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 92
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
emigrated with his father to Iowa and completed his education at the State Normal School then located at Andrew. In 1856, he went to Joliet, Ill., and began the study of law in the office of Osgood & Streeter, leading lawyers of that place; in 1858, he was admitted to the bar and removed to Monticello, Minn., where he opened an office, and commenced in earnest the practice of his chosen profession, making many friends, and securing an extensive practice. In 1860, he removed to Andrew, and the following year was appointed U. S. Pension Agent ; that he has been eminently successful as a claim agent is shown in the fact that he has now several hundred pensioners on his roll. In 1859, he married in Monticello, Minn., Miss Mary E. Gallow, a most estimable lady ; she was born in Orange Co., N. Y .; their children are William G., Benjamin F., Carrie E., Lucy E. and Charles M. Mr. Thomas is a Republican in politics. He owns a pleasant home in Andrew, and devotes much of his time to orcharding, having one of the finest and largest orchards in Eastern Iowa, containing several thousand trees, most of which is, or are coming into fruiting, and are in an excellent condition. Mr. Thomas heartily co-operates in all matters pertaining to the advancement of the interests of Andrew. Personally and socially, he is a man of excellent qualities, and throughout his life has maintained an adherence to those principles of honor that have secured to him the confidence and esteem of all.
JAMES THOMPSON, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Fulton ; was born in Law- rence Co., Penn., in 1810. He married, in Pennsylvania, Miss Mary Donaldson; in 1844, they emigrated to Iowa and settled in Perry Township, Jackson Co., where he now resides ; his wife died in 1864; she was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a true Christian, and one of those pioneer mothers in whom all take a just pride. Mr. Thompson's second wife was Caroline Dawson. His children by first marriage were Isaac, who served in a regiment of Iowa cavalry, and lives in Fulton, this county ; Philo P., lives in Dallas Co., Iowa ; James, lives in Fulton, this county ; Nancy Jane, married George Mc Williams, who served in a California regiment during the war, they live in Linn Co., Iowa; Mary, married George Smith, who served through the war, they live in Linn Co., Iowa ; Thomas, died, aged 39 years ; Joseph, served in the 2d I. V. C., was a gallant soldier, and died in the service at St. Louis ; Jonathan. deceased ; Rachel, deceased. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been a Deacon for a number of years; in early life, was a Whig; is now a Republican; he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in Perry Township, which office he held for sixteen years ; has also held the office of Township Trustee and various school offices.
MRS. MARY VANDOLAH (nee Hadley), far., Sec. 11 ; P. O. Andrew ; was born in Center Co., Penn., in 1814; in 1820, she removed with her parents, N. and Anna Hadley, to Seneca Co., Ohio; thence, in 1839, to Jackson Co., Iowa, and settled in Andrew, where Mrs. Vandolah, the subject of this sketch, married, in 1842, Jesse Vandolah, a native of Fayette Co., Penn. He was born in 1802, and moved to Ohio with his parents in 1810, where he remained until 1831, when he went to McLean Co., Ill .; he was in active service during the Black Hawk war, and was in Stillwell's defeat and battle of Bad Axe ; he came to Jackson Co., Iowa, in 1840, where he resided until his death, in 1866. Mrs. Vandolah had seven children, five of whom are living- Sarah A., married Albert Baker, and lives near Andrew; Amanda, now Mrs. James Spencer, resides in this township ; Alice ; Jerusha, now Mrs. Charles McKinly, of Belle- vue; Minerva, married William Nichols, and lives in Placer Co., Cal .; John, killed by the Indians near Fort Laramie, Wyo. Ter .; William, also deceased. Mrs. Vandolah owns a valuable farm a short distance from Andrew. This estimable lady is justly enti- tled to be ranked among the early settlers of this county, having lived over forty years in Perry Township.
E. BURKE WYLIE, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Fulton ; was born in Wash - ington Co., Penn., April 15, 1838 ; in 1859, he came to Perry Township. During the second year of the war, he enlisted in Co. K, 31st I. V. I .; he was enrolled Ang. 22, 1862; mustered into service at Davenport in October ; participated in nearly all the engagements his command was in-Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Raymond, Jackson,
.
