USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > The History of Muscatine county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 87
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LUKE COCKSHOOT. far., Sec. 17: P. O. Wilton ; was born in Man- chester, England, March 22, 1801 ; lived on a farm until 14 or 15 years of age, when he was apprenticed to a velvet-maker, with whom he remained for six years, receiving as a compensation for his services one-half of all he made. He then married Margaret Manchester, who was born in Manchester, England, in ISO7, and. soon after, emigrated to America, Columbiana Co., Penn, where he taught country school in the Scotch set tlements for four years ; thenee to Pittsburgh, where he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness for fifteen years in the same store ; in the spring of 1856, they came to Iowa, this county, and settled where he now resides ; and owns 360 acres of land, valued at $55 per aere, having, on first coming to Iowa, acted as Government Land Agent and entered
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a great amount of land in this and other counties. They have three children, all born in Pittsburgh-Mary is the wife of Obed Vandike, of Tama Co., a farmer; Andrew and James Townly are at home.
W. A. COOPER, dealer in ready-made clothing, hats. caps and gents' fur- nishing goods, Cedar street ; residence, corner Cherry and Sixth, Wilton; a grandson of Wm. Cooper and Rachael Philson, natives of Pennsylvania; the former was a Cap- taiu during the Revolutionary war ; they had seven children, five sons, the fifth being James, the father of Mr. C., who was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1808. where his first occupation was clerking: having obtained a business education, at an early age, he engaged in the mercantile business at Cooperstown, a handsome town of Pennsylvania, laid out and named by him for the family; Mr. Cooper did an extensive business there, not alone iu merchandising, but in iron and oil, and also dealt extensively in live stock. At Meadville, March, 1830, he married Amanda, daughter of Col. Cochran, an officer of the militia at Meadville, born in Northumberland Co., Penn .. and marched to the rescue of Perry at the battle of Lake Erie, Sept. 10, 1813; he was a resident of Meadville for thirty-five years ; a Prothonotary for many years, also a mem- ber of the Legislature. She was born at Meadville, Penn., March 10. 1811. Heremained in business at Cooperstown until 1853, when they removed to Iowa, landing at Musca- tine in April of that year. but finally settled on a farm in Cedar Co., two miles north- east of what is now Wilton, where he remained until his death in 1874, leaving a widow. now a resident of Wilton, with her youngest daughter and five children, two sons ( both of whom served in the late war and three daughters; lost the second, a daughter, in Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was the second son and fifth born, and born at Cooperstown. Penn., Aug. 15. 1844, and, in the 9th year of his age, came to Iowa, where. at the age of 18. he enlisted in the 35th I. V. I., Co. G, Capt. Dickson, with which he participated at Vicksburg. first and second taking of Jackson, Tupelo, Miss .. Nashville, taking of the Spanish Fort, opposite Mobile, and mustered vur at the close of the war at Davenport. After remaining at home for three years, he came to Wilton. and for two years was without any particular business, and June 23, 1870, he married Bell, daughter of Geo. Witmer and Catharine Wirt, natives of Northumberland Co .. Penn., and for many years residents of Perry Co., Penn .. where she was born May 6. 1848 : about the year 1>66, they came to Wilton, where the father died January, 1877, the mother having since found a home with Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. C. being the youngest of the family. After his marriage, Mr. C. formed a partnership with Charles Witmer in the dry goods and grocery trade in a store on corner of Cedar and Fourth streets, which he continued for two years, and after closing out his business, he clerked for F. Bacon until 1876, when he became a partner of Wm. H. Bacon, a brother of his former employer. in his present business, which continued until the death of his partner May 4, 1878; the September following, he purchased his interest in the busi- ness, and has since carried the largest stock of the greatest variety of goods in his line to be found in this part of Muscatine. They have three children, the eldest of whom is Wirt A., born May, 1871; Charles C., April 10, 1873, and Elsie MI., Dec. 2S, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of Presbyterian Church, of which he is Elder and Superintendent of Sabbath School, and is a member of A. O. U. W. Security, No. 100, in which he has held various offices.
