The history of Jackson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Iowa miscellaneous matters, &c, Part 76

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical
Number of Pages: 788


USA > Iowa > Jackson County > The history of Jackson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Iowa miscellaneous matters, &c > Part 76


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W. C. MOFFATT, dealer in groceries and provisions, Main street, Maquo- keta ; is a native of Canada, and was born Nov. 8, 1817 ; he grew up to manhood there ; he came to the States and lived in Maine and Massachusetts five years ; he came to Illi- nois and lived in Boone and Bureau Cos., and came to Towa and located in Jackson Co. in 1855, and began working at the trade of carpenter and joiner ; he continued in the building business for some years, and has been engaged in the mercantile business for the past eight years. He married Sylvia Tillottson, a native of Pennsylvania; they have three children-Alice J., Grace, Fred W. Mr. Moffatt has one daughter (Ellen E.) by a former wife.


H. P. MORSE, miller ; P. O. Maquoketa; born in Monroe Co., Mich., Oct. 1, 1838 ; he came to Jackson Co. in 1865, where he has since resided. Married Mary O. Turner in 1861. They have two children-Ed. L. and G. O. They have one adopted child-May M. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church; Republican.


ANDREW M. MOREY, carpenter and builder, Maquoketa ; is a native of Caledonia Co., Vt., and was born June 6, 1827. When very young, his parents removed to Cortland Co., N. Y. He grew up to manhood in that State, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. He came to Iowa and located in Maquoketa in March, 1854, and began working at his trade. There is no one working here now at the bus- iness, that has been engaged in building as long as he and S. F. Brown. In February, 1848, he married Rosina Palmer, from New York State; she died in 1871, leaving six children-Sophia, Saphronia, Mary, Andrew, Benoni and Viola. In 1873, he married Mrs. Emma Crocker, a native of New York State.


CALVIN E. NORTHROP, of the firm of Northrop & Glaser, dealers in furniture, Main street, Maquoketa ; a native of Franklin Co., Vt., and was born June 5, 1823. From his 12th year, he lived in New York, and learned the furniture bus- iness. In May, 1853, he came to Iowa, located in Maquoketa, and engaged in the furniture business. He bought the property he now occupies, and has carried on the fur- niture business in the same location over twenty-six years ; he is the oldest furniture dealer in this city, or in Jackson Co .; he has been engaged in the businass longer than any other merchant, except P. Mitchell. He married Miss H. M. Bond, from Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1845. They have five children-Sanford E., Frank, Alfred, Clara and Charlie.


S. P. OLMSTEAD, farmer ; P. O. Maquoketa; born in Sangamon Co., Ill., Dec. 25, 1832 ; came to Jackson Co. in 1878. Married Mary Gate, (born in Ohio


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in 1832), June 6, 1878 ; married Mary E. Copeland in 1849 ; she was born in Ireland in 1831 ; she died in 1854, leaving two children-James H. and Harvey S. Dem- ocrat. He enlisted in the army in the late war ; served in Missouri cavalry one year, and was honorably discharged Sept. 5, 1862.


JASON PANGBORN, capitalist, retired, Maquoketa ; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., June 13, 1806, and lived there until April 30, 1838, when he started for Iowa and arrived here June 1. He located just east of where he now lives ; bought a claim and put up one of the first frame houses that was built in Maquoketa ; he broke a farm and afterward started a blacksmith-shop ; he has lived here over forty-one years and is one of the few oldest settlers of the county now living; he has held the office of Township Supervisor and was member of the City Council. Mr. Pangborn has been twice married ; his first wife was Eunice Post, of Essex Co., N. Y .; she died Aug. 23, 1855, leaving four children-Asa, Herschel, Sarah and Julia; May 23, 1856, he mar- ried Sarah A. Abel, a native of Essex Co., N. Y .; they have three children-Addie, Herbert L. and Eddie. When Mr. Pangborn began life he had nothing, and owes his success to his own industry and good management.


