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 99
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In 1857, James Emerson came from Lowell, Massachusetts, and bought forty acres on section 22, In 1862, he sold out and returned to the place from whence he came.
Henry Van Vliet, another of the old settlers of Tama county, was born in Ver- mont, July 12, 1826. When he was quite young, his parents moved to New York State and settled in Cortland county. Ile enlisted, in 1841, in the United States Cavalry, Company D, 2d Dragoons, and went to Florida where they took part in the Seminole war, participa- ting in many of the engagements of the regiment. Ile was honorably discharged upon the expiration of his term, in 1844,
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and returned to his home. Mr. Van Vliet was married to Nancy M. Parish, in 1845; she died April 12, 1873. He remained in York State about five years, then moved to Illinois, and bought land in Lake county. He improved the land, built a house and lived there until 1854, when he came to Iowa and entered land on section 36, of township 86, range 14, now known as Buckingham, in Tama county. He lived there until 1859, when he came to Perry township, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 1, where he now lives. Mr. Van Vliet lives with his nephew, Fred C. Van Vliet. Fred was born in Lake county, Illinois, September 22, 1847. When he was five years of age, his father went to California, and two years later, his mother moved to Michigan, and died there when her son was nine years old. Two years later he came to Iowa, to make his home with his uncle Henry. Ile was married March 12, 1872, to Miss Flora A. Quintard, of Knoxcounty, Ohio. They have three children, named Olive, Ella and Maggie. Mr. Van Vliet's farm is on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 1.
Dryden Barbour came to Tama county, in 1858. He was born in Canton, Ilart- ford county, Connecticut, April 4, 1815. Ile spent his early years on his father's farm, in the district school, and in his brother's shoe shop, until, at the age of 19, he went to the State of Alabama in the capacity of a Yankee clock peddler. Ile continued in that business for seven or eight years, in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Ohio, then he returned to Connecticut, and was married to Miss Jane Wilcox,
March 16, 1843, who was also a native of Canton. Ile bought a farm and remained in his native town six years.
In 1849, Mr. Barbour moved to Wake- man, Huron county, Ohio, where he re- mained nine years. In the spring of 1858, he sold out in Ohio, and moved to Tama county, Iowa. In 1861, he bought the south- east quarter of seetion 11, in Perry town- ship, one mile east of Traer, where he still resides with his son Henry, who carries on the farm. Mr. Barbour was the father of six children, three of whom, together with their mother, have passed away.
In addition to those who have been al- ready mentioned, the following may be named as sound, substantial residents of Perry township : Andrew McCosh, Na- than White, James Logan, Thomas Sher- rett, William Worden, William Loder, Andrew Law, John Heller, James W. and David M. Stuart, Albert G. Cone, James Cron, George M. Frank, Henry M. Healy, Thomas L. Knight, Robert A. Scott, Adin Antrim, Alexander S. McPherran and others.
Andrew MeCosh was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, January 9, 1823. In his younger days he attended school, and later worked on a farm. Ile was married in Scotland on the 20th of April, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Sloss, who was born in Ayrshire, March 17, 1822. Andrew was employed at farming in his native shire, until 1852, when he came to America. He first located in Lisbon, Connecticut, where he engaged in farming two years, then came to Davenport, Iowa, at which place he was employed in a saw mill for two years, and in a flour mill for four years. Ile then came to Tama county and bought
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land on section 7, Perry township. Ile has improved this land, and now makes it his home. Ile has 240 acres of improved land and thirty acres of timber. Ile has three children living : Johanna, Ellen and John A.
Nathan White was born November 27, 1827, in Franklin county, Vermont, and made his home there until he was twenty- five years of age, when he started for the great West. He stopped in Knox county, Illinois, where he hired out to work on a farm. In 1855, he came to Iowa, entered 160 acres of land in Tama county, town- ship 86, range 14, now known as Geneseo township, and then returned to Illinois. In the fall of 1857, he went to Minnesota and engaged in teaming throughout the winter, at Chatfield. In the spring of 1878, he started for Pike's Peak, where he spent the summer prospecting, returning in the fall to his land in Iowa. He was married at Iowa City, October 30, 1860, to Miss Matilda Hockingberry. who was a native of Pennsylvania. They settled in Jasper county, where he worked a rented farm for two years. He then came to Ta- ma county and rented a farm in Columbia township for two years. At the expiration of his lease he purchased land in Clark township, adjoining that which he had en- tered several years before. He lived here one year and then sold out and bought the lester farm in Perry township. The fam- ily lived in a log cabin uutil 1871, when Mr. White built the frame house in which he now lives. Eight children have been born to them, seven of whom are now liv- ing: Milo, Frank B., Charlie N. L., Fred J., Addie B. and William D. Bertha died when three years of age.
