| MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA | |
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Samuel and Lucinda Miller Hallock
Samuel E. was born May 12, 1834 the son of Nathaniel and Ann Edwards Hallock in Suffolk County, New York. He came to Muscatine County, with his parents at age three and lived the rest of his life here. He was educated in the district school and helped with his fathers’ farm until he left home.
He married Lucinda Miller on January 18, 1857 in Muscatine. Lucinda was the daughter of John B. and Susanna Lowry Miller and was born in Pennsylvania. After their marriage they began life on a farm in Goshen Township until 1858. He moved to Johnson County, Nebraska where he continued farming until 1862 when he enlisted in the Army. He was mustered in at Omaha City in October. He was then ordered to Northern Dakota, where he was engaged in warfare with the Indians for fourteen months. He was honorable discharged at Omaha in January 1863. After returning to his farm in Johnson County he remained until the following winter when he decided he wanted to return to Iowa. He resumed farming and being a Blacksmith. He was of the Republican Party and a member of the Charles Michener Post No. 362 G.A.R. of Atalissa. He assisted in the organization of Goshen Township and aided in the organization of the School districts.
This was taken from the History of Muscatine County atlas and written in 1889.
Thomas and Ann Hawker
Picture: Thomas and Ann Hawker
Thomas was born June 18, 1832 the son of John and Sarah Thompson Hawker in Warwickshire, England. He stayed in England until age thirty-seven when he realized the conditions there would be almost impossible to further his stand in life. He had read about America and the opportunities that were available to one willing to work so he decided to leave his fatherland. He arrived on December 12, 1869 and spent two years in Beardstown, Illinois. In 1871 he came to Nichols, Muscatine County and for eight years worked for the Railroad. While employed with the railroad he saved and was able to purchase eighty acres of land in Goshen Township. With hard work his resources increased till he was able to buy more land until he had two hundred-forty acres. He was very proud of his land and kept it in almost perfect order. It was a pleasure for anyone who saw it.
He married Eliza Evenden in 1870 in Illinois. Eliza was born July 6, 1835 the daughter of John and Ann Evenden in Kent, England. There were three children Horace H., E. J. and Arthur H.
Thomas voted Independently choosing to vote for the man not the party. He served as a member of the School Board and a Road Supervisor. He was a fraternal member of the Lodge No. 95, A.F. & A. M. of West Liberty.
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Thomas and Eliza were members of the Methodist Church and were active in many activities of the community.
This was taken from the History of Muscatine County atlas and written in 1889.
Andrew and Elinor W. Combs Heberling
Andrew was born September 13, 1817, the son of John and Mary Crumley Heberling in Virginia. He grew up on a farm and received his education on the Pioneer Schools of Ohio where his parents had moved. At age twenty-one he left home to make his own way. In 1856 he came to Goshen Township.
Andrew married Matilda Lamb in September 1841 and had four children Mary I., Leonard L., they lost Charles C., and Emerson. Matilda died the summer of 1849. In the spring of 1852 he returned to Ohio where he married Prudence A. Lamb, a sister of Matilda. Prudence was born December 5, 1834 and died August 3, 1863. They had five children Henry B., they lost John E., Amanda M., Martha W. and Eliza A. In the spring of 1856 he moved his family, back to Goshen Township where he remained. On November 9 , 1865 he married Eleanor W. Combs, they had one child George Combs.
His farm was eighty acres and was within half a mile of the depot in Atalissa. He was a stalwart Republican, a member of the Methodist Church and for six years was on the Board of Supervisors. Andrew was the first Township Clerk of Goshen.
This was taken from the History of Muscatine County atlas written in 1889 and the 1879 Atalissa Directory.
Thomas and Wecie Amanda Trimble Hepker
Picture: Thomas and Wecie Hepker.
Thomas was born December 28, 1881 and died June of 1952. Wecie was born November 14, 1886 and died June 12, 1973. They were married March 18, 1904 and there were eight children Neva Knouse, Lois Passmore, Hubert O., Russell E., Donald L., Charles E., Lyle R. and Loretta Kennedy Jacobsen.
Thomas and Wecie were Tennant farmers in the Atalissa area for many years.
