USA > Iowa > Clayton County > Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, Iowa. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 52
USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, Iowa. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 52
USA > Iowa > Jones County > Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, Iowa. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 52
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In 1877 Mr. Newberry purchased the Strawberry Point Press, which he has sinee published and which is a leading organ of the Republican party in this seetion. He owns a farm consisting of
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nearly four hundred acres which he rents, and also owns valuable city property. He is the manager of the Strawberry Point Creamery, the largest in the state, and is also connected with other leading enterprises in this eity.
OHN P. BROOKSHIER, a courageous vet- eran of the Civil War and well known citi- zen of Clayton County, Iowa, was born in Clark County, Ky., November 12, 1836. He is the son of William and Juda (Louis) Brook- shier, who were also natives of Clark County. The father was born in 1799 and departed this life in 1839. The mother of our subject was born in 1797, and passed away in 1861. They were the parents of six children, Elizabeth, Cra- dock, John P. (our subjeet), Clearey, Martha and Mary. The father of our subjeet was a prominent farmer of Kentucky, where he made his home un- til his death, which was caused by accidental drowning. The mother of Jolin P. emigrated to Clayton County, Iowa, where she remained until her death, making her home with her brother.
Our subjeet was east out into the world to "pad- dle his own eanoe", at a very early age. He chose the occupation of farmer, working early and late, in seed time and harvest, and grew up a thoroughly practical farmer, well versed in every duty of farm life. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Forty- first Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers. For two years he was a brave and faithful soldier, but in battle he received a serious wound which disabled him from further duty, and in 1863 was honor- ably discharged. He then came to Clayton Coun- ty, Iowa, and purchased a small farm consisting of forty acres of land, on which he built a log cabin and settled down to his old occupation of farm- ing. He has become very successful in this oeen pa- tion and now owns two hundred and fifteen aeres of land. He has a fine farm, plenty of stock and all the latest improved machinery.
December 9, 1863, Mr. Brookshier was united in
marriage with Miss Mary Andrews. She was born in 1837 and was one of twelve children, of whom William and Ruth Andrews were the parents. The latter were natives of England and emigrated to America in 1830. Our subject and wife are the parents of six children: William, who is Township Clerk, Carrie B., Minnie, Ida M., Mamie and Stella, four of whom are deceased. Mr. Brookshier in- tends giving his two remaining children a first-class education. He and his estimable wife are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are ever ready to aid in the good work and relig- ious enterprises of their denomination. Politically he is a staneh Republican. He has filled many of- fices of honor and trust, serving as Constable and Supervisor for a number of years. Ile is very intelligent and clever and is proud of his old Ken- tucky home and the sear which he received in the late Civil War. He has by a life of strict integ- rity and faithful attention to duty won the con- fidence of all who know him.
EORGE ALFRED GOODING. Upon see- tion 3, Wagner Township, is situated one of the valuable farms of Clayton County. It is the property of Mr. Gooding, who, settling here in 1853, purchased a tract comprising one hundred and sixty aeres of his present farm. To this he afterward added ninety-eight acres, making a total aereage of two hundred and fifty-eight. During the more than forty years covering the period of his residence in Wagner Township he has devoted his attention to the raising of cereals and stock, making a specialty of the latter de- partment of agriculture, in which he has met with considerable success.
The Gooding family is of English origin. Our subjeet's father, Josiah Gooding, was born in Play- ford, near Ipswich, England, and passed the days of boyhood in the land of his birth. When eighteen years of age, he crossed the ocean, accompanied by his brother William and sister Jane. After
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landing in this country he spent some time in New York City, where he was employed in driv- ing a dray. While living there, he was united in marriage, October 12, 1823, with Miss Amelia Cooper, who was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., October 10, 1803. They continued to make their home in New York until 1832, when they moved to Ohio and settled in Seneca County. Upon a farm there his death occurred December 6, 1841.
