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 52
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On the 3d day of April, 1862. Lieut. Wille- ford was united in marriage with Miss Harriet T. Lee, born in Louisa County, Iowa, Jan. 29, 1842. She is the daughter of William II. and Mary Lee, who settled in Louisa County in 1835. By this
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union there are two living children-Mary G. and Minnie M. Mr. Willeford is one of the working members of the G. A. R. Post, of Mt. Pleasant. as is his wife of the Relief Corps. Mr. Willeford has always lived in Henry County, and although com- paratively a young man he has done much toward advancing the interests of the community.
G EORGE MYERS, one of the early settlers of Henry County, Iowa, was born in Green- brier County, W .. Va., April 22, 1821, and is the son of John Lewis and Sarah ( Rogers) Myers. There George was reared upon a farm and was educated in a pioneer school-house of that date. He was married, July 21, 1842, to Miss Jane Lynch. a native of Monroe County, W. Va., born March 1, 1818. She was a daughter of William and Rachel (Dolan) Lynch. Her father enlisted in the War of 1812, but before he reached the scene of action peace was declared. Mr. and Mrs. Lynch were the parents of ten children, five of whom are living : John D., a resident of Roane County, W. Va .; James B., residing in Leadville, Col. ; Jane, of Henry County, Iowa ; Sally, wife of Allen Dolan, deceased, resides in Greenbrier County. W. Va., and William, residing in Sissonville. Kanawha Co., W. Va. Those deceased are Araminta, Martha Ann, Mary S., Rachel and Hannah.
Mr. and Mrs. George Myers came to Iowa in 1852, and settled in Scott Township, which was then one vast prairie. At that time wolves might be heard howling at night, and deer and other wikdl game abounded. Mr. Myers was an unerring shot with a rifle, and many a deer or chicken shot by hin furnished food for the meal. Mr. Myers set- tled on the land now used as a fair ground. He came to this county in limited circumstances, but by hard work and economy he accumulated a com- fortable property. He was a kind linsband and father, and was greatly respected by a large circle of admiring friends, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge in which he was an active worker. He was Master of the lodge and represented the same at the Grand Lodge. Mr. Myers lived an
honest, upright life, was a great reader of the Bible, and could repeat a large portion of it. He died Feb. 22, 1887. and was buried under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Myers is still liv- ing at the advanced age of sixty-nine. and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is only waiting the call of her Master to meet her husband in the better world. Mr. and Mrs. Myers were the parents of seven children, six of whom are living: James L., of Washington County. Iowa, was a soldier in the late Rebellion, married Tina Bowers, of Henry County; Rilla J .. wife of Alexander Ruth, of Henry County ; Margaret S .. widow of Pimbrooks Plants, resides in Winfield; William M., also a resident of Winfield, married Mary Cramer, of New York; Mary H., who died in September, 1887, in Kansas, was the wife of William Boyd, and George E., of this county. Marilda C. died Oct. 25, 1856, aged one year, one month and one day.
G EORGE E. MYERS, a resident of Winfield, was born in Henry County, Oct. 25, 1854. In his native county he grew to manhood, and was married near Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., W. Va., to Miss Blanche Ingles, a native of West Virginia, born in Greenbrier County. Four chil- dren have graced the union of this worthy couple- Claude W., Edith, Nora and Maud. Mr. Myers now has charge of the home farm situated near the city of Winfield. He is one of the enterprising farmers of Scott Township, and does honor to the noble parents who, by their example, taught him the right way of life. In politics he is a Democrat.
E C. MOORE, of Mt. Pleasant, one of the pioneer settlers of Henry County, was born in Sangamon County, Ill., March 29, 1835. His parents, Joseph and Lydia (Cooper) Moore, settled in Sangamon County at a very early day. and in 1835 emigrated to Henry County, settling in what is now Marion Township, being among the earliest settlers in the county. There they took a
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claim of 150 acres, on which he lived until the spring of 1849, when he went to California, and while there he engaged in mining for eighteen months. He then went to San Francisco where he engaged passage for New York. After boarding the vessel he was never heard of again and was supposed to have been drowned. After it became a certainty that he was lost at sea, his estate was divided. During his early residence in Henry County, Mr. Moore built the first house in the limits of the present city of Mt. Pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are now living. Rebecca, who was with her father, is supposed to have been drowned at the same time as he was, as neither have been heard of since; Calvin is a resident of Ringgold County, lowa; Jane, the widow of Benton Cork, who died in 1883, is a resident of Henry County; Amanda, the wife of Daniel Biddlecome, is a resident of Cass County, Ill .; E. C., the subject of this sketch ; Jolm T. and Edward, both living in Dawson County, Neb., and Charles J., a resident of Bates County, Mo.
