Floyd County, Iowa, IAGenWeb, 1882 Bios, Letters A and B

History of Floyd County, Iowa
1882
Biographies
Letters A and B

ACHENBACH, HENRY A. was born in Germany in 1851, came to America with his brother, Leonard Achenbach, in the year 1852; made their home in Lake County, Ill., for about thirteen years. At the expiration of this time they moved to Floyd County, la. Mr. Leonard Achenbach made his first purchase in Ulster Township of 26O acres, lying on sections 16 and 21. In the year 1875 Henry A. purchased eighty acres on section 21, and in 1880 he bought another eighty in same section. He was married in Charles City in 1875 to Sophia Wolf. They have four children - Clara M., Anna B., Louis L. and Henry C. Both Mr. and Mrs. Achenbach are members of the Methodist church. Politically he is a Republican. He has held the office of Township Trustee and Road Supervisor two years; is School Director, and is now serving hig fourth year as Justice of the Peace.

ACKLEY, C. T. was born in Pittsfield, Otsego County, N. Y., July 25, 1833. He was the sixth child of James and Nancy Ackley. Mr. Ackley made New York his home till 1855, when he came to Iowa, arriving in Union Township, this county, on the 24th day of November. The same fall he pre-empted the farm ot 160 acres, where he still resides, on section 20, township 94, range 17, about two miles southwest of Marble Rock. The year following his arrival he built the first residence in Aureola, and was the first white resident of that place. Here they lost a child, Marian, at about the age of four months; this was the first death of the place.

The high water caused considerable malaria, and Mr. Ackley and his wife were both afflicted with the malady, which caused them to change their location. He then moved to his farm where he had just completed the building of a fine large frame house. This home they enjoyed till April, 1860, when it was destroyed entirely by fire; the building was not the only loss. Having no granary he placed in this house all his grain, which was also lost, as well as the greater portion of his furniture.

Though Mr. Ackley has furnished us much interesting matter, we believe he could have furnished even more had he not lost in this fire a diary which he had kept since coming to this country. He at once erected a log house that served as a home till the year 1879, when he built one of the best residences in the county. His surroundings are beautified with shade and fruit trees, so that he has one of the finest homes and farms in the Northwest. On the 15th day of January, 1861, he started with his family for New York; on account of snow blockades, it took them seventeen days to get to Dubuque; they shoveled snow most of the way. They returned in November, 1862, to this county.

In December, 1863, Mr. Ackley enlisted in Company B, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Judge Reiniger, Captain. Served his country till the war closed, being discharged in July, 1865. His life as a soldier was an active one, participating in many hard engagements; a few of the most prominent ones we give below. We can group them by saying he was in all the battles near Atlanta, Peach Tree Creek and Sherman's march to the sea. PumpkinVine, Dallas, Jonesborough; here the color-bearer was wounded, and Mr. Ackley carried the colors till the close of the war. He was never wounded but has stood touching elbows with men who were shot.

A marvelous incident is related by Mr. Ackley, that we make note of here, illustrating how often death's missiles, though their numbers are legion, are ineffective: At Jonesborough they were ordered to charge upon the enemy double quick; during this act the shot and shell and rifle balls rained down upon them like hail, and not a single man was wounded. They had scarcely made this charge till they were ordered to make a similar charge in another direction; this they did under as heavy a tire as before, and not a single man was hit with a missile of death. Of course this is not the rule but a marvelous exception. At the battle of Ray's Ferry, Georgia, there were sixty-three men killed and wounded in his regiment in less than thirty minutes The last three months of Mr. Ackley's service he was in the rear, on account of sickness contracted by the exposure of army life. Part of this time he was in the hospital; we are sorry to have to add that he has never recovered fully from those troubles; it seems almost cruel in nature to furnish men with disease the balance of their lives who have contracted it in the defense of their country.

Since Mr. Ackley's return from the army, he has resided upon his farm with the exception of three years, when he rented his farm and lived in Marble Rock. Mr. Ackley was married in New York State in 1863 to Miss Elizabeth Thayer, a native of Otsego County, N. Y. They have a family of three children - Leonora E , now the wife of Charles Morrison, and resides in Phillip County, Kas.; Elborn D., now twenty-one years of age; Merton I., twelve years of age. The sons are both residing at home.

Mr. Ackley has been a life long Republican and Prohibitionist, voting first for J. O. Fremont. Has held the office of Assessor and Township Trustee several times, being among the first elected.

ACKLEY.G. C. was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1827. He was the third chiM of James and Nancy Ackley. Here Mr. Ackley made his home till 1853, when he came to Floyd County, la., where he remained only a short time, when he went to Illinois and remained three or four months; then he returned to this coimty, stayed about six months, when he again returned to Illinois and stayed till 1855, when he and the rest of the family came to this county, and have since resided.

G. C. Ackley resides where he first settled with his parents, situated on section 20, Union Township. Mr. Ackley was married m this county in 1869 to Miss Lucinda Vanduzen. Their family consists of four children - Wm. Henry, Lilly Elmer, Charles E. and Gcurge M.

Mr. Ackley is not only first among the citizens of this county in point of time, but in point of citizenship. Though not an aspirant for office he has always taken an active interest in the success of the Republican party. Mr. Ackley is another man who, by his life, has demonstrated that it requires a man of energy and pluck to face these pioneer hardship.

ACKLEY, JAMES was born in Otsego County, N. Y., March 12, 1799; married Nancy Brightman in New York, April 18, 1822. She was born in Rhode Island, Aug. 18, 1797. Moved to Illinois in 1864. Came to Iowa Nov. 24, 1S65, driving from Illinois with a team, and settled upon the farm where G. C. Ackley now resides on section 20, township 94, range 17. Here he made his home till his death, which occurred Feb. 1, 1870. Mrs. Ackley is still living. Both were members of the Free-Will Baptist church.

James Ackley's family consisted of eleven children; nine grew to man and womanhood, six sons and three daughters, all of whom aie still supposed to be living. Their relative positions with regard to age follow as their names are given below - David died at the age of ten by falling from a tree and severing the jugular vein on a snag that had been cut sharp with an ax; Nancy died at the age of two, accidentally scalded by pulling a kettle of hot water onto herself; J. M. and G. C.'s sketches we have already in this work; Wm. H. came to Iowa in 1853, returned to New York in 1857; atter visiting there a short time he took the train for the West again, as his friends supposed, but since that day has never been heard from; Sally E. married Henry Schermerhorn in New York State and came West in 1855, Mr. Schermerhorn died in Febrnary, 18S2,; the widow resides in Scott Township with her daughter, Mrs. Henry Montrose; C. T. and Russel's sketches are also in this work; Fannie married Egbert Davis, whose sketch will also be found here; Judson whose sketch will also be found in this work; Mary Jane married Sam Rex, whose sketch will be found in this work.

ACKLEY, J. M. was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1825. He is the oldest living child of James and Nancy Ackley. Mr. Ackley made that State his home till he came to Iowa, which was in the winter of 1853, locating in Union Township, Floyd County. The first two years he was scarcely settled in this county, but spent a portion of it in Illinois visiting friends and working. The second year he returned to New York and remained only about ten months, when he returned to Iowa in company with his brother C. T. and liis wife, and his own wife. At that date they could not go on the cars further than Dunliff; from there to Cedar Falls they staged it. From there they had to hire a conveyance, paying $12 for the pleasure of riding over the wild prairie.

In 1855 Mr. Ackley and his brother C. T. pre-empted 320 acres of land, and built a long shanty. They had a partition through this building, each family living upon his own land, thus securing the clear title to the land under the law. Upon this land Mr. Ackley still resides, being situated on section 29, range 94 west, Union Township; has added to his first purchase so that now he owns in all 215 acres. In the year 1872, or thereabout, he built himself a fine residence, being one of the best in the county. His home is nicely situated and presents a fine appearance.

Mr. Ackley is now enjoying the fruits of a life of ambition and energy and industry. He began at the stump, as some term it, and has raised himself to a position of independence. His start in this county was discouraging. On the way he and his brother C. T. each lost a large box of clothing, supposed to be burned up in the Chicago depot, the most of which was new and badly needed, for they were without a change of clothes and nearly out of money. These were indeed dark days. But for these stout-hearted pioneers the grand West, now swarming with busy people and waving with rich harvests, would be a desert still.

Mr. Ackley was married in 1855 to Miss Julina Thayer, a native of New York. They have no family living; lost two children in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Ackley have been members of the Free-Will Baptist Church for the past twenty-five years. Mr. Ackley was never an ofiice-seeker though he has been a life-long and solid Republican.

ACKLEY, R. J. was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1835. He was the sixth child of James and Nancy Ackley. When Mr. Ackley came to Iowa he was twenty years of age, it being in 1855, he located in Marble Rock, where ho still resides. He spent the summer of 1855 traveling in Minnesota looking at the country; afterward clerked in a store nearly a year in Marble Rock; the year following worked at the carpenter's trade. The winter of 1860 he taught school in Rock Grove, where he made the acquaintance of Mr. Gaylord. From this date till 1870 he was principally engaged in farming, though he worked at the trade of carpenter some of the time. In 1870 he went into the hotel business and ran the Marble Rock Hotel nearly a year. The year following he clcrked for Shepardson & Beelar, dry-goods merchants. The year following he resumed farming, at the expiration of which time he assumed the manngement of the elevator and continued at it three years. He again engaged in farming and continued at it until 1879, when he took charge of the Beelar House and ran it nearly two years. At this date we find him still a resident of Marble Rock, enjoying a fine home and the society of his many friends.

Mr. Aekley was married July 6, 1861, to Miss Maria J. Baltimore, daughter of Ashbury Baltimore, They have a family of six children - Ella Irene, Viva Estell, Nancy Isabel, Ashbury J., Bertha Mny and Nellie Ethel.

Mr. Ackley is a member of the Iowa Legion of Honor. Politically he is a Republican and Prohibitionist; has held the ofiice of Town Olerk one year, Trustee two years, and Constable four years, and is at present a member of the Town Council.

ACKLEY, S. J was born in New York State in 1810. He was the youngest son of James and Nancy Ackley. At the age of twelve he came with his parents to Iowa, locating in Floyd County. He made his home with his parents about six years after coming to the county. In 1859 he married Miss Emily Rex. At this date he commenced for himself by renting land. In 1866 he lost his wife who left him three children - Ida V. makes her home with her grandmother; Garrison, married and a fanner; Desdemona A. makes her father^s house her home. Mr. Ackley married his second wife, Sarah J. Asper, in 1870. They have three children - Arminta P., Nellie Ann and Joseph H. Politically Mr. Ackley is a Republican.

ADAMS, ALLEN was born in Mercer County, Penn., Nov. 26, 1843. He resided on a farm till he was fourteen years old, when he learned the trade of a shoemaker. He came to this country in 1861, and in the spring of 1862 enlisted in Company A, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry; was transferred to the Twenty-first Regiment in the fall of 1862; went in as a private, was promoted to Sergeant, and during the siege of Yicksburg, June 17, was mustered in as Second Lieutenant, which he held till the close of the war. When his time expired he was tendered the commission of Captain in order to keep the company together till the balance of the regiment's time was out and they discharged, but declined. He was in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Vicksburg, Jackson, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, and others. He was on detached service during the charge at Black River Bridge. Took part in the charge on Vicksburg and saw Colonel Dunlap killed. He was married in 1868 to Mary S. Kilborn, who was born in 1842. Her ftither, E. B. Kilborn, was born in New York State in 1807, and died in February, 1881, in Otsego County, N. Y. Her mother, Mary (Fitch) Kilborn, was born in 1810 and died in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have two children - Mertie L. and Gracie Belle. He owns ninety-three acres on section17, Rock Grove Township, and is engaged in both farming and stock-raising.

ADAMS, J. B. - the Floyd County Standard was first started at Rockford, la., in January, 1881, by J. B. Adams, its present editor and proprietor. It is an eight-column folio. The paper and office were removed to Charles City in February, 1882, and occupy the upper floor of Mahara's Building. It has a good job office in connection.

Mr. Adams was born in Worcester, Mass., June 17, 1851; son of N. M. and Emma A. (Child) Adams, the former a native of Maine, and Mrs. Adams from Massachusetts. When our subject was one year old, his parents removed to Rocklord, Ill., remaining one year. Then went to Mason City, la., where they still reside. Mr. Adams received his education in Iowa, having attended the university at Grinnell and the State University at Iowa City. He was married in November, 1872, to Miss V . O. Pushee, of Wisconsin. Politically, he is a Democrat, and his paper is conducted on the principles of that party.

ADAMS, JOHN R., farmer and stock-raiser, section 9, Rock Grove Township, was born in Bedford County, Pa., March 19, 1824. He is a son of John Adams, of the same county. His Grandfather Adams was a native of Germany. John R. moved to Knox County, Ohio, with his parents in 1836, where his father died in 1876. He came to this county in 1865 and settled on wild prairie land; hauled lumber from Cedar Falls to build his house and took all his wheat there and sold it for forty cents a bushel. He owns 1,900 acres, all under cultivation. He is no office seeker. He was married in Gnadenhutten, Ohio, April 6, 1860, to Ellen Miksch, a native of New Philadelphia, Ohio. They have five children - llo, Rankin, Asa, Clara and Ida.

ALDRICH, Henry C., M.D. and D.D.S., one of the leading physicians of Charles City, was born in the city of Minneapolis, Minn. His parents were Cyrus and Clara A. (Heaton) Aldrieh. She was a native of New York and he of Rhode Island, where he received his education. When a young man he emigrated to Northern Illinois, and was one of the owners of the Chicago & Galena stage line and helped build the Illinois & Lake Michigan Canal. He was a member of the Illinois Legislature and receiver of public moneys at the land office at Dixon, Ill. In 1856 he removed to Minneapolis, Minn., and engaged in the real estate business. He was elected a member of the Minnesota Legislature and a member of Congress from Minnesota, in 1S6I. He died in October, 1871, aged sixty-three years. His wife resides in Minneapolis. She and husband had a family of three daughters and one son, two living, viz; Villa, wife of D. H. Wright, commission merchant at Minneapolis, Minn, and Henry C, subject of this sketch. He attended the Minneapolis High School and State University until 1877, when he began the study of dentistry, graduating from the Dental Department of the University of Pennsylvania, then beginning the study of medicine, graduating from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia. He located in Charles City, la., May, 1881, where he has since practiced the profession of medicine, establishing a large and lucrative practice. He is the city physician. Dr. Aldrieh was married to Miss Mary Whitney at Minneapolis, Sept. 24, 1879. She was the first white child born at Clear Water, Minn., and in honor of that event was presented a lot in Clear Water, Minn. She was a daughter of Samuel N. and Abbie (Hay) Whitney. Dr. Aldrich and wife attend the Congregational church in Charles City. He is a member of and Medical Examiner in the Iowa Legion of Honor, and in politics a Republican.

