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 125
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CHAAL, J. A .- Carpenter, section 7, P. O. Polk City. Was born
S February 17, 1832, in Wurtemberg, Germany, where he resided until seventeen years of age. He then emigrated to the United States, set- tling in Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1856. He then came to Polk county, and since living in the county, has been actively en-
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gaged in working at the carpenter's trade, having had the contracts for the majority of the fine farm houses and barns in the township. He has held various offices of trust which conclusively shows the esteem in which he is held by the citizens of his community. January 14, 1858, he married Miriam Lichty, a native of Ohio. They have nine children: John W., Mary S., A. F., Ricka, Elizabeth, Francis D., Caroline, Charles D. and Ernest A. He has a farm of 181 acres, all under fence, the same being well-improved. He has one of the finest farm houses in the township, built by himself.
SIMONS, JESSE-Farmer, section 10, P. O. Polk City. Was born January 29, 1846, in Miami county, Indiana, and when he was fourteen years of age his parents removed to this State, locating in Madison county, where he resided for four years. He then came to this county, and has since made it his home, following farming. In 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Acheff. By this union they have two children: Charles L. and William O. Mr. Simons has two children by a former marriage. Frank E. and John A.
T IARA, JOSEPH-Farmer, section 33, P. O. Saylorville. The subject P of this sketch is of Southern birth, having been born in Fayette county, Alabama, September 8, 1826, where he was raised. He entered the regular army in 1848, and served five years, as second sergeant, in com- pany E, Sixth infantry. He came to this county in 1855, and has resided herein since that time. He was united in marriage in 1852, to Josephine Nagle, and from this union they have twelve children: Martha R., Mary M., Joseph, Kate, Alice, William, Nellie, Gertrude, Daisy, Olive, George and John B. Mr. Tiara has a farm of 272 acres, a considerable portion of which is fine river bottom land. Has held various township offices since residing in the county.
ICE, W. R .- Farmer, section 26, P. O. Ankney. Was born in Sanga- V mon county, Illinois, May 1, 1840, and came with an uncle to Iowa, locating in this county, when about six years of age. He has since resided here, and on the 27th of October, 1860, was married to Rachel Harvey, a native of Indiana. They have one son living: John S. (born August 17, 1862). Lost one child: Elizabeth. The farm on which he resides, contains 106 acres of fine farming land, well-improved. He also owns a farm of eighty acres in section 25. He is recognized as being one of the thrifty and prosperous farmers of his township.
W ANE, ROBERT A .- Farmer, section 20, P. O. Saylorville. Was born in Baltimore, Maryland, July 10, 1826, and when eleven years of age, removed to Harrison county, Ohio, where he resided until he came West, in 1854. He first settled in Boone county, this State, and remained there two years, then moving to Dallas county. Eight years later, he took up his residence in Madison county, and remaided there one year, and in 1862 he came to this county, opening up a new farm eight miles west of Des Moines, and in 1875, he removed on the farm where he now resides, owning 216 acres of land, in a good state of cultivation. He was married in 1850, to Mary A. Speer, a native of Maryland. They have five children living: John A., Louisa (now Mrs. George Jordan), George W., Elizabeth and Ella. Lost one: Florence. Mr. Wayne is one of Crocker township's thriving farmers, and is highly esteemed by the citizens of his community.
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DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.
WILSON, JACOB-Farmer, section 16, P. O. Saylorville. The subject of this sketch is a native of the South, having been born in Kentucky, De- cember 22, 1805. He was there raised, and married in 1827, his wife's name being Miss Frances Hart. He removed from his native State, to Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1831, and resided there until 1851, when he came to this county. He was married again in 1864, his second wife's name being Mary Harley. They have one child, Jacob E. Mr. Wilson has eight children by his former marriage: Mary (now Mrs. Ezekiel Crist), Rebecca A. (now Mrs. John Inlan), John, James H., Marion, Nancy J. (now Mrs. James Lane), Richard T. and Susan F. (now Mrs. H. Stapp). He entered his present farm in 1851, and has since resided upon the same. "OUNG, JOHN-Farmer, section 16, P. O. Polk City. Was born April 23, 1835, in Butler county, Ohio, and in 1854, his parents came to Iowa, settling in Saylor township, this county. During the fall of 1858, he married Matilda Shellhart. They have six children living: Sarah A., Mary E., Eliza J., George B., William W. and John L. Have lost one, Martha E. His father was one of the early settlers of the county, and died in Missouri, in 1872. Mrs. Young's father was also one of the early settlers in Polk county, and is now deceased, dying August 16, 1872. Mr. Young has a fine piece of land containing 120 acres, the same being in a good state of cultivation.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.