Mrs. Moore continued to live in Henry County until her death, which occurred on the 14th of August, 1882. She was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Moore, our subject, has always lived in Henry County, where he attended school in the log school-house common to the early times. He has lived to see the country develop from a state of wildness to a fine state of cultivation, and take a front rank among the counties of the State of Iowa. Mr. Moore was a farmer in this county until 1866, when he removed to Mt. Pleasant, and the following year he began working at the trade of a carpenter, which he fol- lowed until three years ago, since which time he has lived retired. As a man and citizen, Mr. Moore stands high in the estimation of his neighbors.
R EV. THOMAS EVANS. deceased. This well-known and beloved clergyman of the Methodist Church was born in Bath County, Ky., in 1799. Early in life he united with that body, and devoted himself and his life to the
cause of Christ, at once beginning to study for the ministry. Not long afterward he was ordained and began preaching, which he continued until his death. He was ardent in his labors for the church, and gave liberally of the means with which his Master had blessed him. He left Kentucky when young to get away from the curse of slavery, and when he crossed the Ohio River undressed and washed, to cleanse himself from its taint, as he said. Ile first located in Putnam County, Ind. In 1855 he removed to Iowa, purchasing a large tract of land near Winterset, Madison County, which he developed, and from which he realized a comfort- able competence. In 1865 he came to Henry County. and purchased the property on which Mrs. Evans now resides, and where he died in 1870.
Mr. Evans was twice married. His first wife was Miss Anna Martin, of Putnam County, Ind., by whom he had ten children, six sons and four daugh- ters. Mrs. Evans died in 1847, and in 1849 he was married to Miss Mary Davis, who was born in Monmouthshire, England, April 28, 1803. and is a daughter of William and Janet (Price) Davis, who in 1815 emigrated to America, locating first in New York, where they staid until 1817, when, attracted by the larger possibilities of the West, they removed to Cincinnati, where they lived many years. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of eleven children, of whom two are now living: Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Sophia D. Folsom, of Greene County, Ind., whose husband was a relative of Mrs. Cleveland, wife of the President of the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were of Welsh descent, and both died in Hamilton County, Ohio. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and were highly respected in the community in which they restled. Mr. Davis was a man of more than ordinary ability, of extensive reading, and well informed on topies of public interest.
As already stated, Rev. Thomas Evans was always hostile to human slavery, a thorough Abolitionist, and an ardent advocate of the cause of temperance. He was a supporter of every good cause, who never wearied in well-doing, and nobly fulfilled the prom- ises of his early manhood. The cause to which he had dedicated his life had in him a zealous disciple, and when the Angel of Death summoned him he
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went with confidence and trust to Him who said, "Well done. thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord," and was laid to rest amid the tears and prayers of numerous rela- tives and friends, to all of whom his upright life, Christian character, and kindness of heart had en- deared him. His loving wife still survives him, but "sorrows not as one without hope," knowing that he is but gone before, and is calmly awaiting the summons that will reunite them.
R ICHARD B. BREWSTER, one of the promi- nent and influential farmers of Henry Coun- ty, Iowa, residing in Marion Township, on section 24, was born in Rockland County, N. Y., April 12, 1832, and is the son of Samuel and Margaret (Bluefield) Brewster, whose union was blessed with five children: Hannah L., deceased wife of Nicholas Staler, a brickmaker of Rockland County, N. Y .; she was the mother of eight chil- dren, and died in 1862. Eliza died at the age of twelve; Helen M. died when but six years old; Caroline died in infancy ; Richard, the subject of this sketch, is the only one of the family now living. Ilis father was a retired farmer, and a man well beloved by all who knew him. He died in Rock- land County, N. Y., where he was born and reared, in 1849, preceding his wife five years to the heavenly home. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, always exerting their influence for, and giving their aid in the cause of right.
Richard Brewster, our subject, received his education in the common schools of the county. At the age of sixteen he commenced working on a steamer, running on the Hudson River, and soon be- came Captain of the sailing-vessel " Fairfield," which he commanded three years. He then sokl the " Fairfield " and bought the "Catherine Hale," running from Albany to Haverstraw, in Rockland County. Capt. Brewster is familiar with every part of that beautiful river, the Hudson, with its towering mountains on either side, and the valleys between. In 1861 he sold his vessel, the " Cath- erine Hale," and went as First Mate on the " Golden Rule," after which he quit the river, where he had
been such a successful Captain, and returning to Stony Point, he engaged in brick-making.
