USA > Iowa > Washington County > The history of Washington County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. : a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 79
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
M cCONNELL, J. C., druggist, Ainsworth; was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1832, and was raised and lived there until he came to this county in 1856; was raised a farmer and here engaged in farming, following it as an occupation; enlisted in 1862 in company I, Twenty-fifth Iowa, and served until the close of the war;
646
BIOGRAPHICAL.
after his return he followed the trade of carpenter, and in December, 1879, engaged in his present business; was married first in Pennsylvania in 1855, to Agnes McElhern, who died in 1860; was married again in 1875 to Mrs. M. E. Andrews; she has two daughters by former marriage: Fan- nie and Blanche Andrews; she died at Ainsworth, February 5, 1880, and we copy the following from the Washington "Democrat:" " Mrs. McConnell came to Ainsworth about five years ago and taught music here and at Columbus Junction; she was an accomplished musician, a leader of all musical associations, and chor- ister of the Baptist Church, of which she was formerly a member; her mother died at Oquawka, Ill., a short time since of cancer; Mrs. McCon- nell was with her during her sick- ness, and seemed impressed with the idea weeks before she died that she would be a victim to the same dis- ease and frequently remarked so to her family; her severe sufferings were borne with fortitude and pa- tience, and she made every prepara- tion for her death; she leaves a hus- band, two daughters, two brothers, three sisters, and a host of friends, who deeply mourn her loss."
MCKENZIE, J. P., justice of the peace, Ainsworth; was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in 1821, and lived there until August, 1864, when he came to this county; he was raised on a farm and made it his business for about twenty-five years, then engaged in teaching dur- ing the winters, and also followed the mercantile business; was in the grocery business from 1865 until 1872; came upon his present loca- tion in the fall of 1872; was elected justice of the peace in 1874; in 1849 he was married in his native State to Miss Phebe McClelland, of Penn- sylvania; they have by this union three daughters living: Josephine E., Ella R., and Maggie M .; his
mother came from Ireland when quite young; his father is of the old Scotch descent; Mr. Mckenzie is a man of good business qualifications and merits the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens.
MARTIN, A. L., farmer; Sec. 13; P. O. Ainsworth; was born in Clarke county, Ohio, in 1806, and was raised there on a farm; in 1829 he went to Miami county, and remained there until he came to this State in May, 1853; he located on his present homestead in this county, which con- sists of 160 acres of improved land; was married in Clarke county, Octo- ber 15, 1828, to Miss Charlotta C. Collier, a native of New York; she came to Clarke county, Ohio, when three years of age; by this union they have one son and one daughter: Samuel C. (now in Ohio), and Fan- nie E. (wife of H. Bailey, of Wash- ington); lost three children: Thomas C., Minerva, and an infant; Mr. Martin has been connected with the Christian Church for about forty- five years; his ancestors were natives of this country.
MATTHEWS, R. S., farmer; Sec. 8; P. O. Ainsworth; was born in Marion county, Iowa, July 31, 1848, and was raised there; his father was a miller, and when about eighteen years of age the subject of this sketch engaged in this business throughought this State and Kan- sas; in 1875 he engaged in his pres- ent occupation in this county; was in a mill for three years previous to his coming to this county, in 1872, and in 1873 went to Kansas, return- ing in January, 1875; was married in this county May 7, 1873, to Miss Maggie Thompson, of Ohio; they have one son: Howard C.
MAXWELL, W. J., of the firm of Walker & Maxwell, druggists and postmasters, Ainsworth; was born near Crawfordsville, this county, August 1, 1851, and was raised in this county as a farmer; he received
647
OREGON TOWNSHIP.
his education at the Grandview Academy in Louisa county, and in August, 1873, began the drug busi- ness with Adair Bros., at Washing- ton, and in 1874 engaged under the present firm name, which still con- tinnes; was married in Washington, October 2, 1879, to Miss Addie Bill- ville, a native of this State.
MAXWELL, P., farmer; Sec. 32; P. O. Ainsworth; was born in Jef- ferson county, Ohio, May 14, 1843, and when about eight years of age his parents moved to Keokuk coun- ty, this State; came from there to this county in the fall of 1854, lived in Crawfordsville during the winter, and the following spring moved on the farm now belonging to H. Dra- ker; was raised on a farm and has followed it as his principal occupa- tion, and owns 80 acres improved land; August 9, 1862, he enlisted in company I, Twenty-fifth Iowa volun- teers, and was mustered out at Wash- ington City June 6, 1865; took part in Sherman's grand review of the Army of the Tennessee on the 24th of May, and partic- ipated in the principal engage- ments of Sherman's army; after the war he returned to this county and engaged in farming; was married in this county July 12, 1866, to Malis- sa A. Trebilcock, of Ohio; they have two sons and one daughter: Frank T., Mary M. and Joseph; one de- ceased, John.
