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Biographies of Residents
  Van BurenTownship
1880

Allen, Elijah, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Sigourney.

Allen, John, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Sigourney.

Albers, J. W., farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Sigourney.

Armstrong, James, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Sigourney.

Armstrong, W. B., farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Sigourney.

Aprance, Otto, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Sigourney.

Aultman, Andrew, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Sigourney.

Baker, G. W., farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Sigourney.

Banton, Jonah, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Sigourney.

Beardsley, H., farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Sigourney; born in Delaware, county, New York, May 1, 1807; when quite young his parents moved to Licking county, Ohio; there he was raised on a farm; he came to this State and county in 1854, and located on the place which he now occupies, and which consists of seventy acres of good land, in June 1839, he was married to Miss Anna Strather, a native of Virginia; she was born in 1810; in 1850 she died, leaving nine children: Emeline, John S., Charles A., Robert B., Wilford W., Hannah, Malinda J., Margaret S. and Jacob; lost four; Benjamin B., Ann, Hannah and Robert B. who died in the war; he was a member of the Eighth Iowa Infantry; Mr. B. is a member of the M. E. church.

Bell, George R., farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Sigourney; born in Dumfries, Scotland, December 22, 1833; in 1842 he emigrated with his parents to the United States, landing at New York, where they remained for three years, and then returned to their native land in 1847; in 1859 he came back to America, and for four years was engaged as clerk in one of the prominent shipping houses of New York City; from there he came to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1863, and after engaging in farming there for eleven years came to Keokuk county, and located where he now lives; owns 196 acres of good land; he is at present school director, which office he has held for two years past; December 26, 1856; he ;married Miss Jesse Alson, a native of the same place as himself; she was born in 1833; by this union they have six children; William A., Mary G., Ellen J., James B., John R., Charles H.; Mrs. Bell is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Bland, S. W., farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Sigourney; born in Fountain county, Indiana, May 25, 1829; in 1833, when quite young, he moved with his parents to Knox county, Illinois, and was raised on a farm and received the advantages of a common school education; from there he came to Iowa and settled on the place where he now resides in 1866; owns a pleasant place of seventy-eight acres of good land; he married Miss A. A. Willison, a native of Menard county, Ill., in Oct. 1850; they have five children: William H., John W., James W., Charles W., and S. O.; have lost one: George V.; Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the M. E. Church.

Bland, Wesley, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Sigourney.

Bramenburg, Fred, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Sigourney.

Brannon, Edward, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Sigourney.

Bringman, Joshua, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17; P. O. Sigourney; born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1817; he was there raised on a farm until 1838, when he went to Preble county, Ohio, and remained there till 1847; he then moved to Indiana, and after remaining there until 1853, he came to this county, locating where he now resides; has a farm of 272 ½ acres of land; has held various offices in the township, and is an active, energetic citizen; May 20, 1841, he married Miss M. York; she was born in Tennessee, October 23, 1821; they have nine children: Oscar B., Campsedel, (now Mrs. Aurora Clemens), Jerusha (now Mrs. H. Nation), Mary (now Mrs. Rhoads), Mahala J. (now Mrs. C. Harvey), Omer B., O. C., Owen E., and R.; lost four: Rosalee, B. (who was Mrs. P. Waltz), William H., and two infants.

Britton, William W., farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Sigourney; born in Knox county, Ohio, July 7, 1834; he was raised a farmer, and at the age of sixteen years he moved with his parents to Johnson county, Iowa, and there he entered a piece of land from the government, in 1867 he came to Keokuk county, and settled on the place where he now lives; which consists of 200 acres of good land; in 1858 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth McIlree, a native of Trumbull, county, Ohio; by this union they have five children: John E., Frank L., Jeanette, Jay, and Alvah A., have lost four: Charlie, Ray, and two infants; are members of the M. E. church.

Brown, James, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Sigourney.

Bussing, J. F., farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Sigourney.

Butler, James, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Sigourney.

Carr, Sam., farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Sigourney.

Clubb, Wm., farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Sigourney.

