USA > Iowa > Polk County > The history of Polk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 113
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H ARROD, I. J .- Farmer, section 19, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Scott county, Indiana, March 25, 1825, and there grew to manhood, being raised on a farm. He made that county his home until April 27, 1847, when he came to this county, and has since resided here. He lived in Des Moines for a number of years, and was there engaged in the carpen- ter trade, and also in the grocery business. In 1862 he moved upon his present farm, which consists of forty-five acres, under good cultivation. He has a good orchard, dwelling, etc. Has been twice married. First, in 1850, to Miss Minerva Owens, a native of the same county and State as himself. She died in 1852. They had one child, Mary M., deceased. He married again August 26, 1855, to Miss Sarah A. Holcomb, a native of Ohio. They have lost one child, William. Mrs. H. is a member of the. Christian Church.
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HARGIS, H. C .- Farmer, stock raiser and fruit grower, section 35, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, in 1820, and when nine years of age his parents, Thomas and Navina Hargis, moved to Edgar county, Illinois, and afterward to Coles county. They lived there for one year, and then went to Monroe county, Indiana, and remained there but one summer, when he went to Shelby county. There he grew to man- hood and learned the trade of mechanic, which he followed for seven years in that county. He then bought a farm there and engaged in farming for two years. In October, 1853, he came where he now resides, and has since lived here. He was married in 1842, in the State of Indiana, to Miss Eliza- beth Kennedy, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1823. They have a family of three children living: Thomas F., Zachary T. and John H. Have lost four daughters: Caroline, died March 3, 1848, Clara J., died February 1, 1862, and two infants. Mr. Hargis is the owner of 408 acres of land, well improved. Mrs. Hargis is a member of the Baptist Church.
HARGIS, ZACHARY T .- Farmer, section 36, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Shelby county, Indiana, in 1851, and when very young accom- panied his parents to where he now lives, and here has been raised. He owns a farm of eighty acres. January 8, 1880, he married Flora E. Conk- lin, daughter of Daniel and Sarah N. Conklin, of Webster county, Indiana. He has about 600 bearing apple trees, and also a good residence, on his farm.
HAYS, JOHN-Farmer and fruit grower, section 25, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Virginia, in 1815, and there lived until 1840, when he went. to Davis county, Missouri, remaining there about five years. He then came to this county, and in 1846 made a claim on the present site of Polk City, where he remained for one year. Then moved to Saylorville, staying there two years, and then to Des Moines, in 1849. In 1870 he moved on his present homestead of ninety-six acres. In 1848 he married Miss Mar- tha Saylor, a native of Indiana. They have a family of four children liv- ing: Mary (wife of J. L. Barns, of Hot Springs, Arkansas), William A., John F. and Charles F. Have lost two: Henry C. and an infant. In 1860 he was elected Sheriff, and served for two years. He is a member of the Pioneer Lodge, A. F. and A. M., No. 22, Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. Hays are members of the Baptist Church.
HOLCOMBE, RICHARD-Farmer, section 20, P. O. Des Moines. Was born November 3, 1807, in New Jersey, and at the age of eight years moved with his parents to Perry county, Ohio, where he was raised on a farm. He lived there until 1846, and in the fall of that year he came to Des Moines and built the first dwelling in that city. He owned seventy acres of land now known as Holcomb's addition, which he laid out, and resided there until 1861, when he moved upon his present farm. Owns 147 acres of land, well improved. He was elected a member of the first City Council in Des Moines. Was married September 11, 1828, to Eliza- beth H. Rose, daughter of Ezekiel Rose, founder of Roseville, Ohio. She was born January 14, 1811. They had eleven children, eight of whom are now living: William T., James F., Sarah A. (now Mrs. Harrod), Hannah A. (now Mrs. McConkey), Jacob, Ezekiel M., Maria C. (now Mrs. J. C. Mc Williams) and John H. Lost three: Elizabeth J. (she was the third person who died in Des Moines), Asher W. and Joseph B. Mrs. H. died January 28, 1872. She was a member of the M. E. Church, the first one 63
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ever organized in the county. His daughter, Mrs. McWilliams, keeps house for him now.
ONES, B. T .- Farmer and stock raiser, section 22, P. O. Des Moines.