James Logan was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1826. When but two years of age, his parents died and he was left to be cared for by the cold hand of char- ity. He was taken care of by his native county until he was nine years old, when he went to live with a farmer, with whom he made his home for four years. At thirteen he engaged with a market man for one year and received as compensation for his work one pound and a pair of shoes. Hle afterward learned to be a plow- man and soon became an expert. He was married, in 1854, to Miss Janet Maxwell, a native of Lanarkshire, and the same year came to America, landed at New York, and went to Illinois. Ile arrived there, and counting over his little store, found he had but forty dollars. Ile and his wife engaged to work for a farmer one year at $14 a month, and when the year was up he rented land in Whiteside, Lee and Carroll counties. He enlisted, March 13, 1865, in the 34th Illinois, Company A, and joined Sherman's army in North Carolina. He was with the regiment until the close of the war. He was discharged June 18, 1865, and returned to Illinois, and from there went to Iowa. He rented land in Per- ry township for two years, then bought for- ty acres of wild land on section 25. Ilis land is under good cultivation, and he has erected a good house, in which he now lives. Ile has, within a few years, added to his possessions by purchasing 120 acres of improved land, making 160 acres in his farm. Fourteen children have been born to them, thirteen of whom are now living: John, Janet, Mary, James, Katie, William, Charles, Robert, Abraham L., Agnes, llorace, Jennie, Frank and Sarah.
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Janet died when she was three years of age.
Thomas Sherrett came to Tama county in 1865. He was employed in farming in the neighborhood of Traer for three years. Then in 1868, he settled on the west half of the northwest quarter of seetion 12, on land that he had previously purchased. IIe bought a house in West Union, which he moved to his farm. He lived in this house until 1882, when he erected the house in which he now lives. The same year he bought the east half of the northwest quar- ter of section 12, and now has 160 acres of well improved land. Mr. Sherrett is a na- tive of Scotland, and was born in 1828. He was there reared on a farm. In 1856, he left the place of his nativity, and came to America. He landed at Quebec and went to Durham county, where he followed farming. In 1860, he crossed the line and located in Monroe county, New York. lle lived in Henrietta township two years, then moved to Gates, where he lived until 1865, and then started for Iowa. Ile was married in 1859, to Miss Susan Christie, also a native of Scotland. They have been blessed with four children-Charles, John, Emma and Robert, who died when he was six weeks old.
William Worden was born in the town of Andes, Delaware county, New York, April 7, 1832. He is the second son of Thomas and Maria (Nichols) Worden, who were both natives of Delaware county, New York. Ilis parents emigra- ted to Illinois and settled in Ogle county, when he was quite young. There were four children in the family at this time-
Ira, William, Henry and Jane, all of whom were born in Delaware county, New York. There were eight children born to them in Illinois-John, Milton H., Ann, Sikes, May- hew, Wayne, Harriet and Newton W. Mrs. Worden is still living in Ogle county, her husband having died a few months ago. The subject of this sketch spent his younger days in the district school and helping his father on the farm. He was married January 10, 1856, to Miss Sarah Tennis, who was born August 12, 1836, at Morgan Prairie, Indiana. Eleven children have been born unto them, eight of whom are now living-Thomas, born October 21, 1856; Dutcher, born February 9, 1858; El- mer, born May 13, 1861; Wallace, born May 6, 1865; Ilattie, born October 6, 1869; Nettie, born August 20, 1872; Hayes, born August 30, 1875; and Willie, born June 17, 1878. Elsworth, twin brother to Elmer, died November 29, 1876; Winnie, born in Perry, May 28, 1867; died January 31, 1880. Henry was born in Illinois, and died when one and a half years old. In 1865, Mr. Worden came to Iowa, and lo- eated in Tama county. He purchased land on section 13, in Perry township, and erected the house in which he now lives. Hle has a well improved farm.
