The History of Appanoose County, Iowa

Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878

Transcribed by Renee Rimmert.    A complete copy of this book is available on-line at archive.org.

Abreviations

agt - agent mach - machinist
carp - carpenter mech - mechanic
clk - clerk mar - merchant
co - company or county mfr - manufacturer
dlr - dealer mkr - maker
fmr - farmer P.O. - Post Office
gro - grower prop - proprietor
I.V.A. - Iowa Volunteer Artillery S. or Sec. - section
I.V.C. - Iowa Volunteer Cavalry st - street
I.V.I. - Iowa Volunteer Infantry supt - superintendent
lab - laborer treas - treasurer

Chariton Township

N  - Z



Nash, Noah, far., Sec. 26; P.O. Walnut City.



Newby, J. Henry, farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Iconium; born in Henry Co., Ind., in 1849; his father, Abner N., born in North Carolina, 1819, a farmer; came to Henry co., Ind., where he married Miss Elizabeth Hosier, as native of that county; removed to Lee Co., Iowa, where he became an extensive farmer.  J.H. acquired a good common school education.  At the age of 23 married Miss Judith Binford, daughter of Binford and Ann B., residents of Lee Co., Iowa, from Indiana; she was born in Lee Co., Iowa, 1851; in 1872, came to this county, where he owns 160 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; have three children - Stella, born in 1872; Clyde, born in 1876 ; Clem, born in 1877.  Republican; Mrs. Newby is a member of the Friends' Society.



Newby, T.C., farmer, Sec. 3; P.O. Iconium; born in Henry Co., Ind., in 1847; son of Abner Newby, who was born in North Carolina, 1817, and with his father, Thomas N., came to Henry Co., Ind., when 8 years of age; at 25 years of age, married Miss Elizabeth Hosier, a native of Henry Co., Ind., in 1825; in 1852, moved to Lee Co., Iowa.   and settled near West Point, where they now reside.  T.C. remained at home until Nov. 30, 1869, when he married Miss Maggie Hutchinson, daughter of Amos H., a resident of Henry Co., Iowa; he was from Hamilton Co., Ohio, 1839; born in New Jersey in 1816.   Married Miss Julia A. Shannon, 1838; born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1818; soon after marriage, T.C. came to this county, and settled on the section which he now occupies and owns 185 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; they have four children - Osa and Ola, born Sept. 10, 1872; Bertie B., born Nov. 22, 1874; George Ira, born April 23, 1877.  Enlisted in 45th Iowa Infantry, Co. K, Captain Anderson, March 1861; served 100 days doing guard duty, and mustered out October 1864.  Greenbacker.



Nowles, J., far., S. 10; P.O. Iconium.



Owings, W.H., far., Sec. 29; P.O. Walnut City; born in West Virginia in 1838; his father, Asa Owings, native of that State, came to Appanoose Co. in 1868; in October, 1878, he returned to Virginia.  In 1858, W.H. married Miss Sally A. Cassady; she was born in Washington Co., Penn., in 1841; in 1857, the family moved to Hancock Co., W. Va., where her father died in June of the present year; worked on his father's farm until March 1868; came with his father to this county, where he now owns 248 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; has three children - Lila M., born in May 1864; Minnie R., born in October 1865; Olive, born in March 1876.  Democrat; members of the Christian Church.



Palmer, J.A., far., Sec. 5; P.O. Iconium.



Potts, A.W., far., Sec. 2; P.O. Iconium.



Powell, J.T., far., Sec. 3; P.O. Iconium; born in Washington Co., Penn., in 1845; his father was then engaged in the dry goods business at Frederickton; his father (J.T.'s grandfather), having died when he was a small boy, he went to live with his uncle, then dealing in dry goods; was first engaged in clerking; when 18 years of age, purchased the goods and engaged in business for several years.  During the year 1833, he married Miss Catherine Fleming; she was born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1817; daughter of Robert Fleming, of that county, a farmer.  He continued business there until 1855, when he went to California with $500 worth of tea, a portion of which he sold at $5 per pound; engaged in mining for two years, after which he retuned and resumed business; continued until 1859, then went to Iowa, where he purchased large tracts of land in Jefferson and Wapello Cos., and property in Moravia; during 1860, he removed to Moravia; in 1864, with his family, went to California - to Nashville, Eldorado Co., - where he engaged in shipping goods to Salt Lake City; remained three years; returned to Moravia; in 1872, moved to Lucas Co.; in 1875, again returned to California, and engaged in farming; in July 1878, returned to Lucas Co., Iowa, when he settled in Russell, and engaged in the drug business.  J.T. remained with his father until 23 years of age.   Soon after his return from California, he married Miss Maggie Reynolds, daughter of Alick Reynolds, of this county; she was born in Mercer Co., Ill., Dec. 3, 1846; her parents settled there from Wayne Co., in 1842, her father was born in New Jersey, in 1818; from Illinois they removed to this county in 1849; now residents of Taylor Tp.; after marriage, J.T. and wife engaged in farming in Monroe Co., until 1869; then came to Iconium, where he engaged in the drug and grocery business with Dr. Reynolds, now of Centerville; in 1871, after a trip to Nevada, they purchased a farm, east of Iconium; in 1876, sold out, and took another tour to California, only to remain a short time, after which he purchased the farm on which he now lives, containing eighty-four acres, valued at $35 acre.   They have on child - Anna Viola, born in 1868.  Republican.