PHILIP DARE, retired ; resides Sixth street, Wilton. Father Dare was born at Hanover, near Frankfort, Germany, 30th October, 1808. His father in early life was a shepherd, but later became possessor of a farm, on which Philip lived until in his 16th year. Was apprenticed to a shoemaker, with whom he served the customary three years, and worked at journeyman work for nine years; and when 28 years of age, he married Miss Catherine Harighman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Oct. 13, 1813. After their marriage, having secured license from Government, he engaged in business on his own responsibility in his native town, and continued until June 30, 1837, when they emigrated to America, first making their home in Peter Township, Franklin Co., Penn., where he continued shoemaking until 1841, when they removed to Bedford Co., near Shellsby, where he purchased a little farm of W
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twenty-five acres, and succeeded in building up for himself a pleasant and happy home, and continued to make shoes for his neighbors there until the spring of 1856, when their eldest daughter having married and removed to Iowa, they were persuaded to dispose of their home and come West. He purchased forty acres of land near his daughter, in Sugar Creek Township, Cedar Co., where they remained until October, 1872, when they removed to Wilton. Mr. and Mrs. D. had four danghters, three still living- Catherine, born in Germany March 7. 1834; she became the wife of Aaron Christ- man, a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Iowa, Cedar Co., the fall of 1855; she died October 10, 1866, leaving four children ; her husband ontlived her but four years. Mary M .. born in Pennsylvania. March 30, 1850. consequently 17 years of age on coming to Iowa, and was married within three months of her arrival to Michael Witmer. of Cedar Co., now deceased. Wilhelmina E., born July 28. 1842. and mar- ried Jacob Miller, of Cedar Co., and Susanna R .. born July 14, 1846. the wife of Theodore Porter. all of whom are residents and prosperous farmers of Sugar Creek Tp., and have made the old people the grandparents of twenty-two children. Mem- bers of the U. B. Church, as were all the children before their marriage, some of whom have joined other churches with their husbands.
J. W. DERBY, farmer and stoek-raiser, See. 10; P. O. Wilton ; was born in Andover, Windsor Co., Vt., Nov. 12, 1829; when 21 years of age, he came to Illinois, where he worked at farming as an employe for six years, and, in the spring of 1856. came to Iowa, this county, and purchased the farm known as the Kenzie farm. In August. 1857, he married Miss Athie Wilson, who was born at Fredonia. N. Y .. Dec. 21. 1838 ; she was one of a family of twelve children of Leonard and Polly Wilson, all of whom lived to man and womanhood. the youngest being now 41 years of age ; the first death in the family, that of Almon W., who died in Wilton April 2, of the present year, aged 60 ; her mother died in 1875; her father still resides in the East at the advanced age of 84 years. Nathan Derby (the father of J. W.), a New Englander by birth, is now 86 years of age. In the fall of 1857, Mr. and Mrs. Derby settled where they now reside and own 160 acres of land, valued at $75 per aere; they have four children-Nathan W., born in February, 1859; Ida J .. Dec. 30. 1861 ; Eugene, Det. 6, 1866, and Leonard, Dec. 15, 1872. Republican ; has held the office of Town- ship Trustee and various school offices.
REV. NICHOLAS DUGGAN, Pastor of St. Mary's Church ; residence. Third street, Wilton ; born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1843 ; was raised a farmer, and, having received a good common school education, at the age of 18, he entered St. Patrick's College, in County Tipperary, where he remained for eight years, and was ordained at Thurles in 1873; in the fall of that year, emigrated to America and came to Dubuque, Iowa : the following spring, was appointed Assistant Priest with Father Flavin, at Davenport, where he remained for ten months, and in the latter part of 1874, came to Wilton as Pastor of St. Mary's Church, a history of which may be found in this volume.
F. D. FARRIER. of Farrier & Wooster, bakery and confectionery, Railroad street ; residence, Fourth street, Wilton ; was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, in September. 1847; when 10 years of age, his parents removed to Missouri, where his father ( who had been a dealer in dry goods engaged in farming until the spring of 1860, when they removed to this county and settled near Wilton. At the age of 16. in February. 1864. F. D. enlisted in the 11th I. V. I. ; participated at Atlanta and with Sherman's march to the sea ; was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 22. 1865. Sept. 21, 1871. he married Miss M. B. Stout, who was born in Pennsylvania Dec. 15, 1855. In July. 1876, he, in company with JJ. C. Sharp, opened his present business ; the May follow- ing, Mr. Sharp sold out to his present partner. John Wooster. They have three chil- dren-Florence L .. Della May and an infant. Republican ; Mrs. F. is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. F. is a member of the A. O. U. W., No. 100, Wilton Lodge.
