PERRY - Ezra PERRY, born March 19, 1811 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, died at his home 2 miles south of Logan, Iowa on April 13, 1886. Elizabeth Martha PAXTON born August 22, 1831 in Monroe County, West Virginia, died at her home in Logan Iowa on December 8, 1919. The Reverend S.R. HOUSTON married Ezra and Elizabeth in Monroe County, West Virginia on May 29, 1851.

On October 4, 1853, Ezra, his wife and baby daughter Margaret, Mrs. HAWKINS, a sister of Elizabeth's and Mr. HAWKINS and Fred HEDRICK left West Virginia in a four horse covered wagon for Harrison County, Iowa. Arriving in Edgar County, Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. HAWKINS decided to locate there, so after a week's rest, they again took the trail arriving at Kanesville November 23, 1853. After a nights rest they came up to Harris Grove where they lived in a cabin on John MCKENNEY's place until spring when they moved to a cabin about � mile west on the land known at that time as the Welch Claim. Ezra bought 80 acres of timber in Harris Grove and soon after traded 40 acres to a man named HANER for a yoke of oxen.

While living in the Grove, Ezra and Mike ROGERS started putting up a sawmill but found the waterpower insufficient so abandoned that idea.

On April 10, 1855 Mr. and Mrs. PERRY moved on the farm where they lived until marriages and deaths broke up the family circle and the old home numbered but two, Mrs. PERRY and a daughter, Matilda or Tillie, as she was known. On November 21, 1911 they moved to Logan, Iowa.

The PERRY farm was the first on the prairies in the vicinity of Harris Grove and the last original owners to leave.

Mr. and Mrs. PERRY raised a family of five daughters and one son: Margaret Isabel born on March 13, 1852; Mary Elizabeth born on April 19, 1854; Nancy Angeline born on March 31, 1857; Matilda Steele born on September 19, 1860; Victoria Emma born on April 23, 1866 and John Sheridan born on June 27, 1869.

The son, John passed away on December 21, 1888 at the age of 19 years, 5 months and 25 days. The third daughter Nancy passed away September 25, 1912 at the age of 55 years, 5 months, and 25 days. The fourth daughter Tillie passed away on July 1, 1935 at the age of 74 years, 9 months, and 12 days. The oldest daughter Margaret, passed away on March 31, 1925 at the age of 73 years, 11 days, and the youngest daughter Victoria, passed away December 18, 1950 at the age of 84 years 9 months and 25 days.

Margaret PERRY was married to James K. DEYO on November 2, 1876 at Denison, Crawford County, Iowa, 9 children were born to this marriage. Mary PERRY was married to Cyrus PARKER on April 8, 1875 in Harris Grove. Angie PERRY was married to Allen WILSON on March 20, 1871 in Harris Grove. Victoria PERRY was married to James Marion SPRINKEL on February 4, 1902. Tillie PERRY was never married nor was the son John.

A brother of Ezra's by the name of William N. PERRY came to Harrison County in the spring of 1855 on the night of the great hailstorm and flood. He was born in 1818 and passed away June 6, 1885.

Source: Written by great-great-grandson Joe Hungate, February 18, 2001
Family Researcher: Joe Hungate - j.hungate@comcast.net To Page Index --- To Bio Index
HUMPHREY - Watson HUMPHREY was born May 29, 1834 in Willoughby, Cuyahoga Co, Ohio near present day Cleveland. Watson was the third child of Caroline M. (WATSON) HUMPHREY and William Norton HUMPHREY. Caroline and William had been married in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio on Aug. 26, 1828. Their first two children were William Watson, born July 10, 1829, and Orilla Maria, born February 13, 1831, both in Willoughby, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Watson appears to have been a twin to William who was born the same day. William eventually moved to Yavapai Co., AZ where he was found in the 1880 and 1882 censuses. After Watson HUMPHREY, another son, Charles Constantine, was born December 10, 1837 also in Willoughby, Ohio. Then came Adelaide who was born December 5, 1840. By 1842, the family had moved probably to Hampshire, Kane Co., Illinois where their eighth child, Roswell, was born April 27, 1843. (In Watson's obituary notice, it says, "In 1840 he moved with his parents to Hampshire, Ill.") The last child, James Oscar, was born January 25, 1847 in Hampshire, Kane Co., Illinois. Watson's father William died April 3, 1852 in Hampshire. Court documents show that family property had to be sold off to pay off the family's debts after William died. Watson's mother Caroline died February 24, 1858 in Milwaukee, WS, according to Gertrude HAWLEY in her History of Hampshire. Gertrude also noted that Caroline had remarried soon after William's death though she didn't say to whom she married. Family records are also available showing the family's lineage back to Samuel HUMPHREY who died in 1634.

