LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM
LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA
1889 EDITION

Submitted by Sharon Elijah, May 5, 2014

HISTORICAL SECTION

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         VILLAGE OF GRANDVIEW. The village of Grandview was laid out in 1837, by Oliver Clark and Alvin Childers. The first house was built some time during that year by Gabriel Walling, who afterward moved to Oregon. The post-office was established here in 1837, the first Postmaster being Alvin Clark. A mail route had been established some time prior to this from Wapello to Muscatine, and Grandview was upon that route. Since that early day there have been many changes in Postmasters, William Conkling serving in 1888. The moral sentiment of Grandview Township has always been at a high standard. The first church built was by the Methodist Episcopal people, and was used for several years, then torn down and a new one erected on the same ground about 1871. The organization is in good condition, with about fifty members, with preaching every other Sabbath, the pastor residing in Lettsville. In 1844 a building was erected as a seminary building, which was used by the different denominations. The first denominations using it were the Seceders and Methodists, and later came the United Brethren. The Seceders and United Brethren united and bought the seminary building for their special use, thus compelling the Methodists to erect a building. The Seceders afterward united with the Presbyterians, under the name of United Presbyterians, and about 1854 they erected a house of worship. The Church of God was the next to use the seminary building, in connection with the United Brethren.

The first school in the township was in a cabin in the village of Grandview. It was held in 1839, and taught by Miss Rachel Gray, now Mrs. Wilson, who resides in Nebraska. In 1844 the seminary building was erected, and for many years a very flourishing school was held therein. Later a new building was erected by a stock company, the stock-holders agreeing to give the building to that denomination that could best sustain a good school. Mr. Presley, representing the Presbyterian Church, then obtained control, and it is still held by that denomination. The building is now rented to the district, and is used for public school purposes. The first mill was erected about 1858. The first blacksmith-shop was run by Mr. Rexroat. The first wagon-shop was established in 1845. The first store was kept by William Beard. The first wedding was in June, 1837, Henry Long and Nancy Laken being united in marriage.

The first physician who practiced his profession in Morning Sun Township was Dr. John Bell, who settled here about 1840. He was of a happy turn of mind, and in riding over the country was at all times either whistling or singing. He removed to . . .

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. . . Wapello, where he died. The first physician to settle in the village was Dr. Graham, about 1849. The following named have settled in about the order given: Drs. David McCaughn, O. Reynolds, J. W. Holiday, Morrison, Fullenwider, Allen and R. S. Paxton.

Morning Sun now contains about 1,000 inhabitants, many of whom are from the states of Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Virginia. There are five church organizations, one bank, two printing-offices, seven groceries, two dry-goods stores, two drug-stores, three hotels, two blacksmith-shops, one wagon-shop, one hardware store, two elevators, three livery stables, one jewelry store, one meat-market, one furniture store, one tailor-shop, one harness-shop, three agricultural implement stores, three millinery stores, two dentists, two shoemakers, five physicians and two attorneys.

Blake Post No. 114, G. A. R., is named in honor of Nemiah Blake, one of the early settlers of Louisa County, a soldier of the War of 1812, and a member of the “Graybeard” Regiment of Iowa in the late Rebellion. The post was mustered in Dec. 22, 1882, by Charles Fish, of Newton, Iowa. Its first officers were: T. J. Ochiltree, Com.; M. H. Cochran, S. V. C.; Joseph Higbee, J. V. C.; J. L. Marshall, Q. M.; J. A. Swan, Surg.; G. D. Huffman, O. D.; Rev. George Melton, Chap.; F. T. Paisley, O. G.; William Copeland, Adjt.; B. F. Graham, S. M.; I. L. Ferrill, Q. M. S. Since its organization there have been forty-six comrades enrolled, but at the present time it has only twenty-three active members. The following is the roster of the post:

