USA > Iowa > Marion County > The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C. > Part 91
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
738
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
Nancy Vansickle, a native of Indiana, on the thirteenth day of May, 1864. From this marriage his family consists of three children .living: Frank, William and Minnie. Five children are dead, most of whom died in infancy. He is a man who stands high in the estimation of the community and does a thriving business.
M ARSH, GILES-Pleasantville. Is a native of Crawford connty, Ohio, and was born the fourth of March, 1837. His early life was spent on a farm in his native county, receiving the benefits of the common school. Emigrating from Ohio in the year 1855, in company with his father, he came to Swan township, Marion county, Iowa. Mr. Marsh was married on the seventh of October, 1857, to Miss Sarah Miller, and is the father of six children: Effie U., Edwin S., Electa J., Flora E., Elenor J. and Frank Benjamin. On the fourth day of March, 1862, he enlisted in company G, Seventeenth Iowa volunteers. He fought in some of the most hotly con- tested battles of the war, among which were Corinth, Boonville, Jackson, and Champion's Hill, at which battle he was severely wounded, and wu honorably discharged on the sixth day of October, 1863. In the year 1874 he was elected coroner of Marion county. Mr. Marsh is now engaged salesman with the popular firm of Johnson & Son.
MILLER, RICHMOND-Farmer, P. O. Pleasantville. One of the eur- liest pioneers of Pleasant Grove township, Marion county, is the subject of this sketch. Richmond Miller is a native of North Carolina, and was born November 16, 1813. He remained in North Carolina ten years, when his father, Michael, emigrated to Monroe county, Kentucky. Here he remained five years, and removed to Morgan county, Illinois, and in the year 1844 he came to Iowa and settled in Jefferson county. In 1846 he came to Marion county. He was married, March 13, 1838, to a widow, Mrs. Mary C. Brown, and from this union have four children living: James L., W. J., J. P. and Sarah (now Mrs. Glenn).
MULKY, PROF. R. G .- Principal of the public schools. Was born in Marion county February 22, 1851, was here raised and educated. His boy- hood days were spent in tilling the soil. His father, G. Z. Mulky, was one of the first settlers in the county. R. G. received the benefits of the com- mon schools and finished his studies in the Central University at Pella and the Knoxville Academy. Prof. Mulky made his debut as a teacher in 1870. As an educator he stands high in the estimation of the people. Miss Cora Shivers became his wife November 27, 1872. By this union they have one son living, Carl. Lost two: Rinal and Charley.
ITMAN, WILLIAM F .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 36, P. O.
P Pleasantville. Son of Isaac Pitman, one of the oldest settlers of Pleasant Grove township, is a native of Knox county, Illinois, where he was born May 28, 1837, coming to Iowa in company with the family. He was married to Miss Rebecca Winterhalter on the tenth day of January, 1861. She died on the sixteenth day of August, 1863. On the twenty- ninth of April, 1866, he again married, this time to Margaret Polson. Mr. P. is the father of eleven children: Mary E., V. Olive, George A., Dudley H., Martin L., Lenni M., Julia M., Ammis E, Liew M., Nora E. and John F.
PITMAN, ISAAC-Deceased. Was born in Pennsylvania, in 1809. At an early age he removed to the Territory of Illinois, and resided there un- til 1837, when he removed to Harrison county, Indiana, remaining until
739
PLEASANT GROVE TOWNSHIP.
11: 1846, when he emigrated to Marion county, and was closely identified among its stirring citizens to the time of his death.
. PREWITT, G. W .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 28, P. O. Pleasant-
E ville. Is a native of Boyle county, Kentucky; was born September 12, 1822. In early life his time was engaged in the different occupations of is farining, clerking and attending school. From 1838 until 1863 he made his home in Montgomery, Indiana. In the last named year he came to Pleasant Grove township, Marion county, Iowa. July 22, 1841, he married Miss Elizabeth V. Harrison, a native of Indiana, born April 18, 1823. By 1 this union their family consists of four children: John H., James A., : Eliza J. and Joseph W. Mr. P. is a successful and practical farmer. His estate consists of 317 acres, most of which is in good cultivation.
1
PRENTICE, J. N .- One of the proprietors of the Prentice House, Pleasantville. J. N. Prentice is a native of Marion county, and was born March 27, 1855. His father was a highly respected man and was one of the old settlers of Pleasant Grove township. Mr. Prentice, in connection with his brother, in the latter part of the year 1880, purchased the hotel formerly known as the Golden House. They are kind and obliging to their guests and are already doing a good business.
