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 117

Author: Union Historical Company, Des Moines, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines, Iowa : Union Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1074

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 117

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F AY, JOHN-Attorney at law, Mitchellville. Was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1825, and his parents came to Dear- born county, Indiana, in 1826. There he grew to manhood and was edu- cated, and when sixteen years of age went to Cincinnati, Ohio, to learn the trade of steamboat pilot, running between that city and New Orleans. He was licensed as a pilot by the Underwriters when nineteen years old and followed that business for about four years. He then came to Iowa and located in Tama county, where he engaged in farming, continuing the same until 1864. In 1851 he was admitted to the bar to practice law at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and in 1864 he went to Kahoka, Missouri, where he entered upon the prac-

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tice of his profession. In the spring of 1869 he moved to Kansas, remain- ing about eighteen months looking for a location, and in the fall of 1872 he came to this county and located where he now resides, opening a law office. He has built up a good practice and now practices in all the courts of the State. August 6, 1848, he was married to Miss Ann Dearborn, a native of Indiana. They had seven children: Reuben G. and Eveline, living, and five deceased. Mrs. Fay died April 24, 1860, in Tama county, Iowa.

G UENTHER, C. W .- Proprietor of restaurant, Mitchellville. Was

born April 27, 1832, in Milton, Pennsylvania, and his parents came to Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1840. There he was raised and educated and at the age of nineteen years began teaching and followed that for several years. June 16, 1862, he enlisted in company A, Eighty-sixth Ohio infan- try, for six months and was out about nine months before he was discharged. In 1870 he came to Iowa and settled in this place. He moved to Kansas in December, 1876, but soon tired of the country and returned to this place in August, 1877. In May, 1879, he opened the restaurant which he now carries on. June 17, 1855, he married Miss P. A. Hubler, a native of Ohio. They have two children living: Willis C. and John L. C., and three deceased.

H AGAMAN, E. P .- Dealer in hardware and agricultural implements, Mitchellville. Was born January 25, 1844, in Lenawee county, Michigan, and there received his education. He was raised on a farm, and on the 10th of March, 1865, he came to Iowa, locating in Washington town- ship, Jasper county, and there engaged in farming, following that until the spring of 1876. He then rented his farm and moved to East Des Moines, opening a livery stable in connection with Mr. Burt Head. There he re- mained about two years, when he came to this city. In March, 1879, he opened a large hardware store, and has since added to his stock agricultural implements, and by hard work and strict integrity has succeeded in building up a fine trade. January 1, 1865, he was married to Miss Susan Upton, a native of Michigan. They have no children. Mr. H. owns 320 acres of land in Jasper county.

HEDGES, W. W .- Proprietor of livery stable, Mitchellville. Was born in Brook county, West Virginia, in 1845, and was raised on a farm. He came to this county in 1867, and in connection with his business has given attention to farming and stock dealing. He owns a farm of 120 acres. During the late war he enlisted in the Fourth West Virginia cavalry, com- pany A, and served from August 11, 1863, to March 15, 1864. He is a prominent member of the A. O. U. W. lodge of Mitchellville. He was married January 1, 1868, to Miss Rebecca J. Wilson, born in Brook county, West Virginia, December 1, 1849. They have five children: Gertrude Blanche (born April 16, 1869), Etta May (born October 31, 1870), Clarence D. (born September 4,1872), Abraham W. (born November 19, 1874), Allen S. (born December 22, 1879).

HIBBS, J. L .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 24, P. O. Mitchellville. Was born June 15, 1843, in Harrison county, Ohio. His parents came to Iowa in 1852 and located in Jasper county, where our subject was raised and educated. When six years of age he had the misfortune to have his left arm broken, and through the carelessness or ignorance of the surgeon who set it has been crippled all his life, as it has never grown any since. He is township assessor of this township at present. He has followed farm- ing all his life, now owning eighty acres of land. December 13, 1863, he

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was married to Miss Hannah Marmon, a native of Cass county, Michigan. They have seven children: Orin E., Charles W., Winnie A., Laura M., Rollin J., Freddie V. and Grace S., all living.

