Washington Twp. Biographies

Washington Township Biographies

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

Alborn, Henry, farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Minburn.

Andreus, Hiram, farmer, P.O. Minburn.

Badger, Robert, farmer, Sec. 33; P.O. Panther Creek.

Badger, John, farmer, Sec. 33; P.O. Panther Creek.

Barrett, Mark, farmer, Sec. 30; P.O. Panther Creek.

Beiderman, E. and F., farmers, Sec. 22; P.O. Minburn.

Betzenhouser, N., farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Minburn.

Betzenhouser, Geo., farmer, Sec. 28; P.O. Panther Creek.

Bever, J. B., farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Adel; was born in Seneca County, Ohio, March 18, 1832; where he lived until he was 23 years of age; he married Elizabeth Richards, a native of Crawford County, Ohio, February 8, 1855; she was born September 23, 1835; they came to this county in the fall of 1856, and located on the place where they now live; their farm contains 171 acres; they have two sons and three daughters: Wm. M., born in Seneca County, Ohio, December 27, 1855; Emma, born in this county June 15, 1858; Oscar A., January 29, 1861; Minnie A., January 12, 1871; Cora L., Feb 5, 1873; they have lost one son, Wesley G., who was born March 1, 1866, and died December 26, 1870; was justice of the peace two years, township clerk four years, and held other township offices.

Bever, Alvin, farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Adel.

Britton, Andrew, farmer, Sec. 21; P.O. Panther Creek.

Britton, I. N., farmer, Sec. 28; P.O. Panther Creek.

Bryant, John, farmer, Sec. 12; P.O. Minburn.

Bumgardner, Charles, farmer, Sec. 19; P.O. Minburn.

Campbell, A. B., farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Adel.

Coulter, Charles, farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Minburn.

Clark, A. C., farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Minburn.

Clark, Nathan,farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Minburn.

Craig, J. H., farmer, Sec. 1; P.O. Minburn.

Dougherty, L.A., farmer, Sec. 33; P.O. Panther Creek.

Edwards, H. C., farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Minburn.

Ellis, J. W., farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 16; P.O. Dallas Center; born in Summerset County, Maine, December 20, 1818; he lived there until 1851; he married Miss Mary A. Clifford, a native of Kennebec County, Maine, in 1842; he, with his family, came west in 1851, and located in Peoria County, Illinois, where they remained until 1857, and then removed to Crawford County, Iowa; lived there five years, and then returned to Peoria County, Illinois; he remained there but a short time, and then went to Bureau County, Illinois, where he remained about six years, and then came to this county in February, 1872, and located in Washington township, where he now lives; he owns a farm of 415 acres; has given two of his children 320 acres; has a family of five sons and two daughters: Charles K., Frank, Ferdinand F., George W., Adelia (now Mrs. Daniel Child), Addie and John.

Ellis, G. W., farmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Minburn.

Flickiner, J. O., farmer; P.O. Dallas Center.

French, William, farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Panther Creek.

Fronk, J. W., farmer, Sec. 21; P.O. Minburn.

Fronk, H. A., farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. Minburn.

Fronk, J. R., farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Minburn.

Garoutte, Walker, farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Adel; born in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in 1818, where he lived until 1829; his parents then moved to Highland County, Ohio; he remained there until 1834, and then removed to Hancock, Illinois; he came to this County in 1855, and located in Adel township; has lived on his present farm since 1866; he married Kate Bevins in 1840; she is a native of Maryland; have one daughter: Addie; he served three years in the late rebellion, in Co. C, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, in the commissary department; his farm contains 80 acres.

Gates, Peter, farmer, Sec. 12; P.O. Minburn.

Gorham, O. B., farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Minburn.

Gorham, John, farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Minburn.

Henderson, Robert, farmer, Sec. 3; P.O. Minburn.

Hiney, E. F., farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Minburn.

Hurlburt, J. W., farmer, Sec. 9; P.O. Minburn.

Hurlburt, H. E., farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Minburn.

Hutcheson, Joseph G., farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Adel; born in Madison County, Indiana, in 1831; he came to this county in February, 1877, and located where he now lives; he has a farm of 105 acres; he married Miss Elizabeth Wood in 1854; she was born in Morgan County, Indiana; have one son and six daughters: Mary, Cyrus, Lottie, Maggie, Ida, Flora and Hattie; he served about sixteen months in the late rebellion, in Co. F., Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry.

Hutchinson, Joseph, farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Dallas.

Ingles, William, farmer, Sec. 8; P.O. Minburn.

Ingles, Jesse, farmer, Sec. 8; P.O. Minburn.