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FARMER'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Black River, Vicksburg, Cherokee, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro ; was in Sherman's campaign through Georgia and the Carolinas, and mustered out as Sergeant at Louisville, Ky., June 27, 1865. June 3, 1868, Mr. Wylie married, in Perry Township, Miss Lizzie A. McConnell, a native of Beaver Co., Penn., and born in 1845; they have three children -Robert Bradfield, Clyde and Scott. Mr. Wylie and wife are members of the Pres- byterian Church ; he is a Republican. Owns 142 acres of land.
FARMER'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
AMASA BALLOU. farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Fulton ; a native of Rhode Island; was born near Providence Jan. 21, 1801; in 1811, his parents removed to Chenango Co., N. Y., where he remained until 1849, when he came to Iowa; was favorably impressed with the many advantages of Jackson Co. and determined to brave the hardships and privations that must be necessarily undergone by the early settlers of any new country ; he located in Farmer's Creek Township, and, in the following year, he returned to New York and brought his family West with him, thus becoming one of the pioneers of Iowa. Mr. Ballou has been married twice; first wife was Serena Cook ; children by this marriage are Albert (who is married and lives in Oswego, N. Y.), George (marrled and resides in Farmer's Creek Township), Richard (who served in an Iowa regiment during the war of the rebellion and now lives in Taylor Co., Iowa), Waita Jane (now the wife of Robert Rockwell, of Taylor Co., Iowa; he was a soldier in the Union army during the rebellion); name of Mr. Ballou's second wife was Maria Thorpe; their children are Marion (he is married and resides in Farmer's Creek Township), Lucilla (now the wife of Henry Merrick, of Jackson Co .; he fought for the Union during the war ; was a good soldier), Julia (married William Morehead ; they reside in Farmer's Creek Township). Politically, Mr. Ballou has always acted with the Republican party. He owns 640 acres of land; he is one of the representative pioneers of his township, is a generous, thoroughly honest man and is highly esteemed and greatly respected wherever he is known.
W. H. BARROWS, M. D., Iron Hills; was born in Athens Co., Ohio, in 1867 ; in 1852, he emigrated with his parents to Virginia ; thence to Jackson Co., Iowa, the following year. He was a soldier in Co. F, 44th I. V. I. In 1869, he married, in this county, Miss Emma J. Mann; they have four children-John W., Henry W., Herman and Minnie. Dr. Barrows possesses in a high degree that practical knowledge and skill desirable in a physician. He is a Republican.
JAMES BINNS, Notary Public, Iron Hills; is a native of Lancashire, Englaod ; was born in 1829; in 1829, he emigrated with his parents to Elgin Co., Canada, where he married, in 1845, Miss Mary Rowland, a native of Canada, born near Toronto. In 1849, they emigrated to Jackson Co., Iowa, and settled at Iron Hills, where he has since resided ; she died Aug. 8, 1875. She was a member of the Second Advent Church, a sincere, earnest Christian woman and one of those pioneer mothers in whom all feel a just pride. There children are Mary, now Mrs. W. A. Fuller ; Har-' riett M., now Mrs. James Mitchell; George F. and Ella. During his residence in Iron Hills, Mr. Binns has been elected to various offices ; in the early history of the town- ship, was elected Constable for seven years ; has held the office of Justice of the Peace almost without intermission fourteen years, and has also held the office of Township Trustee several times; in 1876, he was appointed Notary Public, a position he still retains ; he is also Secretary of School Board, an office he has filled since 1875; he acts with the Republican party. He owns seventy-three acres of land, well improved.
CALVIN BREEDEN, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Fulton ; was born in Edgar Co., Ill., May 29, 1830; in 1838, he emigrated with his parents to Jackson Co., Iowa, and settled in Farmer's Creek Township, where he remained until 1850, when he went to California and engaged in mining on the middle fork of the American River, near
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Georgetown ; in the summer of 1853, he returned to this county, and, Sept. 27, follow- ing, he married, in Farmer's Creek Township, Miss Adelia, daughter of Jacob and Susanna Martin, of Canada, who settled in this county in 1849, where Mr. M. resided until his death, Dec. 9, 1876; Mrs. Martin is still living. Mr. Breeden's children are Francis, Marion, Otto, Norman and Rosa Marinda. During the war, Mr. B. enlisted as private in Co. B, 26th I. V. I .; was enrolled Aug. 8, 1862; was promoted to Second Lieutenant in March, 1863; served as Captain during the latter part of the war; was in the battles of Greenville, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Decatur and siege of Atlanta ; he was wounded at Greenville, Miss .; received three wounds at Arkansas Post, and was severely wounded at Atlanta ; at the close of the war, he was honorably discharged. He is a Republican and has been elected to various local offices. Owns 106 acres of land.