On the 23d of Angust, 1852, he led to the marriage altar Miss Rachel June, who was born April 14, 1828, in Rockland County, N. Y., and was the daughter of Etheal and Phoebe (Devall) June. Her father was born in Haverstraw, Rock- land Co., N. Y., and the mother in Newburg. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster are the parents of six children : Helen M .. born Oct. 6, 1853, is the wife of William Kercheval, a farmer in Oteo County, Neb .; they have four children -- Charles, George, Bertie and Mintie. Samnel S., born Feb. 19, 1855, wedded Miss Christina Spry, Oct. 27, 1875, and is a farmer and stock-dealer in Woodbury County, Iowa; they have one child, Frank. Margaret, born Sept. 7, 1857, wedded William Fullerton, a farmer in Otoe County, Neb., in 1879; they are the parents of two children-Lou and Bruce. William, born Dec. 19, 1859, died December 31 of the same year ; Charles W., born Nov. 13, 1861, married Miss Addie M. Hig- gins, Nov. 3, 1886; Phoebe J. was born May 31, t863; she has charge of one of the wards in the Insane Asylum at Mt. Pleasant, and as manager ranks among the highest, being a young lady of much more than ordinary ability. These children were all born in the old home on the Hudson, where their father was also born.
Mr. Brewster owned 140 acres of land near Stony Point, which was under a fine state of cultivation, and for which he received $6,000 for ten acres of it. Ile also owned 350 acres in Orange County, N. Y. In 1866 he sold his land, and came to Henry County, buying 300 acres of land on section 1, Marion Township, and eighty acres in Canaan Township, which he transformed from wild land into a fine farm. He lived upon this farm until 1874, when he sold, and bought 160 acres on sec- tion 13, Marion Township, where he lived until 1881, when he removed to Mt. Pleasant, remaining there until 1882, then went on a health trip to Nebraska. In 1885 he returned to his farm, where he has since resided. Mr. Brewster has always been identified with the Democratic party, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They are good neighbors and kind friends, and none stand higher in the com-
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munity. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster's hospitable door stands always open, and everyone receives a kindly welcome. They have spared no pains to give their children good edueations, and few families are more worthy of a place in the history of Henry County than that of Mr. Brewster.
ILLIAM II. SCHILEIP is the pioneer cigar manufacturer of Henry County, having done business in 1855 at Mt. Pleasant, and with the exception of the years from 1858 to 1865, has been continuously engaged in that business. Ile is a native of Hanover, Germany, born near Lemforde, June 9, 1835, and is a son of Gerhardt II. and Wilhelmina Schleip. In 1847 he came to America in company with his parents, the family landing in New Orleans and going from thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned his trade of cigar-making. After completing his trade he en- gaged with the Cigar-Maker's Co-operative Union in manufacturing, but that venture proved a failure after a six-mouths trial. In 1854 he went to Keo- kuk, lowa, and worked as a " jour;" then in 1855, to Davenport, where he remained a short time; then returned to Keokuk and soon afterward to Mt. Pleasant, where he opened a store in company with Fred Eiche. This partnership continued two years, when Mr. Schleip sokl out, and in the summer of 1858 went to Kansas, and there engaged in a queensware business and cigar trade. His next move was to St. Louis in 1859, where he worked nine months, and then went to Belleville, IN. On the 30th of October, 1860, at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, he was united in marriage with Miss Katie Mess- man, a native of Lee County, lowa, and daughter of Michael Messman. Nine children have been born unto them, six of whom are now living- Louis C., William, Ida, Emma, Frank II. and Charles.
From Belleville, IH., Mr. Schleip returned to Mt. Pleasant in 1865, re-opened in his former line and has built up an excellent trade, amounting annually to about $25,000. His father and mother died at Cincinnati, Ohio, of cholera, July 1, 1819. Ilis brothers, Henry and Frederick A., are living in
Ohio. The youngest, Louis, died at Vincennes, Ind., in 1884. Henry lives at Newtown, Ohio, engaged in farming, while Frederick is a merchant at Hamilton, in the same State. While a man who attends strictly to his own private business, Mr. Schleip has yet given some attention to publie affairs, and for two years was a member of the City Council from the First Ward. Politically he is independent, voting as he thinks best, regardless of party lines. For President of the United States, he voted for Fremont, Lincoln, Greeley, Tilden, Garfield and Cleveland. Fraternally Mr. Schleip is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Turners. In the former body he has passed all the chairs. As a business man and citizen he is universally re- spected. Ilonest and upright in his dealing, by close attention to his business he has accumulated a competency, and is among the best business men of Henry County.
