USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 52
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Mr. Hirst was first married to Eliza Ker- shaw. who died in 1861, having given birth to the following children: Sarah .A .; Thomas, a farmer in Richland township: James, a black- smith at Ottumwa : Martha : John, a blacksmith of Ottumwa : Lincoln, a blacksmith ; and Will- iam, deceased. Mr. Hirst married a second time .--- wedding Elizabeth J. McNair, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1838, and they have one child, Rosella, who married David Willenmyer, a farmer in Richland township.
FORGE T. GOUDY. This gentleman stands high among the foremost farmers of Wapello county. lowa. He resides in Pleasant township. his farm of to acres being located in sections ;
and 8. Mr. Goudy was born in Dahlonega township. Wapello county. in 1864, and is a son of Andrew J. and Rachel ( Kight ) Goudy.
Andrew J. Goudy was born in Virginia, September 19. 1823. and died February 15, 1887. He was a cooper and sawyer, and his early life was spent in Ohio. In 1852 he moved to Wapello county and located in Dah- lonega township, where he lived until 1867. He then bought a farm in section 6. Pleasant township, and that place was his home until his death occurred. His wife was Rachel Kight. who was born in Ohio, January 18, 1828, and lied December 2. 1887. They reared the fol- lowing children: James F., born June 17. 1848: Sarah E., born March 10, 1851: Mary L., who was born November 19. 1854. and died October 16, 1855: Nancy A., born August 10, 1857; Rhoda V .. born April 25, 1861 ; George T., born April 5. 1854: Cordilla, who was born July 23, 1860, and died September 18, 1896; and Verdie, born October 12, 1870.
George T. Goudy was but twenty-two years old at the time of his father's death. From 1880 to 1802 be rented a farm in Pleasant township, and in 1892 bought the farm which he now owns. Mr. Goudy had a thorough training in agricultural matters, and much of his success has been due to this fact. lle is a man of shrewdness and much business ability and his career has been a very successful one.
Mr. Goudy was united in marriage with Nora Timonds, a native of Pleasant township. who was born February 19. 1868. She is a daughter of James Timonds, a prominent farm- er of Pleasant township. Mr. and Mrs. Goudy
MR. AND MRS. ALBERT LONG AND FAMILY.
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are the parents of three children,-James C.,
minister, who at one time was presiding elder Harry T. and Mary 1. Mr. Goudy is a mem- vof the Ottumwa district. This old couple are now living at their ease in Agency City.
ber of the Republican party, in which he takes a deep interest. His wife is a member of the Christian church.
A LBERT LONG. This gentleman lives on sections 13 and 14, Fligh- land township. Wapello county, lowa. He owns a farm of 120 acres, which he keeps in a fine state of cultiva- tion. Mr. Long was born in Franklin county, Indiana, November 2, 1851, and is a son of Emanuel and Matilda J. ( Davidson) Long.
Emanuel Long was born in Lebanon coun- ty, Pennsylvania, in 1822. He married Ma- tilda J. Davidson, in January, 1850. They were the parents of 12 children, eight of whom reached maturity. These are : Albert ; John, who married Mary Dimmitt, and is living in Dahlonega township; George, who married Kate Miller, and is also living in that town- ship; Erie M., who married Emma .A. Lane, and resides in the same township; Theodore. who married Mary Bemer, and lives in Taylor county, lowa: Chester R., who married .Annie Ankrom, and is living in Council Bluffs, Iowa : Miranda, who is the wife of John Reynard, of Osceola, lowa: and Mattie .A., who is now teaching school in Center township.
Emanuel Long died November 19. 1805. in his seventy-third year. His widow married Rev. J. B. Hill. a superannuated Methodist
Albert Long, the subject of this biography. removed to Iowa in 1869. Hle located in Dah- lonegå township, Wapello county, where he hired out by the month to Benjamin Randall, a well known farmer of Center township. He worked by the month for seven years, and after his marriage moved onto one of Mr. Randall's farms in Richland township, and later bought his present home farm in Highland township. There he carries on general farming. He has had a thorough training in operating a farm, and has been very successful.
Mr. Long was wedded to Mary F. Lane a daughter of L. D. and Elizabeth ( Springer ) Lane. March 2, 1876. Ten children were born to them, of whom five are now living ; the rec- ord is as follows: Glennie, born July 18, 1877. (lied February 25, 1878; Ivy .A., born August 2. 1879. died January 19, 1893 : Virgil E., born September 9, 1881. died August 24, 1884: John D., born February 5. 1885: Albert, Jr., born February 21. 1888: Blanche G., born May 28. 1801: Ruth E., born July 25, 1893: Norton R., born February 18, 1896: Ralph W., born March 21, 1898, died August 17, 1899; and Myrtle, born October 10, 1900, dieil March 24, 1901.