Putnam, J.A., farmer and stock-grower, Sec. 1; P.O. Moravia; of the old Connecticut stock of Putnams, descendant of Israel Putnam; his grandfather a commissioned officer during the Revolutionary war, afterward settled on the Connecticut River at Charleston; between there and Springfield, he ran the ferry-boat until the Cheshire bridge was built; he afterward removed to Springfield, where J.A.'s father was born in 1811; removed to Montpelier, remained until his death, April 9, 1849, aged 84 years; his wife was born in Unity, N.H., in 1782; after the death of her husband, she married again and removed to East Montpelier, where she died Feb. 2, 1852.  J.G. Putnam, the father of J.A., was born in Springfield, Vt., Feb. 3, 1811; when 7 years of age, his parents removed to Montpelier, where he lived on one farm for fifty years; learned the trade of carpenter and millwrighting, which he followed in that vicinity.  June 7, 1833, married Miss Thankful B. Putnam, born in the same county Jan. 8, 1808; daughter of Abraham Putnam, of Springfield, Vt., her father was born at Charleston N.H. (or what was known as No. 4 at the time of the French and Indian war), in 1783, died June 8, 1858; her mother, Sarah (nee Gill) born at Springfield, Vt., in 1784, married there in 1806, and died in the same city March 8, 1869.  J.G. learned the millwright trade, worked at the millwright trade for twenty years, until they came to Appanoose, where they now reside with their son, the subject of this sketch.  J.A., having learned his father's trade of millwright, followed the occupation in the Middle and Western States and Lower Canada extensively for twelve years, after which he engaged in farming.  In 1867, married Miss Anna Briggs, a native of Nichols, Tioga Co., N.Y., daughter of Galen Briggs, of that county, from Massachusetts, whose grandfather was formerly Governor of that State; Galen Briggs died in Tioga Co., at the age of 43; Mrs. Briggs, whose maiden name was Sarah Waite, is now a resident of Colorado.  In 1861, Mr. J.A. Putnam was engaged with a partner in milling on the Shenandoah River, Warren Co., Va., where he was drafted into the rebel army, but furnished a substitue; afterward was conscripted, and with his partner obliged to flee the country and come North; remained in the East until 1868, when they came to Appanoose, where he was engaged at farming and stock-growing; was called East to superintend the erection of three mills; owns 360 acres in Appanoose, valued at $25 per acre.   Have two children living, lost one - Luke S., born in 1869; Francis T., born in 1870; John J., born in 1872.  Republican.



Rhinehart, S.,far., Sec. 5; P.O. Iconium.



Reynolds, J.R., farmer and nurseryman, S. 3; P.O. Iconium; born in Wayne Co., Ind., in 1845; his father, A.C.R., was born near Newark, N.J., and came to this county, to Taylor Tp., two miles south of Moravia, where he has lived for twenty-seven years; his mother, E.A.(need Merrit), was born in Wayne Co., Ind.; her father is a resident of Centerville; is 87 years of age, a retired farmer; came to this county in 1874; mother died in Indiana in 1864; J.R. had the privileges of a liberal common school education.   In 1868, married Miss Susan M. Gladfelder, daughter of William and Mary G., born in Williamsburg, Ohio, 1847.  Engaged in the nursery business at this father's farm in 1877; moved to his present farm, where he owns fifty-six acres of land, valued at $25 per acre.   Have four children - Charles F., born in 1869; Arthur K., born in 1870; Bessie M., born in 1876; Mary E., born in 1878.  Greenbacker; she is a member of the M.E. Church.   Has held office of Tp. Trustee, school offices, adn is a member of Grange in Taylor Tp.



