M. L. Ink
The subject
of this sketch, who is one of the most enterprising and
energetic agriculturists of Franklin township, owns and
operates a beautiful farm on section 3. He was born in New
York, November 5, 1825, a son of Peter and Rhoda (Weatherby)
Ink, both natives of New Jersey, as were also his paternal
grandparents, John and Anna (Bennett) Ink. His
great-grandfather, however, was of German birth. The
grandmother, who lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven
years, was a resident of New Jersey during the Revolutionary
war and was one of the women who were forced to hide in the
swamps from the British soldiers then encamped at Trenton. Her
brother fought under Washington for the freedom of the
colonies. The parents of our subject were married in Tompkins
county, New York, and later removed to Knox county, Ohio,
where they made their home throughout the remainder of their
lives. The mother died in 1855, the father in 1872, and both
were buried at Salem, Knox county. They had a family of nine
children, namely: Abraham, who wedded Mary Ann Weider, now
deceased, and resides in Monroe, Iowa; M. L., our subject;
Hannah, who married James Ball and both died in Knox county,
Ohio; Mary, widow of James Amerson, of Morrow county, Ohio;
Henrietta, who died of consumption at the age of thirty-five
years; Diana, who married Schuyler Ball and both died in Knox
county, Ohio; Henry, who married Jane Chandler and he died in
Knox county; and Raymond, who died of consumption at the age
of twenty-four.
M. L. Ink
began his education in a stone school house in Tompkins
county, New York. It was a subscription school, and the books
used were English - the Cobb's speller, and Deball's
arithmetic with its pounds, shillings and pence. At the age of
ten years he accompanied his parents on their removal to Knox
county, Ohio, where he continued his studies in the district
schools until about twenty. He began his business career as a
clerk for the firm of Hooker & Johnson, at Fredericktown,
Ohio, and remained with them one year. The firm
appreciating his ability as a horseman, he was sent to
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with a drove of horses, and while
disposing of them he received word from Mr. Hooker that the
firm had dissolved partnership and for him to take the money
from the sale of the horses and buy a stock of dry goods at
Philadelphia under the firm name of Hooker & Ink, he being
given a half interest in the business, which was a very
pleasant surprise to him. For eight years he remained in
business at Fredericktown, Ohio, but in 1854 he sold his
interest and came to Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where he was engaged in
mercantile pursuits for some years.
Before
leaving Ohio, Mr. Ink was married at New Haven, Huron county,
in September, 1853, to Miss Lucretia Johnston, who was born in
New haven, Huron county, that state, December 11, 1829. Her
father, John W. Johnston, was born in Pennsylvania, June 6,
1802, while his father was a native of Belfast, Ireland, who
on coming to the new world settled near Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. The latter's brother, Hirshal Johnston, was a
soldier of the Revolutionary war. In New Haven, Ohio, April
13, 1829, John W. Johnston married Temperance Andrews, who was
born in Southington, Connecticut, March 29, 1801, where her
ancestors located on their emigration from England to America.
Her father, Samuel Andrews, was also one of the men who took
up arms against the mother country during the Revolutionary
war. Mr. Johnston died in Ohio, May I, 1835, and his wife
passed away at Lima, that state, December 1, 1890. They had
three children: Elizabeth M., born February 4, 1829, was
married, September 16, 1847, to A. G. Stewart, now a resident
of Rockford, Ohio, and she died December 3, 1891; Lucretia A.,
wife of our subject, is the second of the family; and John W.,
born December 21, 1834, died January 25, 1846.
Mr. and Mrs.
Ink also had three children, namely: (1) Albert Worth, born
August 30, 1854, resides on a farm adjoining that of his
father. He was married, October 14, 1880, to Alice R. Platner,
who was born in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, January 12, 1859, and died
April 13, 1900. Unto them were born three sons: Florin Lewis,
William Henry and Dwight Platner. (2) Clayton M., born March
29, 1860, is now living in Dakota. He was married, February
15, 1897, to Maud Hahn, and they have one child, Morris L. (3)
Raymond P., born August 21, 1872, is a graduate of Cornell
College, Mt. Vernon, and now assists his father in the
management of the home farm.
