USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > The History of Muscatine county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 90
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WILLIAM. P. RICHARDSON, farmer, Sec. 5: P. O. West Liberty ; is now living upon the farm of eighty acres owned by his brother, Joseph W. Richard- son ; owns a farm of 160 acres in Ringgold Co .; born Feb. 20, 1816, in Cayuga Co., N. Y .; parents moved to Knox Co., Ohio, in 1818, and to this county in the fall of 1849 ; his father died July 21, 1854, and his mother in August, 1850. Married Caroline Keyes, of this county, Feb. 17, 1853 ; she was born Oct. 13, 1830, in Monroe Co., N. Y .; her parents moved to Branch Co., Mich., in November, 1836, and to this county in 1848; have three children-John, Mary and Hugh. Mr. R. moved to Grand Traverse, Mich., in 1871, and returned in 1875, since which time he has lived on his brother's farm.
GEORGE H. SCOTT, dealer in general merchandise, Atalissa, Iowa ; born in Cedar Co., Iowa, in 1839. Married Margaret Hutchinson in 1866; she was born
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in Ohio; have five children-Joseph, Mary, Minnie, Jesse and Elsie. Mr. S. enlisted in Co. D, 24th I. V. I., in 1862; discharged in 1865. Democrat.
BENJAMIN N. SMITH, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Atalissa ; owns 127 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre ; born July 20, 1825, in Meigs Co., Ohio ; his parents moved to Gallia Co. in 1827, and afterward to Allen Co., Ind., and thence to Cedar Co. in the spring of 1852; in 1854, came onto his present farm. Married Miss Sarah Drake April 16, 1851 ; she was born in 1828, in Steuben Co., N. Y .; have six chil- dreu living-Lena M., Lovisa, Mary, Eugenie V., Leonard and Henry ; has served his township as Trustee, School Director, ete., several years. Republican.
JOHN SMITH, far., See. 33; P. O. West Liberty ; son of Gerat and Eliza- beth Smith ; owns 290 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre ; born March 17, 1823, in Licking Co., Ohio. Married Catharine Davis, daughter of Isaac and Mary Davis, May 7, 1846; she was born Feb. 3, 1824, in Morgan Co., Ohio; commenced keeping house in Morgan Co., and, in the fall of 1849, came to Muscatine Co. and entered the forty, upon which he still lives, from the Government. Have seven children-Martin, born March 16, 1847; Wm. D., March 8, 1849; Sophronia, Feb. 4, 1852; Mary, Nov. 2, 1854; Rhoena, May 13, 1855; Davis, March 8, 1857; Rhoda, Nov. 14, 1863; lost one .son-John, born March 5, 1850, and died Oct. 16, 1860. Repub- lican.
J. S. TURNER, physician and surgeon, and dealer in drugs and medicines, Atalissa ; born in Cass Co., Mich., in 1854; came to Iowa in 1860, and located with parents in Davis Co .; located in Atalissa in 1878. Married Carrie Wakefield ; she was born in Pennsylvania ; have two children-Maud and Everett. Republican.
P. VANATTA, far., Sec. 33; P. O. West Liberty ; son of James and Katy A. Vanatta ; born Feb. 21, 1837, in Beaver Co., Penn .; came with parents to Musca- tine Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1846, locating near Muscatine, and subsequently mov- ing to Seventy-six Tp., where they are still living. Married Miss Elizabeth P. Kinsley. of this county, Dee. 1, 1862; she was born March 1, 1839, in Marion Co., Mo .; have four children living-Elmer, born Nov. 6, 1863: Albert L., May 10, 1865 ; Lillie, born July 7, 1873, and Frank B., born Aug. 13, 1876 ; lost one infant son. Mr. V. owns a farm upon which he lives of 170 acres, valued at $30 per acre. Is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church ; Republican.
HANSON B. WATTERS, far., Sec. 12; P. O. Atalissa ; son of Dr. W. W. Watters; owns eighty-seven acres of land, valued at $60 per acre; born Dec. 9, 1840, in Belmont Co., Ohio ; came with parents to this county in the spring of 1851. At his country's call, enlisted in Co. G, of 2d I. V. C., in August, 1861, and re-enlisted as veteran in February, 1864; was mustered out at Davenport October, 1865; partici- pated at siege of Corinth, Iuka, Tupelo, Battle of Corinth and Coffeeville, Miss., where he was slightly wounded, the ball passing through his saber-belt, clothing and memo- randum-book, and lodging against one of his ribs, knocking him down as quick as if it had gone through him. Married Miss Ruth H. Parker Dec. 24, 1868; she was born in February. 1846, in Columbia Co., Penn., have three children-Allen P., Wm. L. and George S. Came onto his present farm in 1869. Has served as Township Assessor several years. Republican.