HOXIE, D. R .- Proprietor of Hoxie House, Mitchellville. Was born in Massachusetts, March 15, 1821, and in 1830, he moved to Western New York, locating in Wayne county, where he remained about ten years. He was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1840 he re- moved to Frederick county, Virginia, and there went into the milling bus- iness, having learned the trade near Winchester. This he followed for about fourteen years, and in 1853 was appointed clerk in the post-office at Wheel- ing, where he remained four years; at the same time he held the position of extra route agent from Wheeling to Cumberland, Maryland. In 1857 he was appointed through mail agent from Baltimore to Cincinnati,and held that position for two years, when the run was abandoned by the government. In 1859 he engaged in the produce business at Bridgeport, Ohio, following the same about six years, In March, 1865, he came to this State and located four miles south of Des Moines, engaging in farming. In September, 1868, he was appointed agent at Dexter, Iowa, by the C., R. I. & P. R. R., and in 1871 came to Mitchellville and bought the hotel which he now owns and runs. Has been elected justice of the peace but refused to qualify. He was married March 27, 1845, to Miss Margaret C. Fry, a native of Virginia. By this union they have had seven children: Mortimer R., S. Alice (now Mrs. E. D. Willis of Arizona), Ida (now Mrs. W. L. Rankin of Mitchellville), Anna L. and John H., living; and two, Minton and Virginia, deceased.

K ING, C. H .- Agent of the C., R. I. & P. R. R., Mitchellville. Was born in Providence, Rhode Island, June 11, 1846, and in 1856 ac- companied his parents to Bureau county, Illinois. He was raised and edu- cated there, and on the fourth of September, 1864, enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois infantry, and served to the close of the war, being discharged, July 11, 1865. He returned to Providence and at- tended the Schofield Commercial College, graduating from that institution n the spring of 1866. He then came to Tiskilwa, Illinois, engaged in work- ing for the railroad company, and learned the art of telegraphy, which he has since followed. December 1, 1869, he came to this place and has re- mained here since as station agent of the company. He was married Sep- tember 13, 1870, to Miss Annie M. Platt, a native of Maine. They have two children: Ida M. and Ed. L.

KINNEY, GEO. W .- Farmer, section 26, P. O. Mitchellville. Was born in Shelby county, Ohio, November 5, 1832, and there grew to man- hood, being educated in the common schools. In 1850 he came to Iowa, aud located in Johnson county, near Solon, where he lived until 1869, then coming to Des Moines; he there engaged in the grocery business and con- tinued the same several years, and also bought the Des Moines Pottery in 1871 and ran it until it was burned in the fall of 1873. In this he met with considerable loss, as his insurance was light. After selling out all his interest in Des Moines he moved upon his present farm in 1874, and now owns the farm where the old stage station was kept for many years. Owns two hundred and sixty acres of land. He has held several of the minor offices of the township and has been a delegate to the State Convention since living in the State. He was married in September, 1853, to Miss Sarah Brown, a native of New York. They have four children living:

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Eugene, Charles, Mabel and George E .; lost two. Mr. Kinney has been a member of the Christian Church for twenty-five years; his wife is also a member of the same church.

M AHAN, ALBERT L .- Proprietor of livery stables and transfer, Mitchellville. Was born September 26, 1852, in Medina county, Ohio, and when three years of age accompanied his parents to Henry county, Ill- inois. There he lived until 1864 when he went to Wisconsin, but the coun- try not suiting his taste he only remained a few months, and then went to Iowa county, Michigan. He was raised on a farm, and in 1865 came to Tama county, Iowa, and lived there one year when he returned to Ohio. In 1868 he came back to Iowa and located near Mitchellville, where he engaged in farming, following that for two years. He then moved into this city and worked at the carpenter's trade, and one year later he engaged in his present business. In 1869 he took a trip through Kansas and the West, and in the spring of 1878 went to Canada, but soon returned. October 5, 1876, Miss Clara Clay, a native of Ohio, became his wife. They have one child, Harry B.

MITCHELL, HON. THOMAS-Farmer, section 1, P. O. Mitchellville. Something more than a year before the territory now embraced within the county of Polk was, according to the treaty stipulations made by the United States government with the Sacs and Foxes, opened for settlement, the sub- ject of this sketch, who is now one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of this county, located twelve miles east of Fort Des Moines, en- tered a claim and built a comfortable log cabin, which was used as a hotel for a number of years. He was then in the prime of youthful manhood, having been born on the 3d of March, 1816, among the granite hills of Claremont, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, where his early life was spent acquiring those sterling traits of character for which the sturdy sons of New England have so long been noted. His father, William Mitchell, was born near Boston, Massachusetts, and moved to Claremont when about twenty- three years of age. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Dolly Blake, who was a native of Hampton, New Hampshire. When young Thomas was about sixteen years of age his father died, leaving a large family with little means of support. He soon obtained work on a neighboring farm, where he continued to labor for about seven years, completing his limited education by attending district schools in the neighborhood. He started West in November, 1839, and spent the first winter in St. Charles county, Missouri, and in the following March re- moved to Fairfield, Jefferson county, Iowa, where he continued to reside about four years. In April, 1842, he was elected one of the Commissioners of Jefferson county, and served for two years, when he again removed and located at the crossing of Camp Creek, then Indian country, where he has since continuously resided. In 1846 he helped to organize Polk county and was in the fall of that year elected its first Sheriff. Two years later he ran for Representative, the district containing thirteen counties, but was defeated by Manley Gifford, of Jasper county. He was, however, in 1857, elected to represent Polk and Jasper counties in the first Legislature, which met at Des Moines, and took his seat in that body in January, 1858. He was, during his term in the Legislature, instrumental in procuring the passage of a bill for the straightening of Skunk river, thus redeeming a large area of the richest lands in the county. In 1859 he was elected one of the Su- pervisors of Polk county, which office he held by re-election for a period of

