USA > Iowa > Iowa County > The history of Iowa County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 65
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
and was also chairman of the Committee on the State University, and on the Judiciary Committee during every session. He is the father of the three card monte bill, which became a law in 1876. Captain Rumple is also one of the regents of the State University, and trustee of the State Historical Society ; is also a director of the Marengo Savings Bank. Mr. Rumple is as much of a student now as he ever was and devotes his spare time to his law books and scientific works; and hence is constantly progressing in knowledge. He controls a large and lucrative practice, and the respect shown him is as wide as his acquaintance. The captain has been twice married; first, to Miss Addie M. Whitling, December 13, 1866; she died Febru- ary 14, 1870, leaving one daughter, Addie F. Was married again to Miss Mary E. Shepherd, of Iowa City, December 7, 1871. By this union they have one son, Carl U.
SEHORN, J. G .- Editor of the Marengo Democrat, of Iowa county, Iowa, is one of those independent, fearless men, who when he thinks he is in the right would rather die than cry hold. Believing there is nothing nearer right than the Democratic party, he is not sparing of the invectives hurled at the opposition parties, nor is he squeamish over the use of words that he thinks will hit so as to be felt. He was born in Johnson county, Iowa, April 1, 1842. His father dying when he was twelve, he lived with his mother until he was eighteen, when, having a fair education obtained at the public schools, he looked out into the wide world and became de- sirous of seeing and knowing more of it than he would by remaining in Johnson county. In 1860, then in his eighteenth year, he went to Havana, Cuba, staying there six months, and then went to California, and from there to the Sandwich Islands, where he wintered in 1861 and 1862. Returned to California in the spring and made a tour through Oregon and Washing- ton Territory, returning to Iowa in the fall of 1863, where he visited with his mother until the spring of 1874, when he again started for the west prospecting and traveling in Idaho, Montana and the British possessions, re- turning home in 1867, where he made a short visit, and then went to Watertown, New York, where he married Mary I. Dean, of that city, Jan- mary 1, 1868. Immediately after his marriage he returned to Iowa City, and settled on a farm seven miles south of that city. From 1870 until 1873 he traveled for several insurance companies. In November, 1873, he entered the field of journalism, publishing the first number of his paper, The Anti-Monopolist, on his farm, distributing it gratuitously for six weeks, when Judge J. Williams, J. D. Templin, Ed. Lucas, Sylvanus Johnson and others, recognizing his journalistic enterprise, induced him to move his paper to Iowa City, where it was published until December 1, 1874, when he moved his paper and press to Columbus Junction and changed the name to The Iowa People. In May, 1875, he sold his paper and press to Crocker & Stine, and came to Marengo and established the Marengo Democrat, is- suing the first number July 6, 1875. His office is furnished with all the modern improvements in printing material and a power cylinder press. A. short time previous to his leaving Columbus Junction himself and wife suf- fered the bitter anguish of the bereavement of their then only child, Loa, a little daughter six years old. Since then they have lost another who died in infancy. They have one.living, Jimmie, six years old.
SHAW, J. S .- Retired. Is a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, born near Brownsville, on the 8th day of December, 1824. When about 10 years of age he removed, with his parents to Knox county, Ohio. Here our
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MARENGO.
subject was raised on a farm; he continued in agricultural pursuits until 1860, when he was elected by the people of that county to the office of sheriff. He then removed to Mt. Vernon, the county seat of Knox county, where he lived until he came West in 1865. He located in Newton, Jas- per county, Iowa, and there engaged in the hotel business until 1868. when he removed to Monroe, where he lived until 1870. He then came to Marengo, bought and took charge of the Clifton House, which had proved a financial failure to all the preceding landlords, and the people were con- tinually asking Mr. Shaw how long he expected to remain, which caused him to have printed on his hotel cards, "I have come to stay," and the se- quel goes to show that Mr. S. did come to stay, as he continued the suc- cessful management of the hotel until November 1. 1880, and has now retired to enjoy the comforts of a hard earned competence. In his home life Mr. Shaw has been well blessed. The sharer of his joys and life's ills he found in the person of Miss Bethania Gardner, of Knox county, Ohio. This worthy couple were married on the 1st day of June, 1848, and the fruits of this marriage are three sons and one daughter: Edgar O. (the eldest, died in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1846, at the age of fifteen years), Geo. M. (living in Chicago and engaged in the live stock commission business, of the firm of Darlington, March & Co.), Mina B. (now Mrs. W. C. Farquhar, of West Liberty), James M. (living in Marengo and is the agent of the U. S. Express Company at that point) and Fred C.
