USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens > Part 93
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SAMUEL PATTERSON, farmer, Scc. 21; P. O. Elwood; was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Aug. 7, 1841 ; when he was 3 years of age, his parents
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emigrated to Iowa and settled near Mt. Vernon; here his father died, and, in 1845, his mother married again, and removed to Linn Co .; thence to Jackson Co. When Sam- uel was 21, he went to Mt. Vernon ; remained one year, then returned to Jackson Co., where he remained until about 1863, when he came to this county. Nov. 24, 1864, he married, in this county, Miss Mary J. Hiner, daughter of Young and Melinda Hiner ; she was born in Virginia Aug. 7, 1842 ; they have five children-Malowa, George, Mary Melinda, Eugene Addison and Josephine. Mr. Patterson and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He owns a well-located farm of 120 acres, and is an energetic, go-a-head citizen ; is a Democrat.
JOHN D. PARNELL, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Elwood. This gentleman, a resident of the Northwest for over thirty-five years, is a native of Askham, Westmore- land Co., England ; was born Jan. 23, 1807. He married, in England, Miss Agnes Cooper ; they immigrated to Starke Co., Ohio, in 1834; thence to Pulaski Co., Ind., in 1844, where they remained until 1857, when they removed to this county and settled on the farm where he now resides; his first wife died in this township ; present wife was Melinda J. Hiner, nee Anderson, a native of Rockingham Co., Va .; born in 1810 ; married, in Virginia, T. J. Hiner ; he died in 1854, while on their way from Virginia to this State. Mr. Parnell's children by first marriage were James, who married Eliza- beth Hurst, resides in Kansas; Mary, now the wife of C. L. Davenport, of Brookfield Township, this county. By his present wife had five children, only one now living- Maria E. By her former marriage, there are Mary J. (now Mrs. S. Patterson), Han- nah S. ( now Mrs. D. Hicks), Eugene (who married Emma Smith), Hettie J. (now Mrs. John Bowden). Mr. Parnell and wife own 160 acres of land ; he is a Republican.
JOHN PERRY, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Maquoketa; is an old resident of Clinton Co., a native of Morgan Co., Ky. ; born Feb. 11, 1809. He married, in Law- rence ( now Carter ) Co., Ky., Miss Juliet Lester, also a native of Kentucky ; born Jan. 12, 1814; in 1841, they emigrated to Henry Co., Mo .; remained until 1844, when they removed to Clinton Co. Mrs. Perry died March 19, 1879; their children are Minerva Jane (now Mrs. Amos Wilcox, resides in Brookfield Township) ; Elizabeth (Mrs. Heury Clay ) lives in Linn Co., Kan. ; Polly A. (Mrs. H. Wilcox, of Miami Co., Kan.); Margaret (MIrs. Daniel Grover, of Sac Co., Iowa ) ; William (is married and lives in Benton Co., Towa) ; Thomas D. (married and lives in Cowles Co., Kan. ) ; Joseph N., M. D. (is married and lives in Wyoming, Jones Co., Iowa) ; Martha Jane (now Mrs. Stephen Gordon, of Kingwood, Clinton Co); Elvarda (Mrs. John Wright, of California), and James R. Mr. Perry is a Democrat ; he owns 140 acres of land, and has ever been an upright, honorable man and an enterprising citizen.
WILLIAM PETCH, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Maquoketa; is a native of Yorkshire, Eng .; was born in 1829; emigrated to this country and came to Clinton Co. in 1849, where, by his industry and integrity, he has won a competence ; he is a man of enterprise and a public-spirited eitizen ; owns 200 acres of land, upon which are all the modern improvements. He married, in this county, Miss Mary C. Schafer, of Monroe Co., N. Y. ; their children are Edward J., Emma Maria and Carrie Jane.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3; P. O. Maquo- keta ; is a native of Augusta Co., Va .; born June 4, 1819. Married Miss H. Shaver, a native of Rockingham Co., Va., in 1842; they moved to Clinton Co. in 1869; have six children-Margaret Jane (now Mrs. John Devier, of Brookfield Township), Mary V. (now Mrs. A. L. Dyer) ; Hannah Elizabeth, Cornelia, John E. and De Witt. Mr. Phillips owns about one thousand acres of land ; is largely engaged in stock-raising and buying; is one of the leading farmers and stock-men of the State of Iowa ; Democrat.
