The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 82

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

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county. Their children having no playmates but Indian children, the In- dians were usually friendly and saved them from starvation at one time, always giving them meat on returning from a hunt. Mr. and Mrs. Gar- nett have three boys and one girl, all home. Mr. Garnett enlisted in 1864, in the Sixteenth Iowa, and served with Sherman till the close of the war, when he was discharged at Washington, D. C.

NGHAM, JOHN-Farmer, section 3, P. O. Brooklyn. Is a native of 1

Baltimore county, Maryland, where he was born, February 8, 1843, beginning life as a farmer boy. In 1849, in company with his parents, he moved to Mahaska county, Iowa. Here young Ingham spent some of his younger years on a farm, attending school each winter, going over two miles, through snow two feet deep on a level, with no roads, receiving his instruction in a log house, through which the snow and wind had free access. In company with his father he often made trips to Iowa City with ox teams after goods for merchants in Montezuma, occupying a week or more each trip. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in company H, Eighth Iowa, going from Mahaska county, serving in the western army for three years. Was in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, receiving a slight wound in the right arm. He was at the surrender of Jackson, Mississippi; then at Vicksburg, where he was under fire during the entire battle. Was in Red River campaign and many minor encounters, the last fight being with Forrest on his raid into Memphis. Was taken prisoner at Pittsburg Land- ing with Gen. Prentice, being held as such some two months, where he suf- fered such inhuman treatment at their hands as no tongue can tell or pen portray, often living on food not fit for swine. Mr. I., after receiving his discharge at Davenport upon the expiration of term of enlistment, returned to his home, where he remained a short time; then went to Bear Creek township, where he farmed four years, and while there, in 1866 was mar- ried to Miss Mary A. Miller, of Warren township, and in company with his young wife removed to Scott township, in 1868, and after improving three farms bought the fourth farm, where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. I have two children: Nettie A. and Emery H. Mr. I. is an energetic, active, Christian worker and prominent citizen of the county, having been trustee, school director, president of school board, as well as filling many other positions of trust. Has also taken an active part in the Sunday-school and M. E. Church. His present farm of 160 acres he has all in the best culti- vation, having a very fine new house and barn; also a large orchard of very choice fruit trees, including all of the very best varieties of apples. There are about 150 evergreens on the place.

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K IRK, DAVID-Farmer, section 19, P. O. Motezuma. Born in Dela- ware, August 26, 1809, and while there, at the early age of five years, while operating a picking machine in his father's woolen mill, he met with a sad accident by his right hand being caught in the machine and mangling it so that he lost three of his fingers. About this time young Kirk, with his parents, removed to Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where they resided till 1834, when they removed to Clark county, Ohio; thence to Schuyler county, Ill- inois, where, at the age of twenty-seven, Mr. K. was married to Miss Lucy W. Searer, of that place, where they remained some thirty years, carrying on farming very successfully. In 1866 he came with his family to this township, where he bought one-half section of partially improved land, upon which he now lives, and which is all under cultivation, having a large or- chard on the place. Mr. Kirk has suffered the loss of many near and dear to him, having buried his first wife in Brown county, Illinois, August 3, 1856, aged forty-four years. Has also followed to the grave his children, Margaret H. (in 1876; aged forty years), Hanna E. (in 1867; aged twenty-nine years), John R. (in 1858; aged eighteen years), Jonathan P. {in 1878; aged thirty-six years), James W. (on July 20, 1879; aged thir- ty-four years, who left a wife and two daughters in Casey, Iowa). Two children from his first marriage remain to cheer their aged parents: David W. (born April 3, 1848) and Henry E. (born July 31, 1854). Mr. Kirk married for his second wife Miss Jane, only daughter of William and Mary Morrison, of Schuyler county, Illinois. Was married in this county, No- vember 11, 1860. From this union they have one daughter, Mary Ann (born January 10, 1863). Mr. Kirk, though now seventy-one years old, is quite active and healthy, and is a very social and highly respected citizen of this community.

KIRK, HENRY E .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 19, P. O. Monte- zuma. Was born in Brown county, Illinois, July 31, 1854. Was there raised until the age of eleven years, when he came West with his parents, his father, David Kirk, locating in Poweshiek county. The subject of this sketch has been engaged in the pursuits of agriculture from his boyhood, and he is numbered among the industrious and enterprising young farmers of the township. He farms fifty acres of fine land, well stocked, and all the appurtenances of his place indicate the care of a skilled hand. He was mar- ried March 7, 1880, to Miss Susan J. Hunter, of Poweshiek county, a lady of refinement and culture.

