-482- D. P. HISCOX, a farmer of Cherokee Township, has been identified with the interests of Cherokee County since 1873. He was born in Connecticut, May 10, 1845, and is the son of Lucien and Pearl (Perrin) Hiscox. In 1856 the Hiscox family came to Iowa, crossing the Mississippi River on ice at Dubuque; thence by team they went to Floyd County, Iowa, and settled near Charles City. There our subject resided until the breaking out of the late war. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and obtained his education in the common schools. In December, 1861, he enlisted in the Twelfth United States Infantry, Company C, and served three years. He saw some hard fighting, participating in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Gaines's Mill, Malvern HIll, Fair Oaks, and the second battle of Bull Run. He contracted a disease which confined him to the McClellan Hospital some time. He was honorably discharged in 1865, and returned to Floyd County, Iowa; thence he removed to Butler County, Iowa, where he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Converse, a teacher of considerable ability. She is a daughter -483- of Judge Alonzo Converse, senator from Butler County, Iowa, one of the pioneers of that county. Her mother was Polly Needham. Judge Converse now lives at Ada, Dakota. Mr. Hiscox owns 220 acres of land which he has improved with good buildings, and all the necessities for carrying on farming. He and his wife are the parents of four children: Bertha, Cora, Arthur and Leora. the father and mother are worthy and respected members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hiscox affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of the General Custer Post, No. 25, G.A.R. He is a man honest and upright in all his dealings, and is well worthy of the confidence and esteem in which he is held in the community in which he lives. CALEB BUNN.—This enterprising and successful agriculturist, like many of Iowa's substantial citizens, was not born on American soil, but in England. The time of his birth was November 20, 1845, and his parents are James and Mary Ann Bunn. Caleb was four years old when the family emigrated to this country and settled in the State of Ohio, in Cuyahoga County; there they remained six years, and then came to Dubuque, Iowa. James Bunn was an expert mechanic, and was the first to invent the apparatus now used for changing mails on fast train, but by fraud was deprived of the advantage which he should have received from this useful invention. This apparatus was entered at Stationery Hall, England, November 20, 1848, but the British Government refused to patent it. His son, our subject, has the original draft of the apparatus in his possession at the present time. He also has the contract between his father and the British Government for placing apparatus on the first line on which it was used in England. During the late war Caleb Bunn enlisted in December, 1863, in the First Iowa Cavalry, Company L, and served two years and three months when he was honorably discharged. He returned to his home, and January 16, 1868, he was married in Dubuque County, Iowa, to Miss Josephine De Long, a daughter of John and Matilda (Kibby) De Long. Mrs. Bunn's father was a prominent early settler of Dubuque County' both parents died when she was a child, and she was brought up by David Lovelace, Esq., who was her uncle. In 1871 Mr. Bunn came to Ida County, Iowa, and resided there until 1878, when he located in his present home. He owns 160 acres of land highly cultivated and improved; he devotes himself to agricultural pursuits exclusively, and has been very prosperous. He and his wife are the parents of two sons: John William, born October 9, 1868; and Charles W., born February 20, 1870. Both sons reside at home, assisting their father during the summer, and operating a steam thresher during the autumn. Mr. Bunn affiliates with the Republican party, and is a member of General Geddis Post, No. 423, Holstein, Iowa. Mr. Bunn is a man of high integrity of character, and much respected by a wide circle of acquaintances in the county. NATHAN H. HAYES is an early and well-known settler of Pilot Township. He was born in Washington County, New York, near Granville, January 27, 1836, and is a son of Jonathan and Abigail (Burton) Hayes, natives of the State of New York. Nathan H. was six months of age when his parents removed to Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where they lived seven years, at the expiration of that period of time they -484- came to the Territory of Iowa, and settled in Clinton County, being among the early settlers of the county; there they lived seven years, and then removed to Poweshiek County, Iowa; there our subject remained until he was nineteen years of age. He received his education in the common schools, and early became accustomed to farm labor. His mother died in Clinton County, Iowa, and the father still lives, residing in Clinton County. Mr. Hayes removed from Poweshiek County to Harrison County, where he spent