COBB - Elisha COBB, a farmer located on section 12, of Jackson Township, ranks among the pioneers of Harrison County, for it is found that he came to these parts to build for himself a home in the summer of 1856. He located on wild land known as "Swamp Land," which constitutes a part of his present farm. He made his filing at this time and then bought Swamp Land script, and paid $1.25 per acre for his land. In this way he secured a quarter section of valuable land, upon which he made no improvements for ten years. From Harrison County he went to Pike's Peak, during the great gold excitement, but did not remain long. He retraced his steps to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the lumber business for about nine years. He then came to Iowa again and farmed land near Preparation, Monona County, for one year.

We next fond our subject digging a cave -- better known as a "dugout" -- in which he lived four years, while he was improving his land. He then built a story and one-half house 12x26 feet, with a barn 16x24 feet. Year by year he kept adding to his land, until he now has two hundred and twenty-five acres, thirty-three acres of which are under the plow, while the balance is meadow and pasture land.

Among the experiences which our subject never cares to go through again, was the grasshopper scourge, when his crops were entirely eaten up. This was the only year of his residence in Iowa, when he had a failure in a corn crop, and that year he was obliged to pay 50 cents per bushel of corn.

Our subject was born in Chautauqua County, N.Y. in August 1833, and is a son of Rowland and Eliza COBB, natives of Vermont, who has a family of four children, our subject being the second child. The chidlren were -- Elijah (deceased), Elisha, Maria and Harriet M.

In 1844 our subject's father moved to Nauvoo, Ill., but remained there only a short time and with the remainder of the thousands of Mormons who emigrated West, as far as where Council Bluffs is he also came, the trip taking all summer. He had five ox teams and one horse team. He bought a "squatter" out in Missouri, who lived in Atchinson County, buying the crop and all. They harvested that crop and raised one more, but as the families were sick nearly all the time with the diseases prevalent in all new countries, they sold their growing crop to the Government, which at that time was fitting out expeditions for the Mexican War. They paid our subject's father 20 cents per bushel for corn which was husked and in piles in the field.

The first winter they lived in Missouri, and his father went to Florence, Neb., -- Mormon headquaters -- to investigate the rumors they had heard concerning the practice of Polygamy, and when they found such rumors well sustained, their zeal for the Mormon Church grew cold. The next winter they started Eastward, and wintered at Chillicothe, and the next spring they went to St. Louis and there took boat to Pittsburg, and went into the lumbering business in Jefferson County, PA., and remained there until he came to this county.

Our subject was united in marriage in 1865 to Maria McCullough, the daughter of Joseph and Mary McCullough. By this union one child was born -- Minnie E. who is still living.

Politically, our subject identified with the Republican party, and has been Trustte of his township, also assessor of the same.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, page 621,622.
Family Researcher: Jeanne Misleh
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COBB - C. Elijah COBB, deceased, was a native of New York and came to Iowa in 1856, He was born in Chautauqua County, in 1830, and was the son of Rloand and Eliza (BUTTS) COBB. His early life was spent in the Empire State and in 1845 his father and mother joined the Mormons at Nauvoo, and accompanied them to Kanesville, now Council Bluffs. He attended school at Gerry, and afterwards at Jamestown, N.Y. Upon arriving at Council Bluffs, a division in the church arose, and this family returned to the East, and went into the lumber business in Pennsylvania, and continued until 1856, and then came to Harrison County, Iowa. The family now owns three hundred and sixty acres in Little Sioux and Jackson Townships. The deceased also established a hardware and lumber business in 1865, at Little Sioux, and in 1885 established a bank. He served the county as a member of the Board of Supervisors, a number of terms.

He was married September 24, 1854, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Alice LYMAN, of New York. By this marriage six children were born, five of whom are still living: Wayne, deceased; Lois, Carrie, Bess, Ruth and Grace.