There were eleven children in the parental fam- ily, concerning whom the following is noted: The eldest, Mary, who died in 1886, was the wife of John Beigh, of Steuben County, Ind .; they had nine children, seven of whom are living. George A. is the next in order of birth. William Henry died in childhood. Sarah Jane, deceased, was the wife of Michael Bowerman, a resident of Steuben County, Ind. Catherine is the wife of Daniel Wyant, of Seneca County, Ohio, and they have had six children, of whom two sons are now living. Josiah, an agriculturist of Seneca Coun- ty, Ohio, married Mary Ann Pettycord, and they had six children, one of whom is now deceased. Amelia, whose birth occurred in Seneca County, Ohio, April 26, 1837, was married in Adrian, Mich., to Hiram S. George, who is deceased. They had two children: Frank F., of Michigan, and Milo L., a resident of Idaho. Lydia married Augustus Hoppas, a farmer of Henry County, Oitio, and they became the parents of four children, of whom one is deccased. Elizabeth dicd when two years of age. John C., whose wife bore the maiden name of Amanda Snavely, is engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Seneca County, Ohio. The young- cst child in the family died in infancy.
During the residence of the family in New York, George Alfred Gooding was born in Dutchess County, December 2, 1827. At the age of five years he accompanied his parents to Sandusky County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood upon a farm. There he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Sophia, daughter of Moses and Elsie George, na- tives respectively of Vermont and New York. Mrs. Mary S. Gooding was born February 15, 1831, and passed away February 24, 1894. The- only one of her father's family now living is Jane, Mrs. Lyman Sturtevant, who has three chil-
dren and lives in Brookfield, Linn County, Mo. By this marriage our subject had two children, viz .: William Henry, who was born December 20, 1850, and assists his father in the cultivation of the home farm; and Thomas C., who was born February 5, 1854, and died December 27, 1862.
In 1853 Mr. Gooding removed from Ohio to Iowa, and settling in Clayton County, purchased a portion of his present property in Wagner Town- ship. As above stated, he is especially interested in stock, in the raising of which he has met with more than ordinary success. He has always aided, so far as possible, all enterprises calculated to pro- mote the prosperity of his fellow-citizens, and is a progressive, liberal-spirited man. While not identified with any denomination, he is a frequent attendant at the services of the Evangelical Church that stands near his homestead. Politically, he advocates the principles of the Republican party, which he supports by his ballot and influence.
RED L. WELLMAN is one of the worthy pioneers of Clayton County, in the devel- opment and progress of which he has taken an active part for a period extending over thirty- five years. Hc has held many local positions of trust and honor during this time and is a worker in the ranks of the Republican party. He is a liberal and public spirited man, who has furthered local industries and enterprises and is one of the prominent men of Monona. He is now engaged in the coal and wood and flour and feed business, and is the owner of considerable property in the village and vicinity.
The subject of this sketch was born in Cattarau- gus County, N. Y., January 5, 1840, being a son of Alvah Wellman, likewise a native of the Empire State and whose ancestors it is supposed were of English descent and carly residents of the New England States. His father, who bore the Chris- tian name of Samuel, it is believed was a native of Vermont, and in his later years he removed
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to New York, where his death occurred. Our sub- ject's father was a cabinet maker, furniture dealer and undertaker, which calling he followed after his location in Cattaraugus County, where he eon- tinued to make his home until his death, which oeeurred when about seventy years of age. His wife, Abigail (Sherman) Wellman, was also born and passed her entire life in New York State, of
which her father, Theodore Sherman, was a na- tive. Fred L., of this sketeh, is the eldest in a family of three sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. He grew to manhood in his na- tive place, attending the common sehools and the academy, thus obtaining an excellent education, as lie made the best of his opportunities.
When nineteen years of age Mr. Wellman left the parental roof and came to Iowa, arriving in Monona April 7, 1859. Up to this time he had for several years, during intervals of his school life, worked at the trade with his father, and after his arrival in this place he hired out to neighbor- ing farmers by the month for some time. He thus obtained a practical knowledge of agriculture, and as the pursuit of farming was congenial to him he decided to become a farmer on his own account. Accordingly, after his marriage he located on a place in Monona Township, devoting himself to its cultivation and improvement exelusively for many years. His home is still on this farm, which is not far distant from the village.
July 3, 1863, Mr. Wellman married Alice Reding, who was born in Indiana and with her parents came to this locality when only two years of age. After a happy married life of eleven years the de- voted wife and mother was called to her final rest; her death occurred November 3, 1874. The only son, Lewis, is at home with his father and is a yonng man of good education and ability.
