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Thaddeus Prall is among the prominent representative men of this county. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born October 22, 1826, his parents being Gabriel and Mary (Heston) Prall. When Thaddeus was twelve years old the family removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, where his youth was spent, and where he was engaged as mail carrier and in various occupations, about eight years. When about twenty-one years of age, he removed to Clark county, Indiana, where, December 27, 1849, he was married to Rebecca J. Prather, a native of that county. They have had six children, five of whom are now living--Rosella, born March 26, 1851, now living in Atlantic; Columbus, born March 6, 1854, now a resident of this county; Leander A., born December 1, 1862, now living at home; Thaddeus Edmond, born January 28, 1868, now living at home; Elizabeth Arabell, born August 14, 1859, now living in Cass county; a son, Walter, was born November 17, 1856, and died March 9, 1875. In 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Prall went to Adams county, Illinois, where they continued to reside about sixteen years. In 1869, he came to this county and located on section 26, Atlantic township, which has since been his home. At that time this section of country was an unbroken prairie, the virgin soil was yet almost unvexed by the plow, the undulating prairie was one vast plain and to the casual observer there was nothing to encourage one to make a settlement, with the intention of securing a desirable, permanent home. Yet here Mr. Prall, guided by an unerring judgment, characteristic of the man, comprehended the possibilities for the future of this county, and the certain returns from the soil, when properly managed. His selection of land, and its present condition, show that he was not mistaken, and demonstrate what a true man, with pluck and energy, can accomplish. His farm consists of two hundred and forty acres of good land. He is now building a fine residence in the city of Atlantic, and intends to soon remove thither, where he can spend his declining years somewhat relieved from the more active duties of business life, in peace and happiness, and in the enjoyment of a home fairly won--a competence honestly gained. In the political affairs of the township, Mr. Prall has been quite prominent. Although somewhat reticent, and not at all inclined to push himself forward, yet he is a man whom the historian delights to honor, and one whose name must necessarily appear in connection with a true history of this county, among those who have aided most substantially in its development. He adheres to the principles of the Republican party.

J. H. Stowe, who is one of the prominent citizens of Atlantic township, has one of the finest places in the county. His residence is located on the Chestnut street road, about three-quarters of a mile directly south of Atlantic. It was built in the summer of 1871, and is one of the neatest in the township. The grounds are of the most elaborate kind, having two rows of large evergreens on either side of the house, extending to the road. He also has two orchards, one of five hundred trees and the other of four hundred trees, and a vineyard of eight hundred to one thousand vines. Mr. Stowe was born on the 7th of November, 1822, in St. Lawrence county, New York. He is the son of Christopher and Lucretia Stowe. His ancestors settled in Massachusetts, in 1635, and in 1872 the family held a re-union at Connecticut, and there were over one thousand present. His father was of English descent and served in the war of 1812. Mr. Stowe was married to Mary H. Johnson, a native of Cass county, Illinois. They have been blessed with five children--Charles J., Mattie L., John Franklin, Asa D. and Emma R. Mr. Stowe is a charter member of the Odd Fellows' lodge of Cass county, and was a member of the first organization of the Sons of Temperance.

Leonard H. Soper is a native of Upper Canada, and was born on the 21st of September, 1846, and is the son of Harley and Parmelia (Bullis) Soper. He attended school in his native county until about twelve years of age, when he came to Knox county, Illinois, and located on a farm near Galesburg. In 1859, he came to Iowa and located in Franklin township, Cass county. He was married in June, 1867, to Elizabeth Headley, a native of Bureau county, Illinois. Their union has been blessed with five children--Lenora, Addie, Ira, Myrtle and Maudie. Soon after his arrival in Iowa, Mr. Soper came to Cass county and settled in Atlantic township, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres and began raising stock. His farm is now under cultivation, and he is now raising cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Soper is at present school director and is president of the board of supervisors. The family are strict members of the Methodist church.

Lewis C. Bishop came to Cass county in the spring of 1863, locating on section 26, Atlantic township, on the then open prairie. He was born in Brookville, Indiana, June 8, 1818, his parents being Lewis and Mary, both of whom died in Edinburg, Indiana, in 1828, within three days of each other. Lewis C. came to Burlington, this State, in October, 1846, where he remained one year. In 1847 he removed to Warren county, Indiana, and was one of the first settlers in that part of the country. In the spring of 1863, as before stated, he came to this county, where he has since resided. He was married, in 1838, to Sarah Ann Whitehead. By that marriage there were nine children. Of the boys, three enlisted in the army, and one died of small-pox while in the service. In 1859 he was again married to Lucy Brannen, a native of Maine. By that union there were four children--Esther, Emma, Lewis and Sherman. He has a farm of eighty acres, which is well improved. He is also extensively engaged in raising Poland-China hogs. In politics he is Republican. He has been township trustee one year. Mr. Bishop is the inventor of a machine which saves much of the labor about the house. By means of it, the family washing can be done in half an hour, and three gallons of cream may be churned in ten minutes. It also has an attacbment for turning a grindstone, emery wheel and lathe. It is also capable of being put to other uses, and would be an indispensable adjunct to every farm if properly introduced and brought to the public notice.

George Voorhies owes his nativity to Hunterdon county, New Jersey, where he was born on the 16th of June, 1855. He remained in New Jersey until about sixteen years of age, when he came to Cass county, Iowa, and located at Anita, and there clerked in a drug store for five years, when he returned to New Jersey, on a visit. In the spring of 1875 became to his present location, on section 19, of Atlantic township, where he now owns 186 acres of good land, nearly all under cultivation, and nicely adapted to raising stock. Mr. Voorhies was united in marriage, in 1877, to Miss Lizzie Shuart, who is a native of Ohio. By this union, three children have been born--Henry S., Mary Eliza and Hattie May. Mr. Voorhies' father is now living in New Jersey. His mother died in 1857. Mr. V. is a young man of industry and integrity, and quite successful.

Andrew Gardner, is a native of Green county, New York, and was born on the 27th of March, 1841. When twelve years of age, his parents removed to Waupacca county, Wisconsin, and there Andrew received his education. He came to this county in March, 1881, and bought a farm on section 9, Atlantic township, where he now owns one hundred and twenty acres of good, cultivated land, and raises some of the finest cattle and hogs in the county, and has several fine Norman horses, which are of great value. His father was a Presbyterian minister in his younger days, but in his declining years he resides with his son Andrew. The latter was united in marriage, in 1869, with Ann E. Rice, a native of New York. Their marriage has been blessed with four children--Alfred R., Erwin B., Leonard B. and James Willard.

Transcribed by Deb Lightcap-Wagner, April, 2014 and Cheryl Siebrass, March, 2022 from: "History of Cass County, 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", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 848-50.