USA > Iowa > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 15
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The portrait of this gentleman appears on an adjoining page.
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AMUEL 1. SHANER, merchant, New Lon- don, Iowa, dealer in clothing, gents' fur- nishing goods, notions and jewelry, and ex- County Treasurer, is a pioneer of Henry County of 1844. IIe was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Dec. 7, 1832, and is the son of George and Juliana (Bricker) Shaner. His father was born in the same county, while his father's par- ents were of German birth, who on emigrating to America first settled in Maryland, and removed from there to Westmoreland County, Pa. Samuel came to Jowa with his parents in 1844, landing in Burlington on the 10th of April; ten days later they came to New London. His father was a tailor by trade, and engaged in that business until 1850, when getting the gold fever, he went overland to Cali- fornia, where he spent seven years in mining and other pursuits, and returned home in 1857, via Panama and New York. On his return he entered the service of the Burlington & Missouri Rail- way Company, as Station Agent at New London ; his death occurred in the winter of 1876.
Samuel learned the tailor's trade, but not being pleased with that vocation, did not follow it. Ile entered the service of the Burlington & Missouri Railway Company as agent at New London
in 1858, being the second person to serve in that capacity at that place. He was retained in the company's employ until 1872, covering a period of fourteen years, during which time he served as Station Agent, first at New London, as we have said, next at Fairfield, then at Ottumwa, and again at New London. In 1872 he engaged in mercan- tile business at New London, and continued it until 1882. He was elceted Treasurer of Henry County in the fall of 1879, and entered upon the duties of the office .Jan. 1, 1880. He was re-elected and served until Jan. 1, 1884. Mr. Shaner made a capable and faithful officer. He had continued the mercantile business up to the close of his first term of office. He did not again resume active business until 1886, when he engaged in his present trade. He has held various local offices, and has taken an active part in public affairs. He was married at New London, Jan. 27, 1859, to Miss Martha G. McManus, a daughter of James N. McManus. Mrs. Shaner was born in Fairfield, Ind. They have two children, a danghter and a son. The daughter, Clara L., is the wife of M. B. Cullum, of St. Paul, Minn. The son, Frank N., was born at New Lon- don, Aug. 24, 1870, and is with his father in the store.
Mr. Shaner is a Republican in polities, and has been associated with that party since its organiza- tion. HIe has many friends in the county, and bears an honorable name in the community in which he resides.
OEL C. GARRETTSON, farmer, is one of the oldest settlers within Jackson Township, and for many years has been prominent in its history. lle was born in Highland County, Ohio, Dec. 13. 1809, and is a son of Isaac and Alice (Paxton) Garrettson. Isaac Garrettson was a native of Adams County, Pa., and his wife was born in Stafford County, Va., and was a daughter of lohn and Mary Paxton, who soon after her birth removed to Loudonn County, in the same State. Later the Paxtons removed to Logan County, Ohio, where the parents died at a ripe old age. They were the parents of four sons and five
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daughters, the youngest of whom, Susan, wedded Richard Shockly, removing to Jefferson County, Iowa; the remainder staid in Ohio. Isaac Garrett- son was born May 17, 1765, married his wife in Grayson County, Va., April 5, 1804, and died Dec. 13, 1844. Ilis wife, Alice, was born May 19, 1769, and died Nov. 18, 1855. Soon after marriage the young couple emigrated to Highland, now Clinton County, Ohio, traded for lands, and he began farming. Their tract comprised 230 aeres of virgin woodland, which he cleared up, the first settlement being made about 1824. In that State, Joel C. and Isaac H., the latter now a resident of Mt. Pleasant, Jowa, who wedded Jeanette Pringle, were born. Their two eldest children, John G., who wedded Mary Goodson, and Mary A., wife of D. W. Henderson, of Salem, were born in Virginia. After a lengthy experience in pioneering in Ohio, the Garrettson family removed to Iowa, being pre- ceded by their sons, Isaac and .Joel, who located in this county in June, 1837. Our subject was married prior to their coming, to Miss Elizabeth P. Goodson, of Franklin County, Ohio. She was a daughter of George and Rebecca Goodson, of Vir- ginia, who left that State at an early day and became pioneers of Ohio. Of the Goodson family there were six daughters and five sons, of whom the youngest son, George, married Eliza Hoffman, and they now live in Madison County, Ohio, and he is the only survivor of the family.
