~ William Gannon ~

William Gannon, the leading Irish farmer and the most extensive stock man of Poweshiek Township was born County Kilkenny, Ireland, and was one of a family of ten children, of whom only six lived to maturity. John Gannon, the father of the family was a farmer. He lived on leased land in the Old Country, and to improve his condition removed to America in 1849 and settled in Cook County near Chicago, ILL. There he joined his fortune with those of our subject and purchased eighty acres of land, which was paid for largely from the earnings of his son. The mother of the family was also a native of Ireland. Her maiden name was Mary Kelley. After arriving in America the parents made their home with William Gannon and resided with him as long as they lived. The father died in Iowa in 1868, at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother some years later, at the age of ninety years. Both are buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Des Moines. Their children were Michael, Katherine, Peggy, Mary, Richard and William, the subject of this sketch.

William Gannon received a fine English education at some of the best schools and was also well instructed in the theory of farming. When he came to this country he had little besides his general knowledge and his indomitable pluck and energy, but these have been sufficient to place him among the wealthiest and most influential citizens of his county. From 1849 until 1856 he remained upon the farm in Cook County, IL, and on the 5th of July of the latter year arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, with the largest part of his possessions, consisting of the teams and cattle that he drove before him. During the following winter he purchased one hundred acres of raw land in Franklin Township, Polk County, for which he paid $600. The following spring be rented and farmed a tract of land, and a little later purchased of James Bailey one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he gave about $1,200. This farm he occupied for five years, giving his personal attention to its cultivation and improvement, and when he had brought the place to its present state of excellence turned his attention to an earlier purchase of one hundred and seventy acres, which had in the meantime been comparatively neglected. Here his intelligent management soon brought the farm into a high state of cultivation and gradually he has added to the original tract until he now has eight hundred acres in a body, all showing the marks of the master farmer's hand. He residence is one of the finest in the township, and the outbuildings are all first class.

Mr. Gannon and his sons now own some thirteen hundred acres of other lands in this and adjoining counties, making them the largest landed proprietors in this section of Iowa. A very important part of Mr. Gannon's business has been the buying, selling and raising of stock, and in this line he has been more than usually successful. Within the past year or two he has gradually withdrawn from active participation in the business and has given that branch into the hands of his sons, while be, with his wife, resides in his elegant country mansion, eight miles from Colfax and near the Polk County line.

In 1854 Mr. Gannon married Catherine Rooney a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and the daughter of Hugh and Alice (Dwyer) Rooney. They were married in St. Mary's Church, Chicago. Their children are: John, who lives at home with his parents; William J., a resident of this township; Alice, wife of William Phelan; Michael, who lives in Polk County; Kate, wife of James O'Brien of Bondurant; Mary, who died when about five years old; Ellen, wife of John Maher, of this township; Hugh and Lizzie, at home. Mr. Gannon takes an active interest in politics and is a stanch Democrat. Both he and his wife, as well as the other members of their family, are regular and consistent members of the Catholic Church. p. 390.

~ Ellis Gifford ~

It is not necessary for a visitor to the rural districts to understand agriculture in order that he may know which are the good farmers of the section. The sight of the tumbled down fences, weedy fence corners, machinery exposed to the wind and weather, and inadequate shelter for stock and crops is sufficient to stamp the proprietor of a farm as one lacking in enterprise and judgment. Well built farm structures, neat fences and fields where useful grain has the upper hand of the weeds are equally conclusive proof of the skill and energy of him under whose management this state of things obtains.

The subject of this notice is numbered among the enterprising farmers of Fairview Township, Jasper County. He was born in Rush County, Ind., November 16, 1839. He is a son of the Hon. Manly and Sarah (Davis) Gifford, both natives of the same place as their son. The former was born September 8, 1816, and died March 21,1889. The paternal grandfather, Ananias, was a native of New Jersey, and located in Indiana in an early day on a farm. His wife was in her maiden days Phoebe A. Wardle, also a native of New Jersey. She died in 1839. Of their union nine children were born: Freelove, John, James, Solomon W., Sarah, Noah, Mary, Manly, and Clark, who died in infancy. The mother died when fifty years old, and the father when eighty-one years of age. He was a Democrat politically.

The father of our subject made his home with his parents until twenty-three years of age, attending school in the winter months, and assisting in tile farm work in the summers. He was married December 13, 1838, to Sarah Davis, a daughter of William and Nancy (Zumalt) Davis. They became the parents of eight children, viz.: Ellis, William R., John M., Nancy J., Alfred, Mary E., Harriet A. (deceased) and Sarah E. Mrs. Gifford was a member of the Christian Church, and passed from this life in her forty-fifth year.

