The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 73

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

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LAUCK, G. G .- Section 23, township 78, range 16 west; farmer and stock raiser. Was born in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on the 5th day of May, 1816, in which city he continued to live until he was about twenty- three years of age; while residing here he learned the trade of a wagon- maker, which business he has followed most of the time since. From Harrisburg he removed to Union Deposit, where he followed his trade for about one year, after which he removed to Clark's Valley, where he remained working at journey-work for about six years; while at this place he was married to Miss Sarah A. Stricher, who is still living, and by whom he has had two children, one daughter and one son; both are now living; the daughter is married, and the son is also married, and follows his busi- ness of carpenter and joiner in Searsboro. From Clark's Valley he re-

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moved to Utica, Logan county, Pennsylvania, where he lived six years, and removed to Howard county, Iowa, where he lived one year, and removed to Carlton, Illinois, where he remained one year, and removed to Mid- dletown, Illinois, in which place he lived fourteen years, and removed to. Searsboro, Iowa, near which place he still resides, and in which place he followed his trade about seven years, until 1879, when he removed to his- farm two and a half miles south. He owns his farm, besides a good shop and residence in Searsboro. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fel- lows' society, and has filled the important position of N.G. for three times. M cDOWELL, JOHN-Resides on section 22, township 78 north, of range 16 west; is in truth one of the old pioneers of this township, having lived on the same farm which he now occupies since the year 1847. He was here before the county was organized, and when Indians were almost as plenty every fall and winter as white men are now. He informs the historian that at that time he knew every man in Poweshiek county; his nearest town and post-office was Oskaloosa, and his nearest mill (Whis- tler's mill) thirty miles down the Skunk, through a rough and alınost un- inhabited country, without roads, bridges or any conveniences of the present day. The only neighbors he liad in this part of the county were James McDowell and Wm. English, both of whom are now dead. He helped to locate the county seat, and it was his mattock which dug the hole to mark the spot and establish the stone showing the location; he witnessed the raising of the first school-house in the township, which was situated on section twenty-two, and which served the purposes of school for the entire township. He was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1812, where he continued to live with his parents until he was about eighteen years of age, when he removed to the State of Ohio, and settled in Miami county, in which county he lived about seventeen years, and removed to the place which he now owns and occupies, which at that time was all wild land, but which is now a fine farm, well fenced and furnished with splendid buildings, horse-power, etc. He was married in the year 1840 to Lucinda Perry, by whom he had eight children, of whom seven are now living, and whose names are as follows: Levi H., Francis M., Elizabeth J., Thos. J., Margaret, Luke, John and Sarah; Margaret is dead. He was married a second time in August, 1869, to Miss Caroline Swanson, by whom he has four children living: Mary P., George A., Carrie E. and Samuel C .; besides these he has two children by this wife dead: Charles and Ralph. Mr. Mc- Dowell's farm is well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs and sheep; he has a fine orchard and abundance of small fruit; has one of the finest stock farms. in this part of Iowa.

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MACY, J. W .- Section 17, P. O. Searsboro. Was born in Henry county, Indiana, on the 25th day of April, 1827, where he lived until the year 1859, when he removed to Boone county and engaged in farming and mining gold, in which county he lived for about three years, from which place he came to this county in 1861, and purchased the place he now owns and occupies, being obliged to go in debt in the sum of $3,400. His farm is a splendid tract of land, partly bottom and partly upland, on the north side of the Skunk River. He now has his farm all under cultivation and paid for; he has been engaged in managing this ever since he came West. Besides, he has taken some contracts to remove some very heavy buildings, having removed a large creamery at Lynnville, and a heavy mill, which he removed for a distance of four miles, over hill and valley, down the Skunk River. He was married in Henry county, Indiana, to Miss Rhoda Givens, who was also born in Henry county, in the year 1829, with whom he lived about six years, and by whom he had two children, whose names are Cyntha A. (now the wife of William Howerton) and Volney W. (who is now a young man and lives with his father). He was married a second time in 1863 to Miss Mary J. Gray, who is still living, and by whom he has three children. She was born in the year 1836, in Belmont county, Ohio.