Isaac and Joel Garrettson both took claims, our subject selecting his present homestead, Isaac taking lands in Lee County, adjoining. These they secured at the first land sale in Burlington. As an incident of that sale, Mr. Garrettson informs the writer that for all the registered elaims in this township he was the bidder on behalf of the respective claimants, and perhaps the only man now living in this county who performed the same service. Isaac Garrettson was the inventor of the first nail cutting and heading machine ever in- vented, of which there is any record, and which was patented while George Washington was Presi- dent, the patent bearing the name of the Father of his Country.
The first cabin built by Joel Garrettson was erected on the creek on the east half of the south-
west quarter of section 27. Their first son, Amos P., was born in Ohio; Emily R. was born in the first cabin built on their purchase in Iowa, on March 15, 1840. With two yoke of cattle hitched to a wagon, the journey was made from Ohio, and the team played no unimportant part after they were fairly settled. They turned over the virgin sod, drew the logs for their cabins, and as both brothers brought with them a horse, they also had a team for driving. Our subject and his brothers began life in the new country like other pioneers. They built their own cabins, split the puncheons for floors, and fashioned the clapboards for the roof. They also made a "hominy mortar" of a hollowed log, and with a pestle made with a spring pole, somewhat similar to the old well-sweep, the corn was crushed into meal, and some of the neigh- bors, among whom were Ephraim Ratliffe and wife, patronized the primitive mill. The prosperous days that came later on did away with all that kind of labor, and the crushed corn was replaced by bolted meal and wheaten flour. Flocks and herds dotted the pastures, and almost before our subject and his young wife were aware of it they were wealthy people and the parents of a family of children. whose merry voices made the walls of the old cabin ring with their shouts of glee. As the days went by a modern house took the place of the pole cabin. The deer and wolves no longer raced across the prairies; the Indians who for years had hunted over the now fertile lands had gone, and Mr. Gar- rettson's remark to his friends when leaving Ohio, " that he had come West to secure lands and grow with the growth of the country," was fully real- ized. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Garrettson are: Amos, wedded to Mary A. Huffman, and who is a resident mechanic of Leon, Decatur Co., Iowa; Emily R. is the wife of Irenius M. Hoffman, a mechanic of Indianapolis, Ind .; Julia, wife of Ben- jamin F. Pratt, a resident physician of Clarks, Merrick Co., Neb., is a graduate of Whittier College, and also of the Florence Heights Medical College, New Jersey ; Albert H., the husband of Louisa Smith, is a graduate of the State University, and a resident attorney of Keokuk; John G., also graduated at Whittier and the State University, wedded Laura Bartlett, and is his brother's law
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partner, the firm being favorably known as Gar- rettson & Garrettson; Owen A. graduated at Whittier College, and resides with his father on the farm, and is married to Miss Emma J. Diltz, a sister of Dr. Diltz, and daughter of Thomas Diltz, a well-known citizen of this township.
Long since our subject gained a competence, and he and his wife for years took life easy. They lived nprightly, did faithfully their life work, and in their mature age, before death came to break their long companionship, could look upon children who are prominent factors in the business and social world. Having passed with honor all the official positions in the gift of the people of his township, Mr. Garrettson resigns public life to younger men. The golden wedding anniversary of Mr. Garrettson and his wife was celebrated in 1886, and all their children were present. They were the grandparents of sixteen children and one great-grandchild.
On Dec. 4, 1887, the Angel of Death entered the happy home, and the loving wife and faithful mother passed from earth, rendering up her soul to llim who gave it, and the aged husband was left to mourn the loss of a tender wife, by whose side he had passed more than half a century. She was a noble woman, who nobly discharged all her duties, and was truly a helpmeet to her husband. Her end came suddenly and peacefully, and her memory is enshrined in the hearts of not only her family but of a large circle of friends, by whom she was held in high esteem. Mrs. Garrettson was born May 5, 1816, in Franklin County, Ohio.
OIIN KURTZ, a farmer residing on section 7, Jefferson Township, Ilenry Co., Iowa, was born in Maryland in 1829, and is the son of John and Margaret (Harget) Kurtz, who were of German origin, but were born, reared and married in Maryland. Ilis grandfather on his father's side was born in Germany, and his name was also John Kurtz. The given name of his wife was Susan, who bore two children : John and Susan, who remained in Maryland, and probably never married. The children of John Kurtz, father of
our subject, are mentioned individually in the sketch of Newton MeClintic, who wedded Ann R., the second youngest daughter. John Kurtz, Sr .. died at the age of sixty-four, and his wife survived hin a number of years, reaching the mature age of seventy-two. Both were buried on the old home- stead, and side by side all that was mortal reposes, also one son, Peter, who died unmarried.