Politically, our subject voted with the Republican party. He was a member of the Latter Day Saints Church, and belonged to the Masonic Lodge at Little Sioux. He passed from this life October 24, 1885.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, page 962, 963.
Family Researcher: Jeanne Misleh
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TUFLY - Josiah TUFLY, a retired citizen of Modale, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1858, at which time he took a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Clay Township. Land at that time was not in the market, but he entered the same in 1861. This land is located on Section 25. He improved it, built a cottonwood lumber house, 16x24 feet, which was boarded up and down. He remained on this place until the autumn of 1868, when he sold the place and bought one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land on section 20, of Taylor Township, where he built a frame house 16x24 feet, with an ell 12x14 feet. He lived in this house until 1882, and then provided himself with a new frame house, 25x36 feet, two stories high. In 1871 he built a barn, 28x24 feet. He now has seventy acres under cultivation, while the balance is in meadow land. In the spring of 1890 he left the farm and moved to Modale, where he is living a retired life. When he came to the county there were but few settlers, and his nearest trading point was Council Bluffs, while his nearest post office was Magnolia.

Our subject was born in Switzerland, August 7, 1820. His parents were Christian and Lucy (FLORINE) TUFLY. He remained at home with his parents until the 1st of March, 1840, when he sailed for America, landing in New Orleans after a seventy-three days' voyage, arriving August 13. He came up the Mississippi River as far as St. Louis, stopped a short time, and then went to Madison County, Ill. His father's family came at the same time. They remained there one year, he and his father both following the carpenter's trade. They received fifty cents per day for their skilled labor. Our subject left his parents in Madison County and went to Jefferson County, Mo., where he followed his trade remaining there four years. We next find him in Galena, Ill., where he worked in the lead mines for two years, and then went to the pineries of Wisconsin, where he worked in the Big Woods for eighteen months, then returned to Galena, Ill., where he clerked in a hotel for a year, then went to Washington County, Mo., working at the carpenter's trade and operating a sawmill. A year after he bought a farm, cultivated that and ran the sawmill, but quit carpentering. A year later he sold the mill and remained in that section until the spring of 1858, when he came to Harrison County, Iowa. He was married in Jo Daviess County, Ill., July 29, 1848, to Miss Margaret GRABER, the daughter of Debold and Margaret D. (Household) Graber, both natives of Germany.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of ten children, born and named in the following order: Mary M., March 5, 1849; George F., August 29, 1850; John C., November 26, 1851; Lucy M., June 4, 1853; Louisa E., March 23, 1855; Josiah H., April 25, 1857; William D., March 16, 1859; Sophia J., September 1, 1860; Sarah A., October 13, 1862; Peter, May 21, 1868. William D. died March 29, 1959; Peter, May 23, 1868; and Sarah A., November 16, 1881.

Margaret D. (Graber) Tufly was born in Elsace, Germany, January 15, 1828. She remained at home until the spring of 1845, when she bid farewell to her parents and to the scenes of her childhood, and with her uncle came to America. After landing they made their way to Ft. Madison, Iowa, where she worked out by the week for about a year, then went to Galena and remained until she was married.

When Mr. Tufly arrived in Harrison county he had a wife and seven children looking to him for support. He relates how that he had the magnificent sum of $1.25(?) but was without a team, cow or anything else to obtain a living with, and the only reason that he remained in this county was the fact that he did not possess money enough to get away with. During the first two years of his residence here none of his neighbors knew such a thing as sugar, tea and coffee. Their bread stuff was cornmeal and shorts, but mostly cornmeal.

Politically our subject is a Republican. Among the local offices he has held may be mentioned in this connection that of Township Trustee and School Director. Mr. and Mrs. Tufly are both members of Christian Church.

