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 58

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 58
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 58

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Prairie Lodge, No. 1223, K. of P., was organized February 12, 1884, with forty- three charter members. They now have fifty-nine members, and the officers are: Enoch Lewis, Past Chancellor; HI. L. Thomas,

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Chancellor Commander; Richard Berry, Vice- Chancellor; John Berry, Prelate; L. B. Thomas, Master of the Exchequer; Samnel Grylls, Master of Finance; I. B. Thomas, Keeper of Record and Seals; Ralph Johnson, Master at Arms; David McBurnie, Inner Guard; Richard Cooper, Outer Guard.

Hawkeye Lodge, No. 30, K. of HI., was organized July 30, 1884, with twenty-three charter members. There are now bnt thir- teen members in good standing. The officers are: D. J. Morris, Past D .; H. V. Griffin, W. D .; Thomas Pratt, Viee D .; E. M. Me- Dowell, Chaplain; J. W. Davis, Reporter; B. F. West, Financial Reporter; David Bryant, Treasurer.

Angus Assembly, No. 1596, K. of L., organized in 1880, is a strong order of abont 250 members.

Olive Branch Lodge, No. 84, 1. O. G. T., was organized in December, 1880, with abont twenty-five members. It was prosperous for about two years, and at one time was the banner lodge of the State. At the time of the strikes in the fall of 1885, interest began to die ont, and finally in February, 1887, its charter was surrendered.

Hope Lodge, No. 236, A. O. U. W., was instituted May 12, 1883, with twenty charter members. There are now fifteen members, and the meetings are kept up with unabating interest.

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HISTORY

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

APTAIN J. N. COULTER, who resides on section 25 of Grant Township, is one of the early pioneers of Greene County, and a prominent eitizen of both Greene and Carroll Counties. He was born in Richland, now Ashland County, Ohio, May 19. 1830, and when fifteen years of age removed with his father to Washington Township, where he grew to manhood, being reared to the avoca- tion of a farmer. IIe was united in marriage October 24, 1848, to Eley Ann Pollock, who died January 19, 1853. Of the three chil- dren born to this union only one survives, the youngest child, Mrs. Julia E. Wright, who now resides in Montrose County, Colo- rado. The eldest child, Elizabeth M., died in Richland County, Ohio, in 1850, aged one year, and the second child, Flora L., was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in October, 1866. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Conlter came West in company with George W. Fleek and Simon P. Armstrong. Before starting on their journey they had purchased a threshing machine. They arrived at Mus- eatine the following December, having stopped at various points en route to thresh. At Museatine they sold their machine, and con-

tinned their journey as far as Copeland's Grove, near where Carrollton now is, in Car- roll County. They all purchased land in Greene County, Mr. Coulter buying 120 acres in Kendrick Township. The following Jannary they returned to Ohio. Mr. Arm- strong never returned to Iowa to reside, but has been a resident of Stevenson Connty, Kansas, for a number of years. Mr. Fleck is now a resident of Jackson Township, Greene County, living on the land which he pur- chased in 1854. In May, 1855, Mr. Coulter came back to Iowa, and stopped at Monti- cello, in Jones County, until August of that year, when he came to Greene County and sold eighty acres of his land to the Kendrick Land Company, when he purchased eighty aeres of land on section 11 of Scranton Township. In January, 1856, he again re- turned to Ohio, but the following Marel re- turned to Monticello, Iowa, where he was married to Elizabeth A. Skelly, whom he had met while there in 1855. She is a native of Marion County, Indiana, her father being a native of the State of New York, and her mother was a descendant of President Adams. Mr. Coulter had made up his

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mind to settle permanently in Greene County, but eireumstanees again ealled him to Ohio. In September, 1858, Mr. Coulter with his family, accompanied by Mr. Fleck and fam- ily, left Mansfield, Ohio, with teams and wagons; after a journey of about seven weeks arrived at Mr. Fleek's settlement, on the 17th or 18th of November. Mr. Coulter moved into a log cabin which had been built by Na- thaniel De Hart abont 1853 or '54, and ocen- pied by various families of early settlers until they could build houses of their own, the house becoming known as the House of Refuge. While living in the House of Refuge Mr. and Mrs. Coulter had born to them their second child, March 11, 1859, whom they named Lorenzo Dow. In 1859 Mr. Coulter built a cabin on his land in Seranton Township, and the same year he broke a part of his land, which was the first breaking done in the township. IIe eontin- ned to reside on and improve his land until 1862, when in Angust of that year he re- solved to respond to the call of President Lincoln for 600,000 men. The same month he, in company with N. P'. Wright, raised a company, and on its organization Mr. Conl- ter was appointed First Lieutenant. This company was mustered into the United States service November 25 following as Company E, of the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. Mr. Coulter served as Lieutenant until October 31, 1863, when he was promoted to Captain on account of the death of Captain R. M. Rippey. Captain Coulter commanded his company until January 6, 1865, when he re- signed at Savannah, Georgia. He was with his company during his term of service with the exception of two intervals of a few months, being for a time Quartermaster of his regiment, and for a time was Adjutant of a detachment of the Third Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps. The Thirty-ninth

