USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,. > Part 102
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SMITH, J. A .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 11, P. O. Sheridan Cen- tre. Was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1853, and was there raised until eleven years of age, when he moved with his parents to Scott county, this State; there he resided for seven years, and then moved to Tama county, this State, where he remained until 1876, when he moved to his present location. He has always been a farmer since his early life. His father, J. H. Smith, is now living in Tama county, Iowa, and has always followed the pursuits of agriculture. Mr. Smith now owns a fine farm of 130 acres, all in a good state of cultivation.
STOCKING, G. H .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 8, P. O. Sheridan Centre. Was born in Greene county, New York, February 22, 1833, and was there educated and raised to manhood; moved to Illinois, and lived there three years. He returned to New York at which place he resided for two years. Then went to teaming from Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the mountains to Denver, Colorado. He drove seven yoke of cattle and made four trips. He returned to New York, where he remained for a few months, and in 1865 he moved with his family to Poweshiek county, and settled in his present location. He own a fine farm of 150 acres with good buildings. He was married, October 1, 1860, to Miss Mary A. Barnum, a native of Greene county, New York. Their family consists of two children: Sarah and Arthur.
SWIFT, EDGAR-Farmer, section 16, P. O. Sheridan Centre. Was
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born in Livingston county, New York, December 21, 1824, where he at- tained his fifteenth year. He moved with his parents to Winnebago county, Illinois, and was there raised to manhood. Learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, in his youth, which, with farming, have been his occupations through life. He was married, in Winnebago county, Illinois, in 1851, to Miss C. Grover, of Oneida county, New York; she died in 1853, and left two children: Leonard and Mary C. He was again married, in 1854, to Miss Lena Billick; she is a native of Livingston county, New York; she is a lady of refinement and culture. From this union they have five children living: Lovell, Anson, Irene, Hiram and Eugene; they have one deceased. He enlisted August 5, 1862, in company B, Seventy-fourth Illinois infan- try, was in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Dalton, Dallas, Altoona, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, all the battles of Atlanta and vicinity, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. He was there wounded and removed to field hospital. He again joined his command after about four weeks, and then engaged in the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin, Tenessee, first and second battles of Nashville and several others. He was promoted to orderly sergeant. Was honorably discharged June 10, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee, then returned to his home, in Winnebago county, Illinois, where he resided until the fall of 1871, then he came to his present location, where he owns a valuable farm of 80 acres of well cultivated land with first-class improvements. He was elected town- ship clerk and served three years to the entire satisfaction of the people.
W ASSON, E .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 15, P. O. Sheridan Centre. Was born in the State of New York, July 1, 1833, and was there educated and raised to manhood. He emigrated to Peoria county, Illinois, in 1854, at which place he resided twelve years. Then moved to Poweshiek county in 1866, and settled in Pleasant township, where he remained two years when he came to Malcom township where he resided three years, then removed to his present location, where he owns a fine farm of 200 acres, all under cultivation. He is among the leading stock-raisers of the township. Is an active member of M. E. Church, and takes a warm interest in its welfare. He was married, in February, 1854, to Miss Maria L. Wasson, a native of New York. Their family consists of three children: Eva B., Charles and Minnie.
WOLCOTT, G. G .- Farmer, section 17, P. O. Sheridan Centre. Was born in Delaware county, New York, May 1, 1842, and when about nine years of age moved to Illinois, and there resided until 1869, when he moved to Buffalo county, Wisconsin. He lived there four years and then came to his present location. He was married, April 4, 1866, to Miss Sarah J.
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Robeson, a native of Illinois. Their family consists of five children living: Emma R., Effie May, Carrie Bell, George L. and Bertie; lost one, an infant. Mr. Wolcott enlisted March 12, 1862, in company L, Second Illinois artillery; he was in several battles: second seige of Vicksburg and the battle of Little Hatchie, which lasted four hours with a loss of fifteen hundred men; also Black River, Port Gibson and Champion's Hill. He was mustered out September 25, 1865. Mr. Wolcott owns 40 acres of fine land and rents 160 acres, making in all 200 acres which he manages.