DR. W. W. WATTERS, far., Sec. 1; P. O. Atalissa ; owns 200 acres in his home farm, and 90 acres in Cedar Co., valued at $11,000; born March 17, 1809, in Harford Co., Md .; with his father, Win. Watters, moved to Belmont Co., Ohio, in the fall of 1822; in the spring of 1834, commenced the study of medicine at Somer- ton in same county, and graduated at Cincinnati Medical College in 1839. Married Miss Teresa D. Gregg March 15, 1840; she was born January 21, 1821, in Belmont Co., Ohio; followed the practice of his profession till he emigrated to Muscatine Co., in the spring of 1851, and entered from Government his home farm, since which time he has devoted his time to farming; his children are Hanson B., Wm. G., Mary E., Henry Q., Walter P., Emma I. and Sarah W .; all live near him except his son Wm. G., who is in California ; his sons, Hanson B. and Wm. G. served their country in the late rebellion. Polities, Republican.
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GEORGE R. WILKINSON, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Atalissa ; owns 238 acres of land, valued at $40 per aere; born July 28, 1821, in Chester Co., Penn., where his parents died, his father in 1835 and his mother in 1838; in August, 1839, he went to Belmont Co., Ohio, and worked at the potter's trade. While there, he mar- ried Miss Maria Smith March 21, 1845 ; she was born in December, 1820, in Lancas- ter Co., Penn .; in the summer of 1855, they came to Muscatine Co., Iowa, and located on the farm upon which he still lives ; have seven ehildren-Eleanora, Gilpin, Elma W., now Bowie ; Dallas, Alice V., Lucetta and Anna M .; lost two-Samuel S. and Philena. Was raised under the instruction of the Society of Friends ; Republican.
GEORGE WORRALL, Postmaster, his wife proprietor of hotel, Atalissa ; born Sept. 19, 1804, in Harrison Co., Ohio; in 1828, went to Wayne Co., Ind., and subsequently to Hamilton Co .; in 1841, returned to Ohio ; in June, 1855, emigrated to Cedar Co., Iowa ; at Pedee, engaged in mercantile business, and was also Postmaster; in 1857, eame to Atalissa and engaged in the same business, and was appointed Post- master, which position he has held ever since. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Co. B, of the 37th I. V. I., ealled the Gray-Beard Regiment, and used for guarding posts ; the principal places were St. Louis, Rock Island, Memphis, Indianapolis, Ind., Cincin- nati and Gallipolis, Ohio; at the latter place, he was discharged in January, 1865, returned home, and has since been Postmaster. He married Sarah Barnett in 1830; she was born in 1803, in Ohio, and died in 1841 ; he married again, Leah Hodgin, in 1843; she was born in Ohio and died in 1846 ; married again, Sarah W. Hart, March 6, 1854; she was born Sept. 30, 1827, in Morgan Co., Ohio ; she was in the millinery business three years in Ohio, and opened the first millinery and dressmaking establish- ment in this town in 1857, which she continued till in 1874, when she engaged in the hotel business ; Mr. W.'s children by his first wife were Thomas, Nathaniel, Jonathan, Mary Eleanor and John, all of whom are dead; second wife, Elias and an infant, also dead; by third wife, three living-Jerome, who still lives at home ; Emma H. and George ; lost one-Frank V. Mrs. W. is a member of the Presbyterian Church ; Mr. W. is a Republican.
WAPSINONOC TOWNSHIP.
CHARLES BARNES, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. West Liberty ; son of Enos and Charlotte (Bagley) Barnes; was born in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1831 ; came to Iowa in 1839, where he has sinee resided; improved the fine farm on which he now resides, consisting of 443 aeres. Mr. B. married, in the fall of 1852, Miss Mary M., daughter of Adam Hemperley, and a native of Pennsylvania; they have four children-Iva Luella, Byron W., Chester H. and Harvey C. Mr. B. is a mechanic and plow maker, which occupation he followed for several years prior to engaging in farming. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and a stanch Republican.