ISAAC FOSTER. farmer. Sec. 9: P. O. Wilton ; a son of David Foster and Priscilla Guthrie ; the former a native of Virginia, but, at a very early age, brought to Ohio, near the line of Pike and Scioto Co .. where the latter was born; ju the fall of
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1851. they settled in this county, where they remained for ten years, thenee to Louisa Co., where they now reside ; had six children, three sons and three daughters ; Isaac, the second son, born in Pike Co .. Ohio, April 7, 1835 ; 16 years of age on coming to Iowa. July 3. 1856, he married Millie J. Wood, daughter of James Wood. of Dayton, Ind., where she was born in August, 1838: her father, soon after, removed to Ken- tucky. where he died ; her mother then married Err Thornton, and, in 1850, became one of the early settlers of Muscatine Co .; for seven years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Foster resided in Township Seventy-six, when they came to their present residence and farm of 180 acres; have seven children-Frank W., born April 30, 1857 : Clara M., Dec. 22, 1859; Luther E., March 20, 1862; Theodore M., Oet. 17, 1864; Err Thornton, April 28, 1868: David R., Nov. 28, 1871, and Mary E., Ang. 5. 1876. Mrs. F. is a member of the Reformed Church ; Republican.
J. L. GEISLER. Cashier Union Bank of Wilton, residence, Fourth street, Wilton ; son of Henry Geisler and Mary Wildason, natives of York Co., Penn., the former born in 1829, the latter in 1817; they became early settlers of Muscatine Co., and he became the first Postmaster of Wilton. In 1857. in company with Dennis Mahanna, Mr. Geisler, Sr., engaged in the grocery trade, which he continued until about a year previous to his death, in October, 1861, leaving a widow with two sons ; the youngest. J. L., was born in Wilton May 17, 1857 ; after receiving a liberal edu- cation at the schools of his native town, in January, 1875, he entered the bank of J. L. Reed ; remained for one year, then in the Farmers' & Citizens' Bank, until June, 1878; the Union Bank was established that year, since which he has acted as Cashier ; March 14 of the present year, he was appointed Secretary of the White Pigeon Fire and Lightning Insurance Company. A member of the Grace Reformed Church. Inde- pendent in politics.
B. S. GOULD, restaurant and bakery, Railroad st., opposite Depot ; residence same ; born in Franklin Co., Mass., July 26, 1836, and there raised until 18 years of age, when his parents removed to Davenport, Iowa, where his father died. In Octo- ber, 1856, he married Mrs. Sarah E., widow of Enos Glaskell and daughter of Gideon Averill ; she was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., June 2, 1830 ; at the age of 6 years, came with her parents to Illinois, near Pleasant Valley, and soon after, to Davenport, Iowa ; her brothers are extensive farmers near that eity ; her father died soon after their arrival there. In 1858, Mr. Gould, having secured a mail contract from Roches- ter, Cedar Co., to Dubuque. they removed to Rochester ; remained for two years, then returned to his native State (Massachusetts); remained until the breaking-out of the war, and enlisted in the 3d Cavalry (three-months men), Company B; he participated at the first battle at Bull Run ; his time having expired, he returned to Davenport, and engaged with the Davenport Sorghum Refining Company. In December, 1864, he re-enlisted in the 24th Iowa Infantry; was detailed to Governor's Island, N. Y., as assistant in charge of the prison there, and continued there until the elose of the war. He engaged in farming near Davenport until 1868; then removed to Marshalltown and engaged in dairying for two years, after which, he was in the employ of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company, for several years, and in the fall of 1878, he removed to Wilton, where he has since been engaged at his present business. They have two children-the eldest, Charles M., was born in 1857, is now operator and head clerk of freight depot for Chicago & Rock Island Railroad at Muscatine; Frank, born July 29, 1864.
FRANK P. GRAY, physician and surgeon ; office on Cedar street; boards at the MeIntire House, Wilton; a son of Dr. D. W. Gray, who was born in Greene Co., Penn., Feb. 22, 1827, and graduated first at Carmichael College, then at Miami Med- ical College, Cincinnati, Ohio; in 1851. at West Wheeling. Va., he married Mary Palmer, who was born at West Wheeling in 1832; he practiced in Sacksonville. in his native county, until 1870, and, in the spring of that year, came to Muscatine, where he practiced and dealt in drugs and medicines until his death, Nov. 6, 1877, leaving a wife and six children-three sons and three daughters ; the eldest son and second born, Frank P., was born in Greene Co., Penn., May 10, 1854, and, after a liberal common- school education, at the age of 16 he entered Waynesburg College, and graduated there ;
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at the age of' 18, he eouimeneed the study of medicine with his father; the winter of 1870-71, he entered the University of Wooster, at Cleveland, and the following sum- mer was passed at Marine Hospital, and the following winter, returned to Cleveland and graduated ; in February, 1872. he came to Muscatine, and, in the winter of 1873-74. graduated at Keokuk, commencing practice with his father the following summer, which he continued until coming here in February. ISTS. The Doctor adheres to the Demo- eratie faith, in which himself and his father were raised.
