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 36

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 36
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 36

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an orchard, and a natural grove. Mr. and Mrs. Atehinson have four sons-Alonzo, John, Arthur and George. Politically Mr. Atchinson is a Republican, and he has served as constable. He is a worthy member of the Christian church, and is respected by all who know him.

OHN T. COWAN, grain and lumber merchant, and proprietor of the Paton elevator, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Westmoreland County, May 22, 1842, a son of Alex. T. Cowan, who was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The father removed with his family from Pennsylvania to Linn County, Iowa, in the spring of 1855, and later removed to Tama County, Iowa, where he still resides. John T., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the rude log eabin school-houses of his neighborhood, made with puncheon floor, clapboard roof, and slab seats. He was reared to the avoca- tion of a farmer, working on the farm till he enlisted in the late war in Company K, Eleventh Iowa Infantry. He was in the ser- vice of his country four years and participated in the battles of Pittsburgh Landing, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Atlanta, and Averysborough. At the battle of July 22, 1864, at Atlanta, he was wounded in the head by a musket ball. In the fall of 1865 he came to Tama County, Iowa, where he was married to Ann E. Townsend September 19, 1865, his wife dying October 29 of the same year. He went to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in 1867, where he built a house, and began breaking land to cultivate. May 14, 1868, he was married to Miss Carrie Dodd, a daughter of Rev. Luther Dodd now of Fort Dodge, and to this union have been born four children-L. Myrtle, Herbert A., Elmer

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and Donald. After his marriage with Miss Dodd, Mr. Cowan returned with her to his farm in Black Hawk County, where he resided till 1874. In the fall of that year he went to Linn County, Iowa, and the following spring moved to Jefferson, Greene County, Iowa, where he clerked one year in the land and abstraet office of W. B. Mayes. In the spring of 1876 he came to Paton and engaged in the hardware and lumber business in part- nership with J. W. Hill, under the firm name of Hill & Cowan, Mr. Cowan acting as man- ager. This partnership was dissolved in December, 1877, when Mr. Cowan began dealing in grain and lumber on his own account. and at the same time he carries on a loan and collecting ageney, also an insurance business and notary public, and since eoming to Paton most of the conveyancing of the township has been done by him. He served one term as township trustee, and was elected justice of the peace, which office lie resigned after filling it for three years. Ile is an elder in the Presbyterian church, and is a member of the Masonie order. Mrs. Cowan and their two eldest children are members of the same ehureh.

SCAR L. HARMON, of the firm of HIarmon Bros., blacksmiths, at Rippey, was born in Polk County, Iowa, Sep- tember 17, 1855. son of Lafayette Harmon, of Junetion Township, this county. He was reared in Boonesboro, Iowa, where he re- moved with his parents in the fall of 1858, and was edueated in his native town. He followed farming, teaming, and other work, nntil 1878, when he went to learn his trade. IIe eame to Rippey October 28, 1878, where he has since resided. The building of Harmon Bros., is 22 x 66 feet, twelve feet story. The

main building is frame lined with brick. Mr. Harmon was married November 15, 1881, to Sarah R. Marsh, daughter of Lambertis Marsh, of Grand Junction. They have three children-Lura, Harry O. and Bertha. Mr. and Mrs. Harmon are members of the Pres- byterian church. Mr. Harmon belongs to the Odd Fellows fraternity.

R. OSCAR W. LOWERY, physician and surgeon, of Grand Junction, Greene County, Iowa, was born six miles north of Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa, April 22, 1845. He is a son of Fredrick B. Lowery, of Burlington, Iowa, who was a native of Western Virginia. His mother, Catharine (Jolly) Low- ery, was a native of Harrison County, Ohio, and they moved to the wilds of Iowa in 1839, and are both still living, the father in his seventy- second and the mother in her seventieth year. Dr. O. W. Lowery is one of twelve children, eight boys and four girls, of whom three brothers and three sisters are still living. IIe was reared on the farm of his birth until 1857, when his father moved into Des Moines County with his family. He ob- tained his early education in the common schools, and on the 29th day of December, 1863, he left the school-room and entered the army, enlisting in Company I, Sixth Iowa Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He was in the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, com- manded by General John A. Logan, and was in all the battles with his brigade in the At- lanta campaign and General W. T. Sherman's march to the sea. IFe was wounded in both shoulders, from the efleets of which he has never recovered, at Griswoldville near Macon, Georgia, November 22, 1864, and had to ride to the sea in an ambulance, through Georgia