Our subject has built up a good reputation as an honorable and enterprising business man, and his patronage is constantly increasing. He has ill- vested the proceeds of his business ventures with good judgment and has realized therefrom a goodly sum. He owns the Opera Block in Monona and many other residences and buildings in the place. In the disposal of his means he is generous and lends a helping hand to worthy enterprises, churches and
benevoleneies. He is one of the Directors in the Monona State Bank and is interested in other loeal industries. A strong Republican, he served as Postmaster for four years with eredit to himself and was Township Trustce for twenty ycars. He is a member of the Republican County Board, al- ways attends the State Conventions and is a vigor- ous worker in the ranks of his party. Socially he belongs to Monona Lodge No. 156, I. O. O. F., and to the Aneient Order of United Workmen.
A SAHEL CHAPIN, a well known and highly respected eitizen of MeGregor, is an at- torney-at-law in this place, and is a man of wide reading and general information. He has been engaged in legal work as an active member of the Bar for nearly a quarter of a century, and has built up an admirable reputation as a man of unusual acumen and good judgment on all matters pertaining to the profession.
Our subjeet bears the same Christian name as his father, who was a native of New England, having been born in Massaeliusetts. He came to the west in 1851, making his home in Galena, Ill., and later removing to Dubuque. He was a minister in the Baptist Church, having been for four years pastor of the first Baptist Congregation in Ga- lena. He then moved to Benton County, Iowa, loeating on a farm, where he remained about six years. After he came to Dubuque, he was a min- ister in the First Baptist Church at that place for ten years, and always took a great interest in educational matters. He was a stanch Repub- lican and did campaign work, in company with Owen Lovejoy, in Illinois. After a long and useful life he was called from his labors in Free- port, Ill., in 1892, at the age of eighty-eight years.
The Chapin family were originally from Eng- land, and early settled in Massachusetts. It is known that one Samuel Chapin, from which our subjeet is a direct descendant, emigrated from England, locating near the place where Spring-
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field, Mass., now stands, and there a large statue modeled by St. Gaudens, the celebrated sculptor, has been erected to his memory. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Steven Chapin, whose birth occurred in the Bay State, and who was an extensive manufacturer of boots and shoes. His mother was Catherine (Suthland) Chapin, of Jamestown, N. Y., and daughter of Judson Suth- land.
Like his forefathers on the paternal side, Asahel Chapin, of this sketch, was born in Massachusetts, Holyoke being the place of his nativity, which occurred January 13, 1846. When five years old he was brought to Iowa by his parents, where lie was reared to man's estate on a farm, receiving practical experience in agricultural affairs. Until nineteen years of age his education was mainly acquired in the district school, but at that time he entered the State University, at Iowa City, where he pursued his studies until reaching the junior year. He then began reading law in the office of Wilson & Dond, at that time a prominent law firm of Dubuque, where his father was then located. After pursuing his legal studies for two years, he passed the necessary examinations, and in 1872 was admitted to the Bar at Dubuque, where he began his active career, practicing for one year.
In 1873 Mr. Chapin formed a partnership with Platt Smith and H. B. Folk, under the firm name of Smith, Foulk & Chapin, which continued as such for a period of three years. It was in 1875 that Mr. Chapin came to McGregor and entered into partnership with J. T. Stoneman. The firm of Stoneman & Chapin continned in general practice until 1880, when it was dissolved, and since that time, a period of fourteen years, Mr. Chapin las been conducting business for himself.
Our subject was married in 1877 to Miss Mag- gie Stoneman. Her father, J. T. Stoneman, was one of the pioneers and early settlers of McGregor. To our subject and his wife were born two dauglı- ters, Florence and Esther, and they have a very pleasant and hospitable home.
As a member of the School Board and in other effective ways, Mr. Chapin has shown liis interest in educational matters. Socially, be belongs to Duncan Lodge No. 36, K. P., being a charter
member of the same. He uses his right of fran- chise in favor of nominees of the Republican party, and is an earnest and ardent supporter of the principles set forth by that organization. He is a man who bears an enviable reputation in this locality for integrity and uprightness of charac- ter, and his many friends will be pleased to peruse the history of so worthy a citizen.
