Mosher, Joseph P.

MOSHER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 14:01:16

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.623

MOSHER, JOSEPH P., farmer, Liberty Township, lives on Sec. 22; P. O. Liberty Center; he was born October 5, 1836, in Morrow county, Ohio; parents moved to this county, in the spring of 1853; he was educated in common schools; in 1858 he settled on his present farm, where he has 120 acres of fine land, and a pleasant home; he was married November 8, 1858, to Angeline, daughter of Samuel James, of Warren county; has had no children; he has held every office in the township except assessor, and has been continually in office since 1858.

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.915

JOSEPH P. MOSHER
Joseph Mosher, who is now living on his farm of one hundred and forty acres on section 22, Liberty township, was born in Morrow county, Ohio, October 5, 1836, his parents being Asa and Sarah P. (Bunker) Mosher. The father was born in Washington county, New York, in 1802, and when about sixteen years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, both his father and mother passing away in that state. He was reared in the Buckeye state and throughout his entire life followed agricultural pursuits. He owned a farm in Morrow county, which he sold on his removal to Iowa in June, 1853, locating in Liberty township, one mile south of what is now Liberty Center, where he made his home until his death. He entered seven hundred acres of land from the government, improved his home place and divided the remainder among his children. His was the seventh family to locate here, but the first to operate and improve a farm on the prairie. Many wolves and deer roamed at will and wild game of all kinds was plentiful. Groceries and provisions were hauled from the Mississippi river, and in the winter of 1853-54 Mr. Mosher bought corn at ten cents per bushel, hauling it from beyond Palmyra. Hay was easily procurable on the prairie. Mr. Mosher was one of the first trustees when the township was organized and served in various other township offices. He was originally a Quaker and in the early days religious services were often held at his home, but later he joined the New Light church. In political allegiance he was an old-line abolitionist. He passed away December 20, 1886, when almost eighty-four years of age, and Warren county mourned the loss of one of its most worthy and honored pioneer settlers. His wife, who was born on Nantucket island in 1804, passed away here in 1887. She was also identified with the New Light church. They were the parents of the following children, seven of whom accompanied them to Iowa: Stephen, who makes his home near Motor in Belmont township; Jonathan, a resident of Cloud county, Kansas; Susan B., the wife of Enos Crumerine, living at Jewell, Kansas; Joseph P., of this review; Elijah, of Cromanton, Florida; Angeline, the wife of Jesse Johnson, who resides south of Liberty Center on a part of the old home; Mary Ann, wife of Lemuel Griggs, who makes his home near Grimes, Dallas county, Iowa; and Obadiah, a resident of Liberty township, who passed away in 1904.
Joseph P. Mosher accompanied his parents on their removal to this county in June, 1853. He had begun his education in the schools of his native state and after coming to this county attended a subscription school which was erected by his father and some of the neighbors and of which his sister Susan, was the first teacher. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, when he was married and settled on his present farm on section 22, Liberty township, the land having been entered by his father. When our subject took possession of the tract it was all wild prairie but as the years have passed he has brought it under a high state of cultivation. The many fine improvements which are now seen on the place were all made by him and he likewise planted and set out all the trees. In addition to this farm, which comprises one hundred and forty acres, he also owns pasture and timber land along Otter Creek. Having gained a comfortable competence through the careful management of his agricultural interests, he is now living retired, enjoying in well earned ease the fruits of his former toil.
Mr. Mosher was united in marriage to Miss Angeline James, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, December 25, 1841, a daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Hartley) James. The parents came to eastern Iowa in 1849 and the following year came to Warren county, locating on Otter Creek in what is now Liberty township. Both the Hartley and the James families were old settlers in Ohio. Mrs. Mosher was one of the family of ten children. Those still living are as follows: Mrs. Mosher, who was the oldest; Rachel, the wife of Foster Griffith, of Buena Vista county, Iowa; Libbie, the wife of Rev. W. A. Shannon, living in Minneapolis, Minnesota; John, who wedded Lucretia Bird and resides in Harrison county, Iowa; Phoebe, the wife of George Phillips, living at Lewiston, Idaho; Amy, who became the wife of Reed Randalman and makes her home in Missouri, and Samuel, who lives near Carlisle, this county.
In his political views Mr. Mosher is a stanch republican and has served in all township offices except that of assessor. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Liberty Center, while his wife is a member of the Rebekahs. She is a Quaker in religious belief and is identified with the Friends church at Liberty Center. She and her husband will celebrate their golden wedding on the 7th of November, 1908. They are highly esteemed pioneer settlers of this county, receiving the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded those who have traveled thus far on life's journey.