(Page 579)
This was among the last townships organized in Taylor county. Prior
to September, 1869, it formed a part of Jefferson township. At the session
of the board of supervisors in the month and year above stated, Captain
John Flick, representing Jefferson township as a supervisor, had it
set off and given the name of "Gay". Gay Street school-house was
named as the place for holding elections, and there the voters have
annually assembled ever since.
The first settlers of Gay township were William King, J. C. Smalley
and Hawker H. Wintermute.
The first school-house built in the township was on Platte Branch.
Hon. L. W. Hillyer is an old settler. He came to the township
long before its organization. In 1863 he was elected a member
of the State senate. This district embraced the counties of Taylor,
Page, Montgomery, Adams, Ringgold, Clark and Union. His record
at Des Moines was satisfactory to his constituents, and he could have
been returned had he so desired. His daughter is Mrs. P. C. King,
whose husband is the efficient county treasurer.
Gay township has another distinguished citizen in the person of W.
D. Blakemore, who has been supervisor from his township, and who is
now the Republican candidate for that place. The Bedford Argus
unhesitatingly says that he is the best the county has ever had.
Mr. Blakemore is a gentleman of much more than ordinary intelligence
and is very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser.
Another Gay township gentleman deserving of mention in these pages
is Mr. John Hunter, than whom Taylor county can produce no better specimen
of true manhood. Mr. Hunter is intelligent, delights in farming
and makes it pay.
John Hartley, a Pennsylvania school-teacher, and as true a disciple
of Jimmy Buchanan as ever lived, is one of the men of Gay township.
He is enterprising, he is informed, and he succeeds.
Daniel Propst, another splendid man came to the township in 1856.
He resides on section 30.
S. B. Hickenlooper located in Gay township in 1858, and lives on
section 33.
The soil of Gay township is a dark sand loam of great fertility,
rich in deposit, producing in abundance, and adapted to all the crops
raised by the western farmer. It is loose, is not liable to bake,
and rests upon a substratum of joint clay several feet in thickness,
which during the dry season is filled with innumerable cracks and crevices.
In wet weather the water percolates through the soil above and enters
this body of clay, which acts as a reservoir, and stores up vast quantities
of water in season for the next drought.
This peculiarity of the soil enables the farmers of Gay township,
and nearly all of Taylor county as well, to raise good crops when other
parts of the West fail entirely. In pleasing landscape Gay township
cannot be surpassed.
The Methodists have an organization at Gay Street school-house.
It has seen many years - some of them not as promising as they might
have been. The organization is now in a healthful condition and
numbers fifty members. Rev. T. P. Newland is the pastor.
Connected with the church is a flourishing Sunday-school.
The citizens of Gay township get their mail matter at Platteville
or Mormontown, in Jefferson township.
Platte Branch rises in Gay township, and it is bordered with some
timber. As it approaches Mormontown it swells into most excellent
water-power.
In the way of reminiscence Gay township isn't as rich as some of
the (page 581) others. It isn't as old, for one reason.
But it has a little romance all its own. Senator Hillyer had a
very pretty and amiable daughter, and there was a young man very much
in love with her. Congressman Kasson secured his admission to
West Point. Our hero went there full of dreams of military glory.
He was going to be a hero like Grant, or Sherman, or the grand president
who died Monday night, September 19, 1881, at 10:30 o'clock. He
entered upon his career, and the days were not many when the dear eyes
out on the big Taylor county prairies were more to him than a soldier's
glory. So he returned home and married her, and gave himself up
to love and happiness. He has had no reason to regret it, if one
may judge from a happy looking household of boys and girls, and a father
and mother whose looks are indicative of complete joy and contentment.
This man who preferred a woman's love to the plaudits that ring around
the warrior's name, was Peter C. King, treasurer of Taylor county, whose
life is marked by daily successes, and whose friends are as numerous
as Taylor county is populous.