B. B. BREEDEN, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Fulton ; Mr. Breeden was born in Monroe Co., Ind., in 1809; when he was 10 years of age, he emigrated with his parents, Richard and Lucretia Breeden, to Edgar Co., Ill .; thence to Jackson Co. in 1839 and settled in Farmer's Creek Township, thus becoming pioneer settlers; in 1850, Mr. Breeden went to California, where he engaged in mining with fair success, until the summer of 1853, when he returned to Jackson Co. In the fall of 1853, he married Miss Mary J. Furnace, a native of Edgar Co., Ill .; she died in 1859 ; his present wife was Mary Ann Campbell, a native of Mercer Co., Penn .; Mr. Breeden's children by first marriage are Sophronia (now Mrs. William Clayball), De Soto and Otto; children by present wife are Frances J., Lucretia A., Lilly, Arizona and Clarence B. Mr. Breeden owns 118 acres of land a short distance from Fulton. He is a Republican.
F. T. BURNETT, contractor and builder, Fulton ; was born near Pulaski, Mercer Co., Penn., in 1828; in 1852, he emigrated to Ohio, thence to Iowa, and set- tled near Andrew in this county ; he afterward moved to Fulton, where he engaged in his present business. He is an energetic, enterprising man, and has put up some of the finest buildings in Fulton and vicinity. He married, in Mercer Co., Penn., Miss Patience H. Carns; she was also born in Pennsylvania; they have had ten children- Godfrey S. (married Emma Germen; reside in Woodbury Co., Iowa), Mary Ann (deceased), Elliott H., Samuel C. S., Kate (married W. S. Sweesy ; live in Fulton), Albert D., George B. McClellan, Rosa Jane, James W. E. B. and Milo Osceola. Mr. Burnett is a Democrat. Has held the offices of Assessor and Township Trustee. He owns forty seven acres of land and also town property in Fulton.
WILLIAM J. CONKLIN, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Iron Hills ; was born in Monroe Co., Ohio, in 1837; in 1844, he removed West with his parents, William and Easter Conklin ; they settled in this (Jackson) county. Mr. Conklin married, in this county in 1857, Miss M. Edwards; she was also a native of Ohio; they have ten children-Peter, Thomas, William, Eda. Franklin, Reuben, Louis, Ida, Michael and Fritz. Mr. Conklin owns 165 acres of land, also half-interest in saw-mill in Otter Creek Township. In politics, he is a Democrat. He has taken quite an interest in school affairs and has been elected to various school offices. He is a man of much energy and worth, as well as a public-spirited citizen.
GEORGE. COOPER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 35 ; P. O. Maquoketa ; a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland; was born March 11, 1844; in 1854, he emigrated with his parents, George and Ellen Cooper, to Canada, and settled near Amosburg, where he remained until 1860, when he came to Clinton Co., Iowa, and engaged with a brother in milling at Charlotte. In 1861, he enlisted at Lyons, Iowa, in Co. A, 15th I. V. I., and was mustered into the service of the United States with the regiment in 1861, and was in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Iuka, Corinth, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Atlanta and a series of engagements around that place; after serving three years and three months, he was honorably discharged; returned to Clinton Co. and bought a farm near Welton, where he lived until 1869, when he sold his farm and removed to where he now resides. In 1868, Mr. Cooper married Miss Rebecca J. Hayes, a native of Ripley Co., Ind. ; they have three children-George, Blanche and Gertie. In politics, Mr. C. is a Republican. He is Secretary of the I.
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FARMER'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
O. O. F. Lodge at Fulton. Owns 307 acres of land, and is extensively engaged in stock-raising, having as large and fine a herd of cattle as there is anywhere in Jackson Co.