two years with an older brother, Sanford. The spirit of youth was still restless within him, and he determined to go to Pike's Peak in search of gold; he spent two years in the West, engaged in mining and prospecting. He then returned to Harrison County, Iowa, and shortly after went to Clinton County, spending three years in the latter county; he then returned again to Harrison County, settling near Dunlap. In 1869 he came to Cherokee County, and took out a homestead of eighty acres, which he has since made his home. He has been successful in his undertakings, and as his means would permit he has invested in land until he now owns 200 acres in a high state of cultivation. The first cabin, constructed of logs, sod, and slabs, has long since disappeared, and in its place is a fine frame residence, situated on a natural building site; the plan of the house is modern, and one of the chief attractions of the place is the natural grove surrounding the house, a rare luxury in Iowa. Antoher of the improvements is a large barn; the farm is divided into fields, each of which is well supplied with water. Mr. Hayes was united in marriage November 22, 1875, to Mrs. Catherine Sheldon, widow of Iram Sheldon. She is a daughter of William and Sarah (Catlin) Ellis, and was born in Muskingum County, Ohio.By her first marriage six children were born to her: William T., Francis T., Sarah H., Nelson V., Joseph O. and James O. Mr.a nd Mrs. Hayes have one daughter, Lulu E., born May 5, 1876. Mr. Hayes belongs to the Democratic party, and has served his township officially as trustee, and as a member of the School Board. He and his wife are honored members of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, Mr. Hayes having served as a teacher of the same. He is a man still in the prime of live, and is one of Cherokee County's solid citizens. THOMAS SCURLOCK, one of the hardy pioneers, came to Cherokee County in May, 1863, at which time he entered eighty acres of land as a homestead upon which he still resides. He was born in Jackson County, Ohio, December 22, 1816, and is a son of William and Sarah (Humphrey) Scurlock, early settlers of Jackson County; the father served in the War of 1812; the parents were natives of North Carolina. Thomas spent his youth in assisting his father to clear and improve a timbered farm. He was married September 23, 1838, to Julia Perkins, a native of Gallia county, Ohio, and a daughter of Erastus Perkins, a native of Connecticut. some three years after his marriage Mr. Scurlock removed to the Territory of Iowa, settling in Jackson County, where he was one of the first settlers. In 1856 he went to Humboldt County, settling on the Des Moines River; at that time Humboldt County had but few settlers, and those who were there had to undergo many privations and hardships. In 1863 Mr. Scurlock came to Cherokee County, and found it as sparsely settled as the county he had left, there being only seven voters in the county. He has been a resident of Iowa for nearly fifty years, and has witnessed the -485- growth and development of one of the best States in this grand Union. He has lived a life of honesty and fair dealing, and has won the confidence and esteem of all whom he has met. Politically his sentiments are voiced by the Republican party. He has served as supervisor of the county for four years, acquitting himself with much credit. Mr. and Mrs. Scurlock have ten children living: Jasper, Levi, Newton, Scott, William, George, Henry, Mary, Thomas and Susan; they have lost three children: Frank died at the age of twenty-eight years; Erastus, at the age of fourteen months; and John, at the age of three years. J. A. PHIPPS, one of the farmers of Cherokee Township, has been a resident of Cherokee County since 1858. He was born at Milford, Massachusetts, February 12, 1847, and is a son of Albert Phipps, Esq., one of the prominent and well-known pioneers of Cherokee County. A lad of eleven years when he came to the State, he has witnessed the growth of the county from its infancy. He attended the first school in the county, taught by Mrs. Lemuel Parkhurst. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority. Mr. Phipps was married in January, 1877, to Miss Victoria Wheeler, a daughter of Daniel Wheeler, of Afton Township. In 1868 he took a homestead of Government land, which he improved and now owns. In 1873 he came to his present farm, which consists of 340 acres of well-improved land; there are two dwellings, barns, groves and numerous other improvements, indicating the thrift and prosperity of the owner. Mr. Phipps devotes himself to general farming, and has been uniformly successful in this industry. He and his wife have one daughter, Erma D. born in June, 1878. Mr. Phipps adheres the principles of the Republican party. By a life-long practice of the strictest principles of integrity and honesty he has served an enviable position in the county. HENRY L. PHIPPS, an intelligent and enterprising farmer of Cherokee Township, has been a resident of Cherokee County since early