Franklin and Ella A. Jackson Heston
Picture: Franklin and Ella Heston
Franklin was born May 6, 1857 the son of Mahlon and Elizabeth Gordon Heston in Mason County, Illinois. He received his education in the district school and was well trained in the various details of agriculture and raising of stock, by his father. At twenty-four years of age he began farming on his own. He rented land for ten years. Being industrious and thrifty he was able to purchase a portion of the farm he owns in Goshen Township. He was able to add to the purchase over the years ending up with one hundred-twenty acres of land. He worked very hard and it was said he had the best farm in the County.
He married Ella A. Jackson February 22, 1883. Ella was born October 2, 1859 the daughter of Elias and Annis Dickinson Jackson. Ella was born in Muscatine County, Iowa. There were two children Delmer K. and Dessie P. He was a member of the Christian Church, Modern Woodsman and gave his support to the Republican Party.
This was taken from the History of Muscatine County Atlas and was written in 1911.
In addition to the information we have Francis Carlisle recalls that Frank raised Guernsey cows and Perky remembered seeing him out watering them as he walked to school each day. The Hestons lived on the corner of Fifth and Cherry Street at that time.
Alexander and Mary Boydston Hines
Alexander was born in 1815 the son of Daniel and Mary Alexander Hines in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Boydston on October 29, 1835 and lived in Ohio . . .
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. . . until 1845. The family came west and settled in Bloomington, Iowa, now known as Muscatine. They went to Rochester and then on to PeeDee. After improving this land he sold it and moved to a farm near the county line, this farm had two hundred acres. Alexander was always interested in political affairs and was of the Democratic Party. He was Justice of the Peace for many years, a member of the School Board twenty-one years, a Road Supervisor for several years and a member of the County Central Committee.
There were seven children, Dorcas, Daniel, Catherine, Jacob, (David, Alexander Jr., William B. all deceased).
After Mary died in 1854 he returned to Wayne County, Ohio. On September 27, 1855 Alexander married Catherine Moorehead the daughter of Samuel and Rachel Parks Moorehead.
On March 8, 1881 he returned to Atalissa where he lived his retired life.
This was taken from the History of Muscatine County written in 1889.
William G. Holmes
William was born August 7, 1815 in Caledonia County, Vermont. He came to Iowa in 1837 settling on land next to his brother Robert it became known as Cedarville, Iowa. There was a ferry and post office there. It was the stage-route from Muscatine to Iowa City. In 1844 the post-route was moved to Overmans Ferry and Cedarville disappeared. William got land from the government and continued adding until he had acquired about 1,000 acres.
He married Hannah Pickering March 7, 1844. She was born October 7, 1827 in Frederick County, Virginia. She and her family came to this county in 1842.
They had eight living children Sarah A., Margaret A., Mary B., William G., Almina L., John G., Frank B., and Lillian I. They lost two Benjamin F. and Ida.
He was member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, was Justice of the Peace six years, a Trustee of the township and a republican.
This was taken from the 1879 Atalissa Directory.
William and Flora Alger Hudson
William was born in 1842 the son of John and Elizabeth Bell Hudson in Franklin County, Ohio. He came to Bloomington (Muscatine), Iowa at the age of five and was schooled in West Liberty and took a one year course at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
He married Flora Alger in 1875. Flora’s parents were Pierson and Susan DeMoss Alger. There were three children Ralph (died at age two years), Homer H. and Elizabeth Susan.
After his marriage William farmed the old homestead and was the owner of sixty acres of land. He was of the Democratic Party and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
This was taken from the History of Muscatine County Atlas written in 1889.
Curtis Ellsworth and Mary Isabelle Mills Hunter
122 Fourth StreetCurtis was born November 4, 1863 and died January 10, 1940. He married Mary July 6, 1885. Mary was born October 19, 1865 and died September 27, 1939. There were ten children Ida Mae, Grant Ellsworth, Tony Wilson, Curtis Monroe, Inona Isabell, Robert Henry, Mary Jane, Lillian Marie, Velma Grace and William Jennings.
Picture: Family of Curtis and Mary Hunter pictures includes children Ida Mae, Grant, Tony, Curtis, Inona, Robert, Mary Jane, Lillian, Velma and William.
L. L. Ireland
Mr. Ireland was born November 4, 1818 in Knox County, Ohio. In 1846 he enlisted for one year in Company B. of the 2nd Ohio Vols. to serve in the Mexican war. At the end of the year he returned to assist in recruiting for Company G. for the same regiment he had enlisted, again he . . .
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. . . returned to Mexico. His job was mainly guarding ports and was engaged in one battle where 200 Americans kept 1,500 Mexican Lancers at bay until more soldiers could arrive. He was discharged in June of 1848.