SHEUERMAN, ABRAHAM-Merchant. Of the firm of Sheuerman Bros. Prominent among the business firms of Marengo may be mentioned the above firm. Our subject, the senior member, was born in Germany on the 4th day of July, 1833, where he grew to manhood. In 1852 he came to the United States and located in Fremont, Ohio, where he remained but a short time when he came to Iowa and located in Muscatine. In No- vember, 1859, he came to Marengo and commenced merchandising in a small way and continued successfully until-the winter of 1860, when he was burnt out losing all; but with a will and determination to succeed they once more got a start and to-day stand among the first and most prosper-
ous. About the year 1870 they bought the Marengo Woolen Mills, which had been previously operated by a stock company-with little success, and have made many improvements, have been very successful, and they now give employment to about twenty men and keep their mills running all the time. It has been managed by one foreman, Mr. J. C. Allen, ever since it was started. Mr. Shenerman took for his wife Miss Bronnet Wi- ley, of Muscatine, in 1859. She is also a native of Germany. They have a family of four sons and three daughters: Mannassa, Moses, . Rosa, Leo- pold, Bertha, Millie and Jacob.
SHEUERMAN, LEOPOLD-Was born December 16, 1838, and in 1855 he lost his father by death. In 1857 his mother with the family came to the United States and located in Muscatine, where our subject lived un- til 1859. In 1879 his mother died at the age of 84 years. Mr. Sheuerman was married in Davenport to Miss Matilda Schwartz, January 25, 1864. She is a native of Germany. Their family are five boys and three girls: Henrietta, Bessie, Mannassa, Abraham, Moses, Solomon, Jacob and Rosa.
SIMPSON A. H .- Attorney at law. Was born in Perthshire, Scotland, on the 4th day of June, 1836, and lived in that country until he was eleven years of age, when he removed with his parents to America and settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they only lived about one year and then re-
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
moved to the State of New York. Here young Simpson was brought up and educated in the excellent public schools of that State, besides attend- ing an academy for some time. In the year 1857 his parents removed to Iowa and settled on a farm in Dayton township in this county, where he remained one year; then went to Kansas where he lived two years, and then returned to Iowa where he continued to live until October. 1862, when he enlisted as a private soldier in company I, Twenty-eighth Iowa regiment, with which regiment he was engaged in the battle of Port Hudson, the Siege of Vicksburg, the Siege of Jackson, Mississippi, and many skirm- ishes; and, in the fall of 1863, he was mustered out for the purpose of ac- cepting a commission as first lieutenant of the Ninety-eighth United States (colored), with which he remained until the spring of 1864, when he resigned and returned home and engaged in teaching and carpenter work until 1872 when he was admitted to the bar in the Circuit Court of Iowa county and commenced the practice in Victor, where he continued for a few years, then located at Marengo, where he built up a fine practice, and about 1879 he removed to Nebraska and located at Columbus, from which place he has just returned. He was married in the year 1860 to Miss Sarah E. Mulnane, who is still living and by whom he has five children living, whose names are: James H., Ellsworth, Grant, Charlie and Ettie, besides Willie, who died at the age of two years.
SMITH, CAPT. MILO P .- District attorney for the Eighth judicial district. The subject of this brief sketch is native of Ohio; born in Dela- ware county on the 16th day of July, 1837. Two years later his parents moved to Washington county, same State. Here our subject was reared. His father being a well to do farmer, young Smith received the advantages of the schools of that neighborhood and received his academic and prepara- tory education at the Ohio University and Amesville Academy. In 1855 he with his parents removed to Linn county, Iowa, where our subject con- tinued on a farm until the fall of 1858, when he entered the Cornell Col- lege at Mt. Vernon and graduated from that institution in 1861. From that time until August, 1862, he taught school, giving all his spare time to the study of law; he then enlisted as private in company C, Thirty-first Iowa infantry and from sergeant-major he was promoted step by step to captain of the company. He resigned his position November 1, 1864. On his return from the army he entered the law school at Ann Arbor. Michigan, and graduated from there in 1866. The same year, with a capital of $5.00, he came to Marengo and hung out his shingle. With an indomitable will he made up his inind to succeed, and the success which has attended his efforts may be inferred. As a lawyer he has a wide and worthy reputation among his fellow practitioners and is universally known as an honorable, fair-dealing man. He continued in general practice until January 1, 1875, when he entered upon his present duties as prosecuting attorney of the Eighth judicial district-the important and critical duties of this office he has discharged to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was married in Tipton, this State, to . Miss Mildred E. Hall, November 26, 1866. She is a native of Indiana. Their family are Edith. Frank and Hattie.
