USA > Iowa > Jones County > The history of Jones County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 84
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JAMES SKKELLY. farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Monticello; is a native of Marion Co., Ind., and was born Feb. 13, 1841 ; his parents came to Iowa when he was very young ; they came in 1542, and located in Jones Co., close to Monticello; he grew up to manhood here. When the war broke out, he enlisted, in the fall of 1861, in Co. 1, 26th I. V. I ; he was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Mobile, and others, besides fights and skirmishes ; he was taken prisoner at Morgan's Bend, Sept. 29, 1860, and was held a prisoner for ten months, and was horribly treated and suffered everything, but lived through it and was exchanged July 4, 1864; he was in the ser- vice three and a half years ; he returned and engaged in farming, and owns 120 acres of land just outside of the city limits. In 1867, he married Miss Sarah Ely, a native of Pennsylvania ; they have four children-William H., Alva G., James D. and Mattie May ; they have lost one daughter-Neliie May.
D. SLAUSON. manufacturer of butter-tuhs and firkins, Monticello; is a native of Fulton Co .; N. Y., and was born Feb. 20, 1824; he was brought up and learned his trade in New York State; he came to Iowa in December, 1872, and located in Delaware Co .; he remained there one year ; he returned to Jones Co. and located at Monticello ; and since then has carried on his business here, except eighteen months in the same business at Ottumwa ; he employs from five to fifteen men ; he manufactures butter-tubs of a superior quality, and does the largest business in bis line west of Chi- cago, having a capacity to make 500 tubs daily. In 1848, he married Miss Jane H. Darrow, from Oswego Co., N. Y .; they have two sons-Byron J. and Dennis N.
HENRY D. SMITH, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Monticello ; is a native of Salem, Mass., and was born Sept. 23, 1818; when 7 years of age, his father removed to
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Utica, N. Y., and he grew up to manhood in that State ; he came to Iowa in 1856, and located in Jones Co., on Bowen's Prairie, and engaged in farming ; in 1869, he removed to where he now lives, in the suburbs of Monticello ; he owns a good farm, well improved, which joins the city limits. He has held the office of County Surveyor, and has held town and school offices. In 1840, he married Miss Harriet Campbell, from Paris, N. Y .; they have had six children, four of whom survive-Douglass H., Laura C., Dwight S. and Sarah L., all living in this State.
GEORGE SNOWDEN, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Bowen's Prairie ; was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in May, 1814 ; he emigrated to Philadelphia in 1832; went to Dubuque. Iowa, in 1833, where he lived four years, engaged in mining and smelting ore. He returned to Philadelphia and married Eliza Boyd, also a native of Ireland, after which he lived in Dubuque one year ; then came to Joncs Co. and entered a farm in Richland Township, where he lived ten or twelve years ; then returned to Dubuque County and settled in Whitewater Township; came to present location in 1875.
THEODORE SOETJE, of the firm of Soetje & Tiarks, dealers in drugs, paints, oils, books and stationery, wall paper, Monticello; is a native of Schleswig Holstein, Germany, and was born Aug. 16, 1841 ; he grew up to manhood there, and emigrated to America in 1862 ; he came to Lyons, Iowa, and remained there four years and came to Jones Co. and located in Monticello in November, 1866 ; he engaged in his present business, and has continued in it very successfully since then, and has built up a large and desirable trade; in 1869, he built the store he now occupies, and, in 1877, he built the store adjoining on the east, and, in 1876, he built a large and commodious dwelling, one of the finest in the city. When Mr. Soetje came to this country, he only had $50, and his success in life is owing entirely to his good management and attention to business. He has held the office of City Treas- urer two years, and is a Director of the Monticello Bank. He married Miss Anna Oswold, a native of Prussia, in Linn Co., Iowa, May 3, 1866 ; they have three children- Edward, Oscar and Alberti.
N. P. STARKAS, manufacturer and dealer in furniture, Monticello ; is a native of Clinton Co., N. Y., and was born Aug. 5. 1830; he grew up to manhood there, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. He was united in marriage to Miss Clarinda Peak. from New York, Feb. 5, 1857 ; they came to Iowa and arrived in Jones Co. the following July ; he engaged in contracting and building ; he was the first contractor here in Monticello; he continued building until eight years ago; he was for two years Superintendent in charge of the erection of the Agricultural College Build- ings at Ames ; he was engaged in the grocery business for several years, and, in June, 1878, engaged in the furniture business. Mr. and Mrs. Starks have two children -- Charles H. and Neva A. Mr. Starks has served as member of the City Council.