Mr. Long and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Fraternally, Mr. Long is an Odd Fellow. He records his vote with the Republican party. He is well known and highly respected in Wapello county. On a pre-
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ceding page is shown a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Long and family, reproduced from a photo- graph taken in the fall of 1901.
EANDER POWELSON is a well known resident of Wapello county. lowa, and is located in Pleasant township, where he is engaged in general farming, and rents most of his farm. Hle was born in Ohio in 1838 and is a son of Abraham and Rachel ( Connor ) Powelson.
Abraham Powelson was born in Virginia in 1812, and was a farmer by occupation. He located in Ohio when a lad, and lived there until his death. He was united in marriage with Rachel Connor, who was born in 1814. and they reared eight children, as follows: Lewis: Martin V. : Leander; Lovina, deceased : an infant, deceased: Delilah; Elmira and Ir- win.
Leander Powelson engaged in farming at an early day, and then followed the trade of a carpenter in Ohio, where he lived until 1851. when he located in Jefferson county, lowa. In 1866 he came to Wapello county, lowa, and settled in section 36, Pleasant township. Ile enlisted from Batavia, lowa, in 1862, in Com- pany D. roth Reg., lowa Vol. Inf., under Cap- tain Wright, and served nine months, when he received a wound in the left leg. above the knee, in the battle of Prairie Grove. He was kept in the hospital from December 7 until April, and was then discharged at Springfield. Missouri. He returned to Wapello county.
and for three months was located at Ottumwa. He then lived in different parts of the coun- try and followed his trade of carpenter for a number of years. In 1866 he bought his pres- ent farm of sixty acres in section 12, Pleasant township, and located upon it in 1870. He followed general farming for many years, but now rents most of his land. In 1894 his house and barn were destroyed by fire: later in the same year he erected a seven-room, two-story house, in which he now lives.
Mr. Powelson was united in marriage with Mary E. Smith, who was born in Wapello county, lowa, in 1848. Her father was one of the carly settlers of the county, and is still living at the advanced age of eighty years. Mr. Powelson is a Democrat in politics and has served as justice of the peace, trustee. clerk and school director of his township. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
A. BROWN, a well known farmer and stock raiser, residing in Co- lumbia township, Wapello county. lowa, was born in Columbia town- ship. a mile and three-quarters southeast of his present farm, June 17, 1849. Tle is a son of David and Eliza ( Forester ) Brown, the father a native of Virginia, and the mother, of In- diana.
David Brown moved to Indiana with his parents when a small boy, and settled in John- son county, where he grew to manhood. lle was a farmer, and owned a small tract of land
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there, which he disposed of and then moved to Missouri. In 1846 he came to Mahaska county, lowa, where he took up a claim and remained for two years. He then disposed of his claim and moved to Columbia township. Wapello county, on the farm now owned by Philip Dotts and his son, Gideon Dotts. He entered this tract of 160 acres, on which he made many improvements and which he put under a high state of cultivation. He added to his original entry until he had a farm of upwards of 640 acres, and was at one time considered the wealthiest farmer in the town- ship. He was industrious, honest and upright in all his transactions, and stood very high in the community. His union with Eliza Forester resulted in the following offspring ; Catherine. Martha. Lewis V .. Barbara Ellen, Rachel E., W. A. and George W. and Jackson, twins. Viter the death of his first wife he married Barbara Foglesong, a native of Indiana, by whom he had four chiklren, as follows: Mary Jane, Florence, Mack L. and Mattie. Mr. Brown was a member of the Lutheran church and helped to erect a church at Eddyville. Po- litically he was a Democrat. He died in May. 1930, at the age of eighty-three years.
William A. Brown received a common- school education in Columbia township, Wa- pello county, lowa, and remained at home un- til he reached the age of twenty-one years. He engaged in farming for himself, and in 1882 made his first purchase of land,-a tract of 40 acres. This he subsequently soll. and pur- chased a tract of 155 acres of Alexander Black, which is his present homestead. The
farm is devoted to general farming and stock raising. He raises good crops of corn, wheat and oats, and in stock raising-makes a spe- cialty of high-grade hogs,-always keeping on an average 45 head of the Poland-China breed. His farm is well adapted to raising stock. as it is well watered by springs and also by Kavanaugh Creek, a small stream that seldom runs dry. He has made a great success of his occupation, and stands well in the county in which he has lived all his life.