ALEXANDER, THOMAS was born in Belmont County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1833. He left there in the fall of 1864, and went to Canada; remained there until the fall of 1879, when he came to Floyd County, Iowa, and settled on section 33, Scott Township, where he still resides, engaged in farming, raising corn and stock. He has 320 acres of fine land. He was married in Ohio, Feb. 22, 1855, to Catherine B. Atkinson. They had one child - John F., born Dec. 7, 1855. Mrs. Alexander died Oct. 15, 1857. He was married a second time May 25, 1858, to Matilda Sparling. By this union there were three children - W. S., born Aug. 9, 1859; Agnes, Dec. 22, 1860, and Olivia J., Jan. 2, 1863. Mrs. Matilda Alexander died Aug. 28, 1881. Politically, Mr. Alexander is a Democrat, and in his religious belief is a Baptist.

ALLEN, CYRUS M. (deceased) was born in Scipio, Caynga Conntv, N. Y., May 4, 1822, and in 1833 he moved with his parents to Berrien, Mich., and subsequently to Chicago. He was married in the latter place, in 1850, to Lucy J. Judson, daughter of Henry Judson (deceased). She was born in Huntington, Crittenden County, Vt. Seven children blessed their union, viz.: Lucia, Oscar B., Alonzo, Carrie, Cyrus, Walter and Bertie. In 1856 Mr. Allen became a resident of Nora Springs, where, in company with John West, he owned and operated a saw-mill a number of years. He afterward worked at the bIacksmith's trade. He died Feb. 11, 1874, and sorrow fell upon many hearts when to the list of the dead was added the name of this honest and upright man. He was a consistent member of the Congregational church, as was his wife, who afterward became the wife of Elder D. B. Mead, a Baptist minister.

ALLEN, HENRY was born in Canada, and moved to township 94 north, 16 west, in 1878. He married Mrs. Joseph Johnson, nee Julia Ripley. Mr. Allen is one of the oldest residents in the county. She is a daughter of Col. David Hipley, formerly County Judge, whose sketch will be found among the illustrious dead. To Mrs. Allen we have given the credit of being the first in the field of pioneer education in Riverton and Pleasant Grove. She also taught one of the earliest schools in St. Charles Township. Mrs. Allen's life has been continually upon the frontier line until very recently, her father at first moving to Floyd so early as to necessitate a retreat from the Indians for two years; then back again; then, in 1864, to Colorado; then two years in Southern Iowa; then again north into Southeast Dakota. Mrs. Allen was born in Gallia, Ohio, May 8, 1837.

ALLEN, OSCAR B., an enterprising young business man of Nora Springs, is a native of Cook County, Ill., born July 1, J855, a son of Cyrus M. Allen (deceased), whose sketch appears in this work. He came with his parents to Nora Springs in 1856, and was here reared and educated. He served an apprenticeship at the harnessmaker's trade under G. W. Hall, and is still in his employ. He went to Dakota Territory in 1878, and was bookkeeper for the contractors who were building the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and division, for some months. He returned to Nora Springs, and has since resided here. He is Secretary of the City School Board, and has been a member of the Old Settlers' Association for the past four years. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity.

ANDREWS, E. P., attorney, was born in Henry County, Iowa, July 14, 1853. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Ohio. Mr. Andrews was admitted to the bar May 1, 1879, and commenced the practice of law the following December in Rockford, Iowa.

ANKENY, JACOB, farmer and stock-raiser, section 4, Rock Grove Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Aug. 25, 1822. His father, George Ankeny, of Westmoreland County, moved to Knox County, Ohio, in 1830. Jacob came to this county in 1855. where he owns 120 acres of fine land. He was Township Trustee at an early day, and at that time built the first bridge across Flood Creek. He was married in Knox County, O., to Susannah Adams. They have had thirteen children - Mary (deceased), Olive, Rebecca and Elizabeth, born in Ohio; Thomas J., Wallie F., Joseph L., Normandy, James P. and four deceased, born in this county. Two daughters, Elizabeth and Rebecca, are prominent teachers in this county. When Mr. Ankeny settled here, there were very few families in the township, and it was a wild prairie.

ANTHONY, J. D. was born in New York State, March 30, 1833. Here he made his home till he was about twenty years of age, when he went to Illinois, where he remained about ten years, in Whiteside County. About six months after going to Illinois, his father, Peter, and mother, Nancy Anthony, joined him and made his house their home while he remained in the State. Mr. Anthony came to Floyd County in 1864, locating in Marble Rock, where he has since resided. Shortly after he left Illinois his father died, and his mother made her home with her son, A. P. Anttiony, in Chicago, for about eleven years when she came to Iowa, and again made her home with her son, J. D. Anthony, till her death, which occurred in 1878; her remains lie in the Marble Rock Cemetery.

In New York he learned the heavy brace carpenter's trade. After going to Illinois he turned his attention almost absolutely to farm work, at which he worked most of the time while in the State, and since coming to Iowa has turned his attention principally to carpentering, doing most of the building in Marble Rock. The fine school-house is a grand monument to his memory. He has built for himself one of the finest residences in the county. His surroundings are naturally beautiful and embellished without so that he has one of the grandest homes on the Shell Rock River, The house presents a grand view from its commanding position, overlooking some of the finest beauties of nature's art up and down the Shell Rock.

Mr. Anthony deserves great credit for the pluck and energy in his pioneer life, and its conflicts with hard times. He has raised a family of five children and keeps them in school constantly, and means to furnish each with a good education. Mr. Anthony was married Nov. 16, 1862, to Miss Magdaline Clay. The names of the children are - John J., Clara C., Albert A., Nancy Bell, and Anna Edith.

APEL, GEORGE, farmer and stock-raiser, section 23, Rock Grove Township, was born in Hesse, Germany, March 22, 1846. His father, George Apel, was also a native of Germany. George, Jr., came to America, and to Osage, Iowa, in 1860. He enlisted in the late war in Company K, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, and served three years, being in the battles of Little Rock, Nashville, Spanish Fort, Tupelo, and many others. He came to Floyd County in 1874, where he owns 160 acres of fine land. He was married in 1868 to Katie Lohn, and has three children - Conrad G., Anna C, and Willie F. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.

ARKILLS, REV. MOSES E., M. D. was born in Ulster County, N. Y., Jan. 7. 1826. He is a son of Nathaniel S. Arkills, a native of Sullivan County, N. Y., who moved to Tompkins County, N. Y., in 1835. He was ordained as a minister in the Baptist church Nov. 26, 1S58, in the West Danby church, by G W. Huntley. He has become a pastor of churches, with the exception of two years, since that time. In 1865 he went to Sycamore, Ill.; in 1867, to Malta, Ill.; in June, 1868, to Clarkson, la.; in January, 1869, to Fredericksburg, la., where he remained pastor of the church till 1877, when he came to Rudd. He read medicine and practiced nnder Dr. Rufus Talmage, of Enfield, N. Y., from 1855 to 1858; and under Dr. Benedict, of Havana, N Y., for two years. He has built up a good practice here, and is pastor of the Baptist church in Rudd. He was married Feb 2, 1852, to Rachel A. Bartlett. They have six children - Willard B., Jane A., Hattie, Sarah L,, Alice A , and Lulu M.

ASH, W. H. was born in Wisconsin, in 1852. He is a son of W. D. Ash, a resident of Wisconsin. W. H. Ash made his home in Wisconsin till the spring of 1881, when he moved to Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, where he remained till September of the same year; at this date he became a citizen of Floyd County, locating upon a farm of 164 acres, where he still resides, on the Shell Rock River, about three and a half miles south of Marble Rock. He is at present cultivating about eighty acres.

Mr. Ash was married Jan. 27, 1872, to Miss Martha Hales, a native of England, being born there in 1860, and coming to America at about the age of one year. She was a daughter of James Hales, who resided in Wisconsin. He died in 1864. They have one son - Leland, nearly three years of age. Politically he is a Democrat, though his wile's influence is in favor of the Republican party. Mr. Ash is a member of the order of Freemasons.

ASPER, A. J. was born in Summit County, O., in 1836. At the age of thirteen ho commenced to do for himself by running a retail patent-medicine wagon in Ohio. At this he was engaged about four years. At the expiration of this time he went to Plainfield, Ill., and worked in a drug store with E. G. Wright about five years. In 1858 he became a citizen of Floyd County, locating iu Marble Rock, Union Townsiiip, where he engaged in farming till 1863.

In February, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry; served on the Atlanta campaign as far as Big Shanty, Northern Georgia; then was put into detached service with the Western Sanitary Commission, headquarters at St. Louis; operated at the front till Atlanta was vacated, when he returned to St. Lonis and remained in the same avocation till he was mustered out in July, 1865, when he returned to Marble Rock and engaged in the grocery business; this he continued about two years, when he sold out and engaged in buying and shipping grain, at which he continued about eight years. In 1880 he purchased an entire new stock of drugs, and is still engaged in that business. A word of comment being admissible, we wish to say he has a fine store and is doing a very good business.

In Marble Rock, March 13, 1860, he and Miss C. S. Hawks were united in marriage. She was a native of New York State. They have a fumily of five children - Roderic R., Cora E., Nora M., Edith I., Blanche E., and Carl J.

ATHERTON, EDGAR F., one of the leading merchants of Charles City, is a native of Vermont, born in Moretown, Washington County, March 23, 1844; his parents were Joseph L. and Lucy B. (Adams) Atherton, natives also of the Green Mountain State. He resided in Moretown until 1858, when he came with his parents to Floyd County, la. They still reside on their farm in Cedar Township, and have a family of four children, three sons and one daughter, viz.: Ella A., who married John O. Adams; Eddie B., residing with his parents in Cedar Township; Walter E., also residing on the old homestead; Edgar F., subject of this sketch, was the eldest son; his parents moved to Floyd, la., when he was fourteen years old and resided there until 1870, when he went to Orchard Station, Mitchell County, and opened a store of general merchandise, remaining until the fall of 1879, when he sold out and located in Charles City, where he established his present business. He occupies a building 66 x 21 feet, two stories in height and carries a full and complete stock of imported and domestic goods, ladies' goods, dry goods, notions, and clothes, hats, caps, gloves and mittens. Mr. Atherton married Miss Amelia Wilbur, June 6, 1869, at Floyd; she was born in Otsego County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Henry and Angeline (Moore) Wilbur, natives ofNew York, and of Quaker descent. Mr. and Mrs. Atherton are members of the Congregational church, and have had a family of two children, viz.: Earnest W., born Aug. 17, 1870, and Winifred L., July 11, 1877. Mr. Atherton is one of the enterprising representative business men of Charles City, and an old settler of Floyd County, having been identified with the county since 1858. He is a charter member of the V. A. S. Fraternity, Charles City Lodge. In politics rather independent and inclined to vote for the best man. He is of Scotch descent.

ATHERTON, JOSEPH L., farmer; P. O., Stillwater; son of Ozias and Lydia (Pearsons) Atherton, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont, respectively; they died in Vermont. Joseph L. was born in Vermont, Sept. 10, 1815, where he was educated, and followed farming until he came to Iowa in 1858; he now owns 400 acres of fine land on section 29, Cedar, and section 28, Floyd, townships; his home is in Cedar, where he has fine buildings and plcasant surroundings. In 1840 he married Lucy B., daughter of Gardner and Betsey (Proctor) Adams; she was born in Vermont, Feb. 12, 1824. This union has been blessed with four children - Ella A., born Aug. 25, 1841, wife of John Q. Adams of Mitchell County, la. ; Edgar F., born Mar. 23, 1845, married and living in Charles City; Eddie B., born Dec. 28, 1859; Walter E., born June 10, 1862. Mrs. Atherton is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Atherton votes the Republican ticket.

AUSTIN, EDMUND, retired farmer, and Vice-President of the Charles City National Bank and Charles City Water-Power Company, was born in Skaneateles, Onondaga County, N. Y., Jan. 4, 1821; his parents were Silas and Mary A. (Patchen) Austin, natives of New York. He was a farmer and they were members of the Episcopal church, and had a family of five sons and two daughters; five lived to be men and women.

Edmund, subject of this sketch, was the eldest child and soon after his birth his parents removed to Cayuga County, N., Y., where he farmed until his marriage to Eliza Browning, which occurred March 4, 1852. She was born in Sommersetshire, England; was a daughter of Mathew and Nancy (Davis) Browning, also natives of England. Soon after his marriage Mr. Austin moved to Skaneateles, N. Y., where he bought land and engaged in farming until the year 1854, when he went to Winnebago County, Ill., and in the spring of 1855 came to Charles City, la., and purchased a farm in St. Charles Township which he still owns, and cultivated until March, 1882, when he rented it and moved into Charles City, where he bought a residence and has since lived, leading a life of retirement from active business. Mr. Austin and wife are members of the Christian church and have had a family of three children; the eldest, John P., died in infancy, and two are living, viz.: Sarah N., born Nov, 28, 1856, resides with her parents, and Willis B., one of the proprietors of the Centennial Mills of Charles City, born Jan. 19, 1859. Mr. Austin was elected Vice-President of the Charles City National Bank upon its organization in 1876 and has been Vice-President of the Water-Power Company since Feb. 1880. He owns a farm of 365 acres in St. Charles Township and 240 acres in Union Township. He also owns property in Charles City and stock in the Water-Power Company and in the Charles City National Bank. He is one of the few old settlers of 1855 now living and has seen Floyd County change from its old uncultivated state to its present prosperous condition. When he came to Charles City there were but three frame buildings and a few log cabins. In politics Mr. Austin is rather independent.

BABCOCK, ABNER A., farmer and stock-raiser, section 16, Rock Grove Township, born in Otsego County, N. Y., July 22, 1822, is a son of Sanford Babcock, also a native of New York State. His early life was spent on a farm, and his education was received in the common schools of New York. In April, 1863, he came to this county and bought land, and the following fall moved his family here. He owns 170 acres and a half interest in 120 acres of fine land. He was married Sept. 19, 1852, to Nancy, daughter of Nicholas Qaackenbos. They are the parents of six children, five living - Amos M., Isaac T., Ira J., George L., and Estella. He has served his county as Supervisor and his township as Clerk and Assessor.

