Biographies and Family Pictures

Biographies from
The 1878 History of Mahaska County and
 The 1887 Portrait and Biographical Album of Mahaska County
"Past and Present of Mahaska County, 1906" thanks to Mitchell Schwartz. Other transciptions by Mitchell are outlined on his site.


The following is the transcription of the 1866 Diary of Benjamin F. Joy, age 13, living in Peoria, Mahaska county, Iowa. It is fun read and a great view of life just after the Civil War in Iowa. See the end of the file for identification of some of the people and places mentioned. The original is now in the possession of a descedant living in Sioux City, Iowa. Contributed by Jessica Frost.


Click on the names to find these families on this page: Benson, Brattain, Bump, Fisher, Herbig, Kibler, Mathews, Page Feel free to submit family biographies and/or pictures to this page.

Lois BENSON, 1875-1891 "Courageous Heroine of Mahaska Co."

Lois BENSON born January 18, 1875 Madison Twp. Mashaska Co., near Oskaloosa, to Charles & Huldah FERREE BENSON. At age 16, dies October 18, 1891, at her grandfather Charlie's, Charles & Lucy MIDDLETON FERREE home, 210 A Avenue West in Oskaloosa, as result of burns suffered in rescue of 2 small children. She was employed by Mr & Mrs Frank SHOEMAKE as maid & help care for their 2 small children, 5 miles north of Oskaloosa just south of South Skunk River. While the Shoemake's left in afternoon to attended church meeting at West Center School, Lois remained behind with the children. At 7 pm Oct. 17, 1891 a fire broke out from a oil lamp that fell on floor near the Children. Miss Benson rescued the children helping them to another room in the home. Then returned to fight the fire from the burning oil lamp which ignited carpet & furniture. Miss Benson got the flames extinguished, however her clothes were caught on fire in the process. Miss Benson rushed outside after noticing her clothing was on fire, she rolled in the grass to put out herself. It was too late as her under clothing was burnt as well as her hair was consumed entirely. In her condition she returned to the house to check that the fire was out, check on children & change her clothing as she knew she was badly burnt. Her faithful devotion to the children entrusted to her was her thoughts not caring for herself as pain must have been mounting she swiftly bundled up the younger child putting her in a baby cab. Pushing the cab & leading the other child by the hand giving no concern to her hands that were most severly burned with lost of finger & bleeding. They had to walk quarter mile to neighbor's home for help, knocking on the door of R.A. Kent's. Seeing her there with the children, he put her in to a wagon with the children beside her. Lois insisted she be taken to her beloved Grandfather Charlie's house. As fast as horses could go & steady driving would permit, the journey was made upon arrival there she was tenderly carried into Grandfather Charlie's house. Immediately Physician, Dr. Barringer, was summoned. Although in great agony, Lois stayed conscious until the doctor arrived & seemingly did not realize even then how fatally burned she was. She talked about the occurrence, never thinking of the heroic deed she had performed only that she tried to do her duty to the children entrusted to her care. She on complained of her hands burning, but her whole body was burnt to a crisp. The sad sad news spread, but not fast enough for her broken-hearted Mother, Mrs Huldah Stewart (she had remarried following Charles Benson death), of near New Sharon to be by her daughter's side during her last hours here on earth. From the Dr.'s first glance He know that the young girl was beyond the power of medical skill, but he did what he could to releive her of the terrible pain. She was gone by 2 Am. on the Sunday morn. Though her life was brief, she performed a greater task than many who live their alloted time do. She sacrificed her life to save 2 children entrusted to her care. General services were held for her at the home of grandparents Charles & Lucy Middleton Ferree, on Monday 1 pm with Rev. James Horner, assisted by Rev. J.M. Baugh, Officiating. She was laid to rest beside her father, Charles Benson, and a little brother in the Shoemake Cemetery in Madison Twp. within a quarter mile of where the tragedy took place. It was the largest funeral ever known, for neighborhood schools were closed for the day so that children could attend the services. Immediately steps were taken in the community & city to raise funds for a worthy memorial. The Shoemake's & A.W. Swalm, Owner of Oskaloosa Herald led off the fund raising campaign as well as clubs, churches, organizations, friends, relatives all joined in. Raising enough money for a monument to be placed at the head of her grave, in commemoration of her heroic deed. Poems were written about this teenage martyr, 2 of these being "LOIS BENSON" by Charles A. Kent, a man from the community & "SHE IS ONLY A GIRL" by Edgar Weldon Cooley of Marshalltown, Ia. Lois sleeps on a hill over looking the beautiful country side with the snows of winter & rains of summer watering the grass around her now. As the monument over head reads "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH".