Mr. Brown was united in matrimonial bonds in 1878 with Maretta Chapman, a daughter of Wells Chapman, a native of Ohio. where she was born May 12, 1855. She came with her parents to Missouri, thence to Illinois, and in 1872 to lowa. settling in Mahaska county. The parents of Mrs. Brown now re- side in Monroe county, Iowa, where they own a farm. This union resulted in the birth of the following children : William L .: Ida MI., de- ceased: Mary Ellen: Minnie Esther, wife of William S. Hindman, of Mahaska county : Elizabeth : Bertie L .; and Edna M .. deceased. In political views Mr. Brown is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of Day Lodge. No. 26. I. O. O. F., and of the Modern Wochen of America.
OHN MURRAY. This gentleman is one of the prominent farmers living in Pleasant township. Wapello com- ty, lowa. He was born in Ohio in 1839. and is a son of Adam and Charity ( 1)- lott ) Murray.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
Adam Murray was born in Virginia, where he lived all his life. He was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation. He married Charity Elliott, a native of West Virginia, and they reared 12 children, namely : Margaret ; John : Andrew. deceased: William : Fanny, deceased : Simon : Mary E. : George and .Andy, deceased ; Elliott, who lives on a farm in Ohio: Thomas. who is a farmer in Pleasant township; and Catherine. deceased.
John Murray lived in his native county until 1862, when he enlisted in Company G. 64th Reg .. Ohio Vol. Inf .. and served until the clore of the war. He saw seven days' con- tinnous fighting at the battle of Stone River. and also took part in the battle of Perryville, having marched two days and nights to reach the battle-field. At that time one canteen of water served for two men. . At the close of the war Mr. Murray returned to Ohio, where he remained for one year. In 1866 he made a jour- ney to Wapello county, lowa, where he re- mained for two years with his uncle. William. In 1807 he married Catherine Campbell, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1839. They located on the Dennison farm and continued there until 1870, when they moved to Newton county, Missouri. After living in that county three years, they returned to Wapello county and took up the farm which Mr. Murray now owns and conducts. It consists of ITS acres. and is in section to, Pleasant township. Mr. Murray is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is a public-spirited man, and takes a deep and active interest in local affairs.
sulted in four children, as follows: Charity, who lives at home : Mary, who married Charles Parker, and lives in Knox county, Missouri; Josephine : and Essie, who married Charles R. Ingram, and lives in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Mr. Murray is a member of the Republican party. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
INCOLN' DIMMITT, a prosperous farmer residing in Dahlonega town- ship. Wapello county, lowa, was born in Highland township. Wapello county, in 1860. He is a son of Beniah and Elizabeth ( Padgett ) Dimmitt.
Beniah Dimminitt was a native of Virginia. After leaving his native state he removed to Pennsylvania, and later to Indiana. From there, in 1844, he came to Wapello county. lowa, where he died in 1875. AAll of his life he followed farming and stock raising. He married Elizabeth Padgett, who was a native of Pennsylvania. Five of the children born to them are now living, namely: Lincoln, the subject of this sketch; Beniah, who is school superintendent of Wapello county, making his home in Ottumwa: Laura; Samuel; and Tol- bert, who lives in Chicago. Those deceased are Olive. Austin and Lada.
Lincoln Dimmitt received his schooling in his native county. He lived on his father's farm until he had reached the age of twenty-
His union with Catherine Campbell re- seven years, when he located on his present
L. T. CRISMAN.
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farm in Dahlonega township. He now owns 133 acres of land in the north half of section 12. For fifteen years he dealt extensively in horses. At present he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Dimmitt is a man of much thrift and energy, and his success has been dite entirely to his own efforts. Hle takes an active part in local affairs and readily lends his assistance when any new movement for the good of the community is started.
Mr. Dimmitt married Mary M. Robertson, who was born in Wapello county in 1862. She is a daughter of W. M. Robertson, of Ottum- wa. Mr. and Mrs. Dimmitt have reared six children, namely : Carrie C., Lena, Noble, Earl. LeRoy, and an infant. Mrs. Dimmitt is a member of the Methodist church.
The subject of this sketch has always been a member of the Republican party. He has held varions township offices, and filled them in an able manner.
