HAIGHT - Elias G. HAIGHT, a farmer, of section 26, St. John's Township, Came to Harrison County, in 1867, locating on the site of his present farm. Ever since he came to this county, he has been adding to his land, until now he has three hundred acres, all fenced and one hundred and twenty acres under cultivation.

He traces his ancestry back to his father, Elias HAIGHT, who was born in Westchester County, N.Y., and was of English descent. He was a farmer by occupation, and married Esther HULL, of South Salem, N. Y. By this union four children were born -- Warren (deceased); Webster, living in Westchester County, N. Y.; Mary (deceased) and Elias G., our subject, who was born, December 24, 1824, in Westchester County, N. Y. His early life was passed in his father's farm in the Empire state, where he attended the common schools, and began farming for himself on his father's farm, in 1845, continuing until he came to Iowa. He now carried on general farming, raises, buys and sells live stock.

Mr. HAIGHT was married July 2, 1857, to Miss Katie H. REYNOLDS, the daughter of Silas REYNOLDS, of Westchester County, N. Y. By this union nine children were born -- Warren E., May 13, 1858; Webster H., September 21, 1859; John J., born October 18, 1860, died December 2, 1860; Mary Augusta and Silas Augusta, born October 3, 1861; Mary Augusta died May 14, 1868; Abram Lewis born November 8, 1863; Charles Edwin, May 31, 1865; Sarah E., October 5, 1866; and Jessie, October 15, 1869.

These children were all born in Westchester County, N. Y., except Jessie who was born in St, John's, this county. The second and fourth child are married and reside in Harrison County. Webster H. married Almeda CHAMBERS, March 18, 1885. Silas A. was married February 18, 1890, to Jennie MCINTOSH.

Politically, Mr. HAIGHT is an active worker in the Republican party, and especially in his part of the county.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 352-353
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SWAN - Clark E. SWAN. a farmer, located on section 31, of Union Township, close to Harrison County, in the spring of 1869. With no means to begin operations upon, however, he secured eighty acres of land in La Grange Township, paying $4 per acre for the same, at least agreeing to. He made substantial improvement on the place, and remained there until 1881, when he sold out and bought his present place, which at that time was partly improved, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres in La Grange Township. His place contains first-class buildings including a two-story frame house, built after a modern design.

Our subject was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., July 6, 1842, and is the son of Emulus and Catherine (VANSKIVER) SWAN, who had seven children named as follows -- Lucinda, Albert, deceased, Elenor, Clark E., Sarah, deceased, Allie and Bayron.

Our subject lived with his parents until he arrived at his majority, attending school winters, and assisting on the farm summers. When he was twenty-one years old, he emlisted in Company F, Twentieth New York Calvary, under Capt. REYNOLDS and Col. LORD. He was mustered in at Sackett's Harbor, and from there went to Washington, and on to Norfolk, Va., where he did pciket duty, and was with BUTLER in his Peninsular campaign, also with GRANT in front of Richmond, and Petersburg, wearing the royal blue until the close of the Rebellion, receiving his discharge, at Manchester, Va., but mustered out at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y. While he never received a wound, yet his health was greatly impaired. He remained in Jefferson County, N. Y., and the came to Iowa.

Mr. SWAN was united in marriage July 1, 1868 to Kittie CASWELL, daughter of Henry and Kittie CASWELL, who were the parents of two children. The parents were natives of Canada, but they were married in New York. Our subject and his wife are the parents of three children named as follows: -- Bert, born June 27, 1871; Fred, February 28, 1873; Hattie, July 2, 1878. All are living at home.

