The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 71

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1004

USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,. > Part 71

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SMITH, J. S .- Farmer, section 26, P. O. Sherman. Was born in Greene county, Ohio, December 9, 1832, and after receiving an education in the common schools, came to this county when nineteen years old, and has since made it his home. He is the owner of eighty acres of land, mostly improved. He has a good residence, nicely situated, commanding a view of the country around for several miles. He was married in this county May 30, 1852, to Miss Charlotte A. Sanders. They have nine children: Cap., Eliza C., Francis E., George S., Naomi, Fannie M., Charles M., Sam- uel W. and Milbourne.

SMITH, RICHARD-Farmer, section 19, P. O. Montezuma. Was born in Highland county, Ohio, September 23, 1827, and after receiving his edu- cation learned the harness and saddlery trade and followed the same until 1855, when he came to this county and has since resided here, owning a farm of 160 acres of improved land. Mr. Smith contracted for the grading of one mile of the B., C. R. & N. R. R. He was married in Highland county, Ohio, April 15, 1850, to Miss Christina Head. They have eleven children: Mahlon W., Albert E., Oran J., Richard L., Elva N., Willie H.

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and John W., living, and three deceased: Charles C., Carrie and Wil- liam M.

T AYLOR, JAMES-Of the firm of Taylor & Shell, proprietors of meat market, Montezuma. Is a native of Ohio, and was born on the 12th of September, 1834. After leaving school he engaged in farming and in the fall of 1862 discontinued that business. He then commenced in his present occupation, but only followed it until 1863, when he again took up farming. In the year 1867 he came to Iowa and located in Poweshiek county, which has since been his home. He first came here in 1856 and remained but two years, not settling permanently until 1867. On the 20th of August, 1854, he was married in Ohio, to Miss Susan Gerard. The fruits of this union were six children: Sarah L., Allen, Cyrus, Min- nie, Lizzie and Eda.

TIBBALS, L .- Farmer, section 1, P. O. Montezuma. Was born in East Granville, Hampden county, Massachusetts, November 16, 1820, and after his education had been obtained he went, in November, 1841, to Hart- ford, Licking county, Ohio, and obtained a situation with Harry Miller & Co., Columbus, Ohio, publishers, remaining with that firm about five years. In November, 1861, he came to this county, and is now the possessor of a good farm. He was married in Burton, Geauga county, Ohio, September 2, 1858, to Miss Arvilla E., daughter of Almus Beard, of that State. She was born on the 26th of August, 1830. Mr. and Mrs. T. had four children, all of whom are now deceased.

TILTON, CAPT. J. H .- Postmaster and dealer in dry goods and notions, Montezuma. This gentleman is a native of Morgan county, Ohio, and was born January 10, 1837. He lived the life of a farmer boy until he was fifteen years of age, when he was apprenticed for three years to learn the machinist trade. At the age of nineteen he left the paternal roof to make his own way in the world. He came to Montezuma (1855) and here com- menced to work at the carpenter's trade, which occupation he continued until 1859. He then bought a half interest in a drug store. About two years later he sold out his interest and in August, 1862, enlisted in company C, Twenty-eighth Iowa volunteers and was commissioned second lieutenant. He resigned his commission in July, 1863, and returned home, and was elected County Judge, which office he held until he went out the second time. May, 1864, he organized company B, of the Forty-sixth Iowa, and was elected their captain and served until the close of the war. His com- pany was mostly made up of the Iowa College students. After his return from the army he followed the stock business for about one year. He then started a store of general merchandise and five years later did away with

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the grocery line and now gives his entire attention to dry goods and no- tions. He has been postmaster since, 1866, with the exception of three years. Mr. Tilton is purely a self-made man. He came to Montezuma without funds or favor with which to pave his pathway to success, and by close attention to business has gained for himself an enviable reputation as a business man.

TRIBBET, DR. J. C .- This gentleman is a native of Fayette county, Ohio, born November 4, 1846. Was raised on a farm until seventeen years of age and received a good school education. When about seventeen years of age he left the farm and engaged in teaching school about three years. During this time he gave his spare time to the reading of medicine. He read with Dr. Wilson, of Greenfield, Highland county, Ohio. He after- ward attended the Miami Medical College, of Cincinnati, and graduated from that institute in the spring of 1873. The same spring he came to Montezuma and commenced the practice of his profession. He has the most thorough qualifications as a physician and by his own skill and energy he has built up his own reputation and has acquired an extensive practice, and is a welcome visitor in the sick-room. The Doctor was married in Montezuma, to Miss Abby, daughter of F. A. Kilburn, Esq., March 22, 1874, and by this union they have one daughter, Nellie.

