691YORK TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER IV.

YORK TOWNSHIP.

[township sketch not yet transcribed...]

 

695YORK TOWNSHIP.
BIOGRAHICAL.
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BARNARD, J.—Sec. 18, P.O. York Center. Was born in Lee, Oneida county, New York, October 14, 1815. When very young his father died and he was taken by Thomas Waldo, with whom he lived until he was fifteen years old and after that he worked from place to place until twenty-one years old. Then left Oneida county and went to Steuben county, New York, where he worked until 1838. He then married Elizabeth Brill, of Oneida county, New York, and in the same year he made a claim on a piece of land.  There he lived until 1848, when he sold his claim and went to Onondaga county, New York, where he worked by the month and job until 1866. He came to Iowa and settled in York township, this county, bought 80 acres of raw land, the same being the farm on which he is now living. Mrs. Barnard was born in Wilton, Saratoga county, New York, in 1813 and there spent her girlhood days. Although having only the advantages of a common school education she fitted herself for teaching. After her father’s death, when she was quite young, she, with her mother, moved to Oneida county, where she followed teaching until her marriage in 1838. They have an only daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Mrs. Barnard became a member of the Baptist Church when she was eighteen.

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DANIELS, JACOB—Sec.7, P.O. Stellapolis. Was born in Sheffield, Caledonia county, Vermont, March 6, 1810. When fourteen years of age his parents moved to Bristol, Vermont, where he lived until seventeen. Was then apprenticed to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner and for his services for four years he was to receive two good suits of clothes and $100 and to attend school nine months. In 1831, after learning his trade, he went to Middlebury, Vermont, and after working out his time as agreed, returned to Bristol and began business for himself as a contractor. He there continued in the carpenter and joiner business for thirty-five years. In March, 1832, he married Maria Peet, of Bristol. In

696HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

1867 he sold his property, realizing $20,000, and soon after came to Iowa and settled in York township, Iowa county, where he bought an improved farm of 170 acres and 212 acres of wild land adjoining. He afterward sold the improved land and now lives on and farms the 212 acres, all of which are improved. His son Harrison is on the farm with him, to whom he has given one-half interest. He has had four children: William R. (of Natick, Massachusetts), Judson A. (who died in Iowa county in 1873), Harrison and Nelson W. (who died in infancy). He has been generous to his sons, giving to the oldest when he started in life $3,000, and to Harrison and Judson he gave each an equal interest with himself in the farm and when Judson died, bought his widow’s interest. The farm is well stocked. Besides being a farmer Mr. Daniel is successful as a lawyer, his practice being in justices’ courts.

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HARRINGTON, ORSON—Farmer, Sec. 10, P.O. York Centre. Was born in Madison, Madison county, New York, December 17, 1819. He was educated in the common schools of his native place, at Pitcher Academy, Chenango county, at the high school, in Norwich, same county, and at the academy in Madison, Hamilton county, of which he was assistant teacher the second term. In 1839 he commenced his mercantile experience as a clerk in Pitcher, and continued the same until 1844, then went to Utica and lived there three years and in New York City one year. Then became a partner with M.P. Harrington and David McWorter, at Pitcher, until 1854, when the firm dissolved, and Mr. H. went to Carroll county, Indiana, and taught a select school until March, 1855. He then came to Iowa and rented a farm in Jones county, and in 1856 settled in Johnson county where he lived until 1859 when he came to Iowa county and purchased two hundred and forty acres of school land, a part of his present farm, and has increased his purchases until he now owns five hundred and fifty-one acres. He has a large grove of black and white walnut and chestnut trees, which are bearing and doing well. His orchard contains 1,200 trees. During the centennial year he set out an acre of evergreens of different varieties. He has given considerable attention to thorough-bred and graded cattle. His improvements indicate the successful farmer that he is. He has served as a member of the board of supervisors, and county superintendent of schools in 1864, and was the Democratic nominee for the State Senate in 1879. He married Miss Mary C. Wakely of North Norwich, New York, December 17, 1845. Their family consists of seven children: Mary A. (now Mrs. H.C. Groves), Frank O., Munson W., Millard, Emma L., Walter and Burton.

