USA > Ohio > Greene County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 22
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 22
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ARVEY POTTER, attorney at law, has been a resident of Jefferson since May, 1865. lle was the second attorney that settled in that city, the first being Dan Mills, who is still living in Jefferson, but is retired. Mr. Potter was born at Turin, Lewis County, New York, July 17, 1634. ITis father, Chester Potter, was a stone mason in early life, and a farmer in later years. Ilis mother, Dinah (Miller) Potter, was of Eng- lish and Irish parentage. The Potters were wholly English. Harvey's paternal grand- father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his father was in the war of ISI2. When ; and legal education. He has been admitted
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to practice in the United States Courts, the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, and the Circuit, District and Supreme Courts of Iowa. Ile possesses the Jeffersonian qualifi- cation of honesty, integrity and ability. Judge Henry Booth, dean and leading pro- fessor in the law department of the University of Chicago, paid him the following tribute: " Among all the students of my school, from twenty popular colleges, not one was superior to Ilarvey Potter." August 24, 1562, he was married to Miss Mary L. Price, a native of Illinois. She is a woman of education and refinement. Religiously Mr. Potter and wife are devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both are devoted to the Sunday-school and other religions work. They graduated at the Chantauqua Sunday-school Assembly at Clear Lake, lowa, in the summer of 1877. Both have long been active, earnest workers in the cause of temperance and prohibition, Mrs. Potter for some time being State vice-presi- dent of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and having charge of the work of that organization in the entire Eleventh Con- gressional District of Iowa.
TILLIAM LEE, one of the old settlers of Washington Township, residing on section 6, is a native of Ohio, born in Harrison County May 11, 1516, a son of John Lee, who was born near Rich- mond. Virginia. William Lee, our subjeet, was reared to the avocation of a farmer, his education being obtained in the rude log cabin subscription schools. He was married in 1849 to Miss Martha MeLain, a daughter of Alanson Melain, and of the eight chil- dren born to this union, five are living- Henry. John, Emma, Daniel and Delbert D.
One son, William, died in 1885 at the age of twenty-two years. In the fall of 1854 he came to Greene County, lowa, settling on the farm where he has since resided. His first dwelling was a split-log cabin consisting of one room 16 x 18 feet in size. Elk. wolves, deer and other wild animals were then in abundance, the surrounding country being in a state of nature. Here the family experienced many of the hardships and pri- vations of pioneer life. Their nearest milling and trading point was Des Moines. He has met with fair success in his farming opera- tions, and by years of toil and industry has acquired his present fine farm of eighty-two aeres, all of which is under good cultivation.
EORGE M. GILLILAND, of Paton, a member of the firm of Gilliland Broth- ers, contractors and builders, is a son of Archibald and Mary (Henderson) Gilliland, natives of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, the father born in 1800, now deceased, and the mother in 1818. George M. Gilliland, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Boone County. lowa, the date of his birth being September 14, 1559. Ilis edneational advant- ages were some what limited, he attending the district schools of his native county in his boyhood. At the age of fifteen years he began learning the carpenter's trade, his ancestors being workers or carvers in wood for many years. His grandfather, John Gilli- land, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and in the war of 1812, being a gunner in the latter war, and was transferred from the land forces to the lakes. Mr. Gilliland has fol- lowed the trade Iearned in his youth through life, and is considered one of the finest work- men in his part of Greene County. In the fall of 1873 he went to Oregon, where he
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remained till the spring of 1877. The same spring he went to Warren County, lowa, and returned to his home in Boone County, in the fall of 1878. In the spring of 1881 he came to Paton, Greene County, when he formed a partnership with his brother, A. Il. Gilliland, and has since followed contracting
and building and during their comparatively short residence here have erected over ninety buildings. Mr. Gilliland has never married, but makes his home with his mother, who is now living in Paton. He never seeks official honors, preferring to devote his entire atten- tion to his business. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' order.