J Was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, in 1818, and there lived until he was nineteen years of age. He then moved to Washington county, Indiana, where he resided until 1856. In the fall of that year he settled in Des Moines, and there followed coopering. His shop was the first one of the kind opened in Polk county. He lived at that place until 1869, when he moved upon his present farm, and now owns eighty acres of land. He was married March 17, 1847, to Miss Lucinda Hagins, a native of Ken- tucky. They had a family of eight children: Bruce, Amanda, Lloyd, Truman, Lizzie, Lulu, Lafayette and Irving. Mrs. Jones died at her home in this township at 2 o'clock P. M. on the 21st of February, 1880, of con- gestion of the lungs. She was born in Bath county, Kentucky, and when quite young accompanied her parents to Jennings county, Indiana. In 1852 she united with the Church of Christ, and her connection with that church lasted through a period of twenty-eight years. She was an affec- tionate, kind and thoughtful mother, a true and faithful friend, and an earnest and devoted member of the church of her choice. Her husband's birthday was near at hand, and for him she had prepared a handsome present. Finding that her earthly life was drawing to a close, she directed her daughter Lizzie to call her father and present this token of her wifely affection. Taking an affectionate farewell of her husband and children, all of whom were present, five boys and three girls, she closed her eyes on earthly scenes to open them in spirit-land, dying with the cheering hope of a blissful immortality.
cKAY, REV. URIAH-Farmer, section 35, P. O. Des Moines. Was M born in Indiana, in 1821, and at the age of seven years his parents, Uriah and Elizabeth Mckay, moved to Kentucky, Spencer county, that being their native State. There the subject of this sketch was raised, and followed farming, which occupation he has principally engaged in up to the present. In 1846 he moved back to Indiana, and settled first in Johnson and then in Putnam county, and there taught school. In 1854 he left there and moved to Illinois, where he remained for fourteen years, and from there came here in 1868, first settling on section 27 of this township. One year later he moved upon his present farm, which consists of 140 acres. In 1857 he was married to Miss Mary A. Billingsley, a native of Kentucky, born in 1834. Their family consists of five children living: Theodore W., Oscar R., Edwin B., Arthur N. and Adelaide. Lost one son, Allen H. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and he has been a minister of that church for twenty-five years, but has made his living by farming.
McRAE, KENNETH-Of the firm of White & McRae, proprietors of the Pleasant Hill Coal Company, Sevastopol. Was born in Rosshire, Scotland, on the 24th of April, 1851, and was raised on a farm. In 1870 he emigrated to the United States and located at Fort Dodge, this State, and was there engaged in coal mining. He resided at that place for about six years, and in June, 1875, came to this county. He bought his present interest in January, 1878. His marriage was at Fort Dodge, November 22, 1875, to Miss Mary Lang, a native of Canada West. She is of Scotch descent. As a result of this union they have two sons: Harry and Wal- ter S.
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MARTIN, WILLIAM-Farmer, section 35, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in the State of Ohio in 1826, and there remained, following farming, until 1851, when he moved to this county and entered his present farm. Owns 200 acres of improved land, with an orchard of 1,000 apple trees. He is one of the oldest settlers of the county, and has passed through the trials and hardships of early life in a new country. He has made the most of his property since coming here, and only by hard work and economy. March 29, 1857, he was married to Miss Frances Updegrapf, who was born in Indiana, in 1837. They have a family of six children living: John C., born Jan. 23, 1859, Robert A., born June 14, 1859, Erie L., born Jan. 3, 1864, Lillie A., born Oct. 20, 1865, Carrie M., born Sept. 28, 1869, and George F., born April 16, 1873. Lost one, Amos, born June 30, 1861, and died February 24, 1863.
MILLER, M. W .- Farmer, section 25, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in 1824, in Franklin county, Ohio, and at the age of sixteen his parents, Jessie and Hester Miller, moved to Grundy county, Missouri, where he grew to manhood as a farmer, living there until 1861. Then moved to Warren county, where he lived until 1866, and from there came to his present residence. Owns 120 acres of land. In 1846 he married Miss C. Ray, a native of Tennessee. They have a family of seven children living: Mary (now Mrs. Rhodes), Martha, Jennie, Abraha:z, Jacob, Ward and Sarah. Have lost four: James, Hettie, John and Miranda. Mr. Miller has about 120 bearing apple trees, and a good variety of small fruit. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.
MITCHELL, D. R .- Farmer, section 28, P. O. Commerce Mills. Was born in Ohio, in 1824, and when thirteen years of age accompanied his parents to Hamilton county, Indiana, where he was raised. In the spring of 1854 he came to Iowa, settling in Des Moines county, and remained there until 1867, when he settled on his present farm. He is the owner of over 600 acres of land, half of which is under cultivation, the balance tim- ber. Has 800 apple trees, a large amount of small fruit, and a number of chestnut trees, bearing. His farm is well adapted to the feeding and rais- ing of stock, being well supplied with a number of ever-living springs. His father died in Des Moines county, in October, 1856, and his mother died in March, 1865. He was married June 4, 1867, to Miss Sarah J. Miller, a native of Hamilton county, Indiana. They have a family of nine children: Mary E., William H., Clara R., Eliza E., Mattie L., Flora A., Ira M. and Justice A. and John C. (twins).
