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 87
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
and Catherine (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Slessor are members of the Amity congre- gation of the United Presbyterian Church.
W. T. Slessor was born on the Isle of Man, in 1848, his parents afterwards re- moving to Aberdeen, where he received his education. After leaving the common schools he attended the academy at Aber- deen for five years, and then learned the stone-cutter's trade, which business he has followed a number of years in this country, having worked from Minneapolis to the Gulf. In 1873, he gave up working at his trade and engaged in farming, which oc- cupation he still follows. In 1865, he came with his parents to the United States, and after stopping for a time in Ohio, went to Rock Island, Illinois, and in 1870, came to Tama county, where he purchased the farm on section 8, in Grant township, where he now resides. He has a farm of 160 acres, and is largely en- gaged in raising stoek. He was married on the 18th of March, 1875, to Miss Mary E. Aldrich, a native of Ohio, born in 1854. Miss Aldrich after leaving the common schools, attended the High school at Mar- shalltown for six months, and also spent two months in taking a normal course at Vinton, after which she taught school five terms. Mr. and Mrs. Slessor have been blessed with four children-Florence N., William O., Sarah L. and Estella B. Wil- liam O. when eighteen months old had a severe attack of spinal fever, which set- tled in his limbs, crippling him for life. The parents are both members of the United Brethren Church.
Alexander McCracken is a native of Wigtownshire, Scotland, born in 1837. IIe was married in 1863 to Miss Williamina
McCosh, who was born in Ayrshire in 1836. In 1870 he left his native land and came to Tama county, Iowa. In 1876, he purchased and removed to his present home, on section 34, in Grant township. His farm contains 160 acres. Mr. and Mrs. McCracken are Presbyterians in faith.
Wm. F. Fleming is one of the leading farmers of Grant township, owning a farm of 800 acres of well improved land, with comfortable buildings for his stock .. IIe has two hundred head of cattle and is also largely engaged in raising hogs. Ile resides on section 24, where he settled in June, 1871. Mr. Fleming is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1838. While young he worked out on neighboring farms until he had accumulated a few dollars, with which he purchased cattle and sheep, and sold them to buyers and butchers in the vicinity, thus making some money. On the outbreak of the Rebellion he con- tracted to buy stock for the Government and made considerable money. lle was married in December, 1870, to Rebecca Williams, a native of Pennsylvania, and the June following came to Tama county, where he has since resided. His wife died December 5, 1876, aged thirty-two years, eight months and two days, leaving four children: John; Mary E., Sarah J., and Rebecca W. December 26, 1878, he married Miss Matilda Yeigh, a native of Pennsylvania, born November 14, 1844. Mr. Fleming received a common school educa- tion, and is a supporter of the Democratic party.
James McCreath is a son of James and Margaret (Logan) MeCreath, natives of Ayrshire, Scotland, the father being
58.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
born in 1789, the mother in 1787. In March, 1853, James accompanied his par- ents to Ireland, where they rented a farm and engaged in farming. Ilere his mother died, May 17, 1861. James was married November 25, 1856, to Miss Sarah Beck- ett, a native of the county of Antrimn, Fre- land, born October 28, 1831. They made Ireland their home until 1864, when they came to the United States, landing at New York city. After remaining here about eight months, they removed to Cook county, Illinois, and there followed farming until 1871, then came to Tama county and set- tled on section 22, in Grant township, where they still reside. Their farm con- contains 160 acres of well improved land. Mr. McCreath is also largely engaged in raising stock. He was born in Ayrshire, August 31, 1824. His education was ac- quired in the common schools. In poli- tics he is a staunch Republican and has held various local offices. He was Justice of the Peaec for six years and a member of the Board of School Directors for five years, Mr. McCreath and wife are members of the Amity congregation of the Presbyterian Church. They have had nine children: Alexander B., James, Gilbert Maggie L., Grace A., (deceased), Anna., Mary E. B., Jane and Georgie A.
James Slessor, one of the substantial farmers of the township, is a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, born in 1850. Ile was given the advantages of a common school education in his native country. In 1868, lie accompanied his parents to the United States, stopping two months in Ohio, then three years at Rock Island, Illinois, and from there came to Tama county, where he settled in Grant town-
ship, on section 8, his present home. He was married, in 1876, to Miss Sarah Brush, a native of Iowa, born in 1857. She has borne him three children: Daisy, James and Charlie. Mr. and Mrs. Slessor are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Slessor owns a fine farin containing 240 acres, and makes stock-raising a spe- cialty.
