|
684
ENGLISH RIVER TOWNSHIP.
ANDERSON, L., carpenter, Richmond; was born in Marshall
county, West Virginia, February 25, 1827, and came
to this county in 1855, residing here since that time;
when twelve years of age he was left dependent on
his own resources, and for six years was a cabin-boy
and waterman on board a vessel; then learned his trade
and in 1848 went to the Indian Nation and helped to
build the Chickasaw Academy; he remained there for
about two years; returned to Wheeling, and on November
1, 1850, was married to Miss M. E. Hardesty; their
family consists of five children living; Harriet E.,
Mary E., Sarah E., Joseph T. and Charlie H.; have
lost their oldest son: Arminius D.; when quite young
Mr. Anderson joined the M. E. Church; he was class-leader
at the age of twenty-six, and commenced preaching
when but thirty-four years old; he remained with that
denomination until 1865, when he adopted broader and
more liberal
685
views; of late years he has turned his attention
to the practice of law.
BEAR, GIDEON, farmer; Sec. 31; P. O. Richmond; was
born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1810,
where he was raised a farmer, which occupation he
bas followed all his life; at the age of twenty-eight
he became convinced that the west offered better opportunities
to a poor man, 3.nd with $20, all the money he had
accumulated since becoming of age, turned his face
westward; coming to Indiana he got out of funds, where
he remained nearly two years, when he came to this
county, and located where he now resides; his life
has been a quiet, persevering: effort to build for
himself and family a comfortable home; his farm consists
of 530 acres under fine improvements; his success
is attributable in a great measure to his excellent
wife, who has ever been a constant helpmate; September
12, 1841, Miss Mary Gwin, a native of Harrison county,
Indiana, became his wife; they have ten children living:
Elizabeth (wife of J. W. Sterling), Samuel R., Margaret
A, (wife of J. W. Coffman), Richard, Nancy (wife of
P. Figgins), Wilbur, Clara (wife of R. Turnipseed),
Alice (wife of F. Hoag), Martha J., the oldest daughter
at home, is a young lady of rare attraction, dutiful
to her parents, a jewel fit to adorn any household,
and Minora; they have lost four children: William,
died in the army in 1862; Jane, Charles E. and an
infant.
BOONE, ABNER, general merchant, Kalona; was born
in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, October 17,
1828; when seventeen years of age he removed with
his parents to Johnson county, this State; for three
years he served an apprenticeship at tailoring, but
owing to ill health he was obliged to give up his
trade and afterward worked at building and farming
until 1873 when he entered into his present business
at Williamstown; remained in business there until
September, 1879, when he removed to his present place;
September 13, 1853, he married Miss Almira A. Simonton,
a native of Pennsylvania; they have six children living:
William A., Mary I., Alonzo, Arrissa, Alfred, and
Benoni; have lost three: Marcelia, died November,
5, 1864; Ada, died February 27, 1869; and Elmer E.,
died March 18, 1869.
BUNKER, HON. DAVID, farmer and miller, Richmond;
was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, October
23, 1810, but was raised in Wayne county, Indiana;
his educational advantages were 1imited consisting
chiefly of home culture; he was taught to read by
his mother, while in mathematics his father was his
teacher; young Bunker remained at home on the farm
until of age when he was called upon to settle the
business of a mercantile firm in the northern part
of Indiana; he afterward made an extensive tour through
the Northwestern States with a view of locating and
finally concluded to settle in this township which
he did, coming in July of 1839; thus in the very earliest
days of the settlement of this part of the county
Mr. Bunker came bringing with him stern integrity,
courage and energy, and has, perhaps, done more toward
the development and advancement of the comity than
any other one man; in 1840 he was chosen county come
missioner which position he held for about two years,
when his constituents elected him a member of the
Territorial legislature; during the session he presented
the petition from Washington and Crawfordsville for
the repeal of the "Black Laws"; this matter
from our own standpoint would not seem a very serious
one, but when we recall the times and the
686
persecutions endured by the champions of human rights
then and many years after, we may well conjecture
the amount of courage required to even present such
a petition; he has repeatedly represented his district
in the State legislature serving with honor to himself
and credit to his constituents; was also a member
of the Constitutional convention in 1857, taking a
prominent part in that deliberation; June 23, 1833,
he married Miss Mariam Hunt, of North Carolina; she
died in July, 1845, leaving a family of five children:
Allison, Anna (wife of Peter Morgan since dead), Jesse,
Martha, now Mrs. Jesse Thompson), and Abram; in June,
1846, Mrs. Julia A. Smith became his wife; by this
uion they have four children living: Mariam, David,
Phebe A., and Mary E.; Mrs. Buuker had one child by
former marriage, who died in the army.
BUSH, A., farmer; Sec. 24; P. O. Richmond; was born
in Fayette county, Ohio, February 8, 1813; in his
boyhood he was employed on the farm summers, and the
winters being spent in the shop with his father, who
was a skilled mechanic; to the elder Bush belongs
the honor of making and using the first boiler iron
for mould-boards on plows; under the instructions
of his father young Bush became a good mechanic; in
1846 he removed to this township and made his claim
where he now resides; he improved a fine farm of 200
acres; the dwelling and out-buildings were erected
by himself, bearing witness of his more than ordinary
mechanical skill; in personal appearance he is plain
and unassuming, social and obliging as a neighbor,
kind and warm-hearted as a friend, hospitable and
generous to all, firm in his convictions, which he
maintains at all times; he was married October 7,
1833, to Miss Violet Arnold, of Fayette county, Ohio;
she was born in Kentucky; he has eight children living:
Catharine (wife of W. W. Gwin), Sarah (wife of E.
S. Marsh), Violet (now Mrs. W. E. Kerr), Mary (wife
of Rev. J. P. Coffman), Leonard and Victory: they
have lost five children: Elizabeth, Huldah J., Louisa,
Anderson and Darius, who was killed at the battle
of Belmont, Mo.
CRITZ, FRANK, dealer in general merchandise, Richmond:
is a native of France and was born April 12, 1839;
when he was nine years of age his parents emigrated
to the United States and settled in Lee county, Iowa.
and lived there two years and then came to this county
and settled in Iowa township; here the subject of
this sketch was raised on a farm until sixteen years
of age; he then entered the employ of N. Littler,
Esq., a merchant in Richmond and remained with him
for two and a-half years, when heeding the call of
his adopted country for troops to suppress the rebellion,
he enlisted in August, 1862, in company K, Thirtieth
Iowa infantry as a private and served nine months;
was then commissioned first lieutenant; after serving
with his regiment for a period of nine months in this
capacity he was detailed on the staff of Gen. C. R.
Woods Fifteenth Army corps and held this position
until he was mustered out with the regiment in Washington,
D.C., in June, 1865; he then returned to Washington
county and formed a partnership with his former employer,
Mr. Littler, and at the expiration of two years in
connection with his brothers John and Joseph purchased
Mr. Littler's interest in the business and formed
a partnership under the firm name of Frank Critz &;
Brother's and continued in business until the spring
of 1876 when Mr. Critz purchased his brothers' interest
and became sole proprietor; Mr. Critz is eminently
a self made man; reared as he
681
was with limited school facilities, he has by reading
and personal observation since he attained manhood
acquired such knowledge of men and books that he has
a prominent place among the business men of the county;
he is a good illustration of what an industrious man
can accomplish by honesty and perseverance combined
with a sound judgment and well-balanced mind, and
his character as a business man may be inferred from
the success which has attended his efforts; he was
married May 21, 1861, to Miss Mary Dunkel, of Iowa
City; she died May 5, 1873, leaving a family of four
children: Albert, Charlie, Eda and Nettie; he was
again married May 12, 1874, to Miss Helen Fettweis,
who was born in Iowa City; by this union they have
two children: Estel1a and Leo.