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six years. In the fall of 1873 he was nominated and elected to a seat in the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. He was first married on the 14th of August, 1841, to Almira, daughter of Benjamin Swift, a farmer, then of Thetford, Vermont, by whom he had five children, as follows: Oran F. (lieutenant of company I, Eighth Iowa cavalry, who died at Waverly, Tennessee, on the 8th of March, 1864, aged twenty-two years), Mary Ann (now Mrs. M. R. Hoxie), Charles Mellville (a farmer of this county), and the youngest, Walter A. Mrs. Mitchell died on the 16th of June, 1860, aged about forty years. Mr. Mitchell again married on the 17th of June, 1861, to Anna C. Mattern, by whom he has three children: Harry Herbert, Maud and Johnnie. He is the owner of 1,400 acres of land, about 400 of which he entered of the government.

MITCHELL, EDWIN-Of the firm of Kimball & Mitchell, lumber and grain dealers, Mitchellville. Was born in Claremont, New Hampshire, January 27, 1836, and was there raised on a farm and educated in the com- mon schools. In 1856 he came to Iowa and located in Jasper county, where he engaged in farming, following the same for about two years. He then came to Des Moines and was appointed Deputy Sheriff under Spauld- ing, remaining in that position until April, 1861, then enlisted in company D, Second Iowa infantry, under Capt. Crocker, and served until July, 1861, when he was discharged on account of disability, having nearly lost his life. After his return, having recovered from his sickness, he went into the State Land Office with A. B. Miller, Register of the office. He was appointed Register to fill out the term of Mr. Miller, who resigned in 1862. He re- mained there until the spring of 1863, and then went to the mountains and Montana for his health. After remaining there until the fall of 1866, he returned to Des Moines. In May, 1867, he went to Hannibal, Missouri, and established an office as general agent of the National Insurance Com- pany of Hannibal, and was influential in the organization and management of the company. He returned to this county in 1868, and located in Mitch- ellville, forming a partnership with M. S. Kimball, and has continued in this business since. Mr. Mitchell has been closely identified with educa- tional matters and is a member of the city council. March 21, 1871, he was married to Miss Tillie L. Snyder, a native of Trumbull county, Ohio. Their family consists of one child, living, Thomas M.

MOORE, S. S .- Of the firm of S. S. Moore & Son, dealers in general merchandise, Mitchellville. Was born October 30, 1816, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and when very young was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he was raised and educated. He followed farming and stock-raising for sixteen years while in that State and in 1856 he came to Iowa, locating- in Cedar county. There he bought a farm and worked it three years, when he moved to Muscatine and went into the grocery business, and after a. while added hardware to his stock. This business he followed until 1862, when he moved to Brooklyn, Poweshiek county, and formed a partnership with J. B. Overman in the grocery and hardware business, to which he added agricultural implements, etc., and continued the same until 1868, when he sold out and went into the grain trade. He built the Union Grange Elevator in that place and operated the same about one year. In Novem- ber, 1870, he came to this place and opened a lumber yard, building the first elevator in the city in company with his son, Henry. Two years later they sold the elevator and opened a general store, which they still own. 65

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They carry a full stock in their line and enjoy a good trade. March 20, 1838, he married Miss Elinor Worrall, a native of Harrison county, Ohio. They have four children living: Martha A. (wife of John R. Gill, of Prairie City), Priscilla G. (wife of Benjamin Cook, of Nebraska), William Henry and Barrett E. Have lost three. Mr. Moore has held all the offices in the township and has been justice of the peace for many years.