STEPHEN STARKS, proprietor of the Dexter livery and boarding sta- ble, Monticello ; is a native of Franklin Co., N. Y., and was born in June, 1834; he grew up to manhood there and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner; in 1855, he came West to Illinois, and, in 1857, he came to Iowa and located in Jones Co., and engaged in building and contracting; he continued in that business until 1868, when he engaged in his present business ; he has the oldest livery business in Monticello. He married Miss Elizabeth Chamberlain, a native 'of New York State, June 5, 1856; she came West to Illinois when quite small : they have two children-Edward and Bertie. MRS. MARY ANN STONE, widow of Curtis Stone, Sec. 12; P. O. Monticello. Mr. Stone was born in Cheshire Co., N. H., Oct. 26, 1819; he came to Bowen's Prairie in the fall of 1851, and purchased a part of the farm now owned by Mrs. Stone; he returned East in October, 1:53, and was married in November of that year to Miss Mary Burton, his present widow, of Windsor Co., Vt., and at once located on his farm on Bowen's Prairie ; he died Oct. 11, 1879. Mrs. Stone has three daugh- ters-Ruby M. Ketcham, resides in Cass Township ; Clara E., and Hettie D., now Mrs. Charles MI. Brown. Mrs. Stone has 220 acres of land. She is a member of the Congregational Church, as was her husband.
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J. R. STILLMAN. insurance agent and Notary Public, Monticello; is a native of Litchfield Co., Conn., and was born Ang. 18, 1831 ; he grew up and received his education there ; in 1855, eame to Michigan and remained one year ; in 1856. came to Towa and located in Jones Co. and engaged in teaching. During the war, he entered the army in 1862, enlisting in Co. B, 9th I. V. I .; he was on detached service in the Quartermaster's Department at division headquarters most of the time; he re-enlisted as a veteran. After the war. he returned to Monticello, and since 1869 he has been engaged in the insurance business. He held the office of County Superintendent of Schools for several years : has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and is now City Recorder ; he held the office of Town Clerk for several years. He was united in mar- riage, Oct. 29. 1856, to Miss Elizabeth M. Cowles, from Litchfield Co., Conn.
GEORGE STUHLER, dealer in boots and shoes, Monticello ; is a native of Germany and was born April 11, 1822 ; he grew up to manhood and learned his business there; he emigrated to America in 1849; the following year, in 1550. he came to Iowa and located in Museatine and lived there five years : then came to Canton, Jackson Co., and lived there five years; he came to Monticello and established his present business, and has built up a large trade and is the oldest boot and shoe house in Monticello. He married Miss Catharine Ristz, a native of Germany, March 2, 1552; they have three children-George, engaged in the grocery trade; William, in the store with his father, and Fred. at home. They attend the Congregational Church.
BRADLEY STUART. attorney at law and Justice of the Peace, Monti- cello ; is a native of Columbia Co., N. Y., and was born October 10, 1814; from an early age, he was brought up in the State of Connecticut; he came to Iowa June 1. 1857, and located in Jones Co .; engaged in farming near town and continued for eight years and then moved in town. In 1864, he enlisted in Co. D, 9th I. V. I., and served under Gen. Sherman ; he was in the battles of Resaea, Atlanta and in all the battles to Savannah. After the war elosed, he returned here; in the fall of 1874 he was elected Justice of the Peace and was afterwards re-elected to the same office. In 1838, he married Ann Murray. in Erie Co .. N. Y .; she was a native of England.
HENRY SUHR, furniture dealer, Monticello ; was born in Prussia Nov. 10. 1830; he grew up to manhood and learned his business there ; he emigrated to Amer- ica in 1861 : he lived in Peekskill, N. Y .; he came to Jones Co., Iowa, in 1871 and located at Monticello and engaged in the furniture business ; he has built up a good trade and does the leading business here; during the present year, he built the brick store he now occupies. In April. 1860, he married Johanna Rohn, from Prussia ; they have five children-Max. Johanna, Lena, Matilda and George.
ED M. THOMPSON. of the firm of J. H. Bacher & Co., dealers in drugs, medicines, books and stationery, Monticello ; is a native of Lincolnshire, Eng., and was born Sept. 1, 1846 ; his parents eame to America when he was only 6 years of age and located in Illinois, and then came to Delaware Co., Iowa; in 1862, he came to Jones Co. and has since then lived in this eounty ; he was engaged in the grocery trade for two years, and afterward associated with J. H. Baeher in the drug business. He was united in marriage to Miss Fannie C. Bacher, a native of Allentown, Lehigh Co., Penn .. April 21. 1871 ; they have one daughter-Edna G.