Jenkins, William, farmer, Sec. 36; P.O. Dallas Center; born in East Tennessee, January 1, 1831; he lived there but a short time when his parents moved to Putnam County, Indiana; he lived there off and on until 1850, he then went to California, driving a team all the way, and was six months on the road; he remained there three years engaged in mining; he then returned to Indiana, where he remained until coming to this county, in 1857; he located in this township in 1858, in company with two others; he was engaged to select swamp land in the six northwest counties; in 1859 he went to Pike�s Peak and returned the following winter; he returned to Pike�s Peak again in 1860, and also in 1861, prospecting for new diggings with the celebrated miner, John Gregory; was gone thirteen weeks, and then struck northwest, there being eleven in the company; he then returned; he married Elizabeth Frakes, March 6, 1862, a native of Putnam County, Indiana; she died September 3, 1863; he married again to Deborah Kidwell, of Madison County, Indiana, December 2, 1865; has three children by present wife: Edmund R. L., Joseph E. and William W.; his wife has one daughter by a former marriage: Mary L. Kidwell.

Jenkins, J. K., farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Dallas Center.

Koobestcheck, F., farmer, Sec. 17; P.O. Minburn.

Kugler, J. M., farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. Minburn; born in Harrison County, Ohio, October 22; 1830; he was six years of age when his parents moved to Belmont County, Ohio, where they lived about seven years, and then removed to Guernsey County, Ohio; lived there about six years, and one year in Noble County; in 1851 he went to California, where he remained until April, 1872, and then came to this county in the following May; he married Miss Emeline Crane, March 27, 1873; she was born in Stevenson County, Illinois, March 30, 1846; have three daughters: Nora May, born December 31, 1873; Cora Bell, born March 5, 1874; Minne Alice, born March 2, 1877 [Transcriber�s note: Birth date of one of the first two children seems incorrect, but that's what's in the book.]. His farm contains 240 acres, and eleven acres of timber.

Langfit, John, farmer, Sec. 31; P.O. Redfield.

Lee, Silas, A., farmer, Sec. 20; P.O. Minburn.

Long, John, farmer, Sec. 28; P.O. Panther Creek.

Lynch, John, farmer, Sec, 10; P.O. Minburn.

Miller, Franklin, farmer, Sec. 26; P.O. Minburn; born in Montgomery County, Indiana, November 27, 1838; he lived there until 1865; then came to this county and located in this township; owns a farm of 120 acres; he married Miss Lucinda Britton January 15, 1864, a native of Indiana; have one son and one daughter: Mary L. and Jesse. Was constable two years, township clerk one year and township trustee one year.

Minnis, Chas., farmer, Sec. 1; P.O. Minburn.

Moffatt, S. C., farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Minburn.

Montha, James, farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Dallas Center.

Murphy, W. H., farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Minburn; born in Warren County, Illinois, December 31, 1839, and lived there until 1861; enlisted in Company F 66th Illinois Infantry, October 10; was mustered out December 23, 1863; he re-enlisted the same day, and in the same company, and was mustered out July 7, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky; he participated in sixteen pitch battles and numerous skirmishes; has been married twice; first wife was Mary S. Parish, a native of Warren County, Illinois; they were married January 14, 1861; she died August 19, 1863; he has one son by this union: Ira V. He came to this county in February, 1866; on December 20, 1870, he married again, to Martha, widow of David Starbuck and Thomas Arrington; her maiden name was Warford; Mrs. M.�s first husband was an old settler of this county; he was born in Washington County, Indiana, November 17, 1817; he came to this county in 1850, and located where she now lives; he was a member of the first board of supervisors and was the first township clerk; he died December 1, 1865.

Myers, J. K., farmer, Sec. 1; P.O. Minburn.

Myers, Henry, farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. Minburn; born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1798, where he lived until he was about fifteen years of age; his parents then removed to Ohio, where they lived about four years; he then, with his parents, removed to Dearborn County, Indiana; he came to this county and located where he now lives, in September, 1852, and was among the first settlers in this township; his farm contains 194 acres; he married Margaret Hodshire, a native of Maryland, in 1826; she was raised in Indiana; she died December 15, 1870, leaving a family of four sons and one daughter: Samuel, Sarah, James, William and Franklin.

Nash, P., farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Minburn.

Perigo, R., farmer, Sec. 25; P.O. Adel.

Philbrick, E. D., farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Minburn.

Repp, Geo., farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Minburn.

Robbins, Henry, farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Minburn.