Regiment was a part of the Sixteenth Corps until the fall of 1864, when it became a part of the Fifteenth Corps, and with the latter marelied with Sherman to the sea. On leaving the service Captain Coulter returned to his farm near Seranton. For his services in the army he received half of a First Lieu- tenant's pension. From Angust, 1868, un- til February, 1869, Mr. Coulter kept the hotel known as the Western House, at Jeffer- son, when he exchanged his hotel for a farm in Kendrick Township, Greene County, to which he removed, living there until 1875. Ile then sold his farm and removed to Glid- den, and in the summer of 1876 began deal- ing in real estate. In the fall of the same year he engaged in the mercantile business at Glidden, which he continued for a time. He was in Colorado in 1878-'79 and '80 en- gaged in mining and prospeeting. From 1881 until 1884 he conducted a ereamery for A. J. Heaton. In 1883 he bought his pres- ent farm of fifty acres. Captain Conlter east his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852, but since 1856 has east his suffrage with the Republican party. By his second marriage he has had four children-Olive Viola, who died in 1862, in her sixth year; Lorenzo Dow, living at Ouray, Colorado, en- gaged in mining; Mrs. Rosella Rice Wal- dren, who was the first child born in Scranton Township, the date of her birth being Jann- ary 2, 1862, and George B. E., who was born July 3, 1876. Captain Coulter is a member of N. P. Wright Post at Glidden. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Captain Coulter is a son of John and Elizabeth (Rice) Coulter, the father a native of Washington County, Penn- sylvania, born September 13, 1790, and the mother a native of Massachusetts, born Jan- mary 27, 1797. In 1810, when but twenty years of age, the father immigrated to Rieh-

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land County, Ohio, where he lived till reaeli- ing the age of eighty-three years, dying in 1873 near the place where he had settled sixty-three years before. In his old age he could stand at his door and look off on the hillside that he had cleared of timber more than sixty years before. The mother of our subject was taken by her parents when quite young to Montpelier, Vermont, where she received her education. From Montpelier her family removed to New York State, and thenee to Richland, now Ashland County, Ohio, in 1811. She was one of the pioneer teachers of that county, teaching the first school in Greene Township in that county. She died December 14, 1884. John and Elizabeth Coulter were the parents of five sons and five daughters, our subjeet being the fourth son and sixth child, and the only member of the family who settled in Iowa. Only four of the children are living at the present time, two sons and two daughters. One son, Martin V. B., died at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, while serving his country during the war of the Rebellion.

ETER BERGER, treasurer of Carroll County, was appointed to this position July 6, 1884, successor to William Ruggles. This term expired January 1, 1884, and at the fall election, that year, he was elected to fill a vacancy over his Repub- liean competitor by 800 majority, and in the fall of 1885 was re-elected for the full term without opposition. Mr. Berger has been a resident of Carroll County since the spring of 1869. At that time he settled upon a farm in Kniest Township, now owned by Phillip Heimann. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1844, and in the spring of 1853 his father, Adam Berger, immigrated to

America and settled in Lehigh County, Penn- sylvania. In 1855 the family removed to Stephenson County, Illinois; thence to Black Hawk County, this State, in 1856. Both parents died in Kniest Township, the father in March, 1853, and the mother December 25, 1882. They had five children. One sister died in Black Hawk County, and the rest are all living in Carroll County. Mr. Berger was married in Black Hawk County to Catharine Beierschmitt, a native of Potts- ville, Pennsylvania. They have seven chil- dren-Mary, Lizzie, Frank, Theresa, Lena, Veronica and Willie. Two children, John and Nicholas, died at Mount Carmel, Kniest Township. Mr. and Mrs. Berger are mem- bers of the Catholic church. Mr. Berger is a popular official, and a highly esteemed citizen.