When Mr. Ink
came to Mt. Vernon it was a mere village containing only eight
or ten houses, and he and his wife began housekeeping in one
room of a log house on the main street, it being located where
the M. K. Neff residence now stands. Later he built a store
room and residence on the present site of the building of the
Hawkeye Publishing Company, and he remained in the mercantile
business at that place until 1864, when he traded his property
in the village for a farm of eighty acres in Linn township,
and has since engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has added
to his landed possessions from time to time until he now has
four hundred acres of valuable land, for which he has paid
from twenty to seventy dollars per acre. He has placed the
entire amount under a high state of cultivation and has made
many excellent improvements upon the place. He has one of the
best barns in Linn county, it being erected at a cost of
nearly four thousand dollars, while his elegant brick
residence cost two or three times that amount. He has every
reason to be proud of his beautiful home surrounded by a fine
grove of forest trees and well tilled fields which indicate
the industrious and progressive spirit of the owner. Mr. Ink
makes a specialty of the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, and
also raises a high grade of horses and hogs, feeding all his
grain to his stock, as he has found stock raising the most
profitable branch of farming.
In early
life Mr. Ink filled the office of deputy sheriff, receiving
the appointment owing to the following circumstances: His
father had a horse stolen, and our subject, then sixteen years
of age, got astride of another horse and started in pursuit.
It was cold and rainy and the mud was up to the horse's knees,
but he followed the trail of the thief night and day without
rest for sixty miles until he overtook him at New Haven, Huron
county, Ohio, on the night of March 2, 1842. The robber was in
bed and heavily armed when Mr. Ink broke into the room and
captured him. In the meantime neighboring farmers heard of the
pursuit and rushed to his assistance. The thief was finally
landed in jail. Our subject received the praise of the entire
community, and on his return home was made deputy sheriff. It
is needless to say that there was no more horse stealing in
that community while he was in office, and it was said that
the desperadoes were all afraid of "Ink, the human blood
hound." No man in the county was more honored and respected
than he when he came west. In all the relations of life he has
made for himself an honorable record by his upright,
straightforward course, and his word is considered as good as
his bond. Charitable and benevolent, he is always willing to
lend a helping hand to those in need or distress, and he well
merits the high regard in which he is held by his fellow
citizens. He is one of the oldest Masons of the state, and is
the oldest member of Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 112, A. F. & M., in
which he has filled all the offices.
Source: Biographical Record of Linn County, Iowa.
Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901. p. 54-56.
Transcribed by Terry
Carlson
ALICE M IRISH (autobiography)
GEORGE A. IRWIN
IRWIN, GEORGE A., carpenter and builder, Marion; born near
Mercer, Mercer co., Penn., Sept 5, 1853; came to Elwook, Clinton Co.,
Iowa, in 1867; came to Marion in 1873. Married Marguretta COOK, April 21, 1874; she was born in Perry Co.,
Penn., in 1849; they have two children--Charles P., born Jan. 24,
1876, and Harry G., born December, 1877.
Posted By: Sandy
scarletgen@comcast.net
Date: 1/20/2004 at 18:14:54
JUDGE NORMAN W. ISBELL
JUDGE NORMAN W. ISBELL, deceased, long an honored resident of Marion,
was born in Charlton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., April 7, 1818. He was
the son of Alvin and Rebecca Isbell, and removed with his parents to
Batavia, N. Y., when two years of age. He was educated in the
public schools, and after reading law under the instruction of Thomas
Buchanan, of Batavia, Ohio, he was admitted to the bar on attaining his
majority. After his admission, in hopes of finding a better
field, he went to Keytesville, Mo., intending to establish himself in
practice at that place; but the unhealthfulness of the climate at that
city affected him so seriously that, after a year's trial, he concluded
to go farther north. He started for Galena, Ill., but hearing
flattering accounts of Marion, the county seat of Linn County, he
concluded to go there. Reaching that city in 1845, he formed a
law partnership with Julius H. Sanford, and at once entered upon the
practice of his profession. Judge
Isbell was married at Marion, April 22, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Pinch,
to whom he had been engaged prior to leaving the East. Mrs.
