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 96
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CHRISTIAN KEGLER, retired farmer and merchant, Sec. 15; P. O. Spring Brook ; was born in Nassau, in Germany, but now belonging to Prussia, on the 27th day of November, 1812, where he grew to man's estate and received a thorough common-school education ; for several years in his native country he followed the pro- fession of a teamster, when, in 1853, he gave it up and emigrated to the United States, and, on the 26th day of July, 1853, located at Spring Brook, Jackson Co., Iowa, where he has lived ever since; before locating in Iowa, he spent from the 1st of June to the 26th of July seeking a location, and not until he came across Jackson Co. could he find any place which met his fancy ; during his residence, he has served his township as Road Supervisor for two terms, and often importuned to take other positions of trust, which he always declined, as he never had any desire to hold any public offices of any character. He is a strong Democrat, and has always ardently espoused the cause of that party since he first became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He married Mary Scharff, a native of the same country as her husband, in February, 1839, and had six children, five of whom are living at the writing of this history-August G. (who is married and carries on the dry-goods business in Bellevue), William (who is also married and carries on a large business in farming implements and all kinds of machinery in Bellevue), Christian M. (who is married and carries on the business of general merchandise and farming at Spring Brook), Barbara (who is married to John P. Gross, who lives in Spring Brook and carries on the business of blacksmithing), Elizabeth (who is married to Nickolis Evans, who is a dry-goods merchant at Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa). Mr. Kegler is a widower, his wife having died on the 5th of September, 1872, and lies buried in the Catholic Cemetery of Spring Brook. He and all his family are members of the German Catholic Church. When he first commenced life in Jackson County he was a very poor man, with scarcely means enough to secure a small place to begin farm- ing, but with that characteristic energy and thriftiness of his country he diligently pur- sued his avocation, strictly and persistently laying up and adding to his property, until he had one of the finest farms in the county, and a fortune good at any time for from $45,000 to $50,000. The old gentleman has now retired from any kind of work, and resides with his son, Christian M., after having divided his property among his children, and seeing them all happily and comfortably situated, with good starts in life, the only necessary thing to insure their prosperity and wealth being a little of the will and true pluck which has always characterized the father. Mr. Kegler is now fast approaching 70 years of age, but still is strong and firm in his step, and his ideas are as bright and active as ever. Mr. Kegler is also the Postmaster at Spring Brook, having held that office for the past eight years.
GEORGE W. KEISTER, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Bellevue. He is among the leading and enterprising farmers of Jackson County. We find none more
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worthy of representation in her history than George W. Keister, of Jackson Township. He was born in Rockingham Co., Va., Nov. 24, 1826. In early life, he received a liberal education in his native county. In 1847, he removed with his parents to Jack- son Co .; settled in Andrew, where they lived until the following year, when they removed to Bellevue Township, where they resided until their death, April 12, 1852. Mr. Keister, in company with four others, started for California overland, with an ox- team. They arrived in Placerville, August 8, and he went to Big Bar, on the middle fork of the American River, where he engaged in mining, with fair success, until the winter of 1853, when he returned to this county. May 17, 1855, he married, in Jack- son Township, this (Jackson) county, Miss Mary R. McMurphy, daughter of Archibald and Rispa McMurphy, natives of New York, who settled in this county in 1854, and are now honored residents of Rochester, Minn. Mr. Keister and wife are members of the M. E. Church. Their children were Nettie B., born April 1, 1856 ; (she was edu- cated at Mount Vernon, Iowa ; March 15, 1877, she married Richard C. Ross ; they live in Bellevue, where he is and has been engaged in the mercantile business several years) ; Elizabeth, born Aug. 26, 1857 ; (she is now attending school at Cornell College, Mount Vernon) ; George W., born Feb. 10, 1859; (he is also attending school at Mount Vernon) ; Charlotte R., born March 3, 1861; Charles C., Nov. 20, 1862 ; Mary A., April 2, 1864; Benjamin B., Oct. 4, 1865 ; Fannie B., May 15, 1867 ; Harry C., April 31, 1868; Walter W., April 26, 1870, died Oct. 2, 1876 ; Nellie May, born Jan. 10, 1875 ; Archie J., Feb. 