Chrisman, R., farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Sigourney; born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1820; when thirteen years of age he, with his parents, moved to Madison county, Ohio, where he was raised on a farm; he came to this State and county and located near Lancaster, where he remained but a short time, and then removed to Van Buren township and settled where he now lives in 1851; owns 150 acres of good land; February 22, 1844, he married Mrs. Jane Sidner; she was born in Ohio in 1823; they have by this union six children: Ellen (now Mrs. Downing), David, Sarah M., Frank P., L. G. and John, who enlisted in company B, Thirty-third Iowa Infantry and served until the close of the war; discharged at Davenport in 1865; Mr. an Mrs. C. are active members of the Baptist Church; also have four children members of the same church, and one is a member of the M. E. Church.

Clary, Leonard, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Sigourney; born in Fleming county, Kentucky, July 14, 1827; when quite young his parents moved to Parke county, Indiana; there he was raised on a farm and continued to be a farmer to the present time; came to Iowa in 1850 and settled in Van Buren township, this county; after remaining here for seven years he moved to Christian county, Missouri; and from there to Dallas county, the same State; from there he moved to McLean county, Illinois; he returned to Iowa, stopping in Monroe county; the situation not being desirable, he again came to this county and settled on his old farm, and remained there for four years; he then moved on Sec. 15; and in 1877 he located where he now resides; own 160 acres of well improved and cultivated land; in November 1849, he was married to Miss Emily Ashbury, a native of Indiana; have seven children: Henry C., William, M., Thomas, Mary F., Amos and Ida M.; have lost one.

Clubb, Anderson, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 28; P. O. Sigourney; born July 26, 1838, in Morgan county, Indiana; remained there until ten years of age, when, with his parents, he came to this county, settling in Van Buren township, near the place where he now resides; he was brought up as a farmer and has followed that occupation very successfully to the present time; in 1859 he went overland to California, and for eleven months was engaged in mining; in 1860 he returned in the same manner in which he went; two years later he again went overland to California, with eighteen head of draft horses for market; meeting with good success he returned, and the following year made still another trip, well satisfied with what he had accomplished; in 1863 Mr. Clubb settled on Sec. 29, this township, and there engaged in farming and stock-raising; in connection with farming he has for the past ten years given considerable time and attention to the raising of blooded horses and cattle; he has a good farm of 149 acres, with a fine and well arranged house and barn, with out-buildings to correspond; November 19, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary J. Mead, a native of Champaign county, Ohio and born April 20, 1838; she came with her parents to this county in 1856 and settled in Van Buren township, where she resided when she was married, they have five children; Dora, born in 1862, Hattie, born in 1863, Allie, born in 1865, Charlie, born in 1866, and Ralph, born in 1868; Mr. and Mrs. C. came to this State at an early day, and have seen all the hardships known to a pioneer life; by industry and economy they have accumulated a fine property; Mr. Clubb is a member of Sigourney Lodge No. 98, I. O. O. F.

Cochlan, Isaac, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Sigourney.

Cory, Clint, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Sigourney.

Cosner, A., farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Sigourney.

Covey, Lorenzo, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Sigourney.

Covey, Isaac, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Sigourney.

Covey, Byron, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Sigourney.

Crossman, Mary, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Sigourney.

Crossman, Joel, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Sigourney; born in Genesee county, New York, August 18, 1818, and was raised in this and adjoining county until fourteen years of age, and then removed with his parents to Ohio; he received a good common school education, and came to this county first in 1849 and located land, and in 1851 made the county his permanent home; he owns a good farm of 320 acres; he held the office of county surveyor eighteen years, also the office of assessor of internal revenue four years and then resigned; served as a member of the board of supervisors, and has ever discharged his official duties with scrupulous care and fidelity; owing to an affection of his eyes he spent the past summer and autumn in Montana, and received great benefit; he also owns an interest in several mining claims; he married Miss Cynthia Marsh in 1852; she was born in New York, and died in April 2, 1862, leaving four children: Clarence, Lurena, Omar and Alvin A. he married for his second wife Miss Sarah E. Deming, in 1863; she was born in Washington county, Ohio; by this marriage they have four children: Mary, Cynthia, Joel and Ida.

Darley, J. E., farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Sigourney.

Dawson, Wm., farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Sigourney.

Decker, Elias, farmer, Sec. 14; P.O. Sigourney.

Decker, J. W., farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Sigourney.

Decker, Edward, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Sigourney.

