Linn Township Biographies

Excerpt from The History of Dallas County, Iowa, published in 1879 by the Union Historical Company of Des Moines, Iowa

Allen, B. B. , farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Greenvale; born in Massachusetts in 1813; came to this county in 1854; owns 169 acres of land; has held offices of school director and postmaster four years; he married Miss Eliza Smith , January 24, 1857; she was born in Erie county, New York; have one daughter: Alice E. , and lost one: Mona E.

Andrews, S. B. , farmer, Sec. 28; P.O. Redfield.

Anderson, Isaac , farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Redfield.

Andrews, J.C. , farmer, Sec. 28; P.O. Redfield.

Bailey, J. A. , farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Redfield; born in Randolph County, Indiana, in 1842; came to this county in 1853; owns 180 acres of land; has held offices of town clerk and school director; he enlisted in the 39th Iowa Infantry in the late war and served until the close; he married Miss Martha A. Noel in 1873; she was born in Indiana; has three children: Fred, Nora E. , and Carl F.

Bailey, J. G. , farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Redfield.

Bailey, L. D. , farmer, Sec. 8; P.O. Linn; born in Indiana in 1841; came to this county in 1853; owns 291 acres of land; he enlisted in the 4th Iowa Cavalry, and served four years; he married Miss Pamelia Laubach in 1858; she was born in Pennsylvania; has five children: Blanche O., Harry W., Julia May, George R. and Mary Nellie .

Bales, Lewis , farmer, Sec. 9; P.O. Redfield.

Balesbaugh, J. , farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Greenvale.

Ballinger, M. , farmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Greenvale.

Bennett, D. M. , farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Greenvale.

Binford, F. W. , farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Greenvale.

Bice, J. W. , farmer, Sec. 9; P.O. Redfield.

Briggs, J. W. , farmer, Sec. 6; P.O. Redfield.

Burnham, Alex. , farmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Redfield.

Burnham, James , farmer, Sec. 31, P.O. Redfield.

Clark, Alonzo , farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Greenvale.

Clark, N.B. , farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Greenvale.

Clark, Jonathan , farmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Redfield.

Chace, E. R. , farmer, Sec. 6; P.O. Linn.

Cloud, Harmon , farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Harvey’s Mills.

Cloud, W. B. , farmer, Sec. 31; P.O. Harvey’s Mills.

Cox, Wm. , farmer, Sec. 30; P.O. Harvey’s Mills; born in Randolph county, Indiana, in 1825; came to this county in October, 1867; owns 300 acres of land; he married Mary R. Holloway in 1842; she was born in Ohio.

Cronk, I. , farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Redfield.

Davis, Isaac J. , farmer, Sec. 21; P.O. Redfield; born in Kentucky in 1817, and when young removed to Ohio, and afterward emigrated to Indiana; came to this county in 1854; owns 175 acres of land; he married Mrs. Lucinda Swain (whose maiden name was Maulsby ) in 1849; she was born in Tennessee; Mrs. Davis was first married to Zeno Swain , in 1830; he died in 1834, leaving one daughter, Rhoda J. , wife of S. Patty .

Doty, L. , farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Redfield.

Drake, Silas , farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Redfield.

Duck, Geo. C. , farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Redfield; born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1814, and removed from there to Porter county, Indiana, in 1844, and lived there eleven years, and came to this county in 1855; owns 230 acres of land; on this land is a valuable coal bank, known as Duck’s bank; he has held the offices of justice of the peace, school director and town trustee; he married Miss Mary Hesser in 1844; she was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1818; has six children: Simon, John W., Rachel, Sarah, George and Catharine ; lost two: Mary and Joseph .

Duck, J. W. , farmer, Sec. 8; P.O. Redfield.

Dyer, E. , farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Redfield.

Ellis, Wm. B. , farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Redfield; born in Greene county, Tennessee, in 1829; he removed with his parents, when six years of age, to Indiana, and came to this county in 1854; owns 135 acres of land; has held offices of county supervisor, justice of the peace, town clerk, town trustee, assessor, and school director; he married Miss Susanna Lewis in 1851; she was born in Indiana; has ten children: Marcus D., Jesse C., Sarah E., Lucinda, Maria, Samuel R. C., Emma E., Lucretia M., Mary Melinda and Wm. R.

Elliott, Francis , farmer, Sec. 9; P.O. Redfield.

Estes, G. M. , farmer, Sec. 6; P.O. Redfield.