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swamps and over corduroy roads. Decem- ber 20, 1864, he reached Beaufort, South Carolina, and was sent to hospital No. 11, where he, in addition to his wound, suffered from gangrene and erysipelas, and came ncar dying. IIe recovered sufficiently to re-join his regiment at Raleigh, North Carolina, and marched to Washington, D. C., participating in the grand review in May, 1865, and was dis- charged from the army in July, 1865. His brothers, Austin P. and Oliver H., were in the same company and regiment, having en- listed in 1861. Austin P. was wounded in the head, losing a part of his skull and brain, July 6, 1863, near Vicksburg, Mississippi, and two days after its surrender. Oliver H. was wounded in the leg at the same time and died February 8, 1887, from the injuries re- ceived in the army. After the doctor's dis- charge from the army he attended school at the Denmark, Iowa, Academy, also at Pro- fessor Ebersole's School at Fort Madison, and he spent two years at the Oskaloosa College at Oskaloosa, Iowa. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. J. P. Gruell, of Oskaloosa, and graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, in 1873. He attended the practitioners' course at the Chicago Medical College, in 1880, and has practiced his medical profession in Grand Junction since 1870. Ile is a member of the Central District Medical Association and the State Medical Society. He has built up an extensive and lucrative practice, and is the leading physician of the town and one of the best in the county. He has been clected to positions of trust, as recorder, treasurer and mayor. In some of his own law cases he has appeared as his own attor- ney, and has not had " a fool for a client." IIe is a Prohibitionist and a Republican, and has always taken a prominent part in the politics of the county. He was married at

Olivet, Iowa, April 8, 1873, to Miss Anne E. Ross, who was born in Mahaska County, Iowa, November 2, 1847. She is the daugh- ter of Nimrod Ross, deceased. They have five children-Fred Ross, Cordelia Ingaba, John Russell, Catherine Fox and William Oliver. The doctor is a member of the Christian church, and also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

RANCIS A. FREE, a farmer and stock- raiser, section 27, Washington Town- ship, was born in Parke County, Indi- ana, December 20, 1845, a son of Samuel Frec, of this State, and a native of Ohio. IIe was educated in the common schools and passed his early life at farm work, which occupation he always followed. He was a sol- dier in the late war, being a member of C'ont - pany I, Ninety-second Illinois Mounted Infantry, and attached to General Kilpatrick's Cavalry Division. IIe served about twenty months, and participated in nearly all the battles and skirmishes incident to the Geor- gia and North and South Carolina campaigns of 1864 and 1865, prominent among which were Resaca, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Buck-head, and Powder Springs, where we lost heavily in an advanced skir- mish line, where some of our dead fell into the hands of the Confederates. They made a grand raid around Atlanta, while that strong- hold was defended by Joe Johnston and J. B. Ilood. Principal among his encounters was Aiken, South Carolina, where the Ninety- second Illinois and the Ninth Ohio Cavalry were completely surrounded by Wade Hamp- ton's and Joe Wheeler's Confederate cavalry, but by having excellent officers and superior repeating rifles, they eut their way through the rebel host. Was this all? No. After

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their escape they reformed in good order and made a second charge and recovered their dead and wounded; also fought at Averys- boro, and Bentonville, then finished their warfare and last battle at Swift Creek, near Raleigh, North Carolina, where the regiment lost severely; also met some of General Lee's men returning to their homes in this his last battle. Then his command moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where was located the State University, and there received the sad intelligence of the assassination of President Lincoln. Mr. Free enlisted a private and was mustered out First Sergeant. He re- turned to Carroll County, Illinois, in 1865, where he had settled in 1846, and came to this State in the spring of 1869, locating in Greene County in the fall of the same year. He was married December 23, 1872, to Mar- gery A. McIntyre, of Savanna, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Free have six children-Francis A., HIugh S., Samuel P., Alice L., Mary C. and Grace. Mr. Free owns 160 acres of well improved land. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He never seeks official distinction.

ILLIAM A. J. McNAUGHT, one of the pioneers of Greene County, located on section 12, Jackson Town- ship, where he now resides, in 1854. At that time the county had been organized only about one month, and contained only about forty voters. Jackson Township could poll only six votes. At first Mr. McNaught lived in a log cabin, which was long ago replaced by his present comfortable residence. All the improvements on his place have been made by himself. He owns 120 acres of land, well watered by the North Coon River, and it consists of npland, meadow and timber.