John Kurtz, our subject, was married in 1850 to Martha A. Mason, a daughter of A. W. and Cyn- thia (Rogers) Mason, who were married in Monroe County, Tenn. Mrs. Kurtz was born there, and came with her parents to Henry County in 1842, settling where Wayland is now located. Later Mr. Mason purchased a farm on section 8, where he lived for some years, but later purchased a small home on section 6, where himself and wife died. They were born in North Carolina, and reared a family of ten children. The first eight were born in Tennessee-James N., William R., Martha A., Mary J., Andrew J., Arch McCracken, Rufus and Thomas. Leo and Margaret, in Iowa. Thomas died in Tennessee. The wife of A. W. Mason died in her forty-first year, and Mr. Mason wedded Isa- bella Murry, who bore Henry II., Charles A., Elizabeth C., Eliza E., Almeda M., Ilettie, Homer C., Samuel D., Viola J. and Ida, all born in this county. A. W. Mason died in May, 1869, aged sixty-four years. His widow yet resides in Wash- ington County, now the wife of Joseph Young, and has reached an advanced age.
Forty-six years in this county have crowned the head of John Kurtz, Jr., with hairs of gray, but he is the same genial man of twenty-five years ago. He is the father of seven children: Samantha, wife of John Lute, a farmer of Jefferson Township: Aramintha, wife of Ahner Edwards, a farmer of Washington County; William, husband of Mattie Essley, is farming near Coppaek: David, the hus- band of Mary Windling, resides in Jefferson County, lowa; Mattie, wife of John Page, an em- ploye on the C., B. & Q. R. R. ; Charles, an em- ploye in the State Asylum, and Frank, complete the number. Mr. Kurtz owns 110 acres of fine land situated near Wayland, and within easy walk- ing distance of Coppack. He has grown wealthy with his years, and has served longer on the School
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Board than any man in his district. We point with pleasure to this family, who have come from a race who have done much to build up and develop the new counties, and deserve a special mention.
HOMAS McMILLEN, one of the early set- tlers of Henry County, Iowa, resides on sec- tion 5, Center Township. He is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born Nov. 11, 1832, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Hoagland) McMillen. When Thomas was but eight years old the family came to Henry County, Iowa, and settled on sec- tion 5, Center Township, where his father purchased a claim of John HI. Randolph, on which was a small building in the course of erection. Here our sub- ject remained until 1852, working on the farm in the summer and attending school during the winter months, the school-house being situated a mile and a half from his home. It was a primitive log cabin with puncheon floor, shakes for roof, slab seats, and lighted by means of a hole cut out from one of the logs, over which paper was pasted. An old-fashi- ioned tireplace which extended almost over one side of the room afforded warmth for those attend- ing the school. In the spring of 1852, in company with C. B. Dart, Mr. McMillen left for Oregon Ter- ritory with an ox-team. Leaving the Missouri River on the 5th of May, they arrived at Portland, Ore., August 10 of the same year. The jour- ney was a long and toilsome one, much unlike that which is made to-day in one of Pullman's palace cars. From Portland Mr. McMillen went to Ault House Creek, near Jacksonville, where he engaged in mining and where he remained four years. In 1856 he returned home by water, the first part of the journey being on the "Golden Age" to Panama, thenee by the "Northern Star" to New York. HIe ar- rived at his home in Henry County July 3, 1856. His experience in the gold regions served but to intensify his desire once more to engage in mining, and therefore after remaining at home a period of three years, he once more started across the plains, California being his destination. With ox-teams he traveled as far as Salt Lake, when the oxen were exchanged for pack ponies and the remainder of
the journey was made in that way. He located at Coloma where gold was first discovered. Here he once more embarked in mining, and followed that occupation until 1866, when he again returned home, arriving here sometime in May of that year. Since his return home Mr. MeMillen has been en- gaged in superintending the farm. With the ex- ception of the time spent on the Pacific Coast Mr. McMillen has been identified with this county a period of forty-seven years, during which time most wonderful changes have been made. When the family first settled in Ilenry County it was six years before Iowa's admission as a State, and fifteen years before a railroad was started. The changes that he has witnessed and of which he has been an active participant ean scarcely be realized. Wherever known, Thomas MeMillen is universally respected.