James Sloss is a native of Scotland, born in October, 1830. He was reared on a farın and received a good common school education. In 1852, he left the land of his birth and came to the United States, locating first in Chicago, Illinois, where he remained for five years. The outbreak of the rebellion found him in Arkansas, and being a Union man and outspoken in his views, he incurred the ill-will of the rebels, which displeasure they manifested by forcibly marching him upon a steamer, instrueting him to "put for the north." Ile went, landing at St. Louis, Missouri, where, through love for his adopted country, as well as a desire to get a little satisfaction out of the South- erners for their treatment of him, he en- listed, December 1, 1861, in the Ist Illi- nois Artillery, for three years, or during the war. He participated in many bat- tles and engagements, coming out without a wound, and was honorably discharged June 5, 1865. Shortly after receiving his discharge Mr. Sloss came to Tama county, locating first in Perry township and re- maining until 1871, when he purchased his present home in Grant township. In 1875, he was married to Miss Jeannette Wilson, a native of Scotland. They have been blessed with four children, two of whom are now living: llerman West and an in-
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IIISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
fant named Flora Wilson. John and Al- lan are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Sloss are members of the Amity congre- gation of the Presbyterian Church. Their farm consists of 160 acres of land, all un- der good improvements.
James Watson was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1830. He grew to manhood in his native country and was given a common school education. When sixteen years of age he went to a neighboring town, Innearty, and worked at bleaching cloth, which business he followed until 1852, at which time he came to Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm. He made this his home until 1872, when he moved to Tama county and settled on section 10, in Grant township, where he has since lived. Their farm contains 320 acres of well improved land. Mr. Watson was married, March 27, 1857, to Miss Margaret Young, a native of Ire- land, born in 1830. Eight children have been born to them, five of whom are now living: Mary J., Agnes, John, William and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Amity congregation of the United Presbyterian Church.
James Innes, one of the representative farmers of Grant township, was born in Banffshire, Scotland, January 6, 1830. His parents were natives of the same shire, his father being born in 1795, his mother Margaret ( Adam) Innes, in 1805. In 1846 the parents emigrated to the county of Oxford, province of Ontario, where they engaged in farming until their death, the father dying June 22, 1879; the mother July 6, 1882. James, the subject of this sketch, assisted his father on the farm, and is proud to say that he remained
under the parental roof and under the guidance of his father long after reaching his majority, even one year after his mar- riage, not going for himself until thirty years of age, at which time he engaged in farming. Mr. Innes came to Tama county in November, 1872, and settled in Grant township, on section 16, where he still resides. Since becoming a resident, he has taken an active part in county and township affairs, and has held several local offices. On the 25th of March, 1859, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Monroe, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, where she was born in 1838. In 1841, her parents emigrated to Oxford county, province of Ontario. The father lived there until his death, March 12, 1881; her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Innes have had born to them ten children-Robert G., James A., Katie E., John W., Maggie A., George (deceased ), George, Willie and Alexander, twins, the latter deceased, and Mary M. Mr. and Mrs. Innes are mem- bers in good standing of the Amity con- gregation of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder. As a farmer Mr. Innes has been very success- ful, and may well be classed among the leading farmers, not only of his township, but of the county, having a fine farm of 640 acres in a good state of cultivation. IIe deals quite extensively in stock. Ile is a conseientions Christian, a good neigh- bor, strictly honest in his dealin.s and well liked by his neighbors and friends.
James Mutch was born in 1838, in the parish of Cruden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His parents were natives of the same shire and are both dead ; the father dying there in 1874, the mother in 1877, at Edin-
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
burgh. James was reared on a farm, receiving advantages or a common school education. In 1866, he crossed the Atlan- tie and went to Oxford county, province of Ontario, where he remained until 1873, then came to l'ama county, purchasing land in Grant township. He worked among his neighbors as a farm hand until 1876, when he returned to the land of his birth, and while there, on the 9th of February, 1877, was married to Miss Mary Gray, also a native of Cruden parish. They im- mediately set out on their wedding tour, spending their honey-moon on the ocean, on their way to their new home in Iowa. Arriving in due time, they went to housekeeping on the farm where they now reside. Four children have been born to them -Lizzie, Alexander, Jimmie and an infant not named. Mr. and Mrs. Mutch are members of the United Presby- terian Church. In a financial way Mr. Mutch has been very successful. Coming here poor, by industry and hard work he has succeeded in buying and paying for his large farm of 440 acres. Ile hasimproved his land and is at present engaged largely in stock raising.