He married Christie A. Resley on August 19, 1849. She was born April 1, 1830 in Knox County, Ohio. In the fall of 1849 they came to Muscatine County. Mr. Ireland settled on one hundred thirty-five acres received from a land grant awarded him for his service in the Mexican war. He and Christie had ten children, George H., Louisa, Jasper, Olive, Emma J., Clara, John A., Alice, James, Elmer, they lost three Almeda, Sarah E., and an infant. He was a Democrat.
This was taken from the 1879 Atalissa directory.
John A., James E. and Olive Ireland
John was born October 14, 1865 the son of Lemuel and Christian Ireland. John was one of eight children. He lived his whole life on a farm one mile south of Atalissa, the Virginia Struck farm. John married Clara Fiderlein March 28, 1889 and they had one son, Arthur. He was a member of the Ionic Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Atalissa. He died April 18, 1939 and the Masonic Lodge was in charge of the graveside services.
James E. Ireland, John’s brother, was born in 1872. He grew up on the family farm but in later years moved to Des Moines, Iowa. He died of pneumonia in January of 1943.
Olive Ireland Stiles, John and James sister, was born June 1, 1858 grew up in Atalissa. She was a member of the Atalissa Chapter No. 426 of the Order of the Eastern Star. She became a resident of the Eastern Star Home in 1932 and resided there until her death in 1942.
The James Family
Dave James and Lily Corker were married in 1868 in Atalissa. She was born February 10, 1847 the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Corker. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Order of the Eastern Star. There were two children Arch James and Ethel Kinsey. Dave passed away in 1922. Lily lived in Atalissa her whole life except when she went to live in the Eastern Star Home in Boone, Iowa, where she lived six years. She passed away December 25, 1940 at the age of ninety-three.
Arch James and Alice McCann James
Arch was the son of Dave and Lily. He married Alice McCann March of 1907. They lived on a farm a half-mile north of Atalissa. Alice was born July 27, 1873 the daughter of John and Helen McCann in Cedar County. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a member of the Order of Eastern Star in Atalissa. She and Arch had one son, Marion Leland who died as a child.
Alice became ill and was admitted into Mercy Hospital January 7, 1949, she had been the last patient admitted that day. There was a fire that destroyed the St. Elizabeth Ward and she died as a result of the fire.
One little known fact about Arch was that he always whistled “Too Late to Worry Too Late to Cry.” Ruth Carlisle did housework for the James Family.
Samuel M. Jones
Samuel was born September 4, 1844 the son of William A. and Rachel Jones in Jackson County, Indiana. He and his family moved to Goshen Township in 1845. He was a painter and stencil-cutter by trade. He had no family so traveled through Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri, still keeping his home in Atalissa. He was a member of the Republican Party.
This was taken from the 1879 Atalissa Directory.
William A. Jones
William was born May 1, 1850 the son of Abner and Caroline Jones here in Muscatine County. His parents came here from Highland County, Ohio in the fall of 1847. His father started a Mercantile business in 1855 and William continued it until 1873. He married Amanda Lamb on January 8, 1873. She was born July 23, 1850 in Harrison County, Ohio. They had three children Abner T., Leonard E. and Charles H. William served as Township Clerk, Trustee and assessor and was of the Republican Party.
This was taken from the 1879 Atalissa Directory.
Harvey and Rowena Jones Kline
Harvey was born January 16, 1845 the son of Elias D. and Mercy Edgar Kline in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the Public Schools of Pennsylvania. He came to . . .
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. . . Atalissa in 1873 where he operated a Hardware Store. In 1874 he moved to a farm in Goshen Township. He purchased one hundred-eighty acres of well-improved land. It became one of the finest in the county being well stocked with a high grade of horses and cattle.
He married Rowena Jones in 1876 in Atalissa. She was the daughter of Abner and Caroline Overman Jones. There were five children Marietta, Cyrus, Everit, Blanche and Ada M.
Harvey was an ardent supporter of the Republican Party. In 1888 held the office of sSupervisor and School Director.
This was taken from the History of Muscatine County Atlas written in 1889.