Manly Gifford soon after his marriage rented a small farm in Rush County, Ind., and remained on it until 1843, when he located in Des Moines County, this state. The fall of the same year he moved to Mahaska County and took up a claim of three hundred and twenty acres, and afterward traded this with John Vance for one near Monroe, Iowa. He immediately located on his new place, which was almost a wilderness, there being but two cabins between Oskaloosa and Monroe, and the former town was thirty miles distant. The post- office was located there, and it took twenty-five cents to get a letter.

The estate consisted of three hundred and twenty acres, as did the original one, and he had but twenty cents when he landed thereon. He set about its improvement in good earnest, soon becoming the owner of seven hundred acres of valuable land. He was one of the first County Commissioners of Jasper County, having been elected in 1846, and in 1848, with L. W. Babbitt, he was elected to represent Marion, Jasper and Polk Counties in the State Legislature. He was afterward elected County Judge, but resigned, and later was appointed by the Governor one of the Commissioners to locate the county seat of Dallas County, Iowa. Mr. Gifford also ran for State Senator on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by the opposing party. He was the recipient of various township offices, all of which he held with satisfaction to the people and with credit to himself. Some time later he located on a small farm near Otley, Iowa, and finally made his home in Knoxville, Marion County, until his death, which occurred when seventy-two years of age. Each of his children, as they started out for themselves in life, received from him a gift $1,000, and at his death he was worth over $30,000.

At the age of twenty-six years our subject left the parental roof and made a home for himself. Previous to this time and after he was twenty-one, he clerked in a store for several winters. He was married to Emily J., a daughter of John and Mary (Horton) Woody, both natives of Indiana. Four children came to bless their union, all of whom are living. S. Paulina, the wife of Robert Fleenor, lives in this township and is the mother of two children, Goldie M. and Charles E. M. Estella, who is the wife of Thomas E. Livingston, lives near our subject's estate; they were the parents of one child, who died in infancy. The two sons are George M. and Manly. Mrs. Gifford, when but three years old, came to Iowa with her parents from Lawrence County, Ind., where she was born, and in this state gained her education.

Soon after his marriage, our subject purchased a one-half interest in one hundred and thirty- nine acres of land in Marion County, but in the spring of 1867 he sold out and located on a like number of acres in this township, on which he yet makes his home. He was compelled to go in debt $1,600 on this place, and consequently for nine years lived in a small shanty. But by the untiring efforts of both himself and wife he was soon able to purchase more land, making his estate number three hundred and sixty-seven acres of finely improved land. On this may be seen substantial buildings and a comfortable residence, which is graciously presided over by Mrs. Gifford. One of the handsome features of the place is a large orchard, consisting mainly of apple trees, which in 1891 yielded him over eighteen hundred bushels of fine apples. It is considered the finest orchard in the township. The place is now worked by his sons, George M. and Manly, under his sagacious management, and he is thus taking life easy. Mr. Gifford of whom we write is in his political affiliations a strong Democrat, and is a reliable citizen, an intelligent man, and one whose life wins respect from those about him. Page 318.

~ Dr. Henry C. Gill ~

Dr. Henry C. Gill, President of the of Dowden Manufacturing Company, of Prairie City, Iowa, was born April 22, 1822, in Chester County, Pa., twenty miles from Philadelphia, and in the very same house in which General Anthony Wayne was sleeping at the time of the general massacre by the Indians, and only four miles from Valley Forge. His father, John B. Gill, was born near the same place in 1792, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. Later in life the latter was Superintendent of the Winchester branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he received an appointment in the arsenal at Philadelphia. This position he held for many years, or as long as he cared to do anything. The last few years of his life were spent in quiet retirement, his death occurring in his native county, July 31, 1875.

Henry Gill, grandfather of our subject, was a Scotchman, but when he was quite young his father, whose name was also Henry, settled in Belfast, Ireland, where he became an extensive manufacturer. Henry Gill, Jr., married contrary to the laws of that country and was obliged to flee. He came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where for some time he was engaged quite extensively in the iron business. His death occurred in that state. The father of the Doctor had two brothers, David and Henry, the former a mill owner in Pennsylvania, and later in Ohio. Henry went south to Mississippi and became a large slave owner, having about five hundred at the breaking out of the Civil War. One of his sons was a general in the Confederate army and was killed during the war.

Doctor Gill's mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Davis, was also born in Chester County, Pa., in 1798, and was of Welsh descent, her father having been born in Wales. The latter was a blacksmith by trade. She had but one full brother, Evan, who was a newspaper man; and the latter's son, Lewis, is a prominent editor of the Pottstown Ledger; be was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, being Sergeant-at-Arms of the House. His son is one of the editors of the Public Ledger, of Philadelphia.