B RAZELTON, C .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 29, P. O. Green- wood. This enterprising farmer was born in Jefferson county, Tennes- see, May 13, 1815, and was raised there until he was about ten years of age, when he moved with his parents to Vermillion county, Illinois, where he lived until 1837. He there learned the trade of tanning and currying, which business he followed about eight years. He then engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He came to Polk county in 1854, and settled in Doug- las township. He commenced business for himself with the nominal capi- tal of twenty-five cents, but with a large fund of energy and honest deter- mination to succeed. He now owns 715 acres of land and nine valuable lots in the city of Des Moines. His annual stock sales are about $5,000. He has always taken an interest in the affairs of the county and is among its largest tax-payers. He was appointed postmaster in Greenwood when the office was first established and held the office about seven years. He was elected first township trustee and held the office several years. He was married in the fall of 1836 to Miss Anna Thornton, of Vermillion county, Illinois. They have eight children living: Jacob, Margaret, Jennie, Mary, Albert, Joseph, Fannie and Letta. They have lost two. Mrs. Brazelton was killed in the railroad accident near Columbus, Ohio, in 1876. She was a woman loved and respected by all who knew her.
BYARS, D. H .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 35, P. O. Greenwood. Was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1828, and was raised there, and in Miami county he learned the trade of carpenter and house-builder. He embarked on the steamer Independence for California, which was wrecked on the island of Margretta. He was among the few who were saved. He arrived in California in the spring of 1853 and engaged in the business of house- building. He returned to Miami county in 1858 and in 1860 was married to Miss Mary Allen, of that county. They have three children living:
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Sarah B., John E. and Eva R. They have lost two. He has always been a liberal supporter of the Methodist Church, of which he is a member and his home was frequently used as a place of public worship in an early day. ARRAHER, J. C .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 23, P. O. Green- C wood. Was born in Monahan county, Ireland, in 1814 and there raised to manhood. He has followed farming from youth. He was mar- ried in 1843 to Miss Bridget McCabe, of the same place as himself. They have four children living: Rose (born April 15, 1849), Thomas (born July 20, 1855), Rosey (born September 4, 1857) and Alice (born March 12, 1858). They have lost four. They emigrated, in the year 1845, to America, and settled in Upper Canada, where they resided five years and then they moved to Livingstone county, New York, where they resided four years; thence to Grundy county, Illinois, remaining until 1858, when they came to Iowa and settled in Polk county. He now owns eighty acres of land.
CHAMBERS, J. S .- Farmer, section 17, P. O. Greenwood. Was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1840 and was there raised until 1856, when he immigrated to America and settled in Stevens county, Illinois. He has al- ways followed the occupation of farming. He enlisted in the spring of 1862. in company A, Eleventh Illinois volunteer infantry, under Captain D. Atkins, and participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Cold Harbor, Jack- son, Fort Donelson, Yazoo, Fort Blakely and many others. He was wounded at Malvern Hill and sent to hospital, where he recovered in a few weeks. He served through some of the severest campaigns of the war and received many marks of credit for his valuable services. He was mustered out immediately after the close of the war and came to Des Moines, where he was soon made chief of police and held that office for several years. He was married March 15, 1866, to Miss Isabella Fay, of Stevens county, Illi- nois. They have four children living: Charles E., Clarence, Burton L., Maud. He now owns a farm of fifty acres of land.