Charles and Jennie Howard Lamb
Also family membersCharles was born February 23, 1862 the son of Leonard and Rebecca Stewart Lamb in Atalissa. He received his education in Atalissa, and was in the telegraph department of the Rock Island Railway Company for twenty-five years. He was also a telegraph operator at Oxford and Atalissa. Charles purchased a farm in Goshen Township in 1900 where he made his home. He married Jennie S. Howard May 22, 1884. Jennie was born March 1, 1864 the daughter of Lucius and Mary White Howard.
Following Rebecca’s death he married Mrs. Bell McLaughlin. She had two daughters Mrs. Rose Heston and Mrs. Bernice Staley.
Charles spent most of his life here in the area. Charles was of the Republican Party, was township assessor, Clerk of the township six years and was School Director. He was a member of the Ionic Lodge No. 122, A. F. & A. M. at Atalissa, Liberty Chapter No. 79. R. A. M. at West Liberty, the Purity Chapter No. 365, O. E. S. of Wilton Junction and a member of the Christian Church.
According to Francis Carlisle Charles could really whistle. You could hear him all over town whistling away. He also recalled how his garden was infested with potato bugs and he gave the kids 5 cents per 100 bugs. Another thing that impressed Francis was how he butchered his chickens, instead of cutting their heads off he would cut their throats with a penn knife.
Charles died in 1937 and Jenny died in 1923, they are buried in the Overman Cemetery.
Emerson and Martha Louise Stucker Lamb
Picture: Daughter of Emerson and Martha Lamb Nora with her friend Pansy Vauble.
Emerson was the son of Leonard and Rebecca Stewart Lamb. He married Martha Louise Stucker on December 3, 1876. Martha was born in Lightstreet, Pennsylvania on September 30, 1856. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the order of the Eastern Star. They lived at 219 Deport Street.
Emerson was a carpenter and helped build the Depot and School building.
Leonard Lamb
Picture: Daughter of Leonard and Rebecca Lamb Mary and a friend Edith Watters.
Leonard was born December 25, 1825 in Harrison County, Ohio. While living in Ohio he worked as a threshing machines and reaper builder in Martinsville, Ohio. He came to Atalissa in 1857 and engaged in carpenter and joiner work until 1863. Leonard was then appointed agent for the Railroad Company in Atalissa where he worked till 1869. Then he became Superintendent of fence building for the C. R. P. R. R. Railroad from Davenport to Brooklyn. Leonard married Rebecca J. Stewart on July 23, 1849. Rebecca was born June 25, 1827 in Williamsport, Virginia. They had four children Emerson S., Amanda L., Mary H. and Charles H., and they lost one child Hattie B.
Leonard was a member of the Ionic Lodge No. 122, A. F. & A. M. in Atalissa and was a Republican.
This was taken from the 1879 Atalissa Directory.
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Samuel V. Lambert
Samuel was born March 30, 1833 in Sussex County, New Jersey. As a young man he learned the mason trade and in 1854 he moved to Rock Island County, Illinois where he plied his trade. In 1856 he came to Atalissa. On April 19, 1861 he enlisted in Company C of the First Iowa Infantry and served 3 months. In the fall of 1861 he assisted in raising and organizing Company G. of the Second Iowa Cavalry. He was elected First Lieutenant of which he declined. In August of 1862 he again enlisted in Company G, of the 35th Iowa Infantry and participated in the following battles, Wilson’s Creek, Virginia, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, Pleasant Hill, Louisana, Tupelo, Mississippi, Nashville, Tennessee, Blue River, Missouri, Spanish Fort and Mobile, Alabama. He was discharged in Davenport August 10, 1865 and returned home to Atalissa. In 1870 he started to learn the shoemaker trade and soon after became a dealer in boots and shoes.
Samuel married N. J. Darland in December 1857. She died in 1859. His second marriage was to A. M. Cornwell in September 1862. She was born in 1841 in New York and died November 13, 1872. They had four children Lu E. and Ernest Q. and lost two Dora C. and George O.
On July 3, 1876 he married Emily Robbins who was born in 1843 in Pennsylvania. They had one child Lizzie R. Samuel was a Liberal in his religious belief and belonged to the Republican Party.
This was taken from the 1879 Atalissa Directory.
Charles and Catherine Moore Lundy
Charles was born in 1849 the son of William Lundy in Ontario County, Canada. He received his education through the public school in Iowa. In October 1873 Charles married Catherine Moore.
Catherine was born in Ohio, the daughter of John and Nancy Roberts Moore.