IMMERSON JJOHNSON, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of llardin Township, residing on section 5, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, August 14, 1845, a son of Adam and Sarah Johnson, who were natives of Virginia, and early settlers of Ohio. The mother died in 1878, and the father has since made his home with his children; at present is living with his daughter, Mrs. Wagoner, in Kansas. The father being a farmer, Emmerson was reared to the same avocation, which he has followed through life. At the age of twenty-eight years he rented a farm in JJones County, Iowa, which he farmed for two years. Ile was united in marriage in 1873 to Miss C'enith Jones, a native of Indiana, born Oc- tober 5, 1848, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Tatun) Jones, the father born in Mon- roe County, Indiana, November 29, 1819, and the mother a native of North Carolina, born March 25, 1825. The father settled with his family in Jones County, Iowa, in 1863, where he followed farming till his death, which occurred May 3, 1880. His
widow, Mrs. Jones, is still living at Grand Junetion, Iowa. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, two sons and seven daughters, Mrs. Johnson being the fourth child. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are keeping two of their brother Newton Johnson's chil- dren, their mother being deceased. They are -- Myrtle B., born August 31, 1872, and Alta M., born July 7, ISSO. About the year 1869 Mr. Johnson took a trip to the north- western part of Iowa to determine a location, and finally settled on his present farm in Hardin Township. He is one of the self- made men of Greene County, having by fair dealing and hard work acquired his present fine property. He has his land now well improved, and it is considered one of the finest stock farms in Greene County. He devotes considerable attention to the raising of stock, and is making a specialty of Jersey hogs, short-horn cattle and a fine grade of Norman horses. In politics Mr. Johnson affiliates with the Democratic party. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
M ILO B. WESTERVELT, farmer, re- sides on section 3, Bristol Township, where he owns 400 aeres of excellent land on sections 2 and 3. Ilė was born in Franklin County, Ohio, December 8, 1856, the only son of James and Kate (Knox) Westervelt, now deceased. He was reared a farmer, and obtained a good education, becoming a teacher before reaching his majority. When twenty-one years of age he entered into a partnership with his uncle, John Knox, in farming and stock-raising, which continued until 1878, when he formed another partnership in the eattle and sheep trade, shipping to Pittsburg. Pennsylvania.
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In 1879 he visited Greene County, stopping only two weeks, then went to California, where he led an active business life for the next two years. He then returned to Greene County, where he spent several months in the abstract and recorder's office, under Recorder Ilead. In 1883 he settled upon his farm, and is now engaged in improving and stocking the same. September 12, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Rose, daughter of John and Sarah Diemer, of Wayne County, this State. Mrs. Westervelt was born in that county September 12, 1860. They have two sons Alanson K., born July 7, 1884, and Milo B., born December 2, 1885. Politically Mr. Westervelt affiliates with the Republican party.
G. LAWRENCE, of the firm of Law- rence & Haag, the principal real estate dealers and abstractors in Jefferson, engaged in his present business in January, 1876, at which time he bought a half interest in the Greene County Abstract and Real Es- tate Agency. This business was established in 1867 by W. B. Mayes. Mr. Lawrence possesses the only complete set of abstraet books in the county. He has been a resident of ,Jefferson sinee 1867, and for six years he was engaged in the bank of Head Brothers. For four years he served as auditor of Greene County. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1844, and came to lowa with his parents in 1854, the family settling in Poweshick County. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Tenth lowa Infantry, and served in Gen- eral Sherman's army until 1865, participating in many of the important events of the war, inelnding the Atlanta campaign and march to the sea, and took part in the grand re- view at Washington. After the war Mr.
Lawrence was engaged in farming one year, and was then employed in Mickle & Head's bank at Montezuma for a short time. After- ward he attended school at Davenport, from which place he came to Jefferson. Politi- cally he affiliates with the Republican party.