MANN, M. E .- School-teacher. Born in Franklin county, Ohio, at New Albany, on March 19, 1858, where he resided with his parents until he was ten years of age, then removed to Delaware county in 1874. His parents removed to Iowa, settling in Jackson county, living a short time in Sheridan Center, this county, living and working on the farm and attend- ing school in the winter. Attended the Centerville high school in Dela- ware, Ohio. Commenced teaching in Delaware county, Ohio, and three terms in Jackson county. Taught one term in Wilson county, Kansas, where he remained some mouths. Has studied medicine something like fifteen months. Removed to Searsboro in February, 1880, where he has since lived. His mother lives here. His mother has seven children, of whom he is the oldest.

MITCHELL, JAMES-Fariner and stock-raiser, situated on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 5, in township 78 north, of range 16. Was born in the State of North Carolina, and remained and lived with his parents in Wilkes county until he was about twenty-two years of age, where he labored on a farm. In the year 1832 he removed to Henry county, Indiana, where he resided and continued to labor on the farm until the year 1836, when he took as a partner in life Miss Elizabeth Harris, with whom he lived until about the year 1877, when she died. He has a family of six children living: Robert W., Sarah M., John S., Shelly U.,

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Mary K. and Julia A. After remaining in Henry county about two years he removed to Rush county, in the same State, where he lived about two years, when he again removed to Henry county, where he remained until the year 1827. During all this time, with the exception of one year, while he engaged in the grocery business, and four years while he was engaged on the construction of the National road, he engaged in farmning; at the end of this time, viz: 1857, he removed to Iowa, settling at Lynnville, Jas- per county, temporarily, while he was opening up his farm in this county, which was at that time an unknown and unbroken wilderness. After living at Lynn Grove about one and one-half years he removed to his present loca- tion, when there was not a house visible for miles around him, and his nearest and only neighbor being one and one-half miles distant. Butthings have greatly changed and now the county is all settled. In plain sight is the beautiful village of Searsboro, with its school-house and church spire glittering in the sunlight, the railroad bearing its burdens of freight and bringing the luxuries of the world, the telegraph speaking and bringing the the intelligence of all nations, as it were, in his own ears. Happy changes! Besides the comfortable home which he enjoys he is the owner of ten acres of timber and has given one eighty acre farm to his sons.

MITCHELL, ROBERT W .-- Chairmaker, Searsboro. Was born in Washington county, Indiana, on the 24th of June, 1837, and hence is now but forty-three years of age. He removed from this county in early childhood to Henry county, in the same State, where he remained, laboring on the farm and enduring the hardships inci- dent to the farmers of all newly settled country. In 1858 he removed from Indiana to Iowa, settling in Jasper county, where he re- mained until the breaking out of the war, when, like thousands of young and patriotic men of the young State of Iowa, he shouldered his musket and went out in defense of liberty and union, enlisting in company D, Fortieth Iowa volunteer infantry, being mustered into the United States service August 22, 1862. Participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the battles of Saline River and Prairie d' Ann, and was mustered out of the service August 22, 1865, having served out his time, when he returned to his old home in Jasper county, where he remained about one year, following the business of a carpenter, and then removed to this county and engaged in farming for about ten years, when he sold his farm and engaged in bridge building for about one year, when he again established himself in his old business, chairmaking. He has a good shop and all the machinery neces- sary for his business, most of which he has improved with his own hands. Has on hand a good stock of material and expects to go into the manufac-

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turing of chairs for the wholesale trade. Searsboro has a right to be proud of so enterprising a citizen, and of the business which he is opening up in their little town.

MOORE, ALEXANDER-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 33, town- ship 78, range 16 west. Was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 4, 1835, where he continued to live with his parents, laboring on the farm until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when he went into the service of his country, joining the Fifth heavy artillery, Pennsylvania volunteers, which battery was stationed at Fairfax Court-house and other im- portant stations in Virginia. Participated in the battle of Pedmont and several other important battles. He was honorably discharged in July, 1865. Re- moved to Iowa in the fall of 1865 and was married to Miss Sarah F. Bowdell, of New Sharon, who is a refined lady and an excellent housekeeper. He has a splendid farm, well-improved with a good two-story house, fine barn, good orchard, now loaded with fine fruit. His door-yard is nicely ornamented with fine evergreens and everything on his farm bears unmistakable evidence of thrift. They have three children: William H., Asa B. and Elmer B. He is a cattle-feeder and has now some fine cattle, horses and hogs.