JAMES W. ECKLES, M. D., Fulton ; was born in Beaver Co., Penn., in 1827 ; he received a preparatory education in Washington Co., Peun., which fitted him for the study of medicine ; in 1848, he entered the Medical College at Cleveland, from which he graduated in 1850; he first practiced in Princeton, Lawrence Co., Penn., where he remained until the spring of 1855, when he came to Jackson Co., Iowa; in the autumn of 1857, he located at Fulton and entered actively into the prac- tice of his profession. At the breaking-out of the rebellion, he had a large and lucrative practice, which he abandoned for the purpose of raising a company of soldiers, of which he was commissioned Captain, and was mustered into the 26th I. V. I. as Co. B, in August, 1862; he was a brave and good soldier, but, his health failing, he was discharged and returned home in 1863. The Doctor has held the office of Coroner of Jackson Co. for eighteen years. In 1849, he married, in Washington Co , Penn., Miss Mary J. Atchinson ; they have three children-Joseph C. (married Miss Ida Edwards), Eugene A. and Susan. Dr. E. is very successful in the practice of medi- cine ; he is a genial, pleasant gentleman, and, since his residence in Fulton, has taken an active interest in everything tending to the advancement of the public interests.
BERNHARD EISENTRAUT, Postmaster and dealer in general merchandise, Iron Hills ; was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1838, where, in his boy- hood, he received a liberal education ; in 1856, he emigrated to America. He served in the 30th Ill. V. I. Io 1862, he married Miss F. Snyder, daughter of Simeon and Eliza Snyder, natives of Germany, who settled at Iron Hills in 1857, and were honored citizens. Mr. Eisentraut and wife are members of the Reformed Church. They have. seven children-John C., Lavina E., Alice Matilda, Emma Margaret, Rosetta B., Charles A. and Ida K. Mr. Eisentraut has been engaged in the mercantile business at Iron Hills a number of years, and has, by his liberality and fair dealing, secured an extensive trade, and enjoys the confidence of all the best citizens in the community .. Mr. E. is a Republican He has been elected to various local offices, in all of which he gave general satisfaction ; he was appointed Postmaster at Iron Hills in 1865, a position he has since retained.
WILLIAM C. FENTON, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Fulton ; was born in Fayette Co., Penn, Nov. 18, 1834 ; in early life he learned the blacksmith trade, at Brownsville, which business he followed until the spring of 1855, when he came to Jackson Co., Iowa ; Nov. 27, 1855, he married Miss Anna A. Thompson, a native of Fayette Co., Penn., boro in 1834; the spring after their marriage they returned to Pennsylvania, remaining until November, 1857, then returned to Jackson Co .; she died Sept. 25, 1862 ; they had two children-Joseph T., boro Aug. 30, 1850 ; John W., born June 12, 1859; Mr. Fenton's present wife was Mary M. Casteel ; she was born in Fayette Co., Penn, in 1843; they had four children-Amy C., born Oct. 4, 1866; Francis W. born Oct. 23,1870; James C., born May, 9, 1874; Charles C., born July 17, 1877. In Oct. 1878, Mr. Fenton was elected Assessor of Farmer's Creek Towoship; he has also been elected a member of the Township Board of Trustees several years, and has held various school offices ; he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity at Andrew ; himself and family are members of the Presbyterian Church ; he is a Democrat ; owns a well-located farm in the vicinity of Fulton ; his father, Joseph Fenton, was a native of Pennsylvania ; he was twice married ; first wife was Martha Jordan, she died Dec. 13, 1827 ; his second wife Amy Allen, a native of Pennsylvania ; he died in Keysport, Penn .; she came to this county in 1855, and resided in Farmer's Creek Township until her death in Jan. 3, 1877. There were two children by first marriage-John (now deceased), Sarah (now Mrs. Thomas Alexander, of Keysport, Penn.); children by second marriage were Martha A., born Nov. 13, 1830, died March 7, 1832 ; Deborah, born Jan. 13, 1832, died in 1841 ; William C., whose name heads this sketch ; Francis M., born in 1837, died in 1839.