Dorman, J., retired farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Sigourney; born October 9, 1826, in Morgan county, Indiana; there he was raised, following the occupation of farmer, and continued the same until 1876; he came to Iowa in 1853, and settled in Van Buren township, this county, on the farm known as the J. Dorman farm, there he resided until 1876; was married December 13, 1846, to Miss Matilda Conduitt; she died November 14, 1857, leaving a family of four children: William W. (physician, Patterson, Madison county Iowa), Thomas L. (a farmer in Oregon), and Ella M. (wife of C. H. Whiteman); was again married May 1, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Davis, a native of Johnson county, Indiana; she was born April 6, 1840; have one daughter: Annie, they are undecided at present where they will make their future home, but in all probabilities in Thornburg, Prairie township; Mr. and Mrs. D. are active members of the Christian Church at What Cheer.

Dorman, William W., farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Sigourney; born in Morgan county, Indiana, October 30, 1848; he, with his parents, came to this county in 1852, and settled where he now resides; owns 200 acres of well cultivated land; November 16, 1871, he married Miss Hattie Smith, a native of Morgan County, Indiana; she was born September 12, 1852; and remained there until her marriage; they have a family of two children: Maud, born November 27, 1872, and Owen, born February 27, 1874.

Dorman, H., farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Sigourney; born in Morgan county Indiana, January 27, 1842; when thirteen years of age he came with his parents to this State and county, locating on the place where he now lives; he own 250 acres of well improved land; September 9, 1862, he enlisted in company H, Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, at Oskaloosa; was in all the battles participated in by the regiment, and April 30, 1864, he was wounded at Jenkin’s Ferry, Arkansas; he was unable to join his regiment for a short time, but after his wound healed served till the close of the war, and was mustered out September 9, 1865, at Davenport; he returned home and resumed his labors on his farm; has held various township offices; February, 1866, he married Miss Martha Knox; she was born in 1848, in this county; have six children: Arthur L., Orris, Lotta, Jessie, Lou; Mr. D. is a member of the I. O. O. F., Sigourney Lodge No. 98.

Dunlap, James, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Sigourney.

Dunbar, J. S., farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Sigourney.

Dunlap, J. M., farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 15; P. O. Sigourney; born in Marion county, Ohio, April 26, 1835; he was there raised as a farmer, but learned the carpenter’s trade which he is now carrying on in connection with his farming and stock-raising, he principally raises fine-blooded sheep, Cotswold and Leicester, but raised other stock to some extent; in 1877 he came to this county, locating where he now resides; he owns 195 acres of fine land; in November, 1859, he married Miss Mary A. Hill, she died in December, 1867, leaving a family of two children: Jame L. and Della J.; was again married in March 1869, to Miss Phebe Watters, a native of Delaware county, Ohio, and born in May, 1840; he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Bucyrus Lodge, No. 129, of Crawford county, Ohio; Mr. James Dunlap, his father, is with him, he was born in Ohio county, Virginia, April 6, 1802; moved to Marion county, Ohio in 1822, and located on a farm where he resided for fifty years; he came to Iowa in 1877, and settled on the place, with his son, where he now resides, and owns 120 acres of finely improved land; he was married November, 1825, to Miss Martha Yates, a native of Virginia; she died in November 1825, to Miss Martha Yates, a native of Virginia; she died in November, 1826, leaving one child: Martha (now Mrs. Scott, of Washington county Ohio), November 27, 1827, he again married Miss Nancy Story, she died in September, 1863, leaving a family of four children: William, Rutham, Matilda, and Jno.. M.; lost two; Keziah and Matilda; he was married the third time to Mrs. Susan R. Watters, of Delaware county, Ohio, in June 1868; Mr. Dunlap intends to rent his land, deal in stock to some extent and live comfortably the rest of his days.

Eaton, W. D., farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Sigourney.

Ford, Thomas F., farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Sigourney; born in Licking county, Ohio, March 16, 1839; there he was raised a farmer and received his education from the common schools of that State; in 1856 he came with his parents to Keokuk county, locating near Sigourney; there his mother still resides with her daughter, Mrs. Geo. Halferty; his father died in 1870; he enlisted September 21, 1861, in company F, Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry; was taken sick at Syracuse, Missouri, and after serving for nine months, was mustered out at St. Louis, Missouri; he returned to this county and settled in Adams township, but the location not being desirable, he located where he now lives; owns 120 acres of fine land; Mr. F. is at present, and has been for the past three years, township trustee; October 15, 1862, married Miss Susan Clubb, a native of Indiana; they have one adopted daughter; Eliza Hansyel, who has lived with them for some twelve years; are both active members of the Christian Church.