ELLIOTT, CHARLES A., farmer; Sec. 10; P, 0, Middleburgh;
was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, October
3, 1831; when twelve years of age he with his parents
moved to Johnson county, Iowa, where his youth was
spent on a farm; his parents died when he was fourteen
years of age, leaving him to earn his own living;
in 1853 he started with an ox team for California,
arriving there after a journey of five months; remained
there four years being engaged in mining and dealing
in wood; being prudent in his business, success here,
as elsewhere, crowned his efforts; having a piece
of land in Johnson county, he returned there, improved
said land and resided thereon until 1861 when he removed
to this county; he owns 240 acres of land under splendid
improvements, his residence being the best in the
township; he devotes his farm to the raising and feeding
of stock; has held various offices of trust in the
township, etc.; January 3, 1860, he was united in
marriage to Miss Malinda Sneider; they have seven
children: Eliza, Dana A., Laura, William, Arthur,
Stewart and Thomas; Mr., Elliott has been the architect
of his own fortunes; he is evidently a self-made man;
commencing life with limited means he has by industry,
economy and perseverance attained a position one might
well envy.
FIGGINS, PRESSLEY, retired farmer, Richmond; was
born in Brown county, Ohio, January 1, 1805, where.
he was raised and lived until 1839, when he removed
to the then Territory of Iowa, and located in this
township. and improved three different farms which
he has since divided between his children; Mr. Figgins
was amongst the earliest settlers of this township,
and has experienced many hardships incidental to pioneer
life; he is a man of good, sound judgment, devoted
to his family, a faithful friend, and an outspoken
opponent; he was married March 16, 1827, to Mrs. Malinda
Henkle, a native of Virginia; they have five children
living: George, Amanda, Margaret, Amy and Pressley;
have lost one son: James, who died in the army, leaving
a family of five children: Daniel, Maggie E., LaFayette,
Stephen A. D. and James A,
GWIN, WILLIAM W., farmer, Sec. 35; p, U. Richmond;
was born in Harrison county, Indiana, September 29,
1827; when about four years of age his parents moved
to McDonough county, Illinois, and in 1835 came to
what is now the State of Iowa, settling about six
miles west of Burlington; in 1837 he moved to Louisa
county, and six years later to this county, and here
he has been raised; he entered the land where he now
resides in 1858; improved it himself, without assistance
from anyone, and now own 200 acres, finely improved;
he has one of the best barns in the township, and
devotes his entire attention to the raising and feeding
of stock;
688
November 2, 1851, he married Miss Catharine (daughter
of A.) Booth; she is a native of Ohio; they have:
seven children living: Nathan A., Nancy V., Ella M.,
Nora A., Lillie B. and Orley B.
KERR, W. E., justice of the peace at Richmond; was
born in Knox county, Ohio, July 16, 1833, and was
raised a farmer, and has followed it as an occupation
the most of his life; in his youth he enjoyed the
advantages of a good common school education, which
was supplemented by attendance for two years at a
select school at Mt. Vernon, Ohio; after he attained
his majority he became impressed, from the best sources
he could obtain information, that the opportunities
offered for a young man in the then new State of Iowa
were far superior to his own home, and acting on this
impression he came to Iowa, and April 24, 1851, he
came to this township, and engaged in farming, which
he continued for six years; he has held various township
offices, :and that of justice of the peace for many
years, and it is remarkable that during his term of
office of the many cases that have come before him
only three have been appealed, and only one reversed;
duties in connection with his office demanding so
much of his time, he, in 1867, sold his farm, and,
in connection with his official duties, is engaged
to some extent in a brokerage business; there are
lives more sensational in their career, but none confer
greater benefit on society, or are more honored, than
the successful, straight forward, consistent citizen;
as an official he has discharged his duties with unscrupulous
care and fidelity; his career has been honorable and
successful; a man prudent in his expenditures, yet
liberal where necessity has made known her wants;
in all places and under all circumstances he is loyal
to truth, honor and right, and his private life and
public record are alike untarnished; he was married
September 6, 1860, to Miss Violet Bush, of Washington
county; their family consists of five children: Rosa
V., Minnie B., Myrtle A., Mary L. and Frank Vernon.
MANATT, SAMUEL, farmer; Sec. 2; P. O. Kalona; was
born in Holmes county, Ohio, July 17, 1833; in 1846
his parents moved to this county, where the subject
of this sketch spent his youth and early manhood,
devoting himself to farming, stock-raising and feeding;
he now owns 570 acres of land well adapted for stock
purposes; was married October 30, 1859, to Miss Mary
J. Britton, a native of Indiana, but raised in this
county; have nine children living: Tilla A., Scott
E., Clement, Florence E., William E., Maggie, Samuel,
Mary 0., and Gray E.; Mr. Manatt is an honest persevering
man, deserving the confidence of his fellow citizens
which he enjoys to an unlimited extent; he has a fine
dwelling and good out-buildings and his property is
the result of hard labor.
MYERS, J. G., farmer; Sec. 6; P. O. Kalona; was born
in Greene county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1822; he
was raised a farmer and lived in his native place
until 1842, and then removed with his parents to McDonough
county, Illinois; but desiring to avail himself of
the advantages offered further west, he placed his
worldly effects in a cotton handkerchief and started
on foot to seek a location; he arrived at Des Moines,
Iowa, in 1844, and entered the employ of Thomas Mitchell,
working on a farm and remaining with his employer
about two years; Mr. Mitchell proved a good friend
and assisted young Myers in purchasing some land which
proved a fortunate investment; he sold his property
in 1851 and removed to
689
this county, where he now resides; his farm consists
of 700 acres of choice land finely improved, making
it one of the most desirable stock farms in the county;
in 1879 the Muscatine & Western railroad was extended
through the southern line of his land, and he succeeded
in having the new station Kalona located on his farm;
Mr. Myers is a very successful raiser of thoroughbred
cattle and hogs; his herd of the former contains about
forty head, including some of the choicest families
and purest stock in the State, and no one has taken
more care in improving the stock of the county and
raising it to a high standard; as a man he is of a
social, courteous disposition, scrupulously honest
and liberal to all deserving enterprises, and his
success in business is an evidence of sound judgment
and a well balanced mind; he was married April 6,
1848, to Miss Eliza J. Saylor, of Des Moines; by this
union they have twelve children: Benjamin B., George
W., Mary (now Mrs. J. W. Hagler), Edwin S., Alexander,
Margaret (now Mrs. J. Boler), Nellie, Martha, Ada,
John G., Jr., Charles fl., and Jessie Fremont.