EORGE WETTER, one of Carroll County's best farmers and stock-raisers, residing on section 20, Jasper Town- ship, is a native of Germany, born Septem- ber 17, 1829, a son of George and Flora Wetter, who were natives of the same eoun- try. They came to America in 1845, settling in Dubuque County, Iowa, where the father died January 26, 1864. The mother died in Carroll County, July 4, 1884. Our subject was reared in his native country till sixteen years of age, when he came with his parents to Dubuque County, Iowa, in 1845, remain- ing there until the spring of 1861. He was united in marriage in 1852 to Miss Sophia Miller, a danghter of Charles and Catherine Miller, natives of Germany. Mrs. Wetter was born in Germany, October 27, 1833, and came with her parents to America in 1849, and was married in Dubuque County. The following children have been born to Mr. and

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Mrs. Wetter-George, Jr., living in Carroll County; Louisa, Sophia K., Flora, Henry, Caroline (died October 8, 1882), Gustave A., Emma, Pauline and Adaline. Mr. Wet- ter left Dubuque County for Clinton County, Iowa, where he made his home about fifteen years. In the fall of 1876 he came with his family to Carroll County, settling on the farm where he has since resided, which con- tains 160 acres of as good land as can be found in Carroll County. It is also well adapted to stoek-raising, to which he is de- voting some attention. Ile is one of the self-made men of the county, having landed in America a poor boy, but by persevering industry and good management he has suc- ceeded in his farming operations. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. Postoffice, Glidden, Iowa.

RESTUS S. HEFFELFINGER, the pioneer jeweler of Manning, Iowa, es- tablished his residence and business in the place in September, 1881, being one of the first business men in the place. Ile was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 17, 1851, a son of Michael and Elizabeth Heffel- finger, natives of Ohio, of Holland-Dutch descent. When he was seven years of age his parents moved to Henry County, Illinois, where he spent the years of his minority. In 1872 he went to Nebraska, and remained two years in llall and Merrick counties, and then made his home in Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa, where he learned the jeweler's trade, and in 1881 moved to Manning. Ile has been a successful business man, and now owns his residence and business house in Manning, and forty-eight acres of improved land in Sae County, lowa. He was married at At- lantie, Cass County, Iowa, June 24, 1875, to

Miss Calista Carrier, a native of Clayton County, Iowa, born November 24, 1857. They have had three children-Ira (died, aged six years), Clemmie and Winnie. Mr. Ileffelfinger is a member of Manning Lodge, No. 122, I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Demoerat.

OBERT DICKSON, of Glidden Town- ship, has been a resident of Carroll County since February 9, 1855. Hc was born in Vermillion County, Illinois, April 7, 1830, son of Amos Diekson, a native of Mason County, Kentucky, who at the age of eighteen left his native State in company with his father, and located in Vermillion County. His wife, Miss Rachel Pettis, was born in Murray County, Tennessee. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. The Pettis family were residents of Vermil- lion County for some time previous to the marriage of the daughter. The parents reared a family of nine children, Robert being the oldest. When he was twelve years of age the family removed to Champaign County, same State. Ilis early life was passed on the farm and in attending the common schools of his native State. June 4, 1854, he was married to Miss Sarah L. McGinnis, who was born in Ripley County, Indiana, and a daughter of Ed. B. and Nancy (Allen) MeGinnis, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Logan County, Kentneky. In September, 1854, Mr. Dick- son and his wife started for Iowa with horse team. The tall and a portion of the follow- ing winter were spent in Guthrie County, near Lonsdale woolen mills. January 12, 1855, he pre-empted 160 acres where he now resides-eighty acres of timber and eighty of prairie. One year later he went and proved

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up the same. Ilis first house was a rude log cabin 10 x 12 feet, covered with lumber brought from Guthrie County. The floor was laid loose on ice. In 1867 he ereeted his present residence, which is 24 x 32 feet in size, and is well furnished. The farm contains 640 acres of land, and it is one of the finest farms in Glidden Township. Mr. Diekson owns 240 acres of improved land in Russell County, Kansas. He was appointed to the office of county treasurer to fill the unexpired term of James White; has served many years as justice of the peace, and in 1869 was elected county supervisor. Politi- eally he was formerly a Democrat, but has been a Republican sinee 1860. lle is a strong believer in the rights of the colored man, and voted to give him the right of suffrage. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Baptist church. Ile and his son are extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. Ile has a grove of trees, of his planting, ten acres, and an orchard of fifteen aeres. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson have four children-David, who lives in Kansas; Anna E. Corcoran, of Colorado; Luella R. Merritt, of Carroll County, and Robert Y., who was born December 4, 1862, on the old homestead where he was reared.