Of our subject's children, who are married, it may be said that Mary M. married Stephen L. Frederick and lives in Barton County, Kansas; Louisa E. married John Mintun and now lives in Harrison County, Iowa; Lucy M. married Clinton d. Armstrong and lives in Jones County, Iowa; Sarah A. married Charles Lightell and died in Taylor Township; John C. Married Mary J. Penrod; George F. married Minnie Curtis and Hosiah H. married Emma J. Arbaugh; all are residents of Harrison County, Iowa.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, page 387-389.
Family Researcher: La Vonne Tufly Randermann [Updated email address needed! randerma@fbtc.net no longer valid]
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Josiah TUFLY. - Raglan township, Harrison County, Iowa, boasts of many good farmers, and among them should be mentioned Josiah H. Tufly, who has been a resident of this county since 1858. His parents were pioneer settlers in the county and he himself has been a witness of the wonderful growth of this county. During his boyhood days he underwent all of the hardships and privations incident to life in a new country.

Josiah H. Tufly, son of Josiah and Margaret Tufly, was born in Washington County, Missouri, April 25, 1857. His parents were natives of Switzerland and Alsace-Loraine, France, respectively. His father was a carpenter and farmer in his native land and came to the United States about 1840. Mr. Tufly's parents were not married until after they came to this country, his mother coming here a year or so after his father's arrival. Josiah Tufly, Sr., and his wife located in Harrison County in 1858, at which time very few settlers located. They reared a family of eight children, of whom Josiah H. was the sixth in order of birth.

The education of Josiah H. Tufly was received in Harrison County. During his boyhood days he helped his father on the farm and lived at home until he was thirty-three years of age. He then married and rented the home farm for two years, after which he bought a farm adjoining the city of Modale, but did not like living so close to town, and five years later traded his first farm for one hundred and twenty acres in Raglan township. The farm was poorly improved when he acquired it, but he has since built a nine room modern house, and a large barn, thirty-two by forty feet. The farm is beautifully situated in the hills and is well named the "Elm Grove Farm." By devoting himself to general farming and stock raising Mr. Tufly has been able to make a very comfortable living for himself and family, and is ranked among the leading farmers of his community.

Mr. Tufly was married February 20, 1890, to Emma J. Arbaugh. She was born in Harrison County, Iowa, and is a daughter of Jacob W. and Jerrendine (Riley) Arbaugh, natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively. To this union have been born three children, Beryl M., Lloyd D. and George D.

Mr. Tufly is a Republican and a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of that party. He has never aspired to other office except that of school director, a position which he held for three years. Mrs. Tufly is a member of the Christian church and Mr. Tufly is a supporter of that denomination. He is a musician of more than local reputation and has played the corner in the Modale and Magnolia bands. He is also a violinist and takes a great deal of pleasure in his music.

Source: 1915 Harrison County Iowa History, page 869.
Family Researcher: La Vonne Tufly Randermann [Updated email address needed! randerma@fbtc.net no longer valid]To Page Index --- To Bio Index
TUFLY - George F TUFLY, a highly respected farmer residing on section 11, of Raglan Township, came to Harrison County, in the spring of 1858. He first located in Clay Township, where his parents settled. The father bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and our subject remained at home until he became of age, after which he worked out by the month for about four years, and then bought a team and rented land for eight years, at the end of which time he bought the place he now occupies. The same consisted of eighty acres of partly improved land. Here he built a house 14x24 feet, with a wing 12x16 feet one-story and a half high. He also built good stables, cribs and granary. He provided his place with an orchard of one hundred fruit trees, besides shade and ornamental trees. His place now comprises one hundred and twenty acres; sixty acres of which are under the plow, the remainder being in pasture and meadow land. It may be said in this connection, that all our subject possesses of this world's goods, he has made in Harrison County.

To acquaint the reader with our subject's earlier career let it be said he was born in Washington County, Mo., in the month of August, 1850. His parents are Josiah and Margaret D. TUFLY, natives of Switzerland and Germany respectively. They reared a family, of the following children: Mary M., George F., John C., Lucy M., Louisa E., Josiah H., William D., (deceased); Sophia J., Sarah A., (deceased); and Peter, (deceased).

