JOHN BRENTON
In June, 1854, John Brenton, a native of Kentucky, settled on the old Prosser place, on section 22, purchasing it of Flowers. He remained a resident of the township until a short time prior to his death, making his home with his son, William P., who came to Edna in October, 1854, and resides at present on section 23. John Brenton, was born in the Blue Grass region, Kentucky, 1797. His father, William Brenton was a native of Virginia, born on the south branch of the Potomac river. He served in the war for our independence, and after that time he came to Kentucky and remaining there some time he participated in the Indian war of 1799. He then emigrated with his family to what was then the territory of Louisiana, and settled in what is now known as Clark county. He purchased some fine timber land, which he improved for farming, and there he made his home until his death. John Brenton, was reared to manhood in the manner in which all young men were reared in those days, and was married in 1817, to Catherine Bullock, a native of Virginia. Soon after his marriage he settled in Clark county, and worked at his trade of boot and shoe-making, until 1830, when he moved to the Wabash valley, and there remained for two or three years, when he went to Clay county, Indiana, and remained a resident of that county until 1854. He then sold out and started for Council Bluffs, Iowa, with a team, and on reaching Edna Grove, he concluded it would be a good country for farming, so he bought land on section 22, and erected a log cabin, and began a pioneer's life. The first winter of his being a resident of his new home, he killed twenty-two deer, and thus kept the family well supplied with fresh meat. The next fall he went to live with his son William F., and there remained until May, 1868, when he went to Montgomery county to visit his children and remained until his death, which occurred in 1869. There were seven children in the family, three of whom are now living--Sarah, William F. and Nancy.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 751.