BABCOCK, ISAAC T., son of the above, was born in Otsego County. N. Y., April 26, 1858. He came to this county with his parents in 1863, and has received his education in the schools of this place, residing on the farm with his parents. He was married Feb. 7, 1882, to Ella Baker, a daughter of George A. Baker, who came to this county in 1870. Isaac T. resides on section 14, where he owns 120 acres of land and is engaged in farming and stockraising.

BACON, ELIJAH F., Rudd, was born in Steuben County, N. Y., Aug. 21, 1830; is a son of Noah Bacon, who moved to Waukesha County, Wis., in 1843. He came to Waverly, Iowa, in 1864, and to Rudd in May, 1879, and bought the Diwson elevator. He deals in grain, live-stock and lumber, and is doing a good business. He was married Sept. 30, 1855, to Adelaide S. Barker. They have eight children - Lillian, Mary A., William F., Millie, Jeremiah D., Freddie, Katie and Julius. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. before coming here, but there is no order here.

BAILEY, RUSSELL z. was born in Bedford, Cuyahoga County, O., July 27, 1838. He was a son of David and Eltnira Bailey, both natives of New England. Mr. Bailey lived in Ohio till he was twelve years of age, when he moved with his parents to DeKalb County, Ill., where he resided till August, 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, Second Illinois Light Artillery; served his country three years and was mustered out in September, 1861:, at Springfield, Ill. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner, though he was in some of the hardest-fought battles of the Rebellion, among the more prominent of which were the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Coflfeyville and Hickman, besides a host of sharp skirmishes.

Immediately after his return from the army he came to Floyd County, la., and remained about six months, when he returned to Illinois and remained about a year, when, in the fall of 1866, he returned to this county to make his home. His first purchase was on section 21, consisting of 160 acres, where he lived three years, when he sold to Isaac Shultz, and bought the farm of 160 acres where he now resides, on section 27, about three miles southeast of Marble Rock. The railroad cutting off about forty acres on the west side, he has since purchased eighty acres on section 30, about three miles southwest of Marble Rock. He also owns 200 acres six miles west of Marble Rock, in Scott Township, mating in all 440 acres, besides some property in the village of Marble Rock. He puts in crop yearly about 150 acres, besides keeping from thirty to forty head of cattle and horses, and from forty to fifty horses. In 1870 he built one of the best farm houses in the county, the other buildings and surroundings being in keeping with the house.

Mr. Bailey was married in Sycamore, Ill., in 1865 to Cora Robison, a native of New York State. They have four children - Loey R., Elroy B., Leon A., and Earl R,, ages fifteen, ten, eight, and three respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey and their eldest son are members of the Baptist church.

BAKER, GEORGE A., farmer and stock-raiser, section 15, was born in Knox County, Ohio, May 18, 1833, a son of William Baker, a native of Pennsylvania, who was brought to Knox County, Ohio, in 1812, when one year old. Geo. A. grew up on the same farm as his father; was educated in a subscription school, the first one he attended being held in the loft or attic of an old log milkhouse. He came to this county in 1870 and now owns 192 acres of finely cultivated land. He was married in the fall of 1854 to Mary Robison. They have eight children - William W., John B., Ella, Clifibrd M., Jacob H., Sarah, Louis and Walter.

BAKER, V. W., carpenter, was born in Worcester County, Mass., June 12, 1820. His parents were Vickery and Priscilla (Walker) Baker, natives of Massachusetts. His father died in 1870 in Vermont, in which State his mother still lives, at the age of eighty-seven. The subject of this sketch received a common-school education in Vermont. He was married in 1862 to Sarah P. Durkee, a native of Vermont. They removed to Illinois soon after, and lived at Rockford until 1857, when they removed to Floyd County. They had four children, two of whom are living - Alice, teaching in Indianapolis, and Estella, at home. Mrs. Baker died in 1870, and he was again married, in 1871, to Estella M. Patton, a native of New York. They have had two children - Clifford and Gracie (deceased). Politically, Mr. Baker is a Republican. He is a member of the Baptist church.

BALCH, WILLIAM D., of the firm of Reiniger & Balch, bankers, of Charles City, is a native of New Hampshire, born in the town of Claremont, Jan. 2, 1834. His parents were William S. and Adeline G. (Capron) Balch, natives of Vermont. He was a minister of the Universalist church and is still living, a retired minister of Elgin, Ill., now in his seventy-seventh year. She died in 1855. Thej had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. William D., the subject of this sketch, was the eldest son. When a child, his parents removed to New York City, his father having charge of a church there. He attended school in New York City until fourteen when he entered the Clinton Liberal Institute, at Clinton, N. Y., remaining three years. He returned to New York City and engaged in banking on Wall street until the spring of 1865, when he came to Charles City, la., and started the first bank in the city, under the firm name of Mitchell, Fairfield & Balch, and in 1867, E. C. Chapin, now editor of the Davenport, la., Gazette, purchased Mr. Mitchell's interest, and the firm remained Chapin, Fairfield & Balch, until 1873 when Mr. Chapin retired from the firm, and in 1875 Judge Reiniger bought Judge Fairfield's interest and the firm has since remained Reiniger & Balch. Mr. Balch married Miss Ellen M. Melville, Jan. 19, 1858. She was born in New York City and was a daughter of Henry B. Melville, a manufacturing jeweler of New York City. Mr, and Mrs. Balch had four children, one living, viz.: Estelle L., born in New York City, in October, 1861. Their mother died in 1864. Mr. Balch married Miss Maria A. Palmer at Charles City, Feb. 11, 1868. She was born in Maine and is a daughter of Dr. William M. Palmer and Anna nee Shaw. He was a physician of Charles City. Mr. and Mrs. Balch have had four children, two living, viz.: Margaret and Stevens. Mr. Balch is one of the old settlers and an enterprising representative business man of Charles City. He was elected Mayor of the city one year, has been Treasurer of Charles City and Floyd County Agricultural Society, and also Treasurer of the Independent School District a number of years. He is Yice-President of the First National Bank of Mason City and active in its management. In politics he has always been a supporter of the Republican party.

BALL, JOHN was born in Goshen, Orange County, N. Y., Jnly 12, 1817. At the age of fourteen Mr. Ball moved with his parents to New Jersey, near Newark. He learned the carpenter's trade with his father, and at tlie age of sixteen went to Newark to work. In August, 1835, in company with his father, moved to Michigan City, Ind., where he remained one year, when he married Nancy Glover, who was born in Putnam County, Ind., Jan. 4, 1816. After their marriage they moved to Lake County, Ind. Here they remained engaged in farming principally till the year 1853, when they emigrated to Iowa and located in Ulster Township, Floyd County, being the first settlers of the township. Here they still reside, alone as they started, having raised a family of six children, who have grown up, and are now oat in the world tasting of its bitter and sweet, as they did forty years ago. In the year 1855 Mr. Ball was elected County Judge, and has many years filled its office of Justice of the Peace. Mr. Ball was elected on the first Board of Supervisors in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Ball are both members of the Free Methodist church. Mr. Ball has held the license of local preacher ever since coming into the State. In the years 1861-'62 under the presiding eldership of John Gould, Mr. Ball traveled as a supply on the Forest City Circuit. Their family, consisting of three sons and three daughters, are all enjoying the religion of the gospel. Mr. Ball has certainly been a marked character and a moving power upon the frontier. During the war, though well up in years, he was determined to enlist and help Uncle Sam do his threshing, but was refused the job on account of his age. In spite of this rebuff he joined the Quartermaster's Department and remained for a time, when failing health caused him to return. Besides being a man of daring spirit, he is one of public spirit, and encourages every enterprise tending to the good of humanity, and has furnished us valuable assistance in compiling this work. Mr. Ball settled on the northeast quarter of section 10, consisting of 113 acres at present; formerly owned 480.

BALLARD, W. H., farmer and stock-raiser; P. O., Charles City; on of Thomas and Ann (Bennett) Ballard, natives of England. They came to the United States about 1829 and located in Troy, where they lived a short time; then moved near Buffalo, and lived three and a half years; then came to Chicago. He built the first frame house there; he died in Lake County, III., in 1851. Mrs. Ballard died in Floyd County in 1873. W. H. was born in Chicago, July 5, 1834, and is one of the first white children born there. In 1862 he came to Iowa and bought a farm, and now owns 1254 acres of land on section 25, which he has in a good state of cultivation. In 1861 he married Melinda A., daughter of Ephraim and Nancy (Irving) Bruce, natives of Vermont. They came to Iowa, and now live with W. II. Ballard. Mr. Ballard and wife have been blessed with seven children, six living - George H., born Mar. 4. 1863; Annette, April 20, 1864; Edith, Aug. 20, 1865; Nellie, Jan. 29, 1871; Mary, Oct. 22, 1873. died Sept. 10, 1875; Alida, born Feb. 23, 1878, and a baby boy, born Mav 23, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. Mr. Ballard votes the Republican ticket. He deals in fine stock considerably, Norman and Clydesdale being his fancy.

BALTIMORE, ASHBURY was born in Montgomery County, O., near Dayton, June 16, 1807. At about the age of twelve, he went with his father, Pnilip Baltimore, to Wayne County, Ind., where Mr. Ashbury Baltimore farmed for about thirty years, when he went to Michigan and farmed about five years. At the expiration of this time he returned to Indiana and farmed four years. June 29, 1853, he became a citizen of Floyd County, Iowa, locating in what is now known as Marble Rock, Union Township. Has baen interested in farming principally ever since coming to the county. He was the second man who settled in the township. In those days he had to go to Cedar Rapids for provisions, and haul grain to Independence, Waterloo and McGregor. The price of wheat sometimes was as low as thirty-five cents a bushel, but usually ranged from seventy-five to eighty cents, while pork was from three to five dollars. He got one dollar for his first wheat and fifteen cents for liis first pork, dressed.

Mr. Baltimore owns 200 acres of land three miles from tha pleasant village of Marble Rock, which he superintends still. He owns also a pleasant home in the village besides ten town lots nicely situated, that will soon be occupied as village homes. He was the first man in the county who ever got a premium on a wolf and wild-cat scalp, which he received in 1856. Tne first school in the township was taught in his house.

Mr. Baltimore was married in Wayne County, Ind., Nov. 4, 1830, to Miss Sarah Ritter. She was also a native of Ohio, being born there Sept. 3, 1812. Their family consisted of nine children, six of whom are now living. They all reside in Union Township except one son, who resides in Nebraska - Louiza, born Aug. 16, 1833, now the wife of Peter Vorhes; Maria, born Dec. 25, 1840, married R.J. Ackley; Sarah, born Feb. 7, 1843, married Laban Vorhes; John, born Dec. 5, 1844, married Tilla Palfcrd; Diantha, born Oct. 4, 1848, married Charles F. Beelar; Mary, born June 23, 1850, married William Bucklin. Of this large family we can but remark they are well wortiiy the pride of their father, since they are all acting well tlieir parts in life, anl are well to do. And they in return can be proui of a father who had the courage to face all the hardships of pioneer life in order to secure homes for his chillren. Mr. Baltimore is one of those few men who has by his own exertions wrung from the hard hand of toil a property that makes him independent. He is one of those men, too, who has helped lay the foundati on to Floyd County's successful history. If the coming generation maintain the good order and society these stout-handed men did, they will be doing more than is expected of them.

Mrs. Baltimore's mother is still living with them at the advanced age of ninety-eight.

An incident that will long be remembered by his family, who were nearly all present at the time, we make note of here, as almost a miraculous draft of fishes. One of the severe winters not long after coming to this county, he conceived the idea that there might be some fish caught by cutting through the ice. This was done with great success, securing about a wagon-load of beautiful fish. While they were engaged in this they heard the dogs running a deer, and presently a large one came sliding and slipping on the ice, and fell not far from them. Mr. Baltimore seized the grand opportunity and slaughtered him then and there. Venison and fish were a plentiful article of food at the Baltimore house for some months afterward.

BALTUFF, VALENTINE, founder of the Floyd Cuunty Advocate and grocer, Charles City, was born in New York City, Jan. 1, 1834; his parents were Peter and Mary (Griffin) Baltuff. The former was a native of Germany, and came to America when a young man, locating in New York City, and engaged in merchant tailoring. He was a member of the German Methodist and she of the Episcopal church. They had a family of four sons and one daughter.

Valentine, subject of this sketch, was the eldest. When three years of age his father moved to Watertown, New York, and Valentine attended school until fifteen years of age, when he learned the printer's trade, at which he worked in N'ew York, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. At Lodi, Wisconsin, he published a paper, the Lodi Herald, and the Columbus Transcript at Columbus, Wisconsin. In 1868, he sold out here and came to Charles City and established the Floyd County Advocate and conducted this until 1878, when he sold out on account of poor health. In 1879, he purchased his present grocery store.

Mr. Baltuff married Miss M. Libbie McCall, at Waukesha, Wis., Sept. 26, 1859. She was born at Rushford, Allegany County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Aneil and Mary E. (Griffith) McCall. Mrs. Baltuff is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. and Mrs. Baltuff have had seven children, viz.: Harry A., born July 21, 1860, foreman of the job room of the Advocate in Charles City; Cora, Charles, Guy, Irvie, Nellie and Joseph, residing with their parents. Mr. Baltuff is a member of St. Charles Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 141, and of Almond Chapter, No. 52.

BARNEY, COL. V. G., formerly a marble manufacturer in Vermont, where he owned a quarry, is a native of the Green Mountain State, born in Swanton, Franklin County, Aug. 26, 1834, a son of George and Emma D. (Goodrich) Barney. They were also natives of Vermont and members of the M. E. church; they had a family of four sons and four daughters, Col. V. G. being the second son. He attended school until nineteen when he clerked in a store a couple of years, then took charge of the marble mills at Danby, Rutland County, Vt., and remained there three yeais; then took charge of the mills at Swanton until 1861 when he enlisted in the Independent Company which afterward became Company A, First Vermont Regiment; enlisted for three months, and was Orderly Sergeant of the company; at the end of the three months returned to Swanton and soon after re-enlisted in Company A, Ninth Verniont Regiment, and was elected Captain of this company; remained as Captain one year, when he was Commissioned Lieut. Colonel of the regiment, and held that position until the close of the war, when he returned home and engaged in the marble business four years; when, owing to trouble with his lungs from exposure in army, went to Florida six months, then removed with his family to Minneapolis, Minn. He engaged in the real estate business there three years, then came to Charles City, in 1872, and has loaned money and speculated in land here since.