George F., lived in Missouri until eight years of age, at which time his parents moved to Harrison County. He was united in marriage in August, 1886, to Minnie S. CURTISS, the daughter of Arthur W., and Mary CURTISS, natives of New York, whose family consisted of Sophia, Mary S., Arthur W., Minnie S., and Flora R.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of two children: Arthur J., born October 19, 1887; Mary D., August 1, 1889. Mr. TUFLY is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and politically, affiliates with the Farmer's Alliance and Industrial Union party. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Christian Church.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, page 766.767.
Family Researcher: La Vonne Tufly Randermann [Updated email address needed! randerma@fbtc.net no longer valid]
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TRAVER - John A TRAVER, an attorney at law, at Dunlap, Iowa, is a native of the Hoosier State, born March 6, 1848, at LaPorte, Ind. He is the son of John R. and Mary (DREW) TRAVER, of English and Scotch extraction. The mother died in Indiana in 1858, and in 1853 our subject came to Pottawattamie County with his father, locating at Wheeler's Grove, where he made it his home until 1878. He died December 9, 1880.

Our subject was reared on his father's farm until he was fifteen years of age, and October 6, 1863, he enlisted as a member of Company M, Ninth Iowa Calvary, and was discharged February 12, 1866, after which he returned to the farm, remained a short time, and then attended Tabor College for two years. He then taught school for two years in Pottawattamie County, and entered the law office of Hale & Stone, of Glenwood, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1873. The following autumn he returned to his old home, in LaPorte, Ind., where he practiced law until 1878, and returned to Iowa. In 1880 he located at Dunlap, and in 1882 was admitted to the practice of his profession in the supreme court. He now has a lucrative practice in Harrison, Shelby, Crawford and Monona Counties.

Politically, he is a stalwart Republican, a strong party worker, and was one of the two men in Dunlap who was counted a "stalwart" in the Garfield-Conklin fight in 1880.

He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Shields Post, No. 83, also of Red Oak Lodge, No. 57, of the A.F. & A.M.

He is a single man, and is the only bachelor in the family lineage, for two hundred years.

Concerning his father, it should be said that he was a pioneer at Wheeler's Grove, where he entered Government land. The family experienced all the hardships coincident to pioneer life.

Our subject received his education principally after he was twenty years of age. His war record is one to be proud of. Going to the front as he did, when a boy of but fifteen years of age, he possessed all the courage of a man of mature years, and was never found wanting when duty called. The foe had no terror for him, and it is said by those who were in his company, that he was a brave one among the brave. Upon his return from the service, it seemed like one had come back from the dead, as his friends had long before mourned him as among the departed.

He had an especial reverence for his father, owing to the fact perhaps that he had to take the part of both father and mother, as the latter was deceased early in his life. His father possessed unusual business ability, having lost and retrieved several fortunes, the losses coming from a combination of circumtances over which he had no control.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, page 425,426.
Family Researcher: Sally Traver [Updated email address needed! sally@iconnect.net no longer valid]
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GIDDINGS - Josiah GIDDINGS, M. D., of Woodbine, came to Harrison County during the month of March, 1868, and settled at Magnolia, where he engaged in the drug business, which he followed one year, sold out and purchased a piece of wild land on section 17, of Magnolia Township. It was one hundred and sixty acres, and he improved it, living there until 1878, when he rented his farm and moved to Logan, and practiced medicine for three years, at the end of which time he moved back to his farm, and remained until 1887, when he sold and located in the drug business at Woodbine; he sold in 1889, since which time he has devoted his time exclusively to the practice of medicine, and has been a member of the Board of Medical Examiners for Pensioners, of the late war, since 1889.

He graduated from Castleton Medical College, at Castleton, Vt., in June, 1856, and during the winter of 1862-63 he took a course of lectures at Rush Medical College at Chicago.