C LDFIELD, S. J .- Postmaster, Mitchellville. Was born July 4, 1850,

in Richland county, Ohio, and in 1856 came with his parents to Iowa, locating in Jasper county. There he was raised on a farm and edu- cated in the common schools and Hazel Dell Academy at Newton. At the age of sixteen years he began to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he worked several years. He also learned the jeweler's trade during his spare moments, and became very proficient at it. He learned the art of teleg- raphy under W. S. Doud, agent of the K. & D. M. R. R., and D. H. King, agent of the C., R. I. & P. R. R., at this place. He is the operator and has the office of the American Union Telegraph Company in his store. In June, 1875, he was appointed postmaster of Mitchellville, and has since held that office. In 1870 he came to this place and worked at the carpen- ter's trade. In 1871 he worked for Ross Bros. for one year, and then for On being appointed postmaster he

three years engaged in clerking. bought out the stock of books and stationery of Dr. Marmon, to which stock he has made some additions. He also has a stock of sewing ma- chines, cigars, confectionery, etc. November 4, 1877, he married Miss Mary J. Grismer, a native of Indiana. They have one child, Edna E.

R OOKER, W. D .- Farmer, section 24, P. O. Mitchellville. Was born

March 1, 1838, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and in the fall of 1841 moved with his parents to this State, locating in Keokuk county, where they resided until 1851. He then came to this county and located in Four Mile township, and in 1870 moved upon his present farm, and has since resided here. He owns 354 acres of land. August 1, 1861, he en- listed in company D, Second Iowa cavalry, and served until January, 1864, when he was discharged to veteranize, which he did, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out October 5, 1865, at Selma, Alabama. He was promoted to sergeant in his company, and held the office when discharged. After his return home he resumed his occupation of farming, which he has followed since. In December, 1865, he was married to Mrs. P. A. Barlow, a native of Indiana. They have six children: Charles P., James C., Sarah J., Viola, Amy C. and an infant, all living, Mrs. R. had five children by her former husband: John L., Thomas H., Mary E. and Mahala, living, and one deceased.

RUSSELL, CAPT. M. T .- Grain-dealer, Mitchellville. Was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, September 25, 1836, and was there raised, be- ing educated in the common schools. He followed farming until the out- break of the rebellion, and August 16, 1861, enlisted in company A, Fifty- first Indiana infantry, as a private, and at the organization of the company was elected orderly sergeant, and October 11, 1861, was promoted to first lieutenant, and August 10, 1862, to captain of his company. He was taken prisoner May 3, 1863, while on a raid through Georgia, having been sent to destroy a shot and shell factory between Rome and Gadson, on the Coosa river, and when near Rome was captured with all his command, four regiments, and he was sent to Atlanta, Georgia, remaining there two weeks, thence to Augusta for one week, to Petersburg, Virginia, one week,

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to Libby Prison until May 16, 1864, to Danville, Virginia, Salisbury, North Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina, a short time, and to Macon, Georgia, then went to Charleston, and five hundred men of his command were distributed through the city to protect it from our own guns on Mor- ris' Island. He remained there until September, was sent to Columbia, South Carolina, and on the 16th of October, 1864, made his escape from prison and went to East Tennessee, where he was captured and returned to prison, having been out ten days. He again made an effort to escape, and this time was successful. Running the guard-line he started in com- pany with a comrade, and went northwest, but hearing of Sherman's march to the sea, turned his course south and fell in the rear of his route, follow- ing it for forty-two days when he overtook him at Savannah, Georgia. He remained in Savannah until the fall of the city, when he was ordered to report in person to the Secretary of War, at Washington, and his time having long since expired he was mustered out of the service. During his service he was in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Perrysville, Kentucky, Stone River, South Mountain and a number of skirmishes. He returned to his home in Indiana and engaged in the mercantile business at North Salem, where he remained until 1868; then came to Iowa, locating in Des Moines, where he bought an interest in the Des Moines Pottery. He also opened a grocery and stoneware store, and remained there about two years. In 1871 he was elected marshal of the city, and was re-elected the follow- ing year, and served until the close of his term. In 1865 he came to Mitchellville and formed a partnership with E. L. Fields, under the firm name of Russell & Fields, for the purpose of handling produce, and they built an elevator, which he still owns and runs. In 1877 the firm was dissolved, and Capt. Russell assumed entire control and has carried on the business ever since. He is a member of the city council of Mitchellville at this time. October 6, 1857, he married Miss Harriet C. Harlan, a native of Indiana. They have one child, Sella M., now a teacher in the city schools.