Evans, Elisha , farmer, Sec. 19; P.O. Redfield.

Eyers, Wm. , farmer, Sec. 9; P.O. Greenvale.

Fee, Isaac , farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Redfield; born in Galia County, Ohio, January 26, 1821, and emigrated to Iowa in 1846, settling near Des Moines, in Polk county, and came to Linn township in 1851, and settled and improved the farm on which he now resides, and has remained on the place since that time; he owns eighty acres of land; he married Miss L. Slaughter in 1841; she was born in Ohio; has ten children living: John, Richland, William, Hollace, Thomas, Lovina, Caroline, Ellen F., Abagail and Sarah A. ; lost three: Mary E., Dulcena J. and Nora L.

Flinn, John , farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Redfield.

Foy, Robert F. , farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Redfield; born in Maine in 1823; came to this county in 1857; owns 170 acres of land; has held offices of town trustee, school director, and treasurer of the school fund; he married Miss Ann E. Schuster , in 1850; she was born in Maine; has two children: John F. and Laura K.

Freeman, J. J. , farmer, Sec. 1; P.O. Greenvale.

Garey, Henry , farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Redfield.

Gary, L. G. , farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Redfield.

Grubbs, Luther , farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Linn.

Hart, Loring , farmer, Sec. 23; P.O. Redfield; born in Massachusetts in 1805; came to this county in 1866; owns ninety acres of land; he married Rebecca Babbit in 1837; she was born in Massachusetts.

Harper, W.W. , farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Redfield.

Harden, Ezra , farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Redfield.

Harden, John C. , farmer, Sec. 23; P.O. Redfield; born in North Carolina in 1824, and in 1837 removed to Indiana, and came to this county in 1854; owns 120 acres of land, eighty of which he entered; he has held offices of school director and town trustee; he married Miss Louisa Parker in 1850; she was born in Indiana; has eight children: Alonzo L., Ezra M., Emma B., Elim E., Alfred P., Louisa E., Reno L. and Cooty .

Hill, Abner , farmer, Sec. 30; P.O. Harvey’s Mill; born in Ohio in 1816; removed to Randolph county, Indiana, in 1836, and came to this county in 1856; owns 139 acres of land; he married Miss Elizabeth Lank in 1836; she was born in Ross county, Ohio; has four children: Martha A. , wife of M. C. Marshall , Elizabeth L. , wife of James S. Douney , Olive and Chester P.

Hodson, Joseph , farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Redfield.

Holoway, A. W. , farmer, Sec. 20; P.O. Linn.

Howell. P.S. , farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Redfield.

Howell, Ira , farmer, Sec. 6; P.O. Redfield.

Howell, Needom , farmer, Sec. 28; P.O. Redfield.

Hoyt, Ben. , farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Greenvale.

Hoyt, Thomas , farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. Greenvale; born in Maine in 1834; he lived in Wisconsin for sometime, and then removed to California, where he remained until he came to this county; he has held offices of town clerk, town trustee and school director; he married Miss Susan Ross , in 1861; she was born in Newark, New Jersey; has five children: Lizzie, Leland, Willie, Mable and Blanche .

Humphrey, W. C. , farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Redfield.

Jameson, John , farmer, Sec. 36; P.O. Redfield; born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, January 31, 1800; he removed to Franklin county, Ohio, in 1816, where he remained until 1827, and then moved to Marion county, and in 1833 to Allen county; came to this county in 1853; owns 150 acres of land; held office of assessor in 1855 and 1856; and while living in Allen county, Ohio, was Judge of the Probate Court from 1838 to 1852; he married Sarah Ann Lawson , December 16, 1823; she was born in Duchess county, New York; she died April 3, 1867; has four children: William W., Samuel F., James H. and Edward P. ; lost six: Robert L., John R., Margaret J., Rachel A., Ellen G. and Sarah . John R. and Edward P. enlisted in the 39th Iowa Infantry in the late war; the former was taken prisoner and confined at Belle Island, and died; one son-in-law, John H. Combs , the husband of Ellen G. (deceased), died from disease contracted in the service.

Johnson, Nelson , farmer, Sec. --; P.O. Redfield.

Jones, S. , farmer, Sec. 14; P.O. Linn.

Joy, John F. , farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. Redfield; born in Maine in 1853; came to this county in 1857; owns 160 acres of land.

Judge, Patrick , farmer, Sec 36; P.O. Redfield.

Keator, L. W. , farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Greenvale.