FRANKLIN BARNES, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. West Liberty ; was born in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1833; in 1839, with his parents, removed to Muscatine, Iowa, where he has sinee resided. Mr. B. married Miss Elizabeth Larne, of Johnson Co., Iowa, in 1857 ; she is a native of Wayne Co., Ohio, and came to Iowa with her parents in about 1845 ; they have five children-Thedora (now Mrs. Wagner), Susie, Fannie, Harry and Nellie. Mr. B. has a fine farm of 360 aeres; is one of Muscatine Co.'s staneh and enterprising farmers. He has ever been a stanch Republican. His parents, Enos and Charlotte (Bagley) Barns, were natives of Vermont and New Hampshire ; married in Vermont, in 1815, removing thence to Ohio; they were among the very early settlers of that part of the State; they had nine children when they came to Iowa, in 1839, eight still living-Almond, Simeon, Gilbert, Charles, Lucy (now Mrs. Colman),
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Amy (now Mrs. Checsboro), Diantha (now Mrs. Givans) and Franklin. Mr. B. died in November, 1877, at the age of 82 years; his wife is still living, at the advanced age of 83.
THOMIS BIRKETT, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. West Liberty ; was born in Lancashire, England, in 1829, where he received a good education ; in 1850, he set sail for the United States ; stopped in New Jersey ; remained two years ; emigrated to California in the spring of 1852; there successfully engaged in mining until the fall of 1855, when he returned to New Jersey, and married Miss Lucy Hargraves, a native of that State, and in the spring of 1856, sought a permanent home in Iowa. They had two children-Lucy M. (now Mrs. Nichols) and Charles E. Mrs. B. died April 1, 1859, leaving a devoted husband and two small children to mourn their loss. In 1861, Mr. B. married Miss Susie Hargraves ; they have six children-Lilla, Edith, Bertha, Vincent H., Lindley T. and Fred. Mrs. B. is a consistent member of the Methodist Church. Mr. B. has held several offices of trust and responsibility in the county, and for the last five years has been County Commissioner. Was a Whig; now a Republican.
JOHN A. EVANS, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. West Liberty ; son of Simeon and Polly Evans ; owns 160 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre; born May 11, 1833, in Otsego Co., N. Y .; parents moved to Geauga Co., Ohio, in 1834; his father died there June 4, 1853; in the spring of 1856, he came to this county, first locating in West Liberty, where he kept a meat market ; afterward in the lumber business two years, prior to coming on his present farm in 1873. Married Flora M. Barnes Aug. 4, 1860 ; she was born May 6, 1836, in Connecticut; have two children-Fred W. and Willie J .; lost one-Robert ; also has two adopted children-George D. and Jessie. Is a member of Mt. Calvary Lodge, No. 95, at West Liberty, of which he has served as Worshipful Master eleven years. Republican.
HENRY FELKNER, Scc. 5; P. O. Downey, Cedar Co. ; was born in Fair- field Co., Ohio, in 1810; in 1833, he removed to Indiana, and thence to Iowa in the spring of 1837, first locating in Johnson Co. ; he laid claim to a tract of land (960 acres ) near Iowa City ; he also built two saw-mills there that he operated successfully for some years ; in 1843, he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Enoch Lewis ; she was a native of Highland Co., Ohio, and came to Iowa with her parents in 1841, who settled near West Liberty, where they resided till the time of their death. Mr. and Mrs. F. have had twelve children ; those still living are Iowa, Elma M. (now Mrs. Haynes), Mary, Henry, William, Smith, Milton, Elizabeth, Sarah J. and Clinton. In 1868, Mr. F. removed to Muscatine Co., where he now resides. Mrs. F. died in April, 1877. Mr. F. is of the energetic and enterprising class of pioneers who help to develop the country and make Iowa one of the first among the States. He is a Dem- ocrat.
SAMUEL HENDRICKSON, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. West Liberty ; owns 4744 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre ; born April 19, 1815, in Holmes Co., Ohio; in October, 1837, came to Muscatine Co .; arrived here with but $5 in his pocket ; pur- chased the claim for the place where he still lives for $100, and went to work to earn the money to pay for it, which he did the following winter and spring; he then took a trip down the Mississippi as far as Cairo, and through Ohio and back to Muscatine Co. In the fall of 1839, married Esther Lewis, of this county, Feb. 12, 1840; she was born in December, 1823, in Erie Co., Penn., and died in April, 1855, leaving him with a family of small children ; he again married Jane Hayan in March, 1856; she was born in August, 1813, in Tompkins Co., N. Y .; she died April 7, 1878 ; had no children by second wife ; by first wife five living-Andrew, Mary, Elizabeth, John and Abner ; lost three-Margaret, Catharine and William ; is also raising a grandson-Chester Williams ; his sons Andrew, John and Abner served their country in the army during the late rebellion ; youngest son Abner is in Montana. Republican.
