"The History of Decatur County, Iowa: 1839 - 1970"

by Himena V. Hoffman
Published by Decatur County Historical Society, Leon IA, 1970
 
Some Prominent Families, Part I, Pages 117 - 120
Transcription by Carmelita
 
The last of occupational groups to consider is that of the farmers, still the most numerous group in the county though this is the period of the dominance of the businessmen and the establishment of so many small towns.

Fortunately, for the information about this group, we have the Biographical History of Ringgold and Decatur County, published in 1885 that contains many sketches of the farmers at that time.

Allan Scott's success was based on an economy that no longer existed after the Civil War. Family and friends still gathered at his place for Sunday dinners, but his possessions grew less each year. The post office has been moved to Pleasanton, the mill was closed, there were no Indians to come to a trading post nor immigrants taking that route west to whom to sell supplies. The place that had once been home to twenty-five or thirty people lived chiefly in the memories of an old man who loved to tell stories and a wife who was still a good cook. His biography is not even included in the 1885 publication, but Mrs. Kellogg's history does tell of her visit with the Scotts.

Robert Houston, whose grant of one thousand acres included what is now Decatur City, had died, but his widow had a one hundred and ninety acre farm where she lived in 1885.

As to the Kelloggs, Ozro had been dead for over thirty years. His widow, Harriet Kellogg, added supplements to the county history she had written at about this time. Charles Kellogg died the year after the Civil War following a disastrous attempt to raise sheep in Tennessee. Major Racine Kellogg and his wife Elizabeth Burns Kellogg, whom he married in 1864, lived in the first brick house built in Garden Grove and was one of Garden Grove's leading citizens.

Captain Eli Alexander was a retired farmer. Eight of his nine children were living and he was very proud of his grandchildren.

German-born John Hagen had died at forty-four and his wife, also German-born, died when only thirty-five. John's son Joseph had a good farm of 199 acres and a country store at New Buda.

Henry Newlin, who took up land in 1850, had in 1885 two hundred and sixty acres of land, including an orchard of two hundred trees. The little log cabin where he first lived could have been placed in one corner of his two-story frame house.

Members of the Hamilton family that came to Decatur County between 1851 and 1865 were extensive landowners. Jonathan, Joseph and George had all prospered.

George Rudibaugh, who had arrived in Decatur County in 1858 with a wife, two children, and two dollars in money, now owned a farm and combined farming with teaching.

A.W. Moffit in 1885 was still active in the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints. Of his eleven children only five lived beyond early childhood, but he and his wife had cared for several orphans. Though he had arrived with but a tem, a wagon with a few household possessions, and nine dollars in cash, he now had a comfortable home, a large barn, and one hundred and sixty-seven acres.

George Machlan owned over five hundred acres of land and had a family of five children.

David C. Cowles, who had been employed by William Davis in the mill at Davis City, now owned his own mill and land in Eden Township.

John Logan, unlike those who had torn down their log cabins, had enclosed his as a part of his good farm home. He owned six hundred acres of land, raised fine hogs and cattle, and gave generously to the Methodist Church south. The chapel near his home was called Logan's chapel. He let it be known that in his will he had left $2000 for "the benefit of worn out preachers and for orphans of deceased preachers."

Issac McCleary, Democrat, had died. His will left nothing for a son, John, who had become a Republican, but John was successful in mining ventures in California and had returned to Iowa. In 1885 he had a two hundred acre farm in High Point Township. He shared in his mother's estate as doubtless his father expected.

John Springer died on his thirty-ninth birthday, his death due in part to war services.

John Gardner died in 1875 but his son William and wife and five children were active members of the Christian church, and John W. and his wife and five children were also members.

Spencer Akers had a good residence, a large barn, and a fine orchard.

Miles Wasson, who returned from the Mexican War to find his claim owned by another man, now owned four hundred acres of land and had nine living children. His daughter Lucinda Wasson Gammill had died, leaving three small children.

John McKibben, who with his bride had arrived with a flock of sheep in 1857, now had five hundred merino sheep besides a fine herd of cattle and five hundred and seventy acres of land.

J. W. Piercy had a good farm on which there was a three acre grove of maples, a favorite picnic spot not only for his family but for others also.

Irish-born Issac Wiley had four hundred acres of land and ten children.

James Blair "lived for thirty years on the farm he now occupies without a law suit or church trial."

Seth Samson in his biographical sketch had it stated, "All he has was obtained by hard labor and the blessing of God, aided by his excellent wife and children."

Lyman Chase's daughters "all have interesting families."

William Craig believed that "he who does the most for his fellow man is the better Christian."

Often a marriage that united two families led to other weddings. For instance, Ella May Hamilton, daughter of G. A. Hamilton, married Frederic Redman. Her sister Sarah, married Walter Redman. L. M. Severe married Alice Warnock; his brother A. M. Severe married her sister Lillie. Carl Jacob Hoffman's daughter, Himena, married R. L. Parrish. His son Calvin's second wife was Nellie Parrish. Two of the daughters of John Stanley married Ed and Sherm Rumley. Three of Eli Alexander's sons married Caldwells and triple marriages united the Stout and Skinner families.
 
 
"The History of Decatur County, Iowa: 1839 - 1970" Index   ***   History Index   ***   Decatur County IAGenWeb