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B ROSS, G. D .- Farmer and preacher, section 29, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born in New Jersey in 1817, where, after finishing his education, he engaged in farming, and, in 1835, was married to Miss Eliza Martin, of the same place, by which union they have two girls and four boys now living. Their oldest daughter died in Brooklyn in 1868. In 1855 Mr. B. and family came to this county and settled on the present site of Brooklyn, being the first white family of the town. He here kept a tavern nearly four years, then engaged in farming near Brooklyn till the spring of 1868, when he settled on his present farm of 240 acres, which is now under good cultiva- tion. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and has spent the greater part of his life in preaching the gospel for the good of his fellow-man. He has filled the pulpit of the Baptist Church in Brooklyn some eighteen months, and has traveled a good deal in Poweshiek and Johnson counties.
BRUSH, T. P .- Farmer, section 3, P. O. Haven, Tama county. Was born in the State of New York, May 10, 1843. At the age of two years he moved with his parents to Wisconsin, where his father engaged in farm- ing till 1851, when, with his family, he came to Winneshiek county, where our subject, after finishing his education, engaged in farming till 1878, when he located in Tama county for a few months, and in 1879 came to his present place, where he owns 270 acres, thirty of which are timber; there being a good residence site on his farm. Mr. B. was married, in Win- neshiek county, April 4, 1863, to Mrs. Sarah Amanda Wray, of same county, and a native of Chenango county, New York, aged twenty-seven. She had two children by a former marriage: Alice F. (aged twenty-two; now the wife of H. Bures, of Boone, this State) and Nina R. (aged twenty; now the wife of George Stone, of Madison township). By this last union there are six children living: Aethra A. (aged sixteen), Charles E. (aged thir- teen), Samuel E. (aged eleven), Amza G. (aged nine), Sarah Amanda (aged
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seven) and Ralph E. (aged three); also, Ennina (deceased; aged twenty-one days).
C ARPENTER, MELROSE-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 9, P. O.
Brooklyn. Was born in the State of New York, March 9, 1828, where, after completing his education, he engaged in farming till 1851, when he came to Iowa and settled in Scott county. Here he farmed till 1854, when he came to this county and located where he now lives and owns 370 acres of improved land, well stocked. He was married, October 18, 1853, in Westport, New York, to Miss A. Wood, a native of the same county, aged sixteen, by whom he had three children: Wallace W. (aged twenty-five; married and lives in this county), Henry H. (aged sixteen) and Charles E. (aged thirteen). Mrs. Carpenter, after a few weeks' illness, died February 27, 1880, leaving her family and a large circle of friends to mourn her loss.
COULSON, JABEZ-Farmer, section 15, P. O. Brooklyn. Born in Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, July 16, 1836; attended school till fifteen years of age, and then commer ed working in his father's tannery, where he con- tinued till 1851, when he came to Iowa and settled in Cedar county, en- gaging in farming till 1854, when he came to this county and resumed farming. In 1863 he bought and settled where he now lives, his farm con- sisting of forty acres of well improved land. Mr. C. was married, in the fall of 1854, in this county, to Miss Mary E. Boyl, by whom he has three children: Perry C. P. (aged nineteen), Nettie M. (aged seventeen) and H. C. (aged eleven).
TAVIDSON, MOSES-Farmer, section 17, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1837, where he lived on a farm till 1855, when, with his parents, he came to Brooklyn, where his parents have died. August 12, 1862, Mr. D. enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Iowa, in which he served three years, having never enjoyed good health since his discharge. He was first married in August, 1869, in Marion, this State, by which marriage he had two children, one a boy the other a girl- the girl having died in 1874. His wife died May 26, 1874. Mr. D., for his second wife, married Miss Elizabeth Perry, of Saint Joseph, Missouri, August 22, 1875, by which union they have had one girl, now living, and two boys, both dead. Mr. D. now owns a well improved farm of 240 acres, which he bought in 1870. He has just completed one of the best two- story houses in the county, beautifully located and finished throughout, while his farm is well-stocked and evidences thrift and industry.
DOXSIE, JOHN-Farmer, section 10, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born in Upper Canada, April 7, 1835, where he received his education and lived
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till 1854, when, with his parents, he moved to Eaton county, Michigan, where they engaged in saw-milling till 1860. Our subject then commenced farming. In 1871 he came to Iowa and located where he now lives and owns a fine farm of 120 acres of improved land, well stocked. Mr. D. was married, July 1, 1860, in Eaton county, Michigan, to Miss Lucia S. Hough, of that county, aged twenty-two. They have four children: Jennie T. (aged nineteen), Pitt McClelland (aged seventeen), Edna May (aged fourteen) and Florence C. (aged twelve years). Lost one child, Levira Amine (aged three years and seven months).