William Loder, one of the early settlers in the southern part of Perry township, was born in Berkshire, England, in 1802. He was married there on May 20, 1825, to Miss Elizabeth Tame, who was born in Berkshire, in 1801. In 1835, they came to America and settled in Monroe county, New York, where they rented land and lived until 1856. They then went to Michigan and bought a farm in Rose township, Oakland county. Mr. Loder,
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however, was not yet satisfied, and in 1866 he came to Perry township, purchasing land on section 32. He and his wife still make this their home. They have had eight children born to them - William II., who lives in Harvey county, Kansas; Alfred who lives in Carroll township; George, who lives in Perry township; Eliza, L., who resides in Potter township, Pennsyl- vania; Susan, of Howard township; Ann M., resident of Monroe county, New York; Sarah, who died in 1861, and Mary E., who makes her home with her parents. Their son, George, was born in England in 1832, and made his home with his parents until he was nineteen years of age, when he started out for himself. He was employed in farming in the summer seasons, and the remainder of the year in the lumber regions. Sometimes he worked as a sawyer in the mills, and again was engaged in rafting lumber on the rivers. He was married in 1855, to Miss Catherine Orcutt, and settled in Oakland county, Michigan. He lived there three years, then went to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he followed farming. In 1865, he started by team for Iowa, came to Tama county and bought land on section 32, in Perry township, after which he returned to Illinois. In 1866, he loaded up his teams, and, with his family, again started for Iowa, crossing the Mississippi at Princeton. Ile arrived in Tama county in due time, purchased lumber and built a house 16x20 feet, in which the family lived until 1875, when he built the frame house in which he now lives. He has four chil- dren living; Ida A., Emma F., Ella R. and George W. Walter A. was born November 59, 1863, died November 1,
1864. Mrs. Loder, wife of George Loder, was born in Rushford, New York, Febru- ary 6, 1838, died October 5, 1852.
Andrew Law, a member of the Board of Trustees, and Seeretary of the School Board, is a native of Scotland. Ile was born in Haddingtonshire, January 22, 1831, and was raised to agricultural pursuits, receiving his education in the district schools. In 1854, he left his native place for America; landing at Quebec, he came directly to the United States. He located in Wisconsin, and was there for two years employed in farming in Roek county. Ile then went to Iowa county, where he rented land for three years. He then bought a farm of 160 acres in Arena town- ship. In February, 1865, he enlisted in the 49th Wisconsin Volunteers; joined the regiment when organized at Madison, Wisconsin; went south and served until the close of the war, when he was honor- ably discharged. lle returned home, sold his farm in Arena and came to Iowa, where he purchased land in Perry town- ship, on section 27. He has since improved the farm and erected the house in which he now lives. Ile was married July 11, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Stuart, who was also a native of Scotland. Four children have been born unto them-Helen, Agnes, Ainslie and James. James died in infancy.
James W. Stuart is the oldest son of John and Barbara (Smith) Stuart. Ile was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, December 29, 1847. His parents were early settlers of that county. He came west with his parents and made his home with them until 1868, when he engaged in farming in the neighborhood for some time.
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It was not long, however, before he went to his own land on section 25, Perry township, and began working that. He now makes his home with his brother David.
David M., brother to James W., and son of John Stuart, was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, October 3, 1849. He received his education in the district school, and came to Iowa with his parents in 1867. The parents settled in Perry township, and here David remained, as- sisting his father on the farm, until 1870, when he went to work for himself, settling, in 1875, on section 35, where he now lives. Mr. Stuart was married to Miss Rebecca Kern, daughter of Solomon and Maria (King) Kern, April. 6, 1876. Iler father was one of the first preachers in Tama county. Three children have blessed this union: Clarence H., Mary E. and Len- nie A.
Albert G. Cone is a son of Adolphus and Mary (Smith) Cone. He was born in DuPage county, Illinois, on Christmas day, 1846. In 1857, he came to Iowa with his parents, who settled in Clinton county. When twenty-one years of age he came to Tama county, and in company with his brother, bought land in Perry township, on section 36. They built a house and kept bachelor's hall for a while. In Jan- uary, 1871, he wedded Miss Elvira Beck- with, who was a native of York State. lle then built the house which he now oeenpies, on the east half of the north- west quarter of section 35. He has one child, a daughter, named Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Cone is a member of the United Breth- ren Church. In 1878, he and his brother bought a part of section 25, adjoining where his parents now live.
