USA > Iowa > Iowa County > The history of Iowa County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 73
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sisting of 200 acres of choice land, 40 of which is fine timber. His house is situated on what is known as the old State road on which the stage coaches traveled in those early days, which made the settlers' life tolerable, as they derived a considerable revenue from the sale of watermelons to the passen- gers of those coaches. Mr. Rosenberger says that in this way they accum- ulated money enough in specie with which to pay their taxes, as the paper money of those days would not pay taxes. He was married on the 12th day of January, 1839, to Miss Elizabeth Shawl, who was also born in Jef- ferson county, Virginia, on the 2d day of March, 1819, where she resided with her parents until they removed to Seneca county, Ohio, where she was brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools. By this union they have seven children living; Rufus W., George R., Martin V., Martha E., John E., Silas and Ann, besides Emer, who was drowned at the age of sixteen years.
HANKS, J. A .- Editor of the Victor Herald. There is no young man in Victor more deserving of special mention than the subject of this sketch. Commencing alone, and without instructions in the printing busi- ness and making of himself a practical job printer and then starting in the doubtful profession of journalism-and making it a success, where others, who . have had far better opportunities, have failed, He was born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. on the 13th of June, 1852, where he was brought up and educated in the public and high schools of the city of Sheboygan, until he was fifteen years of age, when he removed with his parents and settled in this county about ten miles south of Marengo, where he labored about five years on a farm and then removed to Brooklyn, Poweshiek county, where he engaged in the mercantile business, and then became engaged as a commercial traveler for a cigar house, and then labored in a confection- ery house in the city of Des Moines. Then he engaged in the manufactory of cigars at Knoxville, Marion county, which business he followed for about nine months, and then returned to Brooklyn and became engaged as a job printer, which business he mastered, as before mentioned, without assis- tance. In 1878 he removed to Ladora, and started the Ladora Herald, which he conducted until March, 1880, when he removed to Victor and started the Victor Herald, which is a spicy and newsy little paper that is a credit to Victor and to its proprietor. He was married on the 24th day of December, 1875, to Miss Sallie Blanchard, of the city of Brooklyn, Iowa, who is a lady of refinement and by whom he has one child, a son of four summers. His name is Albert.
SHERMAN, MRS. EMMA C .- The subject of this sketch deserves special mention, not for having been one of the early settlers, but because her life has been quite an eventful one. Her mother was an only child, who, at the age of twenty-one years, married a carpenter. Her grandfather was a soldier in the revolutionary war. Mrs. Sherman's mother died when she was eleven weeks old, and she was brought up by her grandparents. When she was nine years of age her grandfather died, and her grand- mother losing the use of one of her arms, the heaviest of the work fell upon her, which made her lot rather a hard one, especially when we take into account that she never was a very healthy person. She was born in Fulton county, New York, on the 22d of February, 1837, where she was brought up by her grandparents on a farm and educated in the common schools of the county. She continued to live in that county until her marriage
37
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
to Mr. Samuel Sherman, which occurred on the 28th of August, 1853, when she was sixteen years of age. Mr. Sherman was also born in the State of New York, on the 14th day of November, 1833. At the death of her grandmother Mrs. Sherman inherited a small farin of fifty acres, on which she lived until her removal to the West. The farm and stock which they had accumulated were then sold for $1,500, and the proceeds invested in the farm which she now occupies. Mr. Sherman was a carpenter by trade and followed that trade in his younger days, but believing that he could more easily and surely secure a competency for himself by farm- ing he became a farmer, and in order to secure more land than he was able to buy in New York, he turned his face westward. They came to Illi- nois in the year 1867, where they remained one season and came to Iowa and settled on Dr. Grant's farm, near Marengo, this county. Here he re- mained about one and one-half years and removed to the place where his 'widow and children now live. This was then a wild tract of land. Here Mr. and Mrs. S. earnestly labored to cultivate their farm and bring up their family, and were very successful. Everything prospered for them and they were rapidly accumulating a fortune, when the hand of misfortune 'was laid heavily upon Mrs. Sherman. Death took her husband on the 7th of December, 1878, leaving her to the care of the farm and her large fam- ily of children, all of whom, however, have been good and dutiful, and have greatly assisted their mother in the management of her farm. Mrs. Sherman is the mother of twelve children, every one of whom is at home with her. Their names and ages are: Florence L. (born June 1, 1854), Borden D. (born November 3, 1855), Francelia (December, 1857), Helen Orcelia (December 7, 1859), John H. (October 6, 1861), Emma Josephine (November 27, 1863), George F. (June 9, 1866), Charles E. (August 24, 1868), Haddie (August 26, 1871), Alice Viola (May 23, 1874), Charley H. (December 23, 1876), Ida Rosela (November 21, 1878). Her daughter Florence L. is married to Francis L. Taylor, who is a good school teacher and an industrious and careful farmer. Mr. Sherman was a very industri- ous man and a companionable gentleman, a strict moralist, and would spurn a mean or immoral act. He died without an enemy in the world.