TEST, JOHN W. H., M. D .- Prominent among the physicians of

Poweshiek county, no one has a better reputation for skill than the subject of this sketch. Was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, May 17, 1822. He is the son of John and Elizabeth Price Vest. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812. They were plain farming people. When young Vest was ten years old his parents moved to Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio. He here attended the Hillsboro Academy, and prepared himself for college. At the age of twenty-two he read medicine with Dr. J. B. Mc- Connell, of Rushville, Ohio, and attended lectures during the winters of 1846-7, at Sterling College, Columbus, Ohio, and in the spring commenced the practice of his profession in New Market, same State, where he con- tinued until 1854, when he removed to New Vienna, Ohio. Here he re- mained but a short time. In the fall of 1855 the Doctor took another course of lectures, and graduated from the Sterling Medical College in March, 1856. He then came West and located in Montezuma, where he has since made his home, being the oldest medical practitioner now living in the county. On the 22d of August, 1862, he tendered his services to the United States, and was appointed surgeon of the Twenty-eighth Iowa volunteers, and was with that regiment until December 4, 1864, when he resigned. Thinking his medical education not yet complete he attended

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the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, and graduated from that: institution in the spring of 1865. Soon after going South he was made- surgeon-in-chief of the third division Thirteenth army corps, on General McGinnis' staff. When the Thirteenth and Nineteenth army corps were united he became medical director of the staff of Gen. Ransom, and was. subsequently transferred and made medical director on Gen. McClernand's staff. Still later he was relieved of this duty, and placed in charge of Gen. McClernand, who was taken ill, taking him from Alexandria, La., to New Orleans, and thence to Alton, Ill. He was president of the operating board at Magnolia Hill, Champion's Hill, also, at Black River, Vicksburg, and through the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, making a brilliant record as a surgeon. This, in brief, is the Doctor's war record, and it is. almost needless to say that he has a high standing among the medical men of the State. He belongs to both the county and State medical societies, and was president of the former body in 1875. In politics he is a staunch Republican. Is a council member of the Masonic order, and also belongs to the Encampment of Odd Fellows. He is well known thoughout the county, and the respect shown him is as wide as his acquaintance. He is as much of a student now as he ever was, and devotes his leisure to reading his medical periodicals and other scientific works, and has the largest li- brary in the county, consisting of over 300 medical volumes, and hence is constantly progressing in knowledge, and as a practitioner, in the confi- dence of the people. He was united in marriage, on the 23d of December, 1847, to Miss Margaret Phibbs, of Adams county, Ohio. They have four children living, and lost two: Myrtie (the youngest, died at the age of ten years, in 1863), and Mary E. (widow of John McDonald, who died in May, 1875). John W. lives on the Doctor's fine farm, one mile and a quarter east of town, consisting of 480 acres of Poweshiek's best soil, under good cultivation-contains 600 apple trees, five miles and a half of good hedge, and all other necessaries that go to make a good farm. Martha W. (wife of L. W. Wilson, Deputy Treasurer, and at present Republican candidate for Clerk of the courts). Dr. W. E., the present partner of his father. This gentleman prepared at the Iowa College, of Grinnell, and the Uni- versity, of Iowa City, and is a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, and also of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa. Fred E., student of the Iowa College. The Doctor's chil- dren have all been students of the Iowa College except Myrtie.