childhood. He was born at Milford, Massachusetts, May 17, 1854, and is a son of Albert Phipps, Esq., a prominent and widely known pioneer, whose biography appears on another page of this volume. Brought up in a pioneer country he has man vivid recollections of the privations and hardships endured in those early days. He attended the first school in the county in the summer of 1858, which was presided over by Mrs. Samuel Parkhurst. His youth was spent in assisting his father to cultivate the home farm. In 1878 he settled on his present farm, which now consists of 200 acres of finely improved land. Mr. Phipps has erected a good residence, which is attractively situated on a natural building site, surrounded by shade and ornamental trees; there are barns, cribs, and sheds, and all the conveniences for carrying on farming in good style. Devoting his whole time to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Phipps has made a marked success, and his efforts have been deserving of the success with which they have met. He was married April 19, 1877, to Miss Emily Thompson, daughter of Henry and Marintha (Wheeler) Thompson, the mother being a daughter of Daniel Wheeler,of Afton Township. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Phipps: Florence M., Albert V., Charles T., Homer G. and Ben Harrison. Politically our subject adheres to the principles of the Republican party. He and his wife are consistent members of the Adventist Church, and are among the most highly respected families in the community. -486- ALEXANDER FRASER, dealer in grain and live-stock, Aurelia, was born in Dodge County, Wisconsin, November 19, 1848. His parents, James and Isabel (McMillen) Fraser, were both born in Nova Scotia; they settled in Wisconsin as early as 1843, and in 1859 removed to McGregor, Iowa, where they made their home until 1887; at that time they went to Peterson, Clay County, Iowa, where the father passed the remainder of his days, his death occurring December 24, 1888, at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow still makes her home at Peterson. The family consisted of nine sons, of whom Alex was the third. They are: Hugh, William, James, Jacob, John, Charles, George and Henry. Alexander was educated in the common schools, and in the Upper Iowa University, at Fayette. He came to Cherokee County in 1871, his brothers Hugh and William having taken homesteads there in 1869. He first bought 160 acres of land one and a half miles south of Aurelia, which he farmed for four years, when he removed to Aurelia and engaged in the grain and live-stock business. He is one of the most extensive shippers of grain and live-stock in the county, his annual shipments running from seventy-five to 100 car-loads. He is also interested with his brother John in the grain business at Calumet, Iowa. Mr. Fraser has two fine farms in Pitcher Township; one is located one and a half miles south of Aurelia, and contains 240 acres; the other is four miles southeast of Aurelia, and contains 360 acres. This latter place he devotes to stock-growing. He has at different times handled real estate, dealing mainly in farm property. In 1884 the Farmers and Merchants' Bank was organized with Mr. Fraser as vice president, which office he held until he disposed of his interest in the business at the end of one year. Politically Mr. Fraser is identified with the Republican party, and has held several village and township offices. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, including Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R.A.M., and Crusade Commandery, No. 39, K.T. Mr. Fraser was married at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, November 14, 1869, to Miss Mary F. McWilliams, a native of the State of Pennsylvania. Five children have been born of this marriage: Zelda, Arthur, Gilbert, Earl and Avo. WILLIAM CLARK MARSH, Postmaster of Aurelia, was born in Clinton County, New York, near Plattsburgh, March 31, 1841, and is the fourth of six children of Lyman and Polly (Comstock) Marsh, both of whom were born in Massachusetts, their ancestors being among the Pilgrim Fathers. In 1849 the family removed to Wisconsin, and the father entered land in Fond du Lac County, where he resided a number of years. Lyman Marsh died in 1884, in Douglas County, Dakota, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife still lives, making her home in Douglas County, Dakota. William C. Marsh attended the district school, and afterward entered the Lawrence University at Appleton, intending to finish the course; but at the end of the second term he laid down his Euclid and Lindley Murray to answer his country's call. August 15, 1862, he enlisted at Ripon, in Company B, -487- Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and September 25 he was sworn in at Oshkosh under Colonel Howe, and joined Sherman's forces at Memphis, Tennessee. In a few weeks he was attacked with typhoid-pneumonia, and was placed in a hospital at Oxford, Mississippi, and soon after was transferred to the Sixth Street