S EEMS, T .- Physician and surgeon, Mitchellville. Was born May 31,

1836, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and was there raised and educated. At the age of twenty years he learned the jeweler's trade, at Smithport, Pennsylvania, which he followed about eight years, and in the meantime put in a drug stock in his store. In 1867 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Freeman, of Smithport, where he remained about one year, then came te Iowa, locating in Keokuk county, and went to study with Dr. Brice, of Talleyrand, with whom he remained until the winter of 1870-1. He attended lectures at the State University of Iowa City, and the winter following attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, where he graduated in the spring of 1872. He returned to Talleyrand, where he began the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1872 he went to St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where he remained for two years. In the fall of 1874 he came to this place, where he has built up a good business. He was married April 16, 1867, to Miss Sarah Young, a native of Pennsylvania. They have five children: Millie, Ida and Gaillard, living, and two deceased.

SEIBERLING, CHARLES-Farmer, section 13, P. O. Mitchellville. Was born March 8, 1845, in Summit county, Ohio, and was there raised and educated. January 4, 1864, he enlisted in company I, One Hundred and Third Ohio infantry, and served until July 25, 1865, when he was

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honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio. He was in the battle of Resaca, Georgia, and many minor engagements in which his regiment was en- gaged. In March, 1867, he came to Iowa and located where he now lives, owning a fine farm under cultivation, with good house, barns, etc. Owns 170 acres of land. He was married in October, 1866, to Miss Jerusha C. Betts, a native of Ohio. They have seven children: John F., Clara M., Altha L., Sarah C., Harry Grant and Etta M., living, and one deceased. Has been township assessor for three years. Has held the office of town- ship treasurer about six years, and still holds that position.

YLER, S. R .- Farmer, section 14, P. O. Mitchellville. Was born in

T Claremont, New Hampshire, November 10, 1822, and was raised there on a farm. He attended the common schools, and at the age of seventeen years went to learn the paper-maker's trade with the Clare- mont Manufacturing Company, of Claremont. This he followed until the fall of 1851, when he, in company with his brother, leased the grist and saw mill of that city, operating the same for about three years. He then came to Michigan and went into the pineries, where he spent one winter, and in March, 1856, he came to Iowa, locating in Trullinger's Grove, this county. He there kept boarders for Mitchell, Jones and Ellis at their saw mill. In 1864 he bought his present farm of eighty acres, but did not live upon it until 1867. He helped start the Rollins Paper Mill in Des Moines and placed the machiney of Terrell & Boyd's paper mill, running the same until it was burned down. After this he worked a while in the Rollins mill. He has a fine brick-yard upon his farm. He makes from two hun- dred to three hundred thousand brick per year. He was married May 16, 1850, to Miss Adaline L. Crissey, a native of New York. They have six children: Georgia A. (wife of Geo. Rooker), Frank C., Kate R., Ann A., Sarah E. and Ellen L., all living. In October, 1849, Mr. Tyler went to Columbus, Georgia, to start the extensive paper mills of the Rock Island Paper Company, where he remained until May, 1851. Prior to this time he spent about seven years in starting mills in various parts of the country.

V "ALENTINE, E. J .- Of the firm of Valentine & Sherwood, merchants,

Mitchellville. Was born August 5, 1841, in Warren county, Penn- sylvania, and at the age of thirteen years his parents came to Henry county, Illinois, where his youth was spent on a farm. In 1865 he came to Iowa and located in the old town of Mitchellville, where he opened a general stock of dry goods and groceries. At the building of the railroad and the locating of the present town he put up the first store building and the first dwelling- house, and sold the first goods in the town. Was postmaster of the old and new town until 1872, when he sold out his store and bought a farm, where he remained three years. He then came back to the city and built a brick building, and in 1875 formed a partnership with Henry Russell in the res- taurant business, following the same until the same fall, when he bought Russell's interest and sold out to Mrs. Sternburg. He then bought the stock of goods of Mr. Hatcher and run a grocery store until the winter following, when he added boots and shoes. In September, 1878, he formed a partner- ship with Mr. John O. Sherwood. They put in an extensive stock which they continue to carry. They sell nearly half the goods that are sold in the town, as the books of the freight house will show. January 1, 1867, he married Miss Mary Z. De Long, a native of Pennsylvania. They have four children: William, Minnie E., Edmund T. F. and Johnny O., all

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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 117

Author: Union Historical Company, Des Moines, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Des Moines, Iowa : Union Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1074

Author: Union Historical Company, Des Moines, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines, Iowa : Union Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1074