CHARLES H. PATTERSON, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Maquoketa ; born in Cortland Co., N. Y., June 22, 1825; came to Jackson Co. in 1856, where he has since resided. Married Lethea Barker in 1847 ; she was born in Putnam Co., N. Y., March 4, 1825 ; they had one child ; his wife died June 20, 1857 ; he married Lorinda Pate July 4, 1858; she was born in Magnoketa Township Jan. 10, 1839; they have had seven children, five living-Charles H., born June 8, 1861 ; Jesse, October, 1867 ; Elmer, March 23, 1871 ; Willie, July, 1873; Nellie, July, 1878. He has been Town- ship Trustee three years. Owns 180 acres land valued at $25 per acre. Democrat.


R. PERHAM, Justice of the Peace, Magnoketa ; was born in Franklin Co., Vt., Jan. 10, 1816 ; his parents removed to Ohio when he was very young ; his father died there and his mother removed to Western New York; in 1836, he went to Buffalo, and in 1842, he engaged in teaching there and was Principal of one of the public schools for six years ; in May, 1849, he came to Iowa and located just west of Delmar and engaged in farming for nine years; then removed here and has been engaged in the mercantile and milling business. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace most of the time since coming here ; he has also held other town and school offices. In 1833, he married Miss Charlotte W. Newton, a native of Erie Co., N. Y .; they have three children George D. (lives in Chicago and is connected with the Inter-Ocean), Isabel M. and Archibald N.


ABNER REEVE, retired, Maquoketa ; is a native of Brattleboro, Wind- ham Co., Vt., and was born Oct. 22, 1800; he was brought up and attended the old academy there and learned the harness-maker's trade; in company with Dexter Field, he came to Iowa and located in Maqnoketa in the spring of 1853 and engaged in his business of harness-making and continued over twenty years. In 1834, he married Miss Eliza Westlake, a native of England and daughter of William Westlake, an officer in the army ; Mr. and Mrs. Reeve have had five children, of whom only one son sur- vives-Benjamin Franklin Reeve, who was born June 19, 1846; he grew up here and received his education ; he was formerly editor of the Excelsior and was engaged in the mercantile business here and is now engaged in the mercantile business in Dakota. He- married Miss Gertie Smith, of Maquoketa; they have one daughter-Alice Gertrude.


N. O. RHODES, boarding and sale stable and proprietor of City Bus Line, Maquoketa; is a native of Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and was born Jan. 18, 1837 ; his parents came to Jackson Co. and located at Maquoketa when there were only a few houses here; he grew up to manhood here, and, in 1859, engaged in the livery business. He married Miss Hattie E. Barnes, of Medina, Ohio, March 17, 1869; they have four children-Frank, Harry, Bruce and Bessie.


SEYMOUR M. SADLER, attorney at law, Maquoketa ; is a native of Huron Co., Ohio ; born June 25, 1853 ; when only 3 years of age, his parents removed to Centerville, St. Joseph Co., Mich .; he attended school there, but received his educa- tion mostly in Ohio and Michigan ; attended school in Ohio for three years, then


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entered the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, where he remained four years and graduated in June, 1874 ; he entered the law office of his father, commenced read- ing law and was admitted to the bar in August, 1875; he associated with his father in the practice of law until Jan. 1, 1877, when he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner of St. Joseph Co. and held that office for two years. He came to Jackson Co., Iowa, and located at Maquoketa in June, 1879, and engaged in the practice of his profession. He married Miss Nellie Campbell, a native of Detroit, Sept. 20, 1876; they have one son-Clifford C., born May 27, 1878.


C. M. SANBORN, senior partner of the firm of C. M. Sanborn & Son, wholesale and retail dealers ; is a native of Niagara Co., N. Y., and was born Aug. 26, 1836 ; his parents removed to Michigan when he was young, where he lived until he was 18 years of age; after his father's death he and his mother came, by wagon, to Iowa; arrived here in October, 1854; he carried on wagon and carriage making for some time, and established his present business in 1862 ; he has built up a large and successful business, his sales amounting to $100,000 annually ; when Mr. Sanborn came to this county, in 1854, he only had, beside two span of horses and wagons, $2.50 in money. Oct. 18, 1857, he married Miss Harriet Burd, of Mercer Co., Penn. ; they have five children-Nettie, Le Roy, Charlie, Hattie and Ella.