L T. CRISMAN. a prominent resident of Ottumwa, lowa, whose portrait is herewith shown, is at the head of the firm of L. T. Crisman & Com- pany, contractors and planing mill operators. This firm transacts the largest business of the kind in the county, and has erected many build- ings in Ottumwa and other towns in this sec- tion of the state. Mr. Crisman was born in Morgan county, Ilinois, June 28, 1866, and is a son of Washington and Frances ( Scott) Crisman.
Washington Crisman was of Pennsylvania- Dutch stock and was a butcher by trade. He served in the Civil War for two years in Com- pany B. 27th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf., and was wounded in the service. This wound caused ill health and finally resulted in his death on July 31, 1872. Ilis wife was Frances Scott, who originally came from Kentucky, and who dicd January 7, 1897. They were the parents of one son and four daughters, as follows: L. T., the subject of this sketch : Mrs. J. N. Law- rence and Mrs. A. C. Thorne, of Ottumwa, lowa : Mrs. R. C. Butcher, of Hennessey. Ok- lahoma; and Mrs. H. S. Ball, of Oklahoma. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Crisman was united in marriage to B. 11. Meier, by whom she had two sons: John H. and Alvin. both of whom are in the employ of Mr. Cris- 111211.
The subject of this sketch lived at home in- til he reached the age of fifteen years, when he began to work for his living. He began to learn the trade of a carpenter, but at the age of eighteen years left his native town and traveled around for some length of time. He located in Ottumwa in 1886, and completed his ap- prenticeship to the carpenter trade, which he has since followed. He began general con- tracting in Ottumwa in 1880, first being alone. and then in partnership with James Clifton, for two years. This firm was dissolved in 1892, and he continued alone until 1897, when he became associated with his present partner Robert MeMasters, having an office at No. 116. East Main street. They have since followed contracting, and in March, 1899, purchased the
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planing mill at No. 314 West Main street, which they are operating in connection with their other extensive business. It is the oldest mill of its kind in the city, and was started about nineteen years ago by J. E. Dietrich & Son, who were succeeded by Dietrich & Capell. Under Mr. Crisman's capable management the business has been increased, and the plant en- large; about 17 men are employed in it. The building is 36 by 100 feet in dimensions, and general mill work and planing are carried on. The office is located in an adjoining building. in the rear of which are kept glass, paints, lum- ber and other materials, as the demand justi- fies. . At the present time there are about 50 peuple on the pay-roll of the company. The firm has built many of the large buildings in Ottumwa, has erected a bank building at Kel- lerton, lowa, and other important buildings at various places. Mr. Crisman has been a very successful man, and all that he has accom- plished has been through his own efforts.
Ile was united in marriage with Bertha Kiefer, of Eldon, lowa, and they have two sons: Verne B., aged seven years ; and Charles .A., aged two years. He has a fine home on Morrell street in the Janney Addition, built by himself. In politics he is a Democrat, and in the spring of 1894 was a candidate from the Sixth Ward for alderman. Fraternally he is a Mason, and belongs to the B. P. O. E. : Royal Arcanum : Woodmen of the World: A. O. U. W .. with its side degrees ; and Fraternal Order of Eagles. His wife is a member of the Con- gregational church.
ILLIAM GIFT. a gentleman who bears an honorable record for serv- ice in the Union army during the Civil War, is a well known farmer of Green township. Wapello county, lowa, and owns 118 acres of land in sections 11. 14 and 23. township 71. range 14. lle was born in Washington county, Tennessee. April 9. 1828. and is a son of Adam Gift.
Ilis grandfather, also named Adam Gift. was a native of Germany, and came to this country at an early period. An old German pipe which he used to smoke, which he brought to this country, is still in the possession of his descendants, and is prized very highly. Adam Gift. William's father, was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1795, and was engaged in farming. He married Sarah Smith, who was born in Maryland: her father was a Revolutionary sol- dier, and lived to reach the advanced age of ninety-six years.