EMUEL BALDWIN, residing on seetion 18, Tippecanoe Township, is one of the pioneer settlers of Henry County, having first set- tled here when the country was almost an unbroken wilderness, in 1843. He was born in Adams County. Ohio, Sept. 12, 1840, and is the son of Newton and Phoebe (Hunt) Baldwin. The death of his father occurred when Lemuel was but a child, and he came with his mother to this county, as before stated. Lemuel was the only child and was the pride and joy of the fond mother's heart. She was called to her final rest Nov. 27, 1880, being seventy years of age. Mrs. Baldwin was a second time married, in 1851, to Thomas Grant, and Lemuel made his home with his mother and step- father.
Among the brave boys of the 6th lowa Infantry was our subject. He enlisted June 15, 1861, and served two and a half years. at the expiration of which time he was transferred from Company K, of which he had been a member, to Company A, of the same regiment. Ile remained a member of that company until the close of the war. He was mustered out July 21, 1865, at Louisville, Ky. While in serviee he participated in the following
INE : EW YORK FUCLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TIO N FOUNDATIONS.
WILLIAM MATTHEWS.
NELLIE MATTHEWS.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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battles: Shiloh, where he received a gunshot wound in the right arm, which disabled him for two months; his second battle was at Missionary Ridge, and Resaea. At the battle of Dallas he also received a gunshot wound in the head, which dis- abled him from service from May 28 until September 6. He was also under fire at the battles of Griswold Station, and Savannah, Ga., Columbia and Benton- ville, N. C. He was taken prisoner near Holly Springs, May 14, 1863, and was held captive until June 6 of the same year, when he was patroled at City Point, Va., and Sept. 28, 1863, was exchanged. He was a Sergeant of his company. After his re- turn home he resumed his occupation of farming, which he has continued ever sinee.
On the 6th of April, 1864, Lemuel Baldwin was united in marriage with Caroline Willeford, a native of this eounty, born March 13, 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have been the parents of four children : Frank T., a resident of Cass County, Neb .; Bailey Elmer, George A. and Grace Ger- trude, are still inmates of the parental home. Mrs. Baldwin is a member of the Christian Church. Politieally Mr. Baldwin is a stalwart Republican, and does not think that the grand old party has yet completed its mission. Socially he is a mem- ber of MeFarland Post No. 20, G. A. R., of Mt. Pleasant.
W ILLIAM MATTIIEWS. Among the men who have materially aided in giving Salem Township the good name she bears, we learn of no one who has shared more largely than our subjeet, who has been a resident there for many years, and has reared a family which does honor to his name. William Matthews was born in Green County, Ky., Sept. I, 1810, and is a son of William and Mary (Taylor) Matthews. They removed first from Kentucky to near Vincennes, Ind. Mr. Matthews, Sr., was opposed to slavery in every sense, and to live in a free State and rear his children in free schools, and to be remote from all institutions which favored the degradation of man- hood, was his objeet in leaving Kentucky. The death of William Matthews, Sr., occurred soon after they settled in Indiana, and the widow with
her children removed near Jacksonville, Ill. The eldest son, Samuel, married in Kentucky, and brought his young wife, Susan Russell, to Illinois, settling near Jacksonville, where the family settled later. The eldest daughter, Sarah, married Rev. Richard Newport, in Kentucky, and subsequently removed from that State, and settled in Indiana, where probably they remained during their lifetime. The other children were: Ellen, who wedded Sam- uel McIntosh; Richard, who wedded Margaret Robinson; Mary became the wife of Jesse Ruble; Elizabeth wedded John R. Sparks; Margaret died in Morgan County, Ill .; Matthew married Nancy Swan. and Nancy wedded Jonathan Swan. All these children were married in Illinois. Naney, Elizabeth, Matthew and our subject came later to lowa, and all are now living except Elizabeth.