Ross, R.D.,far., Sec. 2; P.O. Iconium.



Shaffer, A.M.,far., S. 20; P.O. Walnut City.



Shaeffer, L.,farmer and stock grower, Sec. 29; P.O. Walnut City; born in Bellair Tp., Appanoose Co., in 1847; his parents, David and Libby(maiden name Hustaad), settled here from Fairfield Co., Ohio, in 1846, after stopping one year in Lee Co.; were among the earliest settlers of this county; his grandfather, Abraham Shaiffer, was born in Pennsylvania, and among the first settlers of Fairfield Co., Ohio; his eldest son, Joel, was the first white child born in that county; his father lost his wife in this county Aug. 3, 1866; remained here until 1868, when he returned to Fairfield Co., Ohio, where he now resides; had six chidren; the eldest son is settled in Oregon; the eldest daughter is settled in Placer Co., Cal.; the youngest daughter, in Wayne Co., Iowa; another, in Mercer Co., Mo.; Mr. L. Shaiffer and a brother remain on the the old homestead; at the age of 17, soon after his mother's death, his father gave him forty acres of land, and he engaged in farming for himself.  In 1875, he married Miss Theresa A. Robinson, daughter of James M. and Charlotte R., of Franklin Tp., Monroe Co., Iowa.  Mr. S. owns seventy-five acres of land, valued at $24 per acre.  Members of the U.B. Church, as were his parents; his father's brother was one of the first Bishops of that Church, and their father was a Pastor of the same Church.  National and Greenbacker.



Show, M., far., Sec. 15; P.O. Iconium.



Sinks, E.,broom-maker, Iconium.



Sinks, W.G.,cabinet-maker, Iconium.



Stevens, W.B.,farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 29; P.O. Walnut City; was born ikn Knox Co., Ill., in 1844; his parents, W.J. and Jane S. (nee Schooler), were early settlers of that county, from Logan Co., Ohio, where his mother was born; his father was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio; moved to Wapello Co., Iowa, in 1861; thence to this county in 1869; in April 1864, he crossed the plains, arriving at Idaho August 4, of the same year; remained two years; thence to Grand Round Valley, Oregon; thence to Walla Walla, and returning to Round Valley with ox-teams, laden with provisions; was caught in one of the heavy snowstorms, so frequent in the mountains of that country; was obliged to leae his oxen and procure horses; landed his loads safely at Dubois Valley and returned; in 1868, started to return on horseback; traveled 1,000 miles, then he sold his horse and came by stage to Ft.Benton, and by steamer to Omaha, being ten days on the route by stage and rail; reached Wapello Co. June 5, 1868; soon after came to this county; followed threshing that fall.  In February 1869, he married Miss Elizabeth J. Stark; she was born in Davis Co., Iowa, in 1848; daughter of Jerimiah and Sarah A. S. (nee Throckmorton), early settlers of Davis Co., and this county; died in this county.  They have two children - Charles F. and Harry E.   Greenback; members of the Christian Church.



Stewart, David A.,farmer, Sec. 17; P.O. Iconium; born in Onondaga, N.Y., in 1833; his parents, Alfred and Harmony S.(nee Bigsby),removed to Coldwater, Mich., where his father engaged at his trade of mason, remaining there ten years; during which time his mother died; thence removed to Steuben Co., Ind., thence to Elkhart; returned to Steuben Co., and remained until his death in 1853.  David left home and worked at farming by the month.   In 1853, married Miss Elizabeth Sams, born in Ohio; removed to Steuben Co., Ind., where they were married.  In 1860, they came to Appanoose, where he now owns 93 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre.  In 1862, he enlisted with Co. F, 36th Iowa V.I.; was at Helena, Little Rock, Elkins' Ford, Camden, Ark., and Mark's Mills; at latter place was wounded and taken prisoner, held at same place for twenty-seven days, paroled, joined his regiment and mustered out at Duvall's Bluff, in September 1865.  Since he has cultivated and improved his farm.   Have six children - George, Frank, Elizabeth, A. Jackson, John and William.   National Greenbacker; Mrs. S. is a member of the Christian Church.



Tarr, John,far., Sec. 1; P.O. Iconium.