Isbell is a daughter of John and Ann (Scott) Pinch, natives of England,
and was born in Washington, D. C., whence she removed to Ohio in
childhood. She lost her father when a mere child, and was brought
up by an uncle, Samuel Medary, of Columbus, Ohio, a journalist and
politician of prominence in that State. Mr. and Mrs. Isbell were
the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, only two of
whom are living. Nelson G. was born March 25, 1848. He
adopted his father's profession, practicing in this county, in
connection with Judge Hubbard, and became a prominent attorney of
Lansing, Mich. He was married to Miss Julia, daughter of Judge
Gregory, of that city, and died May 14, 1881, leaving a wife and two
children, Bessie and Maud. The second son, George A., was born
Jan. 30, 1851, and is a resident of Lansing. He married Mary
McGlumphey, and has two children, Callie and Suse. Minnie E.,
born May 24, 1854, died in 1878, only a few days prior to the time set
for her wedding. Calina M. was born May 10, 1858, and is the wife
of George L. Davis, of Canisteo, N. Y. They have one child, named
Minnie. Norman W., the youngest, was born May 23, 1862, and died
May 12, 1863. Judge Isbell
was a man of great force of character, possessed of a mind peculiarly
adapted to the requirements of his profession, a close student and keen
observer. He rose rapidly in his profession, and was elected
County Judge of Linn County in 1847, and held that position until Feb.
26, 1854, when he resigned. He was elected to the Supreme Bench
of the State, and took his seat in June, 1855, serving until June,
1856, when he was obliged to resign on account of failing health.
In November, 1862, he was elected Judge of the District Court, and was
incumbent of that office until September, 1864, when he was again
compelled to resign on account of failing health. He sought the
Pacific coast in hopes of checking the force of the disease, which was
an affliction of the lungs, but was doomed to disappointment, and
surrounded by his family and friends he quietly passed away on the 10th
of March, 1865, at Napa City, Cal., aged forty-seven years. Thus
passed away in the prime of life a remarkable man, distinguished for
splendid mental attainments, purity of character and rare social
qualities. While the writer of this notice was seeking
information from which to prepare this sketch, he was peculiarly
impressed with the strong hold Judge Isbell had on the hearts and
memories of his old neighbors. It was the same old story over and
over, one spontaneous outburst of enthusiastic eulogy. Few men
may hope, after having been dead twenty years, that their virtues will
be so well remembered, and their hold upon the hearts and memories of
friends prove so strong. In speaking of the Judge, a brother
lawyer said: “He was a man of superior legal mind, of remarkable
energy and clearness of expression. Although he was not what may
be called an eloquent speaker, he was logical, clear and
forcible. His thorough knowledge of law and his evident honesty
won the confidence of all, and carried conviction to the minds of his
hearers.” He was indefatigable in the prosecution of anything he
undertook, and his energy and industry were remarkable. If he had
possessed a physical constitution in proportion to his mental calibre
and nervous energy, he would undoubtedly have won a place among the
great ones of the nation. As one of the most prominent men that
ever lived in Linn County, and one of the noblest that ever adorned the
legal profession or wore the ermine in this State, the publishers take
pleasure in presenting the portrait of Judge Isbell in this volume.
Source:
portrait and biographical sketch (verbatim transcription):
“Portrait and Biographical Album of Linn County, Iowa”, 1887,
biographical sketch on pages 254 and 257, portrait on page 256 Transcribed & Contributed by: Eric & Marcia Driggs
THOMAS G. ISHERWOOD
Thomas G. Isherwood, deceased, was
numbered among the honored early settlers of Linn county, Iowa, where
he located in the spring of 1850, and with whose development and
upbuilding he became closely identified. A native of Pennsylvania, he
was born in Lancaster City, Lancaster county, that state, November 6,
1816, and was a son of Robert and Ann (Green) Isherwood. The father
was a native of England, and made his home in Liverpool for many
years. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant church, where he
was leading tenor in the choir. He composed his first poem when ten
years old. Although it was of great length his mind retained it
throughout life and he could recite it at any time. He wrote some
hymns, and after he was eighty years old would often dictate a verse
to some grandchild to pen. The following two have been preserved:
"Love Jesus.' He will
be your friend,
And when on earth your time shall end,
Your happy soul to God will soar
And dwell with Jesus evermore."
"O, happy place,' I
still must say,
'Where all but love is done away.'
There dwells my Saviour, and my God.
Lord, bring me to that blest abode."
