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 26

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 728

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 26
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 26

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bership to the colored people south of Mason and Dixon's line. Two years later he was sent to Blount County, Tennessee, traveling over mountains, walking most of the time, and visiting all the churches in the valleys. lle was there engaged in missionary work for some time, his labors for the Master being well rewarded. In 1880 he came to Greene County, Iowa, and since then has been engaged in ehnreh work in Dawson Town- ship, he being the first and only ordained minister there. ITis postoffice is Paton, Iowa. Ile is now pastor of the Friends church, near Paton.

MON F. SHANNON, farmer and stock- raiser of Cedar Township, residing on section 11, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, October 18. 1848, and is of Irish and Holland ancestry. He is a son of James and Amanda (Fairehild) Shannon, his father being a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Virginia, and is a descendant of Isaac Fair- child, who collected the first taxes in Ilolmes County, Ohio. In a family of two sons and one daughter our subject was the youngest child. He lived in his native State till ten years of age, when he went with his parents in 1858 to Jo Daviess County, Illinois, where he remained helping to support his parents for several years. In October, 1865, he re- moved to JJones County, Iowa. remaining there three years. He was united in marriage October 18, 1868, to Miss Sarah E. Barrett, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in February, 1845, her parents, Benjamin and Viola Barrett, being natives of the same State. They are the parents of two daughters -Mary, born December 1, 1869, and Ada, born January 20, 1882. Mr. Shannon came to Greene County, Iowa, in 1868, when he

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located on the land which he has since con- They then returned to Michigan, remaining verted from the raw prairie into a well-im- , there two years. In 1868 they came to proved and finely-enltivated farm consisting of 160 acres. Since coming to the township he has met with excellent success in his farm- ing operations, and is now elassed among Cedar Township's well-to-do and respected citizens. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.

OBERT P. MORDEN, a retired farmer, residing on seetions 14 and 22, Franklin Township, was born in London, Canada, May 16, 1841, a son of John and Mary A. (Parkinson) Morden, who were all born in Canada, the mother still residing there. The father is deccased. They were the parents of nine children, two sons and seven danghters, our subject being the youngest child. The father being a farmer, Robert was reared to the same occupation, and at the age of four- teen years he began farming his father's farm, which he followed for three years. In 1869 he came to the United States, and located in La Fayette County, Indiana, where he en- gaged in the insurance business, following that pursuit until December 8, 1862. Dur- ing the late war he was employed as wagon- master for three years. In 1865 he went to Livingston County, Michigan, where he was married December 4 of the same year to Miss Elizabeth Dier, who was born in Liv- ingston County January 17, 1843, a daughter of Philip and Anna (Shotwell) Dier, who were natives of Pennsylvania, both being now deceased. After remaining a short time in Michigan, they went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, so that Mrs. Morden (who had previously studied medicine) might attend her last term at the Women's Medical Col- lege, where she received her diploma in 1866.

| Greene County, and after living a short time at Jefferson, they removed to Coon Rapids, Carroll County, where Mrs. Morden practiced her profession. In 1872 they left Coon Rapids, returning to Jefferson, where Mr. Morden engaged in the dry goods business, which he followed about a year. He then exchanged his store for his present farm in Franklin Township, where he has 600 acres of good land. He takes an active interest in stock-raising, and is at present engaged in raising short-horn cattle and a fine grade of horses. Mrs. Morden is still practicing medicine, in which she is very successful. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morden, of whom four are living- Byron, Lena, Orrie and Roy. Bertie is deceased. In politics Mr. Morden is a staunch Republican. Since becoming a resident of Franklin Township he has served as justice of the peace, holding that office with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. IIe is a member of the Odd Fellows order, belonging to the lodge at Jefferson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Morden are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their post- office is Cooper, Iowa.

