Honnold, John Wesley

HONNOLD, WARD, HURSEY, BLAIR, FISHER, PARRY, WELTY, MANLOVE, MERCER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 19:43:19

John Wesley Honnold

This worthy and respected citizen of the village of Monroe, Iowa, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, April 3, 1826. His father, Jacob Wesley Honnold, was a native of the Keystone State, born in 1803, and his grandfather, John Wesley Honnold, was a native of Germany, and an exile from that country. The latter settled in Pennsylvania, but removed from there at an early day and settled in Ohio. He was a man of fair education, and a farmer by occupation, becoming fairly well off in that pursuit. His death occurred in Ohio. He had three sons besides the father of our subject. Thomas C. came to Iowa at all early date, and was the second man to settle between Pella and Monroe, where he died. Samuel died in Ohio when a young man, and John P. came to Iowa in 1862 or 1863, and settled near Monroe, where he passed the remainder of his days. The Honnolds were Methodists, and all were devoted to the cause of Christianity. There were many noted preachers in this family, and long did they labor in that holy calling.

The father of our subject devoted much of his life to Christian work, and his home in Ohio was in the headquarters for all the Methodists for miles around. He gave liberally of his means to further the cause of Christianity, and his memory is revered and honored. In 1856 he came to Iowa, bringing with him a few thousand dollars. He first settled in Marion County, one mile west of Otley, then called Newark, where for many years he was Postmaster. He was the principal organizer of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Summit, and when the church was finally removed to Otley, it was done under his direction. He lived a most exemplary life, and died in Marion County, on the place where he had settled when first coming to the state.

The mother of our subject, formerly Elizabeth Ward, was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1803, and her father, Philip Ward, who was a shoemaker and saddler by trade, was also a native of that state. Mr. Ward was a pioneer of Ohio, and came west with his family in a two-wheeled cart. He was soldier in the War of 1812. He had several sons. Jacob is now living at Farmington, this state; John, who engaged in merchandising at an early day, became wealthy at this and in the real-estate and railroad stock business, and now resides in Sterling, Ill.; Thomas settled in Warren County, Iowa, at an early day, but subsequently went to Kansas, where he died; Mercer was a wagon-maker by trade, and died in Kansas; Aschael went to Warren County, Iowa, and was twice Treasurer of the county; he is now living in Nebraska, where he has been Postmaster for twenty years. He has also been Justice of the Peace and Assessor. During the Civil War he held the commission or Lieutenant. The mother of our subject was noted as a singer, and for many long years her voice was heard in the church choir. She survived her husband about sixteen years, dying at the age of eighty-nine years. The last few years of her life she was blind.

John Wesley Honnold was next to the eldest in a family or eight children, four sons and four daughters. Ruth died at nineteen years of age Margaret Ann married William Hursey, and resides at Hedrick, in Keokuk County, Iowa; she is wealthy. Lucinda married J. Blair, and resides in Ohio, where they became wealthy in the stock business. Newton Clark enlisted in the Third Iowa Cavalry, Company K, as Orderly Sergeant, and was promoted to Second, then to First Lieutenant, and finally to Captain, serving four years; he is now living in Monroe. William S. early in life engaged in the newspaper business, and for many years was employed on the Chicago Tribune, and was in that city when the war broke out. He enlisted in an Ohio regiment, serving in the Quartermaster's department. After the war he came to Iowa, and for some time edited a paper at Pella. Later he engaged in farming, and still later embarked in the hardware business in Monroe, where, he was at the time of his death. Eliza Jane married J. W. Fisher, who is in the hardware business in Monroe. Zachary Taylor was graduated from the Pella school and from the law department of the State University. He was admitted to the Bar and practiced in Monroe for a short time. After he abandoned the profession, he taught school, and later was Superintendent of Schools in Marion County. Subsequently he engaged in the hardware business in Monroe, where he resides at the present time.

The original of this notice was reared on a farm in Ohio, received but a limited education, and when twenty-one years of age married Miss Dorotha Burrows, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Richard Burrows, one of the pioneers of the state. After marriage, Mr. Honnold farmed in the summer and taught school in the winter for several years, and then in 1850 traded his farm for a stock of goods at Gilmore, Ohio. From there he went to Newtown, that state, and in 1851 was burned out, losing all he owned. Then, with his father-in-law he went to Indiana, and with the latter's assistance bought one hundred and twenty acres of land. As it was in the wilderness, he again had to resort to teaching school to support his family.

He became quite a factor in local politics, and was known as a Douglas Democrat. Offices were tendered him, and in fact he was the leader in politics in his community. His was the first war speech made in his county, and it was widely published in the papers of the state. From that time on he was in disfavor with the people in his locality, who were but little better than those who took up arms against the Government.

Among the better class of citizens he was called "The King among Devils," and when the war broke out he entered the army as Lieutenant, serving in many of the leading battles of the war. In 1863 he retired and came to Iowa, settling in Marion County, where he taught school for a time. Later he farmed for several years in the summer, and taught during the winter seasons. In the winter of 1886 he removed to Monroe, and for five years was in the mercantile business. Since that time he has led a quiet and retired life. In August 1880, his wife died, leaving five sons and five daughters, all yet living. Nancy is the wife of George Parry, a farmer of this county; Richard Wesley is a railroad man in Arizona; George W. is a ranchman in Wyoming; Mary Jane married D.T. Welty, Judge of the Fourth Judicial District of Nebraska; John Milton is a railroad man in Wyoming; Amanda Jane married Wallace Fisher, a merchant in Monroe; Clara Bell, Mrs. Manlove, resides in Nebraska; William is a merchant in Cambridge, Neb.; Lizzie is single and at home; she was a teacher for many years; and James Sherman is a railroad man at Cambridge, Neb. In September 1882, Mr. Honnold married Miss Lucinda Mercer, his present wife. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since the age of sixteen years, and has since been a worker in the same. He is a prominent Grand Army man, has been Commander of his post. He has served as Mayor of the city, and is known as "Squire" Honnold, having served many years as Justice of the Peace. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 404.