Hospital at Keokuk, where he arrived January 6; he suffered a relapse, and February 22, 1863, he was honorably discharged without having participated in any battle. He returned to his home, and the following fall entered the Bryant & Stratton Business College, taking a complete course, and receiving a diploma upon graduation. Having a strong desire to return to the scenes of war, he hired to the Government as a laborer, but became forage clerk to the Assistant Quartermaster, W. W. Wetherel, of Sherman's Army. Returning home in 1864, he obtained an appointment as clerk in commissary to a construction corps in North Carolina. At the close of hostilities he returned to Wisconsin, and engaged in farming until 1875, teaching during the winter seasons. In October, 1875, Mr. Marsh came to Iowa and embarked in the grain and coal business at Aurelia, Cherokee County, continuing one winter. In 1876 he erected the first hotel and for two years was a popular host. then for one year he was employed in the store of Wharton & Reynolds, and Wharton & Burnskill. For two years, dating from 1882, he was buying grain at Meriden, Iowa, with J. W. Burnskill. Since 1884 he has resided in Aurelia, and has devoted the most of his time to the grain trade. In 1886, assisted by J. T. McCall and Alex. Fraser, he opened a bank at Holstein, Ida County, Iowa, acting as cashier until the business was sold six months later. He was recently appointed postmaster, his commission bearing the date May 23, 1889. Mr. Marsh has been a popular man, and has bee of great benefit to his county. He was a member of the Board of County Supervisors, and during his term the Poor Farm was purchased and improved. He has also served as township clerk and treasurer, and a large part of the time he has resided in Aurelia has been a member of the School Board. Mr. Marsh was married March 15, 1871, in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, to Miss Frances Hubbard, a native of the State of New York. The family consists of Edith Luella, Winifred, William C. and Ethel. Mr. Marsh is a member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A.F. & A.M.; of Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R.A.M., and of Crusade Commandery, No. 39 K.T. ANTHONY COTTINGHAM, of the firm of Cottingham & Grue, undertakers and dealers in furniture, Aruelia, was born in Yorkshire, England, October 15, 1829, and is the son of Anthony and Jane (Hunt) Cottingham. His father was a miner, and died when he was boy ten years of age. His early years were passed in the laborious work of mining. July 6, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Harker, and emigrated to America the following year. He was accompanied by two brothers, John and Miles. His mother and brother Timothy had come to America the previous year. He settled in La Fayette County, and resumed labor in the mines in that State, and continued in this work until six years had gone by. He then purchased land and began farming. In 1881 he decided to migrate to Iowa, and he invested in lands and still owns one fine farm in Sioux County, near Calliope. Not caring to continue agricultural pursuits, soon after coming to Aurelia he secured an interest with Charles Grue in their present -488- business, and has since given his attention to the demands of the store. Mr. Cottingham and wife have an interesting family of three daughters: Mary Jane, wife of T. J. Murphy, the efficient railroad agent at Aurelia; Margaret Elizabeth and Emma Adeline. Margaret is at present conducting a millinery store and Emma is still at home. A niece, Miss Isabel Harker, now Mrs. Reuben Howells, has been a member of the family from her eighth year, when her mother died. Mr. Cottingham has a delightful home, and having the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends, he takes life easily and gets a large share of enjoyment where many men would find only vexation and unrest. Twenty-nine years ago he embraced the Christian religion, and became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a strong supporter. Politically he casts his ballot with the Republican party, and has ever been alive to the great questions before the American people. He appreciates the right of every American to cast his vote, and has never neglected to attend to this first great duty of all loyal citizens. To such men as the subject of this review the country owes much, and while we receive annually thousands of foreigners to our shores,no plea will ever be made that we are receiving too many of this stamp and mold of men, but we will ever have room for such. Charles Grue, of the firm of Cottingham & Grue, Aurelia, was born in Norway, July 28, 1847. He is a son of Christian and Oleana (Sorenson) Olson. He took the name of the county in which he was born, bade farewell to his native clime, and sailed away to the New World, arriving in Chicago, that typical American city, June 24, ____. He had served an apprenticeship of five years at the cabinet-maker's trade in Christiania, Norway, and after coming to this country