9, 1877. Mr. Keister is, at present writing, Trustee and Steward of the M. E. Church, a position he has filled about six years. He was Clerk of Jackson Township for over eleven years ; is the present School Treasurer in the dis- trict wherein he resides, an office he has filled to the general satisfaction of all concerned a number of years. In politics, Mr. K. is a Democrat, though he is no politician, and has nover taken part in the personal strife and vituperation so common during political campaigns, and looks to principles rather than party politics. He is a public-spirited man, always ready to assist with time and money any enterprise that promises to be of advantage to his township and county, and has always taken an active part in the pro- motion of the religious and educational interests. His farm embraces 280 acres, well located, and possessing many of the natural advantages. In 1865, he completed his house, which is a massive stone structure, and is, without doubt, one of the finest farm residences in Jackson Co. Being a man of study and progressive ideas, he has applied the best practical results of his knowledge to improved methods of farming, and to furnishing his house with the appliances and comforts of the best social life. His parents, William K. and Elizabeth Keister, were natives of Virginia. They came to this county, as before stated, in 1847, and were honored residents until their death, which occurred, his in 1858, and hers in June, 1874. They were members of the M. E. Church. Previous to his coming to this county, he was a Captain of a militia com- pany in Virginia. Their children were Martin B., now a Methodist minister at Sioux City, Iowa; George W., whose name heads this sketch ; Mary, now deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Snodgrass, Collins Co., Texas ; William M .; Susan, now Mrs. B. Sisler. In addition to his farm, Mr. Keister owns city property in Hutchinson, Kan., and in Bellevue, Iowa.
CHRISTIAN M. KEGLER, merchant and farmer, Spring Brook. He owns 100 acres of land, besides his valuable store, house and other city property in the town of Spring Brook. He was born in Nassau, Germany, on the 20th of March, 1850, and, when but 3 years old, his parents emigrated to the United States, and located in Jackson Co., Iowa. (See biography of Christian Kegler.) He was raised and educated in Jackson Co. He has been closely confined in his store for the past ten years, and, with the time required for his farming interests, he has had no time and no desire to hold office or be mixed up with any political organizations. Ever since he cast his first vote, he has been a strong and " true-blue " Democrat in his politics. He married Mary Knoll, a native of Germany, in Jackson Co., on the 15th day of Fehru- ary, 1873, and had three children, two of whom are living at the writing of this history, namely, Mary Elizabeth and John Jacob. He and his family are members of the
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German Catholic Church of Spring Brook. Mr. Kegler, when quite a boy, showing a decided mercantile ability, his father put him into his store as a clerk, which he dili- gently applied himself unto until 1874, when his father retired from business and was succeeded hy his son, both as merchant and farmer. His experience has been not only remarkable but nearly unprecedented for the past six years, as he has rapidly increased his business, until now he has one of the finest storehouses and farms in the county, and a handsome fortune of from $12,000 to $15,000, beside the stock on hand and capital invested in his business, which ranges generally from $8,000 to $10,000.
EDWIN E. G. KOON, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. O. Higginsport ; he was born in Crawford Co., Penn., on the 6th day of March, 1836, where he was raised and schooled until 12 years of age, when, in the year 1848, his parents removed to Clinton Co., Iowa, in which State his residence has been entirely confined ever since, never liv- ing out of that county until 1878, when he moved to Jackson Co .; he is a son of Nicholas N. Koon and Mary W. Koon, both of whom are old residents of Clinton Co. During the war of the rebellion, he did gallant service in Co. C, 10th I. V. I .; Mr. Koon takes great pleasure and credit in having enlisted as a private and returning home with no higher office. He is a a conservative Republican in his politics, and has always vindi- cated the principles of that party. He married Roxey Ann Bennett, a native of New York, in Clinton Co., on Nov. 29, 1855, and have never had any children but have two adopted ones-Charles and Jennie. He and his family are not members of any church, but are God-fearing and church-going people, and extremely liberal in their church views. When he first commenced life on his own account, in Clinton Co., Iowa, he was very poor and made his own start in life, and now, by strict and close application to his business, he has a comfortable homestead and a fortune of from $6,000 to $7,000; owns 160 acres of land.