M. H. Cochran enlisted Dec. 17, 1863, in the 11th Illinois Cavalry; mustered out Sept. 30, 1865.
B. F. Graham enlisted in Company D, 47th Ohio Infantry, in 1861; mustered out Sept. 6, 1865.
Thomas J. Ochiltree enlisted Aug. 8, 1863, as Sergeant of Company M, 8th Iowa Cavalry; mustered out Jan. 1, 1866, as Lieutenant.
George Upton enlisted Nov. 7, 1861, in Company I, 14th Iowa Infantry; mustered out Nov. 7, 1864.
William Ewing enlisted Aug. 4, 1863, in Company F, 19th Iowa Infantry; mustered out July 15, 1865.
Joseph Higbee enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, in Company F, 19th Iowa Infantry, was wounded at Prairie Grove, and subsequently received his discharge.
Alex. Finley enlisted Nov. 4, 1864, in Company F, 13th Iowa Infantry; discharged June 25, 1865; died Feb. 9, 1887.
John Letta enlisted Feb. 2, 1863, in Company K, 129th Ohio Infantry.
Francis T. Paisley enlisted Aug. 8, 1863, in Company M, 8th Iowa Cavalry; was wounded in the shoulder at Florence, Ala., Nov. 30, 1864; discharged Aug. 13, 1865.
Solomon D. Johnson enlisted March 18, 1862, in Company B, 103d Pennsylvania Infantry; discharged July 15, 1865.
Isham Thomas enlisted Aug. 4, 1862, in Company G, 19th Iowa Infantry; was wounded in the arm, and discharged July 15, 1865.
Robert M. Hamilton enlisted in the 25th Iowa Infantry, was wounded in the head at Chickamauga, Sept. 2, 1863, and in the thigh at Bentonville, N. C., March 1, 1865, and was subsequently discharged.
G. D. Huffman enlisted in 1864, in Company H, 51st Ohio Infantry; discharged in November, 1865.
William Copeland enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in Company B. 126th Ohio Infantry.
John A. Swan enlisted Aug. 19, 1863, in Company E, Iowa Cavalry.
Horace Upton enlisted Oct. 5, 1864, in the 2d Iowa Cavalry; discharged Sept. 19, 1865.
A.    Ellis enlisted July 16, 1861, in Company C, 5th Iowa Infantry; discharged Nov. 9, 1864.
John L. Marshall enlisted Sept. 29, 1861, in the 1st Iowa Cavalry.
Joseph Boltz enlisted June 2, 1861, in the 1st Iowa Cavalry; discharged Dec. 9, 1864.
Joseph R. Shipman enlisted Aug. 5, 1861, in Company F, 19th Iowa Infantry.
I. L. Farrell enlisted June 13, 1861, in the 1st Iowa Cavalry; discharged Sept. 9, 1864.
J. E. Westfall enlisted Sept. 23, 1861, in Company D, 4th Iowa Cavalry; discharged in 1862.
James McClannahan enlisted July 16, 1861, in Company D, 47th Ohio Infantry; discharged Aug. 11, 1865.
W. J. Hamilton enlisted in August, 1862, in Company D, 78th Illinois Infantry; discharged in June, 1865.
L. H. Smith enlisted Aug. 14, 1862 in Company I, 77th Illinois Infantry; discharged in July, 1865.
William Blair enlisted in 1863, in Company M, 8th Iowa Cavalry; discharged in 1865.
John Pollock enlisted Aug. 25, 1861, in Company A, 20th Ohio Infantry; discharged Oct. 8, 1861.
S. K. Peel enlisted July 15, 1862, in Company E, 25th Iowa Infantry; discharged in August, 1863.
John Wood enlisted July 3, 1862, in Company F, 19th Iowa Infantry; discharged in July, 1863.

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William Winchell enlisted Jan. 8, 1864, in Company K, 2d Massachusetts Cavalry; discharged in July, 1865.
O. C. Thornton enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, in Company C, 30th Iowa Infantry; discharged June 5, 1865.
J. H. Armstrong enlisted April 16, 1861, in Company K, 2d Ohio Infantry; discharged in 1865.
John Millimger enlisted in January, 1864, in Company C, 1st Iowa Cavalry; discharged in February, 1866.
J. H. Finley enlisted Oct. 8, 1861, in Company D, 14th Iowa Infantry; discharged Nov. 5, 1864.
B. F. Spafford enlisted Aug. 2, 1862, in Company F, 25th Iowa Infantry; discharged in January, 1863.
Joshua Brown enlisted Aug. 5, 1861 in Company K, 2d Iowa Cavalry; discharged Oct. 8, 1864.
Sanderson Lyons enlisted July 21, 1861, in Company G, 12th Illinois Cavalry; discharged Feb. 28, 1864.
W. P. Elliott enlisted Aug. 3, 1861, in Company I, 11th Maryland Infantry; discharged Aug. 31, 1864.
William D. Dobedell enlisted Dec. 23, 1861, in Company D, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry; discharged Feb. 16, 1865.
William H. Bridgeford enlisted Aug. 16, 1862, in the 102d Illinois Infantry, discharged June 6, 1865.
M. Browdrick enlisted Nov. 21, 1861, in Company C, 12th United States Infantry; discharged Jan. 23, 1865.
F. M. McDonald enlisted Aug. 18, 1864, in Company H, 39th Missouri Infantry; discharged July 19, 1865.
Samuel S. Finley enlisted Aug. 1, 1861, in Company B, 3d Iowa Cavalry; discharged in June, 1865.
Reuben Barker enlisted Aug. 16, 1861, in Company I, 4th Iowa Infantry; discharged in September, 1864.
E. M. Pike enlisted in April, 1864, in Company G, 45th Iowa Infantry; discharged June 20, 1865.

The Excelsior Tile and Brick Works of McClurkin, Ochiltree & Co., were established in 1883, and are located about half a mile west of Morning Sun. The factory is doing a business of from $5,000 to $8,000 per year, and gives employment to eight men. The clay used in this factory is equal to any in the county. Morrison Bros.’ Creamery was built in 1882. It was run three years, and then lay idle for the next three years from the fact that no experienced parties could be had to run it. The Elmwood Cemetery was laid out in the spring of 1856, on land donated by W. P. Brown, consisting of one acre of ground, which was subsequently increased another acre. It is located about ten rods west of the city limits. T. P. Brown, son of the donor, was the first person buried there.

The Isaiah Dodder Post No. 446, G. A. R., was organized March 17, 1888, with twenty-four charter members. It was named in honor of the first man killed from Grand View Township. The first officers elected were W. B. Robinson, Com.; B. W. Thompson, S. V. C.; Hiram Walker, J. V. C.; Joel Chenoweth, Q. M.; J. S. Kelley, Adj.; John Hunter, Surg.; T. B. Christie, Chap.; N. T. Thompson, O. D.; William Guthrie, O. G.; J. H. Dodder, S. M.; J. L. Kent, Q. M. S. Since its organization the membership has been increased by ten, and it is in good condition in every respect.

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Page created May 5, 2014 by Lynn McCleary