SERGEANT, Byron 1829-1914
SERGEANT, FEARER, CRANE
Posted By: Kermit Kittleson (email)
Date: 5/3/2010 at 01:46:13
Item #1 of 2:
LIVED ON SAME FARM SINCE '53
BYRON SERGEANT DIED ON OLD HOMESTEAD TODAY.
-- Held Unique Record Among Pioneers --
-- Widely Known --
Byron Sergeant, one of the earliest Black Hawk county pioneers, and declared to be the only man from the Cedar to the Iowa rivers who has held continuous residence for so long a period of time on the land on which he first settled, died shortly before 11 o'clock this morning. He died at his home on the old farm near Hudson, upon which he had lived since 1853.
"By" Sergeant, as he was best known to the early settlers of Black Hawk County, has been closely identified with the history of this county, and his life was linked with the early happenings of Black Hawk township. When he obtained his land from the government he paid but $1.25 an acre for the large tract in Section 23. Last year land adjoining his farm sold for over $200 and there is none better to he found in the state of Iowa than that on the Sergeant homestead.
It was at Byron Sergeant's home that the first election was held in Black Hawk Township. That was in April 2, 1855, and the poll book contained the names of 11 voters. Mr. Sergeant was elected township clerk at the election and was also made a justice of the peace. Throughout the succeeding years he has always been active and has occupied a prominent place in the affairs of the township and the county.
Mr. Sergeant was a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Crawford County December 25, 1829, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sergeant. He was one of fourteen children and was the first of the family to come to Iowa. In 1884 Mr. Sergeant became a grain buyer and the proprietor of an elevator, a business in which he was engaged for twelve years. He was known by all of the earlier farmers for miles around Hudson.
His marriage to Miss Maria Crane took place 69 years ago next February. The widow survives with three of their four children.
Mrs. Eva Mastain, a daughter, resides at Cedar Falls; Marilla Sergeant is at home, and George C. Sergeant, the only son, lives on a farm in Black Hawk Township. Mrs. Alma Fearer, another daughter, died about eight years ago.
Mr. Sergeant also leaves two brothers, Aesop, who resides in Davenport and Morrison, a resident of South Dakota.
Byron Sergeant was a prominent member of the Black Hawk County Early Settlers' Association and attended the reunions each year.
He had a keen mind, a remarkable memory, and was a speaker who always commanded attention as he gave reminiscences of the early days to the pioneers who gathered on these occasions. He was a picturesque figure at the last reunion which was held in September. Standing six feet and over, with a flowing white beard, his eye as keen as ever, and his step as alert as that of men many years his junior, he mingled with the other old settlers, exchanged greetings and renewed his acquaintance with the men and women, some of whom he had known since before the war. He was one of the very earliest settlers on the ground that day.
Mr. Sergeant had enjoyed remarkable health all his life until the last year. During the past few months he has failed rapidly, old age and a heart affectation finally causing his death. The end was not unexpected.
The funeral arrangements have not been completed.
[Waterloo Evening Courier and Reporter, Tuesday, November 24, 1914]
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Item #2:
Byron Sergeant was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, the first of 14 children of Charles and Polly (Woodward) Sergeant. He came from Pennsylvania to Black Hawk County in 1853. He travelled by rail from Pennsylvania to Marengo, Illinois, then on foot through Beloit, Monroe, Shellsburg, and Galena. Byron then took a boat to McGregor, then went down river on a log skiff to Waverly, Iowa and then walked to Cedar Falls, Iowa.
His parents and three brothers, Albert (d. 1877), Asaph (later moved to Colorado), and Morrison (later moved to Davenport, Iowa) also came to Iowa and settled.
He married Maria Crane of New York and they had four children: Eva H. who married George Mastain; George who married Della V. Petrie; Alma who married L.D. Fearer; and Marilla who never married.
From: "History of Hudson", Ann Hultman, Betty Rausch, Iris Sergeant, Frances Watters, Iva Wood and Helen Pearsons --
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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