DANIEL HARKER. proprietor of Harker House, corner Railroad and Cedar streets, Wilton : a son of Daniel and Ann Harker, nee Kunkel, natives of Sussex Co., N. Y., and born, the former in 1800. the latter in 1803; they had nine children : Daniel was born in 1833, in Sussex Co .. N. Y .: at the age of 12, with his parents, he removed to Orange Co., N. Y .. and. in 1855, the family, parents and three children. came to Iowa, settled in Muscatine, and, in March, 1856, removed to Wilton, where the father died in 1875, the mother having since found a home with her son, who, in November, 1861. married Ann E .. daughter of Joseph Ours; she was born in Montour Co., Penn .. in 1540, and, with her parents, came to this county in 1859. In March, 1862. they assumed charge of the Wilton House, that being the first hotel worthy the name of the place : remained there until November, 1863, after which he engaged in the grocery trade. auctionvering, ete .. until January. 1873, when. having been reading law for several years, was admitted to the bar: during the same year. he was appointed Postmaster. and, in 1878, removed to his present place of residence. They have ten children-Alberta K .. Alfred L., George A .. Anna G., Hattie A., Mary E., John K., Joseph N .. Nelly E. and an infant. Independent in politics ; Mrs. Harker is a member of the Reformed Church. Mr. Harker has been a member of the Board of County Supervisors, Justice of the Peace. Mayor of Wilton, Trustee. Clerk and Coustable.
J. B. HARRIS, with D. M. Benner, proprietor of' Wilton Collegiate Institute : residence on Sycamore street, between Fifth and Sixth. Wilton ; Mr. Harris was born near Gettysburg. Penn .. Feb. 7. 1930 ; when 4 years of age, he was taken by his parents to Salem, Ohio, where, after receiving an academical education. at the age of 23 he engaged in teaching. as Principal of the graded schools of New Lisbon, Ohio, for seven years. During his residence in that city, in March. 1857, he married Annie. daughter of William Dorwart, who was born in Lancaster, Penn .. April 2. 1834. In the fall of 1860, they came west and settled at Wilton, where he immediately proceeded to establish a school in the second story of what is now the Wilton House ; commenced with two students, increased to thirty for that term, and continued for five years, with an average attendance of over eighty : about that time, a building was ereeted for his use on Fourth street (what is now the Porter House), in which he taught four and a half years then in the second story of the Bacon Block for three years, turning out during these years many students. prepared for the Freshman and Sophomore Classes in college : also many who became successful teachers and business men. embracing all classes of professional and business men ; he afterward taught at Durant and at various points, but for one year has been connected as above, which, under the present auspices. seems encouraging ; particular attention is being paid to normal classes. Mr. Harris has five children-four daughters, and two of the daughters have for several years been engaged in teaching in this and adjoining counties, and are also successful as teachers of music. Members of the Presbyterian Church ; Mr. H. is a Republican.
W. F. HAYFORD. dealer in agricultural implements, stoves and tinware, Fourth St., corner Cedar ; residence, Fifth St., West Wilton ; was born at Spafford. Onondaga Co .. N. Y .. July 2, 1843 ; there he was a farmer until 1868, when he came to Michigan, and, in the spring of 1869, to Iowa, and engaged at his present business. at Durant, Cedar Co .. and remained there until 1874, when he removed to Wilton and purchased the stock of goods and good-will of Hall & Kyser. In Durant, March 15, 1871. he married Miss Ellen, daughter of David T. Hedges; she was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y .. July, 1847; they have had two children-Jennie L .. born Sept. 21. 1872. Fred B., born Nov. 17. 1875, died Sept. 5, 1878. Republican. Mrs. Hayford is a member of the Presbyte- rian Church, as were her parents and ancestors.
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JAMES HESNEN. baggage-master, Wilton : was born in County Meath, Ireland. April 14, 1837 ; when 10 years of age, his father died, and his mother soon after emigrated to America, leaving him with relatives until he was 14 years of age, when she sent for him, having found a home in New York City ; soon after he arrived there, they removed to Otisville, Orange Co., N. Y., where, in August, 1861, he married Miss B. Sherdin, who was born in County Meath, Ireland, May, 1839. In the spring of 1867. he, with his family and mother, came to Iowa, settling in Wilton, where he worked on the C .. R. I. & P. R R., then in course of construction, and, as Assistant Roadmaster, attended to supplies, and after the completion of the road, took charge of of depot at W. Harrington; took care of freight, baggage and tickets. March 10. 1876, his wife died, leaving seven children, six of whom are now living-Jane, Bridget, Rose. Andrew, George and Ellen. Members of the Catholic Church.