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HASTINGS, JOHN—Sec. 17, P. O. York Center. Was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1827. When he was six years old his parents went to Warren county, Ohio, living there until he was of age. She attended the common school during the winter term until he was sixteen, and from that time had to work to help support his father's family. In 1874 he married Olive A. Cook of Warren county, Ohio. The first year after he attained his majority, he worked out by the month and earned a team, and began farming as a renter, living on one farm for five years. In the fall of 1853 he came to Iowa and stopped in Williamsburg, Iowa county, until the next spring, when he went to Fairfield, Jefferson county. There he was engaged in the freighting business until 1866, hauling goods from Burlington and Keokuk to Des Moines, and other towns in the southern part of the State. During that year he returned to Iowa county, where he

697YORK TOWNSHIP.

rented a farm until 1868, when he bought the farm he is now living on, consisting of eighty acres, all of which is improved. He has set out an orchard of two hundred trees, now bearing, and shade and other ornamental trees giving his home and surroundings a homelike and pleasant appearance. He has seven children: Archibald A. (married, and settled on a farm of his own in York township), John V. (married, and living in York township), James A. (married, and settled in Shelby county, Iowa), Emma (wife of Myron Holden of York township), Mary E., Charles H. and Sadie A. Mrs. Hastings has been a member of the Baptist Church since she was sixteen years old.

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HASTINGS, A. S.—Sec. 6, P. O. South Amana. Was born in Warren county, ohio, February 15, 1848, and came to Iowa with his parents when he was five years old. In 1874 he purchased a farm of eighty acres in York township, in Iowa county, where he is still living. Besides farming he owns and runs a threshing machine. His home and surroundings are very neat and tasty. In 1876 he married Ruthie E. Jones, daughter of David T. Jones of Williamsburgh, Iowa county.

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HUGHES, THOMAS E.—Sec. 10, P. O. Homestead. Was born in Carnarvonshire, Wales, June 28, 1844, and when nine months old his parents came to America and settled in Savage county, Wisconsin. There he lived until eighteen when he enlisted in the Union army, being a member of company G, Twenty-third Wisconsin volunteer infantry. Served during the war, participating in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Jackson, Mississippi, Mansfield, Cane River, Jackson, Louisiana, Spanish Fort, Blakely, Alabama and the Siege of Vicksburg. After his discharge, July 4, 1865, he returned to Wisconsin and entered the Wayland University, of Beaver Dam, where he had attended one year previous to his enlistment. He graduated in 1868, and in September of the same year he married Grace James of Calamus, Dodge county, Wisconsin. Immediately after their marriage himself and wife were engaged in the home missionary work, under the American Missionary Association, working one year at Camden, Arkansas, and four years at Osceola, Missouri. He began his ministerial work while a student, and was ordained to the full work of the ministry by Welsh Presbyterian Synod of Wisconsin, in 1870, being called from his missionary field for that purpose. Was again sent back and there remained until 1873, having no regular charge from that time until the fall of 1874 when he took charge of the churches at Williamsburg and Welsh Prairie, in Iowa county, He has three children: Maggie (born at Osceola, Missouri, July 10, 1870), Robert L. (born in Calamus, Wisconsin, May 24, 1874), and Benjamin Dwight (born in Iowa county, Iowa, October 24, 1878). In connection with the work of the ministry he is engaged in agricultural pursuits, and owns a farm of 160 acres.

