The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 74

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

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the same time, George and Abner; the name of the other is not known. Silas and Verling Kersey, uncles of Asher, are both physicians of note, Silas enlisting in the War of the Rebellion as a private and being pro- moted to brigade surgeon.

STANLEY, AARON-Section 7, P. O. Searsboro, Iowa. Was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the 15th of February, 1832, from which place his parents removed, when Aaron was a lad, to Henry county, settling near Greensboro, in the timber. Here Aaron was brought up to manhood, laboring continually during the summer and attending the farm, with no other opportunities of acquiring an education than by attendance on the common schools of those days during the winter months, which were by no means such schools as are now found in the country districts of this county, and which were not free then as now. His father died when he was but ten years of age, leaving his mother with seven small children to be fed, clothed, and educated. Mr. Stanley continued to live with his mother until her second marriage, when he was about eighteen years old, after which he shifted about for a year or two, and then removed to Iowa and settled in Wapello county, where he engaged in farming for about two years, and here was married to Martha S. Martin, on the 19th day of Oc- tober, 1852. He removed to Indiana, where he remained about four years, and then returned to Iowa, settling in Jasper county, where he lived about three years, and removed to the place which he now occupies about the year 1869, where he has resided ever since. His home is a pleas- ant one, on an elevated spot, facing the Skunk River, surrounded by a beau- tiful natural and artificial grove. He had the misfortune to lose his com- panion the 16th day of September, 1866. Has brought up a family of five children, whose names are Lenora E., John H., Michael K., Charles F., and Peninah A., who is a very intelligent young lady, and keeps house for her father, which she has done since she was thirteen years old.

STANLEY, JOHN H .- Section 7, P. O. Lynnville. Was born in Henry county, Indiana, on the 15th day of October, 1855. While he was yet very young his parents removed to this State, and settled in Jasper county, about two miles north of Lynnville, where young Stanley was brought up on a farm until the year 1861, when his father purchased a farm and removed to this township, where John H. continued to labor on the farm during the summer and attend school in winter. He continued to live with and labor for his father, assisting in making his new farm, until December 25, 1879, when he was married to Esther A. Sheridan, who was also born in Henry county, Indiana. Mr. Stanley has a nice farm on the west line of the county, within plain view of Lynnville. Has his farm reasonably well im -

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proved and stocked. Mr. Sheridan may be termed one of the pioneer young men of this county.

STILWELL, W. E .- Section 12, township 78, range 16 west. One of the most enterprising and energetic young farmers in this county is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Wayne county, in the State of In- diana, on the 3d day of May, 1841, where he remained with his parents until the year 1857. In the latter year his parents removed to this county and township, where he has lived and had his home ever since, except two years, when he was absent seeking his fortune in the mines of Montana, leaving home in 1864 and returning in 1866, being satisfied that gold was as easily obtained from the soil of Iowa as Montana. He is the owner of one of the finest stock farms which it has been the privilege of the writer to notice in many years, consisting of two hundred and eighty-five acres of fine land, the greater portion of which is fine agricultural land, with a splen- did body of timber on the northeast and along the east side, furnishing fine timber for use on the farm for fences and building material, etc. He has more fencing with rails on his farm than any man in the county, has a splendid new barn 83x50 feet, with a basement the entire length and 20 feet in width. Has a good residence 16x26 feet, 14 foot posts, with an L kitchen. On the northeast corner of Mr. Stilwell's farm is located a fine country church, belonging to the Christian denomination, and a coun- try cemetery. His farm is one of the most pleasantly located of any in the township, on the Searsboro and Montezuma road, with Buck Creek passing through the east side of his farm. The farm is in a good state of cultiva- tion. He has an orchard of about eight hundred trees, about three hun- dred in bearing, and has an abundance of all kinds of small fruit. His farm is well stocked, consisting of horses, cattle and hogs. He has on hand at this time seven head of horses, about eighteen head of fine cattle and one hundred and eighty head of hogs. He has held numerous township offices and has been retained for four years as secretary of the district township of Sugar Creek. Was married in the year 1867, to Miss Mary Powers, by whom he has four children: John A., James R., Jacob E. and Addie M. Another, Alice Bell, departed this life at the age of one year and three months.

