The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C., Part 68

Author: Union Historical Company
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Company
Number of Pages: 915

USA > Iowa > Marion County > The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C. > Part 68

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CUNNINGHAN, J. S .- Of the firm of Cunningham & Brother, mer- chants. Is the oldest continuous dealer in iron, hardware, stoves, tinware and agricultural implements in central Iowa and we think we can safely say in the State and is deserving of more than a passing notice in this work He was born in Virginia, December 23, 1829, and when seven years of age his parents removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, where they resided fifteen years. In 1851 Mr. Cunningham emigrated to Des Moines. He learned the trade of tinsmith in his youth and followed it as an occupation. In 1852 he came to this county and established his present business, which has grown from year to year as the demand for goods has increased. As & business man he is endowed with rare good sense and a well balanced mind. A marked characteristic during his entire career has been his untiring zeal, energy and enterprise; a man of strong will, and determined purpose, he has turned the whole current of his life force into one channel. He has always taken an interest in educational matters and for six years served as a school

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lirector and treasurer. He married Miss Mary H. Brobst on the sixth day of July, 1854. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of the Hon. Joseph Brobst, one of the early county judges of Marion county. By :his union they have four children living: Clarence, Agnes V., Nellie, Lil. je and Lewis N. Lost two, Isabel and Lizzie.

AVIS, J. N .- Who for twenty-one years has made his home in Iowa, was born in Greene county, Illinois, on the fourteenth day of April, 1840, and lived there until ten years of age and then removed with his par, ints to Mason county and made that his home until 1859, when he came to owa and settled in Pleasant Grove township. He was raised a farmer and lis time divided between attending school and assisting in the management of the farm. At the outbreak of the war he visited his former home in Ilinois and while there President Lincoln called for troops to assist in atting down the rebellion, which so fired the patriotism of Mr. D. that he endered his services to the cause, receiving appointment of lieutenant of ompany K, Seventeenth Illinois infantry, participating in many of the otable events of the late unpleasantness, among which were Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg and others. He was honorably discharged t the close of his term. He returned to Knoxville and engaged in mer- antile pursuits and since that time has been closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the town. He married Miss M. E. Wetherell in 865, the daughter of Dr. A. D. Wetherell, one of the leading physicians f the county, and born in Ohio. Mrs. D. died in 1876. He has three hildren: Hattie M., Dollie G. and Albert C. Lost one son, Aaron. He s a Royal Arch Mason and is numbered among the respected business hen of the county.

DAWSON, G. W .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 31, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Fayette county, Ohio, March 19, 1838, is the son of Isaac and Annie Dawson, the former a native of Delaware and the latter of Kentucky. 1. W. when quite young removed with his parents to northern Indiana, 'here they resided antil 1855, when he came to Iowa with his mother, his ather having died during their sojourn in Indiana. Mrs. Dawson located Marion county, and the subject of this sketch in Polk, where he resided ntil 1858, with the exception of a limited sojourn in Colorado. In 1858 e located in Marion county, where he has since been engaged in agricul- aral pursuits. On the ninth of October, 1859, Miss Anna Logan, a na- ive of Pennsylvania, daughter of Hugh and Mary Logan, became his wife. 'hey have one son, Charles E. His estate consists of 140 acres.

DENNISON, JAMES-Fariner and stock-raiser, Secs. 32 and 33, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, September 18, 1830, and the son of David and Raphael Dennison, and traces his lineage to Irish nd Scotch parentage. James was raised to manhood, educated and resided, ) his native county until 1852, when he contracted the gold fever and 'ent to California, where he engaged in mining until 1857, when he re- irned to the Buckeye State, engaged in farming until 1860, when he em- grated to Marion county. He married, October 4, 1861, Miss Manda letcher, a native of Kentucky, born February 23, 1842, daughter of John ad Pelina Ann. By this union they have tive children: S. Sanford, mma, Rhoda Ann, Lillie R. Logan, Aaron A. His estate consists of 225 tres. He deals exclusively in stock, and keeps grades of cattle and hogs. [r. D. is closely identified among the leading agriculturalists of the town-

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chip, and is recognized in his community for his public spiritedness and sterling business qualifications.

DICKERSON, AMON O .- Fariner, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Rich- land county, Ohio, April 6, 1855. When quite young his father moved to Iowa and settled in Marion county on the farm he occupied at his death, which occurred August 11, 1875. Amon has been identified with the in- torests of this county nearly all his life, and is a part of its history. Ho spent his early life in assisting his father on the farm and attending school By close application and attention to his studies he has acquired a liberal education and gained a good name. He was married the fourth day d February, 1880, to Clara Riggs, born in Marion county, May, 1858.

