1882 Biographies
from the
History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa
by W.E. Alexander; Western Publishing co.; Sioux City, Iowa; 1882

'M' surnames


All of the biographies in the Allamakee co. section of the book were transcribed by Roxanne Barth and Phyllis Peterson.
Some of the biographies, those with close ties to Allamakee co., but from the Winneshiek co. section of the book, have been transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall.



Oliver Mackey, post office Postville, farmer; was born in Donegal, Ireland, in 1839; his parents emigrating to the U.S. in 1852, locating in Philadelphia, Penn., where they still reside. In 1853, when but a boy, he came to Houston Co., Minn., where he remained two years, then came to Allamakee county, soon after purchasing the farm he still owns, of 167 acres, which is now worth $50 per acre. He married Miss Mary Laub in 1866. She was a native of Indiana and died in 1873. He was again married in 1875 to Ellen Mitchell, a native of Canada, and has one son by his first marriage, John, and by his second marriage three daughters Mabel, Edna and Alta. pg 515


W.A. Manger was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1832. He came to America in 1854, and his first location was in Galveston, Texas, where he worked at his trade. From there he went to St. Louis, Missouri. He subsequently changed his location several times, and in 1862 came to Lansing and established the furniture business. He has an extensive steam factory and employs from six to ten men in the manufacture of furniture. He has also a large and commodious building on the main business street of the city for the retail trade. He married Albine Bauer, a native of Germany. They have three sons, Otto, Richard and Albert. pg 515


Mrs. Lydia Martin, P. O. Waterville, whose maiden name was Shearer, was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1828. Her mother died when she was quite young, after which she lived with an uncle and aunt, who removed to DeKalb Co., Ind., in 1842. While there she was married to Mr. David Martin, March 9, 1845. He was born in Penn. in 1813. In 1854 they immigrated to this county, and located upon the farm where she now resides. Mr. Martin died July 28, 1878. Their children are Harriet, Minerva, Hiram H., Mary, Emily, John, Phoebe and Effie; they lost two, Ellen and Lydia. There are 60 acres of land that belongs to the estate, valued at $20 per acre, which is yet undivided, but is superintended by her son Hiram H., who was born Sept. 23, 1850, in DeKalb Co., Ind., and was married to Miss Mary Thomas, of this Co., May 2, 1874. His children are David and Ella J. pg 514-515


James Mathers, farmer, sec. 26, owns 360 acres of land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in Union Co., Penn., in 1818, remaining there till 1849, when he came to Ohio, stopping one year; then to Wis., where he remained but one year, then came to this Co. in 1851, entering his home farm from the Government. He was among the earliest pioneers. He was married to Miss Margaret Gray, of Penn., in 1849. They have two children, John W. and Emma J., and lost one son, George. He is a member of the M. E. church. pg 514


J. B. Mattoon, M. D. is one of the pioneer physicians, and now the oldest resident physician in the two counties comprising this work. He is a native of Hampshire Co., Mass., born in 1814, and was a resident of the State till 18 years of age. He then removed to Paynesville, Ohio, entered the Willoughby College (now Cleveland Medical College), where he graduated in 1840. The next 14 years he practiced medicine in Crawford Co., Penn., when he concluded that he would seek his fortune in what was when called the "far west," and accordingly came to Iowa and settled at Freeport, Winneshiek Co., then a place of nearly 500 inhabitants, with the expectation of becoming the county seat. Here he followed his profession until 1867, since which time he has been located at Waukon. Dr. Mattoon was married in 1842 to Miss D. E. Heath, then of Crawford Co., Penn., but a native of N.Y. The children are Caroline, now Mrs. Levi Plank, of Nebraska City, Nebraska; Frank W., of Blue Springs, Neb.; Jacob B., of Sibley, Neb., and Eva D. He has been a member of the I.O.O.F. for forty years, and is also a member of the A.F. & A.M. pg 512


Alonzo M. May, editor, Waukon, was born at Scio, Alleghany County, New York, March 30, 1838. Moved with his parents to Will County, Illinois, in 1843, to Rock County, Wis., in 1845, and to Green Lake County, Wis., in 1851. Was brought up on a farm till 18 years of age. Prepared for college at Ripon, Wis., and graduated at Beloit College, Wis., in regular course in 1864. Enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment in 1861, and again in 1864, serving several months under each enlistment. Went to New York City, completing a three years course in Union Theological Seminary in 1867, coming to Waukon the same fall as rector of St. Paul's Church, continuing in such capacity several years. He was principal of the Waukon High School for the years 1868-9. April 9, 1868, he bought the Waukon Standard, with which he has since been connected.