Politically, our subject is identified with the Republican party.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 362
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KING - Samuel I. KING, an attorney-at-law of Logan, Iowa, accompanied his parents, Hon. Stephen King and wife, to Harrison County in the spring of 1852, Judge King, as his father is familiarly called, having been the first Judge of Harrison County, located on section 18, of Cass Township. Samuel's early life was spent on his father's farm, having the privileges of the common-school system of this county. Concerning the ancestry of our subject, the reader is referred to the biography of Stephen King, elsewhere in this work. Samuel was born in Edinburgh, N.Y., September 8, 1848. He is a son of Stephen and Frances L. (MARSH) KING, natives of the empire State, who were the parents of six children, four of whom still survive � Samuel I., our subject; Alva, deceased; Reuben, of Jefferson Township; Clara M., now Mrs. WOLLE, living in Bethlehem, Pa.; Minerva, now Mrs. WINTER, a resident of Woodbine, Iowa; and Willie, deceased.

In 1867, our subject began a classical course at the State University at Iowa City, continuing his studies for three years. From 1870 to 1875 his time was employed at teaching school, clerking in a store and traveling for a Council Bluffs dry-goods house. At that time he attended the Iowa College of Law at Des Moines, graduating in June, 1876, after which he practiced law at Magnolia until the autumn of 1879, when he removed to Logan and opened a law office where he still continues to practice his chosen profession.

Mr. KING was united in marriage December 24, 1874, with Abbie M. MARK, who was the daughter of Dr. Andrew J. MARK. Her mother's maiden name being Hannah M. COREY. Her parents were natives of New York State. Two children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. KING � Mark D., born November 6, 1883; and Lucy Clare, June 16, 1887.

Our subject belongs to the Masonic Order, being a member of Chrysolie Lodge, No. 420, at Logan; Triune Chapter, No. 81, of Royal Arch Masons, at Missouri Valley and Ivanhoe Commandery of Knights Templar, No. 17, at Council Bluffs.

Politically, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 930-931
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MURRAY - Michael MURRAY, one of the largest land owners in Harrison County, and a resident of Little Sioux Township, may justly claim space in this connection for a biographical notice, having lived in the county as he has, over a third of a century, coming in 1857.

He was born May 6, 1810, in Kilmarnock, Scotland; the sone of Michael and Mary (CRAIG) MURRAY. The father was born in Dublin, and the mother was of Scoth-Irish extraction. The father came to the United States in 1860, and laid down the burden of life three years later. There were six children in his father's family � our subject and the following: Agnes, John, Rose, Mary, James.

When our subject first came to Harrison County in 1857, he carried the mail on horseback from Calhoun to Magnolia for one year; drove stage from Onawa to Shipman two years; came to Harrison County again in 1861 and located a pre-emption claim, but the big flood of 1862, swept down the valley, driving them away, causing them to lose everything they had, after which our subject rented a farm of Sam Ellis for one year. In 1863 he went to Denver, Colo., drove stage for the Overland Stage Company. In 1864 he started a ranch one hundred miles east of Denver, known as the Douglass ranch, which furnished feed for the overland trains. He continued this until 1865, when the Indian war broke out, and had all the horses and cattle he had stolen by them. He remained there until 1867, and then went to Cheyenne and Salt Lake, where they were building the Union Pacific Railroad. After that highway was completed he went to Bitter Creek, where he had a contract for furnishing wood for the company. In 1868, we find our subject again back in Harrison County, Iowa, farming on section 18, Little Sioux Township, on land originally pre-empted by Amos S. Chase. Our subject now owns thirteen hundred and seventy acres of land in Harrison County, five hundred and seventy acres in one piece and eight hundred in another. The lowest price paid for any of this land was $10 per acre.

Mr. MURRAY was united in marriage, April 3, 1969, to Luella ELLIS, a daughter of John and Hannah (MARTIN) ELLIS. By this union seven children have been born � Mary, Agnes, Lillie, Ada, James, Adolph and Thomas. The family belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

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

Mr. MURRAY laid the foundation for his present well-to-do circumstances by driving stage in Iowa, and working in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains, as well as on the great Western plains. A quarter of a century ago it took great courage and endurance to live west of the Missouri River, for civilization had not moulded good society, or fashioned the laws, now found in that section. After accumulating considerable means in the west, Mr. MURRAY very wisely returned to the Hawkeye State and invested his earnings in valuable lands, the possession of which has now placed him in an independent position in life.