Fisher, Fred., farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Sigourney.

Fitzgerald, Dan., farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Sigourney.

Geno, Wm., farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Sigourney.

Gramm, Robert, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Sigourney.

Hall, J. R., farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Sigourney; born in Logan county, Ohio, October 2, 1830; there he was raised, following the occupation of farmer, which he continued until 1865; he then came to this county and settled near Springfield; he remained there for two years and then went to German township in 1867; was appointed steward of the county poor-farm, and remained in that position for twelve years; during that time all of the improvements were made; in 1874 he settled where he now resides; owns 136 acres of land under good cultivation; November, 1853, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Sapp; she was born April 27, 1829; by this union they have seven children: George W., Alice M., Oliver S., Frank B., William C., Mary E. and Lucinda E.; lost one: Charles; Mr. Hall is a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge.

Ham, Lewis, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Sigourney.

Hasty, T. B., farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Sigourney; born in Fleming county, Kentucky, January 11, 1826; he remained there until nearly six years of age, when, with his parents, he moved to Morgan county, Indiana; he remained there until 1842, when he came to Washington county, Iowa, and there engaged in farming; came to this county in 1856, and settled in Van Buren township; in 1866 he moved on the place where he now resides; owns 160 acres of good land, and well improved; was formerly engaged in milling, having followed that business for fourteen years, up to 1871, he built and operated what is known as “Hasty’s Mill” during that time, October 28, 1854, he married Miss Althea Dean, a native of Montgomery county, Indiana; they have nine children: Leah E. (now Mrs. SHENNOFIELD), Dora, Hosea D., Lewis D., Frank W., Sarah E., Etty M., Martha A. and Q. L.

Hasty, J. G., farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Sigourney.

Hartlong, Charles, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Sigourney.

Harvey, J. B., farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Sigourney.

Heart, Dan., farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Sigourney.

Hill, H. R., farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Sigourney.

Housechilds, Fred, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Sigourney.

Jennings, Wm., farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Sigourney.

Johnson, J. C., farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Sigourney.

John, Wm., farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Sigourney.

Johnson, Oliver, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Sigourney.

Just, Chris, Jr., farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Sigourney.

Just, Chris, farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Sigourney.

Just, Fred, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Sigourney.

Kleinschmidt, N., farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Sigourney.

Klitz, A., farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Sigourney.

Koltman, W., farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Sigourney.

Landers, Jones, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Sigourney.

Legg, Sam, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Sigourney.

Legg, Jacob, farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. Sigourney.

Lowe, J. B., farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Sigourney.

McClanahan, James, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Sigourney.

McClenahan, Elijah, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8; P. O. Sigourney; born in Kentucky, June 3, 1811; when sixteen years of age he moved with his parents to Shelby county, Ohio; was raised a farmer, and in 1829 he went to Pickaway county; he there learned the hatters' trade, but owing to impaired health was obliged to abandon it; in 1831 he moved to Peoria county, Illinois, and engaged in farming; about this time the trouble between Black Hawk and his tribe and the whites occurred; Mr. McC. lived near where some of the most fiendish outrages were perpetrated; he himself was, at one time during the troubles, a target for twenty shots from the Indians, and yet unharmed; during the period of these troubles, he, in common with his neighbors, experienced hardships that words fail to describe; in 1833 he removed to Putnam county, Illinois; in 1855 he came to Keokuk county, and settled on an improved farm known as the Brown farm, near Sigourney; he at one time owned and operated a saw mill in Sigourney, near where the flouring mill now stands; this he exchanged for the farm on which he now lives, and owns 404 acres of improved land, well stocked; has held various township offices; has been twice married, first to Miss Sarah Emery, in March 1835; she was a native of Ohio; she died January 26, 1854, leaving eleven children, living: Elizabeth, Sarah J., Robert and Mary (twins), James E., Nancy, Winfield S., Isabel, Commodore J., Rosella I. and Clarinda; lost three: he married for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Wilson, May 27, 1855; she was born in Belmont county, Ohio in 1831; by this union they have nine children: Maria A., Abraham L. Andrew J. Elijah, Amanda, Melvin, Russell, Shadon, and Almon: lost two; John H. and Eliza; Mr. and Mrs. McC. are active members of the Christian Church.

