Sugar Grove Township Biographies

Excerpt from The History of Dallas County, Iowa, published in 1879 by the Union Historical Company of Des Moines, Iowa

Adams, J. Q., farmer, Sec. 19; P.O. Minburn.

Aiken, E. R., farmer and physician, Minburn.

Albin, S.E., farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Dallas Center; born in Indiana in 1835; came to this county in 1855; owns 90 acres of land; has held offices of school director, town trustee and town clerk; ;he married Miss Ann Tovey in 1868; she was born in Pennsylvania; have four children; Eugene Kelly, Dudly W., Bertie and Ward.

Albin, W.W., farmer, Sec. 9; P.O. Minburn.

Aschan, Carl, section boss; P.O. Minburn.

Bartlett, P.S., farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. Minburn; born in Hanover County, Ohio, in 1830; came to this county in 1867; owns 160 acres of land; has held office of school director; he married Miss Eliza J. Moore, February 17, 1859; she was born in Ohio; have seven children: Thomas, Annabel, Frank G., Willard, Della, Clinton and Baby.

Basart, Martin, farmer, Sec. 21; P.O. Dallas Center.

Beall, T., farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Minburn; born in Indiana in 1834; came to this county in 1852; owns 180 acres of land; he enlisted in the 39th Iowa Infantry, in the late war, and served three years; he was wounded at the battle of Altoona, and lost a limb. His father, Wm. S. Beall, was one of the early settlers of the county, coming here in 1852; he was born in Kentucky, May 15, 1812, and previous to his removal to this county, lived in Indiana for many years; he died in June, 1875, leaving a widow and five children; names: Thomas, Nancy, Susan, Mary and Minta.

Beeson, V. W., blacksmith, Minburn.

Best, Edward, farmer, Sec.. --; P.O. Minburn.

Bickford, Lewis, farmer, Sec. 2; P.O. Minburn.

Blackman, Geo., farmer, Sec. 1; ; P.O. Minburn; born in Ireland in 1829; came to this country in 1852, and was for many years a resident of Buffalo, New York, and was in the employ of the N.Y. Cent. R.R., and his services were so valued that overtures have been made him several times to return and fill his old position; he resided in Camden three years previous to his going to New York State; came to this county in September, 1869; he owns 101 acres of land; he married Miss Jane Minnis, May 22, 1860; she was born in Ireland; have five children: Wm., George, Susan, Sarah M. and Fannie L. Mr. B., while in the employ of the N.Y. Cent. R.R., had charge of a large force of men, who spike the switches in order that the late President Lincoln might pass through the State safely on his way to Washington to be inaugurated.

Boyle, Michael, farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Dallas Center.

Brayton, G. F., merchant, Minburn.

Braniff, Dennis, farmer, Sec. 23; P.O. Dallas Center.

Brown & Gooselin, blacksmiths, Minburn.

Brown, Levi, farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Dallas Center; born in New York in 1842; came to this county in 1870; owns 100 acres of land; he enlisted in the 1st New York Light Artillery during the late war, and re-enlisted as a veteran; he married Miss Kate Cole, in 1865; she was born in New York; have two children: George L. and Nellie A.

Brown, N.J., farmer, Sec. 1; P.O. Dallas Center; born in Indiana in 1837, and in 1838 removed with his parents to Muscatine County, this state, where he remained 40 years, coming to this county in 1878; owns 160 acres of land; he married Miss Vesta C. Ferry in 1862; she was born in Burlington, Iowa; has eight children: Harvey W., Hubert C., Matthew O., Adrian W., Bertha L., George E., Flavia M., Elsie S.

Brubaker, A. C., farmer, Sec. 36; P.O. Dallas Center.

