n May, 1871, Mr. Whannell removed with his family to their present home, on section 31, Grant township. His farm contains 240 acres under a good state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Whannell are respected members of the Amity congregation of the United Presbyterian ( hurch. Their children are : William J., Margaret J., James K., Eliza- beth A., Robert C. and Thomas Garfield.
Thompson Weir is a native of Renfrew- shire, Scotland, bor in 1820. In 1854, he came to New York city, thence to Con- necticut, and in the spring of 1855, went to Chicago, where he remained until 1865, when he came to Tama county, and has since been one of her most respected cit- izens. In 1869, he removed to his present home on section 32, Grant township. His wife was formerly Miss Margaret Sloss. She is a native of Ayrshire, Scotland.
Andrew Dodd was a settler of 1866, and is one of the representative men of
Grant township. He was born in Ayr- shire, Scotland, in 1816. Ilis father was a native of Cumberland, England, and when a young man went to Scotland, where he was married to Mary Wright, a native of Wigtownshire. They then en- gaged in farming, making Scotland their home until their death, the father dying in 1857, aged seventy-two years; the mother in April, 1882, at the advanced age of eighty-six. They reared a family of eleven children, Andrew being their second. He grew to manhood in his na- tive shire, receiving a common school ed- ncation. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Alexander, of Ayrshire, who died in 1841. He was again married, May 12, 1846, to Miss Christina Wilson, a na- tive of Ayrshire. In 1853, they left their native land and came to the United States, stopping the first winter in Perry town- ship, this county, and in the spring rented a farm in Crystal township, where they resided until 1866, then purchased their present home on section 34, in Grant township. In politics Mr. Dodd is a Re- publican and has held the office of Town- ship Assessor for many years. He and his wife are active members of the Amity congregation of the United Presbyterian Church. They have had thirteen chil- dren : IIenry, deceased, James W., Rob- ert H., Andrew W., West, Thomas, de- ceased, John, deceased, William, Edward HI., Jane L., Mary S. and Maggie J., de- ceased.
In 1867, the settlement of Grant town- ship was increased by the arrival of William Keown, George Barker and John How- ard, who are still prominent citizens.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
William Keown was born in the county of Down, Ireland, in 1837. His parents were natives of that county and remained there until their death. When seven- teen years of age, William left his native land to seek a home in the United States, first stopping in Pennsylvania, remaining until 1867, then coming to Tama county and settling upon his present farm, on section 14, in Grant township. He was married, February 18, 1861, to Miss Aseneth MeAlevy, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1836. They have had nine children, five of whom are now living: Elizabeth, Aseneth, Nancy, Charlotte and Sarah. Mrs. Keown is a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church. bir. Keown, when he came to this country, was a mere boy with no means, but by industry and hard work has succeeded in accumulating a fine property, his farm containing 200 acres of well improved land. He has been successful in his farming and now has a pleasant home.
George Barker is the oldest settler in the northern part of Grant township, where he settled, on seetion 2, in 1867. He is a native of Canada, born in 1821, there re- ceiving a good common school education. When he was sixteen years of age he shipped as a sailor on the lakes between Buffalo and Chicago, which occupation he followed until 1838, when he was hired to run an engine in the construction of the Illinois and Michigan canal. He remained on this work until 1841, then returned to New York State, where he stayed until 1843, when he again went to Canada and engaged in the lumbering business in con- nection with farming, which business he followed until he came to Tama county.
Ile was married on the 10th of January, 1844, to Lydia Comstoek, a native of C'an- ada, born December 10, 1819; died in April, 1878. This union was blessed with five children : Eliza J., George F., Sarah A., John C. and James A. (deceased). Mr. Barker was again married on the 22d of November, 1882, to Mary Hodge, a native of Ireland. She is a member of the Pres. byterian church. Mr. Barker has seen. many changes since his settlement in Tama county. When he came, his neigh- bors were distant from him, four, five and six miles, and the nearest trading points were Cedar Falls and Waterloo ; now, the ears run through his township, and his market is at the railroad towns, but little farther from his home than were the houses of the first neighbors. George's father, John Barker, was a noted ship- builder of Yorkshire, England. In 1812, at the time of the American war, he came to Montreal, in the employ of the British Government, to take eharge of the eon- struction and repairing of vessels. After a time, he engaged in business for himself, and died at Montreal, in 1856.
John Howard was born November 8, 1840, in Montgomery county, and was brought up in Broome county, New York, where he received a common school educa- tion. He enlisted August 19, 1862, in Company E, 137th Infantry, New York Volunteers, and served as a non-commis- sioned officer until June 9, 1865, when he was discharged by reason of the elose of the war. Ile took part in many a hard fought battle, including Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ressaca, Kenesaw Mountain, and a host of other battles. He was also with
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
Sherman on his famous "March to the Sea," and at the grand review at Wash- ington. On receiving his discharge he returned to his home in New York. In March, 1867, he started for the far west, and, after stopping a few months in Illi- nois, came to Tama county, arriving Sep- tember 25, at which time he purchased his present farm, returning in December to New York. On the 25th of February, 1868, he married Miss Lucina Giffen, a native of Pennsylvania, and in the spring came to their new home. In politics Mr. Howard is an Independent and has held various local offices. He owns 320 acres of land located in Grant, and 160 acres in Buckingham townships. He moved to his farm in Buckingham township in March, 1883.