R EUBEN S. HUNTINGTON. One of the prettiest homes in Edgewood is owned and occupied by the subject of this sketcli, who is a prominent business man of the place. A native of New York, he was born in Tompkins County, March 5, 1839, and is one of two sons. In fact, so far back as the genealogical record can be traced, there have been two sons in each genera- tion. The paternal grandfather, John S. Hunting- ton, was born in England, whence accompanied by his brother he emigrated to America and made set- tlement in New England. His brother, Lewis, went further west and all trace of him was lost, although it is believed that C. P. Huntington, the million- aire railroad man, is one of his descendants.
The parents of our subject, Samuel and Polly (Higley) Huntington, were natives of Vermont, tlie former of whom died when R. S. was only one and one-half years old. He had one brother, John, who throughout the latter part of his life was engaged in milling on the Hudson River. There he died in January, 1885, at the age of ninety years. He had two sons, Walter and Lewis, of whom the latter came west, but the former continued to reside in the place of his birth.
During the War of 1812 John S. Huntington was drafted into the army, but our subject's father went as a substitute, serving through the entire period of the conflict. Subsequently a pension was applied for, but there was considerable difficul- ty in proving that Samuel was entitled to the pen- sion of Jolin S. Huntington. However, when the facts of the case became fully known, the pension
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was granted, and our subject and his brother laid the warrants on land in Kossuth County, Iowa.
After the death of Samuel Huntington his wid- ow kept a boarding house in Ithaca, N. Y., from which and from the rental of her sixty-acre farm she was enabled to provide for her two children, R. S. and Darius. When the former was eighteen years old, she married Charles Hoose and removed to Ohio, where her remaining years were spent. The other member of the family, Darius, was long engaged as an agriculturist, but is now retired from active business cares and makes his home in Straw- berry Point. After spending seven years in Huron County, Ohio, our subject in 1862 came to Iowa, and settled on a farm four miles west of Edgewood. He continued farming until 1892, when he en- gaged in the hardware and lumber business in part- nership with his brother-in-law, C. S. Maxson. In the spring of 1894 the connection was dissolved, he taking the lumber business, and to this he has since given his attention.
October 5, 1874, Mr. IHuntington married Miss Barbara, sister of C. S. Maxson, of whom mention is elsewhere made. Her father, Ephraim, and grand- father, Chester, were natives of Virginia, and the latter was a soldier in the War of 1812. The fam- ily originated in Germany. In 1834 her father re- moved to Indiana, and thence sixteen years later came to Iowa, where he established his permanent home. Mr. and Mrs. Huntington are the parents of two children, Ora Ray and Daisy Mabel, who are receiving the best educational advantages afforded by the schools of Edgewood.
In social affairs Mr. Huntington affiliates with the Knights of Pythias. He is a man who, both by pre- cept and example, advocates habits of strictest tem- perance. In his dealings with others he is guided by lofty principles of honor, and his integrity has won for him the confidence of the people. With his wife he holds membership in the Methodist Episco- pal Church. While he is not a partisan in his po- litical opinions, believing that every man should be granted that freedom of opinion and ballot which he himself exercises, he nevertheless firmly champions the principles of the Republican party .. He and his family are prominent in the social cir- cles of Edgewood, and their attractive home is the
frequent scene of friendly gatherings of the peo- ple of the community. They are a cultured house- hold and are deservedly held in high esteem by all who know them.
H. BRUNS, a prosperous general agricultur- ist pleasantly located on section 11, Garna- villo Township, Clayton County, was born in Hanover, Germany, January 3, 1841. His father was Herman Bruns, also a native of Hanover, Ger- many, where he died when our subject was an infant. His mother's maiden name was Sophia Kruser. She was also of German birth, having been born in Hanover. Three children were born to them, Minnie, the wife of Casper Worges, a farmer of Clayton Township, this county; Chris- tiana, Mrs. Bierbaum, also of Clayton Township, but now deceased, and F. H., our subject.
The mother of our subject emigrated to Amerı ca with her three children in 1843. She first set tled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she married John H. Schroder; she then moved on a farm seven miles from Cincinnati, and later came to Clayton Coun- ty, Iowa, in the year 1855. Two children were born of this union, John H., who is living in Clay- ton Township, and Henry, who died in Ohio sev- eral years ago. The parents are both dead.