McNabb, Andrew, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Sigourney.

McNabb, Philip, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Sigourney.

Manyon, Frances, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Sigourney.

Marts, Andrew, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Sigourney.

Mead, William, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 19; P. O. Sigourney; born in Licking county, Ohio, February 22, 1827; when nine years of age he with his parents moved to Champaign county, Ohio, where he was raised on a farm; during his early years he taught school during the winters, and farmed through the summers; he came to this State and county October 13, 1861, and located on the place where he now resides; owns 500 acres of land, the most of which is well improved; has held various township offices; he has been twice married, first to Miss Sarah Harlan, a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 24, 1851; they had by this union three children: William E., George O., and Lida M. (now Mrs. J. W. Bland); married for his second wife; February 3, 1859, Miss Susan M. Cowgill, a native of Champaign county, Ohio; they have seven children: Charlie, Carrie, Harland, Annie C. Alice, Lillie and Frank; have lost one: Harry; Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the M.E. Church.

Mead, Oscar, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Sigourney.

Miller, Wm., farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Sigourney.

Mollinix, David, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Sigourney.

Newman, Mike, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Sigourney.

Newman, Adolph, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Sigourney.

Newman, Fred, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Sigourney.

Nichol, Nicholas, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Sigourney.

Nichol, Fred, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Sigourney.

Parke, Theresa, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Sigourney.

Parke, A. J., farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Sigourney.

Parke, W. J., farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Sigourney.

Parker, Rebecca, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Sigourney.

Polka, August, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Sigourney.

Rentfro, J. S., farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Sigourney.

Rock, Fred, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Sigourney.

Rodes, Wm., farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Sigourney.

Rodes, Phillip, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Sigourney.

Rogers, Archillis, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Sigourney.

Rogers, H. J., farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Sigourney.

Roice, Wilber, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Sigourney.

Roice, Abner, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Sigourney.

Seaton, joseph, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Sigourney.

Shawhan, John, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Sigourney.

Shawhan, J. R., farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Sigourney.

Shufflebarger, Henry, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Sigourney; born in Montgomery county, Virginia; in 1830, when quite young, he moved with his parents to Johnson County, Indiana; there he remained until 1847, being raised there on a farm, which occupation he has followed since; in 1847, he came to this county, and has resided here most of the time since; in 1863, he moved to Indiana, but not being satisfied with the location, returned to this county, locating where he now lives in 1868; owns 189 acres of will improved land; Mr. S. was an active worker in the struggle for the location of the county-seat, and he himself, with a team, removed the records of the county from Sigourney to Lancaster, in 1848, but in 1858 the records were returned to Sigourney; he has held various offices of trust in his township; he married Miss Elizabeth Lowe, November 14, 1848; she is a native of Rush county; Indiana, there she was raised, and in 1846, came with her parents to Iowa, locating in Keokuk county; they have ten children: Florence J., (now Mrs. Milton Harden, of Johnson county, Indiana), Mary E., (now Mrs. A. W. Sanders, of Greenwood county, Kansas), Olive R. (now Mrs. V. Y. Sanders, of the same county and State), Sarah E., Effie L. (now Mrs. S. F. Finsley, of this county), John H., Joseph F., Inez M., Burton H. and Bessie E.; lost two: Della M. and an infant; they are old settlers and have participated in all the hardships known to a pioneer life; Mrs. S. and four of her daughters are members of the Baptist Church at Sigourney.

Shutts, Wm., farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Sigourney.

Slaser, Godlieb, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Sigourney.

Smith, J. V., farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Sigourney.