GAD JAMES, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. West Liberty ; was born in Carmar- thenshire, Wales, in 1835; emigrated to the United States in 1852, settling first in New York, where he resided one year; removed thence to Illinois, and, in 1853, to
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[owa, where he has since resided with the exception of two years (from 1864 to 1866), when he was in Montana engaged in mining ; he returned to Iowa the fall of 1866, and married Miss Harriet Kiles, a native of Allen Co., Ind. ; they have six children- George E., Curtis W., May, Edwin, Bertha and Jessie. Mr. J. is engaged in the im- provement of fine short-horn cattle, has some very fine registered stock. Is a stanch Republican.
JOSIAH KEISLER, retired farmer, West Liberty ; born in Westmore- land Co., Penn., on the 15th of April, 1802. He married Mary Register in 1826 ; she also was a native of Pennsylvania ; she died in 1867; they had twelve children, six are now living-Hannah, Thomas, Mary, Ruth, Sarah and Elvira. Mr. K. married again in 1867, to Alvira Andrews ; she was born in Indiana.
J. W. McELRAVY, editor of the Weekly Enterprise, West Liberty ; born in Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1836 ; came to Iowa in 1868, and located in West Liberty. Married Arabella Lewis ; she was born in Cedar Co. ; have three children-Edna, Gracie and Eleanor.
JOUT MAXSON, Postmaster, West Liberty ; born in Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1833 ; came to Iowa in 1838, and located in Cedar Co. Mr. Maxon settled in West Liberty in 1864. Married Lorencie Haven in 1871 ; she was born in Vermont ; have four children-Dora, Willie, Hal and Barrel. Republican.
ROBERT MILLER, far., Sec. 9; P. O. West Liberty ; was born in the County of Tyrone, North of Ireland, in 1832 ; emigrated to the United States in 1847, settling first in West Virginia ; in 1854, visited California, where he successfully engaged in mining for several years ; in 1857, returned to the States, locating near West Liberty ; has made the principal improvements on the farm on which he resides, consisting of 240 acres. Mr. M. married Miss Maria Keith (a native of Carroll Co., Ohio) in 1859; they have four children-Julia, Celeste, Howard and Harry. Members of the Chris- tian Church ; Mr. M. is a member of the A., F. & A. M. ; also of the R. A. M. Chapter. Mr. M. is a stanch Republican in his political views. Mr. M. was one of the pioneers in the fine blooded-stock business, and six or seven years ago founded his now justly famous herd of short-horns, Plum-Grove Herd, which is one of the most extensive, and none superior, in the West; his trade extends from the Mississippi to the Pacific Coast ; he has sold several large herds to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Dakota.
J. P. MOUNTAIN, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. West Liberty ; son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Pringey) Mountain, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but now deceased; is a native of Somerset Co., Penn .; born in 1833; in 1857, he came and located in Muscatine Co., Iowa, improving the fine farm on which he now resides, con- sisting of 240 acres. Mr. M. married in 1873 Miss Molly A. Cuppet, a native of West Virginia ; they have two children-Earl and Lesta. Mrs. M. is a consistent member of the M. E. Church; Mr. M. has for several years been interested in the improvement of short-horned cattle, and has some very fine registered cattle. Is a stanch Republican.
IRA NICHOLS, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. West Liberty ; a native of Seneca Co., N. Y .; born in 1820 ; removed with his parents to Morrow Co., Ohio; remained there till 1853, then removed to Muscatine Co., Iowa, where he has since resided ; in the same year he located and improved the farm on which he now resides. Mr. N. married Miss Elizabeth W. Luse, a native of Washington Co., Penn., in 1843; they have three children-Charles M., Isaac A. and J. I .; one son, Pliny C., died in the hospital from a wound received at Vicksburg. Members of the Methodist Church ; Mr. N. is a stanch Republican.
ISAAC J. PURVIS, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. West Liberty ; was born in New York in 1830; removed with his parents to Ohio when about 2 years old ; remained till 1852, then removed to Iowa, locating in Muscatine Co. Married in 1854, Miss Mary Wright at West Liberty ; she is a native of Ohio; they have seven chil- dren-Charles, Amanda, Linna, Nellie, Mabel, Lorena and Mattie. Mr. P. is a brick- maker by trade, which he followed for some years; is now a farmer. Is a stanch Republican.