Ketner, J. M. , farmer, Sec. 20; P.O. Redfield.

Lawbach, J. , farmer, Sec. 20; P.O. Redfield; born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1823; came to this county April 17, 1855; owns 200 acres of land; he enlisted in Co. H, 39th Iowa Infantry during the late war, and served three years; he married Miss Sarah Ash , July 7, 1847; she was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania; has six children: Pernilla, Hiram F., John K., Russell A., Sanford H., Charles W. ; lost one daughter: Mary A.

Lawbach, H.F. and I. K. , farmers, Sec. 17; P.O. Redfield.

Lewis, David , farmer, Sec. 31; P.O. Redfield.

Lewis, S. , farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Redfield.

Lewis, T. D. , farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Redfield.

Lumpkin, R. W. , farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Linn.

McAtee, Samuel , farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. Redfield.

McLucas, J. M. , farmer, Sec. 23; P.O. Redfield.

McNees, A. , farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Redfield.

Madren, A. J. , farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Redfield.

Manor, Samuel , farmer, Sec. 19; P.O. Redfield.

Manor, Lewis , farmer, Sec. 31; P.O. Redfield.

Marshall, H. M. , farmer, Sec. 14; P.O. Redfield.

Maulsby, John , (deceased), farmer, who resided on Sec. 28; was born in Tennessee, September 11, 1814; he removed with his parents to Indiana in 1817; he married for his first wife, Mary Croft , who died in 1846; August 19, 1847, he married Miss Mary C. Kimmerle , who was born in Butler county, Ohio; in 1854 he came to this county and entered for himself and others, 2,200 acres of land; and at the time he removed from Indiana, he was the means of 20 families coming to this county; he held various offices of the township, and also county treasurer; he died November 19, 1876, leaving five children by first marriage: Letitia (wife of Dr. Rust ), Melissa (wife of Dr. Caldwell ), Jane (now Mrs. DeMotte ), Luny and Edgar ; and by second marriage six: Josephine, Cromwell, Florence, Forrest, Vernon and Frank .

Maulsby, J. H. , farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Greenvale.

Maulsby, Wm. , farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Redfield; born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, in 1810; in 1817 his parents removed tot Indiana, where he remained until 1857, when he removed to this county; he owns 320 acres of land; he married Miss Z. Mills in 1833; she was born in Tennessee; have two children: Irwin and Milton .

Maulsby, Milton , farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Redfield.

Merritt, James , farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Redfield.

Mills, J. H. , farmer, Sec. 23; P.O. Redfield; born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1847; came to this county in 1856; owns 80 acres of land, and has under his supervision 240 acres; has held office of school director; he enlisted in the 39th Iowa Infantry in the late war, and was afterward transferred to the 7th Iowa, and mustered out with that regiment; he married Miss S. A. Duck , September 15, 1867; have three children: Roscoe R., Charlie C., Milton D.

Mitchell, T. J. , farmer, Sec 11; P.O. Greenvale; born in Waldo county, Maine, in 1825; came to this county in 1863; previous to his removal to this county he lived in Wisconsin 10 years; he owns 98 acres of land; he married Miss Augusta A. Howard in 1845; she was born in Waldo county, Maine; have two adopted children: Lizzie and Addie Wagle .

Mohr, Samuel , farmer, Sec. 33; P.O. Redfield.

Moorman, Enoch , farmer, Sec. 31; P.O. Redfield.

Moore, Allen , farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Redfield; born in Indiana in 1825; came to this county in 1852; owns 226 acres of land; he married Miss Ada Van Cleave in 1847; she was born in Indiana; have three children living: Elizabeth A., Melinda J. and Wm. Allen ; lost five: Samuel G., James, Matilda, Augusta and Mary A.

Mosier, Jonathan , farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Greenvale.

Nelson, W. A. , farmer, Sec. 25; P.O. Redfield.

Overhalser, M. H. , farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Linn.

Parker, Pleasant , farmer, Sec 11; P.O. Redfield; born in Laurel county, Kentucky, in 1826; removed with this parents in Ind., in 1832, and came to this county March 8, 1855; owns 200 acres of land; has held offices of town trustee and school director; he enlisted in the 39th Iowa Infantry, in the late war, and served three years; he married Miss Anna E. Joy in 1856; she was born in Wayne county, Indiana; have four children: Wayne, Vienna, Dora and Irwin ; have lost two children.

Patty, D.S. , farmer, Sec. 23; P.O. Redfield.