W ILLSON, JOHN W .- Stock-dealer, Montezuma. Was born in Henry county, Indiana, December 9, 1839, where he lived until 1848, when he came to this county with his parents and located in Monte-

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zuma. His father brought a stock of goods here and opened a general store, it being the first in Poweshiek county. The subject of this sketch had a good school education. He lived on a farm until 1870, when he bought out his father's business, which he continued five years, and also bought and sold stock, which business he still continues, under the firm name of Morrison & Willson. Mr. Willson lives on his farm of eighty acres just east of town, but owns 1,500 acres in the county. He laid out West Montezuma in 1877, and also Willson's Addition. Mr. Willson has seen Poweshiek county grow from its infancy, and has shared the trials and hardships of pioneer life. He had come to stay; in other words, he had settled. The faculty of being able to fix the mind upon some definite plan of operations does much to achieve success and snatch victory from the jaws of impending defeat. Such faculty Mr. Willson seems to have pos- sessed in a remarkable degree, and as a result has been enabled to see the country improved all around him, and as the country has improved he him- self has prospered and been blessed with plenty. He was married in this place in 1858, to Miss Sarah M. Head, daughter of W. M. Head, a native of Ohio. They have only one daughter, Maggie K.

WILSON, JAMES W .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 6, P. O. Mon- tezuma. Was born in Indiana, September 26, 1821, and when sixteen years of age removed with his parents to Henry county Iowa, where he was ed- ucated. While young he engaged in farming and has continued the same to the present time. In the fall of 1848 he came to this county, and in August, 1851, was elected sheriff and served for two years; then became engaged in the mercantile business and followed the same about three years, when he again engaged in farming. He owns a fine farm of 428 acres. His marriage was in this county, to Miss Elvira Taylor. They had seven children, of whom six are living.

WILSON, L. W .- Deputy Treasurer, Montezuma. Is a native of Iowa county, this State, and was born on the 9th of June, 1852. When about one year of age he removed with his father to Tama county, and in 1856 he came to this county. He was raised on a farm and received a good common school education, supplemented by one term spent at the Iowa College. In January, 1876, he came to this city and since that time has been deputy treasurer. He was married to Miss Martha, daughter of Dr. Vest, January 1, 1878. She was born in Ohio. Mr. Wilson is now the nominee on the Republican ticket for clerk of the county.

WILSON, G. W .- Physician and surgeon, Montezuma. Was born on the 26th day of September, 1848, in Springfield, Pennsylvania, and at the age of seven years removed with his parents to Henry county, this State.

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He attended Howe's Academy, at Mt. Pleasant, and from there entered the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, remaining in that institution for two years. He also attended the University of Michigan, graduating therefrom March 30, 1870. Having formed a desire for the practice of medicine he went to Le Mars, Missouri, and engaged in that profession, remaining until April, 1873, when he came to this State. He first settled at New London, where he continued to practice, and in the spring of 1876 he came to this county. He enjoys a large and lucrative practice and is always a welcome visitor in the sick room. His marriage was in Henry county, this State, on the 25th of August, 1874, to Miss Lute Stoddard. They had two children, both of whom are now deceased: Ione C. and Ioda P.

WOODWARD, D. M .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 13, P. O. Mon- tezuma. Was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1820, and after finishing his education he learned the carpenter's trade, which he continued until 1841, when he removed to Columbiana county, Ohio. He there continued his trade, and in the spring of 1843 went to Tuscarawas county, same State, and while there built a dam across the Tuscarawas River. In the fall of 1853 he came to this county and has since made it his home, now owning a farm of 200 acres. He has a good location for his residence, being but two miles from Montezuma. His marriage was in Ohio, August 27, 1848, to Miss Matilda Rankin.

WYKEL, GEORGE C .- Furniture dealer. Was born in Hardin county, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1835. When two years old he moved with his parents to Henderson county, Kentucky. When fifteen years of age he left his home and went to Rockport, Indiana, to learn the cabinet making trade, where he remained for three years, until he had completed his trade. He then, like the majority in those days, traveled through the country doing jour work, and finally landed in Keokuk, Lee county, in the spring of 1856, where he remained until the following fall, when he came to Richland, Keokuk county, where he remained but a short time. He came to Monte- zuma in February, 1857, and started his present business, and has contin- ued here ever since, being very successful. He was married here to Miss Mary J., daughter of Dr. P. M. Johnson, April 30, 1857. They have two sons and one daughter: Frank C., Carey D. and Lizzie M.