L INEWEAVER, C. B .- Fariner, section 4. Born September 24, 1846 in Rockingham county, Virginia; received an ordinary school edu- cation while living there on a farm with his parents. In 1873 he came to

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Bear Creek township, this county, where he remained on a farm five years. In 1878 he removed with his family to his farm of eighty acres on which he now lives, which is under good cultivation. Mr. L. married October 28, 1869, Miss Rebecca C., oldest daughter of Eli and Sarah Andis. By this union they have five children: Jeremiah Franklin (aged ten years), Sarah Esther (aged eight years), Clara V. (aged five years), Charles Boyd (aged three years) and Fanny May (aged two years). Mr. L., in 1864, at the age of seventeen, was drafted into the Confederate Army, where he experienced all the hardships of and participated in all of the battles fought by that army from the time he joined them till the surrender of General Lee.

M cFERREN, JOHN-Farmer, section 31, P. O. Montezuma. Born October 21, 1835, in Homer township, Medina county, Ohio, where he lived with his parents on a farm, attending school at intervals, till twenty-one years of age. He then went to Henry county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming till 1871, when he moved to Pleasant township, this county, where he married February 28, 1877, Miss Patterson, of same place. By this union they have one son: Ernest Edgar (aged two years). While in Illinois Mr. McFerren enlisted in the One Hundred and Seven- teenth Illinois infantry, and after about nine months' service was discharged on account of sickness brought on by exposure.

MILLS, JOHN M .- Farmer, section 11, P. O. Brooklyn. Born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1841, where he lived with his parents on a farm until the years of early manhood. In 1855 he went to Green county, Wisconsin, where he farmed till 1859, when he went to Jones county, Iowa, where he remained till 1861, when he came to this county, and after living here one year enlisted, August 15, 1862, in com- pany H, Twenty-eighth Iowa. He was in twelve battles, and was discharged August 13, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa. He married November 15, 1866, Miss Ann Lee, of Warren township. Mr. and Mrs. M. settled in Brooklyn in 1868; they moved onto a farm in Warren township, where, on the night of May 6, 1869, while Mr. M. was absent from home, their house and its contents were consumed by fire, the family barely escaping in their night clothes. They have four girls and three boys, all living at home. In March, 1870, Mr. M. removed to Scott township, where he bought his present farm of eighty acres, on which he has a fine young orchard. He is a live public spirited Republican, and is at present correspondent of three county papers. He was township trustee one term, assessor from 1873 to 1877, clerk of school board from 1874 to 1878, enumerator of tenth census, 1880, and takes an active part in the Sunday-school, being one of the organizers of the Sunday-school in his neighborhood.

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WEN, ALBERT-Farmer, section 28, P. O. Montezuma. Born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1816, where he grew to manhood on a farm. He married November 5, 1839, Miss Hannah Powell. Mr. Owen is a miller and mill-wright by trade. In 1854 he came West with his family and located in Moline, Illinois, where he worked at his. trade for five years; he then moved on a farm in Henry county, Illinois, where he lived till 1868, and then caine to this county and improved 160 acres, where he now lives: he lived in his moving wagon until his house was built. His farm is now well improved, with a fine bearing orchard. They have one son and one daughter: Benjamin F. (married Miss Inez Lowes) and Mary (now Mrs. John Z. Noel).

R OBINSON, CHARLES-Farmer, section 6, P. O. Malcom. Born September, 1844, in the county of Perth, Scotland, where he lived with his parents till 1870, when he came to this county and bought his- present farm of 320 acres, which he has since improved, making one of the finest farms in the county. Mr. R. married in New York, in 1870, Miss Ann Gibbs, of same place. They have three children, all living at home. T IBBALS, WILLIAM F .- Farmer, section 16, P. O. Montezuma.