F
RASER, DONALD-Farmer, section 26, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born
October 20, 1831, in Scotland, where after finishing his education be engaged in landscape gardening until his twenty-first year, when he immi- grated to the United States, and after working in Illinois at saw-milling and farming some years in 1856 he came to Iowa and engaged in farming, and in 1863 bought forty acres to which he added forty more and improved the same, and in the spring of 1880 sold his farm a 1 bought his present farm of 125 acres, which is all under cultivation, havin!», a splendid residence site surrounded by fruit and shade trees. He has held a number of posi- tions of trust, giving general satisfaction. Mr. Fraser promptly answered to the call of his country in the hour of her need, and enlisted as a recruit in the Fourth Iowa cavalry, February 20, 1864, and served till the close of the war, being in sixteen engagements. He was married, September 2º, 1859, in Sheridan township, Poweshiek county, to Miss Martha Jane Coul- son, of same place, and from this union they have six children living: Catharine A. (aged twenty years), Sallie May (aged fourteen years), John S. (aged twelve years), Walter A. (aged ten years), Edna V. (aged eight years) and Rufus O. (aged six monthis). They have lost one, Harvey A. D. (died in 1857, aged three years and ten months).
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RAHAM, ROBERT-Farmer, section 10, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born
in 1817, in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, where, after leaving school he engaged in farming, owning 120 acres of well improved land, and here, February 10, 1846, was married to Miss Sarah Kriner, a native of York county, Pennsylvania. From this union they have four boys and two girls living, and have buried two girls. In 1863 sold liis farm in Pennsylvania and removed to Scott county, Iowa, where he farmed one year, then, in the spring of 1864, bought his present farm of 160 acres which is now well improved, and moved his family upon the same. Mr. Graham's son, H. K., at the age of fourteen years was caught by the tumbling-rod of a threshing machine, which broke both of his legs, and from them some pieces of bone
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were taken, one piece being over two inches long. He has entirely recov- ered and is now married and engaged in the grocery business in Brooklyn.
GREEN, P. S .- Farmer, section 17, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born March 18, 1821, in Oneida county, New York, where, after finishing his education, he engaged in teaching school and farming in various parts of the State till 1862, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York infantry, in which he served his country till the close of the war, participa- ting in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg three days, and many minor engagements. After receiving his discharge he returned to New York, where he remained a few months, then moved to Bureau county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming till 1868, when he came to this county and continued to follow farming in different neighborhoods till the spring of 1880, when he settled upon his present farm of eighty acres, on which he has a new residence, situated upon an elevation commanding a fine view of the county for miles around. Mr. Green was married, March 25, 1852, in Oswego county, New York, to Miss Lovisa R. Wilcox, of that county. Seven children have been born to them: John Milton (died Feb- ruary 23, 1870, in his seventeenth year), George Franklin (aged twenty-six; married), Sarah E. (aged twenty-three years), Robert A. E. (aged twenty- one years), Alta L. (aged nineteen years), Nellie M. (aged fourteen years) and Abby K. (aged ten years).
TOWIE, JAMES-Farmer and carpenter, section 33, P. O. Brooklyn. H
Was born in Scotland, in 1825, where, after finishing his education, he learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it till 1851, when he was married to Miss Jane Crone, then, in company with his young wife, immi- grated to Chicago, where he resided three years, working at his trade. In 1854 he moved to Davenport, Iowa, where he lived twelve years, doing carpenter work, then moved to Long Grove, Scott county, Iowa. In 1866 and 1869 he bought 160 acres of wild land where he now lives, having all the modern improvements on his farm, including a fine residence com- manding a good view of the sourrounding country. Mr. Howie has the confidence and respect of the community in which he lives and has been repeatedly elected to offices of trust. Mr. and Mrs. Howie have three daughters, one of whom is married, and one son.