Dr. Henry C. Gill was next to the eldest in a family of eight children, and was but fourteen years of age when his mother died, December 16, 1836. His eldest brother, Davis Gill, was a railroad man, and during the Civil War was Assistant Superintendent of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, taking an active part in transporting troops to Washington. He wished to enter the army, and was elected Colonel of a Pennsylvania regiment of cavalry, but the managers of the railroad convinced the Government that he could do more good by running on the road than at the front, consequently he was not allowed to take command. He served as Sheriff of Chester County; he has been a very prominent man and has made a fortune. He is now living at Duffryn Mawr, Pa. Isaac N. Gill, the third son born to Mr. and Mrs. Gill, was for many years an engineer; he was later a merchant, and is now residing in Philadelphia. Elizabeth was married to Charles Stephens, and now resides in Bucks County, Pa. J. R. is a wealthy grain merchant of Prairie City. George B., the most noted of the family, is the last living man of John Brown's Party; he was with him through all the Kansas trouble, and was his most trusted and faithful supporter. He started with him for Harper's Ferry, but was taken sick and did not get there. He is now living in Sumner County, Kan., and is said to be the last of this noted party. Sally M., who is a widow, is the matron of the Philadelphia Normal School, which position she has held for many years.

As before stated, our subject was but fourteen years of age when his mother died, and his schooling was largely obtained in the common schools, attending about six or eight months altogether. After the death of the mother he began clerking in a store in his native state, and later was on the railroad for some time. When twenty-three years of age he commenced the study of medicine, and first began practicing at Pickrelltown, Ohio, where he remained three years. In 1850 he came to the Hawkeye State and located at Springdale, in Cedar County, where for the next forty years he was in active practice, and has been a most successful physician.

Doctor Gill was in sympathy with John Brown, and was his warm personal friend. 'The latter made his home near Springdale the winter before they went to Harper's Ferry. The Doctor tells many interesting events that took place during that time. In 1843 the Doctor was married to Miss Anna C. Essig, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of a German. For nearly half a century they lived contentedly and happily together and were devoted to each other. She was an excellent woman, charitable and humane, and was a kind wife and mother. Her death occurred May 6,1891. Of the four children born to their union only two are now living. Davis H. was a soldier in the Second Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War and served three years. He is now engaged in the furniture business in Prairie City. He is a prominent Grand Army man and a Mason. John A. was a merchant during his life, but died in 1876. Margaret married E. Bowersock, who is a lumber merchant in Iowa. She died leaving one child. Norah married J. T. Roberts, who was a member of the Iowa Legislature and was quite a prominent man. He died in Prairie City, and his wife is now living in Iowa City, where she is educating her son, Louis N.

Doctor Gill has been quite prominent in local politics. He was Justice of the Peace in Cedar County for eight years, served on the Board of Supervisors and the School Board for thirty-six years, and has also been connected with various business enterprises, being one of the men who organized the Dowden Manufacturing Company of Prairie City and is now its President. He came to Prairie City in 1890, and was soon afterward elected Justice of the Peace, which office he now holds. He is giving but little of his attention to his profession now, as he has a competency. He is a member of the Methodist Church and is Steward and Trustee in the same. Socially he is a Mason. Page 298.

~ John R. Gill ~

Among the sons of Pennsylvania who have brought with them to this western land the sturdy habits of independence, integrity and industry, which have ever marked the natives of the Keystone State, it is a pleasure to name John R. Gill, who is a grain merchant of Prairie City. The success, which has attended his efforts, is by no moans a matter of chance, nor was he in any sense a special favorite of fortune. In his case fortune smiled upon him because of his untiring efforts, his close and intelligent application to the ordinary affairs of life, and his thrift and enterprise, which are of a character to merit success under any circumstances and in any field of labor.

John R. Gill was born in Chester County, Pa., July 13, 1830, and his parents, John B. and Hannah (Davis) Gill, were natives of that county also, the father born in 1792, and the mother in 1798. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he received an appointment in the arsenal at Philadelphia. This position he held for many years, or as long as he cared to do anything. The last few years of his life were spent in retirement, and his death occurred in Chester County, Pa., July 31, 1875.