JAMES MOLES, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Spring Brook ; he was born in Greenbrier Co., Va., on June 14, 1810, where he was raised to manhood. When he first started in life, he adopted the profession of a salt boatman, from the Kanawha Salt Works, down the Kanawha, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, which he followed about ten years, when he gave it up and commenced at Cabin Creek in Kanawha Co., W. Va., as a boat-builder, which he followed for twenty years, when he gave it up and came to Iowa in 1856, and located upon the property now owned by him. He has served his township faithfully for three terms as Sehool Director ; he is a conservative Democrat in his politics. He married Sarah Wyant, a native of Kanawha Co., W. Va., near the town of Charleston, in which county they were married, at Cabin Creek, on the 18th of December, 1834, and had nine children, seven of whom are living at the writ- ing of this history-Ann (married to Christian Speici and resides in Jackson Co.) ; Mary (married to Jonathan Nelson and resides in Jackson Co.); Martha (married to William Hazen and resides in Dakota Territory) ; Martin (married to Ida D. Rowe and resides in Jackson Co.) ; Julia, unmarried and lives with her parents ; Terrisa (married to Thomas E. Scott and resides in Dakota Territory) ; Virginia, unmarried and resides with her parents. He and his family are somewhat divided in their Christian faith, belonging in part to the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Missionary Baptist Church. When he first came to Iowa, he had a limited capital to hegin life with, but, nothing discouraged, he started with a will and determination, and now, after a few years of honest industry, economy and energy, he has a good and comfortable home- stead and a fortune of $6,000, besides having settled about $2,500 on his married chil- dren, who are also prospering. Owns 100 acres of land.
WILLIAM M. SISLER, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Bellevue; one of the twelve heirs to the estate left by his father, Michael Sisler ; was born in Franklin Co., Penn., on the 21st day of March, 1823, and was raised and educated in Huntingdon Co., Penn., whither his parents removed when he was a child ; in 1864, he removed to Jackson Co., Iowa, and settled with his father, where he has lived ever since. He has never held any offices in his township, as he has never had either ambition or desire to be mixed up with any political organizations of any character ; he is a strong Republi- can in his politics, and has always warmly and ardently espoused the cause and
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supported the principles of that party. He married Susan McHugh, a native of Penn- sylvania, in which State they were married, and had ten children, three of whom are living at the writing of this history, namely, Ellen, Mary Catherine and James W. He and his family ar, members of the Roman Catholic Church.
H. A. SISLER, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Bellevue; was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., on the 4th day of April, 1829, where he was raised to man's estate and received a good and thorough common-school education ; in 1851, he emigrated from his native county and settled in Carroll Co., Ill., where he resided for six months, when he packed up and removed to Jackson Co., Iowa, and settled upon the property on which he resides at the present time. During his residence, he has served his township faithfully for several years as Township Clerk, Township Trustee, School Director and Secretary of the School Board. He is an ardent supporter of the principles of Repub- licanisin, and has always been as steady as a rock in political proclivities. He married Eliza J. Gettis, a native of Huntingdon Co., Penn., where they were married, and had as a result of that union ten children, seven of whom are living at the writing of this history, namely, Emma P., who married David Miller, and resides in Jackson Co. ; the others are unmarried and are Mary V., Robert S., Michael G., Martin N., Amelia R. and Harvey A .; his deceased children, all of whom died and are buried in Jackson Co., are Albert M., Henry W. and John G. He and his family are not members of any particular church, but are extremely liberal in their church views. He was a very poor man when he commenced life in Jackson Co ; and now, after a few years of indus- try and labor, he has a fine homestead and a fortune estimated at from $10,000 to $12,000; owns 180 acres of land.
JAMES L. TAYLOR, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Higginsport; he was born in Mercer Co., Penn, on the 15th day of June, 1819, where he grew to man's estate and received a good common-school education. In 1845, he emigrated to Iowa and located in Jackson Township, Jackson Co., where he resides at the present time. He is a conservative Democrat in his politics, and has always been so since he first became a voter. During his residence, he has faithfully served his township as Trustee, School Director, Constable, Board of County Supervisors, Road Supervisor and Justice of the Peace for twenty-odd years. He married Maria Daniels, a native of Mercer Co., Tenn., where they were married on the 22d of April, 1841, and had eleven children, nine of whom are living at the writing of this history, namely, Isaac, James P., Math- ilda, Mary Ann, Melissa, Elizabeth, Smith, Benton and Douglas. He is liberal in his church views. In 1847, the winter, the "Squire " laughed considerably, when the historian approached him, and he told him in that year they had to live on hog and hominy for three weeks, there being but one team in the neighborhood, and the roads impassable from heavy rains. When he first began life in Jackson Co., he was very poor and had no capital to begin life with, while now, he has a good and comfortable home- stead, and a fortune estimated at from $9,000 to $10,000, beside 160 acres of land in Kossuth Co., Iowa, and 160 acres in Cedar Co., Neb. Mr. Taylor is Postmaster of Higginsport. Owns 379 acres of land.