SHEDENHELM, JOHN N .- Farmer and fruit-grower, Sec. 14. Among the many men who have made for themselves and families comfort- able homes, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Seneca county, Ohio, on the 14th day of August, 1836, where he lived on a farm with his parents until he was about seventeen years of age, when they removed to this county, among the early settlers, in the year 1853, and settled in what was then and is yet known as the Ohio settlement, and has lived here ever since their arrival, except three years spent in the service of his country, from 1862 to 1865. Mr. S. enlisted in company E, Twenty-fourth Iowa in- fantry volunteers, and was mustered into the service on the 13th of August, 1862, at Muscatine, Iowa, from which point his regiment went south to Helena, Arkansas; thence to Vicksburg, where they participated in the siege of that place and the battles adjacent, Haines' Bluff, Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge, and many small skirmishes. They were also present 'at the surrender of Vicksburg on the 4th of July, 1863, went with Gen. Sherman to Jackson, Mississippi, returned and went to New Orleans, were with Banks in his Red River expedition, were engaged at Pleasant Ridge and at Sabine Cross-roads, where many of the regiment were captured and taken to Tyler, Texas. After this they were transferred to the eastern army
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and were engaged with Phil. Sheridan at Winchester and Cedar Creek, and were then transferred to the army of the Gulf, and were present at the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnson. They were sent back to Savannah and then to Augusta, Georgia, where they remained until the order came to muster them out. They were sent back to Savannah, thence home, and mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, on the 6th of August, 1865. He then returned home to his family and commenced opening the farm on which he now lives, which consists of 250 acres of splendid land, 180 of which are under cultivation, with good fences, good house and barn. He has a fine orchard of over five acres of trees in bearing. His farm is well stocked and he has a quantity of nice timber land and a splendid building spot. He was married in 1859 to Miss Ann C. Shaull, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, where she always resided until her mother removed to this township in the year 1853. She is still living; is a lady of refined taste and intelligence, and devotes her time to the care of her family.‹ By this union they have five children: Luzend A., Mary E., William T., Oscar S. and Robert E.
SIMPSON, JAMES-Lumber and furniture, Victor. Among the busi- ness men of Victor is the subject of this sketch, who was born on the twenty-ninth day of January, 1832, at Forfarshire, Scotland, where he was educated in the schools of that country, and remained there until he was fifteen years of age; then removed to America and landed at New Orleans in the year 1847; settled at Algiers opposite New Orleans, where he only remained about eight months, and removed to the State of New York on a farm, where he labored until 1851, when he went to learn the trade of a blacksmith, which business he followed in York State until 1855, when he removed to Hillsdale county, Michigan, and engaged in the same business. Remained here until the year 1870 when he removed to this place and be- came engaged in the lumber and furniture trade, which he still continues. Has a first-class stock of furniture and is doing a fine business, carries a stock of from $1,000 to $1,200, besides he has an extensive trade in lumber, having the principal yard in Victor; he has a fine store building and resi- dence besides a fine lumber office. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fellow's Society, in which he has filled all the principal offices several times. He is also a prominent member of the M. E. Church, and has done more perhaps for the society in Victor than any one man in the church. He mar- ried Miss Tifence Eastman, who is still living, and by whom he has four children: William D., John F., Lois A., Minnie B.