A history of the paper will be found in another place. He was admitted to the bar in 1871, but has never actively engaged in the profession. For ten years succeeding 1871 he held the position of official court reporter in the District Court of the Tenth Judicial District of Iowa. July 26, 1865, he married Miss Augusta M. Hayward, at Beloit, Wis.; their children are: Frank Hayward, Anna Laura, Jessie Ella, Robert Bruce, Winnie, Paul Martin, Richard Langford and Marian--four boys and four girls. pg 516


John May (deceased), was born in Penn., in 1799. He came to Iowa in '52 and settled in this county where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 23, 1862. He married Julia A. De Haven, of Ohio; their daughter Mary J. Still, lives on the old homestead. pg 516


M. McCormack is a native of Scotland, born in 1843; came to the U.S. in 1862 and engaged in the grocery business in Orange County, New York. In 1868 he came to Iowa, in 1873 settled at Lansing, and has since been managing partner of the firm of M. McCormack & Co. He was married in 1872 to Miss Lucy Morrison; they have four children living. pg 515


M. A. McDonell, blacksmith, is a native of Canada West, and was born in 1839. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and in 1863 came to the U.S., and first lived in Wis., from which State he came to Iowa, stopping at Lansing until 1876, at which date he came to Waukon, and has since been in the employ of Simmonsen & Peterson. In 1865 he was married to Ellen Foley. They have five children. pg 512


John McGee, P.O. Hardin, farmer, sec. 25, owns 280 acres of land valued at $35 per acre. He was born in Ross Co., Ohio, in 1810, his parents moved into Seneca Co. in 1822, and to Hancock Co. in 1824 where he remained till in 1854, when he emigrated to this Co., locating on the land he still owns. Is one of the pioneers of the Co. He married Miss Elizabeth McKennis in 1831. She was also a native of Ross Co., Ohio. They have seven children, Robert, Sarah, Mary A., Nancy, William, Meredith and Nelson, and have lost one daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. McGee is a member of the United Brethren Church. pg 514


Edward McGough, P.O. Waukon, farmer, sec. 29; son of Barney and Catharine McGough; was born in Canada in 1839. His parents moved to Winnebago County, Illinois, when he was a small boy, and in 1855 they came to Paint Creek Township, this Co., where his father still lives, his mother having died in 1868. Mr. M. was married to Miss Julia Hinchon, in 1864. She was born in Ireland. They resided in Paint Creek Township till 1876, when he moved to his present farm of 280 acres, which is well improved and among the best farms of the township. Their children are Birnet, James E., Thomas, John, Ella, Katie and Julia. He is a member of the Catholic Church. pg 512-513


Wm. McLaughlin, farmer, P.O. Dorchester; owns 40 acres of land in Hanover township, on section 4, which is valued at $20 per acre. He was born in County Mayo, Ireland, Sept. 1, 1823; came to the U.S. in 1848, settling in Syracuse, N.Y. In 1851 he went to Chautauqua County, and engaged in railroading, and in 1856 came to this county. He married Hannah Garvin in 1848, who died in 1864, leaving three children, Patrick, Mary and Agnes. In 1869 he was married to Margaret Danaher. They have seven children, William, John, Thomas, Margaret, Catharine, Johanna and Silicia. pg 516


A. McMichael, dealer in grain, was born in Scotland in 1830. He came to America in 1844, and his first location was in Canada, near Toronto, where he was engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1860 he removed to La Crescent, Minnesota, and established business, dealing in grain and general merchandise; thence in 1861 to Brownsville, Minnesota, and confirmed in the same business. He removed to Lansing in 1876, where he still resides, and deals largely in grain, owning and running about fifteen warehouses and elevators. He was married to Margaret De Lorienier and they have two children, Alexander and Bertha. pg 513