BEAMER, ISAAC M., farmer, section one, post-office
Conway, was born in 1834, in Clinton County, Ohio. When twenty
years of age he came to Iowa and settled in Appanoose county, where
he remained until the commencement of the war. He then enlisted
in company G, Thirty-sixth Iowa, and participated in the battles of
Helena, Little Rock, etc. At Mark's Mills he fell into the hands of
the enemy; was held a prisoner at Tyler, Texas, for ten months; was
then exchanged and returned to his regiment, at St. Charles, Arkansas,
and remained with it until the close of the war. He was discharged
at Duvall's Bluffs, Arkansas, and returned to Appanoose county, Iowa,
remaining there until 1869, when he went to Putnam county, Missouri.
In 1876 he returned to Iowa, locating in Taylor (page 683) county, where
he now resides. In 1856 he chose as his companion Miss Ellen Wells,
of Indiana. Mrs. Beamer died in 1866, and the following year he
married Mrs. Phoebe Wolfinger, a native of Pennsylvania. The fruits
of this union are Elmer A. and John B. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
BESCO, J. E., section thirty-two, post-office
Platteville, was born in Scioto county, Ohio, in 1843; there attained
man's estate and received a common school education. In 1860 he
came to Wapello county, Iowa, with his parents, and in March, 1862,
enlisted in company C, Seventeenth Iowa. He was engaged in the
battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Ft. Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Hiller's Creek,
Big Creek, seige of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, and Mission Ridge.
October 13, 1864, he was taken prisoner at Tilton, Georgia; was imprisoned
at Millen, and remained three months. He was then paroled and
exchanged before reaching the Union lines. He rejoined his command
at Goldsboro, North Carolina, where he received a veteran furlough and
returned home. He was mustered out at Davenport, and, returning
to Wapello county, was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Steele, in
1865. They are the parents of eight children: James E.,
Charles, John F., Charlotte, George and Henry (twins), Edna and Clara.
In 1871 he came to Taylor county, and has since engaged in farming.
BRIGGS, GEO. W., blacksmith, section twenty-three,
post-office Bedford, was born in Henry county, Ohio, in 1846, where
he spent his boyhood days, attending the common schools. In 1864
he enlisted in company G, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois, and remained
in the service six months. He was discharged at Chicago, and returned
home. After learning his trade he opened a shop in Mercer county,
where he managed a farm, stone-quarry and shop for six years.
He afterward disposed of his property and engaged exclusively in farming.
In 1879 he came west and located on his present farm, where he has erected
a large building, and carries on a wagon, blacksmith and repair shop,
in connection with his farm. He is also engaged in raising stock.
In 1870 he married Miss Laura O. Bears, a native of Ohio. From
this union there was one child, Lucy A. In 1875 Mrs. Briggs died,
and on July 4, 1876, he married Miss S. S. Willett, by whom he has four
children: Bertha May, James Ernest, Edward A. and Etta Alma (twins).
DAVIS, Rev. AARON, section thirteen, post-office
Conway. Mr. Davis is a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania,
where he was born July 11, 1822. There he grew to manhood, and
received a common school education. In 1840 he, with his parents,
removed to Morgan county, Ohio, where young Davis remained until 1847,
when he followed the advice of the immortal Greeley and came west to
grow up with the country. He (page 684) located in Henry county,
Illinois. Improved two farms, but not having sufficient land,
sold his possessions and came to Iowa, that he might locate his children
near him. Finding a tract that suited him, he purchased a section,
giving to each of his children a farm, and is himself finely situated.
Mr. D. has been twice married, in 1843 to Miss Mercy Palmer, of Ohio,
by whom he had seven children: John (who lost his life in defense
of the Union), Sarah E. (wife of Asa Stowell), J. D. (deceased), J.
E. (wife of J. S. Heasly), Margaret A., D. W. and J. C. S. November
16, 1870, Mrs. Davis departed this life, and the following year subject
was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jackson, of Washington County,
Pennsylvania, who now presides with dignity over his fine home.
Mr. D. was once a minister in the Christian Church. In 1871, he
became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; was licensed to preach,
and is at present doing ministerial work. He is connected with
the I. O. O. F. and A. F. & A. M. orders.
FRANKLIN, W. S., farmer, section twenty-eight,
post-office Platteville, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1840.
