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 25
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acted only for their welfare. The remains of Mrs. Mary E. Crew were laid to rest Dec. 7, 1883, in the Salem Churchyard, the funeral services being con- ducted by her pastor, Rev. L. T. Rowley, the min- ister of the Congregational Church in Salem, to which Mr. and Mrs. Crew both belonged. Wher- ever she went, as her husband expresses it, " sun- shine followed," and much of his good fortune came from her care and after she became the head of his household. All the children are married and away from the parental home except Fannie and Leonard. They are surrounded by every- thing that can make home pleasant, and the farm is a model one in this township.
To Mr. Crew have come sorrows hard to bear, but be is yet in his prime, with large experience, possessed of wealth, character and honor. Five terms he has served upon the Board of Supervisors, is a member of the School Board, and for fifteen years was Superintendent of the Congregational Sabbath-school, at Salem. He is a large breeder of stock, and owns more than a halt section of land in one body. Both as a man and citizen he commands the respect of all who know him.
ENRY BROWN, one of the pioneer settlers of Henry County, residing on section 3, Center Township, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1819, and is a son of John and Mary (Tate) Brown. They were natives of Frederick County, Va., emigrating to Fayette County in an early day. They were the parents of five sons and six daughters, seven of whom are still living : Sydney, of Appanoose County, Iowa; Lu- cinda, of this connty; Manley, of Washington County, lowa; Jackson, now a resident of Salem County, Mo .; Ellen, wife of John Tendergrass, of Washington County, lowa; William, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Brown came to lowa, remaining here until their death, the father dying in Washington County, and the mother in Des Moines. In politics he was a Jackson Demoerat. They were people highly respected in the commun- ity where they resided.
The subject of this sketch in his boyhood days
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remained on a farm in Fayette County, Ohio, and like so many other boys of that time, attended the log school-house with its punchon floors, slab seats, greased paper windows and immense fireplace. In 184t Mr. Brown led to the marriage altar Miss Barbara A. Helphrey, a native of Ohio, born in Licking County in 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had a family of six children. five of whom are now living: Alice, wife of Cyrus Bush, of Washing- ton County, lowa; George, still an inmate of the parental home; Rosa, also at home; Florence, wife of David Durst, of Washington County, Iowa, and Parrott, of Mt. Pleasant. In 1846 Mr. Brown emigrated to Iowa, making the journey with teams, settling near Burlington for about two years, but subsequently removing to Henry County. Ile re- mained in this county for twenty-two years, then removed to Washington County, Iowa, which place he made his home for fourteen years. In the spring of 1882 be returned to Henry County, pur- chasing a farm, as before stated, in Center Town- ship, and here he still resides.
In early life our subject exerted his influence for and voted with the Democratic party until the breaking out of the war, since which time he has always voted with the Republican party. Mr. Brown came to this county a poor man, but with a willing heart and a strong arm, he patiently labored until he is now one of the well-to-do farmers of Ilenry County. His farm, consisting of 120 acres, situated a mile and a half from Mt. Pleasant, is one of the best cultivated in this part of the State. The beloved wife was called from her happy home on earth to the better one above, March 13, 1881. Mr. Brown is one of the early settlers of the county, is always ready to aid in any public enterprises for the public good, and is universally esteemed.
RANCIS DRAKE SHELDON, farmer. Per- haps no man in Salem Township is more widely known, or is considered more of a peculiar character, than the gentleman named above. Ile was born in Leeds County, Canada, Dec. 26, 1809, and is a son of Jeremiah and Experience (Fuller) Sheldon. They were natives of Pittsford,
Conn., and emigrated to Canada several years be- fore the birth of our subject. For many years be- fore his marriage, and as long as he remained in Connecticut, Jeremiah Sheldon was a Lieutenant in the regular army. The eldest son, Horace, was born before the family removed to Canada, where the father purchased a farm, upon which Riley, Rus- tin W., Amelia, Richard, Franeis D., Jane, Alexan- der and Experience, were born.
The parents both died on this farm, their children being grown and well educated prior to that time. Our subject fell from a tree when seventeen years of age, and broke both his wrists, which practically disabled him for farm work, but his father being in somewhat straightened circumstances, the son de- termined to shift for himself. He attended school for three years, and paid both for board and tuition, and when twenty-one years old began teaching, which he continued for three years. Not liking that profession, in 1823 he began elerking in a store, and in 1826 was married to Sarah, a daughter of Sheldon and Olive Stoddard, the former a member of the firm of Hartwell & Stoddard, in whose em- ploy he had been.