Mr. Barney married Miss Maria L. Hadwen, April 21, 1857; she was born in Danby, Vt., and was a daughter of John and Abigail (Baker) Hadwen; they were Quakers and natives of New York; they had a family of nine children, seven daughters and two sons. Mrs. Col. Barney is a member of the M. E. church. They have had four children, viz.: Caroline E., born Feb. 7, 1858; Fred E., Oct. 10, 1859, is Assistant Cashier in Commercial Bank of Minneapolis, Minn.; Bertha M., born July 9, 1866; Frank, Oct. 3, 1871. Mr. Barney is one of the representative business men and citizens of Charles City, and is one of the directors of the First National Bank here. He owns a farm of 200 acres in St. Charles Township, 160 acres in Sioux County, la., eighty acres in Chickasaw County, and 400 in Wright County. In politics he is a Republican and cast the first vote for John C. Fremont for President of the United States. He has been a supporter of that party since. He is of Welsh, English and French descent. His father put in the first American marble tile flooring in the United States; he is still living and actively engaged in business at Swanton, Vt.

Col. V. Gr. Barney's brother,Elisha L. Barney, was Colonel of the Sixth Vermont Infantry Volunteers, and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, in Virginia, in 1864. Mr. Barney has always taken an active interest in educational matters, and for the past six years has been a member of the School Board. He has been a member of the City Council two years. He is liberal in his views politically as well as religiously; he has always taken an active interest in any thing that promised progression to Charles City. He secured an appropriation from City Council to lay out city park and set out the trees,and lay out walks. Mr. Campbell and Mr. Barney own the Park House.

BARNUM, T. J., one of the prominent citizens of Scott Township, was born in the State of New York, July 3, 1819. He was reared and educated in his native State, and made it his home until 1861, when he came West, and in the fall of 1867 settled in Winneshiek County, Iowa. He followed farming there four years, then moved to Floyd County, settling on section 35, Scott Township, where he owns 80 acres of finely cultivated land. He was married in 1839 to Nancy Lewis, a native of the Green Mountain State, born in 1820. They liaveone child - Menard, born in New York in 1845. In his political views Mr. Barnum is a Democrat.

BARTH, GEORGE deceased, was born in Canada, Aug. 12, 1836. He remained in Canada, engaged in farming, till the 9th of of March, 1872, when he came to Floyd County, la., and bought the farm where the family still resides, on section 2, Union Township, about three miles northeast of Marble Rock. His first purchase was three eightys; he afterward bought the balance of section 2, making the only full section farm in Union Township. Upon this farm was a small building. This he added to and rebuilt, so that now it is a large farm-house. This farm was all wild land except 150 acres. It has since all been cultivated, except 160 acres, which is kept for pasture and timber. Upon this farm Mr. Barth lived till his death, which occurred March 20, 1878. He was married in Canada, July 9, 1863, to Mary Harbert, who was born in Germany, Feb. 29, 1843, and went to Canada with her parents when she was about four years of age. The family consists of seven children - Mary, Margaret. George, Lydia, John, Daniel and William. Mr. and Mrs. Barth were members of the Lutheran church, and Mrs. Barth is still a member of the same.

BARTZ, CHARLES was born in Germany in 1852; came to the United States in company with his father, Wm. Bartz, in 1854. They located first in Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis. Here they remained about fifteen years. In 1869 they became citizens of Floyd County. Charles Bartz made his home with his parent, in St. Charles Township five years after coining here. In 1874 he purchased 160 acres on section 25, Ulster Township, whore he still resides, aad built a fine house the following year. He was married in Wisconsin, April 30, 1869, to Miss Bertha Dangs, a native of Germany. They have three children - Matilda, Edward and Walter. He farms usually about 100 acres and keeps about fourteen head of cattle, thirty-five hogs and five horses. Politically he is, and always has been, a Republican; also his father before him; has filled the office of Township Trustee for more than a year.

BEAL, FRANK, one of the residents of the Maine or "Down East" settlement, was born in Dover, Maine, Dec. 14, 1842. He was a son of Herman and Phebe (Doore) Beal; his mother was a daughter of Joel Doore of the same town, and sister of Joel Doore, who now resides in this township, bringing the relation of "Uncle Joel" to a veritable fact in Mr. Beal's case. Mr. Beal received the common-school education of a Maine district school, living at home until bis thirteenth year, when, in his sixteenth year, the gold fever seized him and he packed his trunk and started westward via the isthmus. For two years he was mining at Willow Springs, Placer County, after which he "railroaded it" on the San Francisco & San Jose Road. California life did not agree with him - the wet season was too wet, and the glare of the sun after harvest season was too scorching to be at all pleasant; and so in four years from the time of his arrival he started eastward, landing in Maine in 1864. He bought a farm in Charleston, upon which he lived four years, selling out in favor of one in Dover, working that one year. A chance as foreman of a large fancy-stock farm at Upton, Mass., owned by D. W. Batchelor, boot manufacturer, induced him to again sell. His uncle, Joel Doore, having about this time got settled in this new "Garden of the West," wrote him to come; and thus, in 1870, he came to Pleasant Grove Township. He bought two eighties - the southeast of section 29 and the southwest of section 28. When he came here nothing but a log cabin stood on the place for a house, and from this, in a storm a few years afterward, the roof was blown, nearly crushing Mr. and Mrs. Beal and Mr. George Beal's family. About this time things looked gloomy and lonesome enough. By hard, honest toil and a practical mind he has to-day one of the best and pleasantest homes in this portion of Floyd County. From a log cabin he now has a house of all modern comforts and all the conveniences to be found in any farmhouse. From a straw-and-turf stable he has a commodious barn 60 X 32; crops, about eighty acres annually. He was initiated into Olive Branch Lodge, No. 124, of A. F. & A. M., at Charleston, Maine, in 1865, and is now a member of Alpha Lodge, of Greene. He married Carrie Batchelor, of Dover, Maine, April 14, 1866. Miss Batchelor was daughter of Nathan and Olive (Gerry) Batchelor, who are long residents of that town. Mrs. Beal was one of the first in the ranks of the W. C. T. U. [Women's Christian Temperance Union], being its charter Treasurer.

BEATTIE, EDWARD G., farmer and stock-raiser, section 23, Floyd Township, was born in Canada West, Dec. 20, 1837. His father, Edward Beattie, was of Scotch descent. In 1846 his father brought his family to Lake County, Ill., and to this township in 1854, where the family still reside. His father died Jan. 8, 1873. He owns 150 acres of well-improved land. He was married, Jan. 5, 1863, to Elizabeth Saltsgiver. Of their seven children, four are living - William, Lewis, Rosa and an infant girl.

BECK, CHARLES F. was born in Greene Township, Gallia County, O., May 18, 1845. He was the sixth in a family of thirteen. His parents are Jacob and Sophia Beck, now living in Riverton, whose biographies may be found in the contents of that township. Charles F., like the majority of boys in those early days, received but a common-school education, but by a wise use of that, together with shrewd powers of observation, has mastered all obstacles, so far as general knowledge and business laws, and the right and wrong in the political economy of the country goes. He was at home during his minority and until his twenty-fourth year, when he took unto himself a wife, marrying Miss Viola Reynolds, daughter of S. L. Reynolds, formerly of this township, but more recently of Greene. Miss Reynolds had the honor of being the first teacher in School-house No. 1 and perhaps in the district. About the date of his marriage he bought his present home - a farm of ninety acres on section 8. To them one child, a daughter, has been born. Mr. Beck crops about eighty acres on his own place, and some forty more on an adjacent section. Inasmuch as we found Mr. Beck to be one of Floyd's earliest settlers, we have used many of the facts thus gleaned in the body of the work, and for which we give credit.

BECKER, J. A., Clerk of St. Charles Township and farmer, was born in Vernon, Oneida County, N. Y., on Dec. 24, 1837. His parents, Jacob and Melissa R. (Knox) Becker, were natives of New York, and had a family of two children, viz.: Melissa J., who married J. S. Freeman, and the subject of this sketch. His father died two weeks before he was born, and his mother afterward married Lyman Jacobs. J. A. lived in Vernon with his mother and stepfather on a farm and attended school until twenty-one, when he attended the Oneida Conference Seminary two terms; then took a three-months' course at Eastman's Business College Poughkeepsie. He then began teaching school, and taught winters and worked summers at the carpenter's trade seven years; then came to Charles City, la., in March, 1870. He has been engaged in farming since. He taught school in St. Charles Township the winter of 1871-2. He married Addie L. Griswold, Oct. 23, 1867. She was born in Augusta, Oneida County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Warren H . and Aroxsa (Hart) Griswold. Mr. and Mrs. Becker are members of the M. E. church and have had one son, viz.: Warren Earl, born Aug. 30, 1881. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Becker was appointed Township Clerk, but by subsequent election has held that office since. He has held the office of Secretary of the School Board since 1872, and that of Assessor three years. In politics he is a Republican. He is one of the enterprising, representative men of Charles City, and farmers of Floyd County, where he has been identified since 1870. He is of Mohawk Dutch and New England descent.

BEELAR, C. F.was horn in Missouri, Nov. 13, 1838; came to Iowa with his father, Jacob Beelar, when a mere child, and has since made this State his home, stopping in Lee County about six years, and about six years in Bremer County. At about the age of thirteen he became a citizen of Floyd County, and has since that time resided here upon the bank of Shell Rock River, where the pleasant little village of Marble Rock now stands. He has been more or less identified with its growth, though he has given considerable attention to farming. He in company with Mr. Shepardson engaged in the mercantile business two years in Marble Rock, it being about the year 1870. In 1871 he engaged in the hotel business, at which he remained about eight years. Since then he has rented it part of tlie time. He built the hotel and barn liimself, which reflects considerable credit upon the town and upon his own enterprise. In 1880 he and N. H. Ostraiider built a creamery in the village, which is quite an accession to the village. It is run by the water-power of a lively little brook, through the auspices of a livelier eleven-inch turbine wheel, which furnishes an abundance of power. Its capacity for making butter is easily 800 pounds per day. He owns in addition to his town property about 230 acres adjoining the village, which occupies a portion of his attention.

Politically we tind Mr. Beelar a Republican, and awake to the live issues of the day, as his bold energy in behalf of the Amendment will illustrate; has held the office of Constable and Town Clerk, and is now filling the office of Justice of the Peace.

In 1868 he and Miss Diantha Batimore were united in marriage in Marble Rock. She was a native of Indiana. They have two children - Oscar and Maudie, ages thirteen and ten respectively.

Of Mr. Beelar we beg leave to say he is not only one of the first men of his township in point of time of settlement, but in point of citizenship.

BEELAR, JACOB, deceased, was born in Tennessee, Feb. 22, 1789, where he made his home with his father, who was a farmer, till he was about twenty years of age, when he went to Indiana, and remained there till about the year 1838, when he came to Iowa, locating first in Lee County, where he remained about six years; thence to Bremer County, and stopped about six years, and in February, 1852 he became a citizen of Floyd County. He too a Government claim of 600 or 700 acres, the land not being then in market, but soon as it was made possible he entered about 480, upon which he resided till liis death, which occurred Jan. 25, 1858. This property was situated where Marble Rock now stands. A 16 x 16 log house was the first building erected in the township. This he built in 1851, the year previous to bringing his family into tlie county. In 1852 he built another log house, 20 x 30. Neither of these houses now stand, the larger one being destroyed only six or seven years ago. Mr. Beelar was the first settler in this township, and remained about one year without a single neighbor. He married his first wife in Indiana, and by her he had six children. He married his second wife, Caroline Fisher, a native of Germany, in Crawfordsville, Ind., by whom he had six children, fonr still living; their names are as follows: Cynthia Ann, who is now the wife of Abram Johnson and resides in Homer, Hamilton County, Iowa; C. F. Beelar is the next oldest, who is married and resides at Marble Rock upon the old homestead; Jesse Mc, also married, and living in Verndale, Minn.; Dartha, now the wife of Jacob Rex, residing at Puget Sound, Wash. Ter., where Mrs. Beelar is living with his daughter, at the advanced age of seventy-six. Mr. Beelar was a man of perfect physical organization and health, being five feet and ten inches tall and weighing about 240 pounds. He was identified with the war of 1812.

BELL, JOHN was born in Ireland in 1827. At the age of 21, in company with three brothers and five sisters, he left Ireland for Canada. While on the voyage they were taken with a disease called emigrant's fever. Two of the youngest boys died at sea and two sisters died soon after reaching Canada. Mr. Bell was taken to the hospital, but at the expiration of ten days slipped away from the authorities. Going to the country he secured places for his brother and sisters and himself, engaging as a hand in a tannery where he remained for three years, when he went to Dixon, Ill., where he hired with a company who were engaged in building a dam across Rock River; with them he remained a year aud a half; he then went to Oregon, Wis., and worked till fall, when he returned to Canada and brought his brother and sisters to Beloit, Wis., where he had previously secured places for them. While at work on Turtle Creek, Wis., repairing a dam he made the acquaintance of Miss Sarah E. Bagley, who became his wife Oct. 21, 1851. She was a native of New York State, being born there Aug. 25, 1831. The next spring they went to Rockton, Ill., where Mr. Bell worked five years in a paper-mill. From there they moved to Clayton County, Iowa, where he remained two years, working as a hand among lumber principally, alterward moved to this county and farmed. In 1862 went to Pike's Peak, but finding it unprofitable soon returned and moved to Charles City, Floyd County, la. In the following spring he rented a farm in Ulster Township, and farmed as a renter four years. In the spring of 1868 he purchased a farm of 120 acres on section 4, Ulster Township, where he still resides. His family consists of two children - Ida May, now the wife of S. H. Matson, resides in Estherville, Emmett County, Iowa (Mr. Matson is editor of the Vindicator; Harry L., the second child, is sixteen and lives at home. Mr. Ball served thirteen years on the School Board, first year as Secretary, the balance of the time as President of the board; has served as Justice of the Peace two terms and married four couples, the only persons married by a justice of the peace in the town. He has always been a temperance worker, and at present is the Grand Worthy Assistant of the Sons of Temperance of the State of Iowa.