DWARD CAIN, farmer, section 35, Greenbrier Township, is a native of the Isle of Man, born September 4, 1842, and is a son of John and JJane (Eads) Cain, the former a native of the Isle of Man, and the mother of England. They were the parents of ten children-Sarah, JJohn, Abra- ham. Edward, Robert, Jane. Elizabeth, Ma- tilda, William and Morris. Edward passed his youth at farm work, and attending the schools of his native island. At the age of

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eighteen years he emigrated to the United States, locating in Warren County, Illinois, where he lived three years. He then re- moved to Knox County, same State, living there two years, then returned to Warren County and lived until 1879. Ile then came to Greene County, this State, and located upon his present farm, where he has since resided. llis farm contains 680 acres, 400 acres being in Greene County, and 250 in Guthrie County. It is in a good state of enltivation and well improved. Ile has a fine one and a half story residence, built in modern style, and surrounded with shade and ornamental trees. He has a large and com- mnodions barn, and out-buildings for stock and grain, and is extensively engaged in stoek-raising, usnally keeping from 200 to 225 head of cattle, and buying from 10,000 to'12,000 bushels of corn a year. Mr. Cain was united in marriage March 4, 1868, to Miss Jane Gaunt, daughter of David and Ann (Charlesworth) Gaunt, of England. They have five children-Anna Jane, Ada M., Oscar E .. Charles W. and Alice E. Po- litieally Mr. Cain is a Republican, and he is a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ile started in life without means, but by industry and good management he has acquired a fine property, and is one of the leading men of Greene County.

assisting his father on the home farm. 1844 he was taken by his parents to Cham- paign County, Illinois, where his father entered land at $1.25 per acre, the city of Champaign being now located on part of the land owned by the father. The father died there September 17, 1845, the mother sur- viving her husband until Angust 1, 1874. They were the parents of seven children, our subject being the fifth child. Ile eame to Greene County, Iowa, in 1854, and settled at Jefferson when that now thriving town con- tained but one house. The following spring he went to Minnesota, remaining there one year, when he returned to Greene County and entered eighty acres of land on North Coon, nine miles north of Jefferson, where he erected a log cabin, remaining there till 1859. Here he was engaged in trapping and hunt- ing during the winter seasons and during the summers worked on his farm. Ile experienced many hardships and privations in his pioneer home. His nearest milling place was Des Moines, then a small place containing about a dozen houses, and his provisions were obtained at Keokuk, 125 miles distant, he making the trip with ox teams, and taking two weeks or more to make the journey. Ile was united in marriage February 18, 1851, to Miss Isabelle Brock, born in Boone County, Indiana, June 13, 1540, a daughter of Allen and Lavina (Coeks) Brock, natives of Ten- nessee. To this union have been born five children-Madison M., Arabelle, Jennette (., Melissa and George Franklin. In 1859 Mr. Kuder went to Pikes Peak, remaining there one year, when he returned to Greene County, and a short time later returned to his old home in Illinois, where he remained till after the close of the war. Ile again returned to

EORGE W. KUDER, one of the old and honored pioneers of Greene County, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 21, Willow Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Columbia County, June 15, 1832, his parents, George and Sarah (Morris) Knder, being natives of the same | Greene County, Iowa, in the fall of 1866, and State. He was reared to the avocation of a ' in 1881 settled on his present farm. To his farmer, his early boyhood being spent in 'original purchase he has added till he now

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

has 240 acres located on seetions 16 and 21 of Willow Township, his land being well improved and well cultivated with the excep- tion of about nine aeres. He has a good orchard and a comfortable and commodious residence surrounded by fine groves, and good ont buildings for his stock. Mr. Kuder began life a poor boy but by years of per- severing toil and good management he has prospered in his farming operations, and become the owner of his present fine prop- erty, and is now identified with Greene County's best farmers. He has done his share toward improving the county, having improved six different farms. Mr. and Mrs. Knder are worthy members of the Church of God, and are among the most respected citizens of Greene County.

- ENRY W. KELLOGG, county andi- tor of Greene County, is now serving his second term in that capacity, having been first elected in the fall of 1883, and re elected in 1885. Ile succeeded Andrew 1. Watts, who had served six years, and the latter succeeded G. G. Lawrence, who had served four years. Mr. Kellogg settled in Grant Township, this county, in 1869, where he purchased and improved a prairie farm which he still owns, and which he occupied until elected to his present office. lle was born in Syeamore, De Kalb County, Illinois, January 14, 1840, and was reared in his native county. His father, Jesse C. Kellogg, died in Sycamore in 1874. Ile was born in Connecticut, and removed to Lamoille County, Vermont, when quite young. Ile settled in Sycamore in 1836. Hle was one of the carly settlers of the county, and was clerk of the cirenit court for many years. August 9. 1862, 11. W. Kellogg en- listed in Company A, One Hundred and