EYNOLDS, LEWIS-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22, P. O. Pleas-
R antville. Among the sturdy pioneers and royal good men of Pleasant Grove township we cannot name a man more worthy of an extended notice than the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Botetourt-now Craig county-West Virginia, and was born May 7th, 1815. In early life he was engaged in agricultural pursnits. He remained in the land of his birth until the year 1835, when he emigrated to the State of Indiana. In the year 1842 he again changed his home to Louisa county, Iowa. From there he removed to Wapello county, and two years later, in the month of April, 1846, to Pleasant Grove township, Marion county. He staked out a claim on section 15, a short distance south of where the town of Pleasantville now stands. He was the first man who broke sod in the township, the first man to raise any wheat, and the first man to haul any to market. This wheat was threshed by the old Roman method. He and his family suffered many privations, but now look back on that period as one of the happiest in their life. He was married July 18th, 1836, to Miss Martha J. Terwil- leger, a very estimable lady, a native of Ohio, and born June 28th, 1818. From this marriage they have had seven children, all of whom are living with the exception of Sophia, whose death occurred November 13, 1845. The children living are: James M., Mary A., Sarah J., Margaret, Char- lotte, John W., and George.
RICHARDS, WILLIAM-Retired farmer. Was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on the 19th day of July, 1811. When four years of age he was taken by his parents to Coshocton county, Ohio. ' He was raised a farmer and has followed agricultural pursuits all his life with eminent success. In 1853 he removed to Indiana and three years later came to Marion county, which has since been his home. He owns a farm of improved land and his career as a farmer may be inferred from his success. He married Miss Margery Thompson December 23, 1830, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and they have passed the golden period of their married life: Their family consists of seven children living: Ann J., Wm. F., Joshua T., Julia A., John, James A., and Urias. They have lost three: Elenor, Samuel V. and Josiah. The father of Mr. Richards was
740
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
captain in the hotly contested War of 1818, and he had two brothers killed in the same war, one of whom was literally shot to pieces in Perry's naval victory on Lake Erie. His ancestors, paternal and maternal, were engaged in the war of the Revolution.
ROWTH, WM. R .- Farmer, P. O. Pleasantville. Is a native of Marion county, and was born the 12th of January, 1861. Was married December 25th, 1879, to Mis Mary E. Cruchelow, a native of Warren county, Iom, and a danghter of James Cruchelow, one of the oldest settlers of that county. Mr. Rowth is an enterprising young man, and one worthy of the greatest success.
S KEEN, WILLIAM R .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 32, P. O. Pleasant- ville. A native of Boone county, Indiana, born February 8, 1822. All through his life he has been a practical farmer, living in Indiana until the year 1866. He came to Marion county in very straightened circumstances, but by industry and economy has succeeded in making a nice home. He was mar. raied December 27, 1860, to Miss Martha E. Milton, a native of Illinois, daughter of Mr. John Milton, an old settler of Jones county, Iowa. From this marriage their family consists of seven children: John, Robert W. Abraham S., Mala H., Thomas J., Bessie and Nora.
SPALTI, JOACHIM-Retired merchant. Born in Netstall, Canton Clorus, Switzerland. He was baptised on the seventeenth day of February, 1828, at which time he was but a few days old. He lived in Switzerland until seventeen years of age, and in early life was engaged in hand painting, orna menting handkerchiefs. In 1856, in company with two older brothers, Frid- olin and Henry, he emigrated to America, and first settled in W.apello county, Iowa. Came to this county in 1850, and in 1855 engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed with great success for twenty-five years. He came to Pleasantville without means, and what he now enjoys is the result of perseverence and economy. He held the office of postmaster in Pleu antville for six years. In 1863 he married Miss Susan A. Litchfield, born in Ontario county, New York. She died October 13, 1880, leaving four children: Alma J. (born February 27, 1864), Eldora E. (born April 23. 1866), Oren J. (born April 13, 1874), and Horace E. (born March 14, 1876).
SUTTON, LEVI-Retired farmer. P. O. Pleasantville. Is a native of Harrison county, Virginia, and was born on the fourteenth day of No- vember, 1811. There he lived until the year 1839, when he removed to Pike county, Ohio. After some time he removed to Tipton, Indiana. Re- maining here for four years he came to Marion county, settling in Union township, three miles from Red Rock. Although in early life he was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, still he found time to enter upon the study of medicine, and at the age of thirty-four he commenced to practice. He was probably the first physician to settle in Union township. After a few year's residence in this township he went to Kansas, where he lived six years. In the fall of 1864 he again returned to Pleasant Grove township. where he now lives, and although his active days of life are over, he is still a useful member of society. He was married to Miss Sarah Brown on the fourteenth day of April, 1833, and from this nnion is the father of nine children: Margaret, William and Robert F. are living, and Mary J., Rachel, Lawrence, Fidelia and Lewis are dead.