PARKER, S. E., grocer, dealer in boots and shoes
and postmaster, Richmond; was born in this township
January 31, 1845, and was here raised on a farm until
1855, when he moved to Texas; he was there engaged
in farming for four years when he concluded to return
to Iowa and here followed his occupation until the
breaking out of the war; in August, 1862, he enlisted
in company K, Thirtieth Iowa infantry and served with
that regiment until the close of the war and was discharged
at Washington, D. C., in June, ] 865; he participated
in the following battles: Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas
Post, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson (Mississippi), Cherokee
Station, (Tennessee), Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge,
Ringgold Ridge, Sherman's March to the Sea, Raleigh
(North Carolina), and numerous others, in all twenty-seven
heavy engagements, escaping without a serious wound;
returned home and again engaged in farming until 1878
when he engaged in the mercantile business; September
23, 1865, he was married to Miss Virginia A. Rickey,
a native of Ohio, but raised in Iowa; Mr. Parker is
a thorough self-made man, highly respected by all
who know him.
TOPPING, C. A., druggist, Richmond; was born in Jefferson
county, Wisconsin, April 12, 1850, and was there raised,
being educated in the common schools and later in
the high schools of his native town of Waterloo; the
father of young Topping was an early settler of Waterloo
and a prominent merchant of that city; when about
fifteen years of age the subject of this sketch was
employed in a drug store, when out of school, thus
acquiring from youth a knowledge of drugs and medicine,
and by later study he became a chemist of no mean
order; in August, 1869, he came to his present home
and engaged in the business for which he is so admirably
fitted; on the 21st of March, 1877, Miss Sarah Robinson
became his wife; she is a native of Upper Canada,
but raised in Wisconsin, and is a lady of more than
ordinary grace and accomplishments; Mr. Topping enjoys
the confidence of all who know him and as a business
man is excelled by none.
WITMAIER, NORBERT, farmer; Sec. 28, P. O. Richmond;
was born in Germany, October 2, ]826, where he enjoyed
good educational advantages until he was thirteen
years old, when he served an apprenticeship as stone-mason,
followed that trade until, at the age of twenty years,
he entered the army and served five years, when he
was
690
severely wounded in the Baden revotion in 1851; he
drew a pension until he emigrated to this country
in 1853; he located in Columbiana county, Ohio. and
worked at his trade until 1875, when he removed to
this county, where he has devoted his time since to
farming; he owns forty acres of choice land under
good improvements; he was married November 1, 1852,
to Miss Rosana Booz, who is a native of Germany; they
have five children living: Mary (wife of Jesse Morrow,
of Illinois), Susannah, Maximillian, George and Peter.
Return to top

IOWA TOWNSHIP.
ALLEN, JOSEPH, farmer; Sec. 14; P.O. Riverside; is
the son of Joseph and Mary A11en, who came to this
county and township in October, 1841; the former died
in October1867,and the latter in January, 1878; the
subject of this sketch was born March 1, 1846, on
the farm he now owns, consisting of 184 acres., a
part of his father's homestead of 440 acres; this
land was entered from the government and upon it the
first brick house in the township is still standing;
July 3, 1878, he married Miss Eva Craig, a native
of this township; they have a family of two chi1dren:
Clay D., and Josie; Mr. A11en is a member of the A.
F. & A.M.
BOYD, JESSE, proprietor of Riverside elevator mills,
Riverside; was born in Ross county, Ohio, June 5,
1830; when a child his parents, Christopher and Susanna
Boyd, moved to Tippecanoe, county, Indiana, where
he was raised; after living there for twenty-five
years he came to this county in 1858, and has since
resided here; for twelve years he owned and ran the
Yatton flouring mills; in 1874 he built his present
mill, which is 32x44 feet, three stories high, with
a capacity for storage of 5,000 bushels of wheat;
it has three run of burrs, capable of turning out
forty barrels per day, and is contro11ed by an engine
of fifty-horse power; also owns 400 acres of land
in this township, besides good property in Riverside;
he engages to quite an extent in the raising and shipping
of stock; in 1852 he married Miss P. J. Coyner, a
native of Ohio; they have a family of eight children:
Martha M. (now Mrs. Holmes), Christopher C., Oliver
C., Mary M. (now Mrs. Fesler), Wil1iam R., Jesse G:,
Belle J., and John J. K.; have lost two infants; Mr.
B. is a member of the Christadelphian Church; he is
also one of the proprietors of the town of Riverside.
BRAY, JOHN W., farmer; Sec. 16; P. O. Riverside;
was born in 1850 in this county; here he has grown
to manhood a farmer; he was married in 1869 to Miss
Ellen E. Fesler; she was born in Johnson county, Iowa,
in 1850; they have two children: E. K, and Georgiana;
lost one: Owen E., who died September 13, 1878; he
is the owner of forty-seven acres of land and is one
of this township's most enterprising young farmers.
BRAY, WILLIAM A., farmer; Sec. 22; P.O. Riverside;
was born September 24, 1847, in this county; here
he has grown to manhood a farmer; owns 100 acres of
land; he was married December 31, 1869, to Miss M.
Pfoff; she was born in 1843; they have by this union
two children: Minnie, born November 1, 1870, and Jessie
E., born January 11, 1879; both living.
BRAY, BRANTLEY, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Chattam county, North Carolina, in 1820;
when young, he, with his parents, Horace and Rachel
Bray,
691
moved to Morgan county, Indiana, and was there raised
as a farmer; after living there until 1845, he settled
where he now resides; owns 200 acres of land; in 1840
he was married to Miss Fannie Plummer; she was born
in Morgan county, Indiana, in 1822; they have a family
of four children: William A., born in 1847; John W.,
born in 1850; Ida U., born in 1861; and Levi H., born
in 1841; the latter named was in the Twenty-second
Iowa volunteer infantry, during the late war, and
served for three years; they have lost one daughter:
Mary E., born in 1854, and died in 1859; Mr. and Mrs.
B. are members of' the M. E. Church; they were among
the first settlers in the county, and are well acquainted
with all the hardships of a pioneer life.
BUCHWALTER, JACOB, farmer; Sec. 22; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania in 1814;
when twenty-six years of age he moved to Miami county,
Ohio, and remained there until the spring of 1854;
on the 13th of April of that year he came to Iowa
City; about one year later he moved on his present
homestead of 120 acres; in 1839 he married Miss Susan
Kauffman, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania; they
have a family of five children: Benjamin, born in
1841; Hettie (now Miss Harrison, of Jewell county,
Kansas), born in 1843; Mary A. (now Mrs. Rose, of
Boone county, Iowa), born in 1844; Christian H., born
in 1849; Wetha (now Mrs. Moore, a resident of this
township); have lost two: Martha J., died February
2, 1871, and John G., died in 1854; his eldest son,
Benjamin, enlisted in the Forty-fifth Iowa volunteer
infantry, and served for 100 days; Mr. and Mrs. B.
and three children are members of the M. E. Church.
CARR, G. C., farmer; Sec. 5; P. O. Riverside; was
born in the State of New York, in the year 1818; he
was there raised principally as a farmer, and lived
there until 1839, then moving to Illinois, remaining
there for six years, and then came to this county,
where he has since resided; owns a nice farm of twenty-eight
and one-half acres, with good improvements; Mr. Carr
is also a wheel-wright by trade, and has done more
or less at that business for some time, and still
follows it in connection with his farming; in 1848,
he married Miss Hannah Stone; she is a native of New
York, and was born in 1825; they have a family of
four children: Esther E. (now Mrs. Carr, of Riverside),
Frelore E. (now Mrs. McLaughlan of the same place),
Edgar D. and Lilly G.; Mr. and Mrs. Carr are of the
Universalist faith; Mr. G. C. Carr's brother, H.