LEXANDER ARMSTRONG, one of the most extensive farmers and stock- raisers of Carroll County, and a promi- nent and influential citizen of Pleasant Valley Township, is a native of Ireland, born in County Fermanagh, April 16, 1838. His father, Robert Armstrong, a Seoteh-Irishman of the North of Ireland, died in his native country a few years since. Alexander Arm- strong, the subject of this sketch, was reared to agricultural pursuits, remaining at home

with his parents till his twentieth year. He then immigrated to America, going to Will County, Illinois, where a brother, Henry Armstrong, had preceded him. Ile came to America a poor boy, and is a fair example of what may be accomplished in this country by young men who will improve the oppor- tunities offered to them. For five years Mr. Armstrong worked as a farm laborer, and with the money thus earned he purchased his first eighty aeres of land, and by good judgment in later investments he added to his original purchase until be owned 880 acres of Illinois' best land, and for many years he ranked among the prosperous and prominent farmers of Will County. Ile was united in marriage in Will County to Miss Sarah Rauworth, who was born in York- shire, England, but reared in Sheffield, England, and was a danghter of Benjamin Rauworth. She came to America with her father's family, settling in Will County, Illi- nois. In 1863 he returned to England to attend to the settling of an estate, and while there was taken siek and died. The mother of Mrs. Armstrong is also deceased, but other members of the family are prominent citizens of Will County. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are the parents of seven children -Alice A., Henry, Jane E., Robert B., Martha Jane, Mary Jane and William R., the three eldest being students of Wheaton College, Illinois. Mr. Armstrong left Will County for Guthrie County, lowa, with a view to investing in real estate, but before purchasing there he was indneed to come to Carroll County, when his present property being for sale, and being pleased with the country, he decided to locate here, and at once bought 1,280 aeres, paying for the same $20 per acre. le has made many improve- ments on his land, including the erection of his splendid residence on seetion 3, at a cost

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

of about 87,000, which is without doubt the finest farm residence in the county. His farm now comprises 2,960 aeres, and cost about $3,000, and the entire surroundings in- dieate the culture and refinement of the owner. Both Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.

R. DANIEL E. SHIRK, one of Carroll County's pioneers, and a prominent citi- zen of Carroll Township, where he re- sides on section 18, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1820. He traces his ancestors back to the fifth gen- eration, being a descendant of Ulrich Shirk, who was born in Switzerland about 1675, who came to America about 1735. Ilis son, Ulrich Shirk, was born in Switzerland Aug- ust 20, 1704, and married a lady named Swarr, and these were the great-grandparents of our subjeet. They came to America about 1735. Their son, Ulrich Shirk, was born in Pennsylvania in 1751, and was united in marriage to a lady named Eberly, the grand- mother of our subjeet. Our subject's par- ents were Jacob and Catharine Erb, the father being a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1796. The original Shirk family were Mennonites in their religious faith, and being peaceably disposed it is not probable that any of them took part in the Revolutionary war. D. E. Shirk, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm in Pennsylvania, receiv- ing but limited educational advantages in his youth. Ile was in poor health, and not being strong enough for farm labor he decided to study medicine, which he began under the preceptorship of Dr. George B. Kerfoot at Lancaster City, Pennsylvania. By improv-

ing his leisure hours he learned to read the Greek language fluently, and also became familiar with the German and French lan- gnages. Ile began the practice of medicine when about twenty-two years of age, which he followed in his native county until 1876. He was united in marriage in 1842 to Miss Amelia E. Wilson, a daughter of John E. Wilson, of Lancaster County. Eight ehil- dren have been born to this union-Hiester, Wilson, Oliver (deceased), Daniel, Jacob, Amelia, Catherine and Lizzie. The doctor came with his family to Iowa in 1876, and has since carried out his determination formed before coming to this State, not to practice medieine except in special and ur- gent cases, as obstetries, ete., when he could not well refuse. His main objeet in coming West was to locate his sons on farms. He has lived in Carroll Township, Carroll Coun- ty, since coming to Iowa, and has been en- gaged principally in farming, in which he has met with excellent snecess. He settled on his present farm on seetion 18 in the spring of 1876, which at that time was entirely unimproved. It is now one of the best farms in his neighborhood, and contains 240 acres of choice land. The doctor is an extensive and varied reader. ITe has an ex- cellent memory, and having always been a student, possesses a mind well stored with knowledge. In religion he is a German Bap- tist, he and his wife having been members of that denomination for many years.