Was born May 10, 1837, in Grenville, Massachusetts, where he lived with his parents till eighteen years old, when, with his parents, he moved to Delaware, Ohio, at which place he attended the Ohio University for four years, during which time his father died at the age of sixty-two. After graduating young Tibbals went to Missouri to buy land, but not liking the country he came to this county, where he bought eighty acres adjoining 120 which he had previously bought of his father who had entered it from the government. Mr. T. then returned to Delaware, remaining with his mother till her death in 1863. At that time he was the owner of a marble shop in Delaware, which he sold in 1867. In 1868 he went to Brooklyn and engaged in buying oats for shipment and loaning money. Mr. T. went to Franklin county, Ohio, and married a Miss Sarah Jane Holmes, of that place, in 1871; then, in company with his young wife, came West and set- tled on the farm where they now live, and to which he has added 160 acres, making a farm of 320 acres. He has 260 apple trees, part bearing, also, small fruit in abundance, as well as first-class buildings. One boy has been born to them: Leroy H. (aged eight years). Mr. T. has 120 acres in Scott township, 160 in Malcom township, 160 in Jackson township, forty in Deep River township and seven and one-half near the town of Brooklyn.

W ADSWORTH, GEO .- Farmer, section 12, P. O. Brooklyn. Was born in the year 1835, in Ireland, and when twelve years old im- migrated to Illinois to live with an aunt, and after remaining there some

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time, went to Colorado, where he stayed seven years. While living here he spent part of his time in teaming between Rock Island and his home, often having very dangerous encounters with the Indians, sometimes losing his teams and load, but when he succeeded in getting through with his load was rewarded with good profits. The subject of this sketch is of Scotch parentage, having ten brother and sisters, and although he had very limited opportunities to receive an education, he is an intelligent, well read man, who, in the prime of life, has been in nearly every State in the Union. In 1867 he settled on his present farm of 200 acres of prairie land, which he had previously bought. After working and living alone for a year opening up his new place, with no houses to be seen for miles around, and for weeks at a time would see no persons near his lonely home, he in January, 1868, went to Rock Island, Illinois, and there married Miss Mary McMurry of that place. They have been blessed with four girls and two boys, who are all living at home. He was in Rock Island in 1853, when there were but few small houses and no bridges. He started in life with nothing, and to-day would not take $12,000 for his land with its improvements and stock, and is now about to make more improvements, for which he has am- ple means. When he began here he paid $30 per thousand for fencing, he now has all kinds of machinery, and has always paid cash for everything he bought.

WILLETT, R. S .- Farmer, section 7, P. O. Montezuma. Was born in 1841 in Mercer county, Illinois, where he lived on a farm for twenty-five years, receiving an ordinary education; then in 1866, came to Scott town- ship, where he bought one-half section of prairie, which he now has under cultivation; having now in good thriving condition, 2,000 bearing trees, also an extensive young nursery of the latest and best varieties of small fruit. Mr. Willett received the highest medal and award in 1876, at Phil- adelphia for the best variety of apples on exhibition. He was married, December 25, 1866, to Miss Edith, oldest daughter of Tylor and Lydia McWharton. They have three children: Myrtle (aged 13), Glenn M. (aged 9) and Raymond L. (aged 3 years). The subject of this sketch enlisted, September 30, 1861, in the Thirtieth Illinois infantry at Aledo, and re-enlisted, serving till the close of the war. He served in all the cam- paigns of the Western army, being wounded in both legs, from which he was laid up for a few months. One of the wounds was received at Fort Donelson. Mr. Willett was elected first sergeant on re-enlisting. He was school treasurer from 1872 to 1874; justice of the peace from 1870 to 1874, having tried many cases during his term of office, none of which were reversed by the higher courts.

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WILLETT, GEORGE W .- Farmer, section 30, P. O. Montezuma. Is a native of Mercer county, Illinois. Born March 20, 1845. When at the. age of nine he witnessed the death of his father. When twenty-two years old, he, in company with his brother Thomas J., came to Scott township and bought 280 acres in section 19, and after improving 240 of it, they sold this place, and in 1875 Mr. Willett bought his present farm of 160 acres, which he has since improved, now having on his place 200 apple trees of the choicest varieties. He was married in Montezuma, June 28, 1876, to Miss Laura A., daughter of E. R. and M. S. McKee of that place. Mrs. Willett, previous to her marriage, had taught school in district No. 7 in 1868, district No. 1, 1869, then the fall of 1869 commenced teaching in Montezuma, where she taught six successive years, except three summers, during which time she was engaged in teaching in the country. Mrs. Wil- lett is now teaching her seventh successive term in district No 7, where she has excellent success. She has taught more terms in the township than any other one teacher.