SLEIGHT, THOMAS C .- Was born in Swines Head near Boston, Lin- colnshire, England, February 10, 1829. When fifteen years old he began to work in the machine shops of the Great Northern Railway of England, at Boston, Lincolnshire, where he worked until 1852 when he came to the United States, shipping from Liverpool on board the "Lady Franklin," a sailing vessel, April 6, of that year, and landing at New York the twenty- eighth of the same month. Soon after his arrival in New York he went to Chicago, where, on account of the change of climate, he was sick several weeks; on his recovery he went to Joliet, Illinois, and was employed by Bird & Stone, proprietors of a saw-mill, to run their engine, remaining there only a short time on account of poor health. After quitting he started on a traveling tour through Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and down the Mississippi River to St Louis, from there to Indianapolis, Indi- ana, where he was employed in the city foundry as engineer. In 1854 he
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
went to Hagerstown, Indiana, and from there to Walnut Creek, being em- ployed at these places as an engineer up to 1857, when he went to Spice- land, Indiana, where he followed engineering until 1860, when he exchanged a house and lot that he owned there for sixty acres of wild land in Iowa county, Iowa, and $100 in gold; the land being a part of the farm he is- now living on. Soon after making the exchange he started for Iowa, arriv- ing at Marengo, October 26, 1860, and soon after settled on his land in Hartford township, near Victor. October 13, 1856, he married Laura Pread- more, of Hagerstown, Indiana, when they moved on to their farm, or rather a wild tract of land, yet to be improved. They experienced a feeling of home-sickness, and at the same time mourned the death of their little daughter Alice, ten years old, who sickened and died with diptheria soon after their arrival at Marengo, being sick only a few hours; but possessing fortitude, the requisite of successful pioneers, they did not yield to their feelings but remained on their land, and now they are enjoying a pleasant home, and their farm is increased to 160 acres, all improved. Besides having a good house he has a granary and implement house, cribs, etc. He has also one of the largest orchards in the township, consisting of 300 bearing trees, and numerous shade and ornamental trees; and his sale of farm produce, hogs and cattle, the present year, amounted to over $1,000. Besides the loss of their daughter at Marengo they have lost three others: Nettie Belle, Charles C. and Laura Addie. They have six children living: William L. (born Angust 5, 1869), Maria Jane (born November 6, 1862), Thomas Edward (born May 21, 1868), Lois Bertha (born March 1, 1872), Fannie May (born January 13, 1874), and Sadie Mand (born May 1, 1879). Mr. and Mrs. Sleight are members of the United Brethren Church. He is- a strong Republican and has held several offices in his township and school district.
SMITH, J. D .- Blacksmith and wagonmaker, Ladora. Has an exten- sive business in the eastern part of town south of the stock yards. He is a fine workman and a social gentleman. Was born in the city of Troy, New York, on the twenty-third of June, 1843, but his parents only remained here a short time after his birth, when they removed to Rutland county, Vermont, where young Smith was brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools. At the age of seventeen years he went to learn the trade of a blacksmith with J. W. Adams, at the town of Benson, in Rut- land county, with whom he remained three years. He then went to Rut- land city where he remained one year, working jour work. Then went to Pittsford, Rutland county, and here worked one year, and then started into business for himself at Sharham, Vermont, where he carried on a shop for himself for about two years. He then came west and settled at Victor, in this county, where he worked only one year and returned to the East, first to Vermont and then to Washington county, New York, where he conducted a shop for himself for seven years, and again came west and located in this place where he has a good shop and a fine business. He was married, in April, 1867, to Miss Jennie Keefe, who is still living.
SMITH, J. P .- Cabinet-maker, Ladora. Was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, on the 26th day of March, 1844, in which country he contined to live until he was fourteen years of age, when he came to America. At the early age of twelve years he went to learn the trade of cabinet-maker at Lowerlen, Germany, at which place he continued until he came to America. When he landed at New York City he again worked at his trade, the first
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year under instructions and then as a journeyman from city to city, which he continued until the war broke out. In 1862 he shouldered his musket and went into the army to defend American liberties. Ile enlisted in company C, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois infantry, with which regiment he continued for the full term of three years and was first en- gaged at the battle of Humboldt. Next at Lagrange, Tennessee, at the time of the capture of Holly Springs, Mississippi, at Little Rock, Arkan- sas, the Siege of Vicksburg and was with General Banks on his disastrous expedition up the Red River. At the close of the war Mr. S. returned to Illinois and became engaged at his trade, which he followed in that State from place to place until 1877, when he came to Iowa, first working at the city of Burlington, and in different cities and towns of this State, working in all the best shops and finally starting in business for himself at Sears- boro, Poweshiek county, where he remained about one and one-half years and then to this place, where he is engaged in business for himself and has a fine lot of work on hands. He is a first-class workman and can and will manufacture anything in the line of furniture and do it in a style which cannot be excelled in this or any other country.