He established his mercantile business in the fall of 1868, purchasing a general stock of Benjamin Tabor in an old building on the spot where Mr. MURRAY's present fine two-story frame now stands, which was erected in 1877, and the second story is used for a Masonic Hall.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 931-932
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HESTER - Chambers HESTER The man who heads this sketch, and who is a farmer of section 15, of clay Township, was born in Brown County, Ohio, May 17, 1838. His parents were Stephen A. and Sarah A. (BARNES) HESTER, both natives of Kentucky. In 1838 they left Ohio and moved to Montgomery County, Ind., remained for two years and then came to Des Moines County, Iowa. After a four years' residence there, they moved to Jones County, and remained until the spring of 1853, and came to Kanesville, now council Bluffs, remained until the fall and then came to Harrison County, locating on section 22, of clay Township. Upon coming to the county they had nothing but a team of horses and a wagon. They liked the country very much and made arrangements with Cassady & Test, a money loaning firm of Council Bluffs, to borrow money enough to enter a half section of land. The firm furnished the money and gave a bond for a deed; in this land our subject had a one-third interest. It was timber land, and in the spring of 1854 they made arrangements with Thomas A. Dennis to bring in a sawmill, and go in company with him in the land, as well as in the mill. They sent to St. Louis for the mill, and in coming up the Missouri River it was thought the boat would sink, and they commenced throwing things overboard, including much of the mill machinery. The boiler they corked up and rolled into the river, and it floated and was thus saved. In the summer of 1855 this mill was in operation, but was burned in the autumn of 1856; however, the machinery was not injured except the wood-work and saws. This was the first mill located in Clay Township. Our subject sold his share in the mill in the fall of 1855, after which he followed various things. He bought a few calves, put up some hay and remained at home with his father until the fall of 1858. He entered eighty acres of land which belonged to the county, the same being heavily timbered. In 1862 he purchased forty acres more of county land on section 23, where he built a log house, and subsequently erected a frame house 16x24 feet, which burned a few years later, and was replaced by another 16x30 feet, with additions. His farm now consists of one hundred and seventy acres. In 1883, in order to give his children better educational advantages, Mr. Hester moved to Blair, Neb., where he remained four years, and then moved to his present place, upon which he erected a house that year.

Concerning our subject's domestic life, it may be stated that he was united in marriage in Clay Township, in December 1859, to Miss Sarah J. SHARPNACK, the daughter of Samuel and Lucretia (LONG) SHARPNACK. Our subject and his wife are the parents of seven children � Jasper A., Laura L., Minnie M. (deceased), Levi F., Cancey A., Bertie C., Rena A.M.

Sarah J. (SHARPNACK) HESTER was born in Wetzel County, Va., and when quite small accompanied her parents to Harrison County, Iowa. She passed from the scenes of this life August 22, 1885. She was a member of the Advent Church.

Mr. HESTER married for his second wife Miss Clara HATCHER, with whom he experienced an incompatibility which caused a separation within a few months. June 28, 1891, he was united to Miss Sarah SHARLEY.

Politically our subject is a Democrat, and in religious belief and profession he and his wife are members of the Free Methodist Church.