About 1809 he came to
the United States and settled in Lancaster, where he remained for a
few years before his removal to Greene county, Pennsylvania. There he
engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1850 he came to Linn county, Iowa,
and there made his home until called from this life at the ripe old
age of eighty-six years. His wife had died some years earlier.
The early life of
Thomas G. Isherwood was passed at his birthplace, and there he
obtained his primary education, completing his studies in the high
school at Brownsville, Pennsylvania. After reaching manhood he was in
the employ of silk and woolen manufacturers at various places for some
years. As previously stated, he came to Linn county, Iowa, in the
spring of 1850, and purchased a partially improved farm near the
village of Mt. Vernon, to the further development and cultivation of
which he at once turned his attention. Here he continued to
successfully engage in general farming, stock raising and grain
dealing until his death, which occurred on his farm in Franklin
township November 23, 1890. He was a consistent and faithful member of
the Methodist Protestant church, and for many years was also connected
with the Masonic fraternity. He always took a deep and commendable
interest in educational affairs, and was a generous contributor to
Cornell College in its early days.
At Brownsville,
Pennsylvania, Mr. Isherwood was married, in May, 1849, to Miss
Herpalice Lowry, who still survives her husband and now resides on
College Boulevard, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, using the farm as a summer
retreat. She is a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and a
daughter of Dr. Stephen and Ann (Pollock) Lowry. The first of the
Lowry family to come to America was her grandfather, who was born in
Scotland. Her grandfather, Stephen Lowry, Sr., was born in 1741. He
came to the United States and located in Cecil county, Maryland,
where, in 1775, he married Anna Pollock, and moved to Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two-year-old slave girl,
Clarissa (a wedding present from his wife's father). Clarissa was
freed by Mr. Lowry while Pennsylvania was yet a slave state, but she
never left the family, and lived to care for two generations of
children and to be loved by them in return and respected by everyone
who knew her. The birth of Mrs. Isherwood's father occurred in
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1791, and his literary education
was obtained at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania. Later he
attended Philadelphia Medical College and on his graduation was
granted the degree of M. D. He commenced the practice of his chosen
profession at West Newton, Pennsylvania, dying there at the early age
of twenty-eight years. Soon after his graduation from Jefferson
College, when twenty-one years of age, he entered the army for the war
of 1812 as a member of Captain Markle's troop of Volunteer Light
Dragoons. His discharge reads as follows: "Stephen Lowry, a private of
the above mentioned troop, having faithfully performed his duty for
eleven months, conformably to act of congress of 6th of February,
1812, is hereby honorably discharged at Franklinton, Ohio, this 17th
of August, 1813." Signed, Joseph Markle, captain. His wife survived
him a number of years, dying at the age of sixty-two. He was the
father of one son and a daughter, of whom Mrs. Isherwood is the older,
and Hortensius, who died about nine years ago at the age of seventy.
Throughout his active business life he followed farming, and never
left the old homestead in West Newton, Pennsylvania, on which his own
child, Charles Lowry, now resides. The house was built by Mrs.
Isherwood's grandfather about 1792, and was rebuilt by her brother
Hortensius with the same brick in 1879.
Four children were
born to Mr. & Mrs. Isherwood, namely: (1) Hortensius Lowry, born in
Franklin township, Linn county, in the fall of 1850. He pursued the
literary and civil engineering courses at Cornell College, and was
graduated there in 1876. Subsequently he attended the Bryant &
Stratton Commercial College at Chicago, and then entered Rush Medical
College, where he was graduated in 1877, having taken a partial course
before his graduation at Cornell. Since receiving his degree he has
successfully engaged in practice at Carl Junction, Missouri, and is
now surgeon for the railroad passing through that place. He also owns
a drug store there, and a large farm and lead mines in the locality.
In 1892 he represented his district in the Missouri legislature. He
married Miss May Cons, and they have three children, Niena M.,
Hortensius Lowry and Eber Dudley.
(2) Alonzo D. is now a resident of Rocky
Ford, Colorado, about fifty miles east of Pueblo, where he owns a fine
fruit ranch. He also owns another ranch near La Junta, that state. On
this ranch is an eight-acre fish pond, filled from the Arkansas river
known as Crystal Lake, which is stocked with mountain trout. He is
extensively engaged in raising, feeding and shipping cattle for the
Chicago market, and also raises large quantities of melons for
shipment and beets for the beet sugar factory recently started at
Rocky Ford. He has been very successful in business affairs and is now
the owner of some valuable property.