GEORGE ZEDIKER, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Spring Brook. Owns 120 acres in Jackson Co., and 160 in Cedar Co., Neb. He was born in Mercer Co., Penn., on the 15th day of October, 1821, where he was raised to manhood and received a good common-school education. In the spring of 1850, he emigrated to Iowa and located upon the place where he lives at present. He has served his township faithfully several times as School Director and Road Supervisor. He is a strong Republican in his poli- tics. He married Sarah Garside, a native of England, in Mercer Co., Penn., on the 28th day of September, 1845, and had nine children, six of whom are living, namely, Mary Emily, Thomas Jefferson, Louis, Letitia, Dora Ella and Ambrose Burnside. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When he first started in Jackson Co., he was very poor, and now after a few years of close application to business and hard work, has a fine homestead, and a fortune of from $8,000 to $10,000.
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FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP.
JAMES K. BLAKELY, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Union Center ; owns 250 acres of land ; he was born in Adams Co., Penn., May 5, 1821, where he received his education ; when he reached manhood, he left his home, and, for ten years, followed teaming on the " National Road," through the States of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio ; in 1844, tiring of this arduous and dangerous life, moved to Iowa and settled iu Fairfield Township, Jackson Co., where he has resided since ; he has efficiently served his township for several years as Township Clerk, School Director, Trustee and Road Supervisor ; he is a decided Democrat. He married Ann McGaughy, a native of Adams Co., Penn., in Morrow Co., Ohio, Jan. 18, 1855; have five children-William McGaughy, Martha Jane, James Wilson, Alexander Scott and Anna Margaret. He and his family, although raised in the Presbyterian Church, are liberal in their church views. When he first came to Jackson Co., he was without much capital to begin life with, but, putting his shoulder to the wheel, he started with a will and determination to prosper, and now has the satisfaction of seeing that his life has not been spent in vain, as he has a good and comfortable homestead and a fortune estimated at from $10,000 to $12,000. His son, William McGaughy, is a prosperous farmer in Shelby Co., Iowa.
MRS. REBECCA BLAKELY, widow of David Blakely, Sec. 30; P. O. Union Center; owns 200 acres of land ; she has been Postmistress of Union Center Post Office for the past three years; she was born in Frederick Co., Md., March 5, 1823; when 12 years old, with her parents, she removed to Somerset Co., Penn., where they lived until she was 18 years old, when they again moved to Fayette Co., Penn., where she lived until her marriage to David Blakely, on Aug. 8, 1850. In Novem- ber, 1853, they emigrated to Jackson Co., Iowa, Fairfield Township, where she has lived since. Her husband died and left a handsome estate to herself and children. Her maiden name was Rebecca Marlow. Mr. Blakely died Feb. 6, 1877. They had eight children, six still living-James M., Clara Belle, Alice Virginia, Florence Rebecca, Helen Jemima and Agnes Emily ; she also has four step-children-Hannah Margaret, Charlotte Barber, Hugh Monteville and Cassius Cummins. Mr. Blakely was born in Adams Co., Penn., Jan. 30, 1804, and was 73 years old when he died. She is liberal in religion.
JEFFERSON BIXLER, retired farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Spragueville ; was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, on the 30th of September, 1813, where he was raised ; in 1840, he emigrated to Jackson Co., Iowa, where he has since resided ; his first loca- tion was Sabula, known in those days as Charleston, where he stopped for a short time ; he then moved about nine miles west of Sabula, where he lived until about 1852, when he moved to where he now lives; he was proprietor for twenty years of the well-known " Half-Way House," between Maquoketa and Sabula. He has been Road Supervisor for several years ; he is a stanch old Jacksonian Democrat of the old school and has always advocated the principles of that party. He married his first wife, Mary Foy, a native of Ohio, in Perry Co., Ohio, in 1836, and had two children, one of whom is living-Pauline, who is married to Charles W. Cook, of Clinton Co. He married his second wife, Mary Catherine Barnes, a native of Ohio, in Perry Co., Ohio, in 1839, and had six children, five of whom are living-Mary Ann, Isaac, Lucinda, Eliza and Orphenia. He married his third wife, Sarah A. Weed, a native of Ohio, in Jackson Co., Iowa, on the 1st day of July, 1869, but has no children by his last wife. He is liberal in his church views, although he was raised in the Presbyterian Church. He was a very poor man when he started in Jackson Co., and now he has a magnificent homestead and a fortune of from $10,000 to $12,000; owns fifty-seven and a half acres of land.