C HARLES C. MILLER, a retired farmer of New London, was born in Fowle's Parish, Forfarshire, Scotland, May 16, 1800. Ilis parents, William and Cecelia (Walker) Miller, were also of Scottish birth. The mother was of High- land descent; the father died when our subject was but an infant. Charles C. learned the trade of landscape gardener, and when twenty years of age went to London, England, where he followed that occupation six years. He then went to County Kilkenny, Ireland, to accept a position of gardener to a rich gentleman, and later accepted the position as steward or superintendent of the estate of a large landed proprietor in County Westmeath, Ireland, where he staid thirteen years, until the death of his principal. He had a large number of hands to oversee, and was placed in a position of great responsibility and trust, and received a good salary for his serv- ices. He then entered the service of the Earl of Desert, in County Kilkenny, as superintendent of his estate, remaining four years, when having a strong desire to be proprietor of a landed estate himself, he determined to emigrate to America, the country of cheap lands.
Ilaving several relatives and friends who wished to seek their fortune in the New World, he organ - ized a party of sixteen persons, of which he was
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leader, and in 1850 emigrated from Ireland to America, landing in New York. They came at onee to lowa and located in Pleasant Grove Town- ship, Des Moines County, where Mr. Miller pur- chased a farm of 200 acres, which he still owns. Some of his party settled near him, others in Henry County. Several of these are now dead and others have removed farther west.
Mr. Miller was married in New London Town- ship, Henry County, July 7. 1858, by the Rev. McBride, a Presbyterian minister, to Miss Martha W. Davis, daughter of Tamerlane W. W. and Jane Smith (Payne) Davis. Mrs. Miller was born in Bedford County, Va. Her parents were of Welsh and English deseent and came of old families of Virginia. Mrs. Miller is a woman of superior in- telligence and culture, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Miller was en- gaged in farming in Des Moines County until 1862, when he rented his farm and removed to New London, where he has since resided. He has three and a half acres of land in the suburbs of the vil- lage, which he cultivates with great care and taste. He is now in his eighty-eighth year, but is still aet- ive and has full possession of his mental faculties. Mr. Miller has been a man of robust constitution, remarkably active and energetic. Ile was a skilled sportsman, fond of his gun and dogs. In his mid- dle age, and even long after most men would have laid aside the gun, he could bring a quail or snipe to the ground as often as the most expert shot. Ilis eye is still bright and his nerve steady, but he contents himself with the care of his little farm and domestic animals. He has accumulated a valuable property, and both he and his estimable wife are held in high esteem by their neighbors and fellow- citizens.
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AVID DAVIES is a farmer residing on sec- tion 4, Jefferson Township, Henry Co .. Iowa. From a country far across the seas came a family of note in the history of this county. Henry Davies, Sr., was married to Eliza- beth Jenkins, in Wales. They had a family of twelve children prior to the emigration to America,
of whom two are deceased. In Wales Henry Davies, Sr., was a farmer, and owned two farms. These he sold after purchasing 1,000 aeres in this and Washington County. With his wife and chil- dren he left Liverpool in 1853. The voyage was made without accident. but the loving wife and tender mother died on the ocean, and was buried in the blue waters of the Atlantic. That was a sor- rowful time for the company of emigrants. The girls were young and knew but little about life's duties, but the family came to Henry County and here found a home. The blow was a sad one to the husband, who had laid the foundation for a most successful business, but as joys and sorrows come to all alike, he bore the loss with all the pa- tience of a devoted Christian, and to her memory Henry Davies remained true, and reached the ripe old age of eighty-four years. Of the children we speak individually : David, our subject, is the eld- est; Henry Davies, Jr., married Mary, a daughter of John Davidson, of Washington County, and re- sides in Wayland; Mary wedded Evan E. Davis. a farmer of Louisa County, who was also born in Wales; Elizabeth married John Park, a-dealer in stock and a resident of Washington. Washington Co., lowa; Dinah is the wife of Robert T. Jones, a farmer residing in Louisa County : Hannah is the wife of Huston D. Fishburn, a farmer of Jewell County, Kan; Evan wedded Elizabeth Williams, a daughter of Hopkin Williams, who was one of the first settlers in the county, and in whose honor Williams Creek received its name; Winnie A. be- came the wife of William Sutherland, a resident farmer of Washington County : Sarah, deceased, wedded Jacob Izenhart, who is in the restaurant business at Brighton, Washington Co., Iowa; John married Addie Park, and resides on the original Davies homestead.