H. A. HOLLISTER. farmer, stock-dealer and breeder of short-horn cat- tle, roadsters and draught-horses, See. 5 : P. O. Wilton ; born in Sullivan Co., N. Y., April, 1826, and after receiving a common-school education, at the age of 22, he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed continuously until October, 1852, when he came to this county, where he continued his trade. Jan. 2, 1856, he married Hannah A., daughter of Silas and Huldah Hanson (nee Randall), natives of Maine, but among the first settlers of this county, emigrating in 1839; were three months on the road. Her mother was a sister of Thomas E. Randall, who was the first settler of what was Randall's (now Center) Grove ; her parents settled at Randall's Grove, where her father and two brothers died, a few months after their arrival. Her mother fived to rear a family of six children, three sons und three daughters, and died in September. 1861. Mrs. H. was the youngest of the family ; born at Waldo, Me., Feb. 27, 1833. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. R. removed to their present place of residence, where he had sufficient means to purchase eighty acres of land and erect a eabin, 14x16, in which they lived for several years, and which he still retains as a remembrance of early times. He now owns 417 acres of well-improved land, valued at $75 per acre. Mr. H. was one of the first in the State to turn his attention to the breeding of short-horn cattle, and now has 100 head of well-bred stock ; has also devoted much time and atten- tion to the breeding of fine horses. They have four children-Ida T., born Sept. 11, 1856 (now wife of L. W. Newell, of this county) ; Mary C., born April 8, 1860; Sarah Il., born April 19, 1863, and Edwin H., born Jan. 18, 1866. Republican ; mem- bers of the First Congregational Church at Wilton. Has held various township and school offices, having been Assessor for three years ; was appointed Enrolling Officer during the late war.
JACOB HOUGH. farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Durant ; born in Westmoreland, Penn., Oct. 22, 1814; raised a farmer and miller, with an education such as was to be had at the common schools of that day ; at the age of 22, he left home and learned the ship-carpenter's trade, which he followed for four years, after which he went steam- boating on the Ohio for four years. February, 1841, he married Miss Jane Bell, who was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1816 ; she died the 18th of July following their marriage ; June, 1848, he married Miss Eliza, daughter of William and Mary Sloan, natives of Pittsburgh, Penn., where she was born, Jan 11, 1822, and left an orphan by the death of both parents when a child. For two years following their mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. IF. kept the Lamerleen House in Pittsburgh; moved thence to Freeport, Armstrong Co., where they farmed for eleven years, then came to lowa and settled in Farmington Tp., Cedar Co., and in 1865, to his present place of residence, where he owns 275 aeres of land, valued at $60 per acre. They have six children -- Mahlon R., born in Pittsburgh April 24, 1847; is a farmer of Guthrie Co .; Mary W., born July, 1851, a successful teacher; Annie, born March 30, 1853; a teacher at Des Moines : Rebecca, born May 10, 1855, a teacher; Bayard T., born July 14, 1857; Johnston T., born March 24, 1860. Neutral in politics. Mrs. H. is a member of the Congregational Church at Durant.
E. KLEPPER, dealer in books and stationery, with wall-paper, window- shades, brackets and furniture on the upper floor. Cedar street ; residence, Sixth street,
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Wilton ; son of Christian Klepper, a native of Pennsylvania ; came to Museatine Co. in 1857 ; his son, E. Klepper, was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1844; had a good common-school education ; at the age of 18, engaged as clerk with S. A. Foulke, at Muscatine, and remained for two years there; enlisted in the 35th I. V. I., Co. B, Capt. Steward ; participated at Tupelo, Miss., Tallahatchie River, Nashville, Tenn .. Mobile, Ala., and others ; July, 1865, was transferred to the 12th I. V. I. ; mustered out, January, 1866; elerked for his former employer for two years. In September, 1868, he married Eric, daughter of Lewis Burdett, who was one of the first settlers of this county ; she was born in Museatine Co., in 1848. After his marriage, he pur- chased a farm in Sweetland Tp., where he remained until 1874, and August of that year, engaged as clerk at the grange co-operative store at Wilton ; after eighteen months was made manager of the same for two years, and January, 1878, purchased his present business. They have two children-Alfred B., born April 2, 1871, and Bennie C., born May 24, 1874. Members of M. E. Church. Republican. Member of the 1. O. U: W., Seenrity Lodge, No. 100, in which he is Overseer ; is also Alderman.
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