Robert R.
Powell,
Of Hardin township, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1837. When
fifteen years of age he came with his parents to McLean county,
Illinois, where in 1864 he married Miss Esther Bunn. To this union
were born six children, four of whom are living, as follows: Sherman,
age 35; Shelton, 32; Mary (Mrs. Sergent), 28; Lou Emma, 25. Mrs.
Powell died in 1877, and in 1879 Mr. Powell was remarried to Miss
Celia McCullough, at Bloomington, Illinois. He came to Iowa and
located on section 20 in Hardin township in 1893, where he now
resides. Recently he sold this place and bought a 240-acre farm in
York county, Nebraska, where they expect to remove soon. To the second
union were born eight children, seven of whom are living, as follows:
Robert R., 19; Miles, 18, Guy L., 16; Myrtle G., 13; Eber R., 10; Hugh
E., 8; Flossie B., 6. The family church is the Methodist, and
politically Mr. Powell is a republican.
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John J. Stewart,
One of the pioneers of Hardin township, was born in Richland
county, Ohio, in 1827, of Protestant Scotch-Irish parentage. He was
raised as a farmer in Crawford county, Ohio, and got his education
from the common schools there. Mr. Stewart came to Cedar county, Iowa
in 1858, and there in 1960 married Miss Mary Brown, also a native of
Richland county, Ohio and an old schoolmate. In 1870 they came to
Hardin township, Greene county, buying 80 acres in section 20, to
which Mr. Stewart afterward added another 80, and has a fine farm free
of debt and equipped with two sets of buildings. Himself and wife were
born in the same county in Ohio both moved to Crawford county, that
state and then to Cedar county, Iowa, where they were married. They
were pioneers in all these places. They have had three children, of
whom two, William E., aged 38, and Joseph E., age 36, are living. The
family are Methodists. Politically Mr. Stewart is a republican.
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Frank A.
Johnson,
Was born in Sweden in 1940. At the age of 12 he with his parents
came to America, locating in Laporte, Indiana, afterward moving to
Chicago, where he was employed as a common laborer until 1859, when he
started on a trip around the world. He started from Chicago, went
through the Great Lakes and Erie canal to New York, thence around Cape
Horn to California. Just out of New York, the ship lost masts and
sails in a storm and put into Boston Harbor. Mr. Johnson reshipped and
made Cape Horn, where he was storm stayed for six weeks, drifting far
out among the icebergs, but finally reached Valparaiso, and thence to
San Francisco, after a year’s voyage. He was a sailor on the Pacific
till 1869, when he returned to Chicago. In 1874 he married Catharine
Dambach at Lancaster, Ohio, and the same year came to Hardin township,
Greene county, where Mr. Johnson now owns two fine 160 acre farms in
sections 6 and 8. Although of the Lutheran faith, the Johnson family
affiliated with the Methodists. There are nine children, as follows:
Clara L. (Mrs. J. Dimon), age 24; Luther, 23; Mechlin, 20; Millie, 18;
Judd, 16; Fannie, 15; Anna, 13; Cassie, 10; Nellie, 7. In politics Mr.
Johnson is a Democrat.
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Thomas Brown,
Of Hardin township, son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Keyser) Brown, was
born in Erie county, New York, in 1830, of German parentage. He was
raised a farmer, which has been his life occupation and in which he
has been successful. At the age of 5 years he came to LaSalle county,
Illinois. On February 27, 1859, he was united in marriage at Mendota,
Illinois, to Sarah E. Wonderly, a native of Franklin county,
Pennsylvania. They commenced housekeeping on a farm in LaSalle county
where they resided until 1880, when they came to Greene county,
locating on section 30, Hardin township, where they now own a splendid
fram home and are in good circumstances. Mr. And Mrs. Brown have five
children, as follows: Fred A. (Mendota, ILL.), age 39; Edgar C., in
Sterling, Ill., age 36; James T., in Portland, Ore., age 34; Geo. M.,
age 31; Harry W., in Chicago, age 25. Politically Mr. Brown is a
democrat, and one of Hardin township’s best citizens.