D. C. TICE, carriage manufacturer, Monticello ; is a native of Clermont Co .. Ohio, and was born March 20, 1825; he grew up to manhood in Ohio, and learned bis trade in Cincinnati and lived there until 1855. when he came to fowa and located in Jones Co .; he arrived here April 15; he began working at his trade at Fairview ; in 1856, he located in Anamosa and engaged in his business there ; he carried on his busi- ness there about twenty-two years, and. in 1878, eame to Monticello and established his business here ; he was the oldest carriage manufacturer in Anamosa, and is now the old- est in Jones Co .; he has held the office of City Couneilman. In 1847, he married Elizabeth Lewis, from Ohio; she died in 1861, leaving six children-Charles, Albert- ine, Thomas, George and Archie ; they lost one daughter-Isabel; in 1862, Mr. Tice married Miss Sarah II. Hoyt, from Pennsylvania ; she is a niece of Gov. Hoyt,. of that State ; she is also a half-cousin to Gen. Sherman. Mr. Tiee grew up in the same county
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with Gen. Grant, and was well acquainted with the family and. Gen. Grant's father visited him while living in Anamosa.
W. TOWNE. photographie artist, Monticello ; is a native of Hampshire Co., Mass., and was born March 21. 1841 ; when 6 years of age, his parents eame West to Illinois, and settled in Kane Co .; he grew up in that State and learned photographing ; in 1866, he came to Iowa and located in Monticello, and engaged in mercantile busi- ness ; after two years, he was burned out, and afterward engaged in photographing ; he owns 320 acres of land in Nebraska. He married Miss Julia A. Adams, from Geneva, Ill., in December, 1864; she died Nov. 5. 1871, leaving two children-Celia and Horace ; Jan. 1, 1873, he married Miss M. A. Lobdell, from Illinois, a native of Connecticut ; they have one daughter-Etta.
F. J. TRYON. dealer in groceries and provisions. Monticello; is a native of Litchfield Co., Conn., and was born April 14, 1825 ; he grew up to manhood there; lived in New York State five years, and came to Iowa in 1854, and located in Jones Co .; after he arrived here, his goods did not come, and he went to Warren, Ill., on foot, about seventy miles, to look them up ; they did not reach him for three months; he engaged in farming ; one year he sold 600 bushels of splendid wheat for 30 eents a bushel; he made more money when he first eame, in hunting during the winter, than he did all the year on his farm. He was an excellent marksman, and very rarely did a deer escape his unerring aim ; he would earn 85 every day he was out hunting, and has made 827 in one day with his rifle ; on his way to Dubuque, and without getting out of his sleigh, he has shot enough chickens and quail on the way to pay all of his expenses for the trip ; he has killed over two hundred deer. He continued farming twelve years, then came to Monticello and engaged in the insurance business : was elected Justice of the Peace, and afterward engaged in mercantile business ; he held the office of Justice of the Peace in Clay Township for ten years, and also school offices ; he was elected the first City Recorder here ; he was elected Mayor of Monticello in 1877, and has served in the City Council most of the time since he came here. He married Miss Matilda How- ard, from Tioga Co., N. Y., Dec. 30. 1852; they have two children, daughters-Ella and Alice.
CHARLES E. WALES, buyer and shipper of grain and stock, Monti- cello ; is among the most active energetie business men in Jones Co. or in this section of the State; he is a native of Claremont. N. H., and was born July 15, 1834 ; when 17 years of age, he went to Boston and remained several years; in 1835. he came West to Iowa, locating at Dubuque : in 1858. he came to Jones Co., located at Monti- cello and engaged in the mercantile business ; he has been in the stock and grain bus- iness over twenty years, and for many years has been extensively engaged in buying and shipping grain and stock. He has held the office of Mayor of Monticello ; he has been repeatedly urged to accept the nomination for Representative to the State Legislature and other offices, but he has steadily refused. having no taste for office, and his large business interests demand his attention. Ile was united in marriage to Miss Calista I. Houghton. of Avon Springs. N. Y .. July 18. 1839; they have one daughter-Clara A.