GORDON, DAVID, JR .- P. O. Montezuma. His parents both emi- grated early in life from their native Scotland to America, and settled in Ohio, where they were married January 9, 1858. His mother's maiden name was Margaret Cook. They came to this county in July, 1858. David was born in Montezuma, October 20, 1858. He was raised on a farm, and well educated in this county. He married, December 24, 1879, Miss La-

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vina Inman of Deep River township, who was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, February 1, 1857. Mr. Gordon is, at present, a teacher in the pub- lic school, and a young man of fine promise.

SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

B AILEY, JOHN S .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 4, township 78 north, range 16 west. Among the many men who have beautiful homes in this county, none are more pleasanly located than the subject of this sketch, one mile north of Searsboro and within a few rods of the Cen- tral Railroad of Iowa, on a beautiful eminence facing the south. He is a man of much more than ordinary intelligence, is well educated and a very companionable gentleman. He was born in Windsor county, Vermont, on the 7th of June, 1840, where he continued to live and labor on the farm until he was about thirty years of age, except the time spent in attending school, and about one year which he spent in the West. He first came to Iowa in the year 1862, and followed teaching school, teaching two terms at Forest Home, in this county, then returning to Vermont, where he re- mained until the year 1870, when he removed permanently to this county, and located himself on the farm where he now lives. His farm consists of 180 acres of fine undulating land, which is in a fine state of cultivation, about one-half being seeded down to grass. He has about sixteen acres of a fine young orchard, three or four hundred of his trees now in bearing. He intends to enlarge his orchard by the addition of about four acres more in his south orchard, which is beautifully situated on a northern slope of the hill in front of his fine large two-story house, which presents a beauti- ful picture to the eye from his front dooryard. His out-buildings are all in good repair. His stock consists of about thirty head of fine cattle, forty head of nice blooded hogs and several head of horses. All bear the marks of thrift, and his beautiful shrubbery, and, in fact, everything on his farm shows him to be a systematic farmer. He was married January 2, 1870, to Miss Hattie L. Kingsley of Winsdor county, Vermont, by whom he has three children living: Nellie M., William M. and an infant not yet named. He was educated at Union Academy, New Hampshire, where he attended about three years.

BEADERSTADT, JOHN-Sec. 8, P. O. Searsboro. Was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 14th of January, -, in which country he lived until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came to America, settling in the State of Illinois, where he remained one year, and removed to Iowa and settled in Jasper county, in which county he lived until 1862, when he en- listed in company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa volunteer infantry, with which

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regiment he continued during the full time for which he enlisted, and until the close of the war, and with which he participated in the following engagements: Champion's Hill, Jackson, Mississippi, all the Red River Expedition, Siege of Vicksburg, and then went to the eastern department, where they were in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek. He was honorably discharged in 1865, at Davenport, Iowa, and again settled in Jasper county. He was married in the year 1861, to Miss Sarah Gause of Kellogg, who was born in the State of Indiana, on the 6th day of May, 1844, by which union they have three children, whose names are, John M. (born December 29, 1862), Addie (born June 13, 1866), Alma (born June 15, 1868). He had the misfortune to lose his companion, who died on the 20th day of October, 1873. He was married a second time, in August, 1875, to Mrs. Mary Robins, who is still living. He has a nice little home situated on the south road from Searsboro to Lynnville, surrounded by hand- some natural trees, and has his home adorned with many conveniences. Mr. Bederstadt is a very intelligent and pleasant gentleman.

BINEGAR, GEORGE W .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 3, P. O. Searsboro. Is one of the most intelligent and industrious young farmers in this township, and though yet quite young, is one of the pioneers of the county. He was born in Greene county, in the State of Ohio, and removed to this county with his parents when he was about five or six years of age, settling in Union township, near what is now Forest Home, where he con- tinued to live with his parents and labor on the farm until the breaking out of the war, when, in the year 1861, he enlisted in company I, Thirteenth Iowa volunteer infantry, commanded by Captain John Elroy, with which regiment he remained until after the battle of Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh and the siege and capture of Corinth. During the time his regiment lay in quarters at the latter place, he was discharged from the service on account of sickness, and returned to his home in this county, where he remained until in 1863. Captain Carr came home recruiting for the Twenty-eighth Iowa, and, having recruited his health, he again enlisted in company C of the Twenty-eighth, with which regiment he continued until after the battle of Cedar Creek, where he was badly wounded in the left shoulder, and was again discharged from the service. He participated in the following en- gagements while in the Twenty-eight regiment: Kane River, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. After his discharge from the army, he returned home and settled in this county, where he engaged in farming. He re- moved to his present location in 1870 or 1871, where he has resided ever since. He has a fine large home and has all his farm well improved. He was married in 1868, to Miss Hulda Shely, a lady of refined taste and, as the

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writer can testify, a good cook and housekeeper. They have six chil- dren: Charles E., Jennie, Margaret E., George E., Rusha and Addie who died at the age of fourteen months. Mr. Binnegar, though young, is looked upon as one of the substantial farmers of his township.