This is in memory of my gg-Uncle Charlie's granddaughter, Lois Benson, my cousin, whom I didn't have the honor to knowing. P.Woodward, granddaughter of V.R. & "Mamie"Mary E. BALTZLEY WOODWARD of Bussey/Albia & John & Rose Sharott GURICK BALLALATAK of Lovilia/Mahaska Co., g-granddaug. of Wm. Thomas & Augusta FERREE WOODWARD Bussey/DesMoines,& Wm.H. & Emma B. TUCKER BALTZLEY of Albia, (widowed Emma re-married Dan De Young, Marion Co.), gg-granddaug. of James & Minerva Jane MIDDLETOWN FERREE Bussey / Lovilia Iowa, & Sarah & William WOODWARD & foster family Martin & Henrietta HIEMSTRA SELL both of Marion Co. also their other adopted daughter, Olevia B. REYNOLDS, as was Wm. Thomas Woodward after mother's, Sarah, death when he was 6mo.old. Lois was also the g-granddaug. of Reuben & Nancy WELLS FERREE my ggg-grandparents also. Thank you!! Muriel Kooi, Pella, Marion Co. IA. with her help in recovery of this long forgotten event for it to be here 107 years later for all to read once again. Contributed by P.Woodward

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The following biography was submitted to me for inclusion on the Mahaska Co. Bio page, many thanks to Betsey:

Rev. William Brattain, 1810-1889

William Brattain lived in Peoria, Peoria, IL in his childhood, Farmington, Van Buren, IA, Mt. Pleasant, Henry, IA, and Jefferson City, Mahaska, IA in his later years. Born 13 Oct 1810 in Indiana. md 28 Feb 1836 to Martha A. Croxil or Cropstill. Died 26 Feb 1889 in Jefferson Twp. , Mahaska, Iowa.

Oskoloosa Weekly Herald 1889 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE REV. WILLIAM BRATTAIN, BY HIS OLD FRIEND, REV. THOMAS BALLINGER

In writing this sketch, the object will be to present, not only an outline of MR. BRATTAIN, but "whence, what and where," that will embrace his early boyhood days, circumstances connected with his early manhood, his wonderful ability to learn by both observation and books. Mr. Brattain was born in the State of Indiana, October 13, 1810. Died, in Jefferson township, Mahaska county, Iowa, at the home of his son-in-law and daughter Mary, Mrs. Thomas Havener, of Bright's disease, after much patient suffering, February 25, 1889, at the advanced age of 79 years. Mr. Brattain was married in Van Buren county, Iowa, to Miss Martha A. Croxil, in 1836. They had five children born to them-three boys and two daughters, namely Humphrey, Lemuel and Charley. The daughters Mrs. Thomas Havener lives in this County; May, now Mrs. Dr. G.N. Beechler, lives in Oskaloosa. Mr. B.'s father moved from Indiana to Lake Peoria, Illinois, about 1816, and settled on very near where the populous city of Peoria now stands. That was several years before the Indians were removed. At that time it was an Indian town and a French trading post. The Brattain family had no neighbors by Indians; their children no playmates but young Indians. They got acquainted, and from necessity, soon, began to learn to talk together. There being no war with the whites at that time, the Indians were very friendly to them. Mr. Brattain told the writer that their children soon became attached to their young neighbors, and they would unite in songs, children's plays, and the boys in running footraces and other sports. Here he said, is where I first learned by experience, that I could run fast. The short races were from fifty to four hundred steps; said he smiling, "I have run all the distances named hundreds of times, and never run with an Indian but to beat him. Don't think me vain, Brother Ballinger; but I have never been outrun by any boy or man." We believed every word of it, knowing how strong and active he was for a man so slender. But, brother, we asked how about getting along friendly with those young Indians. "There was no trouble, never saw children get along better together, they would join in with us to learn our plays; and we with them, making our pleasures as mutual as possible." Mr. Brattain learned to speak the Indian dialect here so well, that he said he never saw an Indian of any tribe, but that he could talk without difficulty; but he learned the art of hunting, and could as easily beat them at that as he could outrun them. From Illinois the Brattain family moved to Iowa, then a territory, and occupied by Indians; and M. B., being well acquainted with the Indian tongue, soon made new acquaintances, got well acquainted with the celebrated Chiefs, Black Hawk, Keokuk, and the prophet Wabahespeck. He gave it as his opinion, that Black Hawk was the greatest Indian he ever saw, equal to any mentioned in the past history of the country. In the interval between his boyhood days at Lake Peoria and his immigration to Iowa and for several years afterward, he was employed at different things. He made several trips down the Mississippi river to New Orleans, getting good wages for his services, a portion of which he put into books, for further educating himself, in order to be more useful to himself and others. He taught school for some time, the better to prepare himself for a law student, read law and was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession for a year or two, but was too reserved and diffident to be a lawyer. He told the writer that all through these years from a boy his mind had been more or less engaged in the study of religious subjects. He quit law and took up his old trade, having worked at the carpenter business at intervals before. There was not work enough to keep him employed all the time; and every hour he had to spare, he put in reading the Bible until he read it through and through. From its teaching he came to the conclusion, that if God in infinite in wisdom, He must have clearly foreseen the results, that would follow man's existence. A reasonable conclusion on the supposition that his existence would turn out to be a source of endless wretchedness. Mr. Brattain was a man who never arrived at a conclusion without first carefully considering the premises. If God created mankind for a good purpose, nothing but good will be the final result. If any portion of mankind should suffer endless chastisement it would be difficult to see how such could end in goos; and there being no comparison between any man's transgressions and endless suffering, it is safe to assume that such punishment can not, under God's government be true. We must then, of course, interpret the Scriptures to correspond and harmonize with infinite wisdom, love and good results Mercy would ask all that and even more. It was this kind of reasoning that made Mr. Brattain a believer in the final triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, heaven over hell. The Scriptures say, "For as much then, as the children are partaker of flesh and blood, he (Christ) likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him and hat the power of death, that is the devil, and those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Then good cheer to the world. T he devil, i.e., evil will be destroyed by Christ, and hell overthrown; all sighing and sorrow shall flee away, and tears shall be wiped from off all faces; "For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." With charity for all, and malice toward none, the writer has no object in this sketch, in alluding to the beliefs of others than to help all up to a higher doctrinal standpoint, and broader view of our holy religion. "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." In conclusion, Mr. Brattain was a great student, and had the law suited him would have made a great jurist. He never got credit for this great ability. He wrote more than three thousand sermons, the greater part of which are left with his daughter, Mrs. Havener. Some 600 of them were never delivered. They would make thirty large volumes if printed and bound that would be a valuable addition to the world's knowledge of theology, by their advanced thoughts and deep scientific research. At One P.M. on the day of the funeral the friends in the city, who had gathered at Dr. Beechler's joined the procession as it came from the country, and proceeded to Forest cemetery, where he was laid to rest beside his wife, whom he married over fifty years ago. Farewell, dear brother, thou hast gone the way of all the earth. Contributed by Betsey Browning