MOORE, MILTON-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 33, township 78, range 16. Was born in Lorain county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1830, where he continued to live until April, 1865, when he removed to Iowa and settled in the neighborhood where he now lives. He is a farmer by pro- fession, and has always followed that and nothing else for a business. He was married on the 24th of June, 1856, to Miss Albertine Henan, a very intelligent and refined lady, who has been his stay and comfort in his sick- ness of the past three years. They have nine children: Mary A., Ella Z., Ida M., Alexander, Sarah A., Charles E., Daniel R., John H. and Edward G. He has a nice farm of 103 acres, partly on the ridge and partly on the bottom. Has it reasonably well stocked with horses, cattle and hogs. Has a nice lot of growing timber and has his farm in a good state of cultiva- tion. He lives in sight of a fine school-house and on a main traveled road, his residence facing the south.

MOORE, HUGH-Resides on section 33, township 78 north, of range 16 west. Was born in what is now Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 25, 1798, hence is now eighty-two years of age. He was brought up in the country of his birth and lived there until the year 1865, where he followed the business of a farmer for the most part, teaching school in the winter. He is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and has very strong political convictions. He is a Republican and is true blue. He came to Iowa in 1865 and resided in New Sharon about three years and then re-

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moved to the farm where he now resides, with his son, Alexander. He- served for ten years as justice of the peace and one term of three years as- Recorder and Register in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. He was mar- ried in 1827, to Jane Veenen. Pointing to her he remarked: "This is the same little girl." She is now eighty-eight years of age, but quick, active and intelligent. They have had nine children, of whom three are now living: Milton, Alexander and David R.

MORGAN, THOS .- Farmer and stock-raiser, lots 8, 9, 10, 11, section 3, township 78, range 16. Was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, January 28, 1823. Remained in Columbiana until he was abont nineteen years of age. During the earlier portion of his life he labored on the farm in sum- · mer and attended school in the winter. At the age of about eighteen years he went to learn the trade of house carpenter and joiner at New Brighton, Pennsylvania, where he worked two years and then moved to Stark county, Ohio, where he worked at his trade about eleven years, until the year 1855, when he removed to Iowa and settled at Oskaloosa, where he remained one year, and in the spring of 1856 removed to Forest Home, Poweshiek county, where he remained until 1863, where he still followed his trade in summer and taught school in the winter. In 1863 he removed to the farm on which he now lives, which was at that time raw prairie. In 1851, No- vember 20, he was married to Mary E. Wolf, who is still living. They have raised six children: Alonzo N., Loring W., Edward J., Lewis, Ida H. and Mary C., who are all now living. Has been elected justice of the peace, township clerk and member of Board of Supervisors, besides holding various school offices. Has his farm well improved, good barn for horses, good orchard and shrubbery.

MYERS, THOS. J .- Section 32, P. O. New Sharon. Was born in Mor- gan county, Indiana, September 21, 1843, where he continued to live with his parents until he was about sixteen years of age. His father was a farmer and he was brought up to labor on the farm. In the year 1859, his parents removed from Indiana to Iowa and settled in what is now Sugar Creek township, near its eastern line, where young Myers assisted in open- ing a farm for his father on section 14. He was married in 1863, to Win- nie Flener, who is still living, and by whom he has six children: George S., Oliver P., John T., Elizabeth J., Osher and Etta V. He purchased the farm on which he lives in the year 1867. Has a beautiful location, situated on the north side of the public road. Has a fine residence, bearing orchard and is comfortably fixed.

N ASH, M. G .- P. O. Searsboro. Was born in the State of Michigan, While he was yet very young, his

on the 2d day of March, 1856.

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parents removed to the State of New York. Here Mr. Nash was brought up and educated. He continued to live in the State of New York until the year 1877, when he removed to Iowa, settling in Grinnell, where he was engaged for a short time in selling goods in a millinery store, and then re- moved to Searsboro and commenced the business of school teaching, which business he has followed ever since in Sugar Creek township, having taught several terms at Hazel Dell, and several terms at Stanley's school- house. Mr. Nash is a young man of pleasing address and a fine teacher, and his services are always in good demand as a teacher. He is now learn- ing the business of telegraphy in the office at Searsboro. He is the Secre- tary of the Society of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Searsboro, and enjoys the entire confidence of his many friends.