SNAVELY, M. D .- Hardware and tinware, Ladora. The subject of this sketch was born in Johnson county, Iowa, on the 1st day of May, 1854, his parents having emigrated to that county from Pennsylvania in the year 1853 and settled on a farm here. Young Snavely was brought up, and educated in the schools of Johnson county and in the graded schools of the city of Marengo, where he attended for one year. And here in Marengo he learned the trade of a tinner with W. A. Snavely, with whom he worked for five years. He then went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he followed his trade for a short time and came to this place in 1879, where he engaged in his present business. He has a stock of three or four thousand dollars, has a fine trade and is a fine business man, always on hand ready for business. He was married in 1878 to Miss Sara A. Baley, of Marengo, Iowa, who is still living and by whom he has one child.
SWAYZE, W. F .- Banker, Victor. The subject of this sketch is one of the substantial business men in the city of Victor, pleasing and easy in his address, and has been very successful in business. He was born in Upper Canada, on the 28th day of November, 1844, where he was brought up and educated. At the age of seventeen years he engaged in the lumber busi- ness forming a co- partnership with his brother, which he continued until the year 1864 when he came to Victor. He first purchased a half section of wild land, three miles south of Victor, which he improved and brought into cultivation, and was very successful. He continued on the same until the year 1870, but during this time he visited California, in the years 1868 and 1869 with a view of locating and after traveling extensively he came to the conclusion that Iowa was the best State. He removed to Vic- tor and engaged for about three years in the mercantile business. Then became engaged in banking which he has followed until this time. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Emma Caster, who was born and brought up at Utica, New York.
STARRETT, JAMES-Merchant. Is one of the old settlers of this county, having settled in what is now Sumner township, before the organization of the same in the year 1856. He has been successful in whatever business he has engaged in. Was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 14th day of October, 1822, where he resided with his parents
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until he was about nine years of age when they removed to Trumbull county, where he was brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools. He early learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which busi- ness he followed for a considerable part of the time. While he lived in Ohio. In fact he has followed his trade more or less until the last four or five years. In the year 1864 he enlisted in company D, Fifteenth Iowa infantry as a recruit, and joined himself to his regiment at Atlanta, just in time to be with Sherman, on his march and ovation through Geor- gia, and was present at the capture of Fort McAllister and Savannah, and endured suffering untold on account of hunger and exposure. The army was compelled to wade swamps and rivers often up to their necks, and owing to the facts that the rebels held all lines of public communications, they were frequently out of food and many other times the only supply was threshed rice, which no man could eat unless starvation stared him in the face. He was with Sherman at the capture of Columbia, South Carolina, and witnessed the conflagration of that city. They then proceeded north against Johnston with whom they skirmished nearly every day until his final surrender, at which Mr. Starrett was present. They had a severe engagement near Bentonville, the last place where Johnston made a stand. Mr. S. was one of the early settlers of this county, and endured many priva- tions and hardships incident to the settlement of a new country. He was married in October, 1844, to Miss Lovina Gross, with whom he lived un- til 1860, by which union they had seven children, two sons and five daugh- ters: Freeman P. (now a hardware merchant at Western, Iowa), Harris H. (now a dry-goods merchant at Ladora), Malinda J., Ellen, Laura C., Fran- cis A. and Harriet. He was married, second time, in 1869, to Mrs. Nancy Bowermaster, who is still living.