Burns, Judge Lloyd D., was born in Clark county, Ohio, August 8, 1825, where he lived until twelve or fourteen years of age, and then moved with his parents to Elkhart county, Indiana, where he remained until 1840. On March 15th of that year, thought not yet fifteen years of age, he assumed the responsibility of seeking his own fortune in life. In the fall of 1840 he came West as far a Vermilion county, Ills., where he received his education through his own industrious efforts, and for sometime engaged in the milling business, becoming a practiced millwright by trade; November 15, 1846, he married Minerva J. Adams, of Preble County, Ohio, and about the 15th of April, 1847, they started in their own wagon en route westward for Iowa, arriving in Polk county about the middle of May following, and settled for a while a short distance east of Des Moines. In March, 1848, he moved still further west, and located with his family on a claim in Dallas county, where he still lives comfortable fixed to enjoy the decline of life in peace and plenty. On arriving at this new home, he found a wild, uncultivated, yet fertile and attractive place, with beautiful surroundings in which to prepare his future dwelling-place, and at once set about building a cabin, clearing a garden patch and making necessary preparations for the coming winter. It was fortunate for him that he did arrive so early in the season, in order to make some provisions for shelter and living, for the winter which followed was a fearful one (of which a description has been given in the general history) -- the new-comers and their stock suffered intensely on account of the heavy snows and drifting storms, as food and shelter were scarce for both man and beast. The winter was so severe that it frightened many of the newcomers away, as soon as it became possible for them to travel. One of his neighbors, John Sullivan, traded his claim and cabin for a gun valued at $6.00, and left for other parts to seek a warmer climate; but the judge remained unmovable from the place of his choice, and persevered in improving his new home, despite all inconveniences, and is now reaping a rich reward for the trials and hardships endured during his early pioneer days, having converted his once wild claim into one of the first farms in Sugar Grove township; he has held several important official positions of honor and trust in his county, always filling them with honor to himself and credit to his constituents. In 1851, he was elected county judge, for the term of four years; was re-elected in 1855; and again re-elected in 1857, and many of the early county records appear over his signature as county judge of Dallas county; in 1861 he was Democratic candidate for State senator, and ran far ahead of his ticket, though Col. James Redfield, his opponent, was elected; in 1864 Judge Burns was a delegate from the Fifth Congressional (Des Moines) District, to the Chicago Convention; in the fall of 1875 he was elected county supervisor; and in the fall of 1878 he was re-elected to the same position, which he now holds; in 1876, on the recommendation of many of the first citizens of the county, as being the one best suited to perform that important work, he was appointed by the governor to prepare a Centennial History of Dallas county, a part of which work he performed, but never completed the entire history, and to which work we are indebted for many important facts and incidents in this County History; he has a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters: Letitia, now Mrs. Henderson, of Dallas Center, Alexander, Lewis, Robert, Augusta, Adella, Mary, Ada, Lyle, Edwin R. and Ward; all of the last mentioned ten being at home still.

Camp, C., farmer, Sec. 20; P.O. Minburn.

Cartwright, W., farmer, Sec. 20; P.O. Minburn; born in North Carolina in 1804; in 1816 his parents removed to Indiana, where he remained until 1843, when he emigrated to Missouri, and came to this county in the spring of 1853; he owns 125 acres of land; he has held the office of township trustee; he married Miss Sarah Smith in 1837; she was born in Ohio; has nine children: David, Elizabeth, Mary A., William R., John, Louisa, James B., Sarah and Frances.

Collins, L. L., farmer and capitalist, Sec. --; P.O. Dallas Center; born in Washington County, N.Y., in 1816; lived eleven years in Cayuga County, and removed to Calhoun County, Michigan, in 1844, and remained there until March 2, 1850, when he removed to Porter County, Indiana; he came to this county in 1855; owns 540 acres of land; has held offices of township trustee, township clerk, and treasurer of the school board, and was the only treasurer out of five that made good his account by the loss of money in the hands of the county treasurer; Mr. Collins felt he was individually responsible for the money committed to his trust, and like the true man, he has paid it out of his own pocket; he married Miss L. Blanchard in 1843; she was born in Cayuga county, N.Y., and died September 23, 1856; he afterward married Sophia L. Ridevut in 1859; she was born in East Dorset, Bennington county, Vermont; has four children by first marriage: Gilbert W., Edgar L., James B. and Fred E. and three by second marriage: Celia F., Jesse J. and Silas C.