Franeis Sheldon had economized and saved money enough to purchase a farm at Rideau Lake, near Beverly, and the domestie life of the young couple was begun on this farm. The father of Mrs. Sheldon was, in his day, a very wealthy man, who owned extensive mills, and shipped large quantities of lumber to Quebee; and was also engaged in the mercantile trade. Later, they removed to Porter County, Ind., where they both died. One daughter, Olive, now deceased, graced the union of our sub- ject and wife before they became residents of the United States. Their removal was made to Porter County, Ind., about 1836, and the next year they went to Cass County, Mich., where Mr. Sheldon purchased a farm. In Porter County, Ind., a son, Franklin, was born, who wedded Mary Vaughn, and at the time of his death, Dec. 19, 1883, was the editor of the MePherson (Kan.) Free Thinker. Olivia, the second daughter, now deceased, was born in Michigan. She became the wife of William M. Carter, of Lee County, lowa.
Mr. Sheldon had erected a new house on his farm in Cass County, Mich., and after it was cleaned and
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ready to move into, the cabin caught fire and burned to the ground with all its contents. This was a severe loss to the young couple, as it swept away all their earnings; so they returned to Indiana, where the death of Mrs. Sheldon occurred the next year, Dec. 9, 1841. While a resident of Canada, our subject embraced the doctrine of the Friends, and for a term of years was a prominent member of that society. After the division in that body re- garding slavery, Mr. Sheldon still remained in the church, though in sentiment he was an Abolitionist. Ile labored faithfully in the society even after his removal from Michigan, and after the death of his wife, returned to Cass County, Mich., and taught a monthly meeting school. The next year he re- turned to Canada, and while there was married to Miss Charlotte Booth. She was a daughter of Isaac and Thursey ( Wing ) Booth, whom, as is well anthen- ticated, bore in their veins royal blood. Her father was born in Orange County, and her mother in Dutchess County, N. Y., but their parents were natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Booth settled on a farm in Canada, and there their children grew to maturity. Charles, the eldest son, was a well- known surveyor, and also taught school, as did Mrs. Sheldon before her marriage. Iler mother bore fif- teen children, nine reaching maturity-Anna, Eliza- beth, Caroline, May, Rebecca, Charlotte, Charles, James and Daniel. Mrs. Sheldon is the only one living, and was born July 9, 1822.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon lived for three years in Cass County, Mich., and in 1845 came to Lee County, lowa, where he purchased a farm. For many years after his coming to Iowa, Mr. Sheldon labored earnestly in the Society oi Friends, but after careful consideration of the sub- jeet, aided by a liberal and intelligent study of moral and Divine law, he and his wife (who was born in that faith) asked for a discontinuance of their membership. Having fully investigated the subject, both have allied themselves with the great body of materialists, and with all their former zeal are now laboring for the welfare of their fellow- men. In 1878 they became residents of Salem, where they have a neat cottage on a nice little farm inside of the corporation. Six daughters and three sous have graced their union: Sarah, the wife of
Charles Brown, a farmer of Henry County ; Thursey wedded to Hiram II. Root, a farmer in Colorado; Iloag B. was a soldier during the late war, belong- ing to an Iowa regiment, and was wounded at the battle of Atlanta, but recovered, and is now a resi- dent of Mesa County, Col., and is a bachelor; Re- becca is the widow of James South, and resides in Lee County, lowa; Experience is the wife of Elihu Bond, and resides in Dawson County, Neb .; Rachel is the wife of Lemuel Kenley, a resident of the same county ; Charles W. married Minnie Stamper. and resides in this township; Olive is the wife of William M. Steward, a farmer of Henry County; Franklin Sheldon, the other son, was also a soldier in the late war, serving three years, a part of which time he was connected with the hospital staff.
Mr. Sheldon and his wife, by reason of their long residence in the State, and their unswerving up- rightness of character here, are entitled to and have the respect and esteem of the people who know them.