WILLIAM PITHAN, farmer ; P. O. Lost Nation ; is a native of Prussia, born in 1824. He married, in Prussia, Miss Helena Mallman ; they emigrated to Iowa in 1851, and settled in Scott Co., within fifteen miles of Davenport, where they remained until 1854, when they removed to this county and settled where they now reside; their children were Charles and Henry ; Charles was born in 1854; he mar- ried, in 1875, Miss M. Cook ; they have one child-Mary ; he owns 105 acres of land ; lives in Sharon Township. Henry was born in 1852; married Miss A. Schultz; he
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BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP.
died April 9, 1877 ; had one child-Charles W. Mr. W. Pithan and family are mem- bers of the Reformed Church ; he is a Republican. Owns 300 acres of land, all most desirably located.
CLAUS C. RUUS, a prominent citizen of Clinton Co .; Chairman of the present Board of County Supervisors; a native of Schleswig, Germany; was born May 5, 1836 ; was liberally educated at the city of Schleswig; emigrated to this country and to Clinton in 1856. He enlisted in Co. L, 2d Iowa Cav .; was enrolled in September, 1861 ; participated in nearly all the engagements his regiment was in-Stonington, Boone- ville, Rienzi, Iuka, Corinth, Coffeeville, Palo Alto, Birmingham, Jackson, Grenada, Pontotoc, Tupelo, Old Town, Oxford, and engagements against Hood's march on Nash- ville. He was mustered out in the autumn of 1864, and returned to this county. On March 2, 1865, he married Miss Margaret Teskey ; have six children-Ida T., The- resa, Lena, Maggie, Gertie and John. In 1871, Mr. R. was engaged in the lumber trade at. Elwood, in which business he still continues, commanding an extensive trade with the surrounding country. In 1876, he was elected a member of the County Board of Supervisors, and was elected Chairman of the same in the spring of 1879, the duties of which office he fills to the satisfaction of all concerned; he has also held various township offices. Mr. Ruus resides on Sec. 28, Brookfield Township; his farm con- tains 120 acres, is pleasantly located and well improved ; he is a public-spirited man, always rady to assist, with time and money, any enterprise that promises to be of advantage to his town or county. In politics, Mr. Ruus is Republican.
G. W. SACKRIDER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13; P. O. Maquoketa. Mr. Sackrider was born in Delaware Co. Aug. 24, 1838; in 1853, he emigrated with his parents to Clinton Co. He enlisted in Co. I, 24th Regt. I. V. I .; was enrolled as Corporal in August, 1862 ; promoted to Third Sergeant, and participated in every bat- tle and skirmish that his command was in until the close of the war ; was mustered out with his regiment at Davenport, in August, 1865. Sept. 19, 1866, he married, in this county, Miss Jane A. Rarick, daughter of William and Martha Rarick, pioneer set- tlers of Brookfield Township ; they have two children-Clarence I. and Carrie May. Mr. S. is a Democrat. Owns 260 acres of land; his home farm, on Sec. 13, is well located and finely improved ; he is extensively engaged in stock-raising.
SOLOMON SACKRIDER, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Maquoketa ; a native of Putnam Co., N. Y .; was born Oct. 6, 1827; when he was 6 years of age, his parents removed to Delaware Co., Ohio; thence to this State and county, in 1851. He married, Sept. 9, 1855, Miss Eveline Green, a daughter of Benjamin Green, an early settler of this county ; Mrs. S. was born in Ashland Co., Ohio; they have one child- George. Mr. Sackrider and wife are members of the M. E. Church. He owns 140 acres of finely-improved land. Democrat.
FREDRICK SCHOOF, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Lost Nation ; a native of Mecklinburg, Germany ; was born Feb. 4, 1841; came to the United States and to Cook Co., Ill., in 1859. He enlisted in Co. D, 9th Ill. Cav., where he served his adopted country faithfully until honorably discharged. Came to Clinton Co., Iowa, in 1865. In 1868, he married Miss Wilhelmina Wecat, in Cedar Co .; she was born in Hanover, Germany ; they have five children-Charlie T., Sophia, Emma, Albert, Louise. Mr. S. owns 160 acres of land. He is an Independent ; member of the Lutheran Church.