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John A. Greiner,
Was born near Stuttgart, Germany, in 1833. He was raised a farmer,
and his education was in the schools of Germany. In 1853 he came to
the United States, locating in Michigan, where he was employed as a
laborer for three years. In 1856 he was married to Christina Fritz, a
native of Germany. Like a loyal citizen Mr. Greiner enlisted in 1864
and was assigned to Co. H, 15th Michigan infantry, serving
to the close of the war. He returned to his Michigan home and moved to
Greene county in 1866, locating in section 19, in what is now Grant
township, where he owned 40 acres of land. In 1868 he traded this for
80 acres of wild land in section 28, Hardin township, where he now
resides and which he has made into a splendid home. Mr. And Mrs.
Greiner have had ten children, seven of whom are living, as follows:
William, age 42; Mary J. (Mrs. J. J. Conrad), 40; Caroline (Mrs. R.
Richardson), 37; Louisa (Mrs. C. F. Raver), 34; J. Henry, 31; Charles
A., 27; Emma, 24. Mr. And Mrs. Greiner are members of the Lutheran
church, and politically Mr. Greiner is a republican.
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William H.
Peters,
Was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, in 1843, of German
parentage. At the age of 5 he came with his parents to Iowa, locating
in Dubuque county, where he was raised a farmer. His father died in
1883. In 1862 he was married to Susan Dare, daughter of Robert and
Rachel (Campbell) Dare. They commenced housekeeping in Dubuque county
where they lived until 1869, when they came to Greene county, locating
in old Rippey, where they lived five years, moving then to Hardin
township. Mr. Peters is one of the extensive farmers of Greene county.
They have had six children, four of who are now living, as follows: J.
Fred (Cherokee, Iowa, age 34; Ada (Mrs. F.H. Kiddle, Island City,
Oregon), 32; Fannie B. (Mrs. W. S. Allinson, Jefferson, Iowa); Jessie
M., 21. Two other children, Minnie Mae and Ida, died in infancy.
Politically Mr. Peters is a republican.
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Joseph P.
Brannen,
Of Hardin township, son of James H. and Elizabeth (Altman) Brannen,
was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1860. At the age of 5 he came to
McLean county, Illinois, where he was raised on a farm. His education
was in the common schools of McLean county, supplemented by a course
in the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illinois. In 1886 his
father died, and the management of business affairs fell on J. P., the
eldest living son of the family. In 1892 they sold their Illinois farm
and came to Greene county, locating on section 28 in Hardin township,
where he with his brother Edward H. purchased the 240 acre farm known
as the Marquis farm. In January, 1899, Mr. Brannen married Miss Edith
C. Forbes, daughter of Mr. John R. and Catharine M. (Wilkinson)
Forbes, and went to housekeeping on the farm where they now live. Mr.
And Mrs. Brannen are members of the M. E. church. Politically Mr.
Brannen is a republican and at present one of the township trustees.
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Joseph Shaw,
One of the early settlers of Greene county, was born near Niagara
Falls, Canada, in 1829. He was brought up a farmer, his education
being of the limited kind, but notwithstanding this Mr. Shaw is a well
informed man. In 1852 he was married in Canada to Miss Harriet Buck.
They came to the United States in 1854, locating in Rock Island,
Illinois, until 1869, when they came to Greene county, locating on
section 18 in Hardin township, where they owned 80 acres of wild land.
In 1876 they moved to Jefferson, where Mr. Shaw was manager of the
Grange store for two years. In 1878 he engaged in the hotel business
on the present site of the Head House. He later moved to Sioux City,
where he was engaged in the laundry business seven years, and in
March, 1894, they returned to Greene county, locating on section 7 in
Hardin township, where they now reside. They have three children, as
follows: Josephine L. (Mrs. I. A. Chase, Sioux City, Iowa); Annie E.
(Mrs. J. P. Bontz, Hardin township), and George Lincoln, Omaha, Neb.
The family church is the Methodist. Mr. Shaw is a staunch republican.