BENEDICT, FRANCIS L. was born in Chenango County, N. Y., Oct. 11, 1825; a son of Lewis Benedict, a native of Connecticut, and Lydia (Packard) Benedict, a native of New York. Both are living; the fatiier eighty-three and the mother eighty-one years of age. Francis L. was educated in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where he went with his parents when a small boy. In 1852 he came to Linn County, la., and in 1856 to this county, where he owns 200 acrcs on section 18, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married March 21, 1848, to Abigail Snow, a native of Massachusetts. They have seven children, five living - James L., Lyman L., Elmer A., Harrison and Bertie. He has been Township Trustee and School Director several years; County Supervisor one year, and was Postmaster two years.

BENEDICT, HENRY L. was born in Coventry, Chenango County, N. Y., Nov. 1, 1834. His father, Lewis Benedict, a native ot Connecticut, moved to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1836, and in 1846 to Dodge County, Wis. Henry L. was educated in Ohio and Wisconsin. He came to this county in the fall of 1867 and settled on section 11, where he owns 160 acres of fine land and eighteen acres of timber. He is both farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1855 to Sarah A., daughter of Martin L. Blair. They have had four children, three living - Sumner A., Charles F., and Lettie S. Marsha E. died at the age of eight years. He is Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace; is a member of the A. F. & A. M.

BENJAMIN, DE GRAND, retired farmer, miller and manufacturer of cheese, was born in De Ruyter, Madison County, N. Y., Oct. 2, 1816, a son of Elias P. and Martha (Rich) Benjamin. She was from Connecticut, and he was a native of Dutchess County, N. Y. He was a miller and farmer. They were members of the Universalist church, and had a family of six sons and three daughters.

De Grand, subject of this sketch, was the third son. He attended school - working on his father's farm - until twenty-one, when he engaged in teaching school in Madison County, continuing seven years. He was married to Miss Roxalina Sexton, Sept. 23, 1843, at Union Valley, Portland County, N. Y. She was born there and was a daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Carpenter) Sexton. After Mr. Benjamin was married he located in Union Valley, and through his efforts a postoffice was established here and he was appointed Postmaster. He also owned and conducted a farm there. In 1849 he returned to the home of his boyhood and purchased a farm within two miles of his father, and engaged in farming and milling until his father's death. He inherited the old homestead of his father. The State changed the course of the river that propelled his mill for canal purposes, soon after, so he converted his mill into a cheese factory. In March, 1874, he came to Charles City, la., purchased some property and has since resided here, engaged in speculating and loaning money. Mrs. Benjamin is a member of the Congregational church. They have had three childrien, two living, viz.: Martha A., born March 27, 1847, and Alida H., born May 8, 1852.

Mr. Benjamin is one of the enterprising, representative men of Charles City. In politics, he was first a Democrat, but at the outbreak of the war became a strong Republican and has since supported that party. He is a man liberal in his views, original in mind, and a strong believer in all men having equal rights. He is of English descent. He owns a nice home and eight lots in Charles City, and a farm of 120 acres in Scott Township, most all under cultivation and well stocked.

BENNETT, GEORGE, farmer; postoffice, Orchard; son of Stephen and Betsey (Knickerbacker) Bennett, natives of New York. George was born in Lake County, Ill., Dec. 14, 1844; he was educated in Iowa, where the family moved in 1855. Mr. Bennett has followed farming and now owns 228 1/3 acres on sections 22 and 27, Cedar Township - which is finely cultivated. In 1872 he married Jennie L., daughter of Theodore and Jane Wilson, natives of New York and New Hampshire, respectively. By this union there are three children - Bessie A., born Sept, 15, 1875; Emma Louisa, Aug. 29, 1878; Samuel Wilson, March 9, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He votes the Republican ticket. Mr. Bennett is paying considerable attention to fine stock; the Clydesdale is his specialty.

BENNETT, SAMUEL, farmer; postoffice, Charles City; son of Stephen and Betsey (Knickerbacker) Bennett, natives of Dntchess County, N. Y. Samuel was born in Illinois, Nov. 10, 1840, where he was educated. In 1855 he came to Iowa. He has followed farming and now owns 218 acres of finely improved land on sections 26 and 35. In 1861 he married Sarah, daughter of Israel and Mary (Warren) Walling, natives of New York; they came to Iowa at an early day, where Mrs. Walling died. Mrs. Bennett was born in New York in 1844; by this union, there are two children - Stephen Curtis, born April 11, 1864, and Mary Frances, Oct. 30, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He votes the Republican ticket.

BERG, EDWARD, one of the oldest and most prominent business men of Charles City, was born inEutin, Oldensburg, Germany, on Aug. 6, 1844, a son of Adoph and Sophia Berg, nee Boessing, who had a family of seven children. They were members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Adolph Berg was a Privy Councilor of the Government of Oldenburg. Edward attended school in Germany, making a specialty of the studies of chemistry and forrestry until twenty-two years of age, when he came to the United States, landed at New York, and from there went at once to St. Louis, Mo, He remained there a short time, and in December, 1867, came to Charles City, where he clerked for J. H. Stolle, until March. 1873, when he opened his present store. He carries a complete stock of groceries, provisions and staple goods, also keeps a full line of crockery and chinaware. One department of his store is devoted to drugs and medicines of all kinds. This stock is valued at $3,000. He is agetit for the German Fire Insurance Company, of Freeport, Ill., and has had the agency since 1871. Politically, he is independent in his views.

BICKNESS, JOHN FREDERICK CHRISTIAN, born in Erichshagen, Wolpe County, Kingdom of Hanover, Dec. 17, 1815, was a son of Conrad and Marie (Lubbers) Bicknese, and the eldest son of six children. He lived at home until his fifteenth vear, when he worked for a year and a half in a hotel, then for two years for a dyer, when he entered into a contract to learn the trade. In August, 1838, he took out a passport, dated Aug. 30, 1838. In those days a passport book had to be obtained and each night to be left with the police until further movements demand its possession. His movements were about as follows: starting from Erichshagen, he stayed first at Celle; from Celle he went to Bremen, from Bremen to Oldenburg. At each place all travelers are examined to see if they have been vaccinated, and if they have traveling money - $5 being requisite before proceeding. From Oldenburg he went to Yarel, tben to Aurish, then to Burgsteinfurth, where he worked nearly two months. After this to Osnedrick, then to Wildeshausen, then to Buckeburg; from here to Hildeshein; from here to Braunschweig, then to Grimma, Saxony, then to Leipsig; from here to Dresden; from here he went to Breslau, Prussia; from here to Lignitz, then to a part of Prussia Puland, Zduny; from here to Kozmin; from here to Tlioren, then to Elbing via Grauding and Marenwerder; from Elbing to Soldan; from here to Hohenstein; here he worked three months. Then to Konigsberg; from here to Danzig, Prussia, again; from here to Stolp, then to Coslin, then to Colberg, then back to Stolp, where he secured five weeks' work. From here to Landsberg, then to Rueenwale; here he worked fourteen weeks. From here to Soldin, then to Stettin. During this time he was traveling on foot, and here, having sore feet, he had to be still a few days. Then to Stralsund; from there to Demmin, from there to Paswalk, from there to Naubrandenburg, from there to Frankfort-on-the-Oder, then back to Breslau; from there to Leobsclmefz, tben to Hirschberg, then to Zittan, then to Freiberg, from there to Chemmitz. There he was fortunate enough to find work for one vear and a half, where he had charge of forty-five men. After this, desiring more experience, he resigned and went to Erfiirth, working about five weeks; then to Gotha, then toMinningen, then to Coluirg, then to Bavaria, Culmbach, from there to Bayruth, then to Schnabelwid, then to Nurnberg, then to Ausbach, then to Westertrulingen, then to Koslinger, then to Dorianwortli, then to Angsbnrg, then to Schwabannuchen, then to Kaiit'buren, then to Kempten, then to lesny, Wurtembnrg, then to Leutkirch, then to Stuttgart, then to Nalen; there he worked fourteen weeks. From there to Gniund; there he again worked fourteen weeks. From there he weut to Tubengen, then to Balingen, then to Schafhausen, then passing over the border of Wurtenburg, to Gallen, Switzerland; there he worked fourteen weeks. From tliere to Berne, then to Lucerne; from here back to Germany, Baden Baden, to Freiburg, then to Menheim; from there to Wurzburg, then to Bamburg; from there to Cumbach, then to Hof, then to Griez, then to Altenburg, then to Hildeshim, and from there to where he was born, arriving home Dec. 8, 1842, making a journey of four years and four months. This has been taken from the passport book. It also shows about what the German journeyman has to pass through to gain that perfection in his trade that brings demand for his labor. He worked at his trade about one year at home; then from Bremen sailed to Baltimore, landing in America. Aug. 18, 1844. From Baltimore, he went to Wilkinsburg, Pa.; worked seven years and a half in the Baltimore coal mine, Alex. Gray being proprietor. From here to Dane County, Wis., in 1852. While in Wilkinsburg he married Frances Hogstien. He lived in Dane County fourteen years and a half. Then came to this township, Nov. 30, 1866. His cliildron are - Clemerce L., Mary C, John Francis, Bernard, Katy. Frank, Joseph, Dora, and Lena. His wife died in March, 1878. He owns 405 acres, and crops: of corn, eighty-live acres; iof oats, forty-two and one-half acres; of wheat, eighty-six acres; tame grass, fourteen acres.

BILLINGS, JOSIAH, born in Lancaster, Worcester County, Mass., Aug, 11, 1820, is a son of Josiah Billings, a native of Lunenburg, Mass, He was educated in Groton Academy, Mass, His father was a tanner, and he worked at the same trade thirty years. He went to Maine in 1845, and in 1869 came to this county. He owns 320 acres, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising; resides on section 10, St. Charles Township, He was married to Ellen Monroe. They had one child - Edward, In 1862 Mrs. Billings died, and in 1866 he married Marsha Tibbitts.

BIILLINGS, TIMOTHY, farmer and stock-raiser; postoffice, Niles; son of Timothy and Margaret (McTaggart) Billings, natives of Vermont and Scotland, respectively. They came to Iowa in 1854, being about the first to locate in Niles Township, where Indians were more plentiful than white men. Tliere was a family of children, of wliich Timothy was the fifth; he was born in Canada, Oct. 6, 1845. He had the privileges of a common-school education in Iowa of an early day, and worked on the farm with his fitlier until he was eighteen years of age, when he enlisted in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, Company H, Capt. S. S. Troy, and served till the end of the war. He was in the siege of Memphis; Tupelo, Miss.; Selma, Ala.; Jackson, Miss.; Naishville, Tenn., and Columlms, Ga.; also in some twenty-five other minor battles in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas, serving under Generals Sherman, Wilson, Grierson and Grant, and was discharged in August, 1865, at Davenport. After leaving the army he spent three years in the gold mines of Montana, where he made a good "stake." On returning to the States in 1869, he married Catherine E., daughter of Henry and Mary (Waters) Cobough, natives of Pennsylvania, where Henry died. Mrs. Billings was born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 10, 1846. By this union there are two children— - Daisy May, born Oct. 29, 1870; Isora Elizabeth, born June 27, 1874. Mr. Billings has held several of the offices of the township, and has faithfully discharged every trust. He votea the Republican ticket. Mr. Billings owns 720 acres of fine land on sections 8, 9, 4 and 20, the most of which is finely improved. He is an influential and respected citizen of the county.

BIRNEY, LEWIS, M. D., born in Syracuse, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1823, is a son of James Birney, a native of England, who died when Lewis was quite small. He was reared and educated in his native town, attending the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Toronto, Can., in 1850-'51, graduating in 1851; also graduated from College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, la., in 1878. He commenced to practice in 1851 in Canada. He moved to Garden Prairie, Ill., in the spring of 1856, and came here the following fall. He is the pioneer physician of the county; had a large territory to practice in; was frequently called to go forty and fifty miles. He has a large practice; is a very skillful surgeon. He is a member of the Masonic order. He was married April 27, 1846, to Mary M. Ferris. Of their seven children, six are living - Clarius C, Varriness C, Matilda A.. Catharine M., Erasmus L. and Celia J. The three sons are all practicing medicine; one daughter, Matilda A., also practiced medicine a short time. She is now the wife of L. A. Snow. Mrs. Birney's father, Hiram Ferris, was born in New York State in 1801, and her mother in Canada in 1808.

BISSELL, S. P. was born in Aurora, Portage County, Ohio, in 1826. Here he made his home till about twenty-eight years of age; he was reared on a farm and received a good common-school education; at the age of twenty-one he entered the Twinsburg Academy, where he remained two years, during part of which time he was an assistant teacher. At the age of twenty-four he married Harriet L. Griffith, daughter of James Griffith, one of Floyd County's pioneers. Shortly after his marriage he went to Wisconsin and engaged in farming one season; afterward returned to Ohio and remained about three years. In his twenty-fifth year he commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade, at which avocation he was employed till he came to Iowa in 1851. He located first in Nora Springs, where he remained about two years; his first work in this county was to iron off saw-mill at Nora Springs, after which he taught the first singing school in Floyd County. While he resided at Nora Springs he worked at his trade, but the population was so scarce that he was unemployed three fourths of the time, though farmers came as far as 100 miles to get a plow layed; he had many customers from Minnesota. At the expiration of this two years he moved to Floyd, where he resided six or seven years, engaged in blacksmithing and teaching occasional classes in vocal music, after which he moved to Fayette for the purpose of having his family avail themselves of the opportunities afforded by the college; here he remained three years, which time he was wholly employed in teaching vocal music in thatpart of the country; a part of the time he was a teacher of music in the college. In 1868 he became a citizen of Marble Rock, where he continued his profession as teacher of vocal music, and was agent for a life and fire insurance company, till the fall of 1S80, when he abandoned teaching on account of his impaired health. In 1881 he again resumed his trade, at which we find him engaged. With all due respect to Mr. Bissell, we wish to say, in one sense of the word, he appears out of his place in a blacksmith shop. Not that he is not proficient, but he seems better calculated to fill a position where muscle is not absolutely king. As a music teacher, he certainly is an eminent one. Since he was seventeen years of age, twelve months has scarcely passed but he has taught more or less. The truth of the statement will be seen when we say that he has taught over 100 terms of school. Mr. Bissell was married Feb. 28, 1849, in the city of Cleveland, Ohio; his family consists of two children living - Frankie is now the wife of E. A. Rosenkrans; Fred is engaged with the mining speculations of Idaho. In 1878 Mr. Bissell lost his third child, Elmer E., at the age of eleven, by drowning in the Shell Rock River, close to the village.