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NEVAN, GEORGE W.—Sec. 5, P. O. York Center. Was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1816. He came to the United States with his parents in 1833, shipping on board the Universe, a sailing vessel, at Aberdeen, and landing at New York, being nearly nine weeks on the voyage. They settled in Brooklyn, where he lived until 1836, when he began life for himself by working at the trade of stone-mason, which he followed in Brooklyn until 1853. Then came to Iowa and worked at his trade in Iowa City until 1855, when he went to Iowa county and made a claim of 160 acres of school land, which he bought when it came into market. He has been twice married: His first wife was Ann Knox, of Brooklyn, New York,

698HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

who died before he left there in 1853. By her he had two children: Eliza Jane (living in New York City), and George K. (an engineer on a Panama steamer). His second wife was Bridget Roberts, of York township, Iowa county.

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REES, HOWELL—Sec. 12, P. O. Oxford. Was born in Dolgellan, Wales, January 20, 1820, and there lived with his parents until twenty-two years old, working in the State quarries. In 1842 he came to America, shipping on board the Mercy, a sailing vessel, at Liverpool, March 17, and landing in New York July 10, being nearly four months on the voyage, caused by a leakage of the Mercy when in mid-ocean, and had to return to Greenock, Scotland, and re-shipped on board the Lord Eglington.  Soon after landing at New York he went to Scranton, Pennsylvania, and worked in the mines and rolling mills until 1846, when he went to Cincinnati and worked in the Globe Rolling Mills until 1854. Then went to Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he bought a small farm, and lived there until 1860, when he came to Iowa and settled where he now lives. His farm contains 240 acres, all of which he has improved. In 1848 he married Margaret Pugh, by whom he has four children: Hugh (a renter in Iowa county), Arthur (farming with his brother Hugh), Margaret, Howell and William (living at home). His wife died in 1867.

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SALSBURY, WILLIAM L.—Sec. 12, P. O. Oxford. Was born in Brown county, Ohio, May 2, 1823. He only received a common school education, and worked as a farm hand until he became of age when, having an interest in the homestead with other heirs, he took it and farmed it until 1856, when he purchased a farm in Pike county, Ohio. This he sold in 1858, but remained in the county, and the same year was elected justice of the peace and was commissioned by Salmon P. Chase, then governor of Ohio. In 1864 he enlisted in the one-hundred-day service, and was on duty in Virginia. After being discharged in the fall of that year, he moved to Illinois, where he farmed until 1872, when he came to Iowa and settled where he now lives. His farm consists of 80 acres, and when purchased it was partly improved. He has been very fortunate in life, and although not wealthy, has a comfortable home. The proceeds from the sale of products raised in 1880 amounted to over $1,100. He has been twice married. His first wife was Percilla McKee, whom he married in 1844, and by whom he had one child, Margaret E. (married and lives in Adams county, Ohio). His second wife was Sarah Newman, whom he married in 1852, and by whom he has seven children: Henry M. (in Johnson county), John W. (in Nebraska), Willis B., Jessie, George, Levina and Lemuel. He is Democratic in politics, and is now filling his third term as justice of the peace for York township.

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SHEETZ, M. A.—Sec. 6, P. O. South Amana. Was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1826. In 1839 he went with his parents to Stephenson county, Illinois, where he lived until he became of age, then engaging in the harness business of Freeport, Illinois. This he followed until 1855, when he bought a farm of 80 acres, only 50 of it being tillable. In 1865 he enlisted in the Union army, being a member of company H, Eighth Illinois infantry volunteers, and participated in the battles of Spanish Fort and Blakely, Alabama. He had three brothers in the army, one of whom was killed at the first battle of Fort Donelson. In 1867 he sold his farm in Illinois and came to Iowa, settling in York township, Iowa county, where he bought 240 acres of raw prairie land, all of which are

699YORK TOWNSHIP.

now improved, and his residence is one of the best in the township. He has a small orchard of 130 trees just beginning to bear. In 1850 he married Alta M. Merrill of Stephenson county, Illinois, by whom he has three children: Albert M. (a farmer and settled near the homestead), Leander (in business at Keokuk, Iowa) and Jesse.