When ten years of age our subject moved with his parents to Seneca county,
Ohio, where he attended the common schools, and finished his education
in Fostoria Academy. After this he engaged in teaching.
In August, 1861, he enlisted in company H, Forty-ninth Ohio, and served
until November 30, 1865. During his service in the army he participated
in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesborough, and was with Buell in his
marches and countermarches through Kentucky and Tennessee. He
was then detached and sent home as a recruiting officer. He returned
to his regiment at Columbus, and participated in the campaign through
Georgia; was wounded at Jonesboro, and sent back to the hospital at
Lookout Mountain. After recovering, he again joined his regiment
and served until mustered out. He then returned to Ohio, where
he remained but a short time. Starting west, he settled in Iowa
county, Iowa, and engaged in farming and school-teaching. Was
twice elected county commissioner, resigned and came to Taylor county,
where he now resides. Since coming to this county he has held
many offices of public trust. In 1879 was the Greenback candidate
for county treasurer. On the 4th of March, 1860, he was married
to Miss S. C. Kumple, also a native of Ohio. They are parents
of five children: Omar, Arthur, Harmon, Elmer and Mary Alverda.
Mr. F. is a member of the I. O. O. F.
GARROW, GEO., section twenty-eight, post-office
Platteville. The subject of this sketch was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland,
in 1834. There he grew to manhood, and was educated in the parish
schools. When twenty-two (page 685) he came to America and
settled in Richland county, Ohio, while there he engaged in tilling
the soil. In 1864 he came to Iowa and settled in Taylor county,
where he has improved two farms. He now owns an excellent farm
of one hundred and sixty acres, and is prospering finely. He brought
with him to Iowa one thousand sheep, but the country was then new, and
after trying the business four years he disposed of the flocks
and devoted his time exclusively to agriculture. In 1863 he married
Miss Isabelle Glennie, a native of Scotland, and a very estimable lady.
They are the parents of four children: Mary A. (wife of Willis
Daily), Margaret E., Phoebe J. and John A. Mr. and Mrs. Garrow
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
GINN, W. E., section eighteen, post-office Conway,
began life in Greene county, Ohio, in 1828. He there grew to manhood;
received a liberal education; learned the carpenter trade, serving an
apprenticeship of four years. He then returned to the farm and
engaged in stock-raising. In 1846 he was married to Miss Mary
Real, of Montgomery county, Ohio. From their union there were
seven children: John H. (who served in the Seventy-fourth Ohio
during the war), Adaline E. (wife of Nathan Riley), William L. (deceased)
and Aaron T. (twins), B. F., Charles, A. L. and O. P. Mrs. Ginn
died in 1861, and the year following he married Miss Katie Moody, a
native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She was educated at Dickenson
College, and is a lady of superior literary attainments. They are the
parents of three children: Katie Belle, Maggie B. and Samuel A.
In 1868 Mr. G came to Iowa, and in 1876 to Taylor county, and took charge
of a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, the property of B. F. Daily,
of Mt. Pleasant. He has growing on the farm five hundred fruit
trees, also twenty thousand forest trees, consisting of maple, box elder,
coffee nut, walnut and chestnut. He is certainly one of our most
successful farmers.
HARVEY, R. W., farmer and stock-raiser, section
twenty-two, post-office Bedford, was ushered into this world in Clermont
county, Ohio, in 1830. He there received an excellent common school
education, and in 1856 left the Buckeye State and settled in Knox county,
Illinois, where he engaged in farming, and remained three years.
He then returned to Ohio, and in 1864 enlisted in company H, One Hundred
and Fifty-third Ohio, served three months, participating in the battles
of Paw Paw Station, Virginia, and Oldtown, Maryland; was discharged,
returned home and remained until 1866, when he again moved to Illinois,
and settled in Knox county. In 1870 he came to this State and
located in Taylor county, on his present farm. He now owns five
hundred and thirty acres, which he has improved since coming to this
county. In 1854 Miss R. C. Cazel, of Ohio, (page 686)
became his happy bride. They are the parents of nine children;
eight are now living: Mary E. (wife of C. C. Welford), Joseph
T., Sarah (deceased), George, William A., Ambrose M., Frank A., Clara
B. and Hattie C. Subject and lady are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
HICKENLOOPER, S. B., section thirty-three, post-office
Platteville, is a native of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, where he
was born in 1835. When nine years of age his parents became residents
of Hancock county, Illinois, and four years later came to Monroe county,
Iowa, where he attended the common schools and received a liberal education.