JOSHUA SHULTZ, farmer ; a native of Franklin Co., Penn. ; born Feb. 22, 1815. He married Miss Catherine Fulton Dec. 27, 1838 ; she was born Aug. 26, 1817, in Franklin Co., Penn .; in 1850, they emigrated to Muscatine Co., Iowa, and settled ncar Muscatine; in 1854, they removed to Cedar Co., thence to this county in 1859. Their children are John A., born Dec. 18, 1846, married Elizabeth Kauf- man ; Benjamin, born July 9, 1849, married Elizabeth Newkirk ; Jacob F., born July 8, 1851, married Miss Joanna Bachman ; Hervey C., born Sept. 8, 1853 ; Elizabeth C., born Dec. 4, 1855; Alva, born Dec. 26, 1861. The deceased children are Martha, born Jan. 16, 1842, died June 24, 1845 ; Annie B., born Oet. 30, 1843, died
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
Oct. 19, 1850 ; William, born Nov. 17, 1857, died April 27, 1858. Mrs. Joshua Shultz died Nov. 16, 1878; she was a member of the Baptist Church, and a sincere Christian. Mr. Shultz owns 105 acres of land.
GEORGE W. SELLERS, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Elwood ; was born in Warren Co., Ohio, in 1837 ; came to this county in 1856. Married Miss Rachel Wells, in this county, in 1869 ; she is a native of Pickaway Co., Ohio ; they have eight children-Albert C., Mary E., Eva F., George G., Benjamin T., John M., Christopher H. and Gracie M. Mr. Sellers is a member of the present Board of Township Trustees, which office he has held several terms ; has also filled various other local offices. He has always taken an active interest in the educational interests of the district; has been a school officer a number of years. Owns ninety acres of land. Is a Republican.
H. C. SHULTZ, Elwood; is a native of Muscatine Co., Iowa; was born Sept. 8, 1853; in 1854, his parents moved to Cedar Co., thence to Clinton Co. Mr. S. learned the trade of house-painting while a boy, which occupation he follows during the summer, and, in winter, teaches school. He is a Democrat. Owns one block in Elwood, on which he has a house valued at $2,000.
J. A. SHULTZ, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. O. Elwood; a native of Franklin Co., Penn. ; born Dec. 3, 1846 ; he accompanied his parents, Joshua and Catherine Shultz, to Muscatine Co., Iowa, in 1851; thence to Cedar Co. in 1854, and to Clinton Co. in 1859. Married Miss Elizabeth Kauffman ; she was born in Berks Co., Penn. ; they have two children-Ivan M. and Saralı Agnes. Mr. S. is a Democrat. Owns forty acres of land.
ISAAC SMITH, farmer, Scc. 23; P. O. Elwood. Mr. Smith was born in Ticonderoga, Essex Co., N. Y., March 9, 1815, where he married, Sept. 9, 1841, Miss Caroline Potter, a native of Vermont, born Oct. 13, 1820; they emigrated to Iowa in 1852, and have been residents of this county the greater part of the time since ; their children are Lydia P., born Feb. 23, 1843, married Ed. Waugh Jan. 4, 1860 ; Melissa S., born Sept. 27, 1844, died Feb. 22, 1845 ; Delia S., born Jan. 17, 1847, dicd Feb. 12, 1856; Emma C., born March. 30, 1855, married E. S. Hines March 16, 1875 ; Clinton B., born Feb. 26. 1856, died March 18, 1856; William V., born April 16, 1857. Mr. Smith and wife are members of the M. E. Church at Elwood, in which he has been Class-leader and Steward a number of years. He owns 120 acres of well- improved land. Is a Republican. One of his brothers, William, served in the Union army during the war. Both his grandfathers, James Smith and Danicl Gould, fought on the American side at Bunker Ilill, and served with distinction throughout the Rev- olutionary war. Two of his paternal uncles served in the war of 1812.
JOHN M. SPARKS, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Elwood; born in Salem Co., N. J., in 1824 ; when he was 2 years of age, his parents moved to Philadelphia, thence to Ohio in 1829 ; John M. remained there until 1849, when he came to Iowa and set- tled in Brookfield Township, where he now resides ; in 1850, he returned to Ohio, and married, in Hancock Co., Miss Salina M. Birkhead, a native of Tyler Co., Va., born in 1828; they have five children-Catherine Almeda (now the wife of George C. Mem- mem), Lydia M. (now Mrs. George A. Elwood), Martha Emeline, Joseph Beverly and Mary Alına. Mr. Sparks and wife are members of the M. E. Church, at Elwood ; he has been Class-leader over twenty-three years; has also been Church Trustec a number of years ; he has held various township and school offices, and has taken an active part in all enterprises tending to the advancement of the public interests of his township. Mr. Sparks acts with the Republican party. He owns 145 acres of finely-improved land.