SWAIM, W. D .- Pastor of the Chistian Church, Pleasantville. Among the younger ministers of their denomination no one is more deserving of
7:
PLEASANT GROVE TOWNSHIP.
special mention than the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Vint county, Ohio, and was born January 20, 1843. In early life his time w divided between work on the farm and study in school. At the age eighteen he began school teaching, and the next year started to Frankl College. After two years' study at this place he entered the school at Bet any, West Virginia, where he graduated, in the year 1866. After leavin college he taught school for several years, and entered upon his first past ral charge at Kirkville, Wapello county, Iowa. From thence he remov to Bloomfield, where he remained one year, and then took charge of tl church at Le Clair, afterward of the Christian Church at Panora. where ] remained several years, and then went to Vinton; from thence to Indiano] and finally to Pleasantville, in the summer of 1880, where he has gain the respect of the entire community. He was married to Miss Hattie . Garvin, a very estimable lady, a native of Kentucky, and born July 3 1846. From this marriage they have one child, Mabel Eldora.
SWAIM, JOHN-Farmer and wool-grower, Sec. 1. P. O. Pleasantvill Was born December 25, 1820, in Vinton county, Ohio. He is a son Michael and Nancy, the former of Kentucky and latter of New Jerse He lived in his native county until in the fall of 1850, when he came Iowa, settling in Van Buren county, near Bonaparte, where he remain until the spring of 1853, when he came to Marion county. He rented farm for about two years and then purcased land, on which he now reside He was engaged in farming, raising cattle and hogs until 1862, and sin that time has been engaged exclusively in the raising of sheep, keepit from 500 to 1,000 head and shearing from 3,500 to 6,000 pounds of wo per year, and at the present time has between 1,100 and 1,200 head. F deals altogether in the Merino stock. He now owns 130 acres of land, & of which he uses for pasture and hay. Has been twice married; first Miss Lydia A. Swisher, of Virginia, August 20, 1844. She died Octob 22, 1864, leaving a family of seven children living: Stephen S., L. ( Peter M., Andrew J., James B., Geo. W. and Mary A. Three decease Elihu A., Sarah E, and Nancy J. Second to Miss Mary E. Elwood Ohio, October, 1868. She died in November, 1874, leaving one child, Hen C., being the only child at home except Geo. W., who is married and kee] house for his father. Mr. S. is a member of the Christian Church.
T "HORNBURGH, RICHARD H .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 26, ] O. Pleasantville. Was born in Washington county, Indiana, Janna 13, 1816. In 1839 he emigrated to Clay county, Illinois. In 1859 ] came to Marion county. He married Miss Martha Polson, also a native Indiana, born September 18, 1818. From this marriage they have had eleve children: Thomas P., Amos G., James H .. William Wallace, Mary A Elizabeth (now Mrs. Shroud), Adaline (now Mrs. Morris), Benjamin, Jane Richard W., Sarah (now Mrs. Bennett). Two of his sons were killed in tl late war. Thomas P. and Amos G. Sarah, afterward Mrs. Bennett, is alı dead. No man more fully deserves the respect of his fellow men. E came to Marion county with very limited means, and by industry and eco: omy he has now a competency, and possesses 216 acres of land, mostly good cultivation.
ALLETTE, EDWARD-Retired merchant. Is a native of Cinci: nati, Ohio, and was born October 23, 1820. In early life he was salesman in his native city. In the year 1844 he emigrated to Milton, " diana. Here he engaged in merchandising, and in 1847 traveled thre
742
-
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
Indiana in the notion business. In 1851 he went to the city of Waben and in 1853 to Belleville, St. Clare county, Illinois. Here, in connection with his brother, he began an extensive stock business, fattening over 30,000 hogs in three years. In the month of October, 1856, he came to Plessunt ville. Here he engaged in clerking until the year 1861, when he started for the gold fields of California and other States and Territories of the far Wex In the gold regions he spent six years and then returned to Pleasantville Here he has ever since made his home. He was married to Miss Salens Richards, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, born February 8, 1827. 1 very estimable and intelligent lady, on the 1st day of May, 1851. The father of Edward Vallette was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and ru born on the 27th day of May, 1783. He died October 3, 1825. He emi- grated to Cincinnati in the year 1813, and in his house was organized the first Baptist Church of Cincinnati. It consisted of twelve families. Froa this small beginning, what a mighty result! Cincinnati is now one of the Baptists' strongholds, and the churches of the city number their memben by thousands. Mr. Vallette's mother, an estimable lady, was also a native of Boston, and was born on the 25th of November, 1786. Her maide name was Harriet Bronsdon. She died June 10, 1865. As a man, Mr. Vallette is honest above reproach, a kind, intelligent, Christian gentleman. always ready to assist any enterprise that may promise good to the com- munity in which he lives. He is a citizen that Pleasantville could ill aford to lose.