Smith, Lesster, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Sigourney; born in Tompkins county, New York, June 10, 1818; when quite young he, with his parents, moved to Fayette county, Indiana; there he was raised on a farm, which occupation he has followed to the present time; in 1844 he went to McLean county, Illinois, where he remained for eleven years, and in 1854 he removed to this State and county; in 1855 he located on the place which he now occupies; owns 180 acres of good land; has held various township offices; married February 24, 1842, to Miss Mary Richardson; she was born in Belmont county, Ohio, February 24, 1817; she remained in Ohio until thirteen years of age, when her parents moved to Fayette county, Indiana; there she was raised; they have four children: John V., Oliver H., Sarah J., Olive A.; lost one son: Aaron B., who was a member of company H, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry; enlisted August, 1862, and died January 24, 1864, at Keokuk Iowa; John V. was also a member of the same company,but was discharged on account of disability; Mrs. Smith is a member of the Christian Church at What Cheer.

Snider, Ernest, farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Sigourney.

Snider, S., farmer, Sec.20; P. O. Sigourney.

Swails, Abram, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Sigourney.

Story, N. L., farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Sigourney.

Thompson, Ann, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Sigourney.

Thompson, T. J., farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Sigourney; born in Boone county, Indiana, March 31, 1840; he remained there until twelve years of age, when he with his parents moved to Iowa, locating in this county and township; in 1853 he moved upon the place where he now resides, and which consists of 220 acres of good land upon which he has a fine house and outbuildings; he enlisted in 1862 in company B, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry; served until the close of the war, was not wounded, and was mustered out at Davenport in 1865; from there he returned home, where he now resides; he has held various offices in his township, and is a thorough farmer; January 1, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Rodman, she was born in Jackson county, Indiana, August 28, 1841; she came to this county with her parents (who were some of the pioneers of this county) in 1843; have three children: Douglas E., Melissa H., Dora E.; have lost two: Francis L. and Thomas H..

Tools, William, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Sigourney.

Tools, Pat., farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Sigourney.

Turner, John, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Sigourney.

Waltz, Peter, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Sigourney.

Wheeler, Johnston, farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Sigourney; born February 21, 1836, Ohio being his native State; there he was raised upon a farm, living there until 1857, when he came to Iowa, remaining there for one year, then removing to Kansas; he made that State his home until 1859, when he went to Missouri, and in 1861 came to Iowa; he settled upon his present farm in 1864; it consists of 281 acres of land with all the improvements necessary; married Miss Kate M. Dewitt, a native of Ohio; she was born October 1, 1835; they have three children: Orville D., born November 25, 1860; Ezekiel E., born October 30, 1863, William A., born May 1, 1872; have lost one: Puss, who was born April 2, 1867 she died March 4, 1870.

Wheeler, E., farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Sigourney.

Wheas, John, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Sigourney.

Woodbridge, Samuel, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 6; P. O. Sigourney; born in Youngstown, Trumbull county, Ohio, July 12, 1818; he was there raised on a farm; learned the leather trade and continued to follow it until twenty-four years of age, when he went to Michigan City, Indiana; he was there engaged in the manufactory of mill machinery; in 1848 he returned to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he remained for two years; married September 12, 1850, to Miss Caroline Bentley; she was born in Trumbull county Ohio, April 6, 1827; her father, James Bently, was the first white child born in Mercer county, Western Pennsylvania; he was born in 1799, and is still living; they have five children: Charles D., Anson L., Mary E., Louisa C. and James W.; Mr. W. came to Henry county, Iowa in 1851, settling at New London; he was there engaged in the milling business for eight years, and in 1859 came to this county and settled where he now resides; owns 200 acres of land well supplied with graded stock; he has followed farming exclusively since 1859; has held various township offices, and is a well respected citizen.

Wright, S. R., farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Sigourney; born in Floyd county, Indiana, September 22, 1816; was there raised a farmer; from there he went to Morgan county in 1838; in 1852 he came to Iowa; settled where he now lives in 1855; owns 170 acres of land and does some work in the carpenter’s line; has held various township offices; in March 1842, he was married to Miss L. Fields, a native of North Carolina; born in March 1820; have nine children: Frances A. (now Mrs. Lowe), Lucy M., Thomas N., Virindi J., Armita, Henry, John E., Martha E. and Alfred F.; have lost three: Elizabeth, Samuel and William A., who enlisted September 9, 1862, in company B, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served with his regiment for a short time, when in May, 1863 he died at Helena Arkansas, of a disease contracted in the Army; Mrs. Wright is a member of the Baptist Church at Sigourney.


Submitted by John Davis. Source: "History of Keokuk County Iowa" 1880
Proofread and edited to  match the original test by Pat Wahl.