Dr. GIDDINGS was born in Franklin County, Vt., August 10, 1832, and remained in the old Green Mountain State until twenty-four years of age, with the exception of one year, spent in teaching in Saratoga County, N.Y., after which he attended college. After graduating he went to McHenry County, Ill., where he practiced his chosen profession until May, 1863, and then went into the Union army as an assistant surgeon, belonging to the Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, remaining in the service until August 17, 1865, when he was mustered out at Camp Butler, Ill. He then engaged in the drug business in Woodstock, McHenry County, Ill., which he followed for eighteen months, coming to Council Bluffs in October, 1867, where he bought an interest in a drug business, with J. C. DeHAVEN, and remained there until March, 1868, the time of his coming to this county.

Dr. GIDDINGS was married in McHenry County, Ill., October 17, 1858, to Miss Sarah A. GIDDINGS, who is now the mother of seven children -- Edgar T., born February 13, 1861; Hannah I., November 16, 1866; Clara J., May 4, 1869, died September 23, 1870; Jennie A., born July 15, 1871; Helen, born February 5, 1884, died October 9, aged eight months and four days; and two died in infancy.

Mrs. GIDDINGS was born in Franklin County, Vt., October 15, 1842, and moved with her parents to McHenry County, Ill., when she was about one year old.

Politically, our subject affiliates with the Republican party and in religious matters is a believer in the Christian faith.

Politically, our subject believes in the principles of the Republican party.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 320-321
Family Researcher: NA
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HARD - Alonzo Graham HARD, (retired), who has spent about half of his life in Western Iowa, will form the subject of this biographical memoir. He was born in Shoreham, Vt., May 6, 1826, and is a son of Orestes and Laura (BENEDICT) HARD. The father was a tanner and currier, and later in life taught school and farmed some. The HARD family were of English ancestry, but have been in this country for many generations. The father of our subject, was in the War of 1812, and was the father of six sons and four daughters, our subject being the seventh child, and one of two now living, Alonzo and a younger brother, James D., a resident of Edwards County, Kan., being the only survivors. The family removed from Vermont to Lockport, N.Y., and from there to Jackson County, Ohio, where the mother died at the age of sixty-four years. The father afterward removed to New Jersey, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying at the age of seventy-four years. Our subject's uncle, Ezra HARD, lived to be one hundred and eight years old, and it will thus be seen that our subject descended from long-lived ancestors.

Our subject received his education in Lockport, N.Y., and also attended school for a time after removing to Ohio. At the early age of eleven years, Mr. HARD began learning the printer's trade at Chillicothe, Ohio. After serving his apprenticeship, he attended school again and later on took charge of an office in Jackson, Ohio, and established a Democratic newspaper business in Poweshiek County, Iowa, and had charge of the first newspaper established in Harrison County, known as the Harrison County Flag. He remained in Magnolia from 1857 to 1871, lived in Logan one year, and in 1872 removed to Missouri Valley. He served as County Clerk and Auditor in 1865-66. Among other newspapers he has edited in Iowa, may be named the Logan Courier.

Our subject was united in marriage December 3, 1846, when not quite twenty-one years of age, in Jackson County, Ohio, to Mary DONALD, a native of Ross County, Ohio. Her father was English, while her mother was born in Ireland, but reared in America; they are both deceased. Her father was buried in Cincinnati, and her mother in Illinois. Mrs. HARD has one brother living in Florida, an orange grower.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. HARD has been blessed by the birth of four children: Laura J., wife of William FRAZIER, residing at Arnold, Custer County, Neb.; Beta M., wife of A. K. RILEY, living in Omaha, where he is practicing at law; Mary R., wife of J. B. MCCURLEY, residing at Logan; William E., (deceased), died of diphtheria, when four years old.

Politically, Mr. HARD was a Democrat for years, but when the Republican party was organized in 1856, he joined that party, and has been a stanch supporter of it ever since. Mr. and Mrs. HARD were members of the Congregational Church for twenty years, but upon coming to Missouri Valley, not finding the church of their choice, became members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At one time our subject belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. HARD, though getting along in years, are a well preserved couple, and their declining years bid fair to be the happiest of their lives.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, page 579,580.
Family Researcher: NA
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