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LEWIS W. CARLISLE, deceased, was one of the honored pioneers of Benton County, a native of Bowling Green, Ky., and was born June 6, 1809. He was reared under the parental roof, receiving a fair education in the common schools, and at the early age of eight years was apprenticed to learn the hatter's trade, which he followed continuously for sixteen years. In early manhood he emigrated from his native State to Sangamon County, Ill., and was there married, July 18, 1833, to Miss Mary J., daughter of Peter G. and Elizabeth (Briggs) Cowardine, also a native of his own town in Kentucky, the date of her birth being June 10, 1813.After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle crossed the Mississippi and came into Linn County, Iowa, making settlement near Cedar Point. Some years later, in the spring of 1854, they removed to Benton County and located in Bruce Township, on section 31. There were only three families in the vicinity at that lime — James Barnes, Mr. Hall and Mr. Nicholson — and there was but one family between Mr. Carlisle's farm and the town of Vinton. Mr. C. and his wife made the journey overland from Illinois, their outfit consisting of three teams. They moved into a cabin with a sister of Mrs. Carlisle, the wife of Mr. Barnes above-mentioned, and remained with them until they could build a cabin of their own. At this time the nearest trading-post was at Cedar Rapids, where the settlers hauled their farm produce and returned with a load of such provisions as were necessary for the household. In due time Mr. Carlisle had a cabin built from the native timber, the only boards used in its construction being those laid for the floor. They had settled in a timber tract, and had plenty of the material "in the rough" to work with. They improved their farm, established a comfortable home, and in the course of time became the parents of the following-named children: Nancy Jane, born May 25, 1834, died Dec. 18, 1838; Edwin R., born Dec. 18, l836, is now a resident of Traer, Iowa; Mary J., born Oct. 25, 1838, is the wife of Willis Urmay [sic, Urmy], of Dysart; Lewis H., born June 25, 1840, died May 21, 1841; Prudence E., born in June, 1842, is the wife of Hugh McNalley [sic, McAnulty], of Tama City; Armstead, born July 3, 1844, became a soldier during the late war, enlisting in the 9th Iowa Cavalry, and died at St. Louis, Feb. 28, 1864; William W., born April 17, 1846, is a resident of Gladbrook, Tama Co., Iowa; Elizabeth S., born Aug. 3, 1848, is the wife of John Brown, of Bruce Township; Collin H., born Dec. 20, 1850, and lives in Dysart; Filmore S., born Dec. 29, 1853; Ruth M., born Nov. 1, 1856, is the wife of Charles Sykes, of Chicago; George B. was born Sept. 14, 1859, and died in infancy.
In early life Mr. Carlisle was a Baptist in religious belief, but as there was no society of that denomination in Benton County, he became connected with the Christian Church, in which he was an Elder for many years. He was particularly kind and genial in his manner, and was noted for his honesty and integrity. He left a family of five sons and four daughters, and his death, which occurred Feb. 23, 1886, was lamented by the entire community.
Mrs. Carlisle is living on the homestead in the enjoyment of a competency which her husband, by his industry and enterprise, had accumulated. Her children are married and settled in homes of their own. Her property consists of 340 acres of land mostly improved, and under a high state of cultivation. There is a comfortable residence, good barn and out-buildings, and all the accessories of a first-class modern farm estate. The family is well known and highly respected throughout Benton County.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 293-294.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on February 10th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.
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