SPERING, F. E .- Senior editor of the Marengo Republican. Was born in Easton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, on the 13th of Janu- ary, 1826. In the fall of 1837 he entered the office of the Northampton Whig for the purpose of learning the printing business, remaining there
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MARENGO.
over two years. In August, 1840, went to Stroudsburgh, Pennsylvania, to work on the Jeffersonian Republican. After the close of the Harrison campaign he, in company with a partner, took charge of the paper and pub- lished it until the winter of 1847-8, when he retired. In the spring of 1848 went to Honesdale, and took charge of the Democratic paper there, remain- ing until January, 1849. In May, 1849, went to New York City and en- tered the composing room of the New York Herald, remaining there seven- teen years, holding various positions, and for thirteen years the day fore- manship of the composing-room. In 1866 concluded to go West and pur- chased the office of the Montezuma Republican, which he took possession of in July of that year. In the latter part of February, 1867, came to Ma- rengo, and purchased the interest of F. M. Connelly in the Republican, dis- posed of the Montezuma Republican, and since that time has devoted all his time to the Marengo Republican. Is married, but has no children.
STOVER, M. W .- Of the firm of Stover & Morrison, loan, land and insurance agents. Is a native of Knox county, Ohio, and was a boy of his own genius; marked out his own course in life, and is indebted to no one for his fortune. Born on the 19th day of February, 1842, he came to this county in 1856. He was reared on a farm, which occupation he followed until the fall of 1859, when he entered the Western College, located in Linn county, Iowa, here remaining until 1861. In August, 1862, he enlisted in com- pany K, Twenty-second Iowa infantry and was engaged in the following battles: Magnolia Hill, Port Gibson, Pond Creek, Champion's Hill, Ed- mond's Station, Black River, Siege of Vicksburg, which battle he has cause to remember as long as he lives. On the 22d day of May, 1863, he received a wound in the right arm, which caused the amputation of that member just below the shoulder. He was confined to the hospital but four weeks when he was sent to Camp Alexander and was assigned to provost duty until he was honorably discharged June 9, 1864. He then returned to his home and engaged in shipping stock and farming until 1866. Same year he was married to Miss Laura, daughter of E. R. Ricord, Esq., the first settler and the man who built the first house in Iowa county. She was born in Greene township, this county, September 19, 1845, being one of the first white children born in the county. Mr. Stover has been and is one of Marengo's most enterprising men. January 1, 1870, he was elected recorder of this county, which office he filled with honor six years. From 1872 to 1876 he was engaged in merchandising with Mr. Goldthwaite. He then bought his partner's interest and after sold his business to the firm of Stover & Freeman. For some time seeing the need of an opera house, in 1876 he built a large and elegant brick block at a cost of $15,000, and it can be safely said there are but few finer opera houses in the State. He is also one of the directors of the Marengo Savings Bank, and still owns a fine farm of over 400 acres in Greene township, this county. Mr. S. started in life without funds or favors to help pave his pathway to suc- cess, but by hard work and good management he has succeeded in gaining a fair share of this world's goods. In his home Mr. S. has been well blessed. Edward G., Robt. R., Albert M., Roy. W., and Ada L. are the complement of his family circle.
T TALBOTT, T. J .- Sheriff of county, a native of Morgan county, Indi- ana, was born on the thirtieth day of November, 1829. Was there raised and educated, and in March, 1851, he came to this county where he followed farming, continuing in that occupation until 1870. Then became
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
engaged in the livery business, having one of the finest establishments in the county. In October, 1880, he was elected sheriff of Iowa county, a po- sition he is admirably fitted to fill. The duties of this office prevent him from tending to the livery business, which is now being carried on by his- son. Mr. Talbott was married in this county April 26, 1856, to Miss Wil- hemina Baumer. Their family consists of three children, one son and two daughters.