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TALBOT, JAMES F.—Sec. 17, P. O. York Center. Was born in Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, September 6, 1847. His parents came to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1867, where he lived until 1868 when he began to work for himself. He bought a team and commenced breaking land by the acre in the vicinity of of Lone Tree, Johnson county, clearing the first year $600. He continued that business until 1872, when he came to Iowa county, and settled in York township where he bought and has since improved 120 acres. In 1877 he married Mary E. Tracy of York, Nebraska, by whom he has two children: Annie Belle and Charles F. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.

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THOMPSON, CHARLES W.—Sec. 8, P. O. York Center. Was born in Western, Oneida county, New York, January 9, 1827, and when twelve years of age his father died and he was thrown upon the world to care for himself. His education was what he obtained by attending the common schools until his father’s death and attending Rosans’ Academy in Rome, New York, six months in his sixteenth year. Immediately after his father’s death, although only twelve years old, he entered a store at Western as a clerk, being employed in the same place five years. During that time his employer moved his business to Rome, where he was with him two years. After this he was engaged at the same place in the agricultural implement business. In 1845 he and his brother rented a farm in Onedia county and farmed it during that year. In 1846 he went to Onondaga county, New York, and hauled wood for the Gettysburg Salt Works, returning to Western in 1848. He was engaged in various employment on public works until the spring of 1851, when he went into the mercantile business at North Western, Oneida county, New York, and in the same year, in company with his brother, he took a lumbering contract by which he had the misfortune to lose all he had accumulated from his starting out in life. May 18, 1852, he married Caroline C. Buel, and closing up his business in North Western, in the fall of that year went to Canada, and was employed as foreman of a force of men on the Great Western Railway, which he followed until the summer of 1854, then coming to Iowa. He settled in Iowa City, where he was employed as a contractor by the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad Company, working on grades, bridges and pile-driving, between Cedar River and Iowa City. In 1857, having retrieved a part of his losses, he purchased 320 acres of wild land in York township, subsequently buying 80 acres more, making 400 acres all of which he now has under cultivation. He is now living on and farming the farm of his brother-in-law, J.E. House, of Omaha, Nebraska, containg [sic] 400 acres, and adjoining his own, making in all 800 acres. He has passed through all the contingencies of starting out in life with nothing, having met both adversity and prosperity, but in either he has always maintained a cheerful and undaunted spirit. He is surrounded by an interesting family of three children: Kittie, Nellie and Edith Belle. In 1876 he and his family were called to mourn the death of his oldest daughter, Nannie, who fell a victim to consumption when nineteen years old.

 

700HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
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WALLACE, THOMAS—Sec. 9, P. O. York Center. Was born in Ford Moss, Northumberland county, England, July 21, 1815, and when twelve years old he went with his parents to Slainsfield, same county. His father dying soon after, he lived with his mother and worked in the coal mines until 1850, when he came to the United States, bringing his mother with him. They sailed from Liverpool to New York in a sailing vessel, being twenty-six days on the voyage. On his arrival he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when he again worked in the coal mines for thirteen months, and then went to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and bought a farm. There he lived until 1862, when he sold his farm and moved to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and worked in the Darlington coal mines for three years. While at Darlington his mother died. In 1865 he came to Iowa and settled in York township, Iowa county, marrying Mrs. Caroline Evans the same year. His is now and has been postmaster at York Centre for twelve years (in 1881). Mrs. Wallace came to Iowa in 1859 and purchased the farm on which she is now living with her present husband. Her first husband was Jesse Evans whom she married in 1847, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He died in 1852. By her first marriage she had three children: Alice (died when thirteen years old), Jesse (a graduate of the law department of the Iowa State University, and a practicing lawyer in David City, Nebraska; had been county judge two terms, and is now a member of the Nebraska State Senate) and Irene (a prominent teacher, having taught in Iowa county for fourteen years.) By her second husband she has two children: Esther and John.