William H. Appleton was born in the State of Pennsylvania, July 22, 1839, and came to Clayton County in April, 1857. He was educated in the Colesburg High School, Delaware County, and on Aug. 1, 1862, enlisted in Company B. Twenty-first Iowa Infantry Volunteers. He participated in the battles of Springfield, Mo, Champion Hill, Black River, Miss.; was present during the siege and the surrender of Vicksburg, the battle of Jackson, Miss., the siege of Blakely and Spanish Forks. He was mustered out at Baton Rouge, La., in July, 1865, and finally discharged at Clinton, Ia. He spent the summer of 1866, at Sioux City, Ia., and in the fall of that year returned to Clayton County, and taught school during the winter. He was married on June 9, 1867, to Phoebe Lovett, who was born in Ohio, May 30, 1848. Of five children born to this union, three are living-- Lena May, born April 13, 1871; William W., July 17, 1874, and Olive, Oct. 27, 1876. Mr. Appleton has served the people as School Director, Township Assessor and Clerk. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics affiliates with the Republican party. He resides on a farm of 240 acres, on section 15, Elk Township, which he has under a fine state of cultivation, and he is classed with the prominent farmers and stock-dealers of Clayton County. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 758 |