W "EST. T. J .- Has been engaged in teaching the schools of Pleasant ville for a period of almost ten years. He was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, April 4, 1840. His father, Joseph F. West, came b. Henry county, Iowa, in 1844, and in the spring of the next year came to Marion county. He settled on section 32, township 77, range 19, where le died in 1876. Mr. W., the subject of this sketch, was married December 27, 1866, to Maria Harsin. Mr. W. is a respected citizen of Pleassatvilk. and has been honored by his fellow-townsmen with various township and city offices, and his term of ten years in the Pleasantville school demoe- strates his success as a teacher.
WILLIAMS, E .- Physician and surgeon, Pleasantville. Dr. Williams is a native of Logan county, Ohio, and was born July 9, 1822. His fathe. Benazah Williams, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Logan county, Obio. in the year 1803. He was born May 15, 1795, and belonged to the Society of the Friends. His great-great-grandfather originally came from Wales Dr. W. remained in the place of his nativity until the age of eight yen and then removed to Cass county, Michigan, and emigrated to Iowa in the year 1838, and settled in Van Buren county, where for some time he lived neighbor to the Indians, and learned the language. Was present at Agency City when the treaty was concluded giving to the whites the "New Pur- chase." In 1843 he came to Marion county and settled in Clay township He set out the first fruit trees that were planted in the connty, on the phd now owned by George Harsin. He commenced the study of medicine i the spring of 1848, with Renben Mathews, at Red Rock. Soon after the he made a trip to California. After an absence of two or three years is returned to Iowa. In 1853 he went to Cincinnati, where he attended le tures at the " Eclectic Medical College." Returned to Marion county star a short time. He has been in the constant practice of medicine for seven years. He was married May 22, 1851, to Mias Elizabeth P. Han
748
UNION TOWNSHIP.
is marriage their family consists of three children living: Marion Laura (now Mrs. O. B. Drake), and Eva May. Lost one, Lucre- i May 31, 1875). Dr. Williams' father died in Mahaska county, 12, 1844. He was one of the first grand jurors in the county.
CHAPTER VIII.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
ion-Early Settlers-Pioneer Experiences-An Incident of the War-Miscellaneous -Biographical.
ORGANIZATION.
TE 7th of October, 1850, in compliance with a petition, it was by the commissioners that all of township 76, range 20, south of r, and all of 77, same, range, south of the river, be called Union ., from and after the first Monday of April, 1851.
township is bounded on the north by Red Rock, with the Des River as its boundary line; on the east by Polk, on the south by le, and on the west by Pleasant Grove and Swan.
is no stream of any considerable size coursing through this town- t many small creeks, the largest of which is. Oamp Creek. That lying contiguous to the river is somewhat hilly, but well timbered. p margining the river is mostly flat bottom land, partly prairie, the ted of which is Butcher's Prairie. In some places the uplands e in abrupt rocky cliffs. The southern portion of the township is Ipland prairie, and is a good farming district.
rst election in this township was held at the house of William Bal- ril. 2, 1851. After the appointment of Wm. Ballard, Geo. Teters eon Reynolds, as judges of the election, and Wesley Teters and Norris, as clerks, the following named officers were elected: Wm. nd Samuel Teter, justices of the peace; trustees, Andrew Stortes, llard and Alfred Rees; clerk, Simeon Reynolds.
EARLY SETTLERS.
ames of a majority of those who settled in the township at an early , Simeon and Geo. Reynolds, Wm. Richard and John Butcher, Steel, Duncan Neil, - Vanderford, John Flanders, Robert Gus- drew Stortes, Samuel, Geo. and Westley Teters, and Wm. Luty. Flanders now lives in Red Rock township, having sold his claim to
Ballard at an early date. Wm. Luty came from Ross county, 1843. Died August 21, 1871.
n Reynolds was born in Duchess county, New York, March 16, ›ved to Ohio in 1816 or '17, and from thence to Marion county, B., 1845; elected a member of the State Legislature and served in se in 1847. Died April.21, 1852.