STARRETT, HORACE H. D .- Merchant, Ladora. Is a young busi- ness man of great ability and is what may be termed one of the old settlers of this county, his parents having settled in what is now Sumner town- ship in an early day. He was born in this county, on the 2d of October, 1858, where he resided with his father on the farm until he purchased a store and removed to Ladora a few years since, since which time he has been engaged with his father in the store and has become a thorough busi- ness man, and in March, 1880, he formed a partnership with J. T. Miles, and purchased the store in Ladora formerly owned by his father, in which place he is now engaged. Has a fine stock of from five to eight thousand dollars, and is doing a nice business.
STARRETT, FREEMAN-Son of James Starrett, now of Macedona, Iowa. Was born in Mahoning county, Ohio (a new county formed from a part of Trumbull county, while Mr. Starrett lived there), on the 23d of December, 1845, and in 1848 his father removed to Seneca county, Ohio, where he only lived about two years, and then to Defiance county where he remained about six years, and then removed to this county and settled in Sumner township, then a wild waste. Here young Starrett was brought up to labor on the farm and educated in the common schools of the county. He continued to labor on the farm until the year 1874, when he removed to Ladora and engaged in the hardware business, which he fol- lowed in Ladora until the fall of 1880, when he removed to Macedona, Iowa, where he is now engaged in the same business. He was married, in 1872, to Miss Mary A. Messenger, of Keokuk county, who is still living, and by whom he has four children: William, Ethel, Hudson and Alice.
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STONER, JOHN E .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 25. Among the many men who have provided for themselves and families comfortable homes in this part of the country, none are better known or more highly respected than the subject of this sketch, who is not only one of the earliest settlers, but who has been one of the most prominent men. He was born in Seneca county, Ohio, on April 16, 1824, where he was brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools of that country. At the age of twenty-five years he came to Iowa and settled in Marengo, where he ar- rived on the 17th day of October, 1849, with but five dollars in money, three horses, one wagon, his wife and baby, and settled on a wild piece of land without a stroke of work done upon it. He went to Iowa City, thirty. miles distant, and invested $4.90 of his fortune in beef and flour, when he found that some friend had sent him a letter, which in those days " cost the receiver ten cents. This took his last farthing, and he returned to his wife and baby, but without a cent of money. He had no corn with which to feed his team, and he started out to hunt up a settlement. He went about eighteen miles northeast of Marengo to a settler by the name of Robert McCorkin, to whom he traded one of his horses for $15 in money, a heifer and calf, a small hog, and took the balance in corn. He again went to Iowa City and bought a cook stove for $15, which again took all his money, and he was obliged to swim the river and sleep in his wagon for want of funds to pay for the ferryboat or lodging. Still he had his stove and feed for his team. After his return he busied himself in husking corn for the settlers who had small patches, and took corn for his pay. And his wife, in order to supply his table with the common necessa- ries of life, dug potatoes on shares. He then engaged to do some hauling for a settler for which he received two shoats, which furnished his meat and flour for the winter, and during the same winter he.split and hauled rails sufficient to fence twenty acres of land with a good rail fence. which fence is still standing, some of which is in pretty good order. Also, dur- ing the winter he teamed for Wm. Downard and Mr. Danskin, merchants, at the rate of $2 per day, until he saved enough money to enter thirty-five acres of land, which he entered in what is known as Mormon Bend, by reason of the fact that the Mormons camped there for a time after having been driven from Nauvoo. Mr. Stoner built the first barn in this county, which is still standing, on the ridge sonth of Marengo. The first year he farmed all the improved land there was in the neighborhood belonging to. Messrs. Hull and Groff. He raised corn on Mr. Hull's place, and wheat and oats on Mr. Groff's place, and after his grain was in the stack, and while he lay in bed, sick, he had the pleasure (?) of seeing it consumed by the work of the barn-burners, a class of cut-throats who were banded to- gether by fearful oaths to take vengeance on all who came into the country and entered lands on which they pretended to have claims, but really had no claim and were not entitled to any. This business was kept up for some time, and the barn-burners were numerous up and down the Iowa River, and many a night the sky was made lurid by the flames of burning grain, hay and stock. But this was the end of barn-burners, for the quiet, law abiding citizens by this time had made up their minds to put a stop to this kind of business by fair or foul means, and a company of masked men whom Mr. Stoner did not know, called on him that night and said that if he said so, they would burn out and murder the last of them, but he advised them, for the sake of the innocent families, not to do so, but,
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