he worked at the business in Chicago for three years. Desirous of seeing yet more of this land, he went to Utah, and for sometime worked at his trade in Salt Lake City. One summer he assisted in building a quartz mill, remaining in the Territory in all three years. He then journeyed toward the east, and settled in Cherokee County, Iowa. His brother, Martin Christianson, was then at Alta, and he remained there six months, after which he came to Aurelia in 1877. There he opened the pioneer furniture store of the place, and has since continued in the business, having disposed of a part of his interest to Mr. Cottingham. They are agents and manufacturers of the Mitchell Washing Machine. Mr. Grue was married at Christiania, Norway, August 15, 1869, to Miss Anna Johnson. Three children born on this union: Fanny, Lizzie and Sophia. One died at the age of two years. Mr. Grue was a member of the town council for eleven years. In church matters he has always taken an active interest. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, of which he was secretary and treasurer for twelve years. For six years he was prominently connected with Missionary Society. PETER WESLEY DINGMAN was born Christmas day, 1833, in Middlebury, Wyoming County, New York. His parents were Henry and Catherine (Vader) Dinman, descendants of early Dutch settlers on the Mohawk. In 1857 they emigrated from New York to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, where the father died the following year. His widow is still living, at the age of ninety years. At the age of sixteen years the subject of this notice entered the office of the Attica Atlas as an apprentice. The editor of the Atlas was Silas Folsom, a -489- brother of Mrs. Grover Cleveland's father. His health failing after one year of type-setting, he returned to the farm and attended school for a time. He then entered a bakery at Rushford to learn the trade, and remained there nearly two years. After working at his trade at Jamestown one summer he returned to Batavia, and entered the employ of a firm with whom he remained three years. In the fall of 1856 he was sent to Chicago by his employers as foreman in a steam bakery. He occupied this position for two years, and the following two years were spent in Janesville, Wisconsin, as foreman in a bakery. January 1, 1859, Mr. Dingman was married in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, to Miss Ellen Folly. His father having died the year before, he went to Fond du Lac County and purchased the home farm, adding forty acres to it. After two years he sold this place, and the next two years farmed in another portion of the county. He then removed to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and for a year and a half was engaged in the wholesale and retail bakery and confectionery business. During this time he was twice burned, and having no insurance he was $1,000 behind. In the spring of 1866 he came to Sac City, Iowa, and took a homestead near that place. He next accepted a position as cook to a party of surveyors locating the Northwestern Railroad, which was pleasant and profitable employment. the following season he was cook on the steamer Lincoln, plying on the Fox River. He next conducted a bakery and restaurant, and in 1871 resumed farming, which he continued until 1876, when he removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, and bought a farm upon which he lived for eight years. Since his residence in Aurelia he has been engaged in handling real estate, loans and insurance. Having a natural gift for language, he is widely known as a forcible and genial auctioneer. During the past three years he has had charge of the city scales. Politically Mr. Dingman is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of Maple Lodge, No. 495, I.O.O.F. His family consists of Julia., wife of A. A. Reed; Estella Maria, wife of Nelson Sighu; Cora Elcie, wife of T. B. Parker; Clara May, wife of H. K. Leonard; Arthur and Leon. ROBERT T. McCREADY, breeder of pure Clydesdale horses and Polled Angus cattle, Cherokee, Iowa, is probably as widely known as any man in Northwestern Iowa. His beautiful farm of 960 acres lies in Diamond and Silver townships, eleven miles southeast of the county seat of Cherokee County, and the reward of a life of hard struggles and hardships, coupled with intelligence and determination. Robert T. McCready was born in the old historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, June 19, 1844. His parents were Robert and Jane (Mathews) McCready. His father was born at Paisley, in the Highlands, August 29, 1800. the father of Robert, Sr., was a Presbyterian minister, and the mother lived to the advanced age of 104 years. Robert McCready, Sr., was a stocking and silk weaver by trade, and determined to emigrate to America in 1849. After arriving in the United States he settled in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he conducted his business for three years; he then engaged in farming in Sauk County, Wisconsin, until 1865, when he met with