Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 803
WILLIAM H. MCQUEEN

William H. MCQUEEN (retired) came to Harrison County in the spring of 1865, just at the close of the Civil War, and settled on section 9, of Taylor Township, where he purchased two hundred acres of wild land at $3.75 per acre. The same is situated on the Missouri Bottoms. Here he erected a rough frame house 16x20 feet, one story and a half high. The first year he broke only ten acres of his land, but the next year he broke about forty acres. His original house served the purpose of a residence with an addition which he made to it, until 1875, when he built a story and a half frame house, 18x28 feet, and an ell 14x20 feet, with porch and pantry added. He has also a frame barn 16x30 feet. His home farm now consists of two hundred acres, all under cultivation. He has a farm of eighty acres in Jackson Township, which makes him quite an extensive land owner.

In 1885 he left the farm and went to Modale, where he engaged in general merchandising, in which time he sold out his business, and has since lived a retired life. In 1888 he and his wife took a trip through Ohio, visiting his parents, who lived at that time in Carroll County. He also attended the Grand Army of the Republic Encampment at Columbus, and visited many friends and relatives in the Buckeye State. The summer of 1889 and 1890 our subject spent in the Black Hills country, he having a son Charles C., who is a ranchman in Fall River County, South Dakota. Upon coming to this county our subject had but little means, but being possessed of a good education, he taught school winters and farmed summers. He passed through two sieges of grasshopper raids, and in 1868 they caused the total failure of crops. Mr. MCQUEEN received $300 for teaching school, or he could hardly have existed in the country.

To acquaint the reader with our subject's earlier life and his wife's domestic relations, it may be said that he was born November 26, 1829, in Carroll County, Ohio, then known as Jefferson County. He is a son of Elisha and Lydia (TOPE) MCQUEEN. They were natives of Washington County, Pennsylvania. The father was born August 9, 1802, and died in Carroll County, Ohio, in February, 1890. The mother was born in 1805, and died at the same place in December 1890. These two old companions on the road of life, having filled their mission well, passed from the scenes of earth during the same year. They reared a family of six children, our subject being the second child in the family of three daughters and three sons. He remained at home with his parents until October, 1848, when he commenced teaching school, and followed it for a number of years. He taught winters, and to school summers, for several years, and attended the academy at New Hagerstown, Carroll County, several years. There were two departments in this school, and only had one change of teachers while he was there, and this was occasioned by the lady teacher getting married, after which our subject put one of his advanced pupils in charge. In 1859 he went to Canal Dover, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and took charge of his father-in-law's mercantile business, which he conducted until 1860, and that spring came to Poweshiek County, Iowa, and commenced teaching at Brooklyn, following the same until about the time he came to Harrison County. The last year he was there he was in the grocery business and bought and sold out three times. This was during Civil War times.

Our subject was united in marriage, in Carroll County, Ohio, October 25, 1853, to Miss Mary WALTERS, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (MCKEE) WALTERS, and to them have been born five children -- Elisha W., Amanda M., James L., Charles G., Frank W., all of whom are living.

Mary (WALTERS) MCQUEEN was born near New Cumberland, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, August 17, 1836, and lived with her parents until the date of her marriage.

Our subject is a member of the Sons of Temperance, and was a member at Leesville, Ohio, in 1854, and was made a Mason at Urichsville, Ohio, in the fall of 1854. He now belongs to the Masonic lodge at Missouri Valley. He was made a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Brooklyn, Iowa, in 1862, and now belongs to the Mondamin Lodge. He was a charter member of the Masonic lodge at Brooklyn, Iowa, and was its first S. W.

Mrs. MCQUEEN is an acceptable member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is an exemplary christian.

Mr. MCQUEEN, in his political choice, is a Democrat, and has held all the local township offices, except constable. He is a Notary Public at the present time. In the campaign of 1876, he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the office of County Recorder. The Republican majority at that time ws three hundred and thirty-four, yet through his ability and popularity, he was only defeated by twenty-seven votes.

Frank W., son of our subject, was born in Harrison County, Iowa, May 14, 1867. He received his education at the common schools, and attended the Commercial college at Omaha, during the summer and fall of 1888. He then came back to Modale, and opened a general store, carrying about $2,000 in stock. He was married in Des Moines, Iowa, June 12, 1890, to Miss Linnie MCGREW, daughter of Nathan B. and Anna (HICKOCK) MCGREW. Linnie (MCGREW) MCQUEEN was born in Williams County, Ohio, November 19, 1868, and in 1882, her parents moved to Des Moines.

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