Collins, L. L., farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Dallas Center.

Collins, Daniel, farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Dallas Center.

Connell, M.D., farmer, Sec. 2; P.O. Minburn.

Crawford, C. E., farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Minburn.

Cushman, Joel, restaurant, Minburn.

Eakin, G., farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Dallas Center; born in Ireland in 1828; came to this state in 1875; previous to his removal to this county he resided in Chicago, and followed for many years his occupation as carpenter, and his reputation was enviable as a master workman; he owns 180 aces of land; he married Miss Carrie Rochelle in 1860; she was born in Sussex county, New Jersey; has seven children: Charles, Fannie, Nellie, Robbie, Carrie, Jennie and Frank.

Edmunson, S., farmer, Sec. 19; P.O. Minburn; born in Knox County, Tennessee, Oct. 2, 1819; in 1824 his parents removed to Indiana, where he remained until his removal to this county in 1854; he owns 89 acres of land; he has held offices of school director, assessor, and justice of the peace; he married Miss Matilda Greeson in 1843; she was born in North Carolina, and died March 16, 1874; he afterward married Jane Roe, in 1874; she was born in Indiana; has one son: Samuel E.

Edmunson, F., blacksmith, Minburn.

Edmunson, Edgar, farmer, Sec. 19; P.O. Minburn.

Faulkner, E. C., farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Dallas Center.

Ford, A. F., Minburn.

Fowler, M. J., Minburn.

Foster, Nathan, farmer, Sec. 14; P.O. Dallas Center.

Gerber, Joseph, Sec. 19; P.O. Minburn.

Gill, Luther, station agent, Minburn.

Gillam, John W., hotel, Minburn.

Gossman, S.S., farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Dallas Center.

Gott, F. M., farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Dallas Center.

Gray, F. M., farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Minburn.

Griebler, E., Minburn.

Gribben, M. W., grain buyer, Minburn.

Hall, E., farmer, Sec. 30; P.O. Minburn.

Hill, J. B., farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Minburn.

Hose, Samuel, farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. Dallas Center; born in Washington County, Maryland, in 1822; he removed to Ogle County, Illinois, in 1851, and remained there 23 years, coming to this county April 3, 1874; he owns 75 acres of land, and on which there is a good line fence, nearly enclosing it. Mr. H., has devoted more than ordinary attention to horticultural pursuits, and the care he has given to his orchard and fruits show he is not a novice in the business; he married Emaline Sieyster in 1853; she was born in Maryland; has eleven children: Jonas F., Andrew F., Mary E., Lydia A., Ellen, Lillie, Daniel C., Rosa, Mary, Clara and Susan.

Huff, P. B., farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Dallas Center.

Jennings, Jacob, farmer, Sec. 33; P.O. Dallas Center.

Kinney, N. R., farmer, Sec. 19; P.O. Minburn.

King, L. W., farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Dallas Center.

Knowls, Frank, hotel, Minburn.

Knowls, Fred., farmer, Sec. 8; P.O. Minburn.

Knowles, A. J., merchant, Minburn.

Knospe, F., farmer, Sec. 28; P.O. Dallas Center.

Luellen, Wm., farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Minburn.

Lyon, A. J., farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 16; P.O. Minburn; born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1832; came to this state in September, 1865; owns 668 acres of land; has held office of township trustee, assessor, school treasurer and served one term as county surveyor by appointment; he enlisted in the 54th Indiana Infantry in the late war; ;was commissioned Corporal of Company E, and served until the close of the war; he married Miss Matilda Elliott in 1855; she was born in Ohio, and died in 1859; he afterward married Miss L.C. Hemphill, September 14, 1865; she was born in Indiana; has one child: Henrietta.

McClure, J. O., farmer, Sec. 25; P.O. Dallas Center.