financial reverses; he at once returned to his trade, working in Fayette County, Wisconsin. The latter years of his life were passed in Cherokee County, where he died July 16, 1882. HIs wife had died in 1859, and he had never re-married. His -490- family consisted of seven children: Elizabeth and Anna died in childhood; William died at the age of fifteen years; John died in California, aged thirty-one years; Albert W. resides in Madison, South Dakota, and George died in infancy. Robert T., the subject of his notice, enlisted in his country's service September 9, 1861, in the Sixth Wisconsin Light Artillery. His command was sent to St. Louis, and soon joined General Rosecrans at Cairo; he participated in the action at Island No. 10, and at Corinth, where he was wounded in the right hand by a minie-ball. He was sent to St. Louis, where he was discharged in April, 1863, the surgeon in charge not considering him able for further service. Not content to remain inactive, he secured employment with the Government as mule driver, and while engaged was taken ill at Nashville, Tennessee, and was compelled to give up his work. He returned to McGregor, Iowa, and found work in Clayton County, but his health was so shattered he was not equal to the demands upon his strength, and was dismissed with only ten cents in his pocket. A few months afterward he secured a position as fireman on the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad, which he held for nearly two years. Mr. McCready spent one year working for his father-in-law, and then decided to seek a home in Cherokee County. Accordingly, in the spring of 1869 he set out on foot, and finding a suitable location he entered eighty acres of land in Pilot Township, and that summer brought his wife and baby, driving from Postville with two yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows. For three months they lived in the wagon, and by that time a sod shanty had been erected which served as a dwelling for six years. In the year 1875 he removed to his present beautiful tract of land, which is one of the finest farms in the county; about one-half of the 960 acres is seeded to grass. Mr. McCready makes a specialty of stock-growing; he keeps 150 head of cattle, and feeds two to five car-loads annually. He breeds the finest grades of cattle, and makes a marked success of breeding fine-blooded horses. He has two commodious barns and other farm-buildings; his residence, now in process of erection, will add much to the beauty and attractiveness of the farm. The family consists of Albert W., Rosilla May, wife of John Klem, and Lucy Jane, wife of Thomas Klem. THERON SHELL was born in the village of Tonawanda, Erie County, New York, March 30, 1839. His father, John Shell, was born in 1795, of German ancestry; his mother, Catherine (Wire) Shell, was born in 1804, and was of Welsh origin. John Shell died in 1863, and his widow, twenty-two years after. they were the parents of seven sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. Theron remained at home until the age of eighteen years working on the farm, and at times at the carpenter's trade. In 1858, in company with two other boys, he started across the plains in quest of a life more exciting than that furnished in his native town. They went as far west as Fort Kearney, when he came back to St. Louis; there he met a party organized for a hunting expedition to the wilds of Arkansas; he joined them and after some weeks of rough life he was attacked with swamp fever, and was brought back as far as Memphis where his brother Jacob met him, and took him home to New York. -491- He remained there until "war's shrill alarm" was sounded, and Fort Sumter's guns screamed for help. His blood was fired, and he answered the first call for troops, enlisting at Buffalo, New York, in the Twenty-first New York Volunteer Infantry; he was the first man from Tonawanda to enter the service. The command was attached to General McDowell's army, and at the first battle of Bull Run was held in reserve. He participated in the fight at Falmouth, Rappahannock Station, Cedar Montaina nd Sulphur Springs. He was on that memorable retreat when Pope's army was under almost continual fire for eighteen days. At the second Bull Run he was wounded in the arm, both bones being broken; he also received a more troublesome wound in the stomach, a spent ball striking his belt plate, a belt that he had taken the day before from a rebel Sergeant; this knocked him senseless, and he was afterward captured by a Texas company and held a prisoner from August 30 until September 9. His arm amputated by an Ohio surgeon, and after being paroled he was sent to the Fairfax Seminary Hospital, where he remained until the middle of October, when he was claimed by friends and taken home. He was discharged October 10, 1862. The history of his regiment shows that he was promoted for braver on the field of Second Bull Run, and after his discharge a Sergeant's commission was sent to him. When he was able to work he was made collector of "canal