Farming had been Charles’ life long occupation having grown up on the farm. He purchased eighty-seven acres of fine arable land in Goshen Township in 1884. He raised cattle, horses and hogs all of high quality. The farm showed thrift and good enterprise. The farm was between Atalissa and West Liberty.
There were two daughter born to the Lundy’s Gertrude May and Zula Maud.
This was from the Portrait Biographical Album of Muscatine County written in 1889.
John and Dora Norris Lundy
John was the tenth child of Captain William and Mary Lundy. He was born in 1867. He married Dora Norris of Atalissa and settled on a farm near Atalissa. They were members of the Christian Church. John passed away October 13, 1937 after spending twenty-five years in the State hospital in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Dora passed away in 1917.
Levi and Lucinda Hiatt Lundy
226 Third StreetLevi was the son of Captain William and Mary Lundy. He married Lucinda Hiatt and they had one son Elva. Lucinda was born October 14, 1854 the daughter of Lucy Worrell and Joseph Hiatt. She died March 15, 1940.
Francis Carlisle recalled Lucinda’s parrott had a very bad vocabulary. One day as the preacher came to the door the parrott said, “Here comes the Damn preacher again.”
William and Mary Lundy
Picture: Mary Lundy seated with friends outside the Lundy House.
William and Mary came to Muscatine County in 1847 and settled in Goshen Township. He was aware of the need for a community because of the Railroad coming through here. Mr. Lundy had the land surveyed by Peter Houtz. Mr. Lundy and John P. Cook filed the town plat on January 31, 1856. Mr. Cook later became Partners with Mr. Lundy. William died December 27, 1882 and Mary died Mary 26, 1915. . . .
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. . . They are buried in the Overman Cemetery.
H. H. Markham
Mr. H. H. Markham was born February 6, 1822 in Lewis County, New York. He married Susan H. Dumont, of Oneida County, New York, on December 22, 1844. She was born in the same county on August 3, 1825. H. H. and Susan lived in Oneida County for six years where he followed the lumbering business. In the spring of 1866 they moved to Muscatine County and settled on one hundred and fifty-three acres in rural Atalissa. They had five children Jane A., Amos E., George H., Hellem C., Orin E. and one adopted daughter Lillie E.
Mr. Markham was a member of the Republican Party.
This was taken from the 1879 Atalissa directory.
Emma McDonald
314 LundyEmma was born May 17, 1846 the daughter of Ephriam and Mary Ann Parker in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. She married James McDonald in 1867 and they had four children Will, Bruce, Edward and Anna. At the time of her death she was the oldest resident in Atalissa. She died in February 1942.
She was a Seventh Day Adventist and Francis Carlisle remembers her giving him books to read about the church. One he never forgot was entitled “What will heaven be like.”
Samuel and Rebecca Osborn McGown
Samuel was born in 1833 the son of Moses and Rose Ann Wallace McGown in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He got his education in the district school of Pennsylvania and grew up on his father’s farm. He came to Goshen Township in 1863 and purchased one hundred sixty acres. He raised cattle and would buy and sell two carloads annually. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
He married Rebecca Osborn in 1858 in Pennsylvania. Rebecca was the daughter of Finley and Sarah Bradley Osborn. She was also born in Pennsylvania. There were four children Sadie Feiderlein, Elmer, Frank (died at age four) and one child died in infancy.
This was taken from the History of Muscatine County Atlas written in 1887.
Lawrence and Mildred McKillip
Lawrence was born in 1898 in Cedar County, Iowa. He was mayor of Atalissa for many years. Lawrence married Mildred Schildberg. Mildred was born in December of 1900. They had seven children Kenneth, Lysle and Leslie (twins), Donald, Ernest (Jake), Genevieve and Janet. Their son Lyle drowned. They were the first family to purchase a gasoline powered Matag washing machine in Atalissa.
Lawrence owned McKillip Trucking, which his family is still running today. He left a great legacy.
According to Francis Carlisle the first McKillip to own the property was Frank. He had three girls. Then Hugh, his brother, bought the land. Francis can remember how he used to sit under a big tree in a rocking chair passing away the day. He was Lawrence’s father.
Thomas and Mary McIntire
This information comes from two articles from the History of Muscatine Atlas, one was written in 1889 and one in 1911. There are conflicting dates.