D. CARR, makes his home with him; he was born
in 1834, in New York; during the late war he was a
member of company E, Thirty-sixth, Illinois volunteer
infantry, and served for two years; was discharged
for general disability; he is at present unmarried.
CARR, CHANCY, farmer; Sec. 5; P. O. Riverside; was
born in New York on the twentieth of March, 1817;
was raised there and there lived until 1838, when
he went to Kane county, Illinois; lived there until
1857, when he came to this county; he has since lived
here with the exception of seven years spent in the
gold fields of Nevada and California; he owns a fine
farm of 150 acres and has an orchard of 400 apple
trees; has been married four times; first April 10,
1842, to Miss Sophia Evans, a native of' North Carolina;
she died April 21, 1844, leaving one child: Warren
D., resident of this township; married again March
23, 1845, to Hannah A. Moore, a native of Ohio; by
this union they had one child: Phebe S.,
692
died in 1870; this wife died April 9,1847; on the
sixth of June, IM7, Emma Morgan, of New York, became
his wife; by this union they had eight children: James
E., Sarah 0., Frank E., Fila A., Fred H., Charles
H., Alva J. and Virginia A.; his son Frank was killed
four years ago in Sac county, by a tramp by the name
of Monroe, who is now serving out a fifteen years
sentence at Fort Madison; this wife died, March 22,
1873; and he was married to his present wife, Catharine
Snyder, October 1, 1873; she is a native of Pennsylvania;
they have two children: Matilda E. and Mary L.; Mr.
and Mrs. Carr, are members of the M. E. Church.
COE, SYLVESTER, \farmer; Sec. 10; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Ohio in 1821; when six years of age he
moved to St. Joe county, Indiana, and was there raised
a farmer; remained there until 1839, when he I moved
to Iowa City; was present at the laying of corner
stone of the University; his father kept the first
hotel ever kept in that city; in 1842 he came upon
the place where he now resides; he took a claim, and
owns 365 acres of land with a nice brick house upon
it, built in 1860, and an orchard of 300 apple trees;
has been twice married; first in 1849, to Miss A.
Walker, a native of Indiana; she died in 1851 leaving
two children: Robert S. and Addie; was again married
in 1854, to Annie Rowland; they have four children
living: Samantha A., Winfield S., Clarence S. and
William T.; lost three: Joseph G., John R. and Jennie.
COE, B. W., farmer; Sec. 10; P. O. Riverside; was
born in Miami county, Ohio, in 1817; when ten years
of age his parents, Joseph and Sarah Coe, moved to
St. Joseph county, where they remained till 1837;
in 1839 they came to Iowa City and there he helped
put up the first house ever built in that city; he
also was one of the number who cooked the dinner for
the first 4th of July celebration ever held in that
county; in 1840 he moved on the place where he now
resides; he owns 320 acres of well improved land which
he entered from the government; in the fall of 1862
he enlisted in company. G, Twenty-second Iowa volunteer
infantry; served fourteen months and was discharged
on account of disability; participated in the battles
of Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Champion's Hill; in April,
1838, he married Helinda Ireland, a native of Ohio;
she died August 12, 1846, leaving two children: Jane
P. and John living, and Gibbons deceased; . in 1850
he was married to Elizabeth Godlove; she died in 1851;
they had one child which died in infancy; July 6,
1856, he was united in marriage with Lydia O. Hoover,
a native of Ohio; by this union they have ten children:
Joseph G., born in 1857; Anna, born in 1859; Mary
R., born in 1861; Benjamin W., born in 1864; Edwin
M., born in 1866; James W., born in 1868; Sylvester
K, born in 1870; Alvira, deceased, born in 1872; Independence,
born in 1875; and Jessie, born in 1878; Mr. Coe is
a member of the Universalist Church.
CRITZ, JOSEPH, farmer; Sec. 18; P.O. Riverside; was
born in 1833, in Hautrihn, France; in 1847 his parents,
Joseph and Mary Critz, emigrated to the United States
and first settled in Lee county, Iowa, and remained
there for three years; in the fall of 1851 he came
to this county, where he has since resided; he was
raised a farmer, but was engaged in the mercantile
business for nine years: seven years at Yatton and
two at Tama City; he owns 130 acres of land well improved;
he deals quite extensively in stock; also raises and
feeds some; in 1861 he
693
married Miss Sophia Gimble, a native of Ohio; they
have three children: Katie S., Sylvester and Maud;
he is a master farmer; he also succeeded well when
in business; he is a member of the Catholic Church.
CUMMINGS, ANDREW J., farmer; Sec. 34; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Vermont in the year 1829, and here he
was raised and educated as a farmer; in 1854 he became
a resident of this county and has since resided here;
his present homestead consists of 400 acres of splendid
land well improved; he deals to quite an extent in
stock; April 1, 1855, Miss Phebe A. Myers, of Fulton
county, Illinois, became his bride; they have a family
of four children: Tilla M., Chas. G., Joseph E. and
Arthur E.; have lost seven: Mary E., Byron, William
A., Washington I., Rosa B., WinDie M. and Andrew W.;
Mr. Cummings has taken great pains to give his children
a good education; his daughter, May, is at present
attending high school in Washington.
DRUF, FRED., of the firm of C. C. Druf, dealers in
lumber, sash, doors, etc.; was born in Indiana in
1842; when two years of age his parents, C. C. and
Catharine Druf, came to this county; here he has grown
to manhood a farmer; in 1861 he enlisted in the First
Iowa cavalry; served about nine months and was discharged
on account of disability; he owns a splendid farm
of 200 acres; was married in December, 1863, to Miss
Mary Whitehead, a native of Ohio; his parents were
born in Germany; they are still living and are residents
of this township.
DRUF, C. C., farmer and lumber dealer; Sec. 17; P.
O. River. side; was born in 1812 in Prussia, Province
of Saxony; in 1832 he emigrated to the United States;
he is a miller by trade; he first located at Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; from there he moved to Mississippi;
after stopping there for eight years he went to Indiana,
and remained there for two years, and then returned
to Mississippi; in 1844 he came to this county and
has since resided here; on his arrival in this county
he had nothing with which to commence again, in this
country; but by industry, economy, etc., he has now
excellent property; owns 215 acres of land; he was
married in 1845 to Miss Catharine Peters, a native
of Germany; they have a family of two children: Mary
(now Mrs. Rose), and Fred; on the 4th of July, 1845,
the first fourth of July celebration in the township
was held in his door-yard on section 17; Messrs. John
McClure and Scott were the orators of the day; at
that time there were about forty persons in the township;
Mr. and Mrs. Druf are members of the Universalist
Church.