J. L. STAMAN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14; P. O. Maquoketa ; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1827 ; removed with his parents to Wayne Co., Ohio, i n 1835, where he married Miss Susan Bowman, a native of Stark Co., Ohio; in 1856, they came West and settled in Clinton Co .; they have nine children-John, married Miss Ellen Sleeper), Mary G., Levi A. (married Miss Mary A. Cook), George, Jacob F., Irwin, Daniel S., Orlando B. and Ivanilla. Mr. Staman has always acted with the
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BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Republican party, and, although never an aspirant for political honors, he has been called upon to fill various offices ; he has held the position of member of the Board of County Supervisors several terms ; was Justice of the Peace thirteen years ; also Town- ship Collector three terms. Mr. Staman owns 445 acres of land, and is extensively engaged in stock-raising.
GEORGE TESKEY, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Elwood. Mr. Teskey was born in Ireland, A. D. 1839 ; emigrated to this country in 1851 ; came to this county in 1855. He enlisted in Co. I, 12th Regt. I. V. I .; was in the battles of Fort Donel- son and Shiloh; in the latter, was wounded and taken prisoner at the time most of his regiment were captured; they were exchanged Nov. 10, 1862; the regiment was re organized, and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Tupelo, Miss., White River, Nashville and Spanish Fort; he was honorably discharged in December, 1864; returned to this county, and, in 1872, married Miss J. A. Mill. They have four chii- dren-Lincoln M., Ella May, Lincy T. and Mr. Teskey has held various local offices ; is a Republican. Owns 120 acres of well-improved land.
GERHARD TIMMERMAN, farmer, Secs. 31 and 32; P. O. Lost Nation ; a native of Prussia; was born in 1827; he served two years in the Prus- sian army before coming to this country, where he arrived in 1862. During the war, he served in Co. D, 10th Iowa Regiment, where he did his duty until honorably dis- charged. In 1865, he came to this county, where he married Mrs. Mary Lenisfield (nee Whippen ) ; he owns 160 acres of land ; his wife also owns 80 acres. Is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church. Republican.
J. R. TWISS, Sr., farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Maquoketa ; is a native of Ben- nington Co., Vt .; was born June 30, 1811; attended school until 16 years of age, when he removed with his parents to Warren Co., N. Y., where he learned the black- smith trade. In 1832, he went to Cambridge, where he remained until the autumn of 1849, when he went to Licking Co., Ohio, and engaged in farming. In 1849, he emi- grated to Iowa and settled in Brookfield Township, then wild and unsettled prairie. Mr. Twiss is a Democrat. He was the first Assessor elected in Brookfield Township ; was a member of the Board of Supervisors during the war, and was one of the first to vote an appropriation for war purposes ; he has always taken an active part in the advancement of educational and religious interests ; has filled various school offices. Is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he has been Deacon and Trustee for several years. Sept. 14, 1834, he married, in Warren Co., N. Y., Miss Ann Bentley ; they have eight children-Minerva A. (now Mrs. L. Eckman), Julia M. (wife of Hon. J. S. Maxwell ), John R., Jr. (married Miss Enseba Dunlap), Myron (married Miss A. Riddle), Richard B. (now a leading attorney in Chicago, Ill.), Edward L. (married Miss Josephine Bowers), Emma J. (married David Reynolds). Mr. Twiss owns 180 acres of land ; he and his son Edward are engaged in farming and stock- raising.
U. S. WADE, farmer, See. 20; P. O. Elwood; born in 1806, near Newark, N. J., where he married Miss Phoebe Myratt; they emigrated to Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1842 ; thenee to Iowa, in 1852, and settled where they now reside, thus becoming early settlers of Brookfield Township. Their oldest son, George, married Miss S. C. Clark ; daughter Lucy is the wife of John Dyke; Charles L. served in Sth Iowa Cav. during the war of the rebellion, and was a gallant soldier ; he died in 1878. Three are unmarried-John, Phobe and James. Mr. Wade and wife are members of the M. E. Church, in which he served as Steward a number of years; Mr. W. was a Whig, but since the decline of that party, has been an earnest Republican. Owns 150 acres of iand.