J. T. SARGENT, of the firm of Decker & Sargent, also of the firm of Sargent, Smith & Co .; is a native of Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn., and was born July 30, 1836; he grew up there and learned the printing business ; in 1855, he came to Iowa, and, in 1857, he came to Maquoketa, and entered the office of the Sentinel, where he remained three years, and went to Marengo and published the Iowa Valley Democrat for two years; after the breaking-out of the rebellion, he raised a company and was commissioned First Lieutenant Co. B., 28th I. V. I .; in the fall of 1863, he resigned his commission, on account of disease contracted in the serv- ice; in 1864, he went South, and was in the employ of Adams Express Company, at Nashville; he went to Pittsburgh, Penn., and remained until 1868, then returned to Maquoketa, and, in 1872, associated with Mr. Swigart and published the Jackson County Sentinel. The firm of Sargent & Swigart continued until 1877, when Mr. Sargent retired from the Sentinel, and since then has been in the mercantile business ; he has served as member of the City Council. In 1870, he married Miss Mary E. Delano, a native of Essex Co., N. Y .; they have two children-Nettie and Willie.


JAMES D. SCHOLL, farmer ; P. O. Maquoketa; born in Berks Co., Penn., Oct. 16, 1825; came to Jackson Co. in 1854, where he has since resided. Married Barbara Weasner July 14, 1849 ; she was born in Berks Co., Penn., Nov. 18, 1830. They have had seven children, six are living-George F., John H., Emma C., James L., Adeline T. and William A. He owns 101 acres of land ; value, $30 per acre. Republican.


A. L. SHAW, of the firm of Shaw & Matthews. proprietor of the Maquoketa Excelsior; is a native of Jackson Co., and was born in Maquoketa May 2, 1850, his parents being among the early settlers of this county ; he attended school here, and entered Cornell University, at Ithaca, N. Y., and graduated in 1875 ; the following year, in March, 1876, he associated with Mr. E. L. Matthews, and purchased the Maquoketa Excelsior, and since then has successfully conducted this paper.


JOSIAH SHEFFIELD, retired, Maquoketa ; is a native of Nantucket Mass., and was born July 6, 1807 ; he lived there until 16 years of age, and then went to sea on a whaling vessel, on the ship Brothers ; the next voyage, he went, on the Paragon, to the Japan seas. When only nine days from home, on their return, the ship sank, and the crew was saved and carried to the Society Islands, and then came home. Other voyages were on the ships Averick and Tyrolean, and his last voyage was on the ship Roman ; he sailed on the sea for eighteen years, to all parts of the world. He gave up sailing and located in Onondaga Co., N. Y., and engaged in farming for sixteen . years, then came to Iowa and settled in Jackson Co., and bought a farm here; a few years ago he moved in Maquoketa and built a fine house, and since then has lived here. He has been twice married; his first wife was Cynthia Castle, from Onondaga Co., N.


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Y .; his present wife is Mary E. Mason, a native of New York City. They have one daughter -- May Cynthia.


CHARLES SHIREY, of the firm of Shirey & Hill, bakers and confec- tioners, corner of Main and Platt streets, Maquoketa ; is a native of Washington Co., Md .; was born Oct. 11, 1851 ; when 14 years of age, he came to Illinois, and lived in Lanark, Carroll Co .; he came to Jackson Co. and located in Maquoketa, in September, 1878, and engaged in his present business, and they are building up a good trade. He married Miss Marietta Gertrude Moffett, of Lanark, Carroll Co., Ill., May 4, 1876. They have two children-Edith and Nellie ..


SAMUEL SOUTHWELL, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Maquoketa ; born in England in 1810; came to the United States in 1835, and to Jackson Co. in 1847, and has resided in his present locality ever since. Married Mary Branscorn in 1839; she was born May 15, 1816, in Kentucky; they have had thirteen children, nine living ; lost one son, William R., in the late war ; he died in the army ; owns 120 acres of land, value, $30 per acre. Himself and wife are members of the M: E. Church ; Democrat.


B. A. SPENCER, of the firm of Spencer & Knittle, dealers in dry goods, hats and caps, Maquoketa ; is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born March 5, 1841 ; his parents came to Iowa and settled in Maquoketa when he was only 13 years of age ; he entered a store as clerk, in the fall of 1856, and continued in the same store until 1863, when he associated with Henry Knittle and engaged in business ; the firm of Spencer & Knittle has continued since then, sixteen years, without change. He holds the office of County Supervisor, and has held the office of Mayor. When he began life he had nothing, and he has succeeded by his own efforts. In 1870, he married Miss Frank A. Fox, of Lewis Co., N. Y. They have three children-Lena, Frank and Nettie.