(3) Mattie A., now residing with her
mother in Mt. Vernon, obtained her literary education at Cornell
College, Iowa, and Mt. Union College, Ohio. She is an artist of
recognized ability, and pursued her studies along that line at the
National Academy, New York city, and took private lessons of B. F.
Reinhart. As a writer she also possesses considerable merit, and at
the World's Fair in Chicago she read a paper before the woman's
world's congress auxiliary which called forth the following favorable
comment from a Philadelphia journal: "The scholarly paper of Miss
Mattie Isherwood, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, was on Scientific Faring, in
which she showed the progress made in farming under the influence of
science, an d she wasted no sympathy on the plodding farmer. She is a
college graduate and an artist of sufficient merit to have pictures
exhibited at the World's Fair. We meet with the products of her pen in
our art, literary and farm journal. She also has under her control a
stock and grain farm of over four hundred acres. Which all goes to
show not only that brains are now taking the place of brawn on the
farm, but it also shows what high and diverse attainments are possible
to the American girl of the period."
(4) Thomas G. was graduated from Cornell
College in 1881, and then took a course of lectures at Rush Medical
College, where he was graduated in 1883, with the degree of M. D. He
is now successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession
at West Chicago, Illinois, and is serving as county coroner at that
place and as surgeon for two railroads that pass through there. He has
also held the office of mayor of the city for two or three terms. He
married Miss Lizzie Jones of Geneva, Illinois, and they have two
children, Paul, Alonzo and Helen Louise. Source:
Biographical Record of Linn County, Iowa.
Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901. p. 300-303.
Transcribed by Terry Carlson
JOHN B. IVES
One of the pioneer settlers of Linn county, Iowa, is John B. Ives, who is
now living retired in Marion, enjoying the income which he accumulated
in former years. He was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, on the 21st
of August, 1824, his parents being Elihu and Rachel (Blakesly) Ives,
natives of the same state, where they continued to make their home
until 1837. In that year they came west and located near Bloomington,
Illinois, where the father purchased a farm and engaged in
agricultural pursuits for two years. He then brought his family to
Linn county, Iowa, and took up a claim in Marion township. After
erecting a log house upon his place he at once commenced to break and
improve his land. Throughout his active business life he followed
farming, but lived in ease and retirement the last twenty years of his
life. By his ballot he supported the men and measures of the
Democratic party. Both he and his wife are now deceased. The
children of their family were Lucy, deceased wife of Garrett Andrews,
of Connecticut; Charles, who died in that state; Norman, a farmer of
this county; George, deceased, who was also engaged in farming in Linn
county; John B., our subject; Ruth, deceased; Elihu, who lives on the
old homestead in Marion township; and Rachel, who died in infancy.
During his boyhood John B. Ives received a common school education and
acquired an excellent knowledge of farm work. He came with the family
to this county in 1839, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Marion township, two miles northeast of the village of
Marion. When it came into his possession it was all a wild tract, and
to its cultivation and improvement he devoted his energies for many
years, meeting with marked success in his labors. He followed general
farming uninterruptedly, until about 1880, when he disposed of his
place and removed to Marion, where he has since made his home. For
two years and a half he was engaged in the grocery business with his
brother George, but for the past twenty years has practically lived
retired. Besides his own home and a small piece of land in Marion, he
owns two fine houses on Twenty-second street of that city.
In
1851 Mr. Ives was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Jane Wallace, a
native of Ross county, Ohio, and a daughter of James and Hannah
Wallace. By this union were born two children: James E., at home; and
Margaret E., who died in infancy. Politically Mr. Ives is identified
with the Democratic party, and religiously is a member of the Baptist
church, in which he served as deacon for several years. He and his
family are among the oldest residents of the county, and have been
actively identified with its growth and development. He can relate
many interesting reminiscences of early day, when wild game was
plentiful and the streams were full of fish. In those early days he
was a great fisherman, taking much delight in that sport. He is
widely and favorable known throughout the county, which has been his
home for so many years, and it is safe to say that none of its early
settlers are more highly respected and esteemed.
Source:
The Biographical Record of Linn County Iowa, Illustrated, Chicago:
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901, pages 179-180.
Submitted by: Carrie J. Robertson of Marion
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