Extracts from Gertrude HAWLEY's History of Hampshire, Kane Co., IL which came out in a serialized form in the Hampshire Register in 1892, show Watson's father William N. HUMPHREY purchased a tavern called the Eagle Tavern in Elgin from TIBALIS and SHAW, then sold it very early in the forties to John S. CALVERT and in early 1845 opened a tavern in Hampshire. Early on, the community of Hampshire was known as Henpeck after the poor husband of a very opinionated and women's right oriented wife who henpecked him into submission. It was noted by Gen. John S. WOODS, editor of History of Kane County, that William N. HUMPHREY was considered a very good landlord. One of the articles from that series also says that William N. HUMPHREY bankrolled a young "wannabe" gold prospector, Amos ROOT, from the town to go to California during the Gold Rush. William received back $800 in payment from the young man.

"Henpeck was always headquarters for the early settlers, a place for sport and a lively spot generally. In 1847, William HUMPHREY, Sr. bought the Pennsylvania House. He made the hotel larger and built a fine ballroom. New barns were also put up. The following year, MOSES Freight Line built the first store in the township. As soon as Mr. HUMPHREY's hall was built, dancing parties were held in it. These dances were attended by old and young, married and single. Men took their families and had a social time... Mr. HUMPHREY died of consumption in 1853 and the same disease caused his wife's death six years later. Caroline HUMPHREY married and moved to Milwaukee where she died." The article further notes that Watson's sister Addie married and went to Vermont to live. William, Jr. went to Iowa in 1854 and was a stagecoach driver and stage agent for FLINT and WALKER for a number of years. In 1859 he went to the mines in Colorado and also spent some time in Montana and Nevada. He returned to Hampshire in the early 1870's and was married to Miss Mate PLUMMER of Rutland. Watson married Emeline JOHNSON and moved to Iowa. "Con" went to California in 1859 with Samuel HAWLEY. He married and lived there a few years when he died of consumption. Roswell and Oscar both fought in the Rebellion. Oscar received a wound that caused his death. Roswell went to Nevada to work in the silver mines.

On Apr. 15, 1855, Watson was joined in matrimony to Rosina Emeline JOHNSON in Hampshire, Kane Co., IL just one county east of DeKalb Co. Ethan J. ALLEN, Justice of the Peace, married them. Emeline was the daughter of Isaac H. and Amy GOBLE JOHNSON, residents of Elgin, Kane Co., IL. (They can be found in the 1850 census.) Amy's mother had died the 22nd of Sept. 1852 and her father Isaac, a stone mason, had remarried a lady named Mary GOLDEN (daughter of Robert GOLDEN) who was a widow with one daughter Emily. To Watson and Rosina Emeline's union were born two children, named Isadora and Herbert Nathaniel. Isadora (Isa) Elizabeth HUMPHREY was born on Mar. 9, 1856 born in Hampshire, Kane Co., Illinois. After Isadora's birth, Watson and Rosina Emeline apparently moved to Story Co., Iowa. Their son, Hebert Nathaniel HUMPHREY, was born on Apr. 29, 1858, also in Iowa. Watson may have been working with the railroad during the period prior to entering military service near the end of the Civil War.

As the Civil War was beginning to draw to a close, Watson went to Nevada, Story Co., Iowa to enlist in the Grand Army of the Republic, joining Co. A, 13th Iowa Volunteer Infantry on Oct. 29, 1864. He was mustered that same day. The unit had already seen significant deadly battle during the war. Watson was sent to join the unit as part of General SHERMAN's infamous "March to the Sea" from Atlanta to Savannah in Georgia. On the 15th of November 1864, the regiment started their campaign and took part in the siege operations at Savannah, and upon its evacuation, it was among the troops that entered the city on the 22nd day of December 1864. On Jan. 6, 1865, the regiment embarked on steamer and proceeded to Beaufort, SC where it arrived the next day. From Beaufort the regiment marched to Pocotaligo, where it remained until Jan 29th, when it started on the long and toilsome march through the Carolinas. On the 17th day of February, 1865, a detachment of 75 men of the 13th Iowa, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel KENNEDY, entered the city of Columbia, the capitol of South Carolina, and planted the colors of the regiment on the dome of the Capitol. Continuing the march from Columbia, the regiment reached Bentonville, NC. It took part in the Battle of Bentonville, but was not closely engaged, though it had three men wounded on the skirmish line. This was its last battle.