WILLIAM STRUBLE, nurseryman, Maquoketa ; is a native of Penn- sylvania, and was born in Graysburg, near Pittsburgh, Penn., Jan. 8, 1821 ; when very young his parents removed to Trumbull Co., Ohio. He grew up to manhood there and. in March, 1842, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hutcheson, from Trumbull Co., Ohio; they came to Iowa, and arrived in Bellevue, Jackson Co., May 1, 1854; he located in Perry Township, and engaged in farming; in 1862, he engaged in the nursery business, and continued living there until 1873, when he removed to Maquoketa, on the place where he now lives, within the town corporation, and estab- lished the nursery business here; when he began life he had nothing, and now owns his farm in Perry Township, also his place here. Mr. and Mrs. Struble have seven children-Jane, Riley, Lucy, Asa, Mary, Louisa, Addie. Mr. Struble had two sons in the army-Riley enlisted and served in the 12th I. V. I. ; Asa enlisted and served in the 2d I. V. C.


WILLIAM C. SWIGART, publisher of the Sentinel, Maquoketa. The oldest journalist in Jackson Co., Iowa, is William C. Swigart; he was born at Newark, Licking Co., Ohio, Dec. 12, 1824 ; he attended the common schools, and after- ward graduated from the Academic Department of Granville College, now Denison University, in 1844. He entered the office of the Newark Advocate, and spent several years ; about 1852, he went to Bucyrus, Ohio, and assisted in editing the Forum, until April, 1854, when he removed to Maquoketa, Iowa. He and his younger brother, Stephen, started the Sentinel; after the death of his brother, in 1856, Mr. Swigart continued the publication of the paper until 1872, when James T. Sargent became his partner ; at first it was a seven-column folio, assuming its present form in 1872. Mr. Swigart held the office of Postmaster of Maquoketa six years, during the administra- tions of Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. On the 6th of November, 1849, he was married to Miss Martha P. Gage, of Findlay, Ohio, and they have had nine children, two of whom they have lost. The eldest sons, Philemon D. and Josiah, are associated with their father in publishing the paper, which is the official paper of the city and county, and the organ of the Democratic party.


HENRY TAUBMAN, merchant tailor and dealer in ready-made clothing and gents' furnishing goods, Main street, Maquoketa ; is a native of the Isle of Man,


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and was born Dec. 3, 1827 ; when 20 years of age, he came to America, in 1847 ; he came to Iowa to Jackson Co. and located in Maquoketa in the spring of 1850, and engaged in tailoring and has carried on that business here in Maquoketa longer than any merchant tailor in Jackson Co. He has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Maloa Current, from Canada ; she died in February, 1871, leaving six children, five sons and one daughter-Thomas E. (living in Sac Co.), William (living in Sac Co.), Lee (engaged in business with his father), Linn, Andy, Emma. During the present year, Mr. Taubman was united in marriage to Miss Laura Fairbrother, daughter of Alvin Fairbrother, one of the earliest settlers now living in Jackson Co.


J. R. TOBIAS, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Maquoketa; born in Litchfield Co., Conn., Nov. 30, 1798. He moved to Maquoketa Township in 1848, and has resided on the farm where he now lives, since 1852. Married Susan Brown in 1825 ; she was born in New York, and died in Iowa. He married Mrs. Helen M. Lyons May 4, 1862. Owns eighty acres ; value, $40 per acre. Republican.


SIDNEY J. TUBBS, farmer, Secs. 8 and 12; P. O. Maquoketa ; born Feb. 17, 1847, in Maquoketa, and has always resided here single. Owns 132 acres; value, $15 per acre. Democrat.