CLAY, H. W .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 34, P. O. Greenwood. Was born in Halifax county, Virginia, March 27, 1840, and raised in Miami county, Ohio, until about twenty-nine years old. He came to Polk county in 1869 and settled in Douglas township. He now owns 165 acres of valuable land. Mr. Clay enlisted in 1862 in the Forty-fourth Ohio vol- unteer infantry, and was promoted to sergeant, and participated in the bat- tles of Morefield, Somerset, Danville, London, Cumberland, Dalton Hill, Fort Royal, Richmond, Kentucky, Crab Orchard, Siege of Knoxville, Cum- berland Gap, Kingston, and was mustered out at Strawberry Plains, Ten- nessee. In 1864 he re-enlisted in the Eighth Ohio volunteer infantry and served till the close of the war. He received a bullet wound in the breast at the battle of Liberty, Virginia. Was taken prisoner but was allowed to go free on account of his having been mistaken for a chaplain who was seen carrying a book under his arm, which proved to be the life of Abraham Lincoln. He was married June 1, 1871, to Esther Pennington, of Polk county. They have five children: Joseph C., Nettie, Henry, Burton and John.
COCKERHAM, D. B .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 26, P. O. Greenwood. Was born June 18, 1835, and when about ten years of age, he came with his parents to Polk county, Iowa. His father died in the year 1862, and was buried in Buzic Cemetery, Saylor township. He owns eighty acres of land. Has held important township offices and has been closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the county
995
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.
and is a liberal supporter of church and school organizations. He was mar- ried September 29, 1860, to Miss Anna Rummel. of Pennsylvania, Somer- set county. They have seven children living: Ella, Mary, Hattie, Alvira, Charles, Harvey and Lucy. They have lost two.
CORY, I. M. T .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 2, P. O. Elkhart. Was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, April 13, 1837, and moved with his parents to Polk county, in 1846, and settled at Cory's Grove, and their house was the farthest west on that tier of townships inhabited by white men and the farthest north, his father, I. W. Cory, being among the first settlers of Polk county. He was a man of iron will and determination and instilled the same in the minds of his sons; he being a marked character of the pioneers of Iowa. Their early life in Iowa was fraught with a great many hardships, privations, etc., consequent upon the early settlement of a country, but yet they never allowed their interest to flag or their determination to make a home for themselves and families to be shaken. Oskaloosa was their nearest milling point. Supplies were drawn from Keokuk and other points, and the journey to mill or their nearest. river point was no small undertaking, yet in spite of all the difficulties they had to encounter they have been successful. He owns 144 acres of valuable land. His orchard is the finest in his neighborhood, containing upwards of fifteen acres, with a beautiful vineyard. He was married October 8, 1855, to Miss Sarah A. Elliott. They have six children: Lorinda M. (now Mrs. H. Methes), Sylvia I. (now Mrs. C. W. Vanhorn), William Dayton, Ulysses Grant, Edna Frances, John Mar- tin. The lives of Mr. Cory and wife have been closely associated with the Church of Christ, of which he is a minister. He was elected township trustee in 1862 and held the office about fifteen years. He has been closely. identified with the growth and prosperity of the county.
ODDS, C. W .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 22, P. O. Greenwood.
D He was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, April 15, 1850, and was there raised to manhood. He was educated in common schools and Den- mark Academy, of Lee county, Iowa. In 1875 he moved to Polk county, where he now owns a valuable farm of 160 acres. He was married Decem- ber, 1874, to Nora Parriott, of Des Moines county, Iowa. She was born in that county. Mr. Dodds has held various township offices.
DOUBLEDAY, OLIVER E .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 9, P. O. Elkhart. Was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on the 22d day of Feb- ruary, 1832, and there raised to manhood. He was educated in common. schools and Wabash College, of Crawfordsville, Indiana. In 1855 he moved to Fountain county, of the same State, and lived there until 1860, when he came to Polk county, Iowa. He owns 800 acres of land, mostly under. cultivation. His home is beautifully surrounded with fine groves of his own planting. His orchards are large and productive and everything about his home presents the appearance of being under the control and care of a skilled agriculturalist. He takes a deep interest in all township matters and has been a persistent worker for its interest. He was married to Miss Sarah Van Meter, of Tippecanoe county, Indiana, September 6, 1856. They have five children living. Have lost two. He is a man of decided opinions, and always lends his influence on the side of right and justice; a marked characteristic of his entire life, has been his untiring zeal and energy; the whole course of his life, has been turned in one channel, and as a result he has attained that reward which must attend persistant, honorable efforts.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
F RASE, M. L .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 2, P. O. Elkhart. Was born in Wayne county, Ohio, December 29, 1853, and was there raised until eighteen years of age, when he moved to Summit county, Ohio, thence to Kosciusko county, Ind. He came to this county in the year of 1877, and set- tled in Douglas township, and commenced business for himself about three years ago with very limited means. He now owns eighty acres of valuable Iand. He was married October 7, 1875, to Miss Linda, daughter of Moses and Catherine Byers, of Kosciusko county, Indiana. They have one child, Pearl (born September 2, 1878). Have lost one, an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Fraze are members of the M. E. Church.