BLECKLEY, WILLIAM, farmer and baker; postoffice, Charles City; was born in England, April 21, 1814; he was educated there and learned the trade of a baker, which he worked at until he came to the United States, in 1846. He bought a farm in Wisconsin where he lived nineteen years; he then came to Iowa and bought his present farm of 160 acres on section 30, where he now lives. He now owns eighty acres, having given his son eighty acres of the original farm.

His house was struck by a cyclone on the 17tli of July, entirely demolishing the greater part of it, carrying fragments eighty rods away, distributing a cook stove for ten rods, tearing up apple-trees and destroying everything in its way.

In 1839 he married Maria, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Edwards, natives of England, where they died. By this union there have been six children, five living - Ellen, born Feb. 6, 1841, wife of JohnBloomhall, of Dakota; Carrie, born Feb. 14, 1842, wife of George Boyer, of Dakota; George, born Sept. 19, 1843, married; Kate, born Sept. 9, 1845, wife of Frank Houghy; Eliza Ann, born Dec. 5, 1847, wife of R. W. Town, of Dakota. The first four were born in England; Eliza Ann, in Dane County, Wis. Mr. Bleckly and family are members of the M. E. church. Mr. Bleckly votes the Republican ticket.

BLUNG, EZEKIAH, farmer, section 31, was born in Green County, Wis., Oct. 14, 1843. His parents were John and Maria (Wells) Blunt, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Wisconsin. His father was for many years a farmer in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1852 he removed with his wife and seven children to Floyd County, and located in St. Charles Township, Here he resided till his death, April 26, 1880, respected by all who knew him. Ezekiah, our subject, received only a common-school education. He attended the first school taught in Charles City; the teacher was Miss Lydia Palmer, Dec. 31, 1863. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Macauley, of Pennsylvania. They have six children - Mary C, Charles R., Ezekiah, Jr., Ernest E., Walter C. and Barney. Mr. Blunt is the owner of 293 acres of farming land in Floyd County, most of it under cultivation. Politically he is a Democrat.

BLYTHE, SMITH G., M. D., Nora Springs, was born in Middlesex County, N. J., Nov. 6, 1841, and was one of a family of nine children. His father, Joseph M. Blythe, was a native of Kentucky, and a minister in the Presbyterian faith. In 1856 he was placed in charge of a pastorate at Vincennes, Ind., where Smith remained one year, then returned to the East, and entered Lafayette College at Easton, Pa,, from which he graduated in the spring of 1860. He took charge of a classical academy at Belvidere, N. J., in the following fall, and began reading medicine. He was one of the first to enlist in the late Rebellion, becoming a member of Company D, First Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, and in a month after enlistment was made Commissary Sergeant. In February, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant of Company A, and at the battle of South Mountain was made First Lieutenant of Company F, and in November of 1862, was promoted to the Captaincy. He was wounded four times, and so severely at the battle of the Wilderness that he was mustered out for physical disability on June 24, 1864. Upon leaving the service he taught school at Hopewell, Ind., some time, and in the meanwhile continued the study of medicine. He attended the Ohio State Medical College at Cincinnati, during the sessions of 1866-'67, and located in the practice of his profession, in the spring of 1867, at Vinton, la. He successfully practiced there until December, 1869, when he moved to Rudd, Floyd County; thence, in January, 1873, to Nora Springs. He graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York City, in 1878, and sinefe his residence here has built up a large and lucrative practice, being recognized as one of the leaders of the medical profession in the State. Dr. Blythe was married July 8, 1863, to Miss Emily G. Sharp, daughter of Judge Wm. R. Sharp, of New Jersey. Of nine children born of this union three survive - Emily M., Hannah L., and Redford V. The deceased were - Ellen H., William S., Jessie C, Elizabeth G., Jean M., and one who died in infancy. Dr. Blythe was the Presidential Elector for the Fourth Congressional District in 1880, and has efficiently served in various local offices. He is on the Governor's staff as Surgeon General, with the rank of Brigadier General of the Iowa National Guards. His mother, Ellen Henrietta (Green) Blythe, was a sister of the Hon. Chief Justice Green, of New Jersey.

BOON, T. W. was born in Washington County, Ohio, May 10, 1843. He is a son of Thomas and Eunice Boon, who are now both deceased. The mother died about the year 1855. His father died in April, 1879. When T. W. Boon was about ten years of age, he went to Illinois in company with his father. They spent about two years in DeKalb County, while the two older brothers, W. M. and S. M., were breaking up prairie and building houses on land his father had previously purchased in Union Township, Floyd County, Iowa. It was in the year 1856 that Mr. Boon became a citizen of Floyd County, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years spent in Clay County and three years in the army. He enlisted in July, 1862, in Company G, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry; was never wounded or taken prisoner, but was on three different occasions taken to the hospital as a patient, remaining only a short time, the longest stay being about thirty days. He participated in some of the hardest engagements, among them Cape Girardo, Little Rock, Ark., Lake Chico, Memphis, Tenn., the battle of Tupelo, besides the many skirmishes connected with Price's raid on St. Louis, known as the Iron Mountain. The last battle he was in was at Nashville, Dec. 15 and 16, 1864. He was mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., May 25, 1865. Mr. Boon learned the mason's trade when about thirteen years of age, and has worked at it for about twenty years. He was married Dec. 30, 1866, to Maggie Sherman, a native of Michigan. They have three children - Emma J., Daniel and Harry E. Politically Mr. Boon is a Republican.

BORT, M. E., one of the prominent citizens of Rockford, was born Feb. 15, 1846, in Herkimer County, N Y. He left New York, when seven years of age, moving to Ossian, Winneshiek County, la., where he subsequently engaged in the drug business. In 1876 he removed to Charles City, and one year later came to Rockford, where he has since resided. He is engaged in the drug business here and also keeps a full line of jewelry. His marriage to Eugenia Moe occurred at Avoca, Pottawattamie County, la., on Sept. 11, 1873. She was born in Wisconsin, March 11,1848. They have three children - Earl Leslie, born Feb. 17, 1875; Edna, March 22, 1877, and Clyde, June 22, 1879. Mrs. Bort is a member of the Free-Will Baptist chuich, and politically Mr. Bort is a strong Republican.

BOULTON, GEORGE F., of the firm of Boulton & Boulton, attorneys, Charles City, was born in Columbus, N. J., Feb. 8, 1836, and soon after his birtli his parents removed to Mount Union, Ohio, where he attended school until his thirteenth year. The family then went to Marshall County, Ind., settling upon a farm. George pursued his studies there and at Warsaw and Plymouth, Ind., until 1858, when he went to Bourbon and began the study of law with the Hon. James O. Parks. In the fall of 1859 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Marshall County, Ind., holding the position until April 25, 1861. He then enlisted in the first company organized in Marshall County, his name being second on the enlistment roll. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant of this company, but was never ordered into service. He farmed and practiced law in Marshall County until the fall of 1863, then entered the law department of the university at Ann Arbor, Mich., and one year later came to Charles City, Iowa. In September, 1864, he was admitted to the Iowa bar, and has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession here since. He formed a partnership with E. G. Reiniger in l866, which continued two years and in 1881 the present firm of Boulton & Boulton was established.

Mr. Boulton married Miss Sarah Updike at Bourbon, Ind., June 27, 1861; she was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., and was a daughter of William and Mercy (Loveless) Updike. Mr. and Mrs. Bourbon are members of the Methodist church and have two daughters, viz: Jennie E. L., born Aug. 20, 1864, and Mercy L., born Dec 20, 1869.

Mr. Boulton is one of the charter members of the U. A. S. Fraternity, and Iowa Good Templars; he took an active part in the canvass of the constitutional amendment prohibiting the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors. In politics was a Fremont boy and has been a strong supporter of the Republican party ever since.

BOULTON, Z. D., senior member of the law firm of Boulton & Boulton, Charles City, is a native of Burlington County, N. J., born near Pemberton, on April 22, 1813. His parents were William and Mary Boulton, nee Dobbins, natives of New Jersey. They had a family of eleven children, and were members of the M. E. church. William Boulton was first married to Mary Gilbert by whom he had iour children. Mrs. Boulton was the widow of William Jones by whom she had two children. Z. D. was the second son by the second marriage and his boyhood was passed on his father's farm in New Jersey. When fifteen years of age he went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he served an apprenticeship to a boot and shoe manufacturer there. In 1836 he went to Mount Union, Ohio, and worked at his trade and farming until 1849, when he settled on a farm in Marshall County, Ind. He removed from there to Bourbon, Indiana, in 1857, and embarked in the mercantile business. He was admitted to the Indiana bar and practiced there until August, 1881, when he came to Charles City and the present partnership, with son, George F., was formed. Mr. and Mrs. Boulton have a family of six children - G. F.; Mary, wife of A. J. Bair; of Warsaw, Ind.; T. R., a carpenter and contractor of Warsaw; B. E., a farmer residing near Howard, Kansas; William H., druggist at Silver Lake, Ind., and J. B., a stone mason at Bourbon, Ind. The law firm of Boulton & Boulton is one of the most popular in the city and they are known throughout the county as gentlemen of superior legal ability.

BOWDOIN, HON. ELDRIDGE G., of Floyd County, la., was born at South Hadley Falls, Hampshire County, Mass., on the 16th day of February, 1820. His father, Hon. William Bowdoin, of Huguenot origin and a descendant of the same ancestors as the Bowdoins of Boston, was for more than forty years a practicing attorney of the Massachusetts bar and for several terms a member of the Massachusetts Senate. The subject of our sketch was educated at Amherst College, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1840. After graduating he commenced the study of law, but subsequently for some time taught an academy at Spencertown, Columbia County, N. Y., and again from 1842 to 1845 was similarly engaged at Milton, Caswell County, N. C. Returning to Massachusetts the latter year, he resumed his legal studies with Judge Henry Morris, at Springfield, where in May, 1847, he was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. Immediately after he removed to Amherst, where he entered into partnership with the Hon. Edward Dickinson, with whom he continued in the practice of his profession until 1855, when, owing to ill health, he made a journey to Iowa, which eventuated in his becoming interested in real estate in FJoyd and adjoining counties, and a resident of the town of Rockford, of which he was one of the original proprietors. lu 1856 he was admitted to the bar of Floyd County, but never practiced there. In 1859 he was elected a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, which met in 1860, from the district then composed of the counties of Floyd, Cerro Gordo, Worth, Hancock and Winnebago, in which session he was a member of the Judiciary Committee, and Chairman of the Committee on Schools and State University. He was re-elected to the assembly which met in 1862, in which session he was Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, and a member of the committee or apportioning the State into congressional districts. In 1860 he was a member of the Iowa delegation to the National Republican Convention, at Chicago, which nominated Mr. Lincoln. In December, 1863, going to Washington he was made Clerk of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, of which the Hon. James F. Wilson, of Iowa, was Chairman, which position he retained for nearly ten years, six of them with Mr. Wilson as Chairman, and the remainder with Hon. John A. Bingham, of Oliio. Since that time he has resided at Rockford, where he is principal proprietor of the unoccupied town property, and is engaged in farming and dealing in real estate. He is one of the most public spirited men in the Shell Rock Yalley. He was never married.

BOWERS, GEORGE was born in Hillsboro County, N, H., in 1822. He was a son of Jonathan S. and Elizabeth Bowers. At the age of fourteen he engasred as a sailor on a whaling vessel. This avocation he followed till he was twenty-two years of age. During this time he sailed around the world, spending the most of the time among the South Sea Islands; spent nine months on Ascension Island, Carolina Group, it being the capital of the Group. After he abandoned the sea he returned to New Hampshire, and worked in a town about two years; afterward worked in a cottonmill in Chicopee, Mass. At this he engaged nine years. He returned to New Hampshire and farmed about three years. In 1857 he went to Illinois, where he spent about nine years as a farmer. From there he moved to Iowa, locating in Floyd County, and purchased the farm of seventy acres where he still resides, in Union Township, about one and three-quarter miles East of Marble Rock. Mr. Bowers was married in 1846 to Miss Nancy Lawrence, a native of Warren, Maine. She died in 1852, leaving two children - Alfred and George, who died shortly afterward, both being very small. Mr. Bowers married his second wife Sept. 16, 1861. Her name was Bridget Heartt, anative of Ireland. They have no family.

BOWLES, N. D., one of the prominent citizens of Rockford Township, is a native of Holmes County, O,, born May 3, 1833. He was reared and educated in his native place, residing there until his eighteenth year, when he came to Iowa, locating in Clavton County, in the summer of 1851. In 1872 he moved to Osceola County, and in 1877 to Floyd County, where he has remained since. His marriage to Bertha A. Cummings occurred Nov. 14, 1856. She was born in Michigan, Juno 29, 1837. Mr. Bowles enlisted in February, 1862, in the Sixteenth United States Infantry, and served two years, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Chickamaugua, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw Gap, Atlanta, and was captured just before the memorable battle of Perryviille, Ky., but succeeded in making his escape that night, and returned to his regiment. He was appointed master of transportation for the army from Louisville, Ky., to Fort Scott, Kan., and was there from June until the following January. After the close of the war he returned to Floyd County, and has been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Rockford Township since. Politically he is a strong supporter of the Republican party.

BOWMAN, C. W. was born in Indiana in 1836, where he made his home till he was about fifteen years of age, when he moved with his parents to Allamakee County, Iowa, and resided till Sept. 20, 1868, when he became a citizen of Floyd County, thus identifying himself as one of our county's first settlers. At this time he purchased 160 acres where he still resides, on section 28, Union Township. Has since added forty acres, making a fine farm of 200 acres. He has a nice home, witli its beautiful surroundings and fine location. Every foot of the farm is under first class cultivation. He crops yearly about 160 acres, keeping about thirty five head of cattle, and usually 200 head of hogs, and horses sufficient to carry on his farming. Mr. Bowman was married in Allamakee County, in 1860, to Miss Sarah A. Callender, a native of Ohio. They have no family. Mr. Bowman is a member of the order of Freemasons. Though never an aspirant for office, he has always taken an active interest in politics, and votes the straight Republican ticket.