Among the arrivals in 1868 were Wil- liam and John Young, James Murray and James C. Fleming.
William and John Young are natives of Ireland, but the family, at an early day, emigrated to Clinton county, Iowa. Wil- liam settled upon the place hie now occu- pies in Grant township in 1868. They are large land owners and prominent farmers. William has been a member of the School Board for many years.
Among the arrivals in 1869, were Eli S. Bennett, William Brown and ITugh Brash, all of whom still remain here.
Eli S. Bennett was born in Fairfield county, Connecticut. He grew to manhood in his native State, and received a common school education. He learned the ma- chinist's trade and followed it for five years at Pine Meadow, Litchfield county. In 1858 he went to Elkhorn Grove, Car-
roll county, Illinois, and engaged in mak- ing shovel plows in connection with farm- ing. He came to Tama county in 1869, and settled in Grant township. He was married on the 17th of September, 1859, to Miss Mary E. Thorp, a native of New York. They have been blessed with seven children-Lueius C. ( deceased, ) Charles E., George C., Frank R., Aura, Mary E. and Viva A. (deceased. ) In politics Mr. Bennett is a Republican, and has held the offices of Township Trustee and Treasurer, and has also been a School Director and a member of the grand jury. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Baptist Church.
Another of the prominent farmers in Grant township, is William Brown, born in Wigtownshire, Scotland, in 1845. His father was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, born in 1815; his mother was born in 1816, in Wigtownshire, where they now re- side. William received a common school education in his native land, and when seventeen years of age, learned the black- smith's trade, which business he followed until 1869, then came to Tama county, en- gaging at his trade in Crystal township. In 1876, he removed to Grant township, and commenced farming on land that he had previously purchased, making it his permanent home. His farm contains 320 aeres. Besides farming he is largely engaged in raising stock. He was married in 1871, to Miss Margaret Wilson, a native of Connecticut, born December 20, 1847, and a twin sister of Mrs. Robert Whan- nell. Four children have been born to them, three of whom are now living- John W., Mary and Janie. Jessie died
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
when nine months and two days old. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the United Presbyterian Church.
Hugh Brash, in 1837, came with his par- ents from Scotland to Western Canada, where he grew to manhood and received a common school education. He was born in Scotland in 1832, was reared on the farm and followed farming until 1869, then came to Tama county, settling on section 19, Grant township. His marriage to Miss Isabella MeKeligan, a native of Canada, took place in 1855. They have had eight children, seven of whom are still living-Elizabeth, Jessie, Agnes, Mary, Maria, Ida Jane and Katie Bell. In politics Mr. Brash is a stanneh Repub- lican, and has held various local offices.
Since 1869, a number of settlers have arrived, who have been or are now repre- sentative men and prominent citizens of Grant township. Among these may be mentioned: W. H. Slessor and his two sons, James and W. T., James Davidson, William Mitchell, Alexander McCracken, William F. Fleming, James MeCreath, James Sloss, James Watson, James Innes, James Mutch, Thomas Watson, Allan Sloss, James Murray, James Stewart, Peter Swan, Newell H. Adams, Samuel Reid, Samuel D. Long, James Davidson, J. R. Davis, Andrew Dodd, W. Kline, William Dodd, John Harrison and others.
William Ilardy Slessor, one of the prominent farmers of Grant township. was born in the parish of Cruden, Aber- deenshire, Scotland, February 20, 1817. Ifis parents were natives of the same shire, his father being born in 1789; his mother, Jane (Gray) Slessor, born in 1792.
His mother descended from a very old family, her ancestors having lived in that vicinity for two hundred years, and it is said of them that they were a family of stone-cutters, one of whom built OkI-deer- Kirk, in Old Deer parish, which kirk is still in a good state of preservation, after standing for two hundred years, and at present is being used for church purposes.
The father of William HI. by trade was a stone-enttter, of whom William learned the trade when nineteen years of age, and followed it for eight years, when he en- listed in the Light House department of the Civil Service, remaining twenty years, and then turned his attention to farming for three years in his native parish. June 25, 1867, he left his native country to seek a home in America, first loeating at Lyons, Ohio, remaining three months and then re- moving to Rock Island, Illinois, where he remained until Jannary, 1870, at which time he came to Tama county, and settled in Grant township, on section 17, his present residence. Mr. Slessor received his education at the Peroeel school in Cruden parish, and also at the Architec- tural Drawing School at Peterhead parish, where he attended for three winters. While in the light house service, Mr. . Slessor devoted the most of his leisure time to reading the works of some of the best anthors, thereby becoming well in- formed on most subjects. Ile was mar- ried in November, 1845, to Miss Catherine Mess, born February 27, 1827, in Old-deer parish, Aberdeenshire. Nine children have been born to them-William T'., James, Sarah A., John M., Isabella J., Margaret .J., Victor A. A., A. E., O. C.
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