H TALL, E. P .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 11, P. O. Elkhart. Was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1836. Moved with his parents to Center county, Pennsylvania, when he was three years of age. They resided there seven years then moved and settled in Hunt- ingdon county. After living there three years moved to Cranberry county, where they resided three years. He then returned to Huntington county, and thence to Armstrong county. He learned the trade of a charcoal col- lier and followed that business until 1860. He then engaged in coal min- ing in Pennsylvania and Illinois and followed that about eight years. He then engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was married March 7, 1857, to Miss Leah Camp, of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. They have two children living, Louise and Edward. They have lost one. Mrs. Hall was burned to death by the explosion of kerosene, February 4, 1867. He was again married August 11, 1868, to Miss Rebecca J. Horne, of Alleghany county, Pennsylvania. They have three children by this union: William B., Mary A. and Herbert J. He enlisted in the spring of 1865 in the Sev- enty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteer infantry. He was elected justice of the peace in 1872 and held that office three terms, and he has held other town- ship offices. He commenced business for himself with very limited means and now owns 240 acres of land.
HALL, HENRY-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 1, P. O. Elkhart. Was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1816, and there resided until 1820, when he moved with his parents to Fayette county, Indiana, where he was raised. He followed farming until he was eighteen years of age, when he learned the trade of tanner and currier, which business he followed until 1854. He then came to this county, and again engaged in agricultural pursuits, he now owns a farm of eighty acres of land. He was elected member of the Board of Supervisors, also president of the same. He was appointed deputy treasurer of the county, and held that office eight years. He was appointed director of the poor farm in 1869. He has held other important township offices. He has frequently been appointed dele- gate to congressional and county Republican conventions. He was married March 14, 1838, to Miss Dianna McClay, of Wayne county, Indiana. They have nine children living: Sarah Ann, Levi M., Nancy, James M., Mary, Emma, Albert, Amanda and Tiffin. They have lost one. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Hall was the first to establish the school of Franklin township.
HARTSOOK, W. H .- Farmer, section 35, P. O. Greenwood. Is a na- tive of Berkley county, Virginia, and was born on the 15th of February, 1823, and made that place his home until 1830. He then moved with his parents to Greene county, Ohio, and after a residence there of over twenty- five years, took up his abode in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1856, pur-
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chasing eighty acres of land. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and followed the same for eight years. During this time, in the winter, he also worked at the coopering business. For four years he built and ran steam saw mills. While in Wisconsin he engaged in farming, and has since continued that as his occupation. In January, 1870, he came to this county, and is now the owner of 400 acres of land, mostly improved. Since residing here, he has held the office of school district treasurer, about eight years; township supervisor and assessor, two years. On the 13th of Au- gust, 1846, Miss Elizabeth Ann Devoe, became his wife. She was born De- cember 18th, 1827. They are the parents of three children: Oswald D., Elijah Hamilton and William Steidley.
HAWK, L. S .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 10, P. O. Elkhart. Was born near Dayton, Ohio, February 28, 1845, there raised until 1857, when he came to Iowa, and settled in Muscatine county. He enlisted August 14, 1862, in the Thirty-fifth Iowa infantry. Participated in the battles of Champion's Hill and Siege of Vicksburg. Was on the Red River expedi- tion, and many others of the severest fought battles of the war. He was married November 8, 1867, to Miss Mary Vanhorne, of this county, They have five children living: Julius H., James M., John W., Elizabeth and Silva. They have lost one. he came to this county in 1868, and set- tled in Douglas township, and owns 160 acres of land.