Our subject's father left Harrison County about 1882, then moved to Washington County, Neb., where he subsequently died. The mother died in Burt County, Neb., and the remains of both parents are buried in the Blair Cemetery.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 932-933
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WALKER - Wells F. WALKER, an enterprising farmer of section 16, Magnolia Township, has been a resident of Harrison County since May, 1857, and worked at the carpenter's trade at Magnolia most of the time until 1860, then went to Council Bluffs, and was there until the spring of 1861, and then went to the mountains, where he worked at mining until the autumn of that year returned to Council Bluffs, which he counted his home until 1863, during which time he was in the employ of Frederickson and Jackson, who were engaged in freighting across the plains, and he was employed as a weigh-master, and handled goods for them. In February, 1863, he started across the plains, taking charge of a train of wagons for them, his objective point being Denver, Col. When they left Council Bluffs, the snow was twenty inches deep, and he had a four-horse team, loaded with four thousand pounds of ham. They put runners under their loads, and lashed the wheels on and traveled with the sled four days getting to Elkhorn fifteen miles west of Omaha, at which point he attached the wheels, and traveled for fifty days, when they reached Denver. The same year he made three trips for the company, and after two years in their employ he returned to Harrison County, Iowa and rented a farm in Magnolia Township, continuing to farm on rented land until 1867, and then bought eighty acres of wild land � his present place, and moved a log house from Magnolia for his residence. This house was first built on a claim west of Magnolia, by a Mr. George, and was one of the very first houses built in Harrison County. This served our subject until 1877, when he built his present residence a two-story frame structure 16x22 feet, with an addition 14x16 feet. the pioneer cabin referred to above is still in existence, and is used as a calf stable, by Mr. Walker; could its rough logs but speak, a tale of wonderful interest of pioneer days it would relate.

In 1883 our subject erected a basement barn 30x40 feet. To his original farm Mr. Walker has added until he now has two hundred and fifty acres, one hundred and fifty are under the plow, while the balance is in meadow and timber land, generally keeping about seventy head of cattle, and does a general farming business. When he commenced to farm, everything he marketed had to be hauled to Council Bluffs, where he also did most of his trading. He has sold dressed hogs at that point for $2 per hundred weight, and at the same time having to pay $160 for a farm-wagon, without a brake seat or double-box. when he first went on his farm, there was no schoolhouse, near enough to send his children to, but finally the district divided, and by furnishing their own schoolhouse, the were enabled to draw on the public fund for money with which to pay their teacher. A few of the neighbors clubbed together, and went down on the Missouri bottoms, where they bought cottonwood lumber enough to build a schoolhouse 12x14 feet. This building is now used by Mr. Walker for a granary.

To return to the boyhood days of our subject, the reader is informed that he was born in Fayette County, Ind., October 14, 1832, and remained there with his parents until about 1853, and then worked for an uncle in Wabash County until 1857, when he came to Iowa. He was married in Harrison County, April 5, 1863, to Miss Candace E. HOPKINS, by whom eleven children have been born: Orrin B., January 6, 1864; Alberta, March 13, 1866; Mary M., November 23, 1867; Maude and Morton (twins), July 30, 1869; Charles W., December 19, 1871; Preston G., July 25, 1874; John W., July 25, 1876; William R., August 5, 1879; Jennie R., August 17, 1881 and Hattie J., March 4, 1883. Mary M. died September 3, 1868; Charles W., December 22, 1871; and William R., September 16, 1879. Candace E. (HOPKINS) WALKER was born in Fleming County, Ky., April 2, 1841, and in 1847 her parents removed to Wabash County, Ind., where they remained until 1859, then came to Harrison County, where Mrs. WALKER remained until the time of her marriage.

Elbert WALKER, the father of our subject, was born in Georgia, in 1790, came to Fayette County, Ind., with his mother, and remained there until his death in 1949 (?? 1849). The mother of our subject, Elizabeth (MALONE) WALKER, was born in Ohio, in 1810; her parents coming to Fayette County, Ind., where she was married.

Mrs. WALKER's father, Benjamin HOPKINS, was born in Fleming County, Ky., July 15, 1800, and remained there until 1847, then came to Wabash County, Ind., where he remained until 1859, and then came to Harrison County, Iowa, purchasing a farm in Magnolia Township, where he remained until his death, February 19, 1885. The mother of Mrs. WALKER, Delilah (JONES) HOPKINS, was born in Maryland, June 7, 1798, later removed to Kentucky, and was married to Benjamin HOPKINS, December 4, 1824, and they were the parents of five children, of whom Mrs. WALKER was the youngest and the only child now living. The mother died in Wabash County, Ind., March 2, 1849, the father being a member of the Christian Church, the mother a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. WALKER, our subject, is a member of Magnolia Lodge, No. 177, I.O.O.F. Mrs. WALKER joined the Christian Church in Indiana, and is still of that belief, but has not united since coming to Iowa.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 938-939
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DICKINSON - John DICKINSON, a farmer living on section 16, of Cincinnati Township, came to Harrison County in the summer of 1882, and worked by the month that summer and in June 1883, purchased one hundred and thirty acres of improved land, where he now lives. Since then he has bought eighty acres on section 17, which he uses as pasture land. His present farm now consists of one hundred and ninety acres, which is under a good state of cultivation.