OLIVER H. WHITNEY, farmer, See. 5; P. O. Maquoketa ; was born in Greenwich, Washington Co., N. Y., June 27, 1820 ; he received a liberal education in early life. In 1843, he came West and engaged in teaching near Quincy, III., which vocation he plied until 1865, when he came to Iowa and settled upon land he now resides upon, which he had purchased at an early day. Mr. Whitney married in Green-
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wich, N. Y., Miss Frances E. Toomey. He owns 250 acres of land, well improved and finely located. Is a Republican.
PETER WHITSELL, farmer, See. 16 ; P. O. Elwood ; a pioneer settler of Jackson Co., Iowa ; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Aug. 17, 1813; in 1836, went to Madison Co., Ill. ; in 1838, came to Jackson Co., Iowa, and entered land within one mile of the city of Bellevue; was there during the Bellevue War. In 1852, he mar- ried, in Jackson Co., Miss C. MeCrary, a native of North Carolina ; in 1869, they moved to their present residence ; their children are William, married Miss C. Wilson, lives in O'Brien Co., Iowa; Charlie, married, and lives in O' Brien Co., Iowa; John; Naney, married A. Sadler ; Martha and Mary. Mr. W. and wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, in which he has always taken a deep interest ; he acts with the Republican party. Owns 171 acres of land, upon which he has all the modern improve- ments.
WILLIAM WILCOX, merchant, Elwood; was born in Elizabeth, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., March 1, 1847, where he resided until the spring of 1863, when he, with his father, Isaac Wilcox, removed to Mt. Vernon, Iowa, for the purpose of attend- ing college at that place ; he graduated in 1867, being the youngest but one of a class of eleven ; he at once took a position in the grammar department of the Tipton public schools, holding the position one year, when the School Board complimented his service by electing him to the Superintendency of the public schools of the place, at a good salary ; he held this position for two years ; was then chosen by the School Board of Belle Plain to grade and organize their schools, only to be recalled for another two years to Tipton ; at the expiration of this time, the situation of Principal of the schools at Manchester, Delaware Co., was tendered him, accepted and held for five years ; in all of these schools many fine classes and proficient scholars have been sent out. Mr. Wileox married Miss Annie Betts, daughter of Judge Betts, of Tipton, Aug. 3, 1870 ; Eddie is their only living child, Willie having died in 1872. Becoming wearied of school life, extending in all over a period of fifteen years, Mr. Wilcox has concluded to rest for a time, at least, and has engaged in the mercantile business in Elwood, where he has secured a desirable and constantly-increasing trade, possessing the confidence of all the best people of the community.
DE WITT TOWNSHIP.
JAMES N. ARTHUR, farmer; P. O. De Witt ; born in Cornwall, England, in 1828; he emigrated to Hamilton, Canada, when 21 years of age, where he resided four years; in the fall of 1853, he came to Iowa and entered a farm of 260 acres in Monmouth Township, Jackson Co .; he then went to Illinois, and returned to England in the fall of 1855, where he remained one year, when he returned to Illinois; he settled on his farm in Jackson Co. in 1857. He married Miss Harriet Arthur, native of England, but, at the time of their marriage a resident of Massachusetts ; they have two children-William J., born in March, 1860, and Charles H., in November, 1863. Mr. Arthur has 575 aeres in his farm in De Witt Township; since he came to Clinton Co., he has been extensively engaged in stock-raising, but is now giving much attention to the dairy business. Mr. Arthur and wife are members of the Methodist Church.
R. S. BEACH, coal dealer, De Witt ; born in Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1826 ; he removed to Milwaukee in 1855; was a resident of that city for sixteen years ; was engaged, during his residence there, as superintendent of a grain elevator ; he came to De Witt in 1871 and engaged in his present business.