At Goldsboro, NC, the regiment found a large number of recruits from Iowa waiting to join it. The long march was continued by way of Raleigh, Petersburg and Richmond, and ended at Alexandria, VA, near Washington, DC, May 19, 1865. A few days later the regiment took its place in line and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in that magnificent review, the greatest military pageant of modern times. After the review the regiment remained in camp near Washington until June 7th, when it was conveyed by rail to Parkersburg, VA and thence by steamer to Louisville, KY where it remained until July 21, 1865, and on that day was mustered out of service of the United States. A few days later it was conveyed to Davenport, Iowa by rail, and there on the 29th day of July 1865, the regiment was disbanded and the survivors returned to their homes.

Watson apparently was not wounded, but suffered from chronic diarrhea during his period of service. According to reports by the military surgeons, Watson suffered continually from hemorroidal tumor piles and was unable to return to regular work, though the 1870 census shows his occupation as railroad worker. Watson was granted a pension of eight dollars per month. In subsequent examination reports, Watson is described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 157-170 pounds, dark complexion, dark brown hair, gray eyes, and having a mole on the left underside of his nose. From the surgeon's description of his dark complexion, one can probably safely assume he spent a good deal of time out-of-doors, probably as a railroad worker. On the May 6, 1903 report, Watson is shown as having worked as a janitor.

On May 11, 1871 Watson was initiated into the Ancient, Free and Accepted Order of the Masons joining the Hospitable Lodge No. 244 at Dunlap. He was passed on Nov. 25, 1871, raised Feb. 20, 1872, and served as Junior Steward in 1873, Senior Steward in 1874, Junior Warden in 1875-77. He demitted the Hospitality Lodge on Sep. 11, 1893 and was admitted to the Chrysolite Lodge No. 420 at Logan on Apr 18, 1894. He then served as Junior Steward in 1895, 96 and 97, Junior Warden 1898-01, Senior Warden 1902, Worshipful Master 1904, Senior Steward 1905-09.

Following the War, Watson lived in Dunlap, Harrison County, Iowa from 1867 until 1885 when he moved to Logan in the same county. In the winter of 1884, Emeline's father, Isaac H. JOHNSON, came from Illinois to visit with them. He was suddenly taken ill and died on January 9th, 1885 and was buried in the Logan City Cemetery. Rosina Emeline JOHNSON HUMPHREY died Jan. 4, 1902 in Logan, IA and was buried in the Logan City Cemetery, Logan, Harrison Co., Iowa. In 1907, Watson moved to Papillion, Sarpy Co., Nebraska to live with his daughter Isadora Elizabeth who had married Ben F. ANDERSON. Watson died on Sep. 22, 1911 in Papillion, NE and was buried in the Logan City Cemetery, Logan, Harrison Co., IA next to his beloved wife Emeline and her father Isaac H. JOHNSON. Ben F. ANDERSON, Watson's son-in-law, was also buried in the family plot in the Logan Cemetery when he died 1918. Isadora apparently died about 1935 while living in the Eastern Star Nursing Home in Boone, Boone Co., IA. (No records have been found yet.)

Source: Written by great-great-grandson Gale F. Red, November 2, 2000
Family Researcher: Gale Red - gf3smred@peaknet.net To Page Index --- To Bio Index
WOOD - Samuel WOOD (Portrait), one of the earliest pioneers of Harrison County, settled on section 23, of Union Township, November 12, 1850, and has made that location his home ever since. When he came to the county he had a wife and five children, for whom he sought out a home in this goodly portion of Western Iowa. He came to the country without means, having but five head of cattle, a two-year old colt and $5 in money, but now is in possession of a farm comprising two hundred and ninety-seven acres, all of which is paid for, and in his own language, "Thank God I owe no man." Upon his arrival he built a log cabin 14x17 feet, near the site of his beautiful farm residence. The cabin home was floored with puncheon, which he cut from native timber. It will be remembered that this was three years prior to the organization of the county, and there was not a town or village within Harrison County and Kanesville, (now Council Bluffs) was their nearest market place, and that was a mere hamlet of log houses.