His wife was of Welsh descent, her father having been a native of Wales. The latter was a blacksmith by trade. Mrs. Gill had but one brother, Evan, who was a newspaperman, and whose son, Lewis, is editor of the Pottstown Ledger. Lewis was also a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and was sergeant-at-arms of the House. The latter's son is one of the editors of the Public Ledger of Philadelphia. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gill. The eldest child, Davis Gill, was a railroad man, and during the Civil War was Assistant Superintendent of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, taking an active part in transporting troops to Washington. Although he wished to enter the army, the Government was convinced that he could do more good on the road, and as a consequence he remained there. He served as Sheriff of Chester County, in which he was a very prominent man, and is now a wealthy resident of Duffryn Mawr, Pa. Dr. Henry C. is next (see sketch); Isaac N., the third son born to Mr. and Mrs. Gill, was for many years an engineer, but later became a merchant, and is now residing in Philadelphia; Elizabeth married a man by the name of Stephens, and now resides in Bucks County, Pa. J. R. is our subject; George B., the most noted of the family, is the last living man of John Brown's party. He was with John Brown all through the Kansas trouble, was his most trusted and faithful supporter, and started with him for Harper's Ferry, but was taken sick and did not get there. He is now living in Sumner County, Kan. Sally M., who is now a widow, is the matron of the Philadelphia Normal School, which position she has held for many years.

Henry Gill, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Scotland, but when quite young, his father, whose name was also Henry, settled in Belfast, Ireland, becoming an extensive manufacturer. The grandfather married contrary to the laws of that land, and was obliged to leave the country. He came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where for some time he was engaged extensively in the iron business. There his death occurred. He had two sons besides our subject's father, David and Henry. The former became a mill owner in Pennsylvania, and later in Ohio. The latter went to Mississippi, and became the owner of about five hundred slaves at the breaking out of the Rebellion. One of his sons was a general in the Confederate Army, and was killed during the war (for particulars see sketch of Dr. Henry C. Gill). Our subject was the sixth in order of birth of eight children born to his parents, and grew to manhood in his native state, receiving but a limited education in the common schools. When twenty years of age he came to the Hawkeye State and settled in Cedar County, where he engaged in farming, meeting with fair success in that occupation. Later he engaged in merchandising at West Liberty, and followed the same occupation in other towns until 1871, when he came to Prairie City.

After reaching this city he followed the same business for twelve years, but was burned out and lost quite heavily. For the past few years he has been engaged in the grain business in connection with his son, George, who is at the head of one of the largest livestock commission houses in Chicago, and who has made a fortune in this and other branches of business. Our subject has mad a fortune surpassed by few in Jasper County. He owns a fine farm of nearly four hundred acres near Prairie City, and another at Storm Lake. Aside from this he also owns several houses in Prairie City and a number of business buildings. In 1857, Mr. Gill was married to Miss Martha M. Moore, a native of Morgan County, Ohio, an their union was blessed by the birth of six children. George A. has been connected with his father in business for many years, and is also on of the largest livestock commission merchants in Chicago. Florence E. married J. H. Little, a hard ware merchant of Prairie City; Eva H. is the wife of T. A. Griffin, of Prairie City; Rowland H. is a student in college at Indianola, and the other children died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Gill have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a quarter of a century, and Mrs. Gill is quit a worker in the Sunday-school. Page 495.

~ David Dexter Goodhue ~

With the progress of Jasper County, and more especially with the history of Malaka Township, the subject of this sketch has been intimately associated for many years, having contributed materially to the development of its resources and the growth of its industries. His life occupation has been that of farming, in which, through industry and perseverance, he has met with success and gained prosperity. The farm which be owns and operates consists of one hundred and sixty acres, embellished with suitable and substantial buildings and bearing first-class improvements.

The father of our subject, David Goodhue, was a native of New Hampshire, and in that state followed the trade of a cooper in connection with general farming pursuits. Coming to Iowa in 1854, he located in Jasper County two years afterward and bought two hundred acres of wild land, for which he paid $12 per acre. At an advanced age be passed away in 1885. He was for years one of Malaka Township's most energetic and progressive citizens, and it was through his efforts that the post office was established at Horn, he serving as Postmaster there for many yeas.

In politics he was an old-line Whig, and after the organization of the Republican Party adopted its principles as his own. In religious connections he was a member of the Christian Church.

Unto David and Betsy (McGouch) Goodhue there were born three children, George C., David D., and Edward Payton. The second of these, our subject, was born in New Hampshire April 13, 1837. In his youth he was employed in farm work and also learned the trade of a cooper, spending the intervals of work in the log schoolhouse, where he acquired the rudiments of his education. Since then, by extensive reading, he has become well posted upon general topics and is a man of broad information. Upon coming to Jasper County he settled upon eighty acres of partially improved land, to which he has from time to time added as enabled to do so.

January 15, 1869, Mr. Goodhue was united in marriage with Miss Amelia T. Clark, who died October 27, 1867 [this the date printed], leaving five children, Hattie F., Thomas W., Sarah J., Theodore P. and Daisy M. The second marriage of Mr. Goodhue was to Miss Maggie Clements, of Metz, Jasper County. He is as stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic Party and has been elected upon the ticket of his chosen party to occupy various positions of trust. At the present time be is serving as Treasurer Of the School Board, and being interested in educational affairs he has been enabled to promote the standard of study in the public schools. p. 202.