EDELSTINE,JOHN H., farmer; Sec. 25; P. O. Riverside;
was born March 14, 1843, within one mile of his present
home, and is the son of' Joseph and Frances Edelstine,
who settled in this township in the fall of1838; here
they reared a family of six children: George, Joseph
S., John H., Caroline, Josephine and Mary K; George,
the eldest, was the first white child born in the
township; the father of the above died January 21,
1875, and the mother in February, 1867; the subject
of this sketch was married February. 24, 1870, to
Miss Caroline Mellecker; she was born in Wisconsin
in the year 1851; their family consists of two daughters
and one son: Mary C., John F. and Florence; also one
adopted son: George W.; Mr. Edelstine owns 100 acres
of good land, some of which was left him by his father;
he can speak four languages: German, French, Bohemian
and
694
English; is an excellent farmer and a live business
man.
ELIAS, LEYNORD, farmer; Sec. 33; P. O. Riverside;
was born November 20, 1815, in Germany; when a child
his parents emigrated to the United States, locating
in Pennsyl.vania, where the subject of this sketch
was raised as a farmer; in 1849 he concluded to come
west, and did so, becoming a citizen of this county,
and has lived here since that time; during the Mexican
war he enlisted in the Third New York volunteer infantry,
and served two years; participated in several battles,
among which were Cerro Gordo and Buena Vista; at the
city of Mexico he was wounded; he entered 160 acres
of land with his land warrant obtained in that war;
he was married in 1848 to Miss Mary A, Taylor, a native
of Pennsylvania; they have lost five children: Albert
and four infants; have one adopted: Martha J.
FESLER; JACOB, proprietor of hotel, grain dealer
and farmer; Sec. 6; P. O. Riverside; was born in Virginia,
November 16, 1827; when five years of age his parents,
John and Elizabeth Fesler, moved to Henry county,
Indiana, remaining there until the fall of 1840; he
then came to Iowa, locating in Johnson county; he
resided there until 1856, and then came to this county,
where he has since lived; he owns 155 acres of land;
in 1862 he enlisted in company A, Twenty-second Iowa
volunteer infantry, and served for three years; owing
to bad health he was unable for field service, and
was therefore on picked duty for most of the time;
he was married in 1848, to Miss Mary Slief, a native
of Ohio; they have a family of four children: John,
Daniel A., Eldora L. and Eddie S.; lost two: Charles
T. and William R.
FESLER, D. A. (successor to Clark & Fesler),
dealer in hardware, tinware, stoves, agricultural
implements, etc., Riverside; was born in Johnson county.
Iowa, in 1850, three miles north of Riverside; he
resided there until 1868, when he removed to this
township, and has since resided here; he was raised
a farmer, but in September, 1874, he commenced business
at Riverside; in 1877, he married Miss Mary Boyd,
a native of Iowa; they have one child: Zella E., born
August 16, 1878; Mr. Fesler's parents, Jacob and Mary
Fesler, are still residents of this county; they came
to Iowa in 1840.
FLYNN, PETER, farmer, stock raiser and stock-dealer;
Sec, 17; P. O. Riverside; was born in Chenango county,
New York, March 17, 1828, and was raised there on
a farm; he moved from there to Michigan, where he
remained for some time, and, being impressed that
the new State of Iowa offered superior inducements
to men of industry and perseverance, he came to this
county, and settled in Iowa township in 1853; he owns
a farm of 220 acres of fine land, and has devoted
considerable attention to raising and shipping stock;
he is one of the early settlers, and did the first
fall plowing in the township, and has been very fortunate
in his operations, an evidence of good judgment combined
with industry and economy; he married Miss Elizabeth
Goble, in 1852; she was born in Michigan; they have
a family of five children: Edward S. J., Lyman, Bertrice
F., Lavina and Nettie.
FOGG, N. U., farmer; Sec. 22; P. O. Riverside; was
born in New Hampshire, October 12, 1814, and was there
raised; in 1833 he went to Rockesbury, near the city
of Boston; from there he moved to Illinois in 1839;
in June, 1840, he came to this county where he has
since resided; he owns 244 acres of land; in 1858
he was married to Miss E. M. Wood-
695
burn, a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania;
she was born in 1820; they have no children of their
own, but have one adopted son, James W., born in 1863
in this township; Mr. Fogg entered the land upon which
he now resides; he is one of the old settlers and
is well acquainted with the trials and hardships of
pioneer life; his land is well improved and he is
well fixed.
FORD, THOMAS H., dealer in dry goods, groceries and
general merchandise, Riverside; was born in 1845 in
Johnson county, Iowa, and was the third child born
in that county; he lived there until 1875 when he
came to Riverside and engaged in his present business;
he is the owner of a good house and lot in the city,
besides several town lots; in 1866 he was united in
marriage with Miss Rosa Brindle, a native of Pennsylvania;
they have four children: John W., Ira W., L. H., Frederick,
and an infant not named, deceased; Mr. Ford is a member
of the A. F. & A. M.; his stock of goods average
from five to eight thousand dollars; Mr. F. is a practical
business man; this firm is backed up by real estate
and other property that make it one of the wealthy
and fixed institutions of the town.
HAWTHORN, JOHN R., farmer; Sec. 31; P. O. Riverside;
was born March 7, 1852, about one mile east of his
present home; here he has grown to manhood; has always
followed farming, and now owns 160 acres of well cultivated
land, comfortable home and good orchard; October 28th,
1875, Miss Nannie Fuller, of Illinois, became his
wife; she was born in 1857; their family consists
of two sons: William K, and James F.; Mr. H. is still
a young man, but an energetic, wide awake farmer and
full of business.
HA WTHORN, WILLIAM E., farmer; Sec. 32; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Pennsylvania in 1820; he was there raised
as a farmer; in 1840 he came to this county where
he has since resided; he owns 145 acres of land; in
September. 1861, he enlisted in company K, Thirteenth
Iowa volunteer infantry; he was discharged October
18, 1862, on account of disability caused by a gunshot
wound in the right hand, received during the battle
of Shiloh; owns a comfortable house and lot; he was
first elected justice of the peace in 1848, and has
served a number of terms since and at present holds
that office; he has also served as township clerk
and trustee; in 1845 he married Miss Prudence Elliott,
a native of Ohio; they have six children: Margaret
S. (now Mrs. Broadway), Sarah I. (now Mrs. Shifflet),
Thomas T., John R., Ermine D. (now Mrs. Chas. Morgan),
and Wilson Grant; Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the
United Brethren Church.
KAYE, J. I., farmer; Sec. 5; P. O. Riverside; was
born in Yorkshire, England, in 1818, and' there grew
to manhood, following the trade of mechanic; in 1849
he came to the United States, settling first in Philadelphia;
followed his trade there until 1855, when he settled
on his present homestead, following farming; he is
the owner of 131 acres of as good land as can be found
in the township, all under good cultivation; he has
been twice married; first in England, in 1840, to
Miss Nancy Drausfield; by this union they had four
children, one of whom, Eliza (now Mrs. Switzer, of
Jewell county, Kansas), is now living; Sarah, Emma,
and Samuel I., are deceased; his wife died in 1850
and he was married a second time December 25, 1853,
to Anna L. Kling; she is a native of Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania, and was born in 1828; they have seven
children: Sarah G. (now
696
Mrs. Ridabaugh), Charles A., Jessie W., George D.,
James F., William W., Percy L.; have lost four: Joseph
G., Ruth M., Mary E., and an infant; two years ago
he visited England after an absence of twenty-nine
years, Mr. and Mrs. Kaye are members of the New Church.