Fifth Illinois Infantry, and served until June 14, 1865. Ilis regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. Upon the con- solidation of the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, the brigade to which he belonged became the Twentieth. Previous to that time his regi- ment was not attached to any corps. Mr. Kellogg participated in many important bat- tles and campaigns, including Resaca, Kene- saw Mountain, siege of Atlanta, and Sher- man's march to the sea. Ile was engaged in the battle of Bentonville, and marched to Washington after the surrender of Johnston and took part in the grand review in that city. Ilis exposures, as a soldier, induced the asthma, and it was to find relief from that trouble that decided him to come to Iowa. Hle was for many years engaged as mercan- tile clerk. In 1865 he married Miss Maggie Countryman, who died January 29, 1873. His present wife was formerly Miss Samantha Kingsley. By his first marriage were two children-Jessie and Iliram, and a son and daughter by his present marriage, Bertha and Henry. Bertha died when five months old. Ile is a Republican in politics, casting his first presidential vote for General Grant. Ile was a voter when Lincoln was cleeted the second time, but being in the army he could not exercise his right. Mr. Kelloggis a popu- lar and efficient offieer, and one of the highly respected and progressive citizens of Greene County.

ILLIAM A. THOMPSON, farmer, Grant Township, resides on section 22, where he owns 200 acres of land on seetions 22 and 23. This farm was en- tered by Mr. Reece, who made the first im- provements. Mr. Thompson purchased the place in 1875. It is one of the most desir- able farms in the township, 160 acres being

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

in a fine state of enltivation and the remain- der well timbered. Mr. Thompson has been a resident of Greene County since 1867, when he settled in what was then Junetion Township, on an unimproved farm. lle still owns the farm and has made many improve- ments. Ile is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1837, where he lived until nine years of age, when his parents removed to Cedar County, Iowa. His father, John Thompson, was one of the pioneers of that county, har- ing settled there in 1846. He removed to Junction Township. this county, in 1874, where he passed the remainder of his days, surviving his wife two years. They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters; one son and one daughter are de- eeased. When William A. started out for himself he located in Keokuk County, where he improved a farm and resided until he came to Greene County. He has been twice mar- ried. Ilis first wife was Martha J. Wright, a native of Lee County, Iowa, who died in this county, August 11, 1579. His present wife was formerly Mrs. Matilda Richardson, nee Nuterfee, who came to Washington County with her parents in 1842. Iler father, Golston S. Nuterfee, is now deceased. By his first marriage, Mr. Thompson had four children-August C., Mary I., William II., and Bessie Centennial. Politically, he is a Republiean, and east his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. In 1886 he was assessor of Grant Township.

being natives of the same State. lle re- mained in his native State till sixteen years of age, when he came with his parents to Cedar County, lowa. At the age of seven- teen he began working out by the month, which he followed till twenty-three years of age. Ile enlisted in the war of the Rebellion and was assigned to Company A, Fifth lowa Infantry, his regiment being mnstered into service shortly after. Ile participated in the battles of luka, Vieksburg and Chattanooga, and other engagements of minor importance. Hle was mustered out of the service at Chat- tanooga, and received his final discharge at Davenport, Iowa, in August. 1864. Ile was married February 16, 1865, to Miss Catherine Brown, a native of Ohio, born Angust 30, 1840, a daughter of William and Susan (Ellis) Brown, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Zeitler is in every re- spect a self-made man; commeneing as a pio- neer in Greene County on comparatively nothing, he has by his persevering industry and good management acquired a good prop- erty, having a fine farm of 240 acres under good enltivation. In connection with his general farming he pays some attention to stoek-raising, keeping a good grade of stock. In polities he affiliates with the Republican party. Postoffice, Jefferson, lowa.