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J. D. ROMAINE, far., Sec. 16; P. O. West Liberty ; was born in Passaic Co., N. J., in 1816; coming West in 1841, he located in Muscatine Co., Iowa, where he has since resided. Mr. R., in 1843, married Miss Mary Lewis, of this county. a native of Ohio ; they have three children-Lewis, Walter and Eva. Mr. R. has a farm of 150 acres, upon which he made all the improvements. Mr. R. was a Demo- erat ; acts with the Greenback party.
JAMES F. SCHENCK, far., Sec. 6; P. O. Downey, Cedar Co .; was born in Franklin, Warren Co., Ohio, in 1829, where he resided and received such an educa- tion as the schools of that early day afforded ; he came to lowa in 1845, settling first in Muscatine, and for several years engaged in merchandising and improving the fine farm on which he now resides, consisting of 120 acres. Mr. S. has held several offices in the county, and is Justice of the Peace. He was in the Commissary Department during the war. Mr. S. married, in 1855, in Muscatine, Miss Maria C. Bell; they have seven children-John B., Phoebe W., Charles G., Mary B., Ida, Elizabeth and James. Mrs. S. is a native of Kentucky ; came to Iowa in 1854. Was a Whig, and at the organization of the Republican party, joined its ranks and has acted with it since. Is a member of A., F. & A. M.
WILLIAM SMITH, far., Sec. 31 ; P. O. West Liberty ; son of Gerat and Elizabeth Smith ; owns 236 acres of land, valued at $10 per acre; born March 25, 1833, in Licking Co., Ohio; came to this county in the fall of 1849. Married Melissa Coble May 1, 1856; she was born in May, 1840, and died Feb. 7, 1868; again mar- ried, Sarah Surgeon, July 28, 1869 ; she was born Aug. 15, 1840, in Perry Co., Ohio ; has four children by first wife; living-Henry, born Oct. 22, 1857 ; Mattie, born Aug. 13, 1861 ; William, born Oct. 18, 1865 ; Jane, born Nov. 18, 1867 : lost two-Eliza- beth and Jerry ; has by second wife five children-George E., born April 18, 1870 ; John C. and Lillie, born Nov. 29, 1871 ; Frank I., born Feb. 16, 1874; Luetta, born March 14, 1877 ; Clarence, born Jan. 12, 1879 ; lost one-John C., died Sept. 16, 1877. Democrat.
JOHN G. WALES, far., Sec. 31; P. O. West Liberty ; son of Edward and Mary D. Wales ; owns 125 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre; born May 5, 1833, in Yorkshire, England ; in the spring of 1849, parents came to Allegheny Co., Penn., and in the spring of 1851, to this county ; his mother died in July, 1876, and his father returned to England in 1877. John G. married Miss Adaline Tar, daughter of Samuel Tar, of Muscatine, Feb. 19, 1856 ; she was born Dee. 2, 1828, in Indiana ; have two and Sarah children-Samuel E., born Nov. 29, 1857, and Sarah E., born Sept. 19, 1861 ; lost . one-Thomas C. Member of the Presbyterian Church ; Democrat.
L. G. WIGGINS, far., See. 6; P. O. Downey, Cedar Co .; a native of Hock- ing Co., Ohio ; born in 1830; removed with his parents to Tippecanoe Co., Ind., 1836; in 1852, he located in Muscatine Co., Iowa, on the farm where he now resides, consist- ing of 478 acres. In 1854, he married Miss Amanda Adams, a native of Ohio ; came to this State in 1848; they have six children-Sylvia May (now Mrs. MeKein), Sarah Ann, Lucy, Etta, William F. and Cora J. Mr. W. is one of Muscatine Co.'s enterprising farmers. Acts with the Democratic party.
LAKE TOWNSHIP.
Too late for insertion.
W. L. BUTLER, farmer. Mr. Butler was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, in 1829 ; when he was 11 years of age, removed with his parents to St. Louis; he came to Muscatine Co. in 1854, and settled in Lake Township, where he now resides. He married Miss Martha Bumgardner, of this county ; she was born in Virginia, in 1833; her parents came to this county while she was a child ; were pioneers of the county ; they have nine children - George Henry, Martha, Lincoln, Charles, Sarah, Emery. John, Esther and Mary. Members of the M. E. Church ; he acts with the Repub- lican party. Owns 240 acres of land ; his residence is on Sec. 30, four and one-half miles from city of Muscatine.
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