MICKEY, DANIEL, farmer and stock-raiser; Sec. 15; P. O. Ans- worth; the subject of this sketch is a native of Richland county, Ohio; was born November 22, 1827; at seventeen years of age he began the blacksmith trade, but shortly after- ward, in. May, 1846, he enlisted in the Mexican war and served till the close of his enlistment-which was for one year-and two months longer, making in all fourteen months, and after his discharge he returned to Ohio and engaged at his trade, which
he continued up to the time he came west; in the spring of 1849 he came to this State and stopped at Wapello, where he worked at his trade till the following September, when he loca- ted 160 acres of land near the pres- ent town of Brighton with a land warrant which he received as com- pensation for his services in Mexico; during the winter he followed his trade at Oquawka, Henderson coun- ty, Illinois, and in March, 1850, he as- sisted in fitting up a train of about twenty ox teams, and started over- land for California on the 19th of that month, and reached their desti- nation the following August, after a long and tedious journey; he re- mained here till February, 1852, when he took shipping at San Fran- cisco and came back by way of Pan- ama to his home in Ohio, and short- ly afterward he found a wife in the person of Miss Lovina Keith, of Mansfield, that State, whom he mar- ried May 4, 1853, and the following October he returned to Louisa coun- ty, this State, where he remained till in January, 1854, when he set- tled on his present homestead, which now consists of 455 acres of well im- proved land; his family consists of six children living: Almeda L. (wife of Samuel H. Blair, of Louisa coun- ty), C. L., Clement L., Grace C., D. W. and Walter; he has never sought nor held public office, nor is he a candidate for popularity or public favor; he is a plain, unassuming farmer, social and obliging as a neighbor, kind and warm hearted as a friend, and law abiding as a citi- zen; hospitable and generous to all, he is a self-made man; commencing life in straightened circumstances, he has by his own indomitable en- ergy and perseverance gained a rea- sonable competency.
MILLER, S. D., farmer, stock- raiser and shipper; Sec. 2; P. O. Ainsworth; was born in Clinton county, Indiana, February 19, 1830,
4
648
BIOGRAPHICAL.
and lived there up to the time of his coming to this county, which was in October 1855; he now owns a well improved farm of 840 acres; was raised a farmer and has always followed it as an occupation; he was married in Indiana, March 9, 1854, to Miss Maria Lecklitner of that State; have four sons and two daugh- ters: David H., Albert G., Magda- lene E., Samuel R., Madison L. and Emma; Mr. Miller's ancestry on his father's side is of Irish descent, and on his mother's side of German ori- gin; Mr Miller is a good practical business man and very successful in his undertakings; he is largely iden- tified with the interests of the coun- ty and is one of its best farmers; and of Mrs. Miller we may say that she is an excellent manager of her house- hold affairs and her husband's best counselor.
N ICHOLS, J. W., farmer and stock-dealer; Sec. 21; P. O. Ainsworth; was born in Franklin county, Indiana, in March 1832; was raised there on a farm and came to this county by wagon in the fall of 1855; he located where he has since lived and owns 133 acres of land; for about ten years he has been en- gaged in the stock business; was elected member of the board of county supervisors in 1861, and served for four years, being once re- elected; held the office of notary pub- lic about six years, justice of the peace two years, township clerk, trustee, and all other township offices; he was married in Dearborn county, Indiana, February 16, 1852, to Miss Margaret Stone, of that county; by this union they have four sons and one daughter: Alvin L. (conductor on the C., R. I. & P. R. R.), E. E., E. C., Almira L., and Charles P .; and three deceased : Mary E., Wm. W. and Vernon; his ances- try on his mother's side is of Welsh descent, and his father is a native of Delaware.
P DEARSON, JESSE., farmer and
stock-raiser; Sec. 33; P. O. Ainsworth; was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1825, and was raised there on a farm and has followed it as his occupation ; in 1855 he came to Dubuque county, this State, and September 5, 1856, to this county and located on his present homestead which consists of 240 acres; all of it is well improved and he has as fine a house as can be found in the township; has an orch- ard of about 1000 trees of all kinds. of fruit; was married in Pennsyl- vania, October 11, 1847, to Miss Mary J. Frew of that State; have four children, two sons and two daugh- ters: John H., Mary R. (wife of J. B. McCoy), Samuel C. (married Mat- tie Colthurst), and Emma J.