BINEGAR, A. J .- Among the many enterprising farmers of this township none are more worthy of special mention than the subject of this sketch. Andrew J. Binnegar was born in Highland county, Ohio, in the year 1832. He continued to live with his parents until he was about eighteen years of age, where he labored on a farm. In the year 1850 his parents removed to Iowa and settled in Union township, near what is now known as Forest Home. He continued to live in Union township until the. year 1876, when he removed to the place where he now resides, which was the wild prairie, which he has not only reclaimed from its wild condition, but has it in a fine state of cultivation. He has a very fine farm, consist- ing of two hundred and forty acres of as fine undulating land as there is in Poweshiek county. He has good buildings, fine house and barn as well as out-buildings. His fences, and in fact his entire farm, bear testimony that Mr. B. is a successful farmer. He was married on the 12th day of Octo- ber, 1858, to Miss Catherine Wolf, of Starke county, Ohio, by whom he has seven children living: James Franklin, Mary E., Elizabeth, Georgia A., Alice G., Lucy E., John S. Mr. Binnegar took an active part in the Su- gar Creek war.

BOGET, A. E .- Farmer and stock-raiser, sections 13 and 14, P. O. Sears- boro. Born in Washington county, New York, about the year 1836, where he lived on the farm with his parents until the year 1857, when his parents removed to McHenry county, Illinois, Albert E., who was then a lad of some fifteen years, accompanying them, where he continued to live with and labor for his parents until he was about twenty years of age, when they again removed to Walworth county, Wisconsin, he still remaining with them. For about a year they all remained in Wisconsin, and then re- moved to Iowa, and settled in Johnson county, in the northwest part. This was in the fall of 1856, and he remained in Johnson county until the fall of 1869, when he removed to this county and settled on the same farm which he now owns and occupies, consisting of 160 acres of fine land, most of which, in order to reclaim, had to be grubbed. Mr. Boget has about 100 acres improved, 90 of which he has grubbed with his own hands. He has as nice a farm as there is in this section of country, which is all fenced with good substantial fence, and the improved part in a good state of cul- tivation. He was married in 1863 to Miss Elizabeth Nicholas, who is still living, and by whom he has seven children: Alfaretta, Alonzo A., Jersey J., Mary C., Nettie A., Francilia and Maud.

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BOGET, J. H .- (Lives with his son A. E.) P. O. Searsboro. Was born in Washington county, State of New York, on the 17th day of April, 1812, at which place he continued to live, engaged in agricultural pursuits until he was thirty-nine years of age, when, in the year 1851, he removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where he lived about four years and removed to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he remained one year, and removed to Iowa, settling in Johnson county, north and west of Solon. Here he pur- chased land and continued to live until the year 1869, when he sold out and removed to this county, where he owns an 80 acre farm. He was mar- ried about 1833 to Miss Nancy A. Eldridge, with whom he lived until the year 1863, when she died, and by whom he had five children, whose names are: Ellis J., Albert E., Charles C., Daniel H., Nancy A. Mr. Boget is a man of intelligence, and from his appearance has been a man of great endurance.

BOGART, S. W .- City marshal of Searsboro. He was born in White- hall, New York, July 30, 1837, and resided there until he attained the age of ten years, when he came west with his parents, who located in McHenry county, Illinois, and here the subject of this sketch resided for twenty years. He then moved to Fayette county, Iowa, and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, which he followed for eight years, when he embarked in the dyeing business, and operated the same for a few years with a considerable degree of success. Came to Searsboro in July, 1869, where he has since resided. Mr. Bogart is a trustworthy and competent official, and dis- charges the duties of his office creditably to himself and to the satisfaction of the public.

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The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 71

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1004

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1004