William Gift was two years of age when his parents moved from Tennessee to Mary- land, where they lived until he was eight years old, and then moved to Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-two years, he moved to Jefferson county, lowa, where he began saving from his earnings, and there laid the foundation for his present handsome competency. With a little money he purchased 40 acres of the farm now owned by him, in 1865. but got credit for the most of the purchase price. By degrees he paid off the indebtedness and gradually added to his holdings until he had 200 hundred acres of farming land, all of which is under a high
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state of cultivation. He has built excellent barns and outbuiklings, and is very success- ful in carrying on general farming. He also owns considerable realty in Ottumwa, and has a great deal of personal property. His good fortune in a business way has resulted solely from his individual efforts, and to his untiring industry is due his high standing in the com- munity,
Mr. Gift enlisted in Company G. 30th Reg .. lowa Vol. Inf., in August. 1862. under Captain Cramer and Colonel Torrence. The regiment went to St. Louis, thence to Helena. up the Yazoo River to White River, where they captured a number of Confederates, and thence to Young's Point. The division of the army to which the regiment belonged was then ordered to drive the Confederate troops from the Mississippi River, which it did, crossing : the river and pursuing them through Raymond to Jackson, Mississippi, and then to Black River. At the battle of Champion Hills Mr. Gift was in the reserve forces on the extreme right. The regiment then went to Vicksburg. where he was sent with a detachment of his regiment to guard a flour mill and grind corn for the army. After holding it for ten days they were sent back to the regiment and Mr. Gift was detailed at headquarters. He participated in the charge at Vicksburg, and was afterward sent back to his regiment, which was ordered to drive Gen- eral Johnston from Jackson. By a forced march they quickly arrived at Jackson, where he was again put on the reserve. in full view of the fight and storming of the fort. After
this they camped at Walnut Ilill, then returned to Memphis, and thence to Paint Rock Station, where his regiment remained until early the fol- lowing spring. He was present at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The fighting there was very severe and last- ed over seven hours, during which time four bullets passed through Mr. Gift's clothes, one striking him in the neck. In the hot fighting at Atlanta, Georgia, July 22. 1864, under General Sherman, Mr. Gift was wounded. The next day the Confederates were driven to Rome. Mr. Gift participated in all the engagements of this army, and then accompanied General Sher- man on the famous march to the sea. On reaching Savannah they camped for a few days and then went to Thunderbolt station, from which point they took an ocean voyage to Bu- ford. consuming several hours. They then went to Raleigh and fought General Johnston, but soon received information of the surrender of General Lee. They went from Raleigh to Washington, participated in the grand review and then returned to Davenport, Iowa, where the regiment was mustered out.
Mr. Gift was married in July, 1856. to Catherine Wahner, a daughter of Jacob Wal- mer, who was born in Lebanon county, Penn- sylvania, in 1796, and died January 5. 1863. The following children blessed this union : Sarah J., who was born May 2, 1857, and lives in Kansas: Joseph, who was born Janu- ary 25. 1858, and now holds a position in the St. Louis Linseed oil mill: Charles W .. who was born November 18, 1860, and is a locomo- tive engineer, of Omaha ; Pluma, who was born
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April 8, 1860, is married and lives in Thayer, parents in 1874 and in 1875 was united in mar- Kansas; Elizabeth, who was born April 4. 1800, and is at home: Ada C., born July 20. 1873; and Ray W., who was born March 11, 1876, and assists his father in operating the home farm. Politically Mr. Gift is a strong supporter of the Republican party.
m RS. ELIZABETHI J. BURTON, widow of George R. Burton, for many years a resident of Wapello county, lowa, is living on the farm in Center township, in section 34, township 72, range 14, which she and her husband first settled upon in 1883. Mrs. Burton's maiden name was Elizabeth Janett Lindsay, and she was born January 12. 1855. in New York State. Her parents were William and Jeanette ( Henderson) Lindsay, both natives of Scot- land. where they were married in 1848. They came to America in 1852, settling in St. Law- rence county, New York, and in 1856 moved to Wisconsin. There they remained until 1874, when they came west to lowa. They were parents of ft children. as follows: George, Susan May, Elizabeth Janett, Chris- tina, David 11 .. William, Francis, Emma M .. Etta, Lloyd, and one who died in infancy. In religious belief they were both spiritualists, but formerly belonged to the Presbyterian church. Mir. Lindsay died November 20, 1899, at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife died in June, 1889. aged sixty years.
Elizabeth J. Lindsay came to Iowa with her,
riage with George R. Burton, their entire mar- ried life being spent in Wapello county. Mr. Burton was born December 9. 1850, in Ohio, and his death occurred in Wapello county, No- vember 30. 1889. Ilis parents settled in Wa- pello county in 1852, where they were well known and highly respected, for many years being the most prominent family in their sec- tion. Mr. Burton's father was a farmer, as were his ancestors before him. therefore he was well trained in agricultural matters. He pur- chased the farm of 120 acres in section 34. township 72, range 14. in Center township. in 1883, and since his death his wife has sue- cessfully managed the place. She also owns another farm of 100 acres in Center township.
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