R OBISON, I. H., farmer; Sec .. 33; P. O. Ainsworth; was born in Beaver county, Pennsylva- nia, June 4, 1810, and was raised there on a farm until about nineteen years of age, when his parents moved to Portage county, Ohio; he lived there for thirty years on the Western Reserve, following farming and stock dealing as his principal occu- pation; in May, 1869, he came to. this county and located in Ainsworth, and in November, 1873, came to his present homestead, which consists of 135 acres of improved land; was- married in Ohio, in 1846, to Miss Jane L. Strain of Pennsylvania, but raised in Ohio; Mr. R. was connected with various township offices and deputy sheriff in Ohio; he is of Scotch descent on his father's side and of Irish origin on his mother's side.
S TEWART, J. M., farmer and stock-raiser; Sec. 19; P. O. Ainsworth; was born in Beaver (now Lawrence) county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1818, and was raised there on a farm until after seven- teen years of age, and in 1835 moved to Indiana with his parents;
649
OREGON TOWNSHIP.
he made that State his home until coming to this county in October, 1853; he located on his present homestead, which consists of 240 acres of land, well improved; August 15, 1862, he enlisted in company A, Twenty-fifth Iowa volunteers, and was discharged at Washington City, June 26, 1865, and participated in numerous battles, and after the war returned to his home; he was mar- ried in Indiana, in 1838, to Miss Susannalı Mason of that State; have by this union a family of nine chil- dren living: Sarah (wife of T. Marr), Arch, Amos, Martin, John, Mary (wife of .Amos Poland), Frank, James and Belle; one deceased : Daniel; Mr. Stewart was one of the first supervisors elected in 1860, when there was one elected from each township.
STEWART, AMOS (of the firm of Stewart Bros.), meat market, Ainsworth; was born in Franklin county, Indiana, in 1845, and when about eight years of age his parents came to this county; he was raised on a farm, and followed it as an occupation until 1872, when he came to Ainsworth and engaged in hnck- stering, following the same for about four years; in December, 1879, he began his present business; enlisted in company F. Fourth Iowa cavalry, in April 1863, and was discharged at Davenport, in August, 1865; he was married in this county, in 1867, to Miss Armeda Stickley, of Virginia; they have five children : Seymour G., George C., Charles L., Fannie B. and Lulu E.
STICKLEY, J. W., flour anp feed, Ainsworth; was born in Hardy county, West Virginia, May 22. 1838, and was raised there until 1860; he then moved to what was then Hampshire county, and on June 17, 1861, enlisted in company K, Fourth West Virginia volunteer infantry, and was discharged July 20, 1864, at Wheeling, West Vir-
ginia; he participated in the battles of Romney, Virginia, Charleston, West Virginia, Haines Bluff, Mississippi, Vicksburg, Jackson, Mission Ridge, Reseca, and at Dallas, Georgia; came to his present home August 12, 1864, and engaged at his trade, which he learned when a boy-that of a car- penter; in October, 1879, he en- gaged in his present business; was married in this county January 1, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth J. Sparr; she was born in Delaware county, Indiana, February 20, 1845; her parents came to this county in the fall of 1854; by this union they have one son and one daughter: Warren A. and Allie May; is at present township assessor.
T REBILCOCK, FRANCIS, grain dealer, Ainsworth; was born in England, on the 10th of October, 1823, and when nine years of age his parents came to America, and settled in Vinton county, Ohio; he was there raised on a farm, and in 1854 came to this county and en- gaged in farming as an occupation, which he followed up to 1878, when he came to his present location, and in 1879 engaged in the grain trade; he owns one of the elevators in Ains- worth, and also has a farm of 200 acres three miles north of Washing- ton; was married in Ohio, Decem- ber 12, 1845, to Miss Mary M. May- hew, of that State; they have a fam- ily of six children living: Arvista (wife of P. Maxwell), Arilla C. (wite of A. L. Smouse), Venitta E., Mag- gie, Calvery F., Bessie B; lost four; Mr. Trebilcock is of English an- cestry,
U TTTERBACK, BENJAMIN,
retired farmer; Sec. 21; P. O. Ainsworth; was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in September, 1825, and was there raised on a farm until 27 years of age; in the fall of 1847 he enlisted in the Mexican war, in company H, Third Kentucky regi- ment of volunteers; served until the
650
BIOGRAPHICAL.