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The Bump's of Rose Hill

The group picture was taken at their home in Rose Hill. I know all the names of the
children, but there isn't anyone alive today who can put a name to the faces
in the picture.
Seated far right is Catherine (O'Connor) Bump and seated far left is
my great grandmother, Mary Phylinda Bump.
Isaac W. Bump & Catherine O'Connor had eleven children altogether. Three had passed away before this picture was taken or were not present at the time (all born in Mahaska County): Alice A. Bump (August 16, 1862 - April 11, 1863); Cornelia Rosalie Bump (February 25, 1866 - January 22, 1896) ; Eldora A. Bump (February 23, 1868 - October 7, 1870).
The other children are: Julius Edmund Bump (March 16, 1859); Rinaldo R. Bump (October 19, 1860); Milo A. Bump (January 8, 1864); Fletcher Wilbur Bump (October 12, 1877); Clarence Caswell Bump (January 10, 1880); Mary Phylinda Bump (July 26, 1870); Della Lavonia Bump (April 5, 1873); Florence M. Bump (September 28, 1875).




This picture is Isaac W. Bump and Catherine (O'Connor) Bump. The picture was taken in What Cheer, Keokuk County, but Isaac W. Bump and Catherine lived in Rose Hill where they raised all their children. This Bump family is descended from Edouad Bompasse (known in America as Edward Bumpus) who arrived in Plymouth on the Ship "Fortune" in November 1621.
Isaac W. Bump, son of Daniel & Lucinda Bump (both buried in Mahaska County) was born February 18, 1834 in Columbus, Ohio and died July 26, 1910 at Longmont, Colorado on trip to visit son Julius. He married on July 16, 1857 at Hopewell, Mahaska County, IA to Catherine O'Connor, daughter of James O'Connor & Johanna Mulvihill (both buried in Hopewell Cemetery, Mahaska County). She was born August 13, 1841 in County Kerry, Ireland and died November 10, 1922 at Ponca City, Oklahoma






Picture at right is Mary Phylinda Bump taken in Oskaloosa, age 18.







Contributed by g1vanden@airmail.net

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The Herbig's of Oskaloosa

Philip Christian Herbig was born in Bavaria, Germany Dec. 25, 1808. He was brought up to learn the trade of manufacturing buggies and fine carriages. Philip emigrated to the U.S. in 1839. After living in South and North Carolina for 1 1/2 years, Ohio for 13 years, and Springfield, Illinois for a year, he moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa and engaged in his trade there. He was the first to make buggies in that county and did so for over 23 years. With a few exceptions, he was the oldest German settler in that county.