James Cron is a native of Scotland, born in Dumfriesshire, May 7, 1834. Heis the second son of John and Mary (Murray) Cron. When he was but seven years of age, his father, who was a blacksmith by trade, emigrated to America and settled in York county. He there learned the trade of his father, who died in 1849. Soon after, the family moved to Gray county, where they were among the early settlers. They bought a piece of timber land and cleared a farm. He was married in August, 1865, to Miss Charlotta, oldest daughter of Joshua and Eliza (Wressell) lleacock. This union has been blessed with nine children, seven of whom are now living: John, William, Isabella, Edward, Barton, Har- rison and Allan. Thomas and Magda L. died in infancy. In 1860 Mr. Cron came to the States and bought a farm in Fairhaven township, Carroll county, Illinois. In 1868, he sold his farm and came to Iowa, where he purchased the southeast quarter of section 23, Perry township. When he went to this farm he found twenty acres broken, and has since improved the remain- der. He has erected a good set of build- ings and now makes this his home.
Geo. M. Frank is a native of Germany and was born April 18, 1843, his parents being Peter and Catharine (Iloffer) Frank. In 1852, his parents came to America, locating first in Saratoga, New York, where his mother is still living. Seven years later George M. eame west to Carroll county, Illinois, and Angust 9, 1862, the subject of this sketch enlisted in Company C, 92d Illinois Mounted In- fantry, afterwards participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Powder Springs, Resaca and Atlanta. Ile was taken pris-
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oner while with Sherman on his march to the sea, November 24, 1864, and was held prisoner at Florence, South Carolina, until the 24th of February 1865, when he was returned to his regiment and served until June 21 of the same year. Ile was hon- orably discharged at Concord, North Car- olina, June 21, 1865, and at once returned to his home in Carroll county, Illinois, where he remained until coming to Tama county, in March, 1868. Ile located in Perry township, on section 29, remaining until October, 1872, when he settled on section 8, where he still'resides. In poli- tics he is a firm Republican, and has held the office of Township Clerk. December 9, 1865, he was married to Miss Lucinda Kline, a native of Carroll county, Illinois, They have four children: Reuben S., George M., John F. and Leonora L. Mr. and Mrs. Frank are members of the Pres- byterian Church.
Henry M., son of Abial and Sally (Day) llealy, was born in Dudley, Worcester county, Massachusetts, March 13, 1839. When five years of age his father moved to Globe Village, where he built a hotel, and made his home until his death, which occurred December 18, 1853. flis mother died September 13, 1853. After the death of his parents, Henry went to live with an unele in Mellenry county, Illinois, and made his home there until he was twenty- one years old. Hle then went to Kendall county. December 31, 1862, he was mar- ried to Miss Martha Dolph, a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania. In 1864, he purchased a farm in MeHenry county, Illinois, and lived on it for two years. lle then sold out and returned to Kendall county, where he rented land until 1868.
In the fall of that year he came to Iowa and settled on section 14, in Perry town- ship. He has improved his land and re- built the house which he now occupies. lle has but one child living-Hlarry A. Nellie was born October 15, 1865, died February 28, 1866.
Thomas L Knight was born in New Jersey, June 20, 1843. When he was three years of age his parents moved to Ohio, and settled in Holmes county, where they lived until he was sixteen years old, and then moved to Lee county, Illinois, where he made his home until the war. His father, whose name was also Thomas, was born in England; his mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Voorhies, was a native of New Jersey. The subject of our sketch enlisted in August, 1862, in the 75th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, went south and joined the Army of the Cumberland. Ile was with the regiment until the close of the war. Among the many engagements in which the regiment participated, the following may be men- tioned, to show that there was much dan- gerous and bloody work encountered: Champion Hills, Stone River, Chickamauga, siege of Chattanooga, scaling Lookout Mountain at the battle above the clouds, Mission Ridge and Franklin, Tennessee. Mr. Knight came out of this long series of hard-fought battles, safe and sound, and on receiving his discharge in July, 1865, he returned to his home in Illinois. He was married there in 1867, to Miss Hannah Shore, a native of Pennsylvania He came to Iowa in 1869, and settled in Poweshiek county, where he bought eighty acres of land. lle broke some of the land and lived there eighteen months; then,
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in the same year, came to Tama county and purchased land on section 35, Perry township. He has improved the land, built a barn and rebuilt the house in which he now lives. Mr. Knight has been a successful farmer and now has 280 acres of improved land. He has seven children-William C., Margaret, Fred, Charlotte, Celestia, Thomas A. and Nellie N.