In those days it required twenty-five cents to get a letter out of the post-office, and (unless within Iowa, where the postage was fifteen cents) it bore the invariable mark, "Due twenty-five cents," as this was before the present fine postal system.

In relating his early hardships, Mr. WOOD states that he gathered sod corn, growing over in the Missouri, for one-tenth of the crop, in order to procure seed corn to plant his first crop with. This seed was planted upon eight acres and in the harvest time he was rejoiced at the gathering in of fifty bushels per acre.

Concerning our subject's birthplace and ancestry, it may be stated that he traces his lineage back to Jonathan WOOD; who was born in England December 14, 1724. His son, Samuel, was born June 30, 1767. His wife was Betsy WOOD and they reared a family of nine children, of whom Henry was the second child. He was born August 9, 1790, in Connecticut and was a carpenter by trade. He died in Portage County, Ohio, October 14, 1882. He married Esther CRANMER, at the close of the War of 1812 in which strife he was a soldier. Their family consisted of four sons and five daughters, of whom our subject and one sister now living, were a part. Samuel WOOD, of whom we now write was born May 23, 1816, and at the age of twenty-one years set forth for himself. His first work after leaving home was that of clerking in a general store at Kingstown, Mo., which was then looked upon as the "far west," and to which place his parents had removed in 1836. After a year's engagement in that position, he commenced teaching school in Caldwell County. He taught one term, when the Mormon. trouble began, and the family returned to Adams County, Ill., but in 1840 our subject left that State and came to Lee County, Iowa, arriving May 1. He here engaged in farming and teaching school. He remained in that county until 1846, when he went to Kanesville, with two yoke of cattle -- one yoke of oxen and one of cows. He was in company with his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. MERRILL, who located near what is now Hazel Dell Church, where he farmed six acres, upon which he raised corn, for which he received $2.50 per bushel. The same year he found a stalk of corn so high he could not reach the top-most ear, so he climbed the stalk and while astride the big ear, he gave a loud crow, saying "hurrah!" He taught two terms of school at that point, but his chief work was in a wagon shop, which trade he had picked up himself.

In the spring of 1848 his house and nearly all the furniture therein was burned, which necessitated him to raise a new log house. He remained in that vicinity until November, 1850, when he came to this county as above related.

Mr. WOOD was united in marriage in Caldwell County, Mo., in the spring of 1838, to Mary MERRILL, daughter of Thomas and Susan MERRILL. By this union eleven children were born, eight of whom still survive. The hand of affliction was laid upon Mr. WOOD April 11, 1865, upon which day his wife died. And for his second wife he married Nancy A. E. COPELAND, who also died, and June 30, 1873, he married Mrs. Jane (FOLLETTE) GUNNETH, who was first married March 28, 1858, and had ten children, of whom three are still living. Her father was a farmer and a native of New York, but came to Ohio in 1835, and to Indiana in 1843. By her marriage to Mr. WOOD one son, Charley, was born, in 1872, and died in 1882.

In 1852 Mr. WOOD came to Council Bluffs, where he died January 12, 1889. The mother died at the same place December 13, 1882. They reared a family of thirteen children, Mrs. WOOD being the second child. She was born January 25, 1836, in Ohio, and her father was formerly a Mormon, but died a Spiritualist. The mother, formerly a member of the Latter Day Saints Church, also died a Spiritualist. Mr. WOOD's father in-law, Thomas A. MERRILL, was buried near Council Bluffs, and in the absence of a better casket, his coffin was a walnut log, shaped like a coffin, and dug out in the center, with a board hewed for the top and fastened with wooden pins. Mr. WOOD's present wife and her former husband, John GUNNETH, went to Salt Lake in 1864, and returned in October, 1866.

The first school in Union Township was taught in Mr. WOOD's first log cabin in 1858, by Mrs. H. S. Smith, who taught about twelve children. It may be stated however, that Mr. WOOD's children were chiefly taught at home, he being a teacher himself, having gained his knowledge by his own exertion, except what he gathered from some of the primitive schools, he having attended for the first time in Northfield, Portage County, Ohio.

The first store at Unionburg was built by William Brown, in a building upon Mr. WOOD's land, but subsequently this property became Mr. WOOD's who operated the store and post-office about two years, and then closed.

A dance hall was built one year after the store building and is still used for public gatherings.