Philip Christian Herbig married Jakobina Gotthold in Germany in 1836. Their children were: Louisa(never married); Charles who married Susan Morehead; Helena who married William Mayer; Henrietta (Etta) who married Charles Wray; Philip (wife's name unknown), Amelia married to George Weber; Bertha, married Benjamin Wilson; and Henry (not married). Seven others died in infancy.

Philip Herbig died in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Submitted by CLOUDYVIS@aol.com
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Family of Fred W. and Malissa Ellen Fisher Kibler


This is a photograph of Fred & Malissa Fisher Kibler, who were married in Mahaska County on 18 April 1883. Fred and Malissa were the parents of at least 3 children: William E. Kibler (1885-1965), Julietta (abt 1888-1965), and Ethel May (1892-1984).

Malissa Ellen Fisher, daughter of Carey Camel Fisher and Elizabeth Allen, was born in Barnes City on 4 Nov. 1858 and died 20 Apr 1923 in East St. Louis, Illinois. The youngest of 7, she was the only child in her family to be born in Mahaska County.

Carey Camel Fisher was born 5 Mar 1819 in Brown Co. Ohio and died 20 Aug 1860 in Barnes City. He was buried in the Boswell Cemetery, Jackson Twp., in Poweshiek County. Boswell Cemetery is now known as Harper's Cemetery. Elizabeth Allen Fisher was born 26 Jan 1821 in Parke Co. Indiana and died on 2 Mar 1895 in Missouri.

Carey and Elizabeth's other 6 children were born in Parke Co. Indiana and were as follows: Nancy Jane (1842-1928), Martha Ann (1844-?), Benjamin Franklin (1846-1912), Mary Angeline (1849-?), Isaac Aaron (1852-?), and Sarah Louisa (1854-?). The family moved from Rockcreek, Parke Co., IN sometime between the birth of Sarah and Malissa.

Fred Kibler was the son of Philip Kibler and Margaret Ann Derr. Philip and Margaret were both born in PA and were married in Stark Co. Ohio in Feb. 1832. The family was in Delaware Twp., Hancock Co. OH in the 1850 census and moved to Wapello before the 1870 census. The couple had 8 children.

Two of Fred and Malissa Fisher Kibler's children: Ethel and Julietta "Etta".


William E. "Will" Kibler, son of Fred and Malissa Fisher Kibler.


Will Kibler with unknown couple. They could be his Uncle Benjamin F. Fisher and Aunt Talatha Starnes Fisher. If you know the couple, please contact the submitter.


Submitted by Lori Dubay perkylzd@aol.com

Mrs. Margaret Mathews

History of Scott Township, Mahaska County, Iowa


--At the cabin of Mrs Margaret Mathews, who had the misfortune to lose her husband who died here in the early days leaving her to care and provide for a family of small children, four boys and a girl. She had her boys to make stick quail traps and after trapping quail this good woman dressed and saved each one of them, so at the first wood chopping given at her home she had a nice cooked quail to put on each person's plate who was present. At another time, had a hen's egg shell full of maple sugar placed at each dinner plate, having no other refreshments. Sometimes during the evening hazelnuts would be passed around. (Margaret Jane Smith Mathews, widow of William Mathews married second to Philip Kitterman, son of Henry Kitterman and Elizabeth Enlow. Henry Kitterman, son of Peter Kitterman and Mary Magdalena ( Polly) Kitterman).
Source: The Journal's County News Service, February 1878.
Submitted by: Virginia Perry vperry@midwest.net


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Family of Franklin and Lottie Fletcher Page

At the home of Lottie Fletcher Page and Franklin Page, Oskaloosa, IA c. 1894 back: Alice Page b. 1884, Herbert Page b. 1887 sitting: Charlotte "Lottie" Fletcher Page b. 1861 holding Mark Heatherington b. 1890, Alex Heatherington b. 1887, and Alice Fletcher Heatherington holding Lottie Heatherington b. 1892

from the collection of Mark and Claire Heatherington
and submitted by Bonnie Fletcher Eggert
blgert@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/blgert


At the home of Lottie Fletcher Page and Franklin Page, Oskaloosa, IA c. 1894
l.-r.: Mark Heatherington b. 1890, Herbert Page b. 1887, Alex Heatherington b. 1887, and Alice Page b. 1884
from the collection of Mark and Claire Heatherington
and submitted by Bonnie Fletcher Eggert
blgert@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/blgert


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