STILWELL, ELIAS-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 26, P. O. New Sharon. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest and best known of the settlers of this section of the county. Although born poor he has, by dint of hard work and strict economy, succeeded in bring- ing up a large family and accumulating a nice fortune. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, on the 22d of September, 1817, but while quite

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young his parents removed with him to Preble county, in that State, where he continued to live until the year 1838, when he removed to Randolph county, where he lived only eighteen months and then removed to Wayne county, in which county he continued to live until he came to Iowa, in the year 1857, which year he settled on the farm which he now occupies and owns. He has one of the finest stock farms in the whole county, consisting of five hundred and sixty-five acres of splendid land, laying in the valley of the Skunk River, and through which the Iowa Cen- tral Railroad passes. His farm is all nicely improved and well fenced and and well stocked, with horses hogs and cattle. He was married on the 28th day of December, 1836, to Hannah A. Horner, with whom he lived and labored until July, 1877, when she died, and by whom he has had thirteen children, eight of whom are still living: Benjamin (born in Preble county, Ohio, October 3, 1837), Obadiah (born January 29, 1840), William E. (born May 3, 1841), Mary A. (born October 29,1843), Helen M. (born De- cember 16, 1845), Sarah J. (born December 16, 1847), Emeline (born March 23, 1849), Prudence (born April 25, 1851), Lydia E. (born March 24, 1855), Alice B. (born September 21, 1857), John A. (born December 13, 1858), Gideon Wil- son (born July 4, 1861), James (born October 11, 1864). Mr. Stillwell is a mem- ber of the A. F. & A. M., which order he joined in his twenty-eighth year, at Webb lodge, in Richmond, Indiana. He is now a member of La Fayette lodge, in Montezuma. Of his ancestry he knows but little but desires to have what he does know preserved for his children. Elias Stilwell, grand- father of the above, lived near where the battle of Monmouth was fought, and during the progress of the battle he climbed up into a tree in order to witness the fight, which he could plainly see, and while earnestly engaged in watching the progress of the fight he heard a whizzing noise in the branches of the tree, and on looking up saw an eighteen pound ball stick- ing in the fork of the tree. The old man "concluded that discretion was the better part of valor," and came down. Obadiah, the father of Elias, of this sketch, was born on the same farm where the above mentioned circum- stance occurred, about the year 1777, where he remained until he was twenty-two years of age, when he, in company with two brothers and a sister, all single, removed to Warren county, Ohio, which country was then a wild and uncultivated wilderness. Here in Warren county he was mar- ried to Miss Peggie Francis, who was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, on the 27th of September, 1791, which union was blessed by eight children, five sons and three daughters: Elias, Helen A., Edeiga F., Ellen, William, Obadiah, Lydia and James.

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T ERRELL, CHARLES W .- Merchant. Of the firm of Terrell & En- nis. Was born in Clinton county, Ohio, on the 28th day of Feb- ruary, 1851. Removed with his parents to Iowa at the age of five years, settling at Forest Home. Mr. Terrell is a son of Dr. Terrell, of the before mentioned place, who resides on the farm and follows his profession. Young Terrell was here brought up on the farm, where he followed farm work in youth in the summer and in the winter attended the public school, until he was about seventeen years of age, when he entered the business house of Wilson & Rogers, in Montezuma, as a clerk; remaining with this house about eighteen months, or until the dissolution of the firm, when he continued with John W. Wilson, successor to Wilson & Rodgers, for about two years. He then engaged as a clerk in the mercantile house of James Tillon, in Montezuma, for about three years, when he entered into a part- nership with Mr. Paul, and started into business at Searsboro, this county, under the firm name of Paul & Terrell, in September, 1874, which firm continued to run in this place for about eighteen months, then re- moved to Galesburg, Jasper county, continuing the business in Galesburg about eight months. Mr. Terrell, by reason of bad health, sold out, and for a short time was out of business. He then engaged himself to James Sheley & Son, in closing out bankrupt goods, and was sent to Searsboro for that purpose. After closing out the same he went into business for him- self, which he continued to conduct alone until September, 1878, when he associated with him his father-in-law, Mr. Vestus Evans, under the firm name of Terrell & Evans, which firm is still doing business in Searsboro, carrying a fine stock of general merchandise and doing a fine business. Be- sides their mercantile business the firm own in partnership two farms, one consisting of 160 acres of fine land just south of Searsboro, immediately adjoining the town plat, and one of forty acres, three miles south of town. He was married July 1, 1877, to Miss Ida Evans, a lady of intelligence and refinement, by whom he has one child, Mary, who is now two years of age. While Mr. Terrell is still quite young, he has accumulated a considerable quantity of this world's goods and bids fair at no distant day to be one of the wealthy men of the county.