Politically, Mr. WOOD votes for the man he thinks best qualified. He and his former wife were members of the Latter Day Saints Church. Mr. WOOD being among the pioneers of the county, and one who is eminently qualified, takes much interest in, and is usually a speaker at Old Settler's reunion meetings. Great indeed has been the change in customs, society and general civilization, since this man first pushed his way into this portion of the West. Coming as he did six years prior to the building of a single mile of railroad west of the Mississippi River, and more than a decade before the Civil War. The early hardships and privations co-incident with those earlier years, are things of the past, and cannot be reinstated by the present or future generations, even as the Red Man is fast becoming extinct, and the prairie grass, which at that time waved in an emerald sea, is becoming scarce, and will only he known in the future by the pages in history; so it will be with the pioneer hardships, which our subject passed through, will be recounted by his children and his children's children. The same as we look back to-day upon all that the Puritan Fathers passed through on the rock bound coast of New England.

In 1846-47, Mr. WOOD in company with three other men herded cattle in the rushes in Harrison County, and when on his way across the prairie one time, he composed a song which was sung in Europe and this country, relative to the Mormon people. In 1863 his brother Martin, made him a visit and prevailed upon him to accompany him to Ohio. Our subject was at that time teaching school, which he turned over to his son and started for Marshalltown, the nearest railroad point. Up to this time he had never seen the cars nor heard a whistle. So he told his brother if he liked the looks of things when he got to the railroad he would go; being satisfied with the appearance of things he concluded to try it. The first station they came to when the whistle blew, he jumped up excitedly and wanted to know what the matter was, and why the noise. Being informed that a station was at hand, he wanted to know what a station was, which created much laughter on the train. He bought the first cook stove and the first kerosene lamp he ever saw.

In 1838 he was at the massacre at Hahn's Mills, where the Mormons were massacred and seventeen were thrown into a well and covered up, he narrowly escaping with his life. The occasion of his coming West in 1846, was the disturbance at Nauvoo, Ill.

Thus it will be seen, his has been a life of wonderful historic events and the name of "Uncle Sammy WOOD" will be remembered and referred to long after lie has departed from the scenes of this life.

source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 375-378
Family Researcher: NA To Bio Index
CHEVALIER - Achille CHEVALIER, one of the representative farmers of Harrison Township, was born in the town of Mowtier Ge Vail, Canton of Berne, Switzerland, June 7, 1843. He is the son of Chancy H. and Susanna (WERTHMULLER) CHEVALIER, both of whom died in the old country. The father was a farmer and they were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living -- Charley H., a resident of Waterloo, Iowa; Julia, deceased; Florian, deceased; Caroline, a resident of Switzerland; Alfred, died in Tacoma, Wash.; Zeline, a resident of Switzerland; Constant; deceased; Achille, our subject.

Achille, the youngest child was reared midst the romantic scenes of rural life, in that most beautiful of all lands, Switzerland. He was educated at the public schools, and remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age when his father died, after which he came to America and located in Waterloo, Iowa, where he engaged with the Illinois Central railroad company, as machinist, and remained with them about twelve years, after which he came to Harrison County, and on account of his health, located on a farm. He arrived in this county in 1878, and he located on land he had purchased in 1873, time same being on sections 24 and 25, of Harrison Township, and comprises two hundred and forty acres, which at the time he purchased was wild prairie land, with no improvements whatever, upon it, but under the touch of his good management has come to be among, the finest farms in that locality. He devotes himself exclusively to general farming and stock raising. It may be said in the true sense of the word, that our subject is a self-made man, beginning alone, and unaided by wealthy relatives, he has worked his way high up the scale, and his success is beautifully demonstrated by his charming home, with all of its pretty surroundings. His life is indeed a befitting example of what a man coming from a foreign shore may accomplish in this country, providing he is possessed of push and good business qualifications.

Mr. CHEVALIER was united in marriage August 21, 1870, to Miss Sarah HEYER, who was born in Du Page County, Ill., November 14, 1854, She is the daughter of Jacob and Caroline (ARMBRUSTER) HEYER, natives of Germany, but now residents of Waterloo, Iowa. They reared a family of five children -- Sarah, the wife of our subject, being the oldest; Henry, a resident of Waterloo, Iowa; Susan, wife of Fred DAHL, of Waterloo, Iowa; John, of the same place; Mary, wife of Lall VAN VLECK, a conductor on the Illinois Central railroad.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of four children -- Joseph, Oscar, Susie, and Albert, all living at home.