Thomas was born in Holmes County, Ohio on February 13, 1833 the son of William and Eleanor Aiken McIntire. He was educated in a log Schoolhouse. In 1855 he came to Goshen Township. At age twenty-two he rented land near Atalissa. In 1860 he was able to purchase one hundred-sixty acres of unimproved land in Pike County. Working the land until it was in high cultivation he sold it and in 1868 bought four hundred acres of raw prairie in Goshen Township. Thomas continued adding land until he had seven hundred-twenty acres, one of the finest farms around do to his hard work and pride he took of his land.
On July 10, 1857 Thomas married Mary Parry. Mary was the daughter of David and Lydia Hollingsworth Parry. There were eight children John T., Caleb L., Annie May (deceased), Abraham L., Sarah Eleanor, Elmer, Thomas Jr., and Hannah L.
He was a member of the Republican Party. It is said he was a generous man in his friendships and always willing to help people less fortunate than himself. Thomas was very devoted to his . . .
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. . . family and would do anything to see to their comfort. He passed away March 21, 1910.
John M. McLaughlin
John and his sister Jennie lived at 340 Cherry St. in Atalissa. He marched through Georgia with General Sherman in the Civil War. He was in Camp Denison, Ohio in August of 1862 and wrote his mother a letter. John told of how it took twelve hours to travel 260 miles from Steubenville, Ohio to Denison. He said there were about four thousand soldiers camped on one hundred acres and that it looked more like a city than a camp.
Picture: John McLaughlin and sister Jennie.
Justus and Eveline Kline Melick
Justus “Jud” was born September 5, 1857 died July 16, 1942. He was the son of H. B. and Martha Werth Melick. Eveline was born June 18, 1860 died June 28, 1946. She was the daughter of Utt and Hannah Kline. They were married December 23, 1885, and had three children Orville, Stanley and Esther.
The early part of their marriage was spent about four miles north of Atalissa on Atalissa road. The house was very close to where Bob Werling’s house is now. They farmed the land. When they moved to town they lived at 218 Second Street. Lois McKillip still owns the house and rents it out.
There was newspaper article dated April 14, 1937 about lightening hitting the house. The article said “The lightening bolt went in a zig-zag path through three rooms downstairs. The bolt ripped up concrete, tore sideboards off the house, smashed a sewing machine and a console-model radio to the floor and ripped a portion of the telephone off the wall. Rugs on the floor were torn to strips. The bolt evidently split into two sections one going east and one going west. Orville Melicks’ bedroom got the western section, chasing along the floor under his bed and out the side of the wall leaving a gaping hole just beyond Orvilles head.”
Francis “Perky” Carlisle recalled what a wonderful singing voice Justus had. “He could make the windows shake at the Presbyterian Church.”
J. Warren and Mary Croxen Melick
J. Warren married Mary Croxen September 5, 1876. Mary was born July 2, 1857 the daughter of Samuel and Ovilla Croxen, and she grew up in Atalissa. They lived at Third and Cherry.
Mary and J. W. farmed near Cedar Falls, Iowa for a few years and then returned to Atalissa and continued farming until 1922. There were two daughters Mrs. George Steen and C. E. Dice. J. W. died September 22, 1922.
Francis Carlisle recalls Warren owned a big cement block building on the corner of Fifth and Cherry where Dwight Passmore now lives. A Mr. Vauble had a wagon repair shop in the building. When the elevator burned down they stored oats in the cement building. Rats took over the building and the boys would catch the rats to take to school. Francis caught one and got bit on the finger, it was sore for a long time.
Patrick and Maria Moylan
Patrick was born in 1838 the son of William and Margaret Quirk Moylan in Tipperary, Ireland.
In 1847 Patrick’s dad William left Ireland for America. The voyage took forty-five days. He worked in New York, Vermont and Connecticut for two years. In 1849 he came west to Muscatine County , Iowa. William worked for Mr. Overman attending the Ferry across the Cedar River. In 1850 his family came to America landing in New Orleans after forty-five days. As they came up the Mississippi Margaret had to bury, two of their children who had died of Cholera, in Illinois. There were no railroads between Muscatine and Goshen Township so they had to continue their journey by Stage.
In 1851 he purchased eighty acres of land and started farming for himself. Through hard work and saving he added to the farm and resided there till his death. Patrick was educated in the public school of . . .
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. . . Ireland and the district schools of Muscatine County. He was raised to farm life and has made it his occupation. He had one hundred-thirty one acres of fine land and he stocked it with a good grade of cattle and pure bred Poland-China hogs. The farm was located two and a half miles from Atalissa.