In 1858 he became a resident of this county, and engaged in the saw-mill
business until recent years. He is nicely located on a farm of
one hundred and sixty acres, well improved, and has an orchard of four
hundred trees. He was married in 1860 to Miss Ann E. King, of
this county. From this union there are seven children: Josephine
(wife of C. S. King), Flora, Sherman, Nathan, Ernest, George and Maud.
He and Mrs. H. are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
he is a prominent Sunday-school worker. He is also a member of
the I. O. O. F.
HILLYER, Hon. L. W., section twenty-one, post-office
Platteville, was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1818. There
he arrived at man's estate and finished his education in Granville College.
At an early age he learned the dry goods business with his brother-in-law,
and did business with his brother in Utica, Ohio, until 1849, when he
accepted a position as salesman in the wholesale house of Avery, Butler
& Cecil, which position he held for seven years. In 1858 he
came to Iowa and located in Taylor county. Since then he has been
engaged in agriculture, and has ever been found identified with measures
for public improvements. Mr. H. has held many offices of responsibility,
having been sent to the State senate in 1860, and serving in that body
during the dark and trying hours of the rebellion. He has also
filled the office of county commissioner for several terms. During
the whole of his public life he proved himself eminently deserving of
the trust bestowed by his constituents; and now, while the shades of
life are falling toward the east, he enjoys the confidence and respect
of all who know him. He is still actively engaged in agricultural
pursuits. Has a farm of two hundred and six acres, well improved.
Subject was married in 1837 to Miss Mary Fuller, of Ohio. Four
children sprang from their union: Justin, George K., J. O. (wife
of P.C. King) and Frank E. In July, 1880, Mrs. Hillyer passed
away, after a married life of forty-two years. Mr. H. is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also of the I. O. O. F. and A. F.
& A. M.
(Page 687)
PINER, R. W., farmer and stock-grower, section
one, post-office Conway. Born in Onslow county, North Carolina,
in 1822, and there attained his majority. In 1854 he left the
State of his nativity and located in Indiana. Remained there two
years and then went to Illinois. Stopped one year at Monmouth,
after which he moved to Minnesota, locating in Wabashaw county, and
was soon after appointed deputy sheriff. Subject served in that
capacity for a short time, when the sheriff resigned and he was appointed
to serve his unexpired time. At the next general election he was
chosen to that position and served until the beginning of the late war.
He then enlisted in company G, Fifth Minnesota; served fifteen months;
participated in the battles of Iuka, Corinth, Jackson (Tennessee), and
was discharged at Memphis on account of physical disabilities, and returned
to Minnesota. Recovering somewhat from his injuries he reenlisted
in the First Minnesota heavy artillery, and remained in the field until
the South laid down their arms and acknowledged the supremacy of the
general government. He again returned to his northern home and
soon after came down the Mississippi on a raft. Stopping at Burlington
he engaged with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company
to work on bridges, and remained with them six years. He came
to Taylor county in 1875, and settled on his present farm of eighty
acres. In 1873 he married Miss Caroline Bye, of Knox county, Illinois.
They have two children: Roberta and Charlie. Mr. P. is a member
of the Masonic fraternity. Both belong to the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
PROPST, DANIEL M., section thirty, post-office
Platteville. The subject of this sketch was born in Virginia in
1837, and spent his early youth in acquiring an education in the subscription
schools of Virginia. In the fall of 1856 his parents became residents
of Iowa, settling in Scott county. There they remained two years
when they came to Taylor county. Mr. P. has an excellent farm
of one hundred and twenty acres, well improved, fine barn and other
buildings, and is a very successful farmer. In 1869 he was married
to Miss Mary Burnside, a native of Ohio. >From this union there
are four children: Nannie, Allie, Elsie and Stella. Mr. Propst
has held many offices in his township, and enjoys the confidence of
all his neighbors. He and his estimable lady are members of the
Baptist Church.