- LYSSES B. KINSEY, section 10, June- tion Township. Greene County, was born in Laneaster County, Pennsyl- vania, June 13, 1822, a son of Samuel and Susannah (Beam) Kinsey, who were natives of the same State, the father born in Lancas- ter County and the mother in Chester County. The father is deceased, the mother still living in Junction Township at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Our subject was taken by his parents to Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1827, they settling on a farm in the then new country. He obtained such education as the rnde log cabin schools of that early day afforded, his early life being spent in at- tending these schools and in assisting with the work of the farm. He was married February 1, 1841, to Matilda Draper, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Draper, and to this union have been born five chil- dren-Leander B., Sarah J., Mary I., James U. and Edgar L., all of whom are married and living in Junction Township. Mr. Kin- sey was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in Company I, Fifty-first Ohio In- fantry, as First Sergeant. He was shortly afterward promoted to Quartermaster-Ser- geant, serving as such till December 11, 1864. and participated in the battle of Stone River and a number of skirmishes. Hle came to Greene County, Iowa, in October, 1869, set- tling where he now lives in lunetion Town- ship. He owns eighty acres of land, which he rents to tenants, he working at the car-
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penter's trade, which he has followed for many years. He began life entirely without capital, and while living in Ohio he failed in business. He came to Iowa without means, but a stout heart and a pair of willing hands. Began here on wild land, which he cleared and improved, and he experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. lle was one of the earliest settlers of Junetion Township, locating on his present farm when there was scarcely a house in the township. The first two winters he trapped muskrats, from the sale of which he built his house and helped to pay for his land, at one time taking as many as 2,200 skins to Grand Junction. Ile never seeks official honors, but has been indueed to accept the office of township trustee, which he has filled accept- ably for several years. Ile is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also a member of the Grand Army. He and his wife and their daughter, Mrs. Mary Coburn, are members of the Presbyterian church.
HARLES A. WOODS, engaged in farm- ing and stoek raising on seetion 22 of Franklin Township, is a native of Ohio, born Angust 18, 1843, his parents, Thomas and Mary A. (Latta) Woods, being natives of Ireland, the father being a farmer by oc- enpation. At the early age of nine years Charles A1., our subjeet, began working in a rolling-mill nail factory, where he was en- ployed for twenty years. Ile was united in marriage in May, 1563, to Miss Mary II. Potts, who was born in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, November 3, 1846, and died in Greene County, lowa, July 4, 1882. She was the daughter of David and Mary (Patterson) Potts. To Mr. and Mrs. Woods were born seven children, their names being as follows 21
-Minnie, Charles, John, Harry, Cora. Maud and Ethel. In February, 1875, Mr. Woods came with his family to Greene County, when he settled on his farm on section 22, Franklin Township, where he now has a good farm, well improved, consisting of 160 aeres. Ile has on his land a fine maple grove which covers two acres, from which the name of his homestead, " Maple Grove Farm," is de- rived. lle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, his wife having been a member of the same church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. Post- office, Cooper, Iowa.
FOIIN MCCARTHY, mayor of the city of Jefferson, is one of the prominent busi- ness men of that town, though not one of its oldest residents. In December, 1880, he purchased 200 acres of land in Ilardin Town- ship, and erected buildings thereon and improved and cultivated the farm. Ile pur- chased other land adjoining, until he now has 540 aeres. The land lies near town and is very valuable; he also owns real estate elsewhere. The total amount of his land in Greene County is 1,040 aeres. To Mr. Me- Carthy, more than to any other man, is due the investigation which led to the production of the numerous artesian wells which now exist in this vicinity. In 1881 he prodneed one of these wells on his farm near town, and from this well flows an abundance of excellent mineral water. A specimen of the water was analyzed by Professor Hunt of the Agricul- tural College, the formula of which shows that it possesses valuable medicinal proper- ties. The benefit of this well to the fine stock farin of Mr. McCarthy can hardly be estimated. The owner is extensively engaged in raising and feeding and buying and selling
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stock. Hle is also engaged in the boot and shoe business at Jefferson. Mr. McCarthy was born in the city of Rochester, State of New York, in 1843. Three years later his father. Jeremiah MeCarthy, removed with his family to the State of Illinois, and settled in what is now Prairie Center, LaSalle County. llere our subject was reared to the occupation of farming and stock-raising. The father remained in LaSalle County until his deeease. Mr. McCarthy was married in Illinois to Miss M. F. Blackwell. Politically Mr. Mc- Carthy is a Democrat. llis popularity is indicated by the fact that in a strong Repub- lican town he was elected mayor by a major- ity of eighty-one votes. They have an adopted son, Fred, born in 1863.