William Matthews was a single man when he came to this State to select a home, in 1836, but he returned to Morgan County, Ill., and was mar- ried, Oct. 17, 1836, to Miss Nellie, daughter of Isaae and Margaret IIolmes. His courtship and wedding deserve a brief notice, and we are pleased to give it. He was a poor lad, and his neighbor's black-eyed daughter was a coveted prize that he hoped to win. He was robust, and toiled early and late to aeeumulate means enough to warrant their marriage, but times were hard, and money came slowly to his purse. He went to La Salle County, Ill., and took a elaim, and worked at any kind of a job offered him. He, however, went baek onee a year to see Nellie, and their vows of constancy remained as firm as when he first began to prospect for a home. Later he had a ehanee to sell his elaim, and came to Iowa, pur- chasing another elaim four miles from Salem, in Lee County, upon which George Ransom now lives. He returned to Illinois at once, settled his business affairs in La Salle County, purchased a horse and a pair of saddle-bags, and with all his earthly possessions packed in them, mounted his horse and made his way directly to the eabin of his future father-in-law. Naney Swan and her huis- band, and Matthew and his wife were just packing their wagons to remove to the Black Hawk Pur- chase in Iowa. After consultation with them he concluded to learn at once the state of his girl's
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affection for him by proposing an immediate mar- riage. As he was a man of exemplary habits Mr. Holmes could offer no objection to the match, and the brevity of the matter is the prominent part of the story. William landed in Morgan County Sunday evening, proposed and was accepted, pro- enred his marriage license on Monday, was mar- ried by Rev. Needham Roach, a Cumberland Pres- byterian minister, on Tuesday, and on Wednesday his wife started on her wedding tour in a covered wagon, bound for Iowa, in company with those previously mentioned, and the young husband fol- lowed on his horse. All that he possessed in the world was contained in his saddle-bags, and his young wife only had one feather bed, but with hearts full of love for each other and the determi- nation to become independent, they braved all the hardships and privations of the new country, and began housekeeping with his brother-in-law Sparks.
In the spring William moved into a partly fur- nished cabin upon his own claim. Their first night was an introduction to the inconveniences which followed. William borrowed a yoke of cattle from Mr. Sparks, which conveyed the young bride and her bed to her new home. A dirt floor and a partly covered cabin offered no great inducements, but Mr. Matthews helped her out of the wagon with all the grace of a landlord, with the remark : "Wife, this looks rather tough, but I presume we can make it better." The answer of the young wife was, " If you can stand it, I can," and well did they succeed through almost a half century of married life. Pieces of shavings from the clap- boards were carried in and deposited on the dirt floor, upon which their bed was made. A fire was built on the floor, and from a crane suspended a supper was soon cooked and eaten. The first erop was harvested in the fall of 1838, he having seven acres in cultivation. They never went hungry, although poor, and every day seemed to provide for itself. Mr. Matthews had no time to hunt, but gave his whole attention to the develop- ment of his farm. The first team was a yoke of steers purchased on credit, also a cow sent to the young wife by her father, which made a good part of their living. Ilis crops were good, and the sec- ond year everything looked bright.
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As the days went by prosperity came, and be- fore they knew it the debts were paid, and they began to live in a comfortable way. For seven years they lived in the old cabin. 14x16. when it was exchanged for a frame house, which still stands. Hle made a loom and bought a spinning-wheel, and his good wife spun the flax which he raised, and almost all their garments were grown and manu- factured upon the farm. Children came to grace the old cabin home-Richard and John-whose shouts of childish glee made the old walls ring and brought the blush of pride to the cheeks of their parents. Both these boys grew to a noble manhood, and were brave soldiers during the late war. John was in the 25th Iowa, and Richard in another regi- ment. At the battle of Vicksburg John was wounded and died later. His father brought his re- mains home, and they are interred in the Salem Cemetery. Richard served throughout the entire war, and is now a resident farmer of this township. His wife is Rebecca Rhodes, who has borne six children. In the frame house Samuel F., the hus- band of Elizabeth Boyce, and Catherine, wife of James Bieksler, were born.
Many years were spent by our subject and his family on the Lee County farm, but the advantages of schools were not very good in the county. so the parents concluded to remove to Salem and educate the children. and removed there a short time before the war began. Later the children were married and settled in the vicinity of Salem, and Mr. Matthews purchased lands adjoining the village on the north, where in a roomy old house, surrounded by all that can make enjoyable a ripe old age, and with the prattle of grandchildren about him, and the knowl- edge of a well-spent life, his declining years are joy- ously spent. The loving wife and mother was laid to rest .Jan. 14, 1887. She was a noble woman, up- right and true, a wife in the fullest sense, and an honor to social circles. Her death was deeply mourned, but "as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive." Her Christian virtues ever shone bright and pure before the world. She was by faith a Cumberland Presbyterian, but for thirty- five years both herself and her husband were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Salem. Almost fifty years of wedded life were passed as
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