Rouse, Wm., farmer, Sec. 3; P.O. Minburn; was born in Louis County, Kentucky, September 27, 1824; he lived there until he was about seven years of age, when his father died; his mother and the balance of the family then removed to Park County, Ind., where he lived until 1849; he then emigrated to Iowa, and Dallas County; he selected and entered the farm where he now lives -- 173 acres; he has since increased the number to 313 acres; he married the widow of Israel Smith, of Lee County, Iowa, in January, 1851, at Des Moines; her maiden name was Crosby; she was a native of Sullivan County, New York; they have a family of six sons and three daughters: John, Amanda, Wm. R., James C., Elizabeth, Thompson, Albert, Mary A. and Chas. W.; Mrs. R. has one daughter by her former marriage: Sarah A.

Roush, John T., farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. Minburn; was born in Adams County, Ohio, August 16, 1819; he lived there until 1823, and then lived in different counties in Ohio until the winter of 1854; he then came to this county and entered his farm of 120 acres; he then returned to Ohio and brought his family here in May, 1855, and has lived in this county ever since; he married Catherine Neel, June 13, 1839; she was born in Brown County, Ohio, November 30, 1817; they have seven sons and four daughters: Sarah, Now Mrs. S.S. Davis, was born in Ohio, August 14, 1842; Francis, born in Ohio, December 1, 1843; Samuel U., born in Ohio, October 24, 1845; Wm. H., born in Ohio, June 22, 1847; David W., born in Ohio, December 5, 1848; James W., born in Ohio, August 6, 1850; Franklin P., born in Ohio, March 5, 1852; George W., born in Iowa, September 5, 1855; Mary L., born in Iowa, February 16, 1857; Annie J., born in Iowa, August 2, 1859; Isabel E., born in Iowa, December 15, 1862.

Royner, Amos, farmer, Sec. 34; P.O. Panther Creek.

Scurry, James, farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Minburn.

Slattery, E., farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Minburn.

Smith, W. G., farmer, Sec. 25; P.O. Dallas Center.

Spinteg, Charles, farmer, Sec. 7; P.O. Minburn.

Sweet, H. L., farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Minburn.

Thorp, John, farmer, Sec. 6; P.O. Perry.

Thompson, J. A., farmer, Sec. 1; P.O. Minburn.

Van Devere, Elias, farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Adel; owns 85 acres of land; was born in New York city, August 22, 1815; his parents moved to Monmouth County, New Jersey, when he was quite young, where he lived until he was about nineteen years of age; he then, with his parents, removed to Champaign County, Ohio; he married Miss Mary J. Miller, of Montgomery County, Ohio, in about 1842; she died in 1845; he married again, to his present wife, December 22, 1852; her maiden name was Melissa Grove, a native of Claremont County, Ohio; they came to this county and located where they now live, in 1857; they have a family of one son and two daughters: Charles E., Sarah F. and Susan L.

Voas, Henry, farmer, Sec. 12; P.O. Minburn; was born in Birmingham, England, January 17, 1831; he was about fifteen or sixteen years old when his parents emigrated to the United States; they located in New York City; he traveled more or less until 1856, when he came to this county and located where he now lives; he married Miss Emily E. Randell, June 1, 1863; she is also a native of England; they have five sons and one daughter: Sherman R., Charity M. E., Alfred R., George E., Frank L. and Charles E.; have lost one son: Albert H.; Mr. V. served three years in the late war, in Co. C, 39th Iowa Infantry; was justice of the peace four years; owns a farm of 100 acres.

Walker, J. W., farmer, Sec. 12; P.O. Minburn.

Warford, Lemuel, farmer, Sec. 25; P.O. Minburn; was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, December 24, 1833, where he lived until he was 5 years of age, when his parents moved to Monroe County, Kentucky, where they lived two years, and then removed to Morgan County, Indiana; he lived there 12 years, and then came to this county with his parents in 1852; he married Sarah E., daughter of W. T. Clark, September 23, 1860; they have by this union three sons and two daughters: Elmer E., Wm. M., Etta Bell, Hattie B., David M.; was supervisor three years, assessor one term, justice of the peace two years; in 1862 when the 39th Regiment was being organized, Mr. W. enlisted in Co. C; he participated in the battles of Perkins� Cross Roads, rear of Resaca and Altoona; he was wounded October 5, 1864, a ball passing through the right cheek, and coming out through the left; it was two years before he entirely recovered.

West, H. H., farmer, Sec. 35; P.O. Dallas Center.

Wilson, T. H., farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Minburn.

Wilson, F. L. M., farmer, Sec. 20; P.O. Minburn.

Yard, Benson, farmer, Sec. 10, P.O. Minburn.

Yard, Samuel H., farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. Minburn.

Young, J. R., farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Panther Creek.

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