McClure, W. P., farmer, Sec.. 25; P.O. Dallas Center.

McPhillips, Frank, Minburn.

Massey, Z. T., farmer, Sec. 20; P.O. Minburn.

Maulsby, Forest, Minburn.

Maurer, M. M., saloon-keeper, Minburn.

Meyers, G. S., farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Dallas Center.

Minnis, Wm., farmer, Sec. 17; P.O. Minburn; born in Ireland n 1831; came to the United States in 1849; he resided in Buffalo, New York, for several years, and came to this county in 1870; owns 100 acres of land; has held offices of school director and township trustee; he enlisted in the 74th New York Infantry in the late war; married Miss Frances Merritt, in 1857; she was born in Ireland; have six children: Lizzie F., Henry I., William J., Nathaniel G., Tillie S. and Jesse M.

Mitchell, Jacob, farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Minburn; born in Adams County, Ohio, in 1831; came to this county first in 1850; he owns 190 aces of land; has held office of township trustee; he married Miss Alice Beall in 1859; she was born in Indiana; died in 1860; he afterward married Miss Lucinda West in 1862; she was born in Indiana; has one child by first marriage: Winfield. Lost one. Has six children by second marriage: Fred, Carrie, Ward, Cora, Mina and Frank. Lost two. Mr. Mitchell enlisted in the 39th Iowa Infantry in the late war, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea.

Mitchell, W., restaurant, Minburn.

Mitchell, John, farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Dallas Center.

Mortimer, W.W., farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3; P.O. Minburn; born in Virginia, in 1841; at the outbreak of the rebellion he removed to Pennsylvania, and from there to Marion county, Iowa, coming to this county in 1869; he owns 440 acres of land; has held offices of township trustee, assessor and school director; he married Miss Nancy J. Brown February 1, 1865; she was born in Marion county, Iowa; has five children: Clara A., Mary E., Cora J., Nora M. and Theron W.

Muck, James, farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Minburn.

Mumort, A. B., farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Dallas Center.

Murphy, Joseph, farmer, Sec. 2; P.O. Minburn.

Myers, J. K., farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Minburn.

Neiswanger, Samuel, farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Minburn.

Neiswanger, A., farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Dallas Center.

Ney, Henry, farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Dallas Center.

Oakland, John, Minburn.

Olds, J. K., farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Minburn.

Osborne, Richard, of the firm of Osborne Brothers, Minburn; born in England in 1847; came to this county in 1867.

Osborne, J. J., of the firm of Osborne Brothers, lumber dealers, contractors and builders, and proprietors of the saw and planing mills, Minburn; born in England in 1835; came to the United States in 1865; he married Miss Lucinda Adams, July 4, 1870; she was born in Dallas county; has four children: Mary A., Winnie M., Bessie and Edward M.

Osborne, Wm, of the firm of Osborne Brothers, Minburn; was born in England in 1853; came to this county in 1872.

Peters, F., farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Dallas Center.

Pilbean, J., hardware, Minburn.

Price, Jacob E., farmer, Sec. 36; P.O. Dallas Center.

Ramage, Jonathan, farmer, Sec. 2; P.O. Minburn.

Rhinehart, A., farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Dallas Center.

Rhinehart, Geo., farmer, Sec 28; P.O. Dallas Center.

Rogers, D. F., farmer, Sec. 8; P.O. Minburn.

Sadler, Wm., farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Minburn.

Schuman, J., farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Dallas Center.

Schlossen, J., farmer, Sec. 23; P.O. Dallas Center.

Scott, W. P., farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Dallas Center.

Seidler, Wm., druggist, Minburn.

Sharp, Morris, farmer, Sec. 9; P.O. Minburn.

Slaughter, Moses, farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Dallas Center; born in North Carolina in 1815, and in 1832 removed to Indiana, and came to this county in 1855; he owns 170 aces of land; has held offices of justice of the peace, school director, &c; he married Miss Mary Powell, December 28, 1841; she was born in Wayne county, Indiana; has four children: Julia A., Ella, Lila E. and Channcy M.; lost three: Leroy, Luther L. and Elizabeth.

