Greene County IAGenWeb

Thomas McDermott

Was born in Ireland in 1811, where he resided till manhood; and then he came to this country and after looking about for a desirable location finally settled in Clinton county, buying land from the government. He was married to Elizabeth McAllister, of Clinton county, when he was 30 years old. They have had eleven children, all of them are now living. Mr. McDermott came to Greene county from Clinton county in 1872, where he lived on his 280-acre farm until his death which occurred in 1889. He held most of the different offices of his township, having been school director and road supervisor. His religion was Roman Catholic and politically he was a democrat. He ranked among the best citizens of the county.

A. H. Hoyt

Farmer and stockman, is a Pennsylvanian by birth, having been born in 1825. When nine years old he came to Wellsborough, Mich., where he was married in 1852 to Julia A. Gilbert, a native of Massachusetts. They have had three children: J. W., 50; B. K., 48; Hannah Olivia, 45. He has twenty-three grandchildren and twelve great grand children. He lived in Michigan thirty years, when he came to Greene county where he has since farmed except one year he lived in Jefferson. Politically he is a democrat and in religion a Seventh Day Adventist.

Stephen Molle

Farmer and stockman, is a native of Germany, born in 1850. When he was three years old he came with his parents to Jackson county, Iowa, where his father had purchased a farm. In 1863 he moved to Dubuque county, where he lived with his parents four years, when they came to Lyons, where they lived until 1876, and then came to Greene county locating in section 29, Franklin township, breaking the farm and making of it a valuable and pleasant farm home. He was married in 1876 to Sarah Wiltrout, a native of Pennsylvania. They have seven children, all living: James, 20; Fred., 18; Susie, 16: Ida, 14; Robert, 12; George, 9; Maggie, 7. Politically he is a democrat.

Prof. Harrison M. Ham

Was born in Somerset county, Maine, in 1845, the son of Kingman Ham a native of the same State and a farmer. His education was in the common schools. He entered Vassalboro College, attending five years: teaching two terms while in College. He came with his parents to McLean county, Ills.; in the spring of 1866, had held a professor’s chair at Bloomington from 1871 to 1881, when he came to Greene county, Iowa locating on section 23, Franklin township, where he now has a large farm and a pleasant home. In 1869 he married Mary Merrom, a native of New York. They have had four children: Llewllyn, 28; Ida Mae, died Nov. 8, 1881; Mahlon, 16; Helena, 12. They are members of the M. E. church and politically he was a republican until 1896 when he began to work for the cause of free silver.

J. E. Clapsattle

Was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1843, and is of German descent. When 23 years old he came west and located in McHenry county, Ill in the spring of 1866. He was married in that county in 1870 to Minerva B. Murphy. Two daughters were born to them: Edna B., 27; Libbie E., 25. They resided in McHenry county until 1883, coming to Greene county that year, and located on section 20, Franklin township, where he now owns a fine farm of 80 acres. They are members of the M. E. Church, and in politics he is a democrat. He enlisted in 1863 in the N. Y. H. A., and was with Gen. Grant from the Wilderness to Appomattox Court House, participating in eight battles in that campaign. He was discharged in Oct., 1865.

Ross Miller

A native of Ohio, was born in Franklin county, Feb. 15, 1837. He is of Scotch-German descent; his father having been born in Germany and his mother in Scotland. When he was seven years old his parents moved to Scott county, Iowa, where his father had bought a farm 12 miles west of Davenport. In 1873 he came to Greene county locating on section 21, Franklin township, where he has since resided. He was married to Eliza Mooney, in Scott county, who died after living with him thirty-five years and was buried in the Cooper cemetery. They had three children: C. E., 40; Ida Margaret, deceased, 38; Ada Mary, 32. He was married May 19, 1894 to Ella McKinney of Cooper. He is a member of the M. E. church, and in politics is a republican.

Dan Walker

Farmer and stockman, was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1857, and is an Irish-Canadian. He resided in Ontario until he was 20 years old, and then came to Jefferson, Greene county. He afterwards located in Franklin township, and now owns a splendid farm of 160 acres, well-improved and stocked. He was married in Grand Junction to Teresa Garland, who is of Irish descent also. They have had ten children, of whom four have died, three of diphtheria. Those living are: William, 12; Walter, 9; Annie, 2; Mary 8; Teresa, 10 weeks. Mr. And Mrs. Walker are faithful members of the Roman Catholic church, and politically he is a democrat.

J. W. Price

Was born in Wales in 1820, where he lived for 35 years on a farm with his parents. He was married in 1849 to Gwenny Joseph, also a native of Wales. They came to this country and settled near Iowa City where he had bought a farm, living there four years and then moved to Williamsburg, Iowa county, and three years later came to Greene county, locating on section 6, Franklin township, where he had taken up 90 aces and he now owns 160 acres of wee-improved land. They have had eleven children, nine of whom are living: John J., 39; Margaret Jane, 37; Katherine G., 35; Mary Ann, 33; David L., 30; William, 28; Bessie M., 25; Sadie Ruth, 21. Two sons, Edward and Morgan are dead. Mr. And Mrs. Price are members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics he is a republican.

Tom Johnson

Is a native of England, born in Lancashire in 1843, where he lived until he was 20 years old, when he came to Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where he farmed five years. He was married at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, to Sarah Hanna Wright, a native of England. He enlisted in 1862, in Co. E, 15^th Ill. Infantry, and served three years and fought in thirteen several engagements. Was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg, and was honorably discharged in Arkansas Aug. 1, 1865. He served an apprenticeship as a pawnbroker in England six years, and worked tow years afterwards as foreman. They have had eleven children, nine now living: Geo. H., 30; Wm. J., 27; Walter, 23; Cornelius, 21; Thomas E., 18; Martha, 11; Clara, 7; Henrietta, 5. Politically he has always been a republican.

Henry Maas

Was born in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1854, where he lived until 1871, when he moved with his parents to Lee county, Ill., where his father had purchased a farm. In 1876 he came to Guthrie county, Iowa, where his father owned a good farm. He was married in 1878 to Emma Brookmiller, like himself of German descent. The same year he moved to Greene county, locating on section 3, Franklin township, where he now owns a good, well-improved 80-acre farm. They have three children: Frank, 16; Rend, 14; Stella, 5. Mr. And Mrs. Maas are members of the Lutheran church, and he is a republican.

G. A. Wiggins

Was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, in 1847, where he lived until he was seven years old, then moved with is parents to Greene county, Wis., where his father owned a farm. He was married in Wisconsin to Louisa J. Taylor, a native of that State. They have eight children: Jennie, 26; Julia, 24; Frank, 22; Ella, 20; Lee, 18; Jessie, 14; Jay, 9; Wilma, 7. They are members of the Presbyterian church of Jefferson, and politically he is a republican, never losing a vote.

Curtis H. Chapin

Was born in the State of New York in 1854, where he lived ten years; when he moved to a farm near Jackson, Mich., and in 1860 moved to Greene county, Iowa, locating in Franklin township, where he now resides and has a very comfortable farm home. In 1881 he married Rachel Patterson of Greene county. They have had three children: Laura, 13; Nettie, 11. Willie died Feb 5, 1885, aged 13 months and 17 days. In politics he is a republican, and they are members of the M. E. church at Cooper. Mr. Chapin has had a long term of service as road supervisor and is now a township trustee.