BOYER, WILLIAM, farmer; P. O., Charles City; son of Samuel and Jane (Boyer) Boyer, natives of England, where they died. William was born June 30, 1823, and educated in England. He worked in a chemical laboratory until he came to the United States, in 1846. He located in Dane County, Wis., coming out with what was then known as the " British Temperance Emigration Society," which soon broke up. Mr. Boyer purchased a farm, and has followed this occupation, living in Wisconsin until January, 1867, when he came to Iowa, purchasing 245 acres of fine land on section 30. He has sold a portion, and now owns 165 acres of finely cultivated land and a good home.

In 1842 he married Mary, daughter of John and Mary (Tyson) Lowndes, of England, where they died. Mary was born Aug. 11, 1822. This union has been blessed with ten children, eight living - George, born July 20, 1843, married, and living in Dakota; Mary Jane, born Oct. 19, 1845, died May 31, 1847; G. L., born Feb. 25, 1849, married, and living in Dakota; Olive Melissa, born May 24, 1851, wife of Levi Pierce, living in Dakota; Martha Ann, born Nov. 14, 1853, wife of W. H. Hill, living in Dakota; William, born May 24, 1356, married and living in Dakota; Mary, wife of S. R. Laughlin, of Dakota, was born April 18, 1858; C. W., born Dec. 13, 1860, living in Dakota; R. F., Aug. 19, 1863; one child died in infancy.

Mr. Boyer and all his family are members of the M. E. church, in which he is a local deacon, and supplies Orchard Circuit. He has held many of the township offices, and is at present one of the Trustees. He votes the Republican ticket. He is one of the substantial and reliable men of Floyd County.

BRADLEY, J. S., City Clerk and Justice of the Peace, and formerly an attorney, was born June 10, 1843, in Paris, Edgar Co., Ill., a son of Andrew and Minerva (Stratton) Bradley; he enlisted in August, 1862, in the United States army, in Company C, Seventy-Ninth Illinois Infantry, and served three years, when the war closed. The principal battles in which he was engaged were Stone River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. During the last year of the war he organized an independent company for the defense of East Tennessee, of which he was elected Captain. Sept. 14, 1870, in Paris, Ill., he married Susie M., daughter of Rev. S. S. Newell, of that place. Of their two children, Teddie and Neddie, the latter is living. In his younger days, Mr. Bradley attended Edgar Academy a short time, read law at Paris, and graduated at the law department of Michigan University; also attended the literary course of that institution a short time. He came to Charles City in 1871, and commenced the practice of law ; but in the fall of that year he was elected Justice of the Peace; there being no vacancy for that office at that time, he was re-elected in the fall of 1872, since which time he has held that office. He was elected City Clerk in the spring of 1875, and since that time he has also had that office. He is also United States Commissioner. He is a Freemason, a member of the A. O. U. W., and of the Congregational church. Mrs. Bradley is also a member of that church.

BRAUNTON, WILLIAM is a native of England, born June 6, 1834. He received his education in his native country, and there learned the builder's trade, which he followed until 1871, when he came to the United States, and to Rockford, la., via Chicago. He has built many of the residences in Rockford, and has been very successful. He was married in his native country, in 1866, to Emma Haslett, who was born in England in 1843. Their union has been blessed with six children - Ernest, Marian, Hugh, Blanche, Harold and Eva. The first three were born in England, the last three in America. Mr. Braunton, in politics, is a strong supporter of the Republican party. He is a member of the Established Church of England.

BRIGGS, W. S. was born in Tioga County, Penn., in 1842. At the age of twenty-three he came to Iowa, locating in Osslan, Winneshiek County. Taught the village school the first winter. Afterward engaged as bookkeeper for the firm of Brooks Brothers, hardwaremen; with them he remained a year and a half. At the expiration of this time he went into the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad office, where he remained about four years. Afterward he went into the employ of a grain dealer by the name of R. N. Sawyer; with him he remained about a year. At this date, being in 1872, he went to Michigan, locating permanently in Montcalm County, where he engaged in the lumbering business, remaining over four years. In the spring of 1877 lie became a citizen of Floyd County, locating on section 8, Ulster Township, on a farm of 120 acres, which he purchased in 1866, paying therefor $400. He sold forty acres of it in 1878. In the years 1877 and 1878 he built himself a good house. He has his farm under a good state of caltivation. Mr Briggs received his education at Knoxville Academy, Pa., afterward attending Osceola Academy, finishing at the State Normal School of Mansfield. Afterward took a commercial course at Binghamton, N. Y. Mr. Briggs was married in 1869 in Michigan to Miss Tina E. Hunter, a native of Michigan, being born in Lenawee County, in 1844. Their family consists of tliree children - Lora H., Lulu A. and an infant son not yet named. Briggs E. A. Mead, a sister's son, makes his home with Mr. Briggs, who expects to raise him. Mr. Briggs has been School Director and is now President of the board. Politically is a Republican.

BRILL, WILLIAM E., farmer and stock-raiser, section 22, Floyd Township, is a native of New York State, born Dec. 14, 1834. His father, Nelson Brill, is a native of Pennsylvania, who moved to Kenosha County, Wis., in 1838, and to Sauk County, Wis., in 1846. He came to Floyd County, la., in 1867. He was married in 1859 to Eliza Degolia. They had one child - Charles. Mrs. Brill died and in 1865 he married Jeanette Richmond, born in Erie County. Pa. He deals in wood and timber.

BRISCO, JOHN, one of the earliest pioneers of Iowa, and one who has seen nothing but frontier life since his early boyhood in Shelby County, Ky., until now, was born of good old Kentucky stock in Shelby County. His parents moved from there to Monroe County, Ind., when he was a small boy. His reminiscences of Indiana or Hoosier pioneer life; of their log cabins without a scrap of iron; their primitive customs as a whole, are very interesting. He lived at home, assisting his father to carry on the farm until his nineteenth year, when he went to work on the river, piloting the old-styled flat boat between Louisville, Ky., and New Orleans. It was a life of intense hardship. One of these boats, floating with the stream, took fifteen days or more to do the journey. The boats, when they arrived, were sold for the lumber in them, though some of them have been brought up the stream by means of ropes and horses.

In 1843 he married Adeline Head, of Monroe County. Her father emigrated from "New Virginia" when she was but two years of age. Their names were Josiah and Lydia Head. Both died when she was quite young. Mrs. Brisco is a grand example of what our early pioneer women were, having endured privations and hardships with her husband, working in the field as in the house, being a "better shot" with the frontiersman's rifle than the majority of tliem themselves, and lastly having raised a family of fourteen
children, the greater portion living to-day to bless the mother and father from whom they have inherited sound constitutions and pure blood. Mr. Brisco to-day, is healthy and vigorous. Upon Mr. Brisco's marriage they moved to Kosciusko County in the fall of 1847, and from there moved to Allamakee, living there until 1861, when he moved to Riverton. In Allamakee County he moved to Rossville, where he bought 200 acres - two besides himself living in that section at that time, and laid out the town, now Rossville. He carried on the farm for three vears, then moved to town and went into the manufvcturing of plows and blacksmithing with David Skirnicr, and remained in the company seven years, when he sold out and formed a partnership with Mr. Ross and built a steam grist-mill, which he ran about one year, returning to the farm. During the time he ran the manufacturing of plows he went into and established a shop at Oronoko, on Zumbro River, running it one year and sold out. During this time he also made two trips to Pike's Peak, it being the time of the gold fever, crossing the plains four times with an ox team; the first time there was a company of sixty men and thirty wagons; the second time twenty-seven men, one woman and sixteen wagons. During the last trip they made a halt at Denver, the Indians being on the war-path.

At the time of their settlement in Iowa, bears and game were abundant. Mrs. Brisco has seen five bears at one time. The pigs had to be kept in the house; and being afraid they would molest the children, Mrs. Brisco learned to use the rifle. Some of her shots rival the stories of the frontier marksman. Her husband once wagered a pair of pants against a new dress that she could not kill over four or five partridges or wood pheasants at a shot; but her scoring thirty-one birds with every shot won the dress. Few women in the history of frontier life have equaled this. Squirrels and wild turkeys were doomed if she could see as much as their heads. She has killed two deer. In 1870 he bought a farm of ninety acres in Pleasant Grove and lived there four years; then sold it and bought the one of 160 acres, where he now resides. Their children are - Prier L., Lydia M. and Elizabeth Jane, born in Monroe County, Ind.; Jeremiah and Harriet M., born in Kosciusko County, Ind.; Matilda I. (the tirst child born in the county); John L. (died when three years old); Emmie L. (died in infancy); Josiah, Clementine and Robinson M., born in Allamakee County, la.; Charles C, Francis U. and Walter M., born in Riverton, Floyd County.

BRITTON, STEPHEN P. was born in Elizabeth, N. J., and there his boyhood was passed and his education received. In 1848 he left his native State for the West, and located in Chicago, Ill., where he engaged in the practice of law two years; then removed to Winnebago County, Ill. He farmed on Rock River nine years, and in 1856 came to Floyd County, purchasing an interest in the town property of Rockford. He now owns 360 acres of fine land, adjoining the city. He was married in 1858 to Annie D. Porter, a native of Zanesville, O., born in 1836. They have three children - Stephen, born in 1860; Robert, in 1862; and Annie, in 1871. Mr. Britton is classed with the prominent farmers and fine-stock breeders of the county, and owns some choice imported cattle, horses and hogs.

BRONSON, BUSHNELL K., born in Steuben County, N. Y., Dec. 20, 1819, is a son of Thomas Bronson, of Connecticut. He was educated in the Genesee College, N. Y. : came to Maquoketa City, la., in 1854; in 1855 he and his brother, Jas. A. Bronson, laid out the town of Wyoming, in Jones County, la. He built several large brick blocks there. He came to Floyd County in 1867. He went to Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1874 to educate his children. His son, Thomas B., graduated there in 1879, and is now Professor of Ancient and Modern Languages in the Michigan Military Academy at Orchard Lake, Mich. Mr. Bronson was married in December, 1857, to Martha A. Stone. Of their four children three are living, Thos. B., May, and Christina. Sidney L. died at the age of four years.

BROWN, A. M., M.D., was born Sept. 3, 1845, in Woodstock, Vt. His father, Dr. Alfred Brown, filled the chair of demonstrator of anatomy in the Vermont Medical College about two years, practicing medicine at the same time. About the year 1846 he moved with his family to Waukesha, Wis., where he practiced only one year when he died with Asiatic cholera. He left a family of four children, three daughters and one son - Helen, the oldest, is the wife of W. S. Rowe, a car manufacturer of Waukesha; the second, Edna A., is the wife of Prof. D. C. Hall, of Boston, Mass., extensively engaged in the manufacturing of musical instruments; Cornelia O., the third daughter, married C. H. Kice, of Adel, Dallas County, la., proprietor of the Island farm; A. M., the youngest child and only son, the subject of this sketch, lived upon a farm from his ninth to his fourteenth year, in Waukesha County, Wis.; from this date till the year 1863 he was engaged in making musical instruments. Aug. 30, 1863, he enlisted in Company A, First United States Veteran Volunteer Engineers; served his country over two years, and returned home witliont a scratch from the enemy's bullets, though he participated in the hard-fought battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., besides numerous skirmishes. He was discharged Sept. 25, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. He returned to Boston and resumed his avocation of making musical instruments about one year, when he went to Waukesha, Wis., and commenced the study of medicine with V. L. Moore, a homeopathic physician. He attended lectures at Iowa City one term, and graduated at Rush Medical College in 1877, though he had been practicing several years previously, having begun in Scranton, Greene County, in 1871, where he practiced till 1879, when he went to Rockford, this county, and practiced two years. Feb. 21, 1881, he formed a copartnership with Dr. C. J. Clark in the allopathy practice of medicine in Marble Rock. Was manied Nov. 30, 1875, to Miss Nellie D. Hunt, a native of Illinois. They have one child - Eva L., born Oct. 31, 1876.

BROWN, CHARLES C. was born in Indiana. Oct. 6, 1831, where he remained with his father, John Brown, till he was fourteen years of age, when the family moved to Rockford, Ill., and remained about six years, when the family again moved, this time to Lafayette County, Wis. Mr. C. C. Brown spent about sixteen years in this part of the country, dividing his time between Wisconsin and Illinois, residing not far from the State line anv of tlie time. Feb. 24, 1865, he enlisted in Company C, Fiftieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infmtry; served his country six months, when he was discharged on account of poor health; was mustered out Aug. 2, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, Kas. Mr. Brown became a citizen of Floyd County in 1870, locating in Marble Rock, where he remained about two years on a farm near the village, when he went to Nora Springs, where he remained about five years, farming part of the time; the balance of the time he was in the hotel business. In 1877 he returned to Marble Rock, and has since made this his home. Since returning he has been occupied in various ways, some of the time on thi railroad and some in a blacksmith shop, having learned that trade in Scales Mound, Ill. Mr. Brown was married in Lafayette County, Wis., in 1855, to Miss Julia E. Stevens. They have three children - Alma A., John F. and William H.

BROWN, EUGENE S. was born in Hampshire County, Mass. He is a son of E. T. Brown, who was born in Worcester County, Mass., in 1806. In 1832 he married Miss Perses Alone, a native of Berkshire County, Mass., born 1807. Their family consisted of five children, three sons and two daughters. Atherton was killed at the battle of Shiloh, at the age of twenty. He was a soldier in Company K, Third Iowa Infantry.

In June, 1854, Eugene S. Brown came to Charles City. At that time the cars only came West as far as Warren. There they took the boat to McGregor, and walked to Charles City. The year following, 1855, his father, mother, brother and adopted sister joined him. Mr. Brown remained in Charles City till 1875. Ho first engaged as a clerk, but afterward engaged as a farmer. In 1874 Mr. Brown purchased the farm of 140 acres where he still resides, on section 35, Ulster Township, built his house and made all his improvements.

He enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seventh Iowa, Sixteenth Army Corps, August, 1862, under the command of A. J. Smith; went up the Red River in assisting General Banks; was with Smith on the Meridian raid; at Nashville when Hood came, and previous to that followed Price through Missouri with Rosecranz; thence to a skirmish with Forrest at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, where they had an engagement; started from Moatjery, July 16; at Clinton Aug. 9.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown and George Whitehead and wife were the first and only members for a while of the Baptist church, Charles City.