MARLING, JOHN, farmer; Sec. 27; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Greene county, Ohio, in the year 1812,
and there grew to manhood; was raised a farmer, and
in 1836 he moved to Marion county, Indiana, and after
remaining there for eleven years, returned to his
birthplace; he stopped in various counties in that
State until 1852, and on the 8th of November, of that
year, he moved on his present homestead, and has since
resided there; he entered his land, and has himself
improved it, and now owns 190 acres; he was married
in Guernsey county, Ohio, July 8th, 1834, to Miss
Hannah C. Warden, a native of Greene county, Ohio;
she was born July 26, 1813; they have a family of
three children: John A., James O. and Samuel T.; have
lost four: Aaron A., Harriet A., Maria I. and an infant;
Mr. and Mrs. Marling have been members of the U. P.
Church for over 40 years.
MRAZ, JOHN, dealer in beer and wine, and proprietor
of billiard hall, Riverside: was born in Bohemia in
1847, and there grew to manhood; he learned the trade
of stonemason, and in 1867 emigrated to the United
States; in the same year he came to this county; although
he was unable to speak a word of English, and without
a cent in his pocket, he went to work, first on a
farm, and then at his trade-anything to gain a livelihood;
he mastered the English language after a time, although
not without some pretty hard labor, and at present
can speak it quite well; about six years ago he commenced
in his present business, and keeps an orderly house;
in 1870 he married Miss Anna Fiala, also a native
of Bohemia; they have four children: Ruzerne, Ladiniel,
Jaroslev and Milada; Mr. Mraz has taken out his naturalization
papers, thereby showing his determination to become
an American citizen.
NICOLA; O. (of the firm of Nicola, Cress & Co.,
dealers in general merchandise), Riverside; was born
in Virginia in 1844; when young he moved with his
parents, Jacob and Sarah Nicola, to Pennsylvania;
lived there for two years; then moved to Ohio, and,
after remaining there for a short time, came to this
county in 1854; here he has developed into manhood,
a farmer; he was married in 1867, to Miss Sarah Essly,
a native of this State and county; she was born in
1848; they have lost two children: Henry and Alta;
Mrs. Nicola has been a resident of the county since
1848; the firm of which Mr. Nicola is a member is
a strong one: all being good, practical business men,
and having a sufficient amount of capital to carry
a good stock of goods.
NICOLA, E., of the firm of Nicola, Cress & Co.,
dealer in general merchandise, Riverside; was born
in Virginia in the year 1840; when nine years of age
he moved with his parents, Jacob and Sarah Nicola,
to Pennsylvania, where he lived for two years; from
there he moved to Wayne county, Ohio, and after remaining
there for nearly two years went to Johnson county,
and one year later (1855), came to this county where
lie has since resided; he owns a nice residence besides
other town property; he married Miss Susan Smith in
1861; she is a native of the same State as himself;
have a family of four children: John H., Jacob 0.,
Clarissa A., Walter E.; he and his brothers own the
house where they do business and
697
their stock averages from $3,000 to :$4,000.
OVERFELT, CHARLES A., farmer; Sec. 22; P. O. Riverside;
was born in the State of Missouri, February 27, 1835;
he there learned the trade of blacksmith, and in 1857
left the State and came to Iowa City, living there
until 1860; he then moved on the place where he now
resides; he owns 180 acres of land well cultivated,
etc.; in 1861, at the outbreak of the war, he answered
his country's call for volunteers and on the 12th
of July enlisted in company G, Sixth Iowa volunteer
infantry and served until .January 18, 1862, when
he was discharged on account of general disability
caused by sore eyes; in 1862 he was joined in marriage
to Miss Nora Williams; have a family of two children:
Katie L. and Charles L.; have lost three: Ollie O.
and two twin infants; Mrs. Overfelt has the finest
collection of pictures in the township and her home
is a museum in itself.
PARKER, W. G., farmer; Sec. 36; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Canada West on the 12th of February,1837;
lived there until 1854 and then came to the United
States, first settling in Jones county, Iowa; remained
there for three years and in 1857 moved to this township
where he has since lived; he owns 160 acres of land
all under cultivation and finely improved; in August,
1861, he enlisted in company E, Tenth Iowa volunteer
infantry; served three years and was in several battles,
among which were Charleston (Missouri), New Madrid
(Missouri), Corinth (Mississippi ), Iuka and Jackson
(Mississippi), and at Vicksburg; he was a good soldier
and ever ready for duty; in January, 1859, he was
married to Miss Lydia A. Webster, of Ohio; she was
born in 1840; their family consists of four children;
William B., Lillian G.,
Maggie E. and Mary E.; Mr. and Mrs. Parker are members
of the Baptist Church; Mr. Parker is a good neighbor,
a kind husband and father, and is respected by all
who know him.
ROSE, JOSEPH R, farmer; Sec. 8; P.O. Riverside; was
born in this township in 1845, and has here grown
to manhood; was raised a farmer, and on the 1st of
August, 1867, he was married to Mary C. Druff, a native
of Natchez, Mississippi; she was born in 1842; have
two children: Nettie M., born August 27, 1868; and
Charles A., born February 8, 1872; Mrs. Rose is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr.
Rose belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
ROSE, E. M., son of A. B. Rose, was born in Washington
county on the place where he now resides, February
9, 1857; his father, who was born December 7, 1816,
in Ohio, came to this county in 1840; he was one of
the number who helped to lay out the town of Riverside;
died April 15, 1879, leaving a family of seven children
living: Eliza C. (now Mrs. Hardy), Hannah E. (now
Mrs. Glasgow), Columbus J., Joseph R., John A., Mary
E. (now Mrs. Marner), and E. M.; two are dead; John
and Alvah; the subject of this sketch was married
August 21, 1877, to Miss S. C. Whittington, a native
of Iowa; they have one child: Stewart I. E., born
September 11, 1879; Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Rose were members
of the M. E. Church; when he died he left a nice farm
of 320 acres.
SCHNOBELEN, N., of the firm of Schnobelen & Knebel,
blacksmiths, Riverside; was born on the Rhine, in
France in 1833; when young he was brought by her parents
Joseph and Elizabeth Schnobelen to the United States;
first settled in Starke county, Ohio, and in 1845
came to this county; he was, until
698
eighteen years of age, raised as a farmer and then
commenced his present trade; he is one of the pioneers
of this county and can fully realize all that is contained
in that life; he has been married three times; first
to Miss Mary L. Shehart, a native of Germany; she
died in 1861; in 1871 he was married to Annie Heitzman,
a native of the same place; she died in 1872 leaving
one child: Rosa M.; in 1877 he was united in marriage
to Miss Mary Buquot, of this county; they have two
children: Crecesenica and Anna.
SCHNOEBELEN, F. J., farmer; Sec. 12; P. O. Riverside;
was born in France in 1822 and lived there until fifteen
years of age when with his parents, Joseph and. Elizabeth
Schnoebelen, came to the United States; they first
settled in Starke county, Ohio, where the subject
of this sketch grew to manhood; followed farming successfully
all his life; in 1843 he became a resident of this
township and has since resided here; he now owns 460
acres of good land, an excellent home and a large
orchard, and all the land is under cultivation; he
married, in 1845, Miss Mary A. Weber, a native of
France; they have eight children: Mary M., Frank A.,
Elizabeth, Nicholas S., Mary M., Sigasmont, Frances
and John H.; have lost three: Edward, Peter and Cecelia;
Mr. and Mrs. S. and their children are members of
the Catholic Church.