TONES, URIAH-Farmer and carpenter, section 10, P. O. Brooklyn. C
Was born in 1813, in Greene Co., Pennsylvania. He lived on a farm with his parents, and after receiving his education, at the age of nine years moved to Monongalia county, Virginia, where, in his seventeenth year he was married to Miss Mary Park, of the same place. He engaged in farming quite extensively till 1835, when he, with his family, moved to Indiana,
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where he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1838 Mrs. Jones, after a lingering sickness and much suffering, departed this life. In 1839 Mr. Jones mar- ried, for his second wife, Elizabeth Boyd, of Clinton county, Indiana, and in 1852 moved to Linn county, Iowa, where he remained till 1855, when he settled on his present farm, to which he has since added eighty acres, mak- ing in all 200 of well improved land with modern improvements. Mr. Jones is the father of four children by the first marriage, all now dead, one of the number being killed in a well. By his second marriage he has had twelve children, two girls and ten boys; two of the boys have since died. Nine of the living children are married; the youngest, who is twenty years old, lives in the far West. Mr. Jones is the oldest resident man in the township, there being but two men here when he came, who have since moved away. He used to go to Cedar Rapids to mill; was the first to pe- tition to organize the township, since which time he has held all the town- ship offices, and in 1875 received the nomination on the Democratic ticket for Representative, being defeated by a small majority.
JONES, J. W .- Farmer, section 19, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born March 3, 1840, in Indiana, where he received his education, and in 1851, in com- pany with his parents, moved to Peoria county, Illinois, where he resided one year, when he moved to Linn county, Iowa, with parents, engaging in farming, and in 1861 commenced attending school in Grinnell. While here enlisted in Captain Parkell's company, and at Mt. Pleasant was as- signed to the Fourth Iowa cavalry, company E, in which he served till August 25, 1865. December 5, 1865, was married to Miss Ella B., young- est daughter of Jacob and Frances Harmon, of Sheridan township, Powe- shiek county. They had three boys, one since deceased, and in 1871 Mrs. Jones died at Mr. Jones' present home, which he had bought while in the army, to which he has since added, making a fine farm of 180 acres of well improved land. Mr. Jones is now living with his second wife. From this union they have one girl and two boys living, and one boy deceased. He has held nearly all of the township offices.
JUDD, D. E .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 25, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born March 2, 1855, in Bureau county, Illinois, where, after finishing his education, he engaged in farming and continued the same until 1876, when he came to Iowa and engaged extensively in farming and stock-rais- ing where he now lives, on his father's farm of 1,122 acres, nearly all of which is in a good state of cultivation, and well stocked, having some seventy-five head of good graded cattle on the place. Mr. Judd was mar- ried, March 8, 1877, in Princeton, Illinois, to Miss Alice E. Bubach, a res-
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ident and a native of Illinois, and from this union they have one daughter, Florence, (aged three years).
K ENT, JOSEPH-Farmer, section 23, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born in Putnam Co., Indiana, in 1830. There, after finishing his education, he engaged in tilling the soil till 1854, when he came to Iowa and settled in this township, where he now lives and owns 136 acres of good land, a part of the same being timber land, having a good house on his farm. Mr. Kent was married, the fall of 1853, in Montezuma, to Miss Eliza J. Enochs, of this county, and a native of Ohio (aged sixteen.) They have four children: Bailey (aged twenty-six), Lavinia (aged twenty-three), Joseph E. (aged eighteen) and Anna M. (aged twelve years.) Mrs. Eliza Kent is one of the earliest settlers in this township.
L ANG, G. J .- Farmer, section 30, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born Septem- ber 23, 1847, in Venango county, Pennsylvania, and in 1851 he came with his parents to Scott county, Iowa, where he received his education, and engaged in farming until 1874, when he moved to this county and lo- cated where he now lives and owns 160 acres of choice land, the same being in a good state of cultivation, and having an abundance of fruit adjoining his fine residence. Mr. L. was married, in Scott county, Iowa, in January, 1874, to Miss Amanda Berkey, a resident of that county, and a native of Ohio. From this union they now have three children: John Franklin (aged five years), Alice (aged three years), Flora (aged one year.)
LANG, WM. T .- Farmer, section 30, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born March 4, 1849, in Venango county, Pennsylvania, and when two years old accom- panied his parents to Scott county, Iowa, where they settled on a farm, and after receiving his education, engaged in farming till 1874, when he came to this county and settled upon his present fine farm of 160 acres of well improved land on which he has a good house upon an elevation command- ing a good view of the surrounding country. Mr. L. was married, Decem- ber 21, 1877, in this county, to Miss Jennie Howie, a resident of this town- ship, and from this union they have one daughter, Annie (aged sixteen months).