ABNER BEARD, retired merchant, De Witt; was born in Wilmington, Middlesex Co., Mass., in 1800; was a teacher in the public schools of Boston from 1822 to 1831; he then went to Greensboro, Orleans Co., Vt., where he was for some time engaged in the mercantile business; thence to Albany, N. Y., where he engaged as book-keeper for the firm of F. J. Barnard & Co., lumber de alers ; e cam
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DE WITT TOWNSHIP.
to Clinton with his brother, Eldad, in June, 1838, and took a elaim in what is now the township of Orange ; in 1841, he went to Barry's Point, near Chicago, and engaged in the hotel business ; from 1843 to 1852, was engaged in the lumber business at Muskegon and Marquette ; he then returned to Albany, N. Y., and again became book-keeper for F. J. Barnard & Son. He married, in 1855, Mrs. Mary K. Munson, widow of Francis A. Munson ; she was born in Williston, Chittenden Co., Vt., April 27, 1815 ; her parents removed to Burlington, Vt., when she was an infant; she married, in 1832, Francis A. Munson, a native of Colchester, Vt .; she came with her husband to Clinton Co. in April, 1840; they went to Lyons, Ill., in 1841, and engaged in the hotel business ; in 1843, they went to Chicago and took charge of what was then called the Illinois Exchange Hotel ; Mr. Munson died of cholera in 1849 ; in 1851, Mrs. Munson returned to Vermont and married Mr. Beard in 1855. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Beard returned to Clinton Co. and settled in De Witt; Mr. Beard engaged in the mercantile business, in which he continued fourteen years; he retired from business in 1869. They had one child-Abigail, born Dec. 10, 1856, and died Dec. 16, 1859. Mrs. Beard had five children by first marriage, four now living-Lucia B., born at Greensboro, Orleans Co., Vt., in 1833; Mary F., at Colchester, Vt., in 1838; Alice J .; in Chicago in 1846, and William E., in Chicago in 1847 ; Francis I., deceased, was born in Lyons, Cook Co., Ill., in 1843.
SAMUEL N. BEDFORD, carpenter, De Witt ; born in Morris Co., N. J.,. in 1819 ; his parents were David and Nancy Bedford ; they removed to Western Penn- sylvania in the fall of 1831, where they resided till the spring of 1839, when they came to Clinton Co. ; during the first year of residence in Clinton Co., they lived on the farm of Loren Wheeler, at Round Grove, De Witt Township; the next year his father entered a farm in Section 29, where he resided until his death in 1844; his mother died in 1843. Mr. Samuel Bedford married, in 1849, Miss Elizabeth Dunham, native of Fayette Co., Penn .; they have had thirteen children, eight now living-Mary, Lizzie, Annie, Louisa, Ashbel, Josephine, Lillian and Ada ; their deceased children died in infancy. Mr. Bedford located in De Witt in 1844 ; has worked at the trade of a car- penter for thirty-five years.
A. R. BISSELL, retired farmer, De Witt ; was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, in July, 1812; at 20 years of age, he went to Pittsburgh, Penn., where for three years he was clerk in a wholesale dry goods store; thence to Alton, Ill., where he remained three years ; then returned to his native town and engaged in the dry goods business in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where. in 1838, he married Maria Burr, a native of Massachu- setts ; he came to Clinton Co. in 1840; engaged in farming in De Witt Township; has followed the occupation of farming most of the time since he came to Iowa, but for a time was engaged in the dry goods business in De Witt; was School Fund Commis- sioner for eight years. Mr. Bissell has two sons and two daughters-Joseph B., Helen E., Evelyn and Charles P. Mrs. Bissell was born in South Hadley, Mass., in 1809.
JAMES D. BOURNE, De Witt; born in Prince William Co., Va., Jan. 27, 1811 ; his parents, William and Elizabeth Bourne, removed to Spencer Co., Ky., in 1813; thence' to Hannibal, Mo., in 1824; in September, 1832, Mr. Bourne, then a young man of 21 years, went to Wisconsin and engaged in mining a few miles north of Galena, Ill. ; in 1833, he went to Potosi, Grant Co., Wis., where he built the first log furnace for smelting ore built at that place ; in June of the same year, he removed to Dubuque ; he has been a resident of Iowa since that date, forty-six years; he remained in Dubuque till September, 1836, engaged in mining ; he then came to what is now Clinton Co .; his only property at that time, to use his own language, was a gun and six dogs ; he was appointed Postmaster in January, 1837, of Waubesipinicon, now contracted to Wapsie, situated in the southwest corner of what is now Eden Township, Clinton Co., then Dubuque Co .; he was the first Sheriff of Clinton Co., being appointed by Gov. Dodge March 13, 1840 ; he served as Sheriff eight years; took the United States census of Clinton Co. in 1840, and also in 1850 ; was a member of the General Assembly of 1848 and 1849; was elected Recorder in1851 ; served two years ; since that time has been engaged in general business-farmer, land agent, money-loaner,
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