TREMONT HOUSE-Knoxville. This hostelry is under the manage- ment of B. F. DIXON, an urbane and genial landlord, who caters to the traveling public in a manner that indicates experience. The Tremont, ander his supervision, is taking a front rank with the Iowa hotels.

DONLEY, J. M .- Money-broker and stock-dealer. Among the lin business men of Knoxville may be mentioned Mr. Donley. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, on the fourteenth day of March, 1841, and was raised in his native State. His early life was that of a farmer boy. La 1865 he moved to Illinois and settled in Warren county and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1867 he came to this county and has since becs closely identified with its business interests. He owns 370 acres of farming land, and as a business man is prompt and energetic, and is endowed with rare good sense, and a well balanced mind. He was married in 1872, to Mies Helen M. Miller, a native of this county. They have two children: Chatham and Blanche.

DONLEY,-L. O .- Farmer, stock-raiser and dealer, Sec. 28, P. O. Dos- boy. Among the prominent stock-men and real estate owners is the subject of this sketch. He is the son of Patrick and Margaret Donley, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Greene county of that State, October 27, 1834, was raised to manhood and educated in his native State, his early life being that of a farmer boy. The first of January, 1857, found him in Ma- rion county, which at that time was in a comparatively crude state. He passed through the usual ordeal of roughing it, which was incidental to the farm-openers of that day. He is not an amateur in his branches of indus- try, but combines the practical with the theoretical, and his success in life may be inferred from the fact that he commenced in moderate circum- stances, and by untiring industry and skillful management has identified himself with the stalwarts of the county. Donley Station, on the C., B. & Q. R. R., a few miles west of Knoxville, is located on his land and de rived its name from the subject of this sketch; it is considerable of a con market, Mr. D. handling the greater portion of this article of traffic. His landed estate consists of 900 acres. On the fifteenth of March, 1864, Mis Mary Davenport, of Marion county, became his wife. Their union has been blessed by four children: Lonann, Millie, P. H. and Sally Margaret. Mn. Donley is the daughter of Daniel and Alzira Davenport, the former a na- tive of Virginia, and the latter of Tennessee, of which State Mrs. D. is also s native. When Mary was quite young the family removed to Coles county, Illinois, where, in 1850, she was deprived of her father by death, after which the mother, with a family of nine children, the subject of the biography being the third oldest, emigrated to Iowa, their mode of travel- ing was, as the custom of the time, a horse team and covered wagon. To

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the sturdy pioneer of the masculine gender an undertaking of this kind would not seem so desperate, but to a woman with a large family, the reader will perceive that it required more than ordinary courage and self-reliance. Thus they wended their way until Warren county was reached, and after a brief sojourn returned as far as Marion, where, the same year, they located. The trials and inconveniences they had to contend with were numerous in the extreme. Mrs. Davenport, well advanced in years, is still a resident of Marion county, living at Pella. Mrs. Donley for a number of years pur. sued the vocation of school teaching, being one of the pioneer educators of the county. She inaugurated the first Sunday-school in the vicinity of Red Rock, holding the same in the Rees' school-house, where she was employed. 1 During her long sojourn she has identified herself with the educational, re- 1 ligious and moral advancement of the county. She is a lady possessed of I those graces of mind and person that have endeared her to a large circle of acquaintances. As a writer she has attained considerable celebrity in the " literary world. To her we are indebted for several incidents and remi- niscences.

DOWNS, A .- Prominent as one to whom central Iowa owes a debt of gratitude for the interest taken in the improved stock of its horses is A. Downs. He was born in Ohio on the ninth day of July, 1823, and raised there on a farm. He learned the trade of tanner in his youth. In 1858 he it emigrated to Iowa and settled in Mahaska county, where he lived for " twelve years, engaged in farming. In 1865 he moved to Keokuk county ) and remained there for thirteen years, and on the twenty-third day of Octo- i ber, 1878, he came to Knoxville. He married Miss Elizabeth E. Sanders in 1847; she was born in Kentucky. Mr. Down's horses are among the

i finest in this county and of the purest blood.