DAGE, AARON F .- Section 21, P. O. Searsboro. Among the many P

old settlers of this township, none are more closely identified with the early settlement of this county and State than the subject of this sketch, he having come to this State as early as the year 1852. He was born in Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, where he continued to live until he was about sixteen years of age, when his parents removed to Huron, now Erie county, Ohio, where he continued to live about twelve years, within eight miles of Lake Erie. Aaron then purchased a tract of land in Medina county, where he opened a farm and lived until he removed to this State in 1852, and set- tled in Tama county, about three miles from where Toledo now stands. At that time there were but seven white inhabitants in the county. Owing to the inconvenience of milling privileges, and the distance to market, he moved his family back to Iowa City, in Johnson county. He lived in Iowa City until spring and then moved onto a farm in Big Grove township, Johnson county, on which he lived until 1857, when he came to the place which he now owns and occupies. At that time the country in this county was very new, there only being three houses of any kind between here and Grinnell, and but two small stores in that city. He was married on the 27th of June, 1841, to Miss Celendia Cary, who was born in the State of Pennsylvania, but brought up in the State of New York. She was born December 16, 1816. By this union they have had eight children, only two of whom are now living: Homer R. and Orange A. Homer R. is now a practicing physician in the city of Des Moines, enjoying a good practice, and Orange lives on the place with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Page may justly claim to be among the pioneers of this county and State.

PALMER, J. H .- Physician and surgeon in Searsboro. Was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, in the year 1849, and resided in that county un- til he was about eighteen years of age, when he entered college at Mt.

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Pleasant, Henry county, where he remained about two years. He then went to Oskaloosa and commenced the study of medicine. He remained two years under the tutorship of Dr. D. A. Hoffman; during the two years above mentioned, he attended medical lectures at the Ohio Medical College, where he graduated with honor in the year 1874. Immediately after grad- uation, he commenced the practice of medicine at Searsboro, where he still continues to practice. He has been the owner of a drug store in this place, which he has now sold to his brother in-law. He has a nice residence prop- erty on the main street in Searsboro, and a fine practice in his profession; is a social and intelligent gentleman and a fine physician, and we bespeak for him his share of the practice wherever he may pitch his professional tent.

R OBERTSON, JOSEPH-Section 36, town 78, range 16 west. P. O. New Sharon. One of the oldest and best farmers in Sugar Creek township is Joseph Robertson, the subject of this sketch. When he set- tled here there were but three men living in the township, viz., John and James McDowell and William English, all of whom, except John McDow- ell are deceased. Mr. Robertson was born in Campbell county, East Ten- nessee on the 28th day of May, 1822. While he was very young his par- ents removed to Indiana and settled in Brown county, where he continued to live with his parents, laboring on the farm, until the breaking out of the war with Mexico, when he enlisted in company E, Third Indiana volunteer infan- try, Captain Adams, of Montezuma (and who, Mr. Robertson says, is one of the best men living), was his captain, and Jim. Lane, of Kansas fame, was his colonel. His regiment was made up at New Albany, Indiana, from which place it went to New Orleans, and from there to Santiago. He partici- pated in the battle of Buena Vista, where he received a shot under the left arm from a spent-ball which, however, had not force enough to penetrate. At the close of the Mexican War he returned to his home, where he continued to live until 1850, when he removed with his young family and settled on the land where he now resides on the 18th of May, which land Uncle Samuel gave him for the services rendered in Mexico, and which is now a splendid farm in the valley of the Skunk River. He has continued, as he has been able, to purchase what joins him until his farm now con- tains five hundred and twenty-seven acres, all in fine cultivation and fenced with substantial fences; has fine buildings and good orchard, besides beau- tiful natural and ornamental trees. His farm is well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep, and, in fact, he has everything about him which heart could desire; and there is but one thing to mar his happiness, and that is the loss of his companion, who died in August, 1865, since which

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time Uncle Joseph, as his neighbors call him, has continued to live single. He was married April 23d, 1848, to Miss Eliza Whitney, by which union they have nine children who are now living, whose names are: Stephen, Miranda J., Andrew J., Pleasant, Elizabeth, Winnie W., George W., James M., Mary L., besides one who is dead: Martha A.