LAWRENCE, H. W .- Farmer and veterinary surgeon, section 4, P. O. Haven, Tama county, Iowa. Was born September 4, 1830, in Greene county, New York, where, after receiving his education, he engaged in farming till 1855, when he moved to Wisconsin, and there continued to farm till 1863, when he moved to Iowa and settled in Winneshiek county, and again engaged in farming until 1867, when he moved to Tama county and en- gaged in farming for two years; then came to this county and located where he now lives and owns ninety-seven acres of well improved land.
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Mr. L. was married, in February, 1855, in Greene county, New York, to Miss Mary A. Jones, a resident and native of the same State (aged sixteen years). They have three children: Helen (aged twenty-four; now the wife of Frank Flint of Tama county, Iowa), Robert W. (aged twenty), Albert N. (aged thirteen).
LEONARD, JOSHUA-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 22, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born January 6, 1833, in Ohio, where he received his ed- ucation, and at the age of seventeen went to Cass county, Illinois, where he commenced farming, and there continued the same till the spring of 1852, when he moved to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he again engaged in farming till 1865, when he came to this county, where he now resides and owns a farm of 379 acres of well improved land, having on the same a large three story residence, beautifully located and surrounded by fruit and shade trees. Mr. L. is a man of thorough business qualifications and honored and respected by his many friends, neighbors and brothers in the M. E. Church, of which he is an active and generous member, always ready to help that glorious cause. He contributed $500 toward paying for their church lately built. He has been County Supervisor three times. Was married in Muscatine county, Iowa, December 12, 1858, to Miss Ellen H. Adz (aged twenty-three.) By this union they have six children: Charles W. (aged twenty-one), Mina J. (aged nineteen), Oliver H. (aged seven- teen), Alice C. (aged sixteen) Edward C. (aged thirteen), Nora May (aged seven.)
LEWIS, JOHN-Farmer, section 27, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born in 1846 in Montgomery county, New York, where he resided, receiving his educa- tion and following farming for a living till 1869, when he was married to Sarah A. Stokes of the same place, and came west to Scott county, Iowa, there engaging in farming till March, 1880, when he bought his present fine farm of eighty acres, and to which he moved his family. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have two daughters: Cora E., and Gertie, aged nine and six, respectively. Mr. L. has as fine a residence location as there is in the county, and is a very genial, highly respected citizen of the county.
M cCALL, GEORGE-Farmer, section 5, P. (). Brooklyn. Was born July 20, 1834, in Lawrence county, Ohio, and after quitting school he engaged in farming in various places in the State till 1849, when, in company with his mother and grandparents, he moved to Peoria county, Illinois, and there farmed till 1854. He learned the harness-maker's trade, and worked at the same until 1857, then came to Iowa and located where he now lives and owns 226 acres of well improved and stocked land. Mr. McCall is one of the pioneers of this county, and being an active, public
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spirited citizen, has held many positions of trust in this township, he being the present justice. He enlisted in the Tenth Iowa infantry at Toledo, Tama county, Iowa, and served his country three years, being in battles of Corinth, Mission Ridge and Iuka, Mississippi, also many minor engage- ments. He was married, October 7, 1855, in Peoria county, Illinois, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of Jacob and Martha Cramer of that county. They have four children : Martha E., (aged twenty-one; now the wife of A. A. Edgington, of Black Hawk county, Iowa), Fred S. (aged fourteen), Albert D. (aged eleven), Emma J. (nine years old), and buried Charles Edgar (June 15, 1857, aged ten months).
MAYER, DANIEL-Farmer, section 24, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born in Pennsylvania, in 1819, and lived on a farm with his parents, who were natives of the same State, till 1844, when he was married to Mary Wary of same place. The spring of 1845 Mr. M. and wife moved to Cedar county, Iowa, where he entered 120 acres of land and engaged in improving the same till 1854, when he sold his place and settled on his present farm of 233 acres, having one of the best orchards of five acres in the county. Two girls and five boys have been born to them. One of the boys died in 1859. The eldest daughter is now the wife of W. B. Kent of same town- ship; eldest son at home; second son married and lives in this township. Mr. M. is now school treasurer, this being his twelfth term. Has been jus- tice of the peace six years, and has held a number of other positions of trust. Mrs. Mayers, after many well spent and useful years of life, died May 17, 1875, and was buried in the Kent Cemetery near her former residence.
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