HON. OTIS WHITTENORE. of Monticello, Iowa, was born in Fitz- william, Cheshire Co., N. H .. March 5. 1916 ; he is a lineal descendant, on the mater- nal side, of William Locke, who embarked from the port of London for America on the 22d of March. 1634; he was the youngest child of William Snow Whittemore ; his mother. Molly ( Locke) Whittemore, was daughter of William Locke, of Fitzwill- iam, Cheshire Co., N. H .: Mr. Whittemore has an old aceonnt-book kept by his grand- father, William Locke, which shows that, after the battle of Lexington, in 1775. Mr. Locke was called to Cambridge to aid in protecting Government stores -- " powder and provisions ;" the account-book makes a memorandum of his going on the 20th of April, 1775-next day after the battle of Lexington ; his return to his home in safety is also noted. Mr. Whittemore's ancestors. on both sides, were quite active in aiding to secure our national independence; Mr. Whittemore has a book. printed by an ancestor in 1617. which contains the family genealogy for several generations in America ; it also contains an able exposition of Colossians, and is dedicated by the reverend writer to an English
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nobleman. During his entire minority, Mr. Whittemore lived with his father upon the home farm, but, in the mean time, he obtained a practical education in the excellent publie schools of his native town. He was married. Ang. 31, 1841, to Miss Harriet M. Eaton, of Fitzwilliam, Cheshire Co., N. H. The great-great-grandfather of Mir. and Mrs. Otis Whittemore was one and the same personage, namely, James Locke, born Nov. 14, 1677-the eighth child of Deacon William Loeke, of Woburn, Mass., the founder of the Locke family in America. In 1843, the westward tide of emigra- tion brought many sturdy pioneers beyond the Mississippi, and landed them in the beautiful Iowa country; which now contains the homes and marts of an intelligent, enter- prising and freedom-loving commonwealth ; in that year, he, with his worthy wife, began Western life at Bowen's Prairie, Jon's Co., Iowa. His small " claim" was afterward increased to fully two hundred choice acres, whereon he ereeted a substantial farm- house, which still stands ; his home was on or near the military road between Dubuque and Iowa City, and pioneer life was frequently enlivened by seeing Government troops and the munitions of war pass their prairie settlement ; Mr. Whittemore built the first frame honse in the settlement, and afterward erected the first frame schoolhouse in the county that was built by taxation, and was actively instrumental in the erection of a church within a few rods of his dwelling; in 1844, next year after his arrival, he, with others, built a church at Cascade, where he continued his membership until the church at Bowen's Prairie was built ; in common with other beginners, his first efforts at farm- ing were in the line of grain-raising, but soon changed to the more profitable one of stock-raising, in which he took a commendable pride ; for fifteen years, he was in demand as a carpenter ; his trade and his farm combined to tax liis energy and indus- try ; in 1854, he platted the town of Bowen's Prairie, and duly recorded the same in the Clerk's Office, and even sold some " corner lots," but the town stubbornly refused to graduate into a city ; about this date, he engaged in merchandising, and continued therein for five years. From the organization of the first temperance society in Jones Co., at Bowen's Prairie, in 1844, to the present time, Mr. Whittemore has been an active, consistent temperance man. He was a member of the Iowa House of Repre- sentatives during the years 1862 and 1863, and to his earnest and skillful opposition we are largely indebted for the defeat of the huge petition for the repeal of the prohibitory liquor law. From early manhood, he has been a firm opponent of American slavery ; his time, his money, his voice and his votes have always been in the interest of freedom and loyalty, benevolence and bumanity ; whether in private life or in official station, he was always the liberal friend of the soldiers. Ilis fellow-citizens accord him the honor of perfeet integrity and faithfulness in all positions of trust. His high sense of duty and love of justice render him reliable both in the commonalities of life and in the greatest emergencies. His sacrifices in the past to meet actual or implied obligations prove that a part of his religion is to pay his debts-to " owe no man anything." Mr. Whitte- more has sold his farm at Bowen's Prairie, and, for the last nine years, has been a respected resident of Monticello. Ilis present home, erected by himself, is located upon a beautiful eminence, commanding a charming view of Monticello and the surrounding country. His residence, while being far from palatial, is in striking contrast to his early log cabin on the prairie; and his present furniture is more artistie, if it is not more substantial than that which decorated his cabin home; fence-rails-forest timber- were the material of which he constructed his first furniture. Some specimens still remain to remind him of his skill as a mechanie and his experience as a pioneer. The hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Whittemore is proverbial. The " latch-string is out," and a hearty welcome greets all who have any reason to ask of them a temporary home. Early settlers and pioneer preachers have special cause to remember the hospitable cabin of the Whittemores. They have had no children of their own, but have adopted several, who have now attained their majority and are well settled in life. Ile is a friend of education, public-spirited, willing to suffer for the general welfare. Republican to the core, he nevertheless contemns the mere politician who resorts to " ways that are dark and tricks that are vain," in order to accomplish partisan
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purposes. He is ever ready to battle in all honorable ways for the sneeess of his principles. For many years, he has been actively identified with the Congregational Church and Sabbath school, but is not a member of any secret organization. He is a lib- eral patron of several societies designed to promote the moral and religious elevation of the raee. Respected by the community, with a fair competency and with diminished eares, he and his estimable wife are nearing life's sunset, beyond which lies the crown of life eternal.