In 1866 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Millering, a daughter of John H. and Margaret E. Millering, both Germans by birth. They came to the United States in 1844. The father departed this life February 27, 1894. The mother is still living and makes her home with her son William, whose sketch appears on another page in this volume.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruns became the parents of eleven children. Sophia is the wife of Edward Kregel, a farmer of this township and also Secretary of the creamery at Garnavillo; Henry and Maggie are twins; the former is not married and lives at home. Maggie married Henry Kaiser and resides in Mon-
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ona, Iowa; Emma, the wife of Fred Meyer, is a farmer living near Postville, this county; Amealia, Lucy, George, Rosa, Mahala, Willie and Melvina complete tlic list. The last seven named are still single and remain at home with their parents.
Our subject bought his present farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in 1871. He has a fine farm, well cultivated and improved, a new and substan- tial residence, large and commodious barns and outbuildings well stocked, and has all the latest improved farming implements. He and his excel- lent wife are worthy members of the Lutheran Church at Garnavillo and give liberally to the sup- port of the samc. Politically he is a Republican and always votes for the candidates of that party. He is a man whose entire course of life has been in every respect honorable, upright and conscien- tious, and he is justly entitled to the respect of his associates and the estecm of his friends.
CHRISTIAN S. MAXSON. The business in- terests of Edgewood have an able and successful representative in the subject of this sketch, who conducts an extensive hardware establishment at this place. He is a native of Indiana, and was born October 18, 1842, on a farm near South Bend. The family is of German de- scent, but has been represented in the United States for several generations. Grandfather Ches- ter Maxson was born in Virginia and served as a soldier in the War of 1812.
Our subject's father, Ephraim Maxson, was born in the Old Dominion in 1801, and in 1834 settled in Indiana, thence in 1850 removed to Iowa, where he died in Clayton County in 1858. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Smith, was also a na- tive of Virginia, but thence removed with her par- ents to Ohio in childhood and later went to Indi- ana. Her death occurred about 1885. In her fam- ily there were two sons, our subject and David J.,
both valiant soldiers during the Rebellion. The latter enlisted in Company B, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, and in the battle of Black River Bridge received a wound, from the effects of which he died. There were also cight daughters in the fam- ily, of wliom only two are now living: Prudence, wife of Seymour Chapin, a soldier in the Civil War, and now a resident of Oregon, and Barbara, wife of R. S. Huntington, the Edgewood lumber merchant.
Alternating attendance at school with work on the home farm, our subject grew to manhood. August 6, 1862, before he was twenty years of age, he enlisted as a private in Company B, Twenty- first Iowa Infantry. He served through the entire period of the war, participating in many hard- fouglit battles, among which may be mentioned the engagements at Hartsville, Grand Gulf, Mag- nolia Hills, Champion IIills, Black River Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, the siege and fall of Span- ish Fort, Ft. Blakely and Mobile.
From the hardships and perils of war, Mr. Max- son returned home to resume the quiet pursuits of civil lifc. Entering upon the active career of an agriculturist, he continued thus engaged until the spring of 1886, when he embarked in the lumber business at Edgewood, and later added a stock of hardware. For two years he conducted the enter- prise in partnership with his brother-in-law, R. S. Huntington, but the connection was dissolved in the spring of 1894, our subject taking the hard- ware business and Mr. Huntington the lumber trade.
Shortly after retiring from the army, in 1865, Mr. Maxson married Miss Clara Fisher, and they became the parents of three children, two of whom died in infancy. Matilda is the wife of Erastus Garetson, and lives in Kansas. The wife and mother passed from earth November 3, 1872. For his second wife Mr. Maxson married Mrs. Laura (Busch) Newman, and they had three children : Clara Belle, Daisy and Lloyd. Mrs. Laura Maxson died in December, 1887, and our subject was afterward united in marriage with Miss Effic Robbins. Her fatlier, William Robbins, was a soldier in the Civil War and held the rank of Lieutenant of the company to which Mr. Maxson belonged. One
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ehild has blessed the union of our subject and his estimable wife, Eva May.
Politically our subject is an unswerving defen- dant of Republiean principles. For nine years he has officiated as Trustee of the township, and is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. Socially he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, and takes a genuine pleasure in recounting the thrilling experiences of war days. He is also connected with the Knights of Pytli- ias. His residence is a conveniently arranged and eozy structure, and is situated in the suburbs of the village. It is surrounded by ten acres of land and is one of the most pleasant homes of the town.
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