Mr. McNaught was born in Owen County, Indiana, July 10, 1830, son of John and Jane (McKnight) MeNaught. His father was a native of Ireland, and was brought to Amer- ica by his parents when three years of age. Jolm McNaught served in the war of 1812, and the land-warrant that was granted for his services was used by his son William in locating his present homestead. The parents both died in Indiana. Of their seven chil- dren, our subject was the youngest; only two others are now living-George F. re- sides in McDonough County, Missouri, and Mrs. Margaret J. Abrell lives in Christian County, Illinois. Mr. McNaught's father died when his son was six years of age, and from that time he was reared in Washington County, Indiana, where his mother died in 1850. When he was three years old the parents removed to Vermillion County, Illi- nois, and three years later to Parke County, Indiana. Our subject was married in Owen County, Indiana, January 2, 1852, to Miss Nancy M. Abrell, daughter of L. C. and S. Abrell, who was born in that county October 16, 1830. Mr. and Mrs. McNaught lived in Washington County until the autumn of 1853, then lived one year in Owen County, and finally became pioneers of Greene County, Iowa. During the first few years they en- dured many hardships and privations. They came with no means except the land-warrant, a team, and a few household goods and sup- plies, and $5 that had to be used in locating the land. Habits of industry and economy have enabled them to live, and build for them- selves and children a good home. They gave their children much better educational ad- vantages than they had been able to obtain for themselves. They have had twelve chil- dren, seven of whom are now living-Mrs. Aurelia T. Crocker, a resident of Jackson Township; Mrs. Julia E. Jones, a resident of

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Billings, Montana; Nannie J., Connell, Mant, Sarah G. and Minnie Mand are under the parental roof. The deceased arc-James B., John L., William A., Mary and Connor. The last named was a twin brother of Connell. In politics Mr. McNaught has always been a Democrat.

ANIEL I. BLANSHAN, one of the progressive farmers of Junction Town- ship, Greene County, was born in Onondaga County, New York, November 29, 1850, a son of Matthew and Sarah Blanshan. His youth was spent in assisting on the farm, his father being a farmer by occupation, and attending the common schools of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and Grand Junction, Iowa. He has lived in Junction Township since the fall of 1873, and has always fol- lowed the avocation of a farmer, and by his persevering industry and good management he has acquired his present fine farm on sec- tion 2, which contains 120 acres of choice land. In connection with his general farm- ing he devotes some attention to the raising of stock. Mr. Blanshan is a member of the Odd Fellows order. He was married January 1, 1880, to Ella N. Mack, a daughter of Wil- lard Mack, of Junction Township. They are the parents of four children --- Melvin, Sarah, Merton and Laura. Matthew Blanshan, the father of our subject, is a native of New York, born in Ulster County January 19, 1825, his father, Daniel Blanshan, having been born in the same county. He was reared a farmer, and has followed that avo- cation through life. He grew to manhood in Onondaga County, New York, where his parents settled when he was but three months old, and there he was educated in the common schools. He was married Jannary 1, 1850,

to Saralı Decker, a daughter of Isaac Decker. Of the six children born to this union, three are living-Daniel I., the subject of this sketch; James, living in Junction Township, and William, who carries on his father's farm on section 2, of Junction Township. James married Mary Zellhoefer, and has two children- Calista and Victor. William is married to Lena Davenport. Matthew Blan- shan enlisted in the late war September 1, 1864, in Company F, Twenty-seventh Wis- consin Infantry. He took part in the battles of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and received his discharge in August, 1865. In 1873 he came with his family to Greene County, Iowa, locating in Grand Junction, where he lived for two years. In November, 1875, he settled on section 2, Junction Township, where he owns forty acres of land, and where he has since made his home.

ISAAC WILLIAM FRYMIER, postmas- ter and justice of the peace at Rippey, was born in Cumberland County, Penn- sylvania, November 6, 1851, son of Isaac Frymier, of that place, and a native of Berks County, that State. He was reared in New- ville and Philadelphia, receiving his educa- tion at the latter place. Took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in 1868. He was then for four years engaged in bookkeeping in Philadelphia with S. A. J. Coyle & Co., wholesale dealers in wood and willow ware. IIc came to Carroll County, Illinois, in 1874, and was engaged in farm- ing six years, then came to this place, where he was engaged in farming until the fall of 1885, at which time he was appointed post- master at Rippey. He served as assessor three years, and took the census of the town- ship in 1885. Ile was married May 26,

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1875, to Christina MeIntyre. daughter of Hugh MeIntyre, of Carroll County, who died in December, 1886, at the advanced age of ninety-five years; his brother, John Mcln- tyre, died at the age of ninety-four years, from the effects of a kiek from a horse. Mr. and Mrs. Frymier have two children-Harry E. and Catherine. Mr. Frymier belongs to the Odd Fellows fraternity.