J. R. VAN EVERA, of the firm of J. R. Van Evera & Co., dealers in hardware and house furnishing goods, also dealers in drugs, Main street, Maquoketa ; is a native of Montgomery Co., N. Y .; born Sept. 16, 1819 ; he grew up to manhood there and engaged in farming until he came to Iowa and located in Maquoketa June 11, 1872; then engaged in the house furnishing and hardware trade; in March, 1878, he engaged in the drug business ; his sons De Witt and John are with him in the hard- ware store, and Wallace and James are in the drug store. While living in New York State, Mr. Van Evcra held the offices of Supervisor, Assessor and Commissioner, and was Captain of the military company. In 1845, he married Miss Nancy L. Eacker, from Montgomery Co., N. Y. ; they have eight children-four sons and four daughters.


DR. OTTO VON SCHRADER, deceased; was one of the early settlers of Jackson Co .; he came from Pennsylvania and settled in Maquoketa in the month of April, 1846; his professional life commenced in 1844, and he was in act- ive practice in Maquoketa for ten years ; he added to his native skill in his profession, wide reading, accurate knowledge, a discriminating mind and rare common sense. In 1856, he established, in connection with his brother-in-law, L. B. Dunham, a State Bank, which was afterward changed to the First National Bank of Maquoketa. Few men in our time have attached to themselves, with so kindly an interest, so many friends, and few men so variously gifted have ever shown themselves so indifferent to any recognition of their talents and their acquirements, beyond that involved in the affectionate respect of a circle of personal friends and acquaintances. He was a refined gentleman, and in all the relations of life, his urhanity and courtesy were very marked, and his death, which took place in 1875, deprived his family and this community of an estimable citizen. He left a wife and seven children-three sons and four daughters, now living in Maquoketa.


SMITH WARREN, architect and builder, Maquoketa ; is a native of Che- mung Co., N. Y., and was born Nov. 27, 1842; he was brought up there and served an apprenticeship of three years at the trade of carpenter and builder ; he held the position of foreman in a large factory there ; he has given much attention to the study of architecture ; he came to Iowa and located at Maquoketa June 1, 1876, and engaged in contracting and building. In November, 1863, he married Miss Frances E. Wat- son, of Chemung Co., N. Y. ; they have one daughter-Clara E.


CHARLES WENDEL, farmer and stock-buyer; P. O. Maquoketa ; he lives in Sec. 34, and owns eighty acres in Jackson and forty-five in Clinton Co .; he was born in Wyoming Co., Penn., on the 1st day of December, 1829, where he was raised and schooled until he was 13 years of age, when, in 1842, he emigrated to Jack- son Co., Iowa, with his parents, who came the entire distance by private conveyance, taking seven weeks to make the trip; he has served his township for several years as School Director and Road Supervisor ; he is a stanch old Jacksonian Democrat of the


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old school, and has always strongly vindicated the principles of that party. He married Julia Livermore, a native of Ohio, in Jackson Co., Iowa, on the 3d day of February, 1847, and had ten children, all of whom are living at the writing of this history, namely, Albert S., Eugenie, Daniel, Mary Adell, Charles Henry, Carrie, Annie, Will- iam Abraham, George and Emma. He and his family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; he was a very poor man when he started in Clinton Co., and has made and accumulated his whole possessions by his own industry and perseverance ; he has a good and comfortable homestead and a fortune of from $6,000 to $7,000.


A. L. WILKINS, farmer, Sec. 18 .; P. O. Maquoketa ; was born in Canada West Oct. 25, 1838 ; he came with his father's family to Clinton Co., Iowa, in 1840 ; to Jackson Co. in 1869, and have remained here since. Married Catherine J. Parris June 29, 1860; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio, March 18, 1843; they have had six children, five living-Winfield S., born March 23, 1864; Frank W., April 28, 1866; Albert L., Jr., Aug. 13, 1868 ; Charles E., Oct. 1, 1870; Rossie C., April 10, 1876. Owns forty acres, valued at $30 per acre. Mrs. Wilkins is a member of the M. E. Church ; Greenbacker. His father is still living at 73 years of age ; his mother died Jan. 6, 1878.


E. R. WOLEY, capitalist, and manager of the Decker House, Maquoketa ; is a native of Ulster Co., N. Y .; he grew up to manhood there ; came to Iowa in 1854, and located in Jackson Co., and engaged in buying and selling land. He married Miss Rebecca E. Decker, daughter of James Decker, owner of the Decker House; they have three children-James, Harry and Edna.


SOUTH FORK TOWNSHIP.