Tisue, H.,farmer, Sec. 12; P.O. Moravia; born in Hamden, Vinton Co., Ohio, 1839; son of William Tisue, born in Pennsylvania, 1809; moved to Venton Co., was elected Sheriff of county, and removed to McArthur, the county seat; at the expiration of his office, returned to Hamden, engaged extensively in stock dealing; in 1863, with his son H., came to this county, and is now a resident of Moravia.  Having married Miss Sarah Cline, daughter of Joseph C., of Jackson Co., Ohio, a farmer; she was born in that county in 1842; have five children - Della J., Malcomb B., Molly B., Maggie M. and William; in 1863, they removed to this county, where he purchased real estate; owns 180 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre.  Republican; Mr. and Mrs. Tisue with their eldest daughter are members of U.B. Church.



Tisue, Levi,far., Sec. 11; P.O. Iconium.



Walker, S.,far., S. 29; P.O. Walnut City.



Walker, James M.,farmer and stock-grower, Sec. 30; P.O. Walnut City; born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Aug. 10, 1839; his father, Semar W., a farmer, in 1837, removed to Morgan Co., Mo.; engaged in farming; in 1856, came to his county, where he still resides; his mother Margaret (nee Bryant), a sister of Walker B., of Centerville, was born in Mercer Co., Penn., where sher was married.  At the age of 22, he enlisted in 36th Iowa Infantry, Co. F; was soon promoted to Corporal; one year after, promoted to Sergeant; participated at Helena, Mark's Mill, Little Missouri, Prairie d'Ann; was detailed to guard prisioners for a time; participated at Saline River; served on guard duty until regiment, which had been taken prisoners, were paroled at Duvall's Bluff; mustered out Aug. 24, 1865.  April 12, 1866, married Miss Martha M. Smith, who was born in Morgan Co., Ohio, 1848, daughter of Job G.S., a farmer, from Morgan Co., Ohio, 1857; he died here in 1874, being 65 years of age; his mother is a resident of this county; she died Aug. 24, 1878; three children living - Ann Elizabeth, born Dec. 5, 1869; Sylvester M., Jan. 10, 1872; Alice C., June 6, 1875.  Republican; has held the office of Township Trustee.



Wailes, John P.,far., Sec. 17; P.O. Iconium.



Wailes, James Wm.,farmer and stock-grower, Sec. 17; P.O. Iconium; born in Bartholomew Co., Ind., in 1833; the family was from Wales; dropped thier original name and adopted name fo their country; father and grandfather both served in the Revolutionay war for eight years; his great-grandfather, on his mother's side, James Wilson, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence; parents married in Bartholomew Co.; in 1851, came to this county and settled on the farm which James W. now owns, consisting of 251 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre.  He married Miss Zerilda E. Needham, daughter of Wesley B. and Nancy N., who settled in Johns Tp., from Bartholomew Co., Ind., in 1855; she was born in Bartholomew Co., Ind., in 1844; they have five children - John W., born in December, 1866; Harriet E., November, 1869; Martha L., January 1872; Nancy S., in 1875; Lucinda, in 1878.  National Greenbacker; Mrs. W. is a member of the M.E. Church.  Has held the offices of Assessor, Tp. Trustee, school offices, Tp. Clerk of Independence Tp., and Director and member of the Board of County Supervisors.  Enlisted in the 1st Regt. Iowa State Guards as First Lieutenant of Co. A, in the fall of 1863; he enlisted in the 8th I.V.C., Co. H, participated at Rome, Ga., and Cassville, with Sherman, and was under fire for twenty-seven days; their horses not being from under their saddles for that time; Aug. 30, 1864, was captured on Stoneman's raid, after a continuous fight of five days, having had no sleep or anything to eat, except what was in their haversacks; men fell off their horses asleep; when it became known that they must surrender, they shot their mules and burned their wagons; after their capture they were taken to Andersonville and held one month; thence to Charleston S.C., one month; thence to Florence two months; then exchanged and sent to Annapolis, Md.; thence home for thirty days; after which he returned and joined his regiment at Macon, Ga., was mustered out as Sergeant in October 1865, at Macon, Ga.