AVID B. JOHN, farmer, section 5, Washington Township, was born in Tyler County, West Virginia, May 23, 1842, son of David John, of Davis County, Missouri. He was reared on a farm and educated in the subscription schools of pio- neer days. The schools were held in log cabins, benehes made of split logs, and a board fastened against the wall for a desk. The roof was made of hand-made shingles,- a great contrast to the large commodions school-houses of the present day. Mr. John came to this county in the fall of 1856, locating in Washington Township on section 9. The country was then in its primitive condition. Not a sod had been turned on the land, but a small log cabin had been built. They went to Des Moines for their milling, also for their mail. He was married May 15, 1864, to Martha J. Smith, danghter of Thomas J. Smith, deceased, a pioneer of Dallas and Greene counties. They have had ten children, nine of whom are living- Hannah E., Daily E., Mary L., William L., Sarepta A., Clara A., Leonard W., Stella E., David S. and Nettie A. Mr. John settled upon his present farm in the spring of 1878, where he owns 160 acres of land. He gives his entire attention to farming and stoek- raising. He and his wife, and his eldest daughter, Hannah, are members of the Meth-

odist Episcopal church. Hannah is married to Peter Burke, of Washington Township.

ILLIAM McDONALD, section 5, Seranton Township, was born near Inverness, Scotland, May 6, 1832, a son of Donald and Mary (MePherson) Mc- Donald. He was reared in the Highlands of Scotland, and there learned the trade of a stone mason. In 1857 he eame to the United States, seeking to make for himself a home and proeure a competenee for his old age, the New World offering better inducements for the poor man than Scotland. Ile plied his trade in Ashland and other counties in Ohio until 1865, when he came to Greene County, Iowa, and settled on the farm where he now lives, having entered the land several years before. His homestead contains 110 acres of choice land, which he has improved from a state of nature. Since his residence in Greene County, Mr. McDonald has worked at his trade a portion of the time. The habits of industry and economy common to the people of his native country have met with their legitimate reward, and he is now comfortably situated financially. In 1881 he bought 120 acres of land in Kendrick Township, which he has also improved and now has it under good cultivation. IIe is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, having gained their favor by an upright, honorable life, and fair, honest dealing. Mr. MeDonald's parents died in Seotland, his father aged ninety-five years, and his mother aged seventy. Ile has one brother, Dawson, who is a large landowner in Hyde County, Dakota. Mr. MeDonald was married in 1870, in Ohio, to Miss Katy Brady, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of Samnel Brady. They have six children -- John, Ann Eliza, Daniel, Ella May, William

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and Nelson. Mr. MeDonald became an American citizen at Wooster, Ohio, and has since affiliated with the Republican party, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln at his second election.

ILLIAM LAFAYETTE ADDY, an active and enterprising citizen of Junction Township, proprietor of the Dana Creamery, is a native of Linn County, Iowa, born April 23, 1856, and is the foster- son of Jacob A. Addy, of Junction Town- ship, whose name he of his own accord adopted. His mother, Mary (Corbley) For- dyce, died when he was an infant, and his father, Abraham Fordyce, is still living in Linn Connty, a highly respected elder of the Methodist Episcopal church of Wanbeck. William L. Addy was reared in Springville, Linn County, where he attended school, and also attended the Western College of Linn County. He has taught school about five years, principally during the winter terms. Ile made farming his principal avocation until 1883. He came to Greene County in 1876. August 22, 1878, he was married to Miss Carrie Hughes, a daughter of Francis Hughes, a resident of Junction Township. They have two children, named Earl Fordyce and Frank Corbley. Since 1883 Mr. Addy has devoted part of his time to the creamery business, in connection with which he has carried on his farm until the last year, when he leased it. His farm is located on section 3, Junction Township, and contains 175 acres. He has on his farm graded Holstein and short-horn cattle and Poland-China logs, and also owns a half interest in a fine Norman stallion. His creamery is situated on his farm near his residence, and was built in 1881 by H. Jordan, who operated it until