Snell, R. A., farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Minburn.

Snell, Wm., farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Minburn.

Snow, S.C., farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Dallas Center.

Snyder, G. W., farmer, Sec. 31; P.O. Dallas Center.

Steiner, S., farmer, Sec. 30; P.O. Dallas Center.

Stephens, Thos., farmer, Sec. 31; P.O. Dallas Center.

Taylor, S.C., farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Minburn; born in Ohio in 1818; his parents removed to Indiana while he was young, where he remained until his removal to this county in 1849; he owns 424 acres of land; has held offices of sheriff, county supervisor, and justice of the peace 16 years, and taught the first school in the township; he married Miss Phoebe Murron in 1843; she was born in Indiana; has four children: Howard W., Sarah J. (wife of J. W. King), John W. and Slemmons D.

Taylor, Howard C., farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Dallas Center; born in Park County, Indiana, in 1848, came to this county in 1849; owns 90 acres of land; he married Miss Harriet Albin, in 1870; she was born in Indiana; has three children: Delven W., Clinton and Mary E.; lost one.

Tooman, J. H., farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Dallas Center.

Tovey, J., farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Dallas Center.

Warrington, J. W., farmer, and miller, Sec. 30; P.O. Dallas Center.

Warford, I., farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Minburn.

Warrington, J. O., farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14; P.O. Dallas Center; born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1829; came the state in 1853, and entered land in Mahaska county, this he sold in 1855, and came to this county, first in 1855, removing his family in 1856; he owns 326 acres of land; has held offices of town clerk, school director, town trustee and justice of the peace; he was the successful bidder for the mail contract for carrying the mail between Oskaloosa and Washington in 1862; also in 1870 from Des Moines to Boone, and from Stuart to Panora and Casey; he married for his first wife Miss Cordelia Eastman, who was born in Ohio; he afterward married Miss Jane Jeffrey in 1854; she was born in Ohio; has one child by first marriage: Henry M.; and four by second marriage: Pluma, Thomas A., Charles H. and Jane J.

Warford, John, dealer in general merchandise, Minburn; born in North Carolina in 1838; came to this county in October, 1852; has held offices of justice of the peace and postmaster; he married Miss S. A. Sutphen, in September, 1863; she was born in Indiana; has one child, Dottie, born January 24, 1866.

Waters, W. H., farmer, Sec. 33; P.O. Dallas Center; born near Montreal, Canada, in 1832; came to this county in July, 1866; owns 100 acres of land; he married Miss Sarah Braniff in August, 1854; she was born in Canada East; has thirteen children living, Sarah, Elizabeth, Catharine, John, Joseph, Mary, Margaret, Isabel, May, William, Henrietta, Alexander and Henry, one son, Patrick, aged 13 years, was drowned in Coon river.

Wernick, Fred, Sec. 18; P.O. Dallas Center.

West, J. J., farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Minburn.

West, E. D., farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. Minburn.

West, John, farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Minburn; born in Indiana, in 1841; came to this county in 1853; he enlisted in the 2d Iowa Battery in the late war, and served three years, and was in 14 engagements; he married Miss Sarah J. West in 1866; she was born in New York; has five children: Albert, Ida, Clara, Amelia and Joseph.

West, Daniel, farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Minburn; born in England in 1811; came to this county in 1853; owns 50 acres of land; has lived on the same land on which he now resides, since coming to the county; held office of postmaster five years; he married Sarah Burras in 1835; she was born in Ohio; has six children: John J., Jane E., Tabitha, Lucinda, Mary and Sarah A.

West, T. J., farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Minburn.

Wesley, Delos, farmer, Sec. 3; P.O. Dallas Center.

Wilks, W., farmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Dallas Center.

Zook, D. B., farmer, Sec. 36; P.O. Dallas Center.