B. GARLAND, farmer, seetion 16, Kendrick Township, was born in

0 Boone County, Kentucky, November 25, 1840, son of Ebenezer and Eliza (lloshall) Garland, who were the parents of ten chil- dren, J. B. being the eldest. When he was a babe his parents removed to the Territory of lowa, settling in Jackson County, where he was reared on a farm, and educated in the

- ILLBURN ZEITLER, a prosperous - farmer and stock-raiser of llardin Township, residing on seetion 20, was born in Pennsylvania, June 13, 1537, his parents, John and Mary (Schloneker) Zeitler, common schools of that county. le engaged

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

in teaching at an early age, and tanght several terms in JJackson and Greene eoun- tics. Upon arriving at the age of manhood, he was united in marriage, March 28, 1860, with Miss Emma Hawkins, born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and daughter of John B. and letty (Smith) Hawkins, who were the parents of nine children, Mrs. Gar- land being the eighth. Mr. Garland resided in Jackson County, nntil 1869,. then came to Greene County and purchased eighty acres of wild land, which is his present home. Ile has since added to his original purchase until he now owns 370 aeres of excellent land, which is in a good state of cultivation and well improved. He has a very pleasant residence, surrounded with shade trees, a native grove of two acres, and orchard, barn, and out buildings for stock, and a wind- mill which furnishes power for water supply for stoek. Ile keeps from eighty to 100 head of cattle, and about 100 to 150 hogs, besides considerable other stock. Mr. Garland is a Re- publican in polities, and a strong adherent of the principles of that party. Ile has served as a member of the school board, township assessor, justice of the peace, and is at present serving as member of the board of super- visors. lle belongs to the Masonic Lodge, Golden Gate, at Seranton, and is also a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

- HARDING, one of Churdan's promi- nent men, and mayor of the village, was born in Salem County, New Jer- sey, October 1, 1820, a son of Thomas and Lydia Harding, who were also natives of the State of New Jersey. He was reared to the avocation of a farmer in his native State, re- maining on the home farm with his parents till attaining the age of twenty-one years.

Ile then went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the drng business, remaining there till 1856. Ile was united in marriage in the spring of 1841, to Miss Elizabeth N. Zane, a danghter of Redman and Lydia Zane, who were natives of New Jersey. Three children were born to this union, all dying in infaney. Mrs. Ilarding died in Philadel- phia in 1851. In 1852 Mr. Harding married Miss A. C. Zane, a sister of his first wife, and this union was blessed with six children -Ilarry, Charles F., Ella K., Clarence A., Lillian M. and Orville A. Harry, a prosper- ons farmer living near Churdan, was born in 1853; was married in 1874 to Elizabeth Bardsley, a daughter of William and Betsy Bardsley. Charles F., born in 1855, gradu- ated from the law department of the State University at Madison, Wisconsin, and is now praetieing his profession at Chicago, Illinois. He was married July 10, 1885, to Hattie Hoover, her parents, William and Agnes Hoover, being residents of Wisconsin. Ella K. was born in 1856, and in 1879 was mar- ried to James W. Huntington, and now lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Clarence A. was born in 1860. Hle is now living at Fonda, Iowa. Lillian, born in 1866, is still living with her parents. Orville, the youngest, lives with his parents, and is engaged in Churdan. In 1856 Mr. Harding removed with his family to Dane County, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm, and there followed agricultural pursuits until 1881. 1Ie then resided in Excelsior, Riehland County, Wis- consin, eighteen months, and in 1883 he came to Greene County, Iowa, locating at Churdan, subsequently engaging in the in- surance, collecting and official business. In 1885 he was elected to his present position of mayor, and in March, 1886, was re-elected. and re-elected in 1887. Mr. Harding has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal

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church since 1841, and since 1857 has been connected with the ministry, traveling part of the time as an ordained minister. In poli- ties he was formerly a Whig, but is now a stauneh Republican. IIe has been a member of both the Masonie and Odd Fellows orders.

OBERT EASON. president of the bank of Scranton, has been a resident of Greene County, lowa, since October, 1872, at which time he settled on a farm of 560 aeres in Jackson Township. Ilere he resided till February, 1885, when he removed to Scranton, and till the following November operated the tile factory at this place. He then bought the bank of Scranton, where he has since carried on a general banking busi- ness, his son, W. M. Eason, being cashier of the bank. This is the only bank in Scranton, and was established in the fall of 1877 by T. P. Larue, he having erected the present substantial briek building at a cost of 84,800. Mr. Eason still owns his valuable farm in Jackson Township, which is well-improved and well stocked, and is carried on by his son Frank A. Mr. Eason is a native of Ohio, born in Wooster, Wayne County, in 1838. where he was reared till his sixteenth year, and in 1854 removed with his parents to Iowa City, lowa. Ile was married in John- son County, lowa, to Miss Ellen Burke, a native of the State of New York. They are the parents of three children-Frank A., Willis M. and Martha. In October, 1861, Mr. Eason enlisted in Company B, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry. Immediatelay after the battle of Shiloh he was transferred to the Forty- first Iowa Infantry, and sent to the frontier in Dakota, and nine months later he was transferred to the Seventh lowa Cavalry, with which he served seven months. He was then 23