M. MOORE, dealer in boots, shoes, trunks, valises, etc., south side of Fifth street, Carroll, lowa, carries a complete stoek of everything in his line, valued at about $4,000, his annual sales amounting to about $12,000. He became

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established in his present business in 1883, and has by his fair dealing and accommodating manner built up a good trade. Mr. Moore was born in Owen County, Indiana, in 1856, a son of William and Henrietta (Worth) Moore, his father a native of Indiana and his mother of Nantneket's Island. His father died in 1867, leaving him when eleven years old the oldest of four children, and the family being in limited circumstances he was obliged to assist in its support. He has been indus- trions and energetie, and in addition to caring for the family has been prospered and now is one of the prominent business men of Carroll. Hle is a member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias orders, and in polities is a Republican.

AIIARLES NEU, proprietor of the Pio- neer Liquor Store at Carroll, keeps in stock a large assortment of the best liquors, sour mash whisky, and Philip Best's beer. This business was established by the present proprietor June 27, 1883. Mr. Nen is a native of Germany, born June 27, 1848, son of Phillip and Catherine (Rodeshi) Neu. He resided in his native country until he arrived at the age of eighteen years, then immigrated to America, locating in La Salle County, Illinois, where he lived some five years. He then removed to Lake Superior, Michigan, living there about two years, then went to Colorado, where he was engaged some two years in the mines. He returned to Germany, remaining about three months, then came back to La Salle County, Illinois. In 1881 he came to Carroll, where he has since resided. March 6, 1881, he was united in marriage with Mary Adelhelm, of La Salle County, and by this marriage there are three children-Phillip Charles, Caroline and | business relations with Mr. Roush, and that

llilda. Freddy is deceased. Politically Mr. Neu was formerly a Republican, but is now a Demoerat.

AON. JACOB KUHN, a prominent cit- izen of Carroll County, and senior mem- ber of the firm of Kuhn & Roush, of Manning, proprietors of the Manning Roller Flour Mills, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Allegheny County, Angust 31, 1844. His parents. A. and M. C. Kuhn, were both na- tives of the same State, and are yet residents of Allegheny County. Of the ten children born to them, five sons and five daughters, our subjeet was the fifth child and third son. He was early in life inured to the hard labor of farm life in Pennsylvania, varied only by attending school, where he made the most of his limited advantages. He remained at home until he enlisted in defense of the Union, February 13, 1864, in Battery II, Third Pennsylvania Light Artillery. His battery was attached to the Eighth Corps and oper- ated in the Valley of Virginia. The service of Mr. Kuhn ended with the elose of the war, when he returned to his home in Pennsylva- nia, remaining in his native county till 1868. In that year he came to Iowa, where he made his home at Grove City, Cass County, about two years, engaged in carpentering. Ile was married at Atlantic City, Cass County, May 26, 1870, to Miss Minnie C. Taylor, a native of Ohio, born September 20, 1851, and they are the parents of three children- Eva M .. Mary A. and Ethel. Soon after his marriage Mr. Kuhn removed to Anita, Cass County, where he engaged in contracting and build- ing. In 1877 he ereeted a steam flouring mill for his own use, which he operated sev- eral years. In 1882 he formed his present

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same year erected the Manning Roller Mills, although he did not establish his residence at that place until 1884. Ile now owns and oc- enpies one of the finest residences in the city. The mill building is 42 x 46 feet in size, three stories in height, and to this main building a room has been added 16 x 32 feet, and is supplied with a fifty horse-power en- gine. The mills have nine sets of rollers and two of burrs. The exchange business con- ducted here, that is giving flour for wheat, is the largest in Northwestern Iowa. Both members of the firm are live, energetic busi- ness men, and by their united efforts have made a success of this enterprise and estab- lished a good business. Mr. Kuhn has quite large interests outside his mill property. Ile is a stockholder and director of the First Na- tional Bank, the only national bank in Car- roll County. He was one of the leading Republicans in Cass County, and in October, 1883, he was elected to the Twentieth Iowa General Assembly from Cass County. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and is commander of McPherson Post, No. 33, of Manning.

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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