Thomas Watson was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in April, 1850. When he was about one year of age his parents emi- grated to the United States and settled in Clinton county, lowa, where they engaged in farming ; here Thomas grew to man- hood on the farm, remaining until his father's death, when he went for himself and in 1873 came to Tama county, lowa. Ilis farm consists of 160 acres, located on section 11, where he still resides. Sep- tember 14, 1881, he was joined in mar- riage to Miss Ida O. Felter, born in Buck-
ingham township, Tama county, October 1, 1858. Her father was a native of New York, and came to Buckingham township in 1856, where he married Miss Charlotte Thomas, a native of Preble county, Ohio. She died in 1866. The father died in the winter of 1881-82. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are the parents of one child- George.
Allan Sloss, one of the prominent farm- ers and a member of the present board of Township Trustees, of Grant township, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1833. Ilis parents were natives of Scotland, where they lived until their death. The father died in 1847; the mother in 1873. Allan attended the common schools until his father's death, after which he learned . the millwright trade, serving four years. In 1856 he left his native land first stop- ping at Chicago, Illinois, here he engaged at his trade and in different parts of the State, also in Tennessee where he was in the Government employ. In 1873 he came to Tama county, purchasing a farm on section 11, in Grant township, and en- gaged in farming which he still follows.
Mr. Sloss has been twice married, first in 1863 to Miss Jeannette Shanks, a native of Scotland, born in 1840. She died in 1869 leaving three children, Mary E., Andrew and John, now deceased. February 19, 1873, he was again married to Ellen M. Carson, born in Cook county, Illinois. Three children bless this union-Ellen M. and Annie B., twins, and Jeannette. Mr. and Mrs. Sloss are members of the Amity congregation of the United Presbyterian Church. Their farm contains 400 acres of well improved land. They make stock rasing a speciality.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
James Murray is a native of Oxford county, province of Quebec, born Novem- ber 23, 1845, and is of Scotch descent, his father, William Murray, being born in Southerlandshire; his mother, Elizabeth (Ross) Murray, in Rosshire, Scotland. In 1840 they emigrated to Canada, and, after remaining at Montreal for eighteen months, removed to Oxford county, where they yet remain. James, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm, and attend- ed the common schools. In 1869 he left his home, came to Tama county and stopped near Traer. He spent the first winter with Dr. Daniel, of Buckingham town- ship, and the next spring entered the em- ploy of Mr. Hartshorn to work on a farm, remaining for two years While here he purchased the farm where he now lives, on section 16, in Grant township. He worked for different parties until 1873, when he concluded to improve his own farm. No- vember 8, 1877, he was married to Miss Addie Stanley, a native of Johnson county, Iowa, born October 11, 1856. Her par ents were natives of Butler county, Penn- sylvania, where they were married, and in 1852, emigrated to Johnson county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Murray are the parents of three children-Mary Omie, Ilattie and William. Mr. and Mr. Murray are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church.
James Stewart was born in 1810, in Perthshire, Scotland. His early life was spent on a farm, receiving advantages for the acquirement of a common school edu- cation. In 1865, he came to the United States and first settled in Clinton county, Iowa, where he remained engaged in farm- ing until 1875, then removed to Tama conn- ty, and located on section 9, Grant town-
ship, where he now owns a well improved farm of 160 acres. He was married in his native land on the 22d of December, 1853, to Miss Jeannette Rodgers, also a native of Perthshire, Scotland. 3 Eight children bless their union : John R., James, Peter, Agnes, Maggie, Alexander, Jessie and Janie. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are mem- bers of the Amity congregation of the United Presbyterian Church.
Peter Swan, a native of Scotland, was born October 17, 1846, and grew to manhood in his native county, receiving a common school education. His early life was spent as a laborer on the neighboring farms, and in February, 1868, he left Scotland, came to New York city, and first got employment as porter in a hotel in Delaware county. Ilere he remained until the spring of 1875, when he came to Tama county and pur- chased a farm qn section 35, in Grant township, his present residence. His farm contains eighty acres of good land. Ilis parents were natives of Scotland, where his father died in 1851; his mother is still living.