close of the war; was under Scott's command; after the war he engaged in farming in his native State. and in February of 1852 came to Indiana, and lived there for 12 years; in Sep- tember, 1864, he came to this county, engaging in farming and stock-rais- ing, and in 1876 came to Ainsworth, and built what is now the Ainsworth Hotel and livery, and kept the same till March, 1878, when he retired to one-half mile south of Ainsworth, on a little homestead, still owning the property, and also one business house in that place; he was first married in Kentucky in December, 1851, to Miss Eleanor Bryan of that connty and State, who died in No- vember, 1855, leaving two children: Nancy E. (wife of Jno. H. Pearson), and Mary J. (wife of Smith W. Glaze); was married a second time in Indiana, in Angnst, 1868, to N. L. Powell, of that State; they have three sons and three daughters: Joseph M., Della, Margaret L., Nora B., Pearley, Adrian and one deceased, Carey; Mr. Utterback is of German descent on his father's side, and of Irish origin on his mother's side.
W ALKER, W. A., of the firm of Walker & Maxwell, druggists, Ainsworth; was born in Blount county, Tennesee, in 1841, and was raised there until twenty- one years of age on a farm; came to this State first in 1863, and stopped in Louisa county; followed teaching a part of the time; January 4, 1864, he enlisted in company F, Twenty- fifth Iowa, and served until the close of the war and was honorably dis- charged at Louisville, Kentucky; after the war he returned to this county in 1865, and after a short time visited his native home, at- tended school and also engaged in teaching, and in 1867 came back to this county, engaged in the drug business in the spring of 1868, under the firm name of Tustison & Wal- ker; this they continued until 1871,
when he carried on the business by himself till March 1, 1875, when he entered into partnership with W. J. Maxwell, which firm still continues; he was appointed postmaster at Ainsworth in 1868 andstill holds that office; he was married in Muscatine in 1870 to Miss Mary C. Stretch, of this State; they have a family of four children: Allie May, Mattie L., Malinda E., and Grace.
WELLS, BAZ, dealer in staple and fancy groceries, notions and hardware, Ainsworth; was born in Morgan county, Ohio, December 20, 1835; was raised in that State, and inade it his home up to the time he came to this State in 1868; he then settled in Ainsworth and engaged in his present occupation; he fol- lowed farming until twenty-two years of age and since that time his business life has been somewhat varied as he would engage in a business until he had accmnlated quite an amount, and then retire for pursuits of pleasure; was married in this county, July 27, 1871 to Miss A. E. Anderson, a native of Penn- sylvania; they have lost two chil- dren; Mr. Wells traces his ancestry on his father's side as follows: his father was born in Virginia, and his grand- father in Maryland; his mother was a native of Virginia and her ancestors were Protestant Irish.
WHITE, S. A., of the firm of Anderson & White, dealers in gen- eral merchandise, and also of An- derson, White & Co., stock shippers; Ainsworth: is a native of Lawrence county, Western Pennsylvania, and was born March 14, 1840; was raised there until the outbreak of the late war when he enlisted on the 18th of October, 1861, in company C, One Hundredth Pennsylvania volunteers; served until July 25, 1865, and was discharged at Washington City; was wounded at Spottsylvania Court- House May 12, 1864; after the war he returned to his native place and
651
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
graduated at the Iowa City Com- mercial College in 1866; his early education was on a farm; in April 1867, he came to his present loca- tion, engaged in mercantile business and has since followed it; he was married in Washington, this State, November 3, 1870, to Miss Lizzie A. McClelland, daughter of Dr. William McClelland of that place; they have one son and one daughter: Willie A., and Mattie C .; lost one: Maggie Pearl; Mr. White traces his ancestry on his father's side to the Scotch- Irish; his mother's ancestors were natives of Scotland.
.
WICKAM, T. Y., dealer in general merchandise, and proprietor of the Wickam House, Ainsworth; was born in Orange county, New York, February 19, 1836, and was raised in that State on a farm; when about seventeen years of age he engaged in teaching during the win-
ter season, and in the spring of 1866 he removed to New Jersey, there engaging in the mercantile business; he followed the same up to the time he came to this county in the fall of 1871 and began business at Ains- worth; he was married in New Jersey in 1865, to Emneline S. Cor- win, of that State; they have a family of three sons: Emmet T., Harry H., and T. Y .; have lost one daughter: Gracie; the ancestors of Mr. Wickam on his father's side came from Scotland to this country in an early day; and on his mother's side are also of Scotch origin; Mr. W's. convictions of duty are strong, and when his mind is once made up no power can change it; in private life is generous and charitable, de- voted to his family and business; he is a man of good, sound under- standing, of large practical experi- ence and of genial manners.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
B EAN, J. W., farmer; Sec. 6; P. O. West Chester; was born March 24, 1833, in Concord, New Hampshire; he was educated in the common schools and Concord Acad- emy; at the age of sixteen years he left home and friends to brave the trials of a cold world, coming to La Salle,Illinois, in 1849; he went to work on the C., R. I. & P. R. R., and followed its construction clear through to Council Bluffs, working as laborer, walking boss, and con- tractor; he was also a contractor on the U. P. R. R., and spent two or three years in Texas at the same business; in 1873 he came to the farın where he now lives and began its improvement, and it is now a splendid farm of 252 acres; he was married July 4, 1854, to Miss Esther A. Van Natta, a native of Michigan; by this union they have four chil- dren: Frank, Rosa, Freddie, and Billie; all living.