SCOTT, THOMAS C., farmer; Sec. 21; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1820; when
seventeen years of age he came west and followed steam
boating on .the Mississippi river and its tributaries;
in 1847 he enlisted in the Mexican war in the First
Louisiana battalion, company H, Lieutenant-colonel
Briscoe; served nearly one year; owns 303 1/2 acres
of land, 240 of which are under cultivation; he entered
160 acres of land with his land warrant obtained during
the war; he was married in 1851 to Miss Saloma Martin;
a native of Indiana; she died in 1853, leaving one
son living: Irvin S., and one, George deceased; he
married again in 1854 to Miss Jane Martin, a sister
of his first wife; they have four children living:
A. (now Mrs. Orr'), Carrie, Almedia, Etta; lost one
Elnora; Mr. Scott is a member of the A. F. & A.
M.; this wife is also deceased.
SHELLADY, ROBERT, farmer; Sec. 3; P. O. Riverside;
was born in County Armah, Ireland, in 1822; when eleven
years of age he with his parents emigrated to the
United States and settled in Vermont; after remaining
there for five years he moved to Elkhart county, Indiana,
where he stayed until 1841 then removing to Johnson
county, Iowa; in 1864 he came to this county and settled
where he now lives; owns a finely improved farm of
279 acres with a good orchard of 1,500 trees; he was
married March 11, 1849, to Isabel Russel, a native
of Ireland; they have seven children: George A., Sarah
J., Samuel A., Catharine C., Robert R., Charles B.,
Isabel E., and an adopted daughter Pearl E.; Mr. and
Mrs. Shellady are members of the M. E. Church.
SHILLIG, GEORGE, farmer; Sec. 23; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Washington county, on the farm where he
now resides, in 1848; his parents John and Jane Shillig
settled on this farm, which they entered, at an early
day; the former is now a resident of English River
township; Mr. George Shil1ig now owns 91 acres of
land with a good house, barn, etc.; he has held the
office of assessor for two terms; in 1873 he married
Miss P. Fettweis, a native of Missouri; their family
consists of four children: Roland H., Viola M., Elnora
E. and Oscar J.; Mr. and Mrs. Shillig are members
of the Catholic Church.
699
SMALL, CHARLES 0., farmer, dealer in fine stock,
grain and produce; Sec. 19; P. O. Riverside; was born
in Pennsylvania December 25, 1841; lived there until
the breaking out of the war when he enlisted (August
3, 1861), in company A, One Hundred and First Pennsylvania
volunteer infantry; served for three years; was in
seven battles and twenty-six skirmishes, wounded three
times, and now draws a pension; was in the battles
of Williamsburg (Virginia), Siege of Yorktown, Bottom's
Bridge, Fair Oaks, Siege of Richmond, Fortress Monroe,
Savage Station, and others; at the close of the war
he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and from there
to Chicago; in 1873 he came to this county and has
since resided here; owns 67 acres of land upon which
he has a fine residence, his place of business in
Riverside, beside a dwelling there; he was married
in 1863 to Miss Mary E. Downie, a native of Pennsylvania;
they have one child living: Irma L.; have lost three:
Charles, and two infants; Mr. and Mrs. Small are members
of the M. E. Church at Riverside.
STINSON, O. M., of the firm of Stinson Brothers,
millers; Sec. 18; P. O. Riverside; was born in Ohio
in l842, and was there raised a farmer; in 1862, when
twenty years of age he enlisted in company A, First
Ohio heavy artil1ery; served for three years and for
one year was in General Muster's department at Covington
and Knoxville, Kentucky; in 1868 he was married to
Miss Rosa Clapp, a native of Illinois; she was born
in 1851; they have one child: Nettie, born in 1869;
lost one: Nellie, a twin sister of Nettie; she died
in September, 1870; Mr. Stinson is a member of the
A. F. & A. M. lodge, No. 359.
STINSON, J. H. C., of the firm of Stinson Brothers,
proprietors of Yatton Mills; Sec. 28; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Jackson, Ohio, in 1832; he was there raised
as a farmer, and in 1854 came to this county and engaged
in farming until 1869; in 1874 he completed the mills,
which are situated one mile west of Yatton; it has
three run of burrs and has a capacity of 150 barrels
per day; flour is sold both by the wholesale and retail;
he was married in 1861 to Miss Catharine McKee, a
native of Ohio; they have seven children: Archibald
E., Bertie, James L., Maggie M., Pearl, Nellie, Walter;
Mr. S. is a member of the A. F. & A. M.; owns
140 acres of land; this mill is turning out as good
flour as any mill in the county; Mr. S. is a practical
business man, and is deserving the liberal patronage
he is receiving from the public.
SWIFT, HENRY L., wagonmaker and justice of the peace,
Riverside; was born in Johnson county, Iowa, January
1, 1849; when a child he came with his parents to
this county and in 1852 settled in this township;
here he was raised as a mechanic; November 7, 1871,
he married Sarah Wombacher, a native of this township;
they have a family of four children: Mary I., Lilly
M., Stel1a A., and Lucy A.; Mr. Swift is of Irish
and French parentage, and his wife of German ancestry;
both are members of the Catholic Church at Riverside;
he is an excellent workman and is doing a good business.
TENER, FREDERICK, farmer; Sec. 9; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Carroll county, Maryland, August 28, 1813;
he was there raised a farmer, and in 1882 he moved
to Perry county, Ohio; remained there until 1840 when
he carne to this county where he has since lived;
has been a resident here for thirty-nine years; owns
275 acres of well improved land; he helped build the
first house in Washington in 1841, and also in the
same year
700
was present at the first celebration ever held there;
March 19, 1840, he was united in marriage with Miss
Mary A. Younkin; she was born in Ohio in 1825; they
have a family of six children living: Elizabeth (now
Mrs. Sims), Catharine, Maggie, William M., Hulda J.,
John W.; lost two: Abner A., and Leonidas; Mr. and
Mrs. T. are members of the M. E. Church; he has been
elected to various township offices in the county.
WARD, JOSIAH W., farmer; Sec. 15; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Crawford county, Illinois, in 1848; when
twelve years of age he, with his parents, moved to
this county in the fall of 1860; here he has been
raised a farmer; he owns a good farm of 80 acres,
well improved, upon which is a good orchard; he was
married March 21, 1877, to Miss Ellen Tansey, a native
of this township and county; they have one child:
Alice, born March 8, 1878.
WILLIAMS, THOMAS, carpenter, manufacturer, undertaker
and dealer in furniture, Riverside; was born in Swansea,
South Wales, England, in 1846; he remained there until
the year 1871, when he emigrated to the United States,
first settling in Chicago; he was for two years engaged
in contracting and building in that city; he came
to Riverside in 1873 and has since resided here following
his trade; he carries a full stock in his line and
owns a fine business house and residence; he rents
five town lots and one house in Riverside; he married
Miss Elizabeth Clement in 1867; she is a native of
the same place as himself; they have a family of seven
children: Clement W., ,William J. L., Kate, Girshon,
Frederick C., Mary M., and George T.; Mr. and Mrs.