V TAN BOSKIRK-Of the firm of Goldthwaite & Van Boskirk. The subject of this sketch is a native of Indiana, born December 17, 1852; was there raised and educated, and in December, 1867, he came to this county where he followed clerking. In 1876 he went to Iowa City, there becoming engaged with G. W. Marquadt, wholesale jeweler, remain- ing in that establishment until November, 1879, when he came to Marengo and has since made it his home.
W AGNER, J. S .-- Deputy auditor. Was born in Noble county, Ohio, March 4, 1846, where he lived on a farm until he was eight- een years of age; from there he went to Morgan county, same State. Mr. Wagner received the advantages of an academical education, supplimented with one year at the Iron City College at Pittsburgh. In 1869 he came to this county and taught school a short time, when he went to O'Brien county, this State, and was there elected county surveyor four years, and thence to Hosper, Sioux county ; he here engaged in merchandising. Mr. Wagner, like many others of that region, has canse to long remember the grass-hop- per raid, for he, like hundreds of others, lost all. He had to solicit aid from his friends to return to the land of plenty. He returned here in 1875, and accepted his present position, which he has since filled to the satisfaction of all. He was married in Millersburg, to Miss Fanny Wilson, on the twenty-sixth day of February, 1880. Mrs. Wagner is a native of Ohio, but was brought to this county by her parents when but one year old.
WILSON, CAPT. JOSEPH B .- Real estate, loan and abstract business. Recorder of the county. Was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, January 12, 1839, and in 1849 came to this county with his parents. He lived on a farm until the war broke out when, on the twenty-fourth of June, 1861, he enlisted in company G, Seventh Iowa infantry, and was discharged March 17, 1862, on account of disability. Then returned home and after regain- ing his health he received a recruiting commission and assisted in the or- ganization of company B, Twenty-eighth Iowa, of which company he was elected second lieutenant. They rendezvoused at Iowa City August 13, 1862, and on March 7, 1863, he was promoted captain and mustered out Aug. 20, 1865 having participated in seventeen engagements: Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Siege of Vicksburg, Siege of Jackson, Sabine Cross Roads, Cane River, Middle Bayou, Yellow Bayou, Berryville, Virginia, Battle of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and others. After his return he engaged in merchandising and buy- ing and selling stock. In November, 1876, he was elected recorder and has held the office since that time. He was married in Burlington to Miss Cora P. Jones April 8, 1875, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one son, Leo A. (aged four years) and one daughter, Leta Oneta.
WILSON, LEWIS F .- Prominent among the old settlers of Iowa county and one who has endured all the hardships of pioneer life, and has seen the county grow from its infancy to one of the foremost in the State, is Lewis F. Wilson, the subject of this sketch who was born in Iredel
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county, North Carolina, on the 5th day of January, 1810. When a. lad of eight summers he, with his parents, removed to Jackson county, Indiana. £ Here our subject was reared. When young he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. January 17, 1832, he was united in marriage with Miss Malinda Myers, a native of Wythe county, Virginia. Soon after he removed to Orange county, same State. He here worked at his trade until 1842, when, thinking the West offered a wider field and bet- ter advantages, he, with his wife and four children, left their adopted State and came by wagon to Iowa, landing in Iowa City. Some time in 1843 he . came to this county and made a claim on Walnut Creek. He here prepared a home, and the following spring removed his family. Mr. Wilson was one of the county commissioners of the county in 1846, which position he filled five years, and was also the first justice of the peace in Iowa county. Mr. Wilson's official career as one of the board of county commissioners extended over a period of time when the management of the county finances was most difficult. In looking back to these years of the county's. formative period, he can but congratulate himself upon the fabric which has grown so strong on the foundation he laid so well. Old in years, he is still active in mind and body, and has reared a family of children who are. alike a credit to himself and an honor to the community. His family con- sists of two sons and two daughters: John A. (the eldest, is now a resident of Jackson county, Kansas, and was a soldier in the Seventh lowa), David H. (practicing law in Marengo, was in the First Iowa), Mary L. (the wife of Ellis Vanpelt, of Warren county, Iowa), and Martha E. (wife of E. C. Alverson, a popular druggist of Marengo).