LYMAN BATES, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Maquoketa ; is a native of War- ren Co., N. Y. ; born Nov. 22, 1817 ; he grew to manhood there, and, in the spring of 1838, he and Mr. John E. Goodenow started for Iowa with a four-horse team prepared to journey either on wheels or runners, were forty-eight days on the way ; traveled thirty-nine days, and crossed the river on the ice, March 10, 1838 ; they reached the place where Maquoketa now stands, March 19; they bridged every stream between here and the river. After coming here, he and Mr. Goodenow kept bach for a year ; they made claims, and began making farms, though it was seven years before the land was offered for sale by the Government. Dec. 1, 1839, he married Miss Sylvia D. Eaton, a native of Cortland Co., N. Y. ; mention is made of their wedding in another part of this work ; they began housekeeping in a log shanty. Mr. Bates has lived here over forty-one years ; is one of the earliest settlers now living. He owns a good farm of 160 acres just south of the city limits. His wife died leaving three children-Miles E., Mary, and Julia (now Mrs. Edson), all living in this vicinity. Mr. Bates married Emily A. Darling, from Franklin Co., Vt. ; they have one child-Ella.


S. BURLESON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20; P. O. Nashville; one of the best-known men in Jackson Co., and the oldest settler now living in this part of the county ; is familiarly known as " Shade Burleson " of " Buck Horn ;" he is a native of the State of Vermont, and was born in the town of Pownal, Bennington Co., Sept. 19, 1805 ; he grew up to manhood there; when 19 years of age, he went to Waterford, N. Y., and lived there and in Troy ten years, and ran a freight packet on the Erie Canal. On the 8th of February, 1824, he was united in marriage to Miss Eunice J. Houghton, in Waterford. In 1836, he started for the West, coming from Detroit through Chicago, to Galena, by stage, and arrived there in September ; he had to walk one-half of the distance from Detroit ; they remained in Galena during the winter, and the following spring came to Jackson Co., and arrived here April 6, 1837 ; he made the claim where he now lives, and located upon it, and has lived on this over forty-two years, a longer time than any person has lived in this part of the county, if not in the whole county, on the claim made by themselves; he and his wife used to make mittens out of


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deer skins, and had a demand, at $1 a pair, for all they could make ; he was an excel- lent marksman, and it was no trouble for him to secure game, if he could get sight of it. In the winter of 1839, he got $20 in money, and started for Galena with his team, after provisions. When he reached Bellevue, they were having a shooting match for a bear-ten chances, at $5 each ; he went and borrowed a rifle of Hugh Kilgore, and paid $5, and won the bear; he put the bear up again at $5 a chance, retaining one chance for himself, and won it again ; he then sold the bear for $25, on condition that he would not shoot again ; he went on to Galena, bought his provisions, including, among other things, a barrel .of pork, and when he reached home, and his family found he had some meat, they cried for joy, and immediately opened the pork and found it was spoiled, and entirely unfit for use; the oxen were yoked up immedi- ately, the barrel of pork was rolled on the sled, and although it was nearly sunset, the team was started for Galena, where the meat was exchanged for a good barrel, and it was brought home and thoroughly enjoyed ; there are very few men who have endured as much, and overcome as many obstacles as Mr. Burleson ; he has carted dressed pork to Bellevue, and sold it for 75 cents per hundred, and could not get cash nor groceries in payment, but could only get shelf goods ; he has started on foot with his ploughshare, to have it sharpened, and walked forty to fifty miles, with only just money enough to pay for having it sharpened, and when he could get no boat, would swim rivers and streams ; the interesting incidents and happenings, and the ancedotes he can relate of his experience in the settlement and early history of this county, would fill many pages of this volume. As the fruit of the labors of himself and his wife, he now owns 400 acres of good land, finely improved. On the 8th of February, 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Burleson celebrated their golden wedding, it being the fiftieth anniversary of their mar- ) ried life ; after living together for fifty-five years, Mrs. Burleson died in April, 1879. She was a woman of great personal worth, and her loss was felt the most by those who knew her best, and her death was mourned by the whole community. Mr. and Mrs. Burleson had six children, four of whom are living-William, Charles, Frank, Emily, now Mrs. Dennison (all living in this county). They lost two children, Mary and Harriet; Charles was in the army ; he enlisted in the 31st I. V. I.




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