Patrick was a Democrat, assisted in organizing the School Districts in Goshen Township and was School Director for six or seven years.
In September of 1861 he married Maria McGee the daughter of James and Eliza Fitzpatrick McGee. Maria was also born in Ireland.
Patrick and Maria had ten children Edward, Lizzie, Margaret, Fannie, James, Ellen, Agnes, May, Eva and Clara. The Moylan’s were members of the Catholic Church in West Liberty and were highly respected citizens of Goshen Township.
Frank and Nellie Law Nachbaur
Frank was born January 16, 1862 the son of Louis and Amelia Wolgenott Nachbaur in Atalissa. He was a grain dealer in Tipton and then became the Sherriff of Cedar County for four years. After leaving Tipton he lived in Davenport, Iowa and Chicago, Illinois before returning to Atalissa. He was a cashier at the Atalissa Savings Bank for ten years. He married Nellie Law in Tipton in 1892. He belonged to the Catholic Church.
Frank died June 19, 1939 in San Diego, California where he had lived for thirteen years. He had five brothers.
Edward Oepping “Uncle Ed”
Picture: Ed Oepping’s home on Lundy and Highway Six.
Edward was born November 2, 1869 3 miles east of Atalissa on the family farm. He was the 7th child of Frederick and Carolina Pfluger Oepping.
In 1918 he built an eight room house which is on the Northeast corner Lundy and Highway 6. For years Ed kept a cow a few hogs and a large garden.
Ed never married, but was mother and father to a dozen underpriviledged orphan boys over a period of thirty years. Two of these boys he adopted, Frederick M. Evans and Charles Evans.
It is reported that he was an excellent cook and housekeeper. He taught all the boys to be the same.
He belonged to the Christian Church and left $500.00 to the church when he died on October 24, 1949.
Picture: The Oepping and Schmidt men. Back row Ed Oepping, Ben Schmidt, Chris Schmidt and Henry Schmidt. Front row Hiram Oepping, August Schmidt, Charles Oepping, John Schmidt and Henry Oepping.
Frederick and Carolina Pfluger Oepping
Frederick Oepping (1830-1894), a pioneer in Muscatine County, left his home in Prussia at the age of 15. In the fall of 1845, after a six months passage to America, Frederick and other family members arrived in this area. Ten years later, on February 14, 1855, Mr. Oepping and Caroline Pfluger (1831-1894) of Waldeck, Germany were united in marriage. There were 8 children born to them: Diana (1857-1938) married Charles Weise, Henry (1858-1938), married Ida Marticke, Hiram (1860-1889), married Ella Weed, Charles (1862-1917), never married, Fredricka (1865-?), married Otto Marticke, Johnnie (1867-1869), Edward (1869-1949) never married, Lillie Ann (1870-1956), married Charles DeVore. Henry and Fredricka married brother and sister.
As an early settler, the Oeppings built a small log cabin, farmed the land and raised cattle. Carolina’s death occurred on February 18, 1894. Her obituary states she was a “rare woman, full of love and kindness towards her husband and child- . . .
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. . . dren, always ready to wait on the sick and a hungry person never left her house without being fed and cared for. Many old friends looked upon the coffin with tears in their eyes.” Five months later Mr Oepping, while laboring under great mental depression, died July 16, 1894.
The seven children that lived to adulthood spent their lives in the Atalissa and Moscow area. The descendants of these seven brothers and sisters traditionally gather the Sunday before Labor Day for the Oepping Reunion.
Both Frederick and Caroline are buried at Moscow, Iowa.
Picture: Frederick and Caroline Oepping and children. Back row Lilly, Edward, Diana, Hiram and Fredricka. Front row Charles, Frederick, Caroline and Henry taken in 1880’s.
Hiram “Hi” Oepping
Picture: : Hiram and Ella in front of their home on Penn Avenue. They are at the far right far left is Art Weed Ella’s brother not sure who the other man is. Currently it is Donna Williams Home.
Hiram was born October 19, 1860 on the family farm 3 miles East of Atalissa. He was the 3rd child of Frederick and Carolina Pfluger Oepping.
On February 14, 1889, at age 29 he married Ella Marie Weed of Wilton. Ella was born on May 26, 1854 and passed away December 8, 1918. They raised three children on their farm at the end of Penn Ave. South of Atalissa. Lulu Rebecca Ingraham, Walter and Fred. Hiram died April 20, 1942.