E 'DWARDS, THOMAS S .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 6, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, July 24, 1822. Is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Edwards, natives of North Carolina, and among the early settlers of Illinois, Mr. E. being present at the laying out of the town of Springfield. He was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, and in the Black Hawk War was a captain in the regiment that Lincoln was colonel of. He died in 1870, at Neponset, Illinois, after an active public career. The subject of this sketch was raised to manhood and educated in his native State, spending many years at Clary's Grove. In 1877 came to Marion county and has since been a resident. In his palmier days Mr. Edwards led a life of dissipation, but for the past few years has been act- ively engaged in the temperance canse. He is a member of the Methodist Church.

ELLIOTT, J. B .- Attorney aud capitalist. Was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, on the second day of January, 1852, and resided there until seventeen years of age. In 1869 he came to Iowa and settled in Knoxville. He received his education in the common schools and in Poland Union College. Having made choice of law as a profession he entered the office of Anderson & Collins, and after preparing himself was admitted to the bar in 1876. Politically he is a Democrat, and was elected as their stand- ard-bearer to represent them in the Sixteenth General Assembly, and the manner in which he filled the position, and the satisfaction given to his constituents may be inferred from the fact that he was re-elected to the Seventeenth Assembly, and what is more remarkable, he was the youngest member in both Assemblies. He married Miss Nora Miller

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in 1878. She is a daughter of A. B. Miller, one of the pioneers of the county They have one daughter, Helen.

ELY, D. C .- Of the firm of Kruck & Ely, merchants. Was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on the twenty-first day of August, 1834, and lived in this and Schuylkill counties until seventeen years of age, and in 1852 emigrated to Marion county, Iowa, and settled in Liberty township He engaged in teaching school until the outbreak of the Rebellion, and is June, 1861, enlisted in company E, Sixth Iowa infantry, and after serving faithfully two years, was discharged on account of disability. He returnel home and engaged in general merchandise until 1871, and then entered the field of journalism, and was the editor of the Marysville Miner, and continued in this position for two years, and after spending one year a Chariton, Lucas county, came to Knoxville in 1874 and engaged in his present business. In 1864 he was married to Miss Sarah A. Weaver, d Circleville, Ohio. Mrs. Ely died in July, 1866. leaving one son, Engem E. He married for his second wife Miss Mary E. Nash, a native of Koem New Hampshire. By this union they have three children: Charles D, Hiram O., Fred J.

ERB, ABRAHAM-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 19, P. O. Pleamat ville. This Erb is of German species, and a production of Ashland county, Ohio, the date of its orign being December 19, 1839. It blossomed am grew rapidly, like all the better qualities of herbs, and in its tenth year wu transplanted in Kosciusko, Indiana, by the parents, Abraham and Salom Abe Jr. was raised to manhood and educated in Indiana. His early life was employed in tilling the soil. On the twenty-second of August, 1862 he enlisted in company K, Seventy-fourth Indiana volunteer infantry. His first engagement was at Murphysville, Kentucky, where he was taken pris oner: was subsequently paroled. Was at Chickamauga, the Atlanta Can- paign, with Sherman on his march to the sea, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and others. Was promoted to sergeant in 1864, in which capacity he was honorably discharged at the close of the war. Returned to Indiana, thence to Marion county, his present home, where his pareab had preceded him. He married, in 1866, Miss A. E. Neal, a native of Dem county, Wisconsin, daughter of G. D. and J. M. Neal, the former a natin of Kentucky and the latter of Alabama. Mrs. Erb was born July 29, 1816 They have three children: Ira G., George S. and Mary A. J. His estate consists of 330 acres. As a soldier, citizen, and farmer, few men have s better record than Mr. Erb. By his genial and affable demeanor he hes won hosts of friends. Politically, he has been a life-long Republican. F AST, J. J .- Fariner and stock-raiser, Sec. 11, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Ashland county, Ohio, November 26, 1826. When he attained his majority he came to Iowa to purchase land. In 1859 he moved on to the farm he now owns. He was one of the founders of the First Presby- terian Church of Knoxville, and has ever been one of its staunch supporten and liberal contributors. His early life was spent upon the farm. By is- dustry and close application to his studies while young, he acquired a good common education. Assiduously following his occupation, that of an agri- culturalist, be has accumulated considerable wealth. He was married An- gust 10, 1848, to Sarah Bidinger, born in Columbiana county, Ohio, No- vember 8, 1826. Have one child, Erastus (born August 16, 1886).