AMES W. SMITH resides on section 35, Grant Township, Greene County, Iowa, where his father, Pleasant Smith, settled in July, 1855, having purchased 210 acres of land of Winson Cronse. The father, however, lived but about three years after making his settlement here, dying in 1858. Ile canght a severe cold while hunting elk the winter following his settlement here and an illness followed which resulted in his death. Ile left a wife and eight children, four sons and four daughters, the wife dying in December, 1868. Only three of the children are now living. James W. and Sarah live on the old homestead. Jackson resides in Washington Township. Pleasant Smith was born in Ten- nessee in December, 1799. Ile married Jane Upton in 1819, removing to Illinois in 1828. thence to lowa in 1855. Two of his sons served in the Union army during the Rebell- ion. Robert T. was a member of Company H. Tenth lowa Infantry. He was captured near Missionary Ridge in 1863, and imprisoned at
Andersonville, where he died June 24, 1864. James W. owns and occupies the homestead farm. Ile was born in DeWitt County, Illinois, November 14, 1839. August 15, 1863, he enlisted in Company E, Thirty- ninth lowa Infantry, and was in the battle of Parker's Cross Roads, Tennessee, December 31, 1862, and also in the battles of Snake Creek, Georgia, May 9, 1864; Horse-shoe Bend, May 16, 1864, and the terrible battle of Allatoona Pass, Georgia, October 5, 1864. At the last mentioned battle he was twice wounded, the first time, while occupying the ditch in front of the fort, receiving a gun-shot wound in the head. After the army had been driven back to the fort, after the third charge, he was shot through the elbow joint of the right arm, which resulted in amputation on the 31st of October. Being disabled by these severe wounds he was sent to army hospitals for treatment as follows: First to Rome, Georgia, and remained there until November, 1864, just before Sherman's " march to the sea;" thence to Chattanooga, Tennessee; thence to Nashville, Tennessee; thence to Jeffersonville, Indiana; thence to Jef- ferson Barracks, Missouri; thence to Keokuk, Iowa, where he was discharged May 24, 1865, being in the active service two years and nearly ten months. Notwithstanding his terrible experience in the army his health is good. Ile was married to Susan A. Bell, daughter of Rev. Watson A. Bell. May 30, 1865, at Sigourney, Iowa. Mrs. Susan A. (Bell) Smith was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1843. They have nine children, seven sons and two daughters. In 1868 while driving a pair of young horses he was thrown from his wagon, receiving great injuries. While trying to escape from the run-away team he fell under the wagon, the wagon passing over him and breaking his lower jaw in two places, and his left leg
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below the knee. After lying at the point of death for several weeks he was restored to health by the kind nursing of his faithful wife, materially assisted by his strong consti- tution and his indomitable will. Ile fully recovered from these injuries and enjoys the blessing of a sound constitution, carrying the marks of no affliction other than the bullet wounds he received in the service of his country as related above. Politically Mr. Smith affiliates with Republican party.
EORGE C. DILLAVOU, farmer, sec- tion 17, Kendrick Township, was born in Randolph County, Indiana, August 29, 1850, son of James Dillavou, a prominent pioneer of this county. Ile was five years of age when his father came to lowa and settled amid the wild surroundings of pio- neer life. Ilis youth was spent in assist- ing his father on the farm, and in attending the common schools of Greene County. He was married March 13, 1879, to Miss Lotta Chase, who was a native of Canada, and a danghter of Rev. John W. Chase, a promi- nent minister in the United Brethren church, and the founder of the first church of that denomination in Greene County. Ile was a native of Connecticut, and married Miss Susan Crawford, who was a native of Canada. They lived in Canada several years, and in 1855 came to Iowa, settling in Clayton County, where they lived until 1868, then came to Greene County and settled in Cedar Township. Mr. Dillavou came to his present farm in the spring of 1879, which he pur- chased some time previous. He owns 200 acres of excellent land, and his farm is known as one of the best in his township. He has a good two-story residence built in modern style, with bay window and piazzas, and
surrounded with shade trees, and his farm buildings are commodious and comfortable. He is quite extensively engaged in stock- raising and feeding. Mr. and Mrs. DiHlavou have had four children-Mahlon J., Statten G .; Ross L., who died at the age of two years, ten months and fifteen days, and Maud. Politically Mr. Dillavon is a Republican. HIc served as township clerk when only twenty- one years of age. He has served as a mem- ber of the School Board and township assessor with satisfaction to his constituents. Hc well remembers seeing the deer and elk run up and down the creek on the farm of his father; seeing and hearing the prairie wolves howl when only a little boy, and at one time getting scared by the wolves, and in the place of seeing carpet-baggers and plug hats, hoops and bustles, or banged hair, he saw the hunter with his coon-skin cap and long rifle on his shoulder, and women dressed plain with long hair.