THOMAS, Z. W .- Teacher, in Searsboro. Was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the eighteenth day of May, 1856, where he remained with his parents until he was about nine years old, when he removed with his parents to the West and settled in Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, this State, which place has been his home ever since. He attended the common school of the place until the year 1871, when he entered Pennsylvania College. Not having the means to continue in school all the time he was obliged to

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teach and attend school alternately until he graduated in 1879, taking a normal course of four years, which is equivalent to a philosophical course in institutions where such courses are established. Mr. Thomas had taught three years before entering upon the work in this place, a part of the time in the country and one year as principal of the school in Indianapolis, Ma- haska county, this State, always to the entire satisfaction of his patrons. He is now engaged in the principalship of the Searsboro school.

W ILLIAMS, MRS. ELIZABETH-Section 8, P. O. Searsboro, is one

of the oldest settlers in this part of the county, and resides about three-fourths of a mile from the village of Searsboro. She is not only wor- thy of special mention because she is an old settler, but there are many other facts which entitle her to special notice in a work of this kind, nota- bly among which, is the fact that her husband and life companion was a soldier, and lost his life in the army, leaving his wife the care and educa- tion of her four children, which she has looked after with the greatest anx- iety. She was born in Underfield, Yorkshire, England, where she lived with her parents until she was about eleven years of age, when they removed to America and settled in Illinois, nearly opposite to St. Louis, Missouri. Her father died when she was about fifteen years of age. Sometime after the death of her father, she removed to Scott county, Illinois, where she was married to John W. Williams on the 18th day of January, 1846, who was born in the State of Indiana about the year 1822, where he lived until he was seven years old, and then removed to Scott county, Illinois, where he continued to live until he came to this county in the year 1854, and settled on the farm where she now resides, on which he continued to live until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when, in the year 1862, he enlisted in company I, Eleventh Iowa vol- unteer infantry, with which regiment he was engaged in some of the hard- est battles of the war; viz: Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Siege of Vicksburg, Iuka, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Atlanta, and was on Sherman's famous march to the sea, and when within four miles of Savan- nah, he was found dead by the wayside, was picked up and buried by the Forty-eighth Illinois regiment, the chaplain of which wrote Mrs. Williams the sad news. In his breast pocket was found his pocket Bible, on the cover of which was the following in his own handwriting: "My name is John W. Williams and my wife's name is Elizabeth, Lynnville, Iowa." Mrs. Williams' greatest comfort is in the text " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." Her children are three daughters and one son. Their names are Margaret E., Martha J., George T. and Mary E.

WILLIAMS, W. E .- Carpenter and builder. Was born in Logan

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county, Ohio, January 20, 1847. Removed from his place of nativity with his grandparents, at the age of three years, to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he remained, laboring on the farm, until he was fifteen years of age when he went to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner, following this for about one year, when the war broke out. He enlisted at the age of sixteen in the Fourth Iowa independent battery, commanded by Captain P. H. Good, which battery was sent to the southern part of Louisiana, where it remained doing post and garrison duty among the swamps of a southern clime, from August, 1862, to August, 1865. At the close of the war he returned to his home in Oskaloosa and engaged in working at his trade until 1868, when he moved to Marion county, Iowa, where he followed his trade for about two years; thence to this county, where he entered into partner- ship with J. N. Palmer, known as the firm of Palmer & Williams and en- gaged in contracting and building. They have a good business and a fine shop, rigged with all kinds of wood working machinery. They follow building in summer and manufacturing furniture in winter for the whole- sale trade. They have a store for retailing furniture at Searsboro and another in Lynnville in Jasper county.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