C YOCHRAN, WILLIAM, farmer; Sec. 25; P. O. Washington; was born in Indiana, February 5, 1825, and was there raised on a farm; has followed farming as an occupation most of his life; in the milling busi- ness from 1858 until the fall of 1865; in 1856 he came to Iowa and located in Keokuk county, near What Cheer, and built the grist mill near that place, running it until 1865; came to this county in 1866, and located on his psesent farm con- sisting of 82 acres; is quite an ex- tensive stock-raiser and feeder; was married March 4, 1827, to Miss Elizabeth Wallace, a native of In- diana; they have one child: Alonzo W. living; he lives with his father on the farm.
COMBS, DR. J. B., retired physi- cian and farmer; Sec. 15; P. O. Washington; the subject of this sketch was born October 23, 1824, in Ohio; there he grew to manhood
652
BIOGRAPHICAL.
and was educated at the Miami Uni- versity; in 1848-9 he studied inedi- cine at Oxford, Ohio and attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincin- nati where he graduated as M. D. in 1851 and the same year came to this county and began the practice of his profession in Washington, which he continued for six years, when he con- cluded to change his business to farming; he engaged in the sheep trade, the raising of which he carried on quite extensively for sev- eral years; he came to his present farm in 1866 and has resided here since; financially he has been very successful, as he has saved up a com- petency for his declining years ; owns a farm of 320 acres of well improved land; he was married November 8, 1855, to Miss Mary J. McClelland, a native of Pennsylvania; they have a family of four children: Clara, John, and Alice living, and one de- ceased.
F IGGINS, GEORGE, farmer; Sec. 32; P. O. Washington; was born January 22, 1829, in Ohio, and in 1839 he came to this State locating in English River township, this county; he came to this farm in the spring of 1873 and has lived there ever since; owns 40 acres of land; August 29, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Sny- der, a native of Virginia; they have eight children: Jackson, Lorenzo Dow, Ludicia, Ida, Amanda, Ella, George and Rolla; they have lost two; Mr. Figgins has held the office of town trustee and several minor offices.
GI ILLESPIE, JAMES H., dealer in general merchandise and grain, West Chester; was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 10, 1831; was raised on a farm and fol- lowed farming until 1873; he came to Iowa in 1854, settling in this county, and has been engaged in farming most of the time since; lie owns a nice farm of 60 acres well
stocked with different grades of cattle; it is situated three-fourths of a mile from West Chester; in Jan- nary of 1874 he bought out the firm of Robertson & Brother, and en- gaged in the mercantile business; in 1879 he engaged in the grain busi- ness with Mr. G. W. James, and this firm is doing a large share of the trade in the county; Mr. Gilles- pie has held the office of postmaster for three years; August 17, 1854, he married Miss Margaret Southard, a native of Licking county, Ohio; she was born on the 24th of July, 1836, and resided in Ohio until her mar- riage; they have one child living: William J., born September 12, 1857; have lost two: Charles E., born November 11, 1855, died August 11, 1872, and Howard, born June 3, 1860, died July 18, 1861; Mr. G. is the owner of a good dwelling and two lots besides his place of resi- dence.
GRIFFITH, GEORGE W., farm- er; Sec. 28; P. O. Washington; was born in Ross county, Ohio, January 22, 1844; remained there until 1848 when he came to Iowa and located in Clay township; here he has grown to manhood and has been educated in the common schools and High School of Brighton; in the spring of 1871 he moved on the farm he now occupies; owns 330 acres of land well improved with a fine residence, commodious barn, etc .; in 1867 he went to California by water, starting from New York and landing at San Francisco in December of that year; he was there engaged in farming for two years and remained there for two years more being engaged in other business; May 1, 1871, he started for home by rail and came across the continent in this manner; his farming has been very success- ful as his large estate signifies; he was married February 25, 1874; they have no children.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.