ROBERTSON, STEPHEN-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 36, P. O. New Sharon. Was born in Brown county, Indiana, on the 9th day of September, 1848, where he continued to live but a short time, when his- parents removed to Iowa and settled on the same section on which he still resides, where he was brought up to labor on the farm, attending school in the winter, and assisting his father to improve his large farm during the summer. He was married on the 22d of August, 1872, to Miss Harriet M. Nelson, who was born in the State of New Jersey, in the year 1856, who is still living, and by whom he has four children, whose names are: Rachel E., Mary J., Harriet E. and Alice G. Mr. Robertson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the society at New Sharon.

ROACH, L. DOW-Farmer and stock-raiser, in Sugar Creek township. Was born in Hendricks county, in the State of Indiana, on the 3d of April, 1845, where he continued to live until he was about four years of age, when his parents removed to Iowa and settled in Keokuk county, where they re- mained about four years and then removed to Union township, this county, settling near what is now Forest Home, then an unbroken wilderness. Hence he may be justly termed one of the pioneer settlers of the county. He continued to live with his parents, laboring on the farm and enduring the hardships incident to a pioneer life in a new country, until the break- ing out of the War of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in company C, Twenty-eighth Iowa, which regiment did more hard marching and trav- eled more miles than any regiment from the great young State of Iowa. Mr. Rouch was always with his regiment and on duty every day of his ser- vice except two. He participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, consisting of Vicksburg, Champion's Hill, Sabine Cross-roads, Pleasant Hill, Kane River, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. He was mustered out of the service in August, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa. On March 14, 1871, was married to Miss Lucy Wickham, by whom he has two children: Helen Myrtle, and Inez May.

RIGGS, JOHN-Section 26, township 78, range 17, P. O. Searsboro. Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 24th day of August, 1840, where he continued to live with his parents until the year 1861, when he came West and settled in Washington county, Iowa, where he engaged for one year

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in running an engine in a steam mill, which business he learned while quite young. At the end of the year above mentioned he went to Kansas, in the latter part of 1862. He remained in Kansas about eighteen months, engaged in running an engine in the city of Leavenworth. From Kansas he removed to Iowa and settled in Sugar Creek township, since which time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, except a short time while he engaged in a steam mill, in Madison township, Mahaska county. He owns the farm on which he lives, consisting of eighty acres of splendid land, which is in a good state of cultivation and under good fences. He has his farm reasonably well stocked with horses, cattle, and hogs. He was mar- ried on the 16th of September, 1864, to Jane English, by whom he has four children, whose names are: Ida, Alma, Frank, and Anna, all of whom are now living.

SHER HERIDAN, ASHER-P. O. Searsboro. Was born in Henry county,

Indiana, on the 25th day of May, 1846, where he was brought up on a farm, upon which he labored in the summer time and attended the dis- trict school in winter, which was all the educational advantages he enjoyed, except two winters, when he attended the Spiceland Academy. In the year 1865 he removed with his parents and settled on the farm which he now occupies, which consists of 160 acres of fine land, lying on the north slope of the Skunk River, with one of the handsomest building spots in this part of the county, on a gently rising knoll, sloping in every direction, and surrounded with a splendid natural grove of young oaks, within plain view of Lynnville, lying to the west, and the highlands on the opposite side of the river. The farm is in a fine state of cultivation and well fenced. Here Mr. Sheridan has lived and labored ever since 1865, and the farm bears striking evidence that he is a first-class farmer. His father, George Sheridan, was born in the State of Ohio, in the year 1811, and says that his cradle was rocked by the noted earthquake of that year. His (i. e. George's) parents removed to Henry county, Indiana, during the early set- tlement, where he continued to live until 1865. Asher's mother was Mary C. Kersey, who was born in Guilford county, North Carolina. Her parents removed, when she was but five years of age, to Henry county, Indiana. She was born in the year 1821, and died in 1875. She was a descendant of the colony which came over with William Penn, and during her lifetime her mother had a written history, tracing her genealogy back to that col- ony. Of the ancestors of the Sheridans but little is positively known. John, father of George, was born somewhere in America, it is believed in North Carolina; and it is known that his father, George Sheridan, came from Ireland, and was a weaver by trade-three brothers coming over at

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The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 73

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