A LLEN, SAMUEL A .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 20, P. O. Forest Home. Mr. Allen was born March 8, 1827, in Morgan county, Kentucky. When eight years of age, he removed with his parents to Parke county, Indiana, where he lived till 1852. In the fall of 1852 Mr. Allen came to Iowa and settled in Mahaska county, where he resided for twelve years. He removed to his present farm in February, 1864, where he has won the confidence and respect of a wide circle of friends and neighbors. He married Miss Sarah J. Barnes, November 18, 1847, and their household has been blessed with seven children: William L. (born November 23, 1848), Mary A. (born August 29, 1850), Martha J. (born October 2, 1854), Isam T. (born September 29, 1856), Joseph R. (born Au- gust 29, 1860), Bailey A. (born February 8, 1863), Irvin C. (born October 16, 1867). Joseph R. died February 14, 1875, and Martha J., July 1, 1876. Mr. Allen has a farm of about 340 acres here, besides 160 acres in Kansas. This year, in connection with other large resources of his farm, he has raised one hundred hogs and about forty head of cattle. Since his residence here he has well sustained a prominent position among the worthy citizens of the county.

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UNION TOWNSHIP.

B EASON, JOHN A .- Born in Greene county, Ohio, August 2, 1837, and in 1850 came with his parents to this State. He married Mary R. Rice, June 24, 1856, and their family of children were born as follows: Emery L. (born February 27, 1857), William M. (born December 23, 1860), Ruth E. (born September 5, 1862), Charlie E. (born May 26, 1866), Ari- zona M. (born July 23, 1868), Frederick M. (born June 27, 1872), Donald C. (born January 26, 1876), Reuben C. (born August 22, 1878). Our sub- ject enlisted in the war caused by the Rebellion, on August 2, 1862, and served faithfully till he was honorably discharged, August 2, 1863. He was enrolled in company B, Fortieth Iowa volunteer infantry, and was with his regiment in their many campaigns and battles for the Union cause. He was at Vicksburg, Little Rock, Saline River, Fort Smith, Port Gibson and many other important places in various States where his country called him to defend the stars and stripes on the open field of strife. After the war he returned to the avocations of a worthy citizen, and now lives on his farm in Union township, this county. He also owns a saw-mill, which fur- nishes profitable employment during a portion of the year.

BONE, THOMAS-Farmer, residing in Union township, P. O. Monte- zuma. Born in Greene county, Ohio, February 11, 1832. In the fall of 1851 became a resident of this county. Married to Miss Rachel Beason of Union township March 25, 1852. Names of children are as follows: Amanda Adaline (born July 30, 1853), Joseph V. (born February 6, 1856), William C. (born July 12, 1858), Mary J. (born April 11, 1860), Rodilla (born February 18, 1862), Clara E. (born May 12, 1866), Samuel M. (born June 8, 1868), Ida S. (born February 16, 1870). He entered the Union army August 14, 1862, enlisting in company I, Thirty-fifth regiment Iowa volunteer infantry. Was in the battle at Jackson, Mississippi, and then at the Siege of Vicksburg. Shortly after the surrender of Vicksburg, he was taken prisoner at Jackson, July 14, 1863, and suffered in prisons of Libby and Belle Isle for seventy-three days. Being paroled, he returned to his regiment and was wounded at the battle of Tupelo, making the am- putation of his arm necessary. He was honorably discharged February 6, 1865, having willingly sacrificed a limb for his country. His farm contains 165 acres, with excellent improvements. He is a good farmer and worthy citizen.

C®

RAVER, J. ATWOOD-Farmer. He was born March 9, 1843, in

Fanklin county, New Jersey, and at the age of ten moved with his parents to Franklin county, Indiana, and in November, 1856, came to Union township this county. He enlisted October 8, 1861, in com- pany E, Fourth Iowa cavalry, and was campaigning west of the Mis-

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sissippi River till the fall of Vicksburg. He was present at the taking of Vicksburg. Before his time expired he re-enlisted and received a fur- lough of thirty days, after which he returned to Memphis, Tennessee. In 1864 he operated against Forrest, and in the fall of the same year fol- lowed Price in his second campaign through Missouri. From September to November he pursued the enemy, mostly on horseback, over two thous- and miles. He was with General Wilson in his campaigns in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He was married September 15, 1870, to Sophia A. Brent. They have a daughter, Ada Matilda. He still uses the saddle on which he has rode many hundred miles in the service of his country. He was mustered out of service in August, 1865.