- AMES M. HOSIIA W, farmer, section 36, Hardin Township, is a native of Shelby County, Ohio, born March 27, 1833, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Shigley) Hoshaw, who were both natives of Shenandoah County, Virginia. They left their native State in 1811, in which year they settled in Ohio. Both are now deceased. James M. was reared on the home farm till twenty-one years of age, when he began to learn the carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. After twelve years hard work he had saved enough money to purchase a farm of forty acres of improved land in Marion County, Iowa, on which he located in 1856, at that time not a railroad being in the State. Ile was united in marriage in Shelby County, Ohio, January 2, 1857, and
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to this union were born four daughters- America, Araminta, Matilda and Martha. While a resident of Marion County, Iowa, his wife returned to Ohio, where she died. lle was a resident of Marion County about sixteen years, but after the death of his wife he moved to De Witt County, Illinois, where he lived about eight years. Ile was married a second time in March, 1868, to Miss Evaline Warrenburg, who was born in Fayette County, Ohio, in November, 1840, her parents, George and Mary Warrenburg, being natives of the State of Virginia. One child has been born to this union - - JJames Henry, born June 10, 1869. Mr. Hoshaw came with his family to Greene County in the spring of 1874, when he settled in Ilardin Township, on the farm where he still resides. He is an industrious and enterprising farmer, and his present fine farm of 120 acres has been acquired by years of toil. Ilis land is now under a fair state of cultivation, and well im- proved. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church, and are classed among the respected citizens of Green County.
married Tupper Kirby, of Grand Junction, and has two children, named Osa Viola and Edgar P .; Catherine, wife of Frank Taylor, of Washington Township; Banyer, married Emma John, and lives in Washington Town- ship; John and Amos, twins, living in Wash- ington Township, the latter married to Cora White; Nicholas P., Hannah, Eliza, Lilian, Andrew J. and Isaac J. Mr. Burk came to Iowa with his young wife the same year of their marriage, making the journey with an ox team in about three weeks, when they set- tled on the farm which has since been their home. Ilis first land purchased here was forty aeres, for which he paid $100 in work at forty or fifty cents per day, and a note for $54. Ilis first house was built of rough oak boards, and consisted of one room 14 x 16 feet in size. He hauled lumber to the mill for a party, and for his services received a quarter of the lumber, and with this he built his house. This house is still standing in the rear of his present residence. When they first settled in Washington Township the surrounding country was in a wild state, Indians and wild animals being the principal inhabitants, and for several years they were well supplied with wild game. Pork was scarce, selling at 25 cents a pound, and the price of flour in 1857 was $8.25 per hundred weight. Their trading and milling was done at Des Moines. Mr. Burk began life in Iowa without means, but by hard work and strict ceonomy, assisted by the good management of his wife, he has become one of the pros- perous citizens of Greene County. He made his first money on buckwheat which he raised in 1857, taking 101 bushels to Des Moines, and after getting it ground at Walnut Creek Mills, sold it for $3.25 a hundred weight. Mr. Burk is now the owner of 401 aeres of valuable land, and has given to his children
OSHUA BURK, one of the self-made men of Greene County, and an old pio- neer of Washington Township, was born in Oswego County. New York, March 31, 1883, a son of Amos S. Burk, who was a native of the same State. The father removed with his family to Carroll County, Missouri, in 1844, and to Me Donough County, Illinois, in 1846, where he lived till his death. JJoshna Burk, the subject of this sketch, went to Cass County, Illinois, in 1852, where he worked as a farm hand for one man for four years. lle was married in the spring of 1856 to Amanda C. Hall, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of John Hall, deceased. They are the parents of eleven children -- Viola E., | 240 acres. Mr. Burk was a soldier in the
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war of the Rebellion, serving in Company Il. Tenth lowa Infantry, almost three years. He participated in the battles of Inka, Corinth, Missionary Ridge, siege of Vicksburg, Jack- son. Mississippi, and others of minor im- portance, and was wounded in the battles of Corinth and Missionary Ridge.
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