R EV. STEPHEN MILLER, a farmer residing on section 24, Jefferson Township, Henry Co., lowa, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1844, and is the son of Tobias and Barbara (Yoder) Miller. The father of Tobias, Daniel Miller, was a native of Somerset County, Pa., and married Miss Troyer, and moved to Ohio in 1817, thus becoming one of the first settlers of Holmes County. They were the parents of Tobias, born in 1801, Benjamin, Moses, Joseph, Susannab and Aaron. Their father was for many years a Deacon in the Mennonite Church, and died in his eighty-first year. His second wife was Mrs. Mag- dalena (Miller) Troyer. After the marriage of Tobias Miller to Barbara Yoder, he began domestic life on a farm, upon which he remained during his lifetime. His wife died in 1849, and he married Mrs. Annie (Hostettler) Yoder. To the first wife was born: Moses, who married Lizzie Yoder; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Hostettler; Daniel died unmarried; Christian wedded Elizabeth Mast; Lydia died in childhood; John wedded Catherine Mast, and after her death Fannie Zook; Rebecca became the wife of Daniel Stuzman: David mar-
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ried and resides in Goshen, Ind., where he is en- gaged in retail boot and shoe trade; Jacob wedded Lydia Wenger, and after her death a lady of La- grange County, Ind. ; then our subject : and Fannie, wife of Eli Wenger, of Wayne County, Ohio. The second marriage was graced by the birth of one son, Aaron, now the husband of Miss Scholl, and a physician of Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
Our subject was married first in Ohio, Jan. 4, 1866, to Catherine Degler. She was the mother of two children-Emma 1., and Sarah A., deceased. After her death, which ocenrred March 9, 1869, Rev. Miller remained a widower until Dec. 1, 1871, when Miss Leah Wenger became his wife, which umion was blessed by the births of: Frederick, Nettie; David, deceased; Mary: John, deceased ; Elmer, deceased, and Samuel. In Ohio Rev. Miller was elected Deacon of the Mennonite Church in 1877. The next year, with his family, he removed to Henry County, purchasing his present farm in Jefferson Township. He was elected by the Men- nonite congregation, of which he became a mem- ber, as minister, and was ordained in the spring of 1879, and to this date has faithfully performed the trust reposed in him. He is accounted one of the most worthy eitizens, and no family can claim a higher degree of respect. During his ministry the church has prospered greatly, and among those who devote a large portion of their time to the holy calling of sowing the good seed, we are pleased to make mention of Rev. Stephen Miller.
S TEPHEN THATCHER, farmer, on section 12, in Salem Township. For a quarter of a century our subject has been engaged in, and identified with, the business interests of Henry County. He was born in Rochester, Warren Co., Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Linton) Thatcher. The Thatcher fam- ily are of English origin, and on the Linton side they emigrated with William Penn to America. Elizabeth Linton was born in Bucks County, Pa., and her husband in Berkeley County, Va .. The parents on both sides became residents of Ohio, the Thatchers settling in Greene County in 1806.
Joseph Thatcher and Elizabeth Linton were married in Clinton County, Ohio, and removed to Roch- ester, Warren County, where they owned a farm and also kept a tavern for a few years. All their children were born in Ohio, as follows: Jesse and Ruth, who died unmarried; Hannah was next. and is married to Augustus Cox, of Page County : Will- iam married Sydney A. Thompson; David wedded Charity Cook; Hannah was next, and is married to Augustus Cox, of Page County ; then Thomas, wh was married to Melinda Scott, were all born in Chin- ton County. In Warren County were born Stephen, our subject ; John, who wedded Anna Butlington, and Ann, deceased. The entire family removed to this State in 1846, and settled near Salem. One year later ,Joseph Thatcher purchased a farm near West Point, and five years later returned to Marion County, Ind., near Indianapolis, remaining there, however, only two years, when he again came to Henry County and purchased a farm near Salem, upon which he staid a few years, and then purchased property in Salem, where both the parents lived and died. Both reached a ripe old age, Joseph be- ing ninety-one and his wife seventy-nine years old at the time of their death.
Stephen Thatcher has always been a farmer. He was married, Oct. 20, 1858, to Miss Ann Hadley, of Morgan County, Ind., where she died May 27, 1863. She was the mother of three children : Jared is the husband of Emma Lamb, and is a farmer of Thayer County, Neb. ; Marietta became the wife of George Pruitt, a resident physician of Blanchard, Page Co., Iowa, and Albert is deceased. The second wife of our subjeet was Miss Achsah Pidgeon, a daughter of Isaac and Phoebe Pidgeon, who have an extensive history elsewhere. The wedding was celebrated March 21, 1861, and their two first years of married life were spent in Indiana. In 1863 Mr. Thatcher came to this county. purchased his present farm, and has been a citizen of Henry County ever since. To their union were born six children: Charles, a graduate of the Burlington Commercial College, is a resident of Yama. Col. ; Isaac E. is now a resident of Imperial, Chase Co., Neb. ; Ruth I., Alice and Anna B. are yet at home, and Daisy is deceased. Almost a quarter of a century of happy married life came to our subject
RESIDENCE OF J. B. HART, MT. PLEASANT, IOWA.