Patty, S. , farmer, Sec. 21; P.O. Redfield; born in Lima county, Ohio in 1830; removed from there to Wayne county, Indiana, and came to this county in 1854; owns 240 acres of land; has held office of school director; he married Rhoda J. Swain in 1850; she was born in Wayne county, Indiana; have four children: T. Swain, Cora M., May and Reno R.

Presley, Wm. , farmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Redfield.

Roup, W. T. , farmer, Sec. 33; P.O. Redfield.

Russell, G. E. , farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Redfield.

St. John, R. F. , farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Greenvale.

Seamen, J.J. , farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Redfield.

Shieckle, J. J. , farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Redfield; born in England in 1810; came to this county in 1869; he married Mrs. Alice Harper , who was born in New York. Mrs. Shieckle’s maiden name was Shillato ; she first married James Harper , who was born in Virginia in 1800, and came to this county in March, 1851, and at the present writing she and her son are the oldest residents of what is now Linn township; Mr. Harper died May 14, 1869, leaving eight children: Hiram, James M., Edward, Wm. W., Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth and Eliza J.

Shillato, Wm. , farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Redfield.

Simcoke, B.F. , farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Redfield; born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1836; came to this county in 1867; has held offices of county supervisor, township clerk, justice of the peace and school directory; he married Mrs. Rachel E. Maulsby , whose maiden name was Patty ; she was born in Wayne county, Indiana; has four children: James L., William O., Laura and Joseph O. Mrs. S. died in June, 1877; she was previously married to Ezra Maulsby , who was born in Indiana, in 1838, and died in 1864, leaving three children: Ellis, Alonzo and Lawrence .

Sloan, S. , farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. Redfield.

Smith, I. H. , farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Redfield.

Smith, Lewis , farmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Redfield.

Smith, Jacob , farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Greenvale.

Stroud, A. , farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Greenvale; born in Vermont, in 1827; came to this county in July, 1858; owns 390 acres of land; he married Miss Ann McNamee in 1854; she was born in New York; have ten children: Carrie, Irene, Louisa, Charles, Edgar, John, Minnie, Arthur, Philip and Bazie B.

Taylor, Wm. R. , cabinet maker and farmer, Sec 11; P.O. Greenvale; born in Canada in 1827; came to this county in 1871; holds office of postmaster at Greenvale; he married Miss Frances E. Warren , in June, 1870; she was born in Franklin county, New York; has one child: Clarence M.

Thompson, Wm. , farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. Greenvale.

Thornburgh, J. A. , farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Redfield.

Thornburgh, Thomas K. and P. Kerns , farmers, stock-raisers and stock-dealers, Sec. 20; P.O. Redfield; the former was born in Indiana on April 9, 1847, and came to this county in 1856; he holds office of township trustee; he married Miss Jennie Vestal in 1871; she was born in Indiana; has three children: Zena C. , Mable and Baby. P. Kern was born in Indiana in 1850, and came to this county in 1856; they own, with their mother, 240 acres of land; their father, Wm. Thornburgh , was born in Tennessee in 1804; removed to Indiana; and came to this county in 1856; he married Miss Catharine Bohrer ; he died in September, 1876.

Town, Cyrus , farmer, Sec. 14; P.O. Redfield.

Turner, Jos. , farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Greenvale.

Turner, Geo. , farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Greenvale.

Warren, I. P. , farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. Greenvale; born in New Hampshire, in 1813; came to this county in 1866; owns 20 acres of land; has held office of school director; he married Miss Phebe J. Robinson in 1836; she was born in Plattsburg, New York; has three children: Araminta S., Isaac M. and Frances E. , wife of Wm. R. Taylor .

Wescott, W. H. , blacksmith and farmer, Sec. 3; P.O. Greenvale; born in Vermont in 1822; came to this county in August, 1868; owns 166 acres of land; holds office of school director; he married Miss Sophia C. Sibley in June 1852; she was born in Vermont; has three children: Stella, Frank and Willie ; previous to coming to this county he lived twenty years in Wisconsin.

Willis, Lucinda , farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Linn.

Winslow, Henry , farmer, Sec 9; P.O. Linn.

Winslow, Nathan , farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Linn.

Wolf, Joseph L. , farmer, Sec. 8; P.O. Linn.

Wolf, F. M. , farmer, Sec 8; P.O. Linn.

Wright, Jesse , farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Linn.

Young, R. W. , farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Linn.