Patrick McNaney, P.O. Waukon; farmer, sec. 26; owns 200 acres of land valued at $40 per acre; was born in 1830 in County Monahun, Ireland, from which place he emigrated in 1847 to the U.S., stopping in Herkimer Co., N.Y.; where he engaged to a farmer by the name of Elias Pullman, for whom he worked eight years. He then started for the west and stopped in this county, engaging at farming and purchased his present farm in 1862. He was married to Miss Johanna Cadiga in 1858. She was born in County Cork, Ireland. They have eight children, Dennis, Thomas, John, Joseph, James, Mary, Anna and Catharine; and have lost a son, David. Mr. M. is a member of the Catholic Church. pg 513


Rudolph A. T. Meyer, of the firm of Ward & Meyer, dealers in general merchandise, Postville; was born in Germany in 1852. He was about one year old when his parents emigrated to the U.S., locating in Clayton Co., Iowa, where his early training was upon the farm, when not attending school. In Oct. 1875, he came to Postville, and in company with Mr. Ward engaged in his present business. He married Miss Bertha Bender, also a native of Germany, in 1876; her parents having come to the U.S. in 1865 and located in Allamakee Co. They have two children, Amanda B. and Rudolph T.A. Mr. Meyer is a member of the Lutheran Church, also of the I.L. of H. pg 513


George V. Miller, P.O. Waukon; farmer, sec. 25; owns 309 acres of land valued at $20 per acre: son of David J. and Mary Miller, was born in Stark County, Ohio. In 1844 he came with his grandfather to Stephenson Co. Illinois, his father and the family following in 1845, and to Clayton Co., Io., in 1848, and from there to this county in 1850. In 1860 he made a tour through Kansas, returned home, and in 1862 enlisted in Co. F, 6th Io. Cavalry, serving in the northwest against the Indians. He was in several battles, among which were Whetstone Hills, Terres-Terres, Kill Deer Mountain, and was discharged in 1865; came to his present farm in 1870. He was married to Miss Cynthia Ogg in 1855; she was born in Maryland. They have seven children, Marquis C., Durand H., Hiram G., Dora G., Leonard L, Myrtie E. and Mary A.; and have lost one son, Bird. pg 513


Peter Miller, proprietor of bakery and restaurant, Postville, was born on the Rhine, in Prussia, in 1856, and while there learned the bakery and confectionery business. In 1873 he immigrated to the United States, stopping at Danville, Ky., where he was engaged in baking for ten months; then went to Columbus, Ohio, where he engaged in the same business for eighteen months, after which he went to Cincinnati and New Orleans, and back to Baton Rouge, where he stopped four months; then went to Chicago, Ill., where he remained till the spring of 1878, when he came to Postville and established his present business. He married Miss Albertine Carmin in the fall of 1879. She was born in Germany in 1859. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. pg 515


Sanford W. Miller, P.O. Waukon; farmer, sec. 26; son of David J. and Mary Miller; was born in Stephenson Co., Illinois, in 1847. His parents moved to Clayton County, Iowa, in 1848, and to this county in 1850. In 1867, Mr. Miller started for southwest Kansas, Texas and Indian Territory, where he remained in the employ of the government till 1870, when he returned home and purchased his present farm of 100 acres, valued at $30 per acre. He was married to Miss Nettie Cook in 1873; she was born in St. Joseph Co., Michigan. They have three children, Percy W., Pearl C. and Ray O. They are members of the M. E. Church. pg 513-514


H. B. Miner, county surveyor for Allamakee County, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1840. When he was sixteen years of age he began teaching, which occupation he followed for some years. He came to Iowa in 1856, and in 1864 he married Hattie E. Byater, and they have three children, Frank, Cora, and Addie. pg 515


J. B. Minert, son of John and Elizabeth Minert, was born in Post Township, Allamakee Co., March 4, 1853. In 1865 the family removed to Franklin Township. His father purchased a flourmill, which he ran until 1867, when he was murdered. The subject of this sketch was married to Margaret J. Arkley, and in 1877 settled at Waukon, since which time he has been dealing in live stock. Their children are Louisa, Ella and James. pg 512

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