FEE, G. W .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Secs. 35 and 36, P. O. Knoxvilk Was born in Crawford county, Indiana, October 11, 1848. He is the

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of the pioneer, Christopher C. Fee. When G. W. was in his fifth year he emigrated with his parents to Marion county, where he was raised to man- hood, receiving the benefits of the Marion county schools. He has always been a farmer and, being a man of practical ideas, has made it a success. On the 6th of September, 1867, he married Miss Mary Emily Wartel, of Marion county. She is the daughter of John B. and Lucinda M. Warfel. They have a family of three children: Charles L, George A. and Lillie Belle. His landed estate consists of 169 acres. He is an enterprising go- ahead man, which is characteristic of the Fee family.

FEE, J. H .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 10, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Shelby county, Indiana, February 26, 1836. His parents were Christopher and Susan. They were among the early setters of that State. When J. H. was in his ninth year he removed to Van Buren county, in 1846, being among the early settlers; then came to Marion county in 1849. On July 9, 1857, he married Miss Mary A. Terry, of Marion county. They have a family of eight children: Jerome T., Amanda A., Joseph H., S. A., Chris. L., Charles L., Daniel W., S. L. His farmn con- sists of 123 acres, well located in close proximity to Knoxville.

FEE, C. C .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 2, P. O. Knoxville. This pioneer was born in Virginia, July 5, 1808. His parents, Henry and Nellie Fee, were natives of that State. C. C. was raised to manhood in the State of his birth, receiving a very limited education. His vocation in early life was working in tobacco and cotton; in winter would be engaged in distilling. About the time he attained his majority removed to Shelby connty, Indiana, residing there seventeen years; thence to Crawford county, which was his home until 1849, when he came to lowa, locating in Marion. His estate consists of 300 acres. Few men who have been residents of the county for thirty years can show a clearer record for honesty and integrity than Old Kit Fee, as he is usually called. In 1833 he married Miss Susan Means, of North Carolina. They have, by this union, thirteen chil. dren: Joe Henry, Elizabeth A., Lucinda, John F., Aleck J., Geo. W., C. C. Jr., James A., Eliza, William, Charles E., Franklin, Martha A.

FEE, JAMES A .- Farmer, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Marion county, Iowa, December 12, 1850. His early life was that of a farmer-boy, assisting his father on the farm during the summer season and attending school during the winter. By close application to his studies and persever- ing energy succeeded in obtaining a fair school education. Was married March 6, 1878, to Marcella Beliel; born in Canada, in April, 1854.

FEE, JOHN F .-- Farmer, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Crawford county, Indiana, August 11, 1841. When young his father emigrated to Iowa and settled in Van Buren county, and lived there ten years and then came to Marion county. He was raised on a farm and has followed it as an occupation. During the late war he enlisted in the Fortieth Iowa vol- unteer infantry August 12, 1862, and served three years. He was mus- tered out as color bearer in 1865. He participated in the battles of Saline River, Jenkins' Ferry, Little Rock, and others of less importance. After he was mustered out of the service he returned to his home and engaged in his former avocation. He married Miss S. O. Clark in 1867. She is a na- tive of Dade county, Georgia. They have two children living.

FERGUSON, R. C .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Secs. 20 and 29, P. O. Knoxville. This Hawkeye agriculturist was born in Mahaska county, Scott township, March 15, 1853, and is the son of William and Elizabeth Fergu-

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son. They were natives of Indiana, and were among the pioneers of Ma- haska county, coming in 1840. R. C. is the youngest of a family of six. He was raised to manhood, and educated in his native county, and town- ship, following the profession of his father, that of farming. In 1876 he came to Marion county, and engaged in farming. On the ninth of August 1877, he married Miss Josephine Tannehill, a native of Marion county. Her father lost his life in the late Rebellion, and her mother died when Josephine was an infant. They have two children by this union: Lilliu Ethel and Mytle Ora. His estate consists of 120 acres of fine land. His house, which is a model of neatness, indicates comfort and prosperity. He makes a specialty of stock-raising, and keeps grades that will average wol with the majority of Marion county stock.

FRUSH, F. M .- Of the firm of Johnson & Frush, merchants, was bon in Rockbridge county, Virginia, on the second day of April, 1822, and, when young, was taken by his parents to Ohio, where the subject of or sketch was raised. He was raised a farmer, and made the best use of hi educational advantages, and prepared himself for a teacher, which he fo lowed for a considerable period as an occupation. In 1850 he came to thi county; and in 1851 was elected county surveyor, and served in this cape ity four years. In 1855 he was elected county judge, and held that offa six and one-half years. He was admitted to the bar, and for some youn practiced his profession. In 1864 he engaged in his present business, and in which he has been eminently successful. He has been closely identified with the interests of Marion county, and in the building of the court-houn and the school-buildings of the city, he has proved himself an abh financier, and one who has guarded well the public interests. He was mu- ried in 1857, to Miss Harriet L. Joselyn, a native of .Putnam county, Ohio They have two children: Mattie J. and Frank M.