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Thomas Calvert,
Son of John and Ann (Brunskill) Calvert, was born in the city of
Crook, County Durham, England, in 1844. At the age of 6 he came to
this country, locating in Pittsburgh, Pa., living there one year and
then moving to New Diggings, Wis., where Thomas worked in the mines in
the winter and on the farm in the summer. At the age of 19 he enlisted
in defense of his country in Co. C., 50th Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry, serving to the close of the war, when he returned
to his Wisconsin home. In 1867 he met and married Miss Margaret
Peacock, of Wisconsin. In 1875 they came to Greene county, locating on
section 19, Hardin township, where he now owns a splendid 320 acre
farm. Politically Mr. Calvert is a dyed–in-the-wool republican and
at the present one of the supervisors of Greene county. They have
seven children, as follows: Ella (Mrs. Ed. Davenport, Eads, Colo.),
age 30; Ida A. (Mrs. Jesse Hillman, Junction township), 28; Margaret
R. (Mrs. W. Elling, Dana), 26; John Q., 24; Thomas G., 21; William H.,
18; Henry, 15.
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James Neal,
Who died in Hardin Township in August, 1897, was born in Harrison
county, Virginia, in 1824, and was raised a farmer. When he was 9
years of age his parents moved to Champaign county, Ohio, where they
lived two years, then moved in 1835 to Allen county, Ohio, where he
married Miss Rachel Ann Coon, also a native of Harrison county,
Virginia, and a schoolmate of Mr. Neal. They lived in Allen county,
Ohio, until 1862 when they came to Iowa, locating in Benton county,
residing there until 1875, when they came to Greene county and settled
on section 10, Hardin township. Her he had purchased 160 acres of wild
land, to which he added so that at his death he owned a splendid 200
acre farm. In 1897 Mr. Neal died, leaving a wife and the following
named children: Mary A. (Mrs. A. H. Hunt, Clinton, Iowa); David W.,
Omaha, Neb.; and G. W., who now resides on the old homestead.
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Sanford R.
Kershner,
Farmer and stockman, was born in Linn county, Iowa, in 1848. He is
the second son of Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Rogers) Kershner. He
resided with his parents in Linn county until he was 25 years of age,
when he moved to Webster county, Nebraska, where he was interested in
farming pursuits. He was married in 1874 to Miss Jennie Heath, by
which union they have had one child, Ernest, age 19, who is living
with them today. In 1874 they moved to Highland township, living there
two years, and then locating on section 6, Hardin township, where they
have since resided. When he first came to Hardin township Mr. Kershner
went into debt for an 80 acre farm, but by strict economy has
accumulated 440 acres, well improved, and as fine a farm as could be
wished for. Politically Mr. Kershner has always been a staunch
republican. He is trustee of Hardin township and has been school
director twenty years in district No. 1.
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Emanuel Marker,
An active and enterprising farmer of Hardin township, was born in
Darke county, Ohio in 1845, and spent his early life on a farm. At the
age of 21 he learned and followed the harness trade in Versailles,
Ohio. Out of savings from his trade he purchased a 64 acre farm in
Darke county. In 1872 he was married to Miss Eliza Miller, also a
native of the same county. To this union were born six children, four
of whom are not living, as follows: Harvey M., age 24; Crawford E.,
22; Clarence H., 12; Grace, 10. In 1887 Mr. Marker moved to section
11, Hardin township, where he owned a 100 acre farm, to which he has
added 80 acres in section 2 and 40 acres in section 12, and is
accounted among the well-to-do farmers of Greene county. The family
church is the Presbyterian. Politically the subject of this sketch has
always affiliated with the democratic party.
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Matthew
Richardson,
One of the pioneers of Greene county, was born in Westmoreland
county, England, in 1842. At the age of 4 he sailed from Liverpool
with his parents, who made their first location in Lafayette county,
Wisconsin. In 1865 Mr. Richardson went to Montana and was engaged in
the silver mines until 1868. In 1870 he was married to Mary Ann Craig,
a native of England and a schoolmate of Mr. Richardson. They came to
Greene county in 1870, locating on section 13, Hardin township, where
they purchased 80 acres, to which they have by hard labor and strict
economy added from time to time so that they now own 640 acres of
Greene county soil in the name of Mrs. Richardson, as well as 320
acres in Aurora county, South Dakota, belonging to Mr. Richardson. In
religious matters they are of the liberal kind, affiliating generally
with the Presbyterians. Politically Mr. Richardson is a republican.
Himself and wife are the parents of seven children, the following six
of whom are now living: Joseph F., age 29; Elizabeth J., (Mrs. Mart.
Ausberger), 27; Margaret A., 25; George W., 22; Marietta, 18 and
Matthew T., 16.
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