Amanda Reynolds, his widow, still lives on the farm they first set- on Butcher's Prairie, and his two sons, who also took claims at the le, live in the neighborhood. Mrs. Reynolds was the first white hat became a citizen of this part of the country.
-
744
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
On their arrival, November 2d, Mr. Reynolds and family took lodging in a little cabin formerly owned by Butcher, to whom the government granted the privilege of making settlement there. as early as 1843, in cm. sideration of services he had rendered by repairing or making roads Tu claim was at this time owned and occupied by Steel and Neal, of whox Mr. Reynolds purchased it. Soon after this Vanderbilt entered a portie of this claim, securing a title therefor, then took a fortified position on the opposite bank of the river in order to hold it. But he was at length pa. suaded to capitulate by giving a deed for the land, which he did, . received his entrance money.
The first summer of their residence here was extremely warm, and for: time every member of the family was prostrated by the ague, and on- sequently much reduced in the way of subsistence.
Mr. Stortes made three trips to Burlington to mill. At this time there a no settlement between Fairfield and Oskaloosa, and but few houses betwee that and Red Rock. On one occasion it was so cold that Mr. Stortes wu compelled to run for several miles to keep from feezing till he could resci a shelter, which he found at Blakeway's, in what is now Summit, after nic. night.
Mr. Stortes was the hero of a legal contest that came before a justicei court in Red Rock, in '46 or '47, under the title of Brown v. Storta, th object of which was to establish the ownership of a certain dog claimed by both parties. As the parties were well known, and the case rather Done large numbers of people came to witness the trial. After it was over, and judgment was rendered in favor of Stortes, the latter proposed to treat the company, which was not objected to. But, as enough whisky could not be found, several kinds of liquors were mixed, and the result was soon par. ceptible and highly entertaining. A small quantity of such a compound was sufficient to disturb the mental if not the physical equilibrium of en those who had been accustomed to drinking one kind. It is supposed the there were more tipsy people in Red Rock that day than have been then at one time before or since. Even staid old fellows who prided themselves upon their sobriety, made the unfortunate mistake of taking " a drop to much " on that occasion.
Samnel T. Teter came to the county and located within the present bousd of Union township in 1846. He came from Obio, and when he started bel $3,500, which he invested in goods. On his way out the goods, which we shipped from Cincinnati by steamer, were all lost, they having been sent in the Mississippi River in a steamboat disaster. When he reached thu county he had nothing but a team and wagon, and not a cent of money, & sides being fifteen dollars in debt.
PIONEER EXPERIENCES.
At one time a man came down from the Fort to the Butcher farm for cen But there was nothing to measure the grain in, and the purchaser peddw down to Red Rock, borrowed a half bushel measure, and returned the com day, making a trip of sixteen miles. And it was not an uncommon ocom. rence for persons to go eight or ten miles to grind their axes.
Many stories are related of the depredations of those intolerable posts of every new country, the wolves. The winter of 1848 and 1818 will beg & remembered on account of the depth of snow that fell and the werdey
745
UNION TOWNSHIP.
the cold. And the wolves, should any that experienced that winter yet sur- vive, may have the most sorrowful occasion to remember it on account of their numbers that were slaughtered by their natural enemies. Weakened by starvation, and impeded by the deep snow, they were easily run down by men on horseback. Mr. William Ballard relates that he and his two sons killed nine in one day, and his exploit is but one of many instances.
The Indians also proved troublesome by appropriating everything to their own use that could be used for food .. Once during the absence of Mr. Stortes they appropriated most of his corn from the crib; and Mrs. S., in order to save some of it, had to store it in the house. Not having any sacks to carry it in, she used a bed-tick for this purpose.
Among the first persons who taught school in Union was Nancy Beck- with. This was in 1848, in the western part of the township, and in a cabin owned by Jacob Haynes.
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR-BY. M. E. DONLEY.
Historians record the privations and hardy achievements of the first set- tlers of a country, and the great and daring deeds of warriors, while the sorrows and mental distress which upset the mind, and leave life void, are left untold.
During the rebellion of 1861, a fierce battle was fought. The news was brought to Marion county. The great nerves of the country were unstrung. Dreadful suspense hovered over almost every household, for many were re- ported killed. But all had to wait the approach of the slow stage coach to bring letters or tidings from the survivors, ere they could know the fate of the brave ones who fought that battle. Finally the news came. Mothers, with hearts as heavy as stone, wept; fathers, bold and stout, bowed with. grief; while friends met and held long hours of painful consultation, and struggled to rise above the wave of despair, that threatened to engulf them.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.