Robert A. Scott is a native of Scotland, and born in Kirkeudbrightshire, April 8, 1826. Ile received his education in the public schools of his native parish. When he was eighteen years of age, he was apprenticed to a stone mason to learn the trade. He served three years and then engaged to work as a journeyman. In 1850 he left his native land for America, landing at New Orleans. He could find no work there, so he went to St. Louis and worked at his trade there for one month. He then went to Knox county, Illinois, and hired out to work for $10 per month, teaming coal from Oneida to Galesburg and Knoxville. In the spring he went to Chicago, where he worked at his trade through the summer. He then went to Lockport, where he was engaged in cutting stone for the Chicago court house; from there he went to Buffalo, where he worked through the winter ou Spauldings exchange building. From there he went to Ohio, then to Chicago, and from there to La Salle county, where he was employed to construct bridges across the Illinois river, for the Illinois Central Railroad Company. Ile was em- ployed at this kind of work for two years. At this time the stone cutters struck for higher wages and he went to Louisville
Kentucky, to look for work, but was dis- appointed and returned to La Salle county. He next went to New York to meet his wife, who was coming from Scotland. He went from New York to Massachu- setts and worked at his trade in Quincy, for fifteen years, with the exception of one summer spent in Washington, D. C., at work on the United States Treasury build- ing and one summer spent at work on a fort in Maine. He then returned to Knox county, Illinois, where he spent the sum- mer, then went to Rock Island, where he succeeded in getting employment on Gov- ernment works, then went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he worked one winter on the United States Custom House. He then went to Ashland Crossing, where he took charge of a gang of men who were cutting stone for a bridge to be built across the Des Moines river at that place. From there he returned to Rock Island, where he was employed at bridge work until 1870, when he came to Perry township and settled on land on section 32. This land he had purchased some years before. He has since greatly im- proved the land and built the house in which he now lives. Ile was married, in 1847, to Miss Ann Cannon, who is also a native of Scotland. They have five chil- dren-James, Mary, Thomas, Isabella and Willie.
Adin Antrim settled in Buckingham township in 1856, and was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1830, where he lived until thirteen years of age. His parents were Adin and Mary Antrim, both of whom died while he was but a child ; the former being killed by a falling tree when Adin was about three years of age. When he
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was thirteen, he went to Indiana with an older sister, and, in 1848, enlisted in the Regular Army for five years or during the war with Mexico. He served until the close of that war, then returned to Illinois, settling in Whiteside county, where he purchased a farm and resided until 1856, at which time he came to Buckingham township and settled on section 35. In 1880, he moved into Traer, where he has since been a resident. Mr. Antrim was married in Illinois to Miss Elizabeth A. Glen, born in Sehoharie county, New York, in 1824. Her parents were Alexander and Francis Glen. Miss Glen came to Illinois, in 1845, with a sister. Mr. and Mrs. Antrim have four children living- Mary F., William A., John G. and Ella J. They have lost two sons and two daugh- ters, all of whom died of diptheria. Margaret, Eva and Chauney died January 20, 1863. Franklin G. and Mattie died December 31, 1879, the former aged six- teen years ; the latter eleven years and three months. Mr. and Mrs. Antrim are members of the M. E. Church.
Alexander S. MePherran was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, Janu- ary 8, 1832. After finishing his education he engaged in teaching for some time in his native county, after which he followed farming in the summer and lumbering in the winter. In 1855 he went to Dixon, Illinois, where he was engaged in the grocery business. Hle came to lowa in the summer of 1855, and entered land in Tama, Polk and Hamilton counties-in all 4,160 acres. After filing on this land, he returned to Dixon and continued his grocery business for two years. Ile then took a contract to build a part of the
Mississippi & Racine railroad, and later, took a contract on the B. & M. R R., in Iowa. Ile continued in the business as contractor, until 1869. In 1870 he was dealing in live stock in Jefferson county, Iowa. In 1871, he came to Tama county and commenced farming in Perry town- ship, on land that he had entered in 1855. lle put in 480 acres of wheat in 1874. The house in which he now lives was built in 1871, and, in 1875, he built a large barn, 30x55 feet. He was joined in mar- riage to Miss Susan Condo, a native of Pennsylvania, in 1859. She bore him three children, named Nancy, Maggie and Samuel. Mrs. McPherran died in 1869. His second wife, to whom he was married in March, 1871, was Miss Mary J., daughter of Evan L. and Jane (Hutch- inson) Craine, who were early settlers in Jefferson county, coming in 1844. They have two children-Maud and Clyde
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