Politically, Mr. CHEVALIER is non-partisan, casting his ballot for the man he thinks best qualified for the position. He has served his school district as member of the School Board, but does not aspire to office.

source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 379-380
Family Researcher: NA To Bio Index
BEEM - Samuel S. BEEM, an enterprising farmer, who now resides on section 35, of Union Township, has been a resident of Harrison County since 1885. He came in the spring of that year, and paid cash rent for land in Union Township, for two years, giving a share the third year, at the end of which time he bought the land he now occupies. This farm consists of eighty acres, which was under cultivation, at the time he bought; and the price paid was $25 per acre.

Mr. BEEM is a son of the "Hawkeye State" born in Madison County, Iowa, June 1, 1861, which was the first year of the great Civil War, and his posterity can date their father's birth from that event in American history, should all family records be destroyed. Our subject is the son of Michael and Margaret BEEM, natives of Jackson County, Ind., who reared a family of eleven children, of whom our subject was the sixth child. The children were as follows -- Erasmus N., Elizabeth A., William P., deceased; John L., Louis C., Samuel S., Jefferson L., William W., George P., Arnetta B. and Margaret E.

The parents with their entire family moved to Kansas, in the autumn of 1878.

Our subject remained at home until eighteen years of age, and then returned from Kansas to his native State (from which it is hard to wean a man) and commenced working out by the month, on a farm. He worked for others for two years, and then rented land in Pottawattamie County, for three years, after which he came to Harrison County.

March 6, 1887, Mr. BEEM took to himself a wife, in the person of Annie M. KEMMISH, daughter of Peter C. and Susan KEMMISH, who had seven children, of whom our subject's wife was the second. The children were Charles W., Annie M., James F., Nathan A., Curtis O., George H., deceased and Sada B. The KEMMISH family were natives of England.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of two children -- Charles W., born May 15, 1888 and Marvin S., September 29, 1890.

Politically, our subject is identified with the People's party.

Mr. BEEM is a self-made man, and now while surrounded with the comforts of home, with his intelligent family around him, he can relate to his children, how that when he left "Bleeding Kansas," he had but $2 in his pocket and was compelled to walk and beat his way on the railroad back to Iowa, arriving at Council Bluffs with twenty-five cents in his pocket.

source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 381-382
Family Researcher: NA To Bio Index
COOPER - Clark C. COOPER came to Harrison County in the spring of 1887, and rented the farm which he now owns, the same being in Union Township. He paid $1,350 for eighty acres, which was all broken and fenced. Among the improvements he has placed on the farm is a one-story house, 14x28 feet, a barn, 18x30 feet and fourteen feet high.

Our subject was born in Rock County, Wis., in 1858 and moved to Illinois, when a small boy. He remained with his parents until he was of age, and farmed land for his mother, in Illinois one year, and then came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where he farmed three years and then moved to Harrison County.

Our subject's father was Edward COOPER, and the mother, Jane (DODGE) COOPER, who reared a family of eight children, of whom our subject was the sixth. The family was as follows -- Fannie, John, George, Charles, Eugene, Clark C., Frank and Minnie. The parents were natives of New York State.

Politically, Mr. Cooper is identified with the Republican party.

He has seen his share of hardships and adversity, but by being possessed of temperate habits, and practising self-denial, coupled with a goodly amount of industry, he has built for himself a good home. At the present time he is a single man.

source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 382-385
Family Researcher: NA To Bio Index
LONGMAN - Alfred LONGMAN SR. (Portrait), whose history is identical with that of Harrison County, coming here as he did in the month of May, 1853, will be mentioned in this connection. He was born in the County of Derby, England, December 21, 1821, where he grew to manhood and received his early education. His occupation was that of a farmer but for three years he worked at the brewing business in the town of Derby. He sailed for America, January 6, 1851, landing at New Orleans, where he re-embarked for St. Joseph, Mo., remaining in that vicinity for about two years at general labor, and then came to Harrison County, arriving May 11, 1853, about which time he purchased a claim on section 11, township 78, range 43, remained one year and sold to a man named Bates from Ohio, and then rented land now known as the Logan Place, which he occupied for three years. During that time he bought the farm he now owns � the Valley Home Farm � which he sold in 1861, upon his going to California, where he remained three years, but on account of non-payment took the place back. Upon his return from California he rented the old place he had been on, and built upon his own, moving to it in 1866, and there remained until 1884, at which time he rented his farm and moved to Logan where he purchased a fine home. He has kept adding to his farm until it now comprises eight hundred and forty acres, and is beyond question, one of the best farms in Harrison County. During the past year it has rented for $1,200 cash rent.