G. H. WHITE, bee-keeper and retired farmer. Monticello ; he was born in Gallia Co., Ohio, Aug. 5, 1818; grew up to manhood in that State ; in 1842, he came to Iowa, stopped in Cedar Co. over one year, then came to Jones Co. and located on Bowen's Prairie in March, 1844, and commenced making a farm and entered the land when it came into market. He was one of the early settlers in this county; when he came here, he had nothing and was 89 in debt, and his neighbors predicted that he would starve out on the prairie, but he did not starve, and now owns 400 acres of good land ; he has sold dressed pork for 81 per cwt., and wheat for 30 cents per bushel, which only netted him 20 eents. He is extensively engaged in bee culture. and is one of the most practical hee-keepers in this part of the State; he has from 75 to 100 stands of bees, which make from 75 to 125 pounds of honey yearly, from each hive; he extracts the honey and puts it up in jars for the market. While living in Ohio ( 1840), Mr. White mar- ried Nancy Eleanor Gibson, from Gallia Co., Ohio ; she died in September, 1874. leaving six children-Alfred and John, farmers here, Lueinda and Amelia, living in Oakland, Cal., Amanda and Rozetta, living in Nebraska. In November, 1877, Mr. White mar- ried Mrs. Eleanor R. Leman : she was born in March, 1827, and came to Iowa in 1857; she owns a farm of eighty aeres.
JOHN W. WHITE. farmer, See. 15; P. O. Monticello ; was born in the State of Pennsylvania in 1811 ; his parents removed to Butler Co., Ohio, when he was a child ; thenee to Montgomery Co., Ind .; thenee to St. Joseph Co., Ind. Mr. White was married to Elizabeth Elmore, of Montgomery Co., Ind .; they came to Jones Co. in October, 1850, settled on present farm of 165 aeres in October, 1852; have two children-Jennie M. and Alice M. His son, Charles HI., enlisted in March, 1862. in the 17th I. V. I., and died at St. Louis, May 4, of the same year. Members of the Congregational Church.
WILLIAM WHITE. proprietor of the Palmer House, Monticello; is a native of Butler Co., Ohio, and was born Jnne 17, 1825 ; his parents removed to Indi- ana when he was quite small, and he grew up to manhood there; in 1852, he went to California and was engaged in the stock business there ; he remained in California and Oregon fourteen years. In 1866. he came to Iowa and located in Jones Co. and engaged in farming and stock-raising, and continued until 1876, when he came to Mon- tieello and bought the hotel property known as the Palmer House, and on the Ist of January, 1867, he married Miss Mary White, from Indiana; they have four children -Nellie E., Schuyler Colfax. Jennie and Aliec.
ROBERT WILSON, farmer. Sec. 26; P. O. Monticello; was born in Laneaster Co .. Penn., in 1826. He was married to Catherine Trainor ; came to Junes Co. in May, 1852, and settled in Richland Township ; eame to his present location in the fall of 1854 ; his farm contains 340 aeres. He has ten children-Anna Belle, George W., Franklin. Thomas J., Kate, Mary J., Emma, Lincoln, Ella and Gertrude. Mr. Wilson owns an improved farm of 400 acres in Sae Co., Iowa.
J. Q. WING, attorney at law, Monticello; is a native of Washington Co., N. Y., and was born Sept. 22, 1846; he grew up and attended school there, going through Washington Academy, at Cambridge ; he then entered Fort Edward Collegiate Institute ; then attended the Normal College at Poultney, Vt .; he completed his edu- cation and graduated from the Law Department of the State University of Michigan in 1872. lle engaged in the practice of law in Chicago. In January, 1873. he came to Jones Co. and located at Monticello, and since then has practiced his profession here. He holds the office of City Attorney. During the last year of the war, he raised a regiment, and, upon its organization, he was elected and commissioned Colonel, but the
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regiment was not called into the field ; Mr. Wing organized Co. D of the 9th I. N. G., and at the late election was chosen Colonel of the 9th I. N. G. In September, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Luln A. Finke, from Savanna, Carroll Co., Ill .; they have one daughter-Florence A.
J. G. WOOD. City Weighmaster, Monticello; was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Aug. 31. 1817 ; he grew up to manhood and lived there until 1842 ; then eame to Wisconsin and lived in Walworth Co. until 1867; then came to Jones Co. He holds the office of City Weighmaster, and is serving his fifth year ; he has held town offices in Wisconsin. He married Miss A. C. Mills, a native of Massachusetts, in 1841 ; they have two children-Frank G. and Elmer G.
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