Our subject was born in Lincolnshire, England, February 13, 1851. He remained there with his parents until the spring of 1876, when he came to Canada, remained one month, and then came to Blair, Neb., and worked on the railroad one year, as a section hand, and continued to follow railroad grading, etc. until he came to Harrison County. He was married in Harrison County, in February, 1883, to Miss Leona BROWNRIGG, and they are the parents of two children � John R. and William L. Mrs. DICKINSON was born October 30, 1859, in Ohio, and came with her parents to Harrison County. they settled on a farm in Cincinnati Township. Her parents were John and Sarepta J. (MARQUIS) BROWNRIGG, who reared a family of twelve children, Mrs. DICKINSON being the sixth child.

Of our subject's father, William DICKINSON, it may be said he was a native of England, and died there about 1883. He was married to Sarah SPINKS, of England, by which marriage union eleven children were born, our subject being the oldest. He has one brother living in this country, a resident of Washington (State).

Our subject in his political belief is in sympathy with the Democratic party.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 939-940
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BRANSON - Bates BRANSON, of St John's Township, will form the subject of this notice. It was in the autumn of 1855, that he pre-empted eighty-six acres of his present farm. He made some improvements that season and lived with Isaac Cox, who land adjoined him, that winter. The following spring, he worked for him until May 15th. The balance of the summer he worked in Pottawattamie County, and in October, went back to Indiana, where he remained during the winter, and the following spring going to Coffee County, Kan., remained two weeks in that locality and then returned to Harrison County, Iowa, where he worked on a farm by the month for two years, receiving what was then high wages - $20 per month. In the fall of 1858 he again visited his old home in the Hoosier State, and in the spring of 1860, brought his parents to Harrison County.

Our subject was born in Clay County, Ind., November 6, 1835, and is the son of Jonathan and Malinda (MOORE) BRANSON. The father was a native of Tennessee, while the mother was born in Kentucky. Our subject received his education at the subscription schools in Indiana, and remained at home with his parents until he came to Harrison County, in 1855. He accompanied Evan and John S. Moreland, as far as Guthrie County, Iowa, and from there to Harrison County, with his two uncles, Ephraim MOORE and Henry MAINS. They only remained a short time leaving our subject in the country alone. At that date everything was new, wild flowers bedecked the prairies and the forests were filled with wild game and rank undergrowth of vegetation. A herd of deer or elk, might have been seen on almost any hill side, while the groves were alive with wild turkeys. The blue-joint, on the Missouri bottom, was higher than a man's head, and surged to and fro, against the passing wind, like the waves of an ocean. The whole appearance of Harrison County, at that date was that of one green, glad solitude.

Our subject was united in marriage October 25, 1859, with Mary Ann EVANS, in Clay County, Ind., in the house in which he was born, his father having sold the homestead to William EVANS, the father of our subject's wife � so they were both married "at home."

Mary Ann EVANS (BRANSON), was born January 11, 1834, the daughter of William and Sarah (PHILLIPS) EVANS, and was the oldest of a family of ten children. Our subject and his wife are the parents of six children � Jennette, born September 6, 1860; now the wife of Oscar KIRKENDALL, of Logan, Iowa; Sarah Estella, born October 29, 1863, and died November 5, 1870; William T., born June 25, 1866, and married Joicy Gibson, September 29, 1889 and lives on, and helps operate the home-farm. Luella, born April 11, 1868, married John P. Martin of Missouri Valley; Carrie V. born March 11, 1875, died August 25, 1876; John Thomas, born April 23, 1877, and died January 28, 1879.