assigned as Quartermaster of the One Ilun- dred and Twenty-second United States Colored Infantry, with headquarters at Lexington, Kentucky, and was afterward stationed at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, where he received his discharge in March, 1865. Ile was in active service during the whole term of his enlistment. Though never severely wounded in battle, the exposure and hardships which he endured while in the service have left their permanent effects on his constitution. After the war he returned to Johnson County, Iowa, where he remained till settling in Jackson Township, Greene County, in the fall of 1872. In polities Mr. Eason is a Republican, easting his first vote while in the army in 1864 for President Lincoln. Alex- ander G. Eason, the father of our subjeet, was a native of Pennsylvania, removing with his parents to Wooster, Ohio, in 1816, when fourteen years of age. In 1854 he eame with his family to Iowa City, where he resided till his death in 1876. His wife, the mother of our subject, died two years later. They were the parents of ten children, nine yet living, one having died since the death of the parents. Three of them live in Greene County-Samuel, engaged in the livery busi- ness at Seranton, Mrs. Sarah Burke, living in Kendrick Township, and Robert, the subject of this sketch.

HARLES BOFINK is one of the lead- ing business men of Jefferson. His business ineludes the sale of general hardware, farm implements, banking, dealing in live stock, ete. He came to Jefferson August 3, 1866. At that time he was engaged in the Inmber trade, and shipped the first ear-load of huuber to this town. This was in the fall of 1866, when Jefferson

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

was the terminus of the Northwestern Rail- road. In 1867 he sold out to his competitors in trade, and went to Carroll City, where he also started the first lumber yard in that city. He remained in Carroll about one year, then sold out and went to Dunlap, and there, with L. T. Coldren, opened the first lumber yard, Mr. Coldren taking charge at Dunlap, and Mr. Bofink at Carroll. In 1868 he bought the business and furniture store of Franklin, Ilaight, Bowman & Bingman, and continued in the furniture business two or three years, then engaged in the hardware business. Ile has for many years been the leading dealer in hardware and agricultural implements in Greene County. No man has done more toward building up the town of Jefferson than Mr. Bofink. In 1876, with several other gentlemen, he built the Centennial Block, and with these same gentlemen started the City Bank, of which Mr. Bofink has been president since its organization. He erected his elegant briek store in 1885. Ilis resi- dence is one of the finest in the city. The family settled in Pennsylvania, removing thence to Michigan, where the parents still reside. Our subjeet came to Story County, this State, in 1864, and was engaged for about a year on the Northwestern Railroad as a newsboy. From this beginning he has worked his way to his present financial con- dition. Mrs. Bofink was formerly Miss Eliza E. Northway, a native of the State of New York.

ILSON D. ZAVITZ, farmer and stock-raiser, section 1, Junetion Township, was born near the Welland Canal, in Ontario, Canada, September 13, 1846, a son of George and Jeanette (Haun) Zavitz. His father was also a native of On- tario. llis ancestors were of German birth,

his great-grandfather, Henry Zavitz, eoming to this country and locating in Laneaster, Pennsylvania, where his grandfather, Chris- tian Zavitz, was born. The latter moved from his native State to Canada in 1788, where he spent the rest of his life, dying at the age of ninety-four years. Wilson D. Zavitz was reared in his native country, and there received a common-school education. Ilis carly life was spent on a farm, and he lias always devoted his attention to agricult- ure. lle came to Iowa in the spring of 1876, and bought eighty aeres of land in Greene County, settling on it in the spring of 1877, where, with the exception of the year 1882. he has sinee lived. That year he spent on the old homestead in Canada. Mr. Zavitz has never married, his sister, Frances D., being his housekeeper. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity, Grand Junction Lodge. Ile has one brother, Adolphus Za- vitz, of Canada, and two sisters, Georgiana McCain, of Fort Gratiot, Michigan, and Frances D. Zavitz, of Iowa.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 728

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 728