Samuel Reid is among the pioneers of Tama county, as he settled in Crystal township, in 1856. He is a native of county Down, Ireland, where he was born in 1830. Ilis parents died when he was but eleven years of age when he went to Scot- land and there remained until 1852. le then crossed the ocean to New Brunswick and engaged at Iumbering in connection with carrying on a farm. In 1854, he went to Greenville, Connecticut, where he remained until 1856, when he came to Tama county as above stated. Ile made his home in Crystal township until 1877, when he removed to his present home on
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
section 26, of Grant township. He has 327 acres of land in this and Crystal town- ship, and makes stock raising a specialty. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Reid was mar- ried to Miss Jane Ellen Quinn, who was born in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1842, and seven children have blessed the union : Abraham M .. Emily A., Thomas L., Al- mina M., Sarah J., John G. and William Garfield. Mrs. Reid is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, belonging to the Amity congregation. In political matters Mr. Reid is a Republican and has held various local offices.
Newell HI. H. Adams settled upon his present farm on section 35, containing 240 acres, in 1880. He is a native of Orleans county, Vermont, where he was born in June, 1841. Ile is a son of Abial A. and Irena (Gray) Adams, both natives of Ver- mont, the father being born in 1803, the mother in 1805. The father died in 1882, in Vermont, where the mother is still liv- ing. Newell was reared on a farm and received a good common school education. In 1861, he enlisted in Company C, 8th Infantry, Vermont Volunteers, serving until June, 1864, when he re-enlisted in Campany F, Ist Vermont Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. Ile took part with his regiment in many bat- tles and was wounded June 10, 1863, at Port Hudson, Louisiana, from the effects of which he now draws a pension. On re- ceiving his discharge he returned to his home in Vermont, and in 1868, went to Montcalm county, Michigan. After re- maining there one season he went to Stephenson county, Illinois, where he spent three years and then returned to Michigan.
In 1875 he came to Tama county and rented land in Grant township, engaging in farming. In 1880 he removed to his present home as stated. Mr. Adams has been twice married, first to Miss Mary Whitney, a native of Vermont ; she died in Ogle county, Illinois, in 1871. By this marriage there were four children, one of whom, Abel D., is still living. On May 23d, 1872, he was married to Miss Lenora McKinney, a native of New York, where she was born in 1853. Five children have blessed this union, three of whom are still living : Frankie D., Bertha and Bowen C. Politically, Mr Adams is a staunch Re- publican and has held local offices both here and in Michigan.
Simeon D. Long was born in Somerset- shire, England, in 1845. His parents were natives of the same shire and both were born in the year 1823. His mother died in 1855 ; his father in 1879. The father was a miller, of whom Simeon learned the trade and followed .that business until he left England to seek a home in the new world. Ile first located at Fulton, Illi- nois, remaining four years engaged in farming, then came to lowa and followed farming four years in Clinton county, after which time he removed to this county and settled in Grant township, where he now lives. Mr. Long has been twice married. His first marriage was to Miss Sarah Link, a native of Lake City, Minnesota, on the 12th of October, 1877. She died in 1878, leaving one child, Mary E. ITis second marriage took place Febru- ary 12, 1880, and was with Miss Marjory Durwood, a native of Scotland, born .June 6, 1824. She has borne him one child,
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
Simeon E. Mr. Long is a member of the Church of England ; Mrs. Long of the Presbyterian.
ORGANIC.
Grant township was organized in June, 1868. The first election was held in the following October, and resulted in the election of J. W. Fleming, Supervisor ; J. C. Fleming, Clerk ; J. II. Scott and L. D. Hall, Trustees ; William Kline, Jus- tice of the Peace.
Township matters have been managed efficiently, and nothing has occurred to disturb the usual tranquility. Among those who have been prominent in township af- fairs, and have held office, are Jasper Scott, Alexander Mitchell, J. J. Allen, James Young, L. P. Dinsdale, James C. Fleming, James Stanley, William Kline, W P. Seelye, E. Bennett, Andrew Dodd, William Krouse, John Kline, William Mitchell, Robert Whannell, James Wat- son, J. Nichols and James Weir. The present officers are : Trustees, Robert Whannell, Allen Sloss, James Davidson ; Clerk, J. R. Davis ; Assessor, Andrew Dodd ; Justiees, William Kline and Wil- liam Dodd; Constables, John Kline and W. John Harrison.