MOORE, HENRY P .- Farmer, section 24, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Adams county, Ohio, in 1827, and at the age of five years moved with his parents, Aaron and Nancy Moore, to Will county, Illinois, where he lived until 1848. Then moved to Washington county, and remained there for one year, and then went to Butler county, and improved a farm, living on the same for fifteen years. In 1864 he came to this county, and first settled in Des Moines, where he lived for two and a half years. He then moved to his present homestead, where he has since resided. He owns sixty acres of land, with a large variety of fruit. Mr. Moore has been married three times. First in 1854, to Miss Alvira J. Benight, a native of Indiana. By this union they had one child, who is now dead. Mrs. M. died the December following, and he was married again November 15, 1855, to Miss Clarinda Bussey, a native of Ohio. They had two children, one, Harriet P. Clifford, a resident of this county, now living, and one, Ira
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W., deceased. This wife died January 7, 1875, and he was married to his present wife, Miss Martha Benight, a sister of his first wife. 'They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the M. E. Church. The former is a member of the Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, A. F. and A. M., Des- Moines.
MUNZENMAIER, G .- Proprietor of the National Brewery, Sevastopol. Was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, November 27, 1831, and in 1854 emi- grated to the United States, locating in Lafayette, Indiana. There he resided for eleven months, and then came to this county, and since 1868 has been engaged in his present business. The brewery was built in 1857, and rebuilt in 1874. It has all the modern improvements, and the annual manufacture of beer per year is about 3,000 barrels. Mr. M. was married in his native country, March 26, 1854, to Miss Caroline Betz. Their family consists of six daughters: Louisa (wife of Dr. H. Matter, of Polk City), Caroline (now Mrs. Jacob Huglin), Mollie (now Mrs. J. G. Munzenmaier, of this city), Paulina, Bertha and Emma.
ICHOLSON, J. V .- Farmer, section 24, P. O. Des Moines. Was
N born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1832, and at the age of four years his parents moved to Hamilton county, Indiana, where he was raised. He lived there until 1859, and then went to Illinois, remaining about one year. In 1862 he went to Oregon from Madison county, this State, and remained there about nine months, and from there went to Idaho, farming for three seasons. He returned to Madison county on horseback, and was two months and nine days on the road. In the spring of 1868 he settled upon his present farm. Owns about 200 acres, all in cultivation except ten acres of timber. Has 380 apple trees and some small fruit. June 30, 1868, he married Miss Sarah A. Ross, a native of Warren county, Ohio. They have five children, four boys and one girl: Lewis E., Almeda, Otis, Loran and Alva.
P ARKER, T. W .- Farmer and stock raiser, section 28, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Ohio, on the 11th day of January, 1823. In 1826 he was taken by his parents to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he was raised a farmer, and has followed it as an occupation since that time. In 1854 he removed to Iowa and settled near Carlisle, Warren county. In 1865 he came to this township and settled on section 35, and in 1868 moved where he now resides. His farm is one of the best improved in the town- ship, containing 350 acres. He has been twice married. First, to Miss Eliza J. Kirk, in 1848. To them were born two children: George F., a. prominent journalist and at the present time one of the editors of the Indi- ana State Sentinel, at Indianapolis, and Rend, deceased. Mrs. Parker died January 25, 1852. He was married again, in 1853, to Miss Mary Upde- graff, a native of Indiana. Their family consists of eight children: Rufus, Charlie, Libbie, Walter A., H. Greeley, Frank, Harry and Lee.
R EDDISH, J. R .- Farmer and stock raiser, section 24, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Kentucky, February 26, 1825, and when six- teen years of age his parents, Ransom and Olive Reddish, moved to Parke county, Indiana, where he resided until 1854. In the fall of that year he removed to Warren county, where he improved eight different farms and lived there until 1876, when he moved upon his present hometsead of eighty acres. He has an orchard and a large grove of maple trees. Has been twice married. First, in 1849, to Miss Ordalia Hamilton, a native of Indiana. By this union they had eleven children: Joseph F., Wallace N., Robert
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R., Wesley, Flora J., Frank and Ira M., now living, and Samuel R., Nancy O., John W. and Laura A., deceased. Mrs. R. died in Montgomery county, Kansas, August 16, 1871, and he was again married, December 7, 1871, to Phebe Mckinney, a native of Kentucky. They had one child, Samuel A., now deceased. Mr. K. is a member of the I. O. O. F.