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

B ATES, S. H .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 25, P. O. Montezuma. Was born in Neponset, Bureau county, Illinois, January 1, 1855, and was there educated and raised. His father, Thomas Bates, pursued the vo- cation of a farmer. The subject of this sketch came to Poweshiek county in the spring of 1877, and located where he now resides. He was married, December 25, 1877, to Miss Fannie E. Handraker of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson county, Illinois. She is a lady who devotes her time to making home com- fortable and inviting. Their family consists of one son, Harry Lee (born October 10, 1878). Mr. Bates owns eighty acres of land, well stocked with cattle, horses, hogs, etc. He has begun life with a fair start, and being an industrious and persevering young man his success as an agriculturalist is certain.

BERNS, GEORGE T .- Shoemaker, Ewart. Was born in Philadelphia in 1838, and was there raised, educated and learned his trade. In 1865 he con- ceived the idea that the West offered better inducements for accomplished tradesmen than his native city, and so he came to Muscatine, Iowa, where he worked as journeyman for a while, from which place he went to Wilton Junction, in the same capacity. After remaining there for a short time, he made a tour through Missouri, but that country not proving congenial to his views he returned to Iowa and located at Montezuma, where he resided one year. Mr. Jonas Good, of Malcom, at this time secured Mr. Berns to manage

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a shop for him at that place, which he did, to his entire satisfaction, for two years, at the end of which time, Mr. Good removed his establishment to Gilman, and Mr. Berns was called there in the same capacity. He came to Ewart in March, 1879, and has been engaged in trade since that time with a considerable degree of success.

C ARPENTER, J. D .- Section 3, P. O. Malcom. Was born in Ben- nington county, Vermont, May, 1853, and moved with his parents to Bureau county, Illinois, in 1857, where he was educated and raised. Was married, June 10, 1875, to Miss M. E. Judd of that county. They have three children living: Sarah (born July 1, 1876), Eli (born September 12, 1877) and Flora (born January 22, 1880). Mr. Carpenter came to this county in January, 1878, and settled where he now resides; owns 280 acres of land, about all under cultivation, well stocked with cattle and horses. His buildings are good, and everything about his place indicates pros- perity.

CLEALAND, W. C .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 19, P. O. Ewart. Was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1841; was there raised and educated. He came to this county in 1860 and located in Rock Island county, Illi- nois, where he followed agricultural pursuits for eight years, from which place he removed to Poweshiek county and settled where he now resides. He was married December 28, 1867, to Miss Sarah McKeag, of Rock Island county, Illinois. Their family consists of five children: Elizabeth Jane, Maggie, James, Rose and William Garfield. Mr. Clealand is the founder of his competency, as he began life in very moderate circumstances, but by thrift and industry has reaped the reward that invariably follows, and he is now numbered among the leading farmers of Poweshiek county. His farm consists of four hundred acres, mostly under cultivation, well stocked. He also has a fine young orchard and his residence is pleasantly situated. He is and has been for a number of years one of the trustees of the town, and takes an active part in the educational interests of his dis- trict.

COOPER, JAMES-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 8, P. O. Malcom. Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, July 18, 1845, and was there raised and educated. Came to this country in 1871 and located in Malcom township, where he resided for a time and then came to his present location in the spring of 1873. He was married May 31, 1871, to Miss Barbara Ann An- derson, of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. From this union they have had three children: Jennie Ann, James Alexander and Ella. Mr. Cooper's farm consists of 160 acres, mostly all under cultivation. His home is pleasantly situated and indicates comfort and prosperity. Himself and family are

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members of the Presbyterian Church of Malcom. He is numbered among the successful agriculturalists of Pleasant township.

COPELAND, J. C .- Section 7, P. O. Ewart. Was born in County Down, Ireland, May 11, 1842, and came to this country in 1853, and located in Otsego county, New York, where he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits until 1868. In that year he formed the impression that Iowa was the State for an industrious agriculturist, so he came here and located in Pleas- ant township, where he has since resided. He has seventy-five acres of land all under cultivation and well stocked. His home is surrounded by a fine grove and a young orchard that will compare favorably with any in the township. He was married in 1864 to Miss Annie E. Young, of Otsego county, New York. Their family consists of three children: William Ervin, Agnes Belle, J. Sheldon. Mr. Copeland came to Poweshiek county in fair circumstances, and by industry and attention to his legitimate pur- suits is now numbered among the successful farmers of this township.

