731IOWA TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER XIV.

IOWA TOWNSHIP.

[township sketch not yet transcribed...]

 

735IOWA TOWNSHIP.
BIOGRAHICAL.

 

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BOYD, DANIEL D.—Sec. 31, P.O. South Amana. Was born in Morgan county, Ohio, June 18, 1840, where he spent his boyhood with his parents until he was twenty years old, when he came to Iowa and stopped in Johnson county. In 1861 he enlisted in company F, First Iowa cavalry, and served during the war, participating in twenty-eight battles and skirmishes, the most important being the battles of Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Lone Jack, Black Water, Little Missouri, Springfield and Wilson Creek. Being discharged in 1866 he returned to Johnson county and farmed, as a renter, until 1868, when he went to Iowa county and worked by the month until 1869, when he bought the farm he is now living on, consisting of 160 acres. In 1874 he married Mary Anthoney, of Johnson county, by whom he has three children: Julie Jane, Edith Amelia and Wyly Anthoney. He has made all the improvements on his farm, excepting the breaking of fifty acres that were broken when he bought it in 1869, and he has raised the present year, 3,000 bushels of corn, 700 bushels of oats, 200 bushels of wheat, and thirty bushels of timothy seed. He has a tasty house, and his place shows that he is industrious and energetic. He is Republican in politics. Mrs. Boyd is a member of the Congregational Church.

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DOESCHER, E.H.—Sec. 16, P.O. Homestead. Was born in Hanover, Germany, August 10, 1845. He came with his parents to the

736HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

United States in 1854. After their arrival at New York he was left at Williamsburgh, New York, with an uncle, and his parents went to Indiana, where he joined them two years later. In 1861 he came with them to Iowa, locating in Johnson county. He is closely identified with the educators of the county, having been engaged in teaching for a number of years. In 1873 he married Kate Rees, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, by whom he has three children: Emma, John and Ida. He and his father own a farm in Iowa township on which he works during the farming season. He is the inventor of an ingenious clock attachment which he calls the Amateur Fire-lighter. It is very simple in its construction, consisting of a simple little machine placed in front of or under the stove grate, connected to the clock by a string, and can be so regulated as to ignite the fire any day or hour. It is used by teachers, and by it their fire is ignited on Monday morning, they not being in the room since the previous Friday evening, the only motive power being an ordinary eight day clock. For daily use in families the machine is more simple and can be had at a trifling expense. Himself and wife are members of the St. John’s German Lutheran Church of Iowa township. He is a Democrat, and has held several offices in his township.

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DONALDSON, JOHN—Sec. 8, P. O. Homestead. Was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1830. When he was young his parents moved to Wayne county, Ohio, where he lived with them until he was twenty years of age. In 1850 went to California, returning to Ohio the same year; came to Iowa in 1853, and located in Johnson county where he followed farming until 1858, when he came to Iowa and purchased 640 acres of uncultivated land, and his present estate. He has an orchard of 400 bearing fruit trees and a vineyard of half an acre. His farm is well stocked. In 1852 he married Sarah Weiker, of Morgan county, Ohio, by whom he has six children: Eliza Jane (wife of Henry Newmire), Andrew J., Cordelia, James M., Viola and Clinton S. living at home. He is a Democrat, and has held many postitions in his township, holding the office of township clerk for ten years.

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JONES, HENRY—Sec. 18, P.O. South Amana. Was born at Glanmorganshire, Wales, September 1, 1846. When he was very young came with his parents to the United States and settled at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where he lived until he was fourteen, when he came to Iowa. In 1861 he began to learn the trade of brick-making under Thomas Sherlock, of Homestead, and for whom he worked until 1864, when he went as a teamster in the Union army, serving until the close of the war. Returned to Homestead and engaged in brick-making for a time. In the winter of 1865-6 he attended school. In 1867 he purchased 160 acres of land in this township, the farm which he now owns. During the winter season, since 1867, he has followed school-teaching. In the autumn of 1880 commenced a course in Cornell College, at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, to prepare himself for entering the State University at Iowa City. His farm is now all under cultivation with a neat and comfortable house, which his mother and the younger portion of the family are enjoying with him, his mother being his only housekeeper. He and three younger brothers are farming 360 acres. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a staunch Republican. In 1880 he was appointed enumerator and took the census of Iowa township.

737IOWA TOWNSHIP.

 

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MOUNT, RICHARD—Sec. 18, P.O. South Amana. Was born in Yorkshire, England, December 13, 1827. After he had attained his majority he worked for his father as a farm hand until 1852, coming to the United States in August of that year with an importation of thorough-bred Short-Horn cattle sent by the Madison County Importing Company of Ohio. After prospecting through Indiana and Illinois, he returned to England in November, 1853. In February, 1856, he married Ann Hawley, of Wortley Bank, Yorkshire, England, and in 1858 came to the United States. He settled in Madison county, Ohio, where he resided until the spring of 1860, when he came to Iowa county. In 1861 he bought his first farm of eighty acres, and has since increased it to one hundred and twenty acres. In 1865 he bought another farm of one hundred and twenty acres which is the farm he is now living on. He has made both his farms from the raw prairie. Is among the solid farmers of the county.