A. G. FISHER, farmer, Scc. 22; P. O, Fulton ; was born in Cheshire Co., N. H., Feb. 21, 1828; he attended the high schools in his native county; and received
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
a liberal education ; in 1857, he came to Iowa and settled in Farmer's Creek Township, where he has since resided ; in 1857, he married Sarah L. Sorber, a native of Luzerne Co., Penn .; they have six children-Melvin A .; Charles E., Emily J., Ellen M., Adda A. and Susan L., twins ; Mr. Fisher taught school a number of years in his home town- ship ; he has been elected to various offices, and at present writing is Township Clerk, and a member of the Board of School Directors ; he makes a most efficient officer, and takes a deep interest in the dovelopment of the public interests of his township. In politics Mr. Fisher is a Democrat ; he owns 140 acres of land, and is one of Farmer's Creek's most enterprising citizens ; his father, Kendall Fisher, was a native of Massa- chusetts. He married, in New Hampshire, Esther Martin ; he died in New Hamp- shire, and she came to Iowa, where she died in 1877 ; their living children are A. G., the subject of this sketch, and George E., who served in the 26th I. I. during the war of the rebellion, and was wounded at Atlanta and Arkansas Post, and is now a resident of Cherokee Co., Iowa. There are four deceased, one of whom, Charles E., joined a Minnesota regiment in the late war, and was killed in battle; the records of his regiment show he was a brave soldier and a genial comrade.
EDWARD LARKEY, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Iron Hills ; was born in Easton, Penn., June 17, 1809 ; when he was 14 years of age, he. removed with his parents to Delaware Co., Ohio, in which county he married, in 1827, Miss Nancy Keene; in 1832, they emigrated to Jackson Co., Mo .; they lived in Missouri until 1837, when they removed to Hancock Co., Ill., remaining in that county until 1846, when they went to Racine Co., Wis; in 1848, they came to Iowa and settled in Jack- son Co., which has been their home since. They have had nine children- Elizabeth (now Mrs. J. P. Dillion), John, Mary (now Mrs. M. Clark), James, Peter, Nancy (now . Mrs. E. Keene), Esther (wife of Edward Trimble), Eliza and George. Mr. Larkey takes a leading part in public affairs, and is a most influential citizen ; he owns 134 acres of land, well improved. He has been elected to various township and school offices, and, in all, has left a good record. In politics, Mr. L. is a Democrat.
P. LARKEY. farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 18; P. O. Iron Hills; was born in Racine Co., Wis .; in 1848, he removed with his parents, Edward and Nancy Larkey, to this county, which has been his home since ; he has been engaged in dealing in stock a number of years, and is thoroughly conversant with the business, therefore, is more than ordinarily successful. In politics, he is a Democrat.
JOSEPH LARKINS, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Maquoketa ; was born in Fairfax, Franklin Co., Vt., Nov. 22, 1827; when he was 3 years old, his parents, Loran and Laura Larkins, removed- to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he received a com- mon-school education. In 1853, he married Miss Mary J. Brace, and, in 1854, they removed to Dane Co., Wis .; thence to Dubuque Co., Iowa, in 1856, where they only remained a short time before they went to Mercer Co., Ill., and from there they removed to Rock Island Co., where Mrs. L. died in 1849, and, in November of the same year, he came to Jackson Co., Iowa. In 1871, he married his present wife, Melinda Welch ; she was the daughter of Jesse and Charity Palmer, pioneer settlers of Iowa; her first husband, Isaac Welch, was also an early settler ; he died in 1869. Mr. Larkins' chil- dren by first marriage are Effie R., Loran, Ambrose and Ernest ; Mrs. Larkins' children by first marriage are Charity (now Mrs. C. Easton), Mary E. (now Mrs. J. Mouwoller) and Philena. Mr. Larkins owns seventy-five acres of land. In politics, he is a Republican. Jesse Palmer, father of Mrs. Larkins, was a soldier in active service dur- ing the war of 1812 ; he died in 1876; his wife, Charity, is still living, and resides in Farmer's Creek Township.