CHAPTER II.
MARENGO TOWNSHIP.
Geographical Position-Area-Population-Physical Features-First Settlers-Organization -First Clerk -- First Assessor-Present Officers-Statistical-Much of the Township History found under Marengo City-Biographical.
MARENGO township is bounded on the north by the Iowa River, which sep- arates it from Cono and. Washington, on the east by Washington, Amana and Hilton, on the south by Hilton and Sumner, and on the west by Sum- ner and Honey Creek. Its area is 18,493 acres, and contains, outside the city, a population, according to the United States census of 1880, of 747. In shape it is the most irregular of all the townships in Iowa county. It is situated in four congressional townships, and contains many fractional sections. Very near the center of the county, east and west, but seven miles north of the geographical center. In one place this township ap- proaches within two miles of the Benton county line. The Rock Island railroad makes a turn in this township, coming in from the southeast and passing out toward the southwest.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Iowa River, Bear Creek, and Hilton Creek are its water-courses. Iowa River, of which a full description has been previously given in this work, figures more largely in the history of Marengo than in that of any other-
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
township. It courses along the northern boundary in many a winding curve for more than fourteen miles. Bear Creek is also a historical stream. Some of the first settlers of Iowa county made their homes near its banks. Its waters were the first to be utilized for mill purposes. Its timber belt furnished the pioneer with timber for his rude hut, and wood for his fire. Bear Creek rises in Poweshiek county, flows through Hartford, Sumner and Marengo townships, and empties into Iowa River in section 24, town- ship 81, range 11. . Hilton Creek rises in Hilton township, flows north and discharges into Iowa River in section 28, township 81, range 10. Much of the surface of this township is bottom land, but above the reach of any or- dinary freshet. The south part is somewhat rolling and uneven.
FIRST SETTLERS.
Robert McKee is said to have been the first permanent settler here. He came to what is now Marengo City in the year 1845. He was a native of Ohio, and while he lived was one of the very first mnen in the community in all that was for the good of the town. His first dwelling was an old Mor- mon shanty, down in the bend of the Iowa River. Mr. McKee was a faith- ful servant of the people in many of the most important offices in the gift of the county, township and town. The first post-office was kept by him at his house, he having been appointed postmaster April 11, 1846.
H. H. Hull came from Ohio and took a claim about one mile south from town. He settled as early as McKee, and soon commenced to sell goods, at the same time carrying on farming. He lived there for several years, but now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. Hull acted as justice of the peace and was considered one of the fathers among the early settlers. At his place was held the first fourth of July celebration in Iowa county. 'This was in the year 1847, and although over thirty-three years ago many of the old pioneers remember it well and say it was the best celebration they ever attended. Thomas Hanson, who has lived in Troy township since 1845, says that nearly every man in Iowa county was at that fourth of July celebration; among them he mentions Wm. Taylor, Robert McKee, Robert Hutchinson, Lewis Lanning, John Conroy, Dr. Crawford, the Kitchens, John Wykoff, Stephen Hanson, John Hanson, William Hench, R. B. Groff and Horace Hull. They bought the whisky by the quart and drank freely, for at that time it was no disgrace, "everybody drank." Hull's store was the first in what is now Marengo township. Peter Hull came about the same time as Horace Hull.
Amos Crocker came from Ohio in 1847 and settled on the bluff south of Marengo. He died about the year 1856.
Joseph Hollowell settled about three miles west of Marengo in the year 1846-7 and still lives there. He came from Indiana.
R. B. Groff came and settled near Bear Creek in 1847. He has since removed to Marengo.
Washington Kitchens lived on a farm near Bear Creek as early as 1846.
William Kirkpatrick was an early settler. He came from Ohio. He was a carpenter and built the first hotel in Marengo, the "Old Marengo Hotel," now the Park House.
Lewis F. Wilson came from Honey Creek township in 1847. Mr. Wil- son still lives in Marengo.
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MARENGO TOWNSHIP.
J. Talbott came about the year 1848 and settled on a farm just south- east of town. He died there many years ago.
Clark Morrison came from Indiana about the year 1849 and settled just west of Bear Creek.
Joseph Ratcliffe came from Indiana, and after living a short time at the old trading post, settled in Marengo and kept tavern. He died about ten years ago.
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