COTTON, W. B .- Physician, Ewart. Born in Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio, January 31, 1852. His father, Solomon C. Cotton, was gen- eral traveling agent for several of the leading fire insurance companies. In early life our subject attended the common schools until the age of four- teen, when he moved with his parents to Hartford City, Indiana, and at- tended the graded school at that place. At the age of eighteen, and while pursuing his studies at the Hartford City school, he turned his attention to studying medicine. At this time his parents returned to Ohio. Dr. Cot- ton, having obtained considerable knowledge of the profession that he had chosen to pursue through life, then attended the Cleveland Medical Col- lege one term, after which he practiced medicine in Nevada and Cumber- land, Ohio, with considerable success. In March, 1876, he came to Keokuk, Iowa, and attended the medical college at that place one year. He then moved to Daytonville, Washington county, Iowa, where he remained eighteen months, from which place he come to Ewart, May 23, 1880. Al- though he has been in Ewart but a short time he is already known through- out Poweshiek county as a successful practitioner, and is numbered among the leading members of the medical fraternity in this section. He was mar- ried September 13, 1873, to Miss Maggie A. Wilkinson, of Fairview, Han- cock county, West Virginia. She is a highly cultivated lady of consid- erable literary attainments. Their family consists of two children: Bertha May (aged five years) and Willie (aged one year).

COUTTS, R. G .- Stone-mason, Ewart. Was born in Aberdeen county, Scotland, in 1856, and was there raised to manhood and educated. Came to this county in 1874 and learned the trade he now pursues. Has

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been a resident of Poweshiek county since his arrival in America. Mr. Coutts is considered as good a workman as there is in the county and his services are frequently demanded in the surrounding towns. He is an ex- emplary young man, an elder in the United Presbyterian Church of Ewart and is highly respected by a large circle of acquaintances.

CUMMINGS, JAMES-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 8, P. O. Ewart. Was born in Ashland county, Ohio, July 16, 1854, and moved with his parents, when quite young, to Cedar county, Iowa, where they resided about three years, from which point they moved to Poweshiek county, and for a time lived in Malcom township. His father, Alex. Cummings, moved upon section 9 of this township where he has since resided. In the spring of 1880 the subject of this sketch purchased the farm he now tills. It consists of eighty acres all under cultivation, well stocked. His residence is surrounded by a fine grove and a thrifty orchard. He was married, April 29, 1880, to Miss Alma D. Lutcham of Pleasant township. She takes an active part in general advancement of the household, and makes home pleasant and attractive. Mr. Cummings is just starting in life, and being endowed with all the commendable traits that insure success, he, evidently, in the near future, will be classed among our leading farmers.

D AVIE, A .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 16, P. O. Malcom. Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, June 4, 1824; was there raised to man- hood and educated. His father, Alexander Davie, was a stone-mason and contractor. The subject of this sketch came to this country in 1854, locat- ing in Ashland county, Ohio, where he resided until 1863, when he enlisted in the Twelfth Ohio independent battery, participating in many of the bloody conflicts of the Rebellion, among which were Murfreesborough and Franklin. His horse was shot from under him while en route from Chat- tanooga to Nashville. He was honorably discharged at the close of the Rebellion, and returned to Ohio, where he remained until 1866, when he came to Poweshiek county and located on the Ingram farm in Pleasant township. He lived in different portions of the township until the spring of 1871, when he moved to his present location. He was married in 1846 to Miss Isabelle Duffies of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The have had a fam- ily of six children by this union, three of whom are living: Alexandria, William and Nora. Deceased are: Ann, Margaret and Jennie. Mr. Da- vie's farm consists of 130 acres, all under cultivation and well stocked. Himself and family are members of the Presbyterian Church of Malcom, and are among its liberal patrons and supporters. DAVIE, A. J .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 14, P. O. Malcom, son of A. Davie. Born Sep-

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tember 23, 1853, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He lived with his father until the spring of 1879, since that time himself and brother, W. G. Davie, have followed agricultural pursuits in partnership. Was married, March 6, 1879, to Miss Ida Moody of Pleasant township, formerly of Indiana. DAVIE, W. G .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 14, P. O. Malcom, son of A. Davie, and of the firm of Davie Brothers. Born in Ohio, January 17, 1856, lived with his parents until the spring of 1879, since that time he has been in partnership with his brother, A. J. He was married, March 6, 1879, to Miss Ada A. Moody of Pleasant township, formerly of Indiana. The Davie Brothers are well and popularly known throughout the county, being industrious and enterprising young men. They are now cultivating 200 acres of land, and being experienced agriculturalists, their success in that line is very probable.

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The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 82

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