S COTT, J. L .- Farmer and stock raiser, section 28, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Giles county, Tennessee, January 12, 1813, and when a child moved with his parents to Crawford county, Indiana. He remained there until 1820, and again moved, this time to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he was raised on a farm. In 1835 he left there and came to Lee county, this State, took a claim and remained for one year. He resided in various States, until 1838, when he settled in Jefferson county, Iowa, and lived there until 1856. He was Sheriff of that county for five years, being the first one elected in that county. He came to Des Moines in 1856, and made it his home until 1868, when he settled on the place where he now resides. Owns 160 acres of land. His farm is in a splendid state of culti- vation and he has a comfortable dwelling and a large barn. He was mar- ried, in 1839, to Miss M. A. Gilmer, a native of Kentucky, born in 1818. They have a family of seven children living: Samantha (wife of James Embree), Iowa E. (wife of S. W. McElderry), Dick, Frank, Wilson A., Caleb D. and Mary O. Have lost five: Cecil O., Sevastopol, Annie E., Annex T. and an infant, unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are members of the Christian Church.
SMITH, JOHN C .- Fruit-grower, section 15, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Kentucky, in 1833, and when a child moved with his parents to Fulton county, Illinois, and remained there until seven years of age. His mother then dying, he was taken back to Kentucky. He resided in both that State and Illinois until the year 1847, when he moved to Polk county, first settling nine miles northeast of Des Moines. In September, 1849, he moved on the place where he now resides. He owns an orchard of 1,200 bearing trees, 300 small trees and a large amount of small fruit and has a good residence, etc. In 1863 he was married to Miss Emma Crane, a na- tive of Indiana. They have a family of seven children living: Lincoln G., William T., Jessie F., Charles F., Georgia, Nellie and an infant. They have lost one, Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Christian Church.
SMITH, P .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 22, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Fulton county, Illinois, June 6, 1835, and at the age of eleven years, came with his father to Polk county, and has since lived here. He owns 440 acres of land, an orchard of 300 apple trees and some small fruit. He was a member of company D, Second Iowa volunteer infantry, and served about two years. Was wounded at Corinth, Mississippi, and was discharged from the effects of the wound. He was married December 16, 1864, to Mrs. Catharine Handley, a native of Ohio, born April 18, 1835. They have three children living: Josephine, Stella and Belle. Lost one, Theron. Mrs. S. had four children by her former husband: William F., James B. and Moses B., living, and Mary Belle, deceased. This husband died December 19, 1861, and was an old settler of this township.
STANTON, JAMES-Farmer, fruit grower and nurseryman, section 19, P. O. Des Moines. Was born March 25, 1824, in Illinois, and resided there until seventeen years of age. In the spring of 1842 he went to Indi- ana, where he lived for five years, with the exception of eighteen months
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served in the Mexican War. He was in company D, First Indiana volun- teer infantry, under Colonel Drake, and at the close of the war he returned to Indiana (August, 1847). He was there married, March 9, 1848, to Miss Rebecca Lewsader, a native of that State. By this union they had three children, one now living: Sarah J. (wife of H. A. Evans, of Kansas). Car- oline and Rebecca are deceased. Mrs. S. died March 22, 1852, in Des Moines, and he married for his second wife Miss Nancy A. 'Thralkill, a na- tive of Missouri. By this union they have had ten children, of whom six are living: Mary, Bell, Gideon W., Nellie A., Charlie and Robert. Lost four: Lillie, Thomas, James R. and Edward M. Mr. Stanton has been a resident of this county for thirty-two years and his wife for thirty-three . years. Her father went to California in 1849, and in 1850 started home by steamer. That was the last known of him, as he has never been heard from since. Have been members of the Presbyterian Church for twenty years. He owns forty acres of land, thirty of which are devoted to an or- chard and nursery.
STANTON, M. H .- Farmer, section 25, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, in 1833, and at the age of thirteen moved with his parents to his present farm, and here he has been raised. His mother died in 1875, at the age of seventy-two years. His father is still living, being eighty-three years old, and makes his home with his son. He owns 160 acres of improved land, has a good house and two barns and also an orchard of 450 apple trees. He was married, in 1853, to Miss Serena Hocket, a native of Indiana. They have a family of five children, four of whom are living: Ann J., Alice, Atlantic and Charles; and William R., deceased. During the late war he enlisted in company C, Thirty-fourth Iowa infantry, serving in that company for two years, and was then in company B of the same regiment, serving one year. Was in nine different battles: Chickasaw Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Yazoo City, Graham's Planta- tion, Ft. Morgan, Blakely and Ft. Gaines.