W. are members of the Christadelphian Church.
WOMBACHER, SYLVESTER, livery and drayman, Riverside;
was born in Washington, this county, in the year 1850,
and has been raised here; about four years ago he
commenced in his present business; the father of Mr.
Wombacher died in Johnson county about eighteen years
ago, and his mother in August, 1878; October 28, 1874,
he married Miss Frances Doll, a native of Johnson
county, Iowa; they have one child: Katie; have lost
one: Hubert; Mr. and Mrs. W. are of German parentage;
both are members of the Catholic Church.
WOMBACHER, J. C., farmer; Sec. 8; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Maryland in 1841, and is of German origin;
when about nine years of age his parents, John and
Eve Wombacher, settled near Washington, this county;
after a residence there of about three years, he moved
to this township, where he has since resided; owns
a farm of 222 acres, all under cultivation, good house,
etc.; in August, 1862, he enlisted in company F, Twenty-second
Iowa volunteer infantry, and served for three years;
participated in the battle of Port Gibson, siege of
Vicksburg, Jackson, (Mississippi), Winchester, Fisher's
Hill and Cedar Creek, (Virginia); was never wounded
and was mustered out at the close of the war; February
4, 1868, he married Miss Elizabeth Fettweis, a native
of Germany, born in 1842; they have a family of seven
children: Maxie, Laura, Nettie, Ray, Irena, Gertrude
and May; Mr. and Mrs. Wombacher are members of the
Catholic Church.
YOUNKIN, SAMUEL, farmer; Sec. 8; P. O. Riverside;
was born in Virginia, November 2, 1798; at the age
of seventeen years, he with his parents moved to Perry
county, Ohio; he was there raised and learned the
trade of tailor, but when he became of age, he followed
farming as occupation; he remained in Ohio for twenty-eight
years, and in 1844, moved on the farm where
701
he now lives; owns 305 acres of land, most of which
he entered; his land is well improved, has a good
house and barn besides a good bearing orchard; about
the year 1821 he married Miss Catharine Godlove, a
native of Virginia; they have seven children living:
Joseph, Mary A. (now Mrs. Tener), Henry A., Abner,
Nancy, John F., George W.; lost five: Elizabeth, Iden,
Margaret (Mrs. Temsey), William R. and Samuel; Mr.
and Mrs. Younkin are members of the M. E. Church.
Return to top

MARION TOWNSHIP
CHILCOTE, JAMES, farmer; Sec. 18; P. O. Washington;
was born June 10, 1808, in Perry county, Ohio; in
1842 he emigrated to Washington county, Iowa; in his
youth and middle life, he was a great hunter, and
a skilled marksman; he is one of the earliest settlers
of the county, and as such has experienced all the
trials incident to pioneer life; in 1847 he captured
two horse thieves, who broke jail in Quincy, Illinois;
they had stolen horses from several parties in Henry
county; he tracked them over the prairies sixty miles
west of Des Moines, and captured them; he was married
in 1852, to Miss Maggie Cox, of Washington county,
Pennsylvania; by this union they have had a family
of eight children, two son and six, daughters.
CLAPPER, WILLIAM, farmer. Sec. 1; P.0. Washington;
was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on the 14th day of
October. 1822; he came to this county, October 14,
1854; he was married May 17, 1853, to Susanna Harman;
they have a family of five children: Marion 0., Ira
W., Oral K., George J. and Accie K.; Mr. C. has held
various township offices.
EDWARDS, ISAAC, farmer; Sec. 31; P. O. Washington.
NEISWANGER, D., farmer; Sec. 27; P. O. Washington;
was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, August
18, 1825; removed with his parents to Wayne county,
Ohio, in 1831, and remained with his father on the
farm until he was twenty-one years of age; was married
to Mary Warfel February 20, 1851; by this union they
have had eleven children: seven boys and four girls;
he began life as a farmer, and still adheres to his
first occupation; whatever is profitable in the management
of' his farm Mr. Neiswanger devotes himself to, whether
it be producing corn and wheat, or raising hogs and
cattle; he is energetic and impulsive, and whatever
he turns his attention to he proceeds to perform;
he takes a square view of things, believing that through
the advancement of agriculture, mechanic and industrial
arts the best civilization of the world can be achieved;
he is the friend of the educational movements of the
age, and a zealous supporter of the common schools;
in politics he is a Republican, and exceedingly popular
with his party to the extent that when he is in the
canvass he is generally the winning man; he has held
all the township offices a number of terms; was elected
township secretary in 1868, and has held that office
ever since; was elected justice of the peace in 1869,
and has held that office ever since; and no appeal
ever taken from his docket; he owns two good farms
in Marion township which he superintends himself in
connection with his other official business; he is
also treasurer of the Farmer's Mutual Insurance Association
of Washington county, and has been since its organization;
he is a
702
member of the Christian Church; has held the office
of deacon in that Church since 1865.
NOBLE, E. C., farmer: Sec. 36; P. O. Berlin, Henry-county.
OXLEY, E. R., farmer; Sec. 18; P. O. Washington;
was born October 7, 1854, in Linn county, Iowa, and
came to this county in 1864, and has followed his
chosen occupation; he has held various township offices.
HOLSON, NATHAN A., Iowa City; was born in Crawford
county, Ohio, January 10, 1832; upon the death of
his parents, which occurred in 1833 and 1834, respectively,
he was raised by an uncle in Richmond county, Ohio;
he enlisted in March, 1847, in company D, Fourth Ohio
infantry, in the Mexican war, being 16 years of age,
and participated in every march and engagement with
his regiment, and was mustered out with his regiment,
at Cincinnati, in August, 1848; he attended the State
University of Indiana for some years, and in the fall
of 1853 went to California, and engaged in mining
in Nevada county; returned in 1856, and in August
of the same year was married to Miss P. J. Adams,
a native of Ohio, and born in 1835; he removed to
Iowa in 1857, and was engaged in selling goods in
Richmond for some time; he was also engaged as principal
of the schools in Richmond at the time of the breaking
out of the war; he organized a company for the service
as early as June, 1861, but as it could not be accepted,
let it disband, some of the members going in other
companies; he afterward organized company E, of the
Tenth infantry, on but a few days' notice, and had
it in quarters; served with his company in every move,
march and engagement until severely wounded at the
battle of Champion's Hill, Mississippi, May 16, 1863;
being considered unfit for active duty, he was detailed
as judge-advocate of the division, which position
he retained whenever the court was convened until
the regiment was sent home on veteran furlough in
June, 1863; after his return he was appointed provost-marshal
of Kingston, Georgia, which position he filled when
he received notice of the acceptance of his resignation
September 4, 1864; he owns a fine farm in Cedar township;
he removed temporarily to Iowa City in order to educate
his children; his family consists of seven children:
Ida M., Alliene M., Butler, Ralph, John C., Lulu C.
and an infant; Mr. and Mrs. Rolson are members of
the M. E. Church; Mr. Rolson also belongs to the A.
F. & A. M. and A. O. U. W.
Return to top
|