FRY, JOHN-Farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1819. At the age of eight een he went to Indiana, where he remained until 1854, when he came to Iowa, and located in Marion county. In 1857 he moved on to the farm be now occupies. Mr. Fry justly ranks among the foremost farmers of the county. Emigrating to the county with little means, he has, by economy and untiring perseverance and industry, succeeded in accumulating a nice property. Mr. Fry was married, August 1.2, 1843, to Hannah Davis, who was born in Ohio. They have seven children: Malinda, Mary E., Wil- liam M., Daniel F., Julia, Ann Eliza and Marion D.

FULLER, E. P .- Farmer and gardner, Sec. 20, P. O. Knoxville. Was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, January 15, 1819; was there raised to mar- hood, receiving a limited education. When he attained his twenty-first year he came to Peoria, Illinois, where, on the twenty-sixth of March, 1840. he married Miss Sarah A. Richardson, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, daughter of Nathaniel and Nancy. In the spring of 1840 they came to Jefferson county, Iowa, and engaged in farming. In April, 1843, Mr. Fuller started from Fairfield on foot, on a prospecting tour of what we soon to be the organized . county of Marion. When he arrived at what is now the John Gamble farm, north of Knoxville, he blazed a number of the trees, as a sign of taken, and with the assistance of a few fur-traders erected a log hut; after which he returned to Jefferson county, and brought up his breaking-team, with which was turned the first furrow of Knoxville town- ship soil. On the third of July, 1843, his family came to his pioneer

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home. Mrs. Fuller is supposed to be the first white woman to cross the Des Moines, on the Marion county boundary. The Fullers had many draw- backs to contend with. The family coffee-mill, Mrs. Fuller as miller, for- nished them with flour for many a day. The Indians were their neighbors, but were very friendly. In June, 1843, his corn-crop was entirely washed ont. In July, 1844, he returned to Jefferson county, Mrs. Fuller going down the Des Moines in a keel-boat. After a residence of one year in Jeffer- son county, they removed to Lee county. Mr. Fuller was one of the guards at Montrose during the Mormon excitement, and saw the temple at Nauvoo reduced to ashes. In 1848 he returned to Knoxville, and engaged in brick- making and lime-burning, in connection with farming. In 1865 he recon- structed the Marshall mill, on Whitebreast Creek and was doing a good trade, when the high water completely destroyed the building, besides carrying away a large amount of his household effects. With limited resources he en- gaged in farming, and his success may be inferred from the fact that he has a fine farm of 110 acres, which is rich in coal and building-stone. He makes a specialty of the vegetable trade, and raises sweet potatoes that will compare with any in the State. They have had a family of ten children, six of whom are living: Eliza (Mrs. Swim), Lucetata (Mrs. Fisher), Mar- tha (Mrs. Petitt), Eunice, (Mrs. Reno), Jane (Mrs. Burnside), Joseph and Jessie Olive. Lost four: Mary and Ladora, and two in infancy.

G AMBLE, J. D .- Attorney. One of the early settlers of Marion county, Was born in Piqua county, Ohio, on the eighth day of November, 1836, and when one year of age was taken by his parents to McLean county, Illinois, where he lived until 1849, and then came to this county. He was raised a farmer until nineteen years of age, and then attended McGee Col- lege, Missouri, for two years, after which he was engaged in teaching for one year and read law in the office of Mathews & Atherton, and was ad- mitted to the bar in September, 1860, and settled in Decatur county, and engaged in the practice of his profession until July 6, 1861. Then enlisted in the Fourth lowa infantry as a private and Was mustered out as first lientenant. After his return to Iowa he served as deputy-provost marshal of Poweshiek county. In 1865 he was elected a member of the Iowa State Legislature and served with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He followed agricultural pursuits for two years, and in 1868 resumed his practice until 1869, and was then elected cashier of the Marion County Bank. In 1870 he removed to Kansas and returned to Knoxville in 1875, and has since been actively engaged in practice with Batisfactorily results. He married Miss C. J. Wright, in 1864. She was born in Putnam connty, Indiana. They have a family of three children: Myrtle, Ira and Eddie. Lost one son, James G.

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The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C., Part 68

Author: Union Historical Company Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Company Number of Pages: 915

Author: Union Historical Company
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Company
Number of Pages: 915