Atwood, M. W.

ATWOOD, TERRILL, SCOTT, MILLER, WILSON, TAYLOR, JACKSON, DUNN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/4/2008 at 06:52:38

ATWOOD, M. W.
Farmer; Sec. 23; P. O. Newton; he was born June 15, 1831, in Litchfield Co., Conn.; in 1845, came to Trumbull Co., Ohio; in 1855, came to Jasper Co., Iowa; in 1857, removed to Kansas; in 1860, came to his present farm. He owns 120 acres, valued at $40 per acre. Married Eliza A. DUNN in Feb., 1859; she was born in 1841, in Knox CO., Ohio; have four children-Charles S., Harry E., Grace L. and Grant Wilson. Mr. A. represented Jasper County in the 12th General Assembly in 1868; prior to this, he was a member of the County Board of Supervisors for three years; is Justice of the Peace; has held this office about eight years. Members of the M. E. Church; Republican. Enlisted in 1862, in Co. K, 28th Iowa Inf.; served to the close of the war; participated in the battle of Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg, Sabine Cross Roads ,La., also at Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and others. ~ "Palo Alto Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)
============================================
~ Hon. Merritt W. Atwood ~

In reviewing the careers of prominent and successful citizens of Jasper County, lessons may be gleaned for the emulation of the young and the admiration of the aged. Especially is this true in examining the life history of the honored man whose name introduces this sketch, and who for many years has been inseparably associated with the progress of the county. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of finely improved land on section 23, Palo Alto Township, where be conducts general farming pursuits.

The history of the Atwood family both in England and America is interesting, and the name has been one of some consequence on both sides of the Atlantic. Sixteen different families have entered their coats of arms in the herald's office in England. Tradition says that the family was first represented in America by three brothers, who emigrated from England and settled in Massachusetts. John Atwood, a citizen of London, was made a freeman in 1636, and was an assistant in the Plymouth Colony in 1638, On coming to the United States, he brought with him considerable money, with which he established himself in this country. He died in 1644.

Phillip Atwood, a lad of thirteen years, embarked for New England in the "Francis," of Ipswich, during the latter part of April, 1664. Harman Atwood was a member of the artillery company in 1644, and was made a freeman in 1645. Thomas Atwood, of Wethersfield, Conn., was for a time Captain under Oliver Cromwell. He was a physician of note and died in 1682. Dr. Jonathan Atwood emigrated to Woodbury, Conn., and became one of the first settlers of that state. He lived opposite to, and owned the land constituting the present homestead of Dr. G. H. Atwood. On the 5th of November 1704, he married Miss Sarah Terrill, with whom he lived happily until his death on New Year's Day, 1733.

From the above it will be seen that the Atwood family was one of prominence in the early history of New England. The subject of this sketch is the son of Collins and Emiline (Scott) Atwood, natives of Connecticut, where, in Litchfield County, he was born on the 5th of June 1831. At the age of thirteen years he accompanied his parents to Ohio, and settled in Trumbull County on the Western Reserve. There his mother died in 1849. His father survived for many years, dying in Jasper County, Iowa, in 1871. Of the children born of their union, five survive, as follows: Merritt W., our subject; Martha, wife of L. L. Miller, of Newton, Iowa; Nancy, the widow of Austin Wilson, of Trumbull County, Ohio; Ellen, who is the wife of Edward Taylor, residing in Richland Township, Jasper County; and Juliette, the widow of George N. Jackson, and a resident of Palo Alto Township, Jasper County.

Upon a farm in Trumbull County, Ohio, Merritt W. Atwood was reared to manhood, receiving a fair education in the common schools. Previous to and after the Civil War he taught several terms of school in Iowa. On the 2nd of February 1859, in Iowa, he was united in marriage with Eliza A. Dunn, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of James and Caroline Dunn, who came to Jasper County in 1854. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Atwood there have been born six children, namely: Charles S., Elmer, who died in 1864, aged two years; Harry E.; Grace, who is a teacher in the public schools of Jasper County; Grant W. and Frank C.

Coming to Jasper County from Ohio in 1855, our subject resided in Buena Vista Township for two years. In 1857 he removed to Shawnee County, Kan., but two years afterward returned to Iowa, where he was married. He then again returned to Kansas, and in the fall of 1860 settled upon his present farm. On the 4th of August 1862, he enlisted in the Union army, his name being enrolled as a member of Company K, Twenty- eighth Iowa Infantry. His regiment served in the Thirteenth Corps under General Grant, later was transferred to the Nineteenth Corps under General Banks, and afterward was incorporated in Sheridan's army, then operating in the Shenandoah Valley.

Under General Grant our subject participated in the battles of Port Gibson and Champion Hill, and the siege of Vicksburg. Under General Banks he participated in the defeat at Sabine Cross Roads. Subsequently under "Gallant Phil" Sheridan he was at Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and many engagements of minor importance in the Shenandoah Valley. In the fall of 1864 he was detailed as chief ambulance officer of the Nineteenth Corps with the rank of Acting-Assistant Quartermaster, and served in that capacity until April 1865, when by an order from the War Department he rejoined his regiment at Morehead City, N. C. Upon the organization of his company, Mr. Atwood enlisted as a private and was soon afterward elected First Lieutenant. On the 14th of April 1863, he was commissioned Captain of the company, and served as such until he was mustered out of the service in 1865, being honorably discharged July 31 of that year. He participated in many of the most important engagements of the war and had many narrow escapes, but fortunately was neither wounded nor taken prisoner by the opposing army. He is now identified with Garrett Post No. 16, G. A. R., at Newton, Iowa.

Upon his return from the army, Mr. Atwood resumed farming operations in Jasper County, where he has since resided. In connection with general farming he makes a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle and English Berkshire hogs. For six years he officiated as steward of the Jasper County Poor Farm, and for more than three years was steward of the Dallas County Poor Farm. He served one term as Supervisor of Palo Alto Township under a former law. In November 1867, he was elected to represent Jasper County in the Iowa Legislature for a term of two years, and during the period of his service he was instrumental in securing many needed improvements. For eight years he filled the position of Justice of the Peace. In politics a stanch Republican, be is foremost among the members of that party in the county. In his religious belief he and his wife are Methodists and have been identified with that denomination for many years. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA
page 303.