T "ITUS, H. A .- Farmer and nurseryman, section 28, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Vermont in 1833, and there lived on a farm until 1856, then moved to Wapello county, this State, where he remained until the winter of 1862, then settled in Des Moines and in the spring of 1863 located where he now lives. He is situated two miles south of Des Moines. Has sixty acres of land, twelve acres of nursery and fruit, and has on hand now a fine stock in his line. His land is all under cultivation. ' Has been twice married. First, in December, 1872, to Sarah A. Fuller, a native of New York. She died March 17, 1876. He was married again January 24, 1877, to Miss Lorilla Babcock, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1847. By this union they have one child, William H., born February 10, 1880. Mr. T. is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge No. 22.
TROWBRIDGE, W. D .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 24, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in 1825, and was there raised in the mercantile business, which he followed until 1855. In the spring of that year he moved to Des Moines, and for one year was engaged in selling goods there. He moved on his present farm in 1856, but only lived on the same for ten years, after which he returned to his native State, remaining for three years. He again returned and bought the same place, where he has since resided. He owns 299 acres of land. In 1851 he was married to Miss Frances A. Furst, a native of Clin- ton county, Pennsylvania, born in 1829. Their family consists of four chil-
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dren, living: John F. (a resident of Des Moines), Lewis S. (a farmer in Fremont county), Arthur S. and Harry R. Joseph E. died in Pennsyl- vania June 10, 1865, aged three years. Robert M. was killed July 31, 1879, by the running of a horse while he was hunting cows-the horse kicked him after he was thrown. His age was nine and a half years. Charles W. died January 13, 1880, from diptheria, aged thirteen years. Mrs. Trow- bridge is a member of the M. E. Church, while Mr. T. is a member of the Presbyterian denomination.
TAN SLYCK, P. H .- Farmer, section 36, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in Columbia county, New York, in 1833, and was there raised, living there until 1857. Then went to Nebraska in a surveying party and spent one summer there. At Omaha he enquired the fare to Decatur, 75 miles by land and 150 by water, and was informed that it would cost thir- teen dollars, just ten dollars more than he possessed, so he walked and made quicker time than the boat. The same year, in the fall, he came to Iowa and taught school in Marion county until 1858, and then went to Jasper county and engaged in teaching until the spring of 1859. In the fall of that year he came to this county and taught school in Elm Grove dis- trict until August, 1861, when he enlisted in company K, Third Iowa cav- alry, serving for three years. Was then promoted to captain of a colored company and served in that capacity until the close of the war. August 29, 1861, he married Miss M. E. Replogle, a native of Ohio. They have a family of six children, five of whom are living: William J., Henry E., Nel- lie E., Bessie M. and Gertrude K. Have lost one, Louis L. In 1867 Mr. Van Slyck was elected Sheriff, and in 1869 was re-elected on the Republican ticket. Has also served as a member of the county Board of Supervisors. He owns forty acres of land.
W ATROUS, CAPT. C. L .- Proprietor of Capital City Nurseries, section 21, P. O. Des Moines. Was born January 13, 1837, in Brooklyn county, New York, where he grew to manhood. Lived there until the year 1865, but from 1856 to '58 spent his time in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. In 1860 he graduated from the Cortland Academy of Homer, New York. Then in the fall of 1860 entered the junior class of the Michigan University of Ann Arbor. In 1861 he enlisted in company D, Seventy- sixth New York volunteer infantry and was elected captain of that com- pany. Was wounded in the second battle of Bull Run, August 29, 1862, and on the 29th of December of that year was mustered out for disability by order of the famous sixty days' order of Gen. Halleck. He graduated in 1862 from a college course, and also graduated at a law school of the same place in March, 1865. In May of that year he went to Winchester, Virginia, and was elected attorney of the Commonwealth, filled that office for three years, and then, owing to his failing health, caused by his wound, he was obliged to give up his profession. In the spring of 1869 he came to Des Moines, and has since been engaged in the nursery business. He has from forty to fifty acres in general nursery stock. December 25, 1865, he was married to Miss Sophia Glover, a native of New York. Their family consists of four children, living: Marion I., Philip J., Edward I .. and Charles A. In 1873 Mr. Watrous was elected director of the Horti- cultural Society and in 1879 was elected president, which office he now holds. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and Grand Army of the Republic.
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