Our subject's mother died in Clay County, Ind., in the spring of 1855, after which the father again married and moved to Harrison County, Iowa, and died in Pottawattamie County in 1881. The stepmother is still living in Pottawattamie County, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Mrs. BRANSON's mother died September 14, 1877, aged sixty-seven years; her father died April 11, 1891, aged seventy-nine years.

To give the reader a more detailed account of Mr. BRANSON's father's family it should be stated that our subject was the third child of a family of ten children, the names were as follows � William H. a resident of St John's Township; Manervia, deceased, Bates, our subject; Daniel, of Fremont County, Iowa, Samantha (single) of Pottawattamie County; Jane, Mrs. Isaac SKELTON Sr. of Pottawattamie County, Milley, Mrs. Perry REEL residing in the same county, Elizabeth, deceased, Nancy, Mrs. Isaac SKELTON Jr. and Isaiah deceased.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 941-942
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CADWELL - Casper N. CADWELL, a resident of Jefferson Township, where he owns one hundred and forty acres of excellent farm land on section 13, township 79, range 43, came to Harrison County in March, 1867, and first located on Silver Prairie, in Magnolia Township, where he rented of Phineas Cadwell for two years, and in June, 1868, bought a part of his present farm. At first he built a log house, which is still standing, the logs being moved from Magnolia, where they had formed a part of one of the early hotels of that place, and known as the "Brainard House." There was no improvement on this land; there are now forty acres under the plow, while the balance is used as tame pasture and meadow land.

In July, 1889, he completed his present farm house, the upright of which is 16x28 feet. Upon coming to the country Mr. CADWELL had but small means, only possessing a team and furniture enough to barely do. But by hard work and good management and the fact that he lived in one of the best agricultural sections in this portion of the State, he has gradually advanced until he is now surrounded with all those comforts that provide one with a pleasant home.

Mr. CADWELL was born at Hamilton, Canada, November 22, 1837, and is the son of Rev. Christopher C. and Harriet (NORTHWAY) CADWELL, both natives of Madison County, N.Y. Christopher CADWELL and family came to Racine County, Wis., in 1838, when Casper was but six months old. The father was a Congregational minister, and preached at Southport, now Kenosha, and was the second Congregational minister in what was the Wisconsin Territory. In 1870 he went to Barton County, Mo., where he died January 16, 1871, aged fifth-eight years, one month and five days.

Our subject's mother was born January 1, 1815, and died July 17, 1844. Casper N. was their only child. After the death of his mother his father married Pemelia WELLS, by whom three children were born, Hattie E., Sarah S. and Merle D.

Our subject left home in Wisconsin in 1861, becoming a member of the First Wisconsin Cavalry, serving twenty months, and received his discharge at St. Louis February, 1863. After leaving the service he spent two years in Wisconsin, but owing to ill health was unable to accomplish much, and in September, 1865, came to Jasper County, Iowa, remaining there there until the time of his coming to Harrison County.

His was married in Jasper County, October 25, 1866, to Eliza J. KIRKENDALL, a native of Ohio, born March 5, 1845. She was the daughter of Daniel and Polly (WELCH) KIRKENDALL. They are the parents of four children. Hattie E., born September 20, 1866; Bertha M., July 25, 1868; Clara E., September 27, 1869; Homer C., March 30, 1874.

Hattie E. graduated at the Logan High School, standing second in her class. She also attended Coe College at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for two years, receiving a good muscial education. At present she is a music teacher at Hartington, Neb.

Bertha M. graduated from the Logan High School, ranking first in her class, and is now engaged in the High School at Lamars, Plymouth County, Iowa, where she is proving herself a proficient teacher.

Clara A. is also a No. 1 graduate of the Logan High Schools, and is at present teaching in the graded schools of Lamars, Iowa.

Homer C. is still attending school.

Mr. and Mrs. CADWELL are Presbyterians, and were among the charter members of the First Presbyterian Church at Logan.

Politically, Mr. CADWELL is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of Fuller Post, Grand Army of the Republic.

source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 338-339
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