Concerning Mr. LONGMAN's domestic life, it may be said, he was united in marriage March 5, 1842, to Ann MILLINGTON, a native of England, born February 13, 1822. She is the daughter of Alexander and Ann (WINROW) MILLINGTON, both deceased. Our subject and his wife are the parents of six children, five of whom still survive � James, born May 10, 1843; Fannie, June 14, 1846; Alfred, April 11, 1848; Louisa, December 23, 1850, who died in April, 1851, in St. Joseph; William, C., born July 28, 1852, and Henry, April 7, 1855.

Politically Mr. LONGMAN affiliates with the Democratic party, and in religious matters makes no profession. He is considered one of the wealthy men of Harrison County and is well and favorably known in every township.

At the time he came to Harrison County there was but a little settlement, and wild game, including deer and wild turkey were very plentiful; but year by year the plow-share of civilization has cut its broad furrows over the bosom of Harrison County, until to-day this well-tilled garden spot, exhibits a marked contrast, from those earlier years, when the nimble-footed deer grazed in safety along the fertile valleys of the county.

Mr. LONGMAN has been an extensive dealer in thoroughbred Short horn cattle and has paid as high as $400 for one animal. Being a good judge of stock and a trustworthy man he has made a financial success out of this branch of business.

Unfortunately, since the winter 1863-64, our subject has been afflicted with deafness, which has been constantly growing on him until now he is obliged to use an ear trumpet. Before becoming deaf he was fond of society, and seemed in his native element while entertaining a company of his friends, but since overtaken by this calamity he naturally isolates himself from society, being assured, however, that he has the sympathy of both his family and the community in which he lives.

source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 385-386
Family Researcher: NA To Bio Index
HANNEMAN - Henry HANNEMAN Sr., a farmer living on section 8, of Magnolia Township, (township 79, range 43) came to Harrison County in October, 1855, and settled on the farm he now lives upon, at first purchasing eighty acres, nine acres of which of had been broken. He built a log house 14x18 feet and lived in the same until about 1863, when he built a frame house 14x16 feet, one and a half stories high, to which he has made several additions and improvements. In 1873 he erected a barn 30x40 feet, and has added to his landed estate until he now has four hundred and forty acres, one hundred and fifty of which are under the plow, and the balance in meadow, pasture and timber land.

Our subject was born in Geinsheim, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, March 27, 1827, and he remained in his native land until 1851, when he sailed for America, being twenty-eight days on the ocean; he came direct to Lancaster County, Pa. There he worked by the month on a farm until 1854, at which time he went to Indianapolis, Ind., where he was variously engaged until the autumn of 1855, when he came to Iowa.

Mr. HANNEMAN was married in Lancaster County, Pa., February 15, 1854, to Miss Mary HAUFF, and they are the parents of three children -- Henry, born January 23, 1855; Katie, October 18, 1856; and John, May 24, 1861.

Mary (HAUFF) HANNEMAN was also born in Geinsheim, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, December 12,1823, and came to Lancaster County, Pa., in 1851, where she worked out until the date of her marriage.

Henry HANNEMAN, the father of our subject, was born in Germany, about 1790, at the same place in which his son was born, and died there January 1, 1849. The mother, Catherine (GEITH) HANNEMAN, was born at the same place in Germany, and remained there until her death. They were the parents of four children, our subject being the third child.

Mr. and Mrs. HANNEMAN are both acceptable members of the Evangelical Church at Magnolia and have belonged to that organization since 1861.

When our subject came from Germany he possessed only $40, and upon arriving in Harrison County, his sole possessions consisted of a team of horses. The country was very thinly inhabited, and their nearest trading point was Council Bluffs, and his children got most of their schooling at a school-house which stood near W. E. Cutler's, which was about one and three-quarter miles from Mr. HANNEMAN's house. L. D. Butler had a small mill near where Woodbine now stands. During the hard winter of 1856-57, the snow was so deep it was impossible to get around with horse-teams, so Mr. HENNEMAN got an ox-team for their keeping, and with them hauled his winter's wood up near his house early in the season, but it was soon drifted under so badly that it was easier to go to the timber and cut and haul more than it was to uncover it.

source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 386-387
Family Researcher: NA To Bio Index

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