TACOBS, NICHOLAS-Farmer, section 30, P. O. Ankeny. The sub- ject of this sketch was born in Baden, Germany, December 28, 1828, and there resided until 1849. He then emigrated to the United States, lo- cating in New York City, where he was engaged for a short time in work- ing at his trade-that of stone mason and plasterer. After traveling around for several years, engaging at his trade in different cities, he came to Iowa, and settled at Iowa City, in 1855. One year later he came to Des Moines, where he followed his former occupation, doing the first mason work of any importance in that city. He now resides on a fine farm of 320 acres, in this township, and is also the owner of 160 acres in section 23, of Crocker town- ship. He came from his native country without means. In 1854 he was married to Susannah Lint. She was born in Ohio, December 5, 1836. They have six children living: Monroe A., Edward, Nicholas, Louie, Min- nie and Rosa. Have lost one, George.
JUSTICE, DANIEL-Whose portrait appears in this work was born in Bland county, in the State of Virginia, but in early manhood, and with no capital but his strong hands, he started to the Northwest to find a place where white labor was not held in dishonor. He tarried a while in Indiana, and from there went to Mercer county, Illinois, where he for a time resided, and there was married to the worthy woman who now mourns his loss. He reared a family of four children, all of whom are now living. Thirty-one years ago he came to this county, and soon thereafter, on a point on Four Mile, eight miles northeast of Des Moines, he there, in the pres- ence of friendly Indians, erected his rude log cabin. Being a man of her- culean frame of body, of vigorous constitution and indomitable energy and perseverance, he was well-fitted by nature to grapple with all of the hard- ships incident to pioneer life. He also possessed strong mental powers, and the impress of his life and character will never fade from the memory of those who knew him. He was successful in the accumulation of property, and from his hands the poor and suffering were never turned away without relief. During the last ten years of his life, on account of bodily infirmities,
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he was compelled to retire from active business, but prior thereto, and du- ring the twenty years of his Polk county residence, but few men in the country were more enterprising, and did as much as he in the interest of the public weal. In the early days of white settlements in Central Iowa, when houses were few in number and far apart, the home and hospitality of Daniel Justice were widely known, and few there were of the early settlers now living or dead, who did not often rest beneath his roof and share at his table. He did not belong to any church organization, yet in the com- munity where he so long resided, his daily walk and conversation indicated the upright man. He died September 21, 1879.
JUSTICE, WILLIAM-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 32, P. O. Greenwood. Was born in Mercer county, Illinois, July 29, 1841, and was there raised until he was about twelve years of age, when he came with his parents to this county, and settled in Douglas township. He com- menced business with very limited means, and now owns 500 acres of land, mostly improved. He was elected township assessor in 1860, and - held the office nine terms. Has been township clerk two terms, he was ap- pointed postmaster at Greenwood, and held that office about fifteen years; has also been frequently appointed delegate to State and county Republican conventions. He has always taken an active part in the educational inter- ests of his township. He never lends his influence but on the side of right and justice, and success has crowned his persistent and honorable efforts. He is a liberal contributor to all religious enterprises. Was married to Miss Lucinda Thornton of this county. They have five children living: Mary, John, Roman, George and Eda; have lost one.
K
ENT, A. J .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 8, P. O. Elkhart. Born in Harrison county, Ohio, March 11, 1819; was there raised to man- hood. In 1861, he moved to Madison county, Iowa, where he resided one year. He then came to Polk county, and he now owns 490 acres of valua- ble land. He was married, March 19, 1842, to Miss Rebecca Arnold of Tuscarawas county, Ohio. They have six children: David, William H., Nathan H., John B., Eli, Eda. They have lost four.
L EE, J. W .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 2, P. O. Elkhart. Was born in Henry county, Iowa, February 8, 1842, and was there raised to manhood. He has followed the occupation of farming from youth. Enlisted in company G, Forty-fifth Iowa infantry, and was wounded at White Star, Tennessee, and sent to Memphis Hospital. He recovered after a few weeks, and was detailed on garrison duty most of his time during service. Mustered out at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1864. He was married September 14, 1866, to Miss S. E. Dye of Scotland county, Missouri. They have two children living: Emma L. and Sarah M. They have lost four. Their lives are closely associated with the Baptist Church.
LEE, CALEB-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 19, P. O. Greenwood. Was born in Grant county, Indiana, January 28, 1845, and was raised a farmer. He came to Iowa in 1853, and settled in Warren county; there lived until 1861, when he came to this county and settled in Douglas township, where he now owns 130 acres of land. He was married January 18, 1860 to Miss Eliza Adamson of Polk county. They have an adopted child, Mary Bell Lee.
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