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and his wife, when, beloved by all, in a home made joyous by the bright smiles and happy voices of her children, the spirit of the faithful wife and loving mother passed from this earth to life eternal, Nov. 8, 1885. An elegant home was thus left without a matron, and a husband who adored her in life and now reveres her memory, still remains true to his trust, and the children, guided by the correct teaching and loving counsel of their mother, have lightened his sorrow as best they could. The neighborhood in which Mr. Thatcher resides is composed of the best families in Salem Township. and all unite in their praises of him as a father, a gentleman, and a public-spirited citizen. Born in the Quaker Church, to which his parents belonged, he still holds his allegiance with it, and yet retains his membership in the first society of Friends organized in Henry County, Salem Township.
AMES B. HART, a retired farmer, and a pio- neer of Ilenry County, Iowa, was born near Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa., March 29, 1819. His parents were John and Jane (Buchanan) Hart, natives of Maryland. His father was a farmer by occupation, and died when James was but three years of age. His mother was a dis- tant relative of President Buchanan. Her death occurred in 1881. The subject of this sketeh was reared on a farm and there acquired industrious and economical habits, and when twenty-two years of age emigrated to lowa, and located at Mt. Pleas- ant, arriving in this place in April, 1841, where he spent the first year in carpenter work. He was married near Mt. Pleasant, June 11, 1843, to Miss Jane Smith, a native of Washington County, Pa., and daughter of Thomas Smith. She came to Henry County, lowa, in company with her parents in 1840. One child, a daughter, Elizabeth, was born of their union. She married John Mehl, now deceased, by whom she had three children: Will- iam H., aged twenty-one years, was killed on the railroad; Ernest is now nineteen years of age, and
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Frederick, aged seventeen. Mrs. Mehl resides in Mt. Pleasant with her parents.
In 1852 Mr. Hart engaged in the lumber business, and continued in that line of trade for several years. He was also in the grocery business about five years. In 1862 he enlisted in the volunteer service in the War for the Union, as a private in the 37th lowa Volunteer Infantry, known as the "Graybeards." This regiment was stationed at St. Louis, but was not ealled into active service. He was promoted to Sergeant and served seven months. During the first years of the war he acted as local sutler to a company of soldiers en- eamped at Mt. Pleasant.
Soon after coming to Mt. Pleasant, Mr. Hart purchased a farm in Marion Township, and engaged for a time in farming. He also erected several buildings in this city, which he rented, some for business purposes and some as dwellings. From time to time Mr. Hart has purchased land until he now is the owner of 1,400 acres, situated in Iowa and adjoining States. Several of his best farms lie in Henry County, lowa, and are well improved. In early life Mr. Hart was a Whig, and on the dis- solution of that party, and the formation of the Republican party, he associated himself with the latter organization, and has since voted the Repub- lican ticket. He united with the Congregational Church in 1846, and has remained a consistent member of that denomination to the present time. His wife united with the same church four years prior to her husband's conversion, and has since been a faithful and exemplary member.
Since 1852 Mr. Hart has been a resident of the city of Mt. Pleasant. He has never been an aspir- ant for the honors or emoluments of public office, but has preferred to devote his undivided attention to business pursuits, in which he has been eminently snecessful. He began life with nothing, but by in- dustry, frugality, and the exercise of good judg- ment in his business ventures, has accumulated a large and valuable property. During his long residence in Henry County he has made many warm friends, and has won a high place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, for his upright and fair conduct in all the affairs of life. An excellent view of his city residence is shown in this work.