At the election held June 27, 1882, there were sixty-one votes polled in favor of the Constitutional Amendment and eight against.
This township was originally a part of Buckingham. When it was set off and assumed its present boundaries, it was named "Grant" in honor of Gen. U. S. Grant.
Jasper H. Scott, in company with oth- ers, was instrumental in the organization of Grant township and one of the first
Trustees elected. He is the oldest settler now in Grant. Ile is a native of Hills. boro, Highland county, Ohio, born May 16, 1820, and is of Scotch extraction on his father's side. In 1822, his parents moved to Columbus, Indiana, where he spent his boyhood days. In 1840, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hawkins, a na- tive of Fayette county, Kentucky. In 1853, Mr. Scott removed to Ogle county, I linois, and engaged in farming. He re- mained there until 1859, when he came west and settled on section 26, Grant township. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, hav- ing joined in 1840. They have had born to them thirteen children, ten of whom are now living.
James Mitchell, for many years Town- ship Clerk and the present Secretary of the School Board, is a native of New Jer- sey, born in 1837. When sixteen years of age he went to Canada, where, in 1863, he married Miss Margery Davidson, a na- tive of Scotland. In 1870, they came to Tama county, settling on section 10, Grant township, where they still reside. They are members of the United Presbyterian Church. They have had eight children, seven of whom are now living.
John Russell Davis, present Clerk of Grant township, is a native of St. Joseph county, Michigan, born April 3, 1848. In 1856, his parents removed to Tama county and settled in Crystal township, on sec- tion 30, where they now reside. His father, a native of Connecticut, when quite young went to New York State and later, mar- ried Miss Polly A. Thorp, remaining in New York until 1844, then removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, where the sub-
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
jeet of this sketch was born. John R. was reared on a farm and received a com- mon school education, with a course of book-keeping. Ile is a staunch Republi- can and besides his present office he has been Justice of the Peace. He resides on section 4, and owns 160 acres of fine land. On the 22d of November, 1881, he was married to Miss Jennie Spicer, born in Marquette county, Wisconsin, February 1, 1860. Her father is a native of Che- mango county, New York, her mother of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where they were married in January, 1856. They came west the same year, first stopping in Marquette county, Wisconsin, until 1861, when they went to Illinois, and in 1864, removed to Tama county, settling in In- dian Village township, where they yet re- side. Mrs. Davis, after finishing her stud- ies in the common schools, attended the Normal course at Toledo for two terms, and at Marshalltown one term, thus qual- ifying herself for her profession. Previ- ous to her marriage she followed the pro- fession of a school teacher, teaching al- together seven terms.
EDUCATIONAL ..
The first school in this township was taught during the summer of 1860, in a building 8x10 feet, built by J. II. Scott for a summer kitchen. John Hopkins was the teacher, a young man who lived with his parents in Buckingham township. He is now married and lives in Perry town- ship. The first school building was erect- ed in 1865, on the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 25. It was a frame building 20x30 feet and cost $210. It was used for school purposes until 1874, when it was sold at auction and pur-
chased by William C. Seelye for $75. It is now used on his farm for a granary. There are now eight school buildings in the township, and opportunity is furnished every child to obtain an education.
VARIOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST.
The first marriage was that of John II. Scott, son of Jasper H., to Miss Sarah Belknap on the 12th of December, 1869. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Baker, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The parties to this transaction are now living in Nobles county, Minnesota, and are the parents of six children. The first birth was that of Clarence Murdock, born in 1858 The first death was that of William Stopp, who was murdered. The first and only blacksmith shop in the township was located on the southeast cor- ner of section 16. It was 16x20 feet. The first work done was for Campbell & Evans, November 25, 1870. Mr. David- son continued in this business in connec- tion with his farm work until 1876, when the shop was closed and he devoted his entire time to his farm. James Davidson is a native of Scotland, born in Banffshire, July 18, 1836. Ilis father, Thomas Da- vidson, was a native of Aberdeen and when eight years of age went to Banffshire where he was afterward married to Miss Jane Morrison. They were residents of Banffshire until their death. Six chil- dren were born to them, only two of whom are now living : James, the subject of this sketch, and May, now wife of Willian. Mitchell, both residents of Grant town- ship. James attended the common schools until seventeen years of age, then he was apprenticed to John Bagrie to learn the blacksmith trade, serving three and a
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