G ARING, JOHN-Born in Wertemburg, Germany, February 23, 1838. He came to this country with his uncle, landing in New York, July 3, 1855. He went by railroad to Buffalo and by boat to Cleveland, where he worked for about two years. In 1857 young Garing, having in the meantime lost his uncle and aunt by cholera in Cleveland, sought employ- ment in Monroe county, Illinois, where he labored on different farms for two years. In the fall of 1859 he started for Iowa, and on the 4th of Sep- tember reached the neighborhood where he now resides. Having a patriotic feeling for his adopted land he enlisted August 1, 1861, in company F, Tenth Iowa. Soon the regiment was taken to the front and our Union sol- dier entered at once into active warfare. He was at various operative points on the Mississippi, in Missouri and other States, aided in capturing Island No. 10 and in the bombardment of Fort Pillow, in the battle of Iuka, September 19, 1862, and also the two days fight at Corinth, October 3 and 4. During the fall and winter of 1862-3, he was campaigning in Mississippi and Tennessee, wintering at Memphis. In the spring of 1863 the Tenth Iowa with the rest of General McPherson's corps passed down the river and operated at many points till called to the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, May 14, 1863. Two days later, May 16th, he fought in another battle, that hotly contested field at Champion's Hill, where our hero lost his arın. In his eagerness to stand in the front and punish the rebels a misdirected ball from a comrade's rifle wounded him and made the ampu- tation of his arm necessary. He was discharged September 14, 1863, and came home again to Union township. He was married April 1, 1866, to Miss Mary M. Johnson, and has the following children: Viola G., Clara C., Edward L., John H. His farm of 270 acres, finely stocked, with an ex- cellent orchard, is in section 34, Union township. He has ninety head of hogs and twenty head of thorough-bred cattle, a house and barn in good condi- tion. His prosperity is a reward of his diligence and economy.

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GREGSON, REV. M .- Was born July 10, 1831, in Owen county, In- diana, where his father remained for five years thereafter, and then moved into Morgan county. In 1854 the whole family, excepting a brother and sister, journeyed to Texas and resided in Kaufman county. There seemed a disposition to settle in a more desirable locality, accordingly in the fall of 1855 they turned their steps northward and safely reached the settle- ment in Unicn township, Poweshiek county, Iowa, where the subject of this sketch now resides. He married Mary Jane Robertson, June 15, 1851, in Owen county, Indiana. By this marriage there were two children: Theodore P. and America Ann. Theodore P. died at the age of five. America Ann married W. H. Harris, and now resides in Chapin, Iowa. Mr. Gregson was married the second time September 30, 1858, to Eliza A. Carpenter. There are ten children by his present wife: Mabel A. (born October 20, 1859), Commodore G. (born August 30, 1861, and died March 1, 1862), Mary J. F. (born March 26, 1864, and died September 3, 1865), Dayton P. (born September 4, 1866), Amos B. (born November 25, 1868), Morton M. (born February 23, 1871), Eli M. (born May 15, 1873), Levi L. (born September 28, 1875), Nellie E. (born September 5,1877), Sarah A. (born December 2, 1879). Rev. Gregson was licensed in 1852, and ordained to preach the gospel in the regular Baptist Church in 1854. He became pastor of the Baptist Church in Union township, Poweshiek county, Iowa, in the spring of 1856, and with the exception of two intervals of about five years in all, has acted in this capacity until the present time. For the past six years he has presided over the little flock with no intermission. He has been so well esteemed for his integrity, christian character and valuable services rendered the church and congregation, that they have not con- sented to his leaving his charge. It is now twenty-five years since he com- menced to minister to this people-a length of time seldom known in the history of any church. He owns a fine farm, well watered by a never fail- ing stream, considerable timber, a large orchard, cattle, hogs, a good house, and all things for comfort.

AYS, WILLIAM F .- A large and enterprising farmer on section 5. He is a native of Kentucky, having been born in Monroe county that State, June 19, 1818, where he lived till the fall of 1831; then removed with his parents to Putnam county, Indiana. In 1852, with par- ents, brothers and sisters came to the State of Iowa, and in the winter of 1853 settled on present farm in western part of Union township. Married to Malinda Watson, by whom he has the following children: Pleasant A., Mary, Lucy A., Margaret J. (died at two years) and George W. His farm consists of 400 acres, 160 of which are timber, the remainder well cultivated,

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The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 74

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