Perhaps no family enjoy a higher degree of pros- perity or are more favorably known for their excel- lence of character than the family under consider- ation. All are prosperous, and the majority are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. David Davies, our subject, was born in 1832, and was married first to Miss Sally, a daughter of Hopkin Williams, in 1860. One son, William H., graced the marriage, but his death occurred when a babe
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of four months, dying Sept. 11, 1861. His mother was disconsolate, and a short time afterward also died, her death occurring Nov. 26, 1861, and their bodies repose side by side in the village cemetery. In 1866 Mr. Davies was again married, Mrs. Nancy (Anderson) Schooler becoming his wife. This couple have enjoyed a happy married life of twen- ty-one years, during which time one son, Homer E., has brought added joy to their home. He is now in his fourteenth year. Two hundred and nineteen acres pay tribute to the energy of Mr. Davies, and his home overlooking the pleasant village of Way- land is commanding in appearance, and his large barns and outhouses show him to be a man of enter- prise and thrift. We welcome to these pages the history of such a family.
ILLIAM BENNETT, residing on section 33, Scott Township, Henry Co., lowa, was born in Ross County, Ohio, May 17, 1820. He is a son of George and Mary (Holloway) Ben- nett. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of New Jersey. In 1806 they emi- grated from Winchester. Va., to Ross County, Ohio. Four of the family of ten children were born in the former State: Enoch, a blacksmith and farmer, died in Miami County, Ohio, in May, 1886; Sarah, the wife of Newton Hicks, of Ross County, Ohio, died in Clarke County, in August, 1882; her Insband had died in November. 1845. James, Forn Nov. 2. 1806, died in Clarke County, Ohio, in August, 1881 ; Elizabeth died while yet an infant but a year and a half old. After the removal to Ohio six other children were born: George, born April 28, 1809, died in Clarke County, Aug. 30, 1885; Benjamin, born in April, 1811, died June 27, 1812; Rebecca, wife of Jacob Yager, died in Henry County, lowa. March 13, 1857, at the age of forty-four; Mary, wife of M. McCafferty, resides in Winliekl, lowa; Benjamin H., born June 21, 1817, was drowned in the Ohio River, July 3, 1840; our subject is the youngest of the family. During most of his life George Bennett was a blacksmith, but when this labor became too heavy for him he moved upon a farm. He was called to
his final home, in Clarke County, Dec. 19, 1861, at the age of ninety-two years, two months and seven- teen days. His wife departed this life Aug. 25, 1853, aged seventy-seven years, seven months and four days. She was a member of the Society of Friends.
William Bennett, our subject, was reared upon a farm in his native State. llis education was received at the subscription schools of those times. lle remained at home until twenty-one years of age. Mr. Bennett was united in marriage, in 1841, with Ann McCafferty, a native of Madison County, Ohio. He afterward rented his father's farm, residing upon this for nine years, at which time, Oct. 3, 1850, he removed to Henry County, lowa, settling on a homestead of eighty acres on section 11, Scott Township. le improved this farm, making it his home until 1869, when he sold out and removed to Mt. Pleasant, in order to furnish better educational advantages to his children. While residing in that city, on the 22d of Novem- ber, 1870, Mrs. Bennett was called to her final home. She was born in September, 1815. Two years later Mr. Bennett removed to Osborne County, Kan., where he improved a claim, resid- ing there for eight months, and in December of the same year returned to Henry County. He pur- chased eighty acres of land on section 33, Scott Township, where he still resides.
Mr. Bennett was again married, April 7, 1874, to Margaret A. Harkness. She was born in New York, and is a daughter of James and Margaret (Fleming) Harkness, both of whom were natives of the same State. Her father died at Morning Sun, Iowa, March 20. 1880, when seventy-three years of age. lle was a devoted church member, and one of the organizers of the Presbyterian Church of Winfield, having been an Elder for many years. Upon his removal to Morning Sun he joined the United Presbyterian Church of that place, and was well known and universally respected. The mother died Jan. 24, 1887, aged seventy-six, and was also a believer in the United Presbyterian faith.
By his first wife Mr. Bennett had five children: Sarah, wife of Emmons Courter. of Osborne County, Kan .: Mary, wife of W. R. Custer, residing in Taylor County, Iowa; Electa Jane, wife of Stewart
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