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B ERNHARD TRAUT, a resident of Marion Township, living on section 21, was born in Eppingen, State of Baden, Germany, Feb. 29, 1832, and is the son of George and Catharine (Lindner) Traut, who were also natives of Germany. George and Catharine Traut were the parents of six children, but only three grew to man and womanhood: Louisa, deceased; Nancy died in Germany at the age of thirty ; Mina mar- ried Henry Klingemeier, a farmer now living in Wapello County, Iowa; Elizabeth, Catharine and one other child died in infancy. Bernhard was the fourth child, and when four years of age his parents removed to Bretten, where he attended school. At the age of fifteen he left school to learn the trade of dyeing and printing goods of various kinds, at which trade he worked about three years, or until he was eighteen years old, at which time he made up his mind to leave his native country. Accord- ingly, April 1, 1850, he embarked on board a ship and sailed for America. After a voyage of forty-five days he landed in New York City May 13, where he remained for about two months, work- ing in a brewery at $2 a month for the first, and $3 for the second month. About this time a friend of young Traut came from Philadelphia to New York, and Trant concluded to go with him on his return to the City of Brotherly Love, which he did. After looking around for some time, he concluded to learn the carpenter's trade, and accordingly went to work with the firm of George Link & Fisher, at $30 per year, board and washing included. He worked with them two years and eight months, or until he was twenty-one years old. At the expira- tion of his time with Link & Fisher, he began tak- ing instructions in stair-building, receiving $1.25 per day for the first year, boarding himself. The second year he worked as journeyman, and re- ceived $1.75 in summer and $1.50 in winter. In May, 1855, he went to Chicago and remained there until sometime in June, when he went to Burling- ton, lowa, and from there by wagon to Mt. Pleas- ant, where he went to work at his trade for Robert Reed, for whom he worked one month, when they formed a partnership, under the firm name of Reed & Traut. In January, 1856, he went to St. Louis and from there to New Orleans, where he remained
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three weeks. Taking passage on a steamer. he re- turned to New York, remaining there until the time of his marriage, which occurred July 15, 1856, to Miss Caroline Schneider, who was born at Ober, Oterbach, in the State of Bavaria, Germany, April 7. 1832. She was the daughter of Frederick and Frederica (Fath) Schneider, who were both natives of Germany. In Angust, young Traut returned to Mt. Pleasant, lowa, with his young bride, and built his first home in America. Ile worked at his trade, part of the time at St. Louis and Jefferson City, Mo., until 1858, when he went to work on the hos- pital for the insane at Mt. Pleasant, and continued at this work from June until December. Work being scarce in Mt. Pleasant, he again went to St. Lonis, and engaged in stair-building at $2.25 per day, remaining three months. When his work was finished, his employers made him a present of $10 as a token of their appreciation of his ability as a workman. While he was in St. Louis, Mr. Traut received word that his father had come to New York, and he returned to Mt. Pleasant with the in- tention of going for him, but in the meantime the old gentleman arrived at that place, where he made bis home with his son and daughter. He died at the age of eighty-one years and three months. Ilis wife died when Bernhard was twelve years old. Mr. Trant began work on the asylum in 1859, working there until the spring of 1861, when he bought forty acres of land, but two aeres of which were cleared, and on which was a log cabin. Ile com- menced working on his land, grubbing and clearing. and adding buildings and more land from time to time, until he now has 235 acres, lle and his two sons own 515 acres, of which the first forty acres were the foundation. Mr. Traut has erected good buildings on his farm, and it is under a fine state of cultivation, being the result of economy and indus- try on his part, for at the age of twenty-one he had but 84 in cash with which to begin the battle of life. To-day none stand higher in the respect of the citizens of Henry County than do Mr. Trant and his estimable wife.
Four children have graced their union : Louisa, the eldest, died in infancy; George, born Dec. 20. 1858, was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Smith, now deceased; by this union he had one
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child. Frederick, born Sept. 27, 1886, and resides on section 20, Marion Township. Henry, born in July, 1862, married Mary Lafferty, a daughter of John Lafferty, and now resides on a farm in Marion Township; Lillie, born Oct. 10, 1866, is still living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Traut have given each of their children a good education, and all are held in high esteem. In politics, Mr. Traut holds liberal views, voting for the man and not the party.
2 ATHANIEL E. ARMSTRONG, a prominent and well-known citizen of Henry County, residing on section 24, Tippecanoe Town- ship, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1816, and is the son of Leonard and Rebecca (Riggs) Armstrong, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina, the father being of Scotch and the mother of German descent. Leonard Armstrong settled at Columbia, Ohio, in 1796, near where Cincinnati now stands, though at that time there was no settlement there. Here he lived a short time, then moved a few miles east to the Little Miami River, where he and three brothers, Jolın, Thomas and Nathaniel. each claimed a mill site and built a mill. These mills were widely known as the Armstrong Mills, and were among the first erected in that part of Ohio. They were visited by the settlers for 100 miles around. One of them was used for the manufacture of woolen goods and the others were saw and flouring mills.
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