Benjamin Franklin Bixby

BIXBY, HORNBACK, MCCONNELL

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 3/3/2011 at 11:16:25

Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa

Benjamin F. Bixby, the subject of this sketch, was born on his grandfather's farm at Norridgewock, Maine, June 17, 1828, and received a good academical education at the old academies of Bloomfield, Anson and Thompson. He began life as a school-teacher at Madison, Maine, and on the Penobscot Bay. In March, 1852, he sailed from Boston around Cape Horn to California. While his vessel was stopping at Chili for a supply of water during an insurrection there, they found Captain Brown, of the bark Florida, held a prisoner by the Chilian authorities, accused of aiding the insurgents; and at night the captain of Mr. Bixby's vessel rescued Brown and immediately put to sea, expecting to be followed by a man-of war. The former carried two large guns, besides small arms and cutlasses, and was ready for defense. The next day, however, Captain Brown was placed aboard his own vessel, and went on his way rejoicing.

On arrival in California Mr. Bixby mined for gold at Volcano, Placerville and Cedarville. He followed this business quite successfully four years, and then went into the dairy business in Jackson, California, which he continued two years. He then returned to Maine to visit his relatives, and in 1858 came to Winterset, Iowa. He obeyed the call of his country, and enlisted in Company E, Forty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served at Helena, Arkansas. He was taken sick with malarial fever, and came near death. He was in the hospital at Helena, in the old residence of General Hindman, a noted Confederate General. After serving out his time, Mr. Bixby, returned home to Winterset, and was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, September 28, 1864. He was shattered by the malaria and for two years was disabled. He then went into the employ of the Rock Island Railroad in the depot at De Soto, Iowa, for five years. In 1874 he came to Walnut in the employ of the same railroad company, as station agent, in which capacity he served fourteen years; he was also agent for the United States Company. Mr. Bixby's long service with the Rock Island Company is the best indication of his character and of his faithful and honest services. In 1889 he was appointed Postmaster under Harrison, and is now filling that office to the satisfaction of the Government and the people of Walnut. He is well fitted for this position by his long business training, his pleasant and courteous disposition, and his accommodating way of dealing with the people. He is a member of JOHN A. DIX Post, G. A. R., No. 408, Walnut, of which he has been adjutant many years. In his political principles he is a Republican.

Mr. Bixby was married in Winterset, Iowa, in September, 1859, to Miss Mary A. Hornback, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (McConnell) Hornback. The father was a native of Ohio, and of German descent, and was a resident of La Fayette, Indiana, for many years. He settled in Madison County, Iowa, in 1852, and died in 1884, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was the father of six children: James, George, John, Elizabeth, Nancy and Mary A. To Mr. and Mrs. Bixby have been born five children: Franklin (deceased at five years of age), William, Loyd, Maud and Bessie. William W. Bixby, the next eldest brother of our subject, made the first survey ever made to the Pacific Coast, about 1854-'55, which was made for a railroad from St. Paul to Puget Sound. Lyman, the younger brother, was a soldier in a Maine regiment, and was captured at the battle of Cold Harbor. He was a Lieutenant, and was in charge of the company when captured. He was six months in Andersonville and Libby prisons, and escaped from the former, and after nine days in the swamp was recaptured by means of bloodhounds. He was finally exchanged. He saw service before Richmond, being for two weeks under fire at one time.