1883, when it was purchased by Mr. Addy, the present proprietor. The main building is 20 x 34 feet, two stories in height, and the engine-room is 8 x 14 feet, with an ice-house 14 x 26 feet. He uses Barnes Brothers' en- gine and boiler, of Maquoketa, Iowa, the engine, which is a six-horse power, being used in churning and pumping, the boiler in heating the building, etc. The churn is rec- tangular in shape, and has a capacity of 400 pounds. The churn which is called the Conqueror Oil Test is also used, and is the finest process for testing the quality of the cream. During the winter seasons Mr. Addy handles cream and unsalted butter only, and in the summer months also handles milk. He handles from 2,000 to 7,000 pounds of the latter daily, and makes as high as 1,500 pounds of butter in a day. During the busy season of 1886 thirteen men were employed. Mr. Addy ships principally to Boston and New York, and has dealt with the same com- missioners since he engaged in his present business-Utley & Boynton, of Boston, and McBride & Co., of New York. He usually puts up 100 tons of ice annually, all of which he uses in his business. Mr. Addy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Junction Lodge, No. 357, at Grand Junction.

AMES HIGGINS, farmer, section 27, Junction Township, was born in La Salle County, Illinois, March 18, 1845. His father, William Higgins, deccascd, was a native of Latreum, Ireland, and came to America at the age of eighteen years. He lived in Maryland and Pennsylvania until 1833, then came to La Salle County, Illinois, being one of the pioneers of that county. He hauled wheat from there to Chicago. IIe

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was a stonemason by trade, and was foreman of the inason work in construeting the locks on the Illinois River Canal. Our subjeet was reared a farmer. During the late war he served in Company G, Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and was in the battle of Lookout Mountain, Strawberry Plains, Shiloh, where his company was all ent to pieces, there be- ing but seven left that were able to muster the next morning. They were then trans- ferred to the Sixty-eighth Illinois under Colonel Diekey. July 3, 1872, he was mar- ried to Jane Durkin, daughter of John Dur- kin, deceased. They have had six children- Mary, William (deceased), Ellen, John, Alice and James. Mr. Iliggins came here in 1882. He owns 280 acres of land and is engaged in general farmning and stoek-raising. He gives much attention to thoroughbred and graded stoek. He has the finest hogs in the State; they are Poland-China.

ERRENCE REYNOLDS, retired farm- er, Grand Jnnetion, was born in Connty Monaghan, Ireland, October 17, 1823, son of Terrenee Reynolds, a native of the same place, now deceased. Ile came to America in 1853, locating in Cayuga County, New York, thenee to La Salle County, Illi- nois, in 1854, and lived on a farm near Tonica three years. In the spring of 1857 he came to Greene County and settled in Junetion, and has sinee resided in this county. His place was near Bnttriek's Creek. There were but two families north of him on that ereek in Greene County. ITis milling was done at Des Moines, and he did most of his trading there. He entered his land in 1855, and it being prairie land he eom- meneed farming immediately. He owns three farms, in all about 400 acres, besides

property in Grand Junetion. IIe was mar- ried August 2, 1856, to Alice Hughs. Four of their five children are living-Mary J., Florence, Margaret A. and Charles E. Wal- ter died at the age of two and a half years. Mrs. Reynolds was also born in Connty Mon- aghan, Ireland, where she was reared and educated. IIer father was a native of Ire- land, but it is not certain what portion of the country. She came to America in 1847, and lived in New York City and in Trenton, New Jersey, over six years. She then came to La Salle County, Illinois.

ILLIAM R. GREENE, farmer, see- tion 14, Greenbrier Township, is a native of County Down, Ireland, born December 19, 1832. ILis parents, Rob- ert and Mary (Tweedie) Greene, had seven children, of whom our subject was the second child. When he was fourteen years of age his parents removed to Dundee, Scotland, where he lived six years, working in a flax factory. At the age of twenty he came to the United States and located in Whitley Connty, Indiana, where he lived abont seven- teen years, engaged in railroading. In 1868 he came to this county, first settling three miles south of Jefferson, where he lived eight years, having purchased eighty aeres of land. In 1876 he came to Greenbrier Township and settled upon his present farm, where he has since resided. He first bought 160 acres, and has since added to his original purchase until he now owns 240 acres of ex- eellent land, well improved and in a good state of enltivation. He has a good house, well furnished, and comfortable ont-buildings for stoek and grain. He also has a fine or- chard and a native grove of five acres. Ile is engaged in general farming, stoek-raising

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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