Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 636
EDWIN NEWTON

Edwin NEWTON, an enterprising farmer of St. John's Township, has been associated with the interests of Harrison County since 1867. When he first came here, he lived where Missouri Valley now stands. He worked on the railroad and boarded the officers of the road. After two years and a half, he located on section 2, where he purchased forty acres of land, erected a house, made other improvements, and remained there about seven years, when he sold out and came to his present location, which is lot 4, section 3, of St John's Township.

Mr. NEWTON is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., September 28, 1837, of English ancestry. He can trace his family back to his great-grandfather, Reuben NEWTON, who came from England to Vermont, prior to the Revolutionary War, he having served as a Captain during the fierce struggle for liberty, and was with the "Green Mountain" boys. His son Reuben, the grandfather of our subject was born in Vermont and came to New York State. He was a manufacturer in steelyards. He married Eunice MANLY, a Vermont lady, by whom four children were born: Nathaniel, who moved to Ohio; Lyman, a resident of New York State; Jesse, the father of our subject and Daniel, living in Michigan.

Jesse NEWTON, the father of Edwin NEWTON, was born in Marcellus, New York and was reared on his father's farm. He married Louisa PUDDY, the daughter of James and Eliza (VANN) PUDDY, natives of England, who were the parents of seven children: Caroline, Mrs. TACY, living in Cattaraugus County, N. Y.; Edwin, our subject; Truman, a resident of Buffalo, N. Y.; Augustine, of Boone, Iowa; Reuben, now of Missouri Valley; Orrel, Mrs. STONE, of Jamestown, N. Y.; Harlin, a resident of Castleton, N. Dak.

Our subject was born on his father's farm, where he resided until he was six-teen years of age, assisting his father on the farm, and attending the common schools of that county. In 1852 he started for Oregon, driving cattle. He left Clinton, Iowa, May 18, and got to rogue River Valley, September 22, and from there to California, where he ran a pack train, and remained some two years, returning by the way of the Pacific Ocean and Panama, and thence to New York. He then spent some time in Wisconsin and Michigan, and afterward visited the Southern States, during the Civil War. He was not in either army, but was at Parson COGLE's when the negroes were sent to Island No. 10. He was sent to watch them, and drew the plans of the Island and river posts, and sent them to Commodore FOOTE, and when the Island was taken, he returned to New York, and a few months later came west, and lived at Sycamore, Ill., on a farm, after which he came to Boone, Iowa, and remained three years.

Our subject was united in marriage September 19, 1861, to Miss Martha E. PARCELL, of Rochester, N. Y., the daughter of James and Eliza (ORCHARD) PARCELL, who were of English descent.

Mr. and Mrs. NEWTON are the parents of the following children: Addie, Mrs. GREEVEY, now of Omaha; M. J. born November 25, 1863; William A., October 10, 1866, died May 24, 1867; and Mabel, now Mrs. Dr. W. H. SHERRDEN, born September 3, 1869, now living in Omaha.

Mr. and Mrs. Newton are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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