EDWARD CAIN, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Spragueville ; was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, on the 3d of February, 1829, where he grew to man's estate
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and received a good common-school education ; in 1848, he emigrated to the United' States and located in Wayne and Ontario Cos., in the State of New York, where he lived about six years, when he moved to Bingham Co., Mich., where he lived for four- teen years, and, in 1868, he removed to Jackson Co., Iowa, and took up his permanent residence. He has served for several years as Township Trustee, School Director and Road Supervisor ; is an old-school Democrat in his politics, but advocates the principles of the Greenback party in questions of finance. He married Celia MeKernan, a native of Ireland, in the State of New York, on the 16th of October, 1853, and had five children, all of whom are living at the writing of this history-Ann Eliza, Thomas Henry, John Francis, Ellen Augusta and Edward Luke. He and his family are devout members of the Roman Catholic Church. When he first came to Iowa about twelve years ago, his possessions amounted to about $3,000, and now, in that short length of time, he has built a good and comfortable homestead and has a fortune of from $8.000 to $10,000; owns 160 acres of land.
JAMES CONWAY, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Maquoketa; has been con- nected with the milling business for a long time; he was born in Lawrence Co., Ohio, in the year 1844, and was raised and educated in Jackson Co. He has persistently refused to ever hold office in his township ; he is a strong Democrat in his politics. He married Martha Van Dorn, a native of the State of New York, in 1861, and had five children, four of whom are now living-Clarinda, Frank, Clara and Fred. He moved to Jackson Co. in 1848 and has resided there ever since. He and his family are mem- bers of no particular church, but are liberal in their church views. He is a son of James and Melinda Conway, old settlers of Jackson Co.
JOHN DE GRAW, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Maquoketa ; he was born in- the county of Middlesex, Upper Canada, on the 22d of December, 1833, where he grew to manhood and received a good common-school education ; in the fall of 1859, he emigrated to the United States and located in Jackson Co., Iowa, where he has lived ever since. He has served one term as Road Supervisor ; he is a strong Democrat and has ever been so since he first became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He married his wife, Lydia Ann Mills, a native of Ohio, in Jackson Co., Iowa, on the 12th of March, 1873, and had two children, both of whom are living at the writing of this history-Margaret Ann and George Alvin. He is liberal in his church views, while his wife was raised in the belief of the Free Methodist Church. When he first came to Iowa, he was a very poor man and nearly destitute of capital to start life with, while now, after a few years of hard labor, industry, economy and strict attention to business, he has a good and comfortable homestead and a fortune estimated at about $5,000 ; owns 150 acres of land.
JAMES DUNHAM, retired farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Spragueville ; he owns 145 acres of land; he was born in Mercer Co., Penn., Aug. 27, 1812, where he grew to manhood and received a good common-school education in his own State and Ohio ; in 1850, he emigrated to Jackson Co., Iowa, and located at present residence, purchasing and entering his lands himself. For seventeen years after he came to Jack- son Co., he ran the ferry over the Maquoketa River, known all over the country as Dunham's Ferry. He has served his township for many years in different capacities, twenty-six years as Justice of the Peace, and is known far and near as the " Squire," and for years, too numerous to mention, has served as Trustee, both under the old and new administration, also School Director and Road Supervisor. During the war, he gave two sons, who did gallant service for their country-John S. and Phineas Daniel, the later losing his life. He is a stanch old Jacksonian Democrat. He married Sarah Budd, a native of Trumbull Co., Ohio, in Mercer Co., Penn., Sept. 26, 1833, and had seven children, five are living-John S., Martin, Cordelia, James W. and Booth B. He and his family are members of the Baptist Church.
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