Welton, Alma, farmer and stock-grower, Sec. 22; P.O. Walnut City; born in Medina Co., Ohio, in 1835; his father, Michael B., of Welsh descent, born near Hartford, Conn., a millwright, moved to Medina Co., Ohio, where he married Miss Rebecca Smith; she was born in Pennsylvania, her parents, early settlers in Ohio, in 1839, moved to Pike Co., Ill., where they again underwent the trials and privations of pioneer life, which proved more than Mrs. W. could endure, as she lived but one year after reaching that county.  A year after his wife's death, Mr. Welton married again and removed to Knox Co., Ill., where he died in 1862.   Alma W., having taken advantage of all the facilities of education furnished in those days, at the age of 19, began life upon his own responsibility, renting land and cultivating it; in 1857 , went to Harrison Co., Mo., where, in 1858, he married Miss Eliza Parcel, daughter of Henry and Melighta P.; she was born in Ohio in 1837, and died Feb. 9, 1862, leaving one child - Melighta, born Sept. 25, 1859; in 1864, he came to this county, and, Sept. 8, of that year, married Miss Melissa Packard; she was born in Appanoose Co., July 6, 1847; daughter of B.L. and Hannah Packard, among the earliest settlers of this county, from Ohio; he was born in Marion Co., Ohio, in 1817; she was born in the State of New York in 1819, and married in Williams Co., Ohio.   In 1868, Mr. Welton purchased the farm he now occupies, containing 182 acres of land, valued at $20 per acre; have three children - Weltha A., born May 13, 1866; Mary R., born Sept. 8, 1869; Sarah F., born Feb. 17, 1872.  Greenbacker; Mr. and Mrs. W., with their eldest daughter, are members of the Christian Church.



Whicker, Ben,far., Sec. 25; P.O. Moravia.



Whittlesey, D.K.,miller, Iconium.



Wills, D.H.,druggist, Iconium; born in Putnam Co., Ind., in 1844; he came to Iowa in 1850.  He enlisted in Co. C, 8th Iowa Cav., in 1863; was in the Army of Tennessee; taken prisoner on Stoneman's raid, July 30, 1864; taken to Andersonville and kept nine months, and was turned loose at the close of the war at Baldwin Station, near Jacksonville, Fla., almost naked, and was sick; had to walk to the Union lines.   Married Minerva Cogan in Iowa, Jan. 1, 1868; she was born in Indiana; they had two children, one, living - Gracy.   He followed railroading about five years after returning from the war, and has been, the principal part of this time, engaged in the drug business; he has now a good store, and a well-assorted stock of drugs.  He is a member of the A., F. & A. M. Lodge.   Republican; his wife is a member of the Christian Church.



Woodnancy, R.,blacksmith, Iconium.



Youngker, J.L.,far., Sec. 17; P.O. Iconium.



Youngker, B.F.,wagon-maker, Iconium; born in Carroll Co., Ohio, in January 1838; his father, John, born in Pennsylvania, was a resident of Carroll Co., Ohio, until his death in 1838; his mother, Hannah Y. (nee Berry), was also born in Pennsylvania; died near Union City, Mich., in 1878; after his mother's second marriage, he lived with a neighboring farmer two years, after which he went to Allen Co., Ind., and made a home with his brother, a farmer of that county; June 6, 1856, with two of his brothers and their families, and others to the number of twenty persons, with four wagons, two or three teams to each wagon, they started for Nebraska; had a merry time with hunting, music and dancing, until they reached the Mississippi River, two months after starting, where they were all taken dangerously sick with fever, and within two weeks both of his brothers, and the entire family of one, died, also the wife of another of the party, named Gray - six out of the party of twenty; the other resumed their journey; on reaching Iconium, B.F. Youngker stopped there and engaged to clerk for Thomas Beam; afterward at merchandising in that town; afterward went to school during the winters, and in the summer worked by the month.  July 3, 1861, maried Susan Funkhouser, daughter of David and Susan F.(Caster), early settlers of this county, from Ripley Co., Ind., where she was born in 1845; after marriage, he engaged with Ben. Hazelwood to learn the wagon-maker's trade, remaining eight months, when he bought him out, and has since conducted the business here, except from 1865 to 1867, when he was farming in Carroll Co., Ohio; has, since his return, added to his business interest in the blacksmithing adjoining his shop; owns his shop and residence, also eighty acres of land in Monroe Co., all valued at $4,000; in May 1875, his wife died, leaving six children - Joseph L., Hannah O., David H., John H., G. William, Amanda L.  Oct. 14, of the same year he married Miss Nancy Nicholson, a daughter of Mrs. Annie N., of Monroe Co.; she was born in Indiana in 1847; they have two children - Ivy and Eddy.  Democrat; members of the Christian Church; his first wife was also.   Has held the school offices, and was Township Clerk and Trustee for several terms; was Master of the Grange, when running.