HENRY McDONALD, farmer ; P. O. Fulton ; born in Erie Co., Ohio, in 1859; his parents emigrated to Jackson Co. in 1854. During the war, he served in the 44th I. V. I. 100 days. In September, 1869, he married, in this county, Miss Sarah Murphy ; they have two children-Addie and Paul. Mr. McDonald is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. at Fulton; he is a Republican. His father, Orson McDonald, now deceased, married, in New York, Deborah West; their children are Melissa (mar- ried C. W. Bell, who served in 5th I. V. C. during the war, and died on his return
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FARMER'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
home ; she is now the wife of Joseph Anderson), Edwin (is married and lives in Indi- ana), Orson (served in the army ; is married and engaged in the hardware business at Virginia City, Nev.), Cordelia (married Frank Sisco ; lives in Sandusky, Ohio), Alex- ander (served in 2d I. V. C. during the war ; he lives in Fulton), Wesley (is married and lives in Kansas), Joseph (is married and lives in Ohio), James (served in 2d I. V. C. during the war ; lives in Fulton), Henry (whose name heads the above), Alice (now the wife of Wm. Morden, merchant at Fulton.
JAMES McDONALD, Fulton; was born in Sandusky, Ohio, April 3, 1844 ; in 1854, he emigrated, with his parents, Orson and Deborah McDonald, to Jack- son Co., and settled in Farmer's Creek Township. During the war of the rebellion, he served in Co. E, 2d I. V. C., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. In 1866, he married Miss Eveline Ronse of Farmer's Creek Township; they have two children-Carrie and Dolby. Io politics, Mr. McDonald is a Republican ; he is a mem- ber of the A., F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. fraternities. At present writing, he is a Constable, which office he has held over three years ; he has also filled various other local offices, and has taken an active part in advancing the school interests.
W. C. MORDEN, merchant, Fulton ; was born in Farmer's Creek Town- ship, Jackson, Co., Iowa, Feb. 28, 1841 ; in early life, he received a liberal education. He enlisted in Co. I, 5th I. V. I .; was mustered into service in July, 1861 ; was in the battles of New Madrid, siege of Corinth, and Iuka ; at the latter place, he was wounded three times, which unfitted him for duty on the field, and he was discharged ; Sept. 27, he re-enlisted in Co. E, 2d I. V. C., and participated in engagements against Hood's march on Nashville, etc .; he was mustered out of the service in the summer of 1865; in the autumn of the same year, he engaged in mercantile business at Fulton, where he has a large and constantly increasing trade, and enjoys the confidence of all the best citizens in the community. Jan. 22, 1866, he was appointed Postmaster, a position he still retains ; he was elected a member of the County Board of Supervisors for 1877; was made Chairman of that body in 1878, and is still an active working member of the Board ; he was the first Township Collector in Farmer's Creek ; has been Justice of the Peace three years, and a member of the Township Board of Trustees several times ; he has taken a great interest in the advancement of the school interests, and has been elected to various school offices ; he was appointed Notary Public in 1868, 1871, 1874, 1876 and 1879. Nov. 2, 1864, he was commissioned Captain of the Union Rangers, Jackson Co., by Gov. William Stone. He is a charter member of Fulton Lodge, No. 339, I. O. O. F .; was the first N. G. elected ; in the autumn of 1878, was elected rep- resentative to the Grand Lodge; is District Deputy Grand Master. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and is a member of the Chapter at De Witt, Clinton Co., Iowa. In 1867, Mr. Morden married, in Fulton, Miss Alice A. McDonald, a native of San- dusky, Ohio ; they have three children-Burt C., Lilian C. and Edith. Mr. Morden is a Republican. His father, Hon. William Morden, was a native of Canada; he emi- grated to Sandusky, Ohio, where he married Mary Beatty ; they emigrated to Jackson Co. in 1836; settled in Farmer's Creek Township; he was a man of great ability, and previous to his coming to Jackson Co. had been elected to various important offices in Sandusky, Ohio. In 1837, he was commissioned Captain of militia ; was also appointed Justice of the Peace and was a member of the first Constitutional Convention convened at Iowa City Oct. 7, 1844, was also a member of the Legislature ; he laid out Fulton in 1849; he held various other official positions. He was an eminently good man in all the relations of life, and was an honest and respected citizen, one that Jackson Co. could ill afford to lose : he died at his residence in Fulton in April, 1868. His wife lives with her son, W. F. Morden ; she is 78 years of ages and is hale and hearty ; their children were W. F. (whose name heads this sketch ), Leonard (drowned in 1844) and Mary (now deceased ; was the wife of W. P. Ward).
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