The farm is still in the family and Hiram’s great-grandaughter, Donna Williams now lives there. It is a Century farm.
Picture: Oepping brothers Hiram, Ed and Henry.
Henry and Ida Marticke Oepping
On October 20, 1886 Henry and Ida Marticke were married in Muscatine by Dan Parker, Justice of the Peace. Ida was the daughter of Gustav and Christina Marticke. They had 6 boys Otto Henry (1887), Frank (1891), George (1894), Bert (1897), Verne (1899), and Ernest (1901). Ernest passed away on December 19, 1910 from childhood complications.
Ida passed away on September 14, 1911 at the age of 46, leaving Henry to raise their 5 sons. Her obituary states she had been afflicted with heart disease for some time. Her body was taken to the family home and burial was at the Overman Cemetery. Henry passed away 27 years later on September 16, 1938 at the age of 80 years. His funeral was also held at the family home and he was buried in the Overman Cemetery. On August 21, 1938 the Oepping Reunion was held in collaboration with Henry’s 80th birthday over 50 relatives and friends attended.
Henry found great pleasure in fishing and doing carpenter work. He was described as being very stern, yet having a keen sense of humor. He was responsible for raising his boys and also played a very important role in his grandchildren’s lives. He spent many hours in a chair in . . .
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. . . the front yard watching traffic pass by the house. It is said that on the day of his death he walked three miles into Atalissa to visit with some friends.
Picture: Henry Oepping and sons taken in 1915.Back row left to right Frank, George and Bert. Front row left to right Otto, Henry and Vern.
Fred and Eva Devore Oepping
Picture: Fred and Eva on their wedding day October 14, 1915.
Fred was born August 10, 1893 and died in 1992 the son of Hiram and Ella Weed Oepping. Eva DeVore Oepping was born in 1894 and died in 1988 the daughter of Hiram and Martha Tice Devore. They were married on October 14, 1915 in Muscatine, Iowa and farmed for 54 years at 1414 Penn Ave. before retiring to West Liberty, Iowa in 1972. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. Fred was a Trustee at the Overman Cemetery for many years. They had one daughter, Elma Oepping-Binggeli who is Donna Williams’ mother.
Picture: Fred and Eva’s daughter Elma taken in 1920.
Emerson E. Oxley
Emerson E. Oxley lived on a beautiful farm in Goshen Township, Muscatine County. He was born December 8, 1853 in Georgetown, Harrison County, Ohio the son of Daniel and Mary Combs Oxley. In 1881 the family came to Atalissa and purchased a 156 acre farm where he lived until his death, November 13, 1909. He was educated in the common schools in Ohio. Emerson was a farmer and after his marriage he purchased 70 acres of land in Goshen Township. On March 10, 1886 Emerson married Anna Miller the daughter of John and Sophia Breininger Miller. They had 7 children, Ray L., Paul V., Ethel V., Wilbur E., John C., Arthur D. and Mildred I.
In his early manhood he supported the Republican Party but in later years had been a strong advocate of the principles of the Prohibition Party and supported it on all occasions. He was a Road Supervisor and a member of the School Board for 15 years. They were members of the Methodist Church.
This information was taken from the History of Muscatine County Atlas at the Musser Public Library and was written in 1911.
The house where Daniel and Mary Oxley lived and where Emerson grew up became known as the Oxley House and was featured in a newspaper article written in 1895.
Cyrus and Elizabeth D. Barkalow Overman
Picture: Cyrus Overman
Cyrus was born August 11, 1833 the son of Enoch and Sarah Overman in Highland County, Ohio. Cyrus came to Atalissa with his parents on October 14, 1847, when he was 14 years old. They settled on a large farm South of Atalissa on the Cedar River at the place known as Overmans Ferry and later Tice Bridge.
Cyrus married Elizabeth D. Barkalow on January 7, 1858. Elizabeth was born July 26, 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio. They had four children Sarah M., Junius, Hattie and Clara and lost one son Clyde. He had two hundred and sixty-five acres that he farmed and raised stock. After they sold the farm they . . .
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. . . bought a house off Highway 6 on Kelly Ave. Cyrus died in 1923 and Elizabeth in 1915. He was of the Republican Party.
This was taken from the 1879 Atalissa Directory.
Picture: Elizabeth Overman
Cyrus and Elizabeth’s house on Highway Six and Kelly Avenue. It is now known as the Beveridge House.