tolls," and Assistant United States Assessor. He was also engaged in mercantile business at Tonawanda, where he remained until the fall of 1867. Having a mind of a philosophical and mechanical turn, in the year 1867 he began the manufacture of a barometer and thermometer, and other similar instruments; his success was marked and he located in St. Louis, and thence traveled extensively over the United States. Growing tired of this life he returned to New York, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1884, when he came to Iowa, and secured a tract of land near the one on which he now lives. Mr. Shell was first married at Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1872, to Miss Anna Smith. She died in 1875, and he was united to his present wife June 22, 1884. One child was name Hattie Amelia, four years old. Mrs. Keziah Shell was the widow of George Kent, an early settler of Cherokee County. She and her husband came from Tonawanda, New York, in 1869, and passed through many trials in the new country. The husband died in 1881, and the mother was called upon to part from her son, Charles Sylvester Kent, under the most painful circumstances. He was out hunting with a neighbor's boy when he dug and ate what he supposed was artichoke, but was in reality the poisonous wild parsnip; he reached home, but no relief could be given, and he died in his mother's arms April 2, 1866, aged fourteen years and six months. SALATHIEL T. WILLIAMS one of the most sturdy and highly respected men of Diamond Township, is the subject of this memoir. Retiring and unassuming in disposition, he stands a splendid example of "middle life" in the cosmopolitan population of the most excellent county and State. He is a native of the Keystone State, born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1823. His boyhood was mainly passed in his native county among the hills and dales of that rugged country. Having an observing and analytical mind his attention was drawn to matters of education -492- through many struggles and privations he was enabled to attend school until he was advanced far enough himself to teach the "young idea;" for fifteen years his chief occupation was that of the country school-master, being employed in his native State, Ohio, and Illinois. In connection with the duties of a pedagogue he conducted farming operations, and after becoming farther advance in years he gave up teaching, and devoted himself more fully to agricultural pursuits. Salathiel is the youngest of a family of eleven children, of whom only four remain "to tread life's weary round." the only brother now living is the Rev. William Newton Williams, a retired Methodist Minister, residing in Dayton, Ohio. The oldest of the family now living is Mrs. Lydia Riggs, who was born with the nineteenth century. the youngest sister, Sarah A. Clark, is now a widow residing in Indianola, Iowa. Having a daughter living in Ida County, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Williams decided to move to this part of the country, and accordingly, in 1881, they came to Cherokee County, and secured the southwest quarter of section 27, Diamond Township. This has since been their home and a pleasant one it is. They are surrounded by the little things that make life enjoyable, and having the confidence and esteem of all who know them, they can smoothly float down the "stream of time" unmolested by the petty trials that beset the paths of younger men and women. Mr. and Mrs. Williams joined hands "for weal or woe" May 7, 1851, and have passed nearly forty years of mutual confidence and happiness. Mrs. William's maiden name was Barbara Dunlevy, and she was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1831. Her parents were Andrew and Sarah (Jackman) Dunlevy. Mr. Williams and wife have four children; they were called upon to part with three, two dying in infancy, and Alber L., in his twenty-first year, just as he was entering the threshold of manhood. Those surviving are: Charles C., Sarah M., Ed C. and Homer. Sarah is now Mrs. Smith; Ed C. is in business in Sioux City, and HOmer is at home. Charlie C., who is the present township clerk, was born March 1, 1852, and now lives on the home farm although he has secured a farm in Diamond Township. HIs wife, to whom he was wedded February 16, 1882, was Miss Anna McCance, who was born in Stark County, Illinois, February 19, 1859. They have four children: Bernice, Elmer, George and Dollie. Mrs. Williams is a lady of culture and refinement, and certainly possesses in abundance the qualities of mind and heart that make womanhood lovable and attractive.

This nonprofit research site is an independent affiliate of the American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP), and proud to be hosted by USGenNet, a nonprofit historical and genealogical Safe-Site Server™ solely supported by tax-deductible contributions. No claim is made to the copyrights of individual submitters, and this site complies fully with USGenNet's Nonprofit Conditions of Use.

Mardos Memorial Library