Utterback, Benjamin

UTTERBACK, CROSE, BRYAN, POWELL

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 10/30/2020 at 11:17:26

Benjamin Utterback, a retired farmer, is now living in the village of Ainsworth, Washington Co., Iowa. He is a native of Bourbon County, Ky., born Sept. 21, 1825, and is a son of Covington and Sarah (Crose) Utterback. Harmon Utterback, the grandfather of our subject, moved from Virginia to Kentucky in a very early day and located in Nicholas County, where he subsequently died. The parents of our subject lived and died in Kentucky, the father and mother, and grandfather and grandmother on the mother’s side all dying in the same house. The grandfather and grandmother on the father’s side died within half a mile of the same place. His grandfather, Harmon Utterback, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and died at the age of ninety-nine years. The parents of our subject reared a family of twelve children, all of whom lived to rear families of their own, and seven of whom are now living. Benjamin Utterback was reared on a farm, and continued in actively engaged in that occupation until 1884, since which time he has been living a retired life. In 1847 he enlisted in the Mexican War and served ten months. He was mustered into the service at Louisville, Ky., from which place he went to New Orleans and from there to Vera Cruz, Mex., and thence to the City of Mexico, where he was stationed at the close of the war. Returning to Louisville, Ky., he was there mustered out, and then returned home.

Mr. Utterback was married in 1851, in Bourbon County, Ky., to Eleanor Bryan, who was also born in that county, in 1819. She died in 1854, in Boone County, Ind., leaving two children: Nancy E., now the wife of John H. Pearson, and Mary J., the wife of S. W. Glaize of Ringgold County, Iowa. Mr. Utterback again married, in Boone County, Ind., Miss Lavina N. Powell, a daughter of Hiram Powell. She was born in Boone County, Ind., May 9, 1836. By this union there were seven children, five of whom are living: Joseph M., of Washington County, Iowa, Sarah E., the wife of James C. Chambers, of Ainsworth; Margaret L., Nora B. and Pearl. The deceased were Hiram and Everett.

Mr. Utterback is the owner of 125 acres of fine land in Oregon Township. He also owns a fine residence in Ainsworth, together with a storehouse and another house and lot. He acquired all his property by hard labor, economy and good management. Mr. and Mrs. Utterback are members of the Christian Church. Politically he is a Democrat. While a resident of Washington County but little less than a quarter century, having come here in 1864, Mr. Utterback is well known throughout the county, and has many friends in all its parts. He is a man well posted in political matters, and upon theological questions. He is a firm believer in the Bible and the Bible alone as a rule of faith and practice.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Utterback, pages 275-276.