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NEWMIRE, C.P.—Sec. 13, P.O. Homestead. Was born in Knox county, Ohio, January 13, 1820. His father dying when he was twelve years old, he lived with his mother for one year, when he was thrown upon the world to care for himself. Until he was eighteen years old he worked as a farm hand in Knox county, the first year receiving his board and clothing for his services. In 1838 he hired out to Warner & Co., of Newark, Ohio, to drive stage from Mt. Vernon and between Newark and Zanesville, being in their employ two years. In 1840 he was employed by Neal, Moore & Co. to drive stage between Columbus, Ohio, and Wheeling, Virginia, remaining in this position until 1850. In January, 1845, he married Elizabeth Harner, of Cumberland, Ohio. In February of that year he went to California, and after his arrival tried to work in the mines, but that not agreeing with his health, he went to the San Jose valley, where he was employed as a stage-driver until April, 1851. Then returned to Jacksontown and was soon after employed on his old stage route between Columbus and Wheeling. There he continued until the fall of 1855, when he came to Iowa and settled in Johnson county. In 1857 he came to Iowa county and purchased forty acres of land in this township, which he improved and sold in 1865, and soon after bought eighty acres, the farm on which he is now living. He has an orchard of one hundred and thirty bearing fruit trees and forty-five bearing grape vines. He has nine children: Henry (of Audubon county), Jacob (in the employ of the railroad company at Muscatine), John (in Johnson county), Harriet (wife of George Orissinger, of Iowa county), Mary (wife of W.A. Morgan of Johnson county), Charles, Sarah, Frank and Ella May. His politics are Republican and he has held several positions in his township.

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NEWKIRK, H.—Sec. 28, P. O. Homestead. Was born in Hanover, Germany, July 10, 1834, and when three years old his parents came to the United States, shipping on board the Atlantic, a sailing vessel, at Bremen, and landing at Baltimore after an eight week's voyage. From Baltimore they went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and soon after to Dearborn county, where they lived until 1845. Then moved to Franklin county, where he lived until he became of age, and there learned the trade of blacksmithing. September 14, 1855, he married Sophia Bush, and the same year rented his father-in-law's farm, which he farmed until 1865. Then came to Iowa and settled in Iowa township, Iowa county, buying 160 acres of land with a few acres improved, and since then he has added to it so that his farm now contains 410 acres, and with one of the best residences in the township. He

738HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

has raised the present year 9,000 bushels of corn, 600 bushels of wheat, 750 bushels of oats, 225 bushels of barley, and forty bushels of timothy seed. At the time of his marriage his whole capital was $150, and all he now owns he has accumulated since that time. He has ten children: F. Henry, George, Lizzie, John, Emily, Christian, Mary, Dorie, Louie and Minnie. He is Democratic in politics, and has held some township office nearly every year. Himself and family are all members of the German Lutheran Church.

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SHERLOCK, LUKE—Sec. 5, P. O. Homestead. Was born in Rosson, Derbyshire, England, October 6, 1818, and when thirteen years old was thrown upon the world to care for himself, working the first year for a sovereign ($4.84), and his board. In 1832 he went to Cheshire where he worked on a farm, returning in 1833, where he worked in different avocations. In 1845, he married Elizabeth Smith, and came to America in 1848, shipping from Liverpool to New York on the William Vail, a sailing vessel, being fifty days on the voyage. On his arrival in the United States he settled in Erie county, Ohio, where he worked as a farm hand until 1853. Then came to Iowa and settled in this township, buying 110 acres of wild land. He was one of the first settlers in the township. There is now only one of the old settlers who was here when he settled, and he is William Spicer, near Homestead. Mr. S. now owns two farms in the township containing 432 acres. He has acquired all his property since coming to America in 1848. He has four children: Stephen (living on one of his father's farms in Iowa township), John Henry, Arthur and Sarah Elizabeth (living in Nebraska). His wife died March 20, 1878. On his farm near South Amana, he has a substantial brick house, with good barn and outbuildings, and an orchard of 400 bearing trees, with shade and ornamental trees.

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VOSBURGH, J.H.—Sec. 32, P.O. South Amana. Was born in Wood county, Ohio, September 15, 1837, and there lived until he was of age. In 1860 he went to Wisconsin where he spent one summer, returning to his native town in the fall. In 1861 he enlisted in company H, Forty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served three years, participating in many battles and skirmishes; Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Murfreesboro, Chickmauga, Mission Ridge, Knoxville, Rocky Face, Resaca and Pickett’s Mills, being wounded at the latter May 27, 1864, in consequence of which he lay in the hospital until the 16th of September following, when he was discharged from the service. Then returned to Ohio, where he was laid up with his wound until March of 1865, and during that year began farming. He married Lucinda Locey in November, 1865, and in the spring of 1867 went to Michigan and bought a farm where he remained until 1870, when he sold out and came to Iowa, and engaged in farming as a renter until 1874, when he bought the farm on which he is now living. He has five children: James Harry (born November 1, 1866), Rilla D. May (born October 1, 1868), Charles Henry (born November 17, 1870), Richard Nye (born October 11, 1875) and Melville (born July 23, 1880). He is Republican in politics and has held the office of justice of the peace for three years.