SHEARER, DANIEL S., section eight, post-office
Conway. Born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1820; seven years later his
parents moved to Indiana and settled near Indianapolis, where our subject
attained his majority and received an education in the common schools.
In 1848 he came west and settled in Washington county, Iowa, where he
improved a farm and remained five years. He then moved to Wapello
county, remaining (page 688) eleven years; thence to Monroe county,
and in 1868 came to Taylor county. He now owns eighty acres of
land, nicely improved, and has a pleasant home. In 1850 he took
unto himself Miss Sarah F. Trailor, a native of Illinois. Mrs.
S. died five years later, leaving three children. Two are now
living: Nancy E. (wife of Frank Drew, of Creston), and William
H. In 1856 he was married to Miss Mary Williams, of Kentucky.
They are the parents of five children, living: John S., Laura
I., Leonora E., Martha J. and Eddie K. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
SMALLEY, J. C., farmer, section twenty-eight,
post-office Platteville, commenced this life in Ross county, Ohio, and
received his education in an old log school-house. In 1857 he
started west, having with him about two hundred and fifty dollars.
He came down the Ohio River to its mouth, thence up the Mississippi
and Missouri to where Hamburg now stands, and located in Fremont county,
having spent over half his money on the voyage. He remained in
Fremont county three years, then came to Taylor county and settled on
his present home. His farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres.
He built the fourth house in Gay township, assisted in its organization,
and at the first election was chosen justice of the peace, which office
he held eleven years in succession. His long continuance in office,
and the fact that not one of his decisions was ever reversed by the
Circuit Court, are evidences of his excellent judgment and the justness
of his decisions. He has always taken great interest in public
improvements. In 1852 he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret
M. Murray. The ceremony took place at the Old Woodbridge House,
Chillicothe, Ohio, and was performed by Rev. P. O. Ingalls, now of Des
Moines, Iowa. >From this union came six children. Four
are now living: Oliver C., Joseph W., William F. and Isa. Mr.
S is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
VAN REENAN, M. J., section thirty, post-office
Platteville. Our subject is a native of Holland, was born in Utrecht
in 1830; learned the trade of brass founder with his father. When
a youth his parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Pocahontas
county, Virginia. There young Van Reenan grew to manhood.
In 1861 he came to Iowa and settled in Scott county and engaged in farming
until 1870. He then came to Taylor county, having but fifty dollars.
He now owns two hundred and twenty-five acres of good land, one hundred
and sixty of which are improved and well stocked. He has lately
turned his attention to the raising of onions and sorghum, with great
success. In 1852 he married Miss Lizzie Hannah, a native of Virginia.
They have four children: Margaret J., wife of Jos. Watterman,
John D., Robt. C. and Mary T., wife of John Hartley. Mr. and Mrs.
Van Reenan are members of the M. E. Church.
WILCOX, JOHN W., farmer and stock-grower, section
thirty, post-office Platteville, born in Erie county, Ohio, in 1843.
When two years of age his parents moved to Adams county, Indiana.
Here young Wilcox tilled the soil and attended school, enlisting when
nineteen in company F, Eighty-eighth Indiana, and served faithfully
during the entire years of the rebellion. Took part in the battle
of Perryville, Kentucky, Stone River, Chickamagua, Lookout Mountain,
Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw, Snake Gap Creek,
Siege of Atlanta and Jonesboro. His regiment was engaged in seventeen
battles, only one of which he missed; participated in the grand review
at Washington; was discharged June 7, 1865 and returned to his home
and engaged in tilling the soil. In 1867 he came westward and
located in Adams county, remained there twelve years, then came to Taylor
county and has since made it his home. He was married in 1867 to Miss
Sarah A. Peckham, of Indiana. They have four children: Wm.
B., Esther M. J., Emma J. and Bertha B. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members
of the M. E. Church. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity.
|