BROWN, G. L. was boru in Tompkins County, N. Y., Oct. 8, 1840. His parents moved to Pennsylvania when he was three years old, and from there, fourteen years later, to Illinois. He lived in Ogle and Winnebago counties. Ill., till 1868, when he came to Floyd County, Iowa, where he has since resided, following the occupation of farming. He owns 240 acres of land, 160 in Scott Township, Floyd County, and 80 acres adjoining, on section 1, Binnezette Township, Butler County. He raises both live-stock and grain. Politically, he is a Republican; has held the office of Justice of the Peace eight years, and is Road Supervisor, He was married in October, 1860, to Martha McNeill, a native of Winnebago County, Ill., born Nov. 17, 1844. They are the parents of seven children - Charles E, born Nov. 16, 1861; Mary M., Dec. 26, 1863 ; Cora D., Feb. 20, 1866; Thomas H., Feb. 17, 1867; John J., March 9, 1869; George W., March 15, 1871; William H., Aug. 15, 1873.
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BROWN, HARTFORD M., born in Franklin County, Vt., Jan, 10, 1820, is a son of Prisson Brown, a native of New Hampshire, who went to California in 1850. In 1833 Hartford M. Brown went to La Porte County, Ind., and in 1835 to McHenry County, Ill. In 1852 he came to this county, before the land was surveyed west of Floyd Township. Indians, buffaloes, elk, deer, and bears roamed over the prairie. He saw thirty or forty deer in one drove. He was married April 16, 1847, to Lovina A. Brown. Of their ten children, four are living - Minerva, Malinda, Mary and Luella. He has served as Constable two years. They are members of the Christian church.

BROWNELL, A. S. was, born in New York Scate, in 1835; made that State his home till twenty-nine years of age, when he came to Iowa, locating in Manchester, Delaware County, where he worked at his trade four years, he being a carpenter and joiner; afterward engaged in the stock and grain business about five years. In 1873 he became a citizen of this county. The first four years he spent in Charles City engaged in the stock business. In 1877 he moved upon his farm of 480 acres on sections 27 and 28, Ulster Township, which he had purchased in 1875, Here he has since made his home, and a pleasant one it is. Five years ago it was one unbroken wild prairie, but to a stranger it now bears the appearance ol a long-cultivated farm. It is all under a good state of cultivation, besides being beautifully situated in plain view of M. & St. P. R. R. and the village of Floyd, though seven miles away. Mr. Brownell has adorned and embellished this farm with shade trees, evergreens and fine buildings, so that we are safe in saying that his farm surpasses all others in the township, and cannot be excelled anywhere; has in crop over 400 acres, 205 acres of which is corn; has a complete set of farming implements including planters, mowers, harvesters etc. In addition to his extensive farming he deals largely in stock, keeping usually from 130 to 140 head of cattle, though last year he wintered about 200 head and fattened fifty; turned off in the spring about ninety head. Keeps about 100 head of hogs, and niueteen head of horses. In the State of New York, in 1855, he and Miss Mary McDonald were united in marriage. She was a native of New York State. They have six children - Charles, Ada, Edwin, Carrie, Mary and Albert.

BROWNELL, WESLEY was born in Delaware County, N. Y., Oct. 16, 1830; received a common-school education; remained with his parents until about twenty-one years of age, when he commenced to do for himself, by working for his neighbors. At the age of twenty-four he bantered a chum of his own age to respond to the call from Kansas for settlers from the East. Though his friend declined, he packed his trunk and started for the broad prairie land of the West. He spent the first year in Illinois, and in 1855 he came to Iowa. An incident we here relate illustrates the expeditiousness required upon the part of the settler in order to get land, on account of the fast inflowing population. Mr. Brownell arrived in this county Dec. 15; the Government land-office at Decorah opened on the 20th. He commenced improvements on 160 acres, section 24, Riverton, now Pleasant Grove, Township; filed his papers for pre-emption in the meantime, securing the land on the 20th. Upon this land he resided until 1868, when he sold and moved to Mitchell County and purchased a farm and made that his home two years. At the expiration of this term he returned to Floyd County and farmed land on shares three years. In 1873 he purchased the farm of 160 acres where he still resides, section 36, Pleasant Grove. He crops apout 125 acres: corn, seventy; oats, thirty-five; balance tame grass; keeps about twelve head cattle, four horses and from fifteen to one hundred hogs. Has always escaped the hog cholera till last year, when he lost seventy-five head. During the war Mr. Brownell was drafted as second to a drafted matr, there being only one man drafted in the company. Fortunately for Mr. Brownell, the man was accepted upon examination. The township organized an insurance company for the benefit of those who might be drafted. Their first papers proving inefticient they drew up new ones. They all signed the new ones except this Mr. Wilcox, who happened to be the only man drafted in the township.

Mr. Brownell was married in Bradford, Chickasaw County, la., April 21, 1861, to Miss Jane Adams a native oi Canada. Their family consists of five children - Elva A., Martin C, Minnie O., William I., and Robert S. He is a member of the order of Freemasons. Is a member of the Baptist church, and has been a Republican ever since the party had existence. Voted for Fremont in 1856 and was previously an Abolitionist. While a citizen of Rivertou Township he lield the office of Assessor seven years, and was County Supervisor some three terms; was Township Clerk one year previous. Since becoming a citizen of Pleasant Grove he was elected Assessor, which position he has held for the past three years. Besides being a member of the School Board the greater part of the time, while residing in both townships, several years, he acted as Secretary. Mr. Brownell cast the first vote in this township. Mr. Brownell stands high in the esteem of his fellow towns-people, as a man whose word is as good as his bond; such, too, is the reputation given the Brownells in the history of Delaware County, N. Y.

BRUNNER, MICHAEL was born in Canada, in 1842; he was a son of Jacob and Margaret Brunner, both natives of France. At about the age of twenty-four, he came to the United States, lociting in Winneshiek County, la., where he remained ten years, engaged in farming. In 1876 he became a citizen of Floyd County; purchased at that time the farm of 160 acres, where he still resides, on section 13, Union Township; upon this farm he built a fine farm residence the year he came, and the two years following he built a good barn. He has turned this farm from a wild law prairie into a thoroughly cultivated farm. His surroundings are adorned with nicely arranged shade trees, so that he has one of the nicest homes in the county. This farm he carries on himself, pntling in crop each year about 100 acres, and besides twenty acres he rents, besides keeping about nine head of horses and nineteen cattle, and from forty-five to ninety head of hogs. Mr. Brunner was married in 1865, to Catharine Ruffridge, a native of Canada. They have a family of eight children - Jacob, Anna, Maggie and Mary (twins), Evalina, William, Katie and Antonia. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brunner are members of the Lu:heran church.

BRYAN, THOMAS EDWIN, one of the prominent citizens of Nora Springs, is a native of Nobles County, O., born Dec. 3, 1843. His father, Cornelius Bryan, was born in Monroe County, O., in 1810. The sul)ject of this memoir came to Nora Springs, la., in November, 1869, from Delaware County, la. He enlisted during the war of the great Rebellion in Company K, Twenty-first Regiment Iowa Volunteers Infantry, and remained in the service three years. He married Miss Carrie Nichols, who died after a long and painful illness on Feb. 13, 1875. He was married Jan. 23, 1878, to Harriet A., daughter of Hon. W. P. Gaylord. They have one child, a daughter - Beulah. In company witii J. J. Gaylord, Mr. Bryan is conducting a store of general merchandise at Nora Springs under the fiirm name of Gaylord & Bryan. He is an accomplished businessman, an active salesman and a good accountant. In politics he is a Republican, and was appointed Postmaster of Nora Springs in January, 1879, and still retains the office. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O F. and A. O. U. W. fraternities, Nora Springs.

BUCKLIN, STEPHEN was born in Clinton County, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1828, where he lived till 1868, when he came to Floyd County, la., and settled on section 5, Riverton Township. He has 127 acres of good land. He was married Aug. 13, 1855, to Ellen Hill, a native of Vermont, born in September, 1837. They have six children - Hollis, born Sept. 21, 1856; Elva, March 20, 1862; Louis, Aug. 9, 1864; Libby, April 20, 1866; Lowell, Aug. 23, 1868; Jennie May, Aug. 2, 1873. Mr. Bucklin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, he is a Republican. He has held the office of Road Supervisor, and has been a School Director for ten years.

BUMGARDNER, HENRY was born April 17, 1825, in the State of Ohio. He lived there until 1857, when he came to Floyd County and settled on section 28, Rockford Township. He now owns 230 acres of as fine land as there is in the county, all under excellent cultivation, and containing many improvements and conveniences not found on the average farm. He learned the miller's trade in Ohio, and has followed that occupation in connection with farming much of the time since coming here. He was married in 1858. Mrs. Bumgardner was born in Indiana in 1840. They have seven children - Albert Newton, born in 1860; John Leeson, in 1862; Mary C, in 1864; Eddie Jasper, in 1866; William Henry, in 1868, Estella, in 1875, and Carter, in 1879. Mr. Bumgardner has held the office of School Director four terms.

BURGESS, ALVARO W. is a native of Mukwanago, Waukesha County, Wis., born Sept. 20, 1846, a son of Alvaro Burgess, Sr., who died in Beaver Dam, Wis., in 1864, whither he had moved with his family in 1848. The subject of this memoir was the youngest of a family of ten children, and he came to Nora Springs from Beaver Dam in 1869 and engaged in the manufacture of pumps. In February, 1871, he married Miss Marion E. Gaylord, oldest daughter of W. P. Gaylord. On the 29th day of September, 1872, after an illness of two days, she died. In April, 1874, he married Miss Lentie Paddleford, second daughter of Charles Paddleford. They have two children - Dale and Ruth. Mr. Burgess is now engaged in the mercantile business at Nora Springs with Mr. A. Stone. They carry a $7,000 stock of goods, and their annual sales amount to $30,000. They are popular merchants, and are recognized as men of irreproachable business iiitegrity. In politics Mr. Burgess's sympathies are with the Republican party. In religion, a Baptist.

BURR, PORTER W., City Attorney of Charles City, was born in Mercer, Somerset Co., Maine, Feb. 1, 1852. His parents were L. N. and Mary B. (Wiley) Burr, natives of Maine. In early life his father was a merchant and also engaged in running a starch manufactory and tannery. He is now living at Davenport, Iowa, engaged in the life-insurance business. He and wife are members of the Congregational church, and have had a family of three sons - Milton B., one of the missing at the battle of Baton Rouge, La.; L. N., Jr., who died at Davenport; and Porter W., subject of this sketch. He attended school in Farmington, Maine, until fifteen, when he came with his parents to Davenport, and in 1872 graduated from Griswold College, and in 1873 from the Iowa State Law School. He read law in Lincoln, Nebraska, one year, then came to Nora Springs, Floyd County, where he practiced law with his father-in-law, the late Hon. W. P. Gaylord, under the firm name of Gaylord & Burr, until January, 1877. In the fall of 1876 he was elected Clerk of Courts of Floyd County, and held that office until January, 1881, when he opened his present law office, and in March, 1881, was elected Mayor of Charles City, and in March, 1882, City Attorney of Charles City. He married Miss B. V. Gaylord, April 17, 1876. She was born in Rock Grove Township, Floyd County, and was a daughter of the Hon. W. P. Gaylord and Sarah E. (Slater) Gaylord, old settlers of Floyd County. Mrs. Burr is a member of the Episcopal church. They have one daughter, viz.: Mary E. , born Feb. 14, 1880. Mr. Burr is a member of Granite Rock Lodge, Nora Springs, I. O. O. F., and A. O. W. W. of Charles City Lodge, No. 158, and of the Iowa Legion of Honor, also a member of the Board of School Directors for Charles City, independent district. In politics, he is a Republican. Mr. Burr is one of the prominent members ot the Floyd County bar.

BURTON, FRANK A., proprietor of the Charles City livery, feed and sale stable, was born in Andover, Vt., March 7, 1854; his parents were Horace and Mary A. (Taylor) Burton. They were natives of Vermont and had a family of four sons and three daughters. Frank A., subject of this memoir, was the yonngest; he attended school in Andover, Vt,, until thirteen or fourteen years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Black Earth, Dane County, Wis., where he attended school two years; then worked in the Wisconsin pineries on the Mississippi River one year; then came to Charles City, and attended the High School four years; then he purchased his present livery, feed and sale stable. Mr. Burton married Miss Emma Henderson, at Charles City, la. She was born in Mount Carroll, Ill., in 1856, and was a daughter of Berry and Amanda C. (Youce) Henderson. Mr. and Mrs. Burton have one daughter - Miss Jessie M., born June 24, 1879.

Mr. Burton is one of the enterprising, representative business men of Charles City. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Floyd County for four years. He owns and runs the largest and most complete stables in the city. He keeps from eighteen to twenty fine buggy and carriage horses and a full line of buggies and carriages. Mr. Burton has taken the premium for carriage horses at the county fair ever since he came here. He is a thorough gentleman and has the confidence and respect of all who know him. Mr. Burton started at seventeen years of age to make his way in the world, and it is by his own efforts that he has educated himself and established his present business.

BUTLER, ABRAHAM, burn in Muskingum County, O., Feb. 12, 1812, is a son of Absalom Butler, a native of Maryland. He was reared on a farm and received a limited education in the common schools. He went to Fayette County, Ohio, in 1855, and came here in the fall of 1860, and settled on section 23, Floyd Township, where he now resides. He owns 160 acres of well-improved land and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a carpenter and joiner by trade; also served an apprenticeship at the cabinet-maker's trade. He was married May 8, 1836, to Mary Blunt, danghter of James and Elizabeth Blunt. Of their eleven children only seven are living - Elizabeth, Mary E., Amamla, James, George W., Louisa, and John. Two daughters, Martha and Matilda, died at the ages of thirty-three and twenty-one years, respectively.

BUTLER, DEODAT, farmer and stock-raiser, section 16, Riverton Township, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., Oct. 22, 1821. He is a son of Amos Butler, who died when he was five years old, and he went to live with his grandfather, Deodat Jeffers. He went to Dodge County, Wis., in 1851, where he was engaged in farming till 1867, when he came to this county and settled on his present farm, where he owns 180 acres. He was married July 2, 1846, to Alvira Meade. They have seven children - Clarinda, Mary, Myron, Byron, William, James and Warren. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was County Supervisor two years, and Township Trustee several years.

BUTLER, L. A. was born in Canada, March 6, 1823, where he lived till 1840, when he came to the United States, to New York, where he lived four years; then went to Wisconsin where he lived twenty years, engaged in farming most of the time, in 1850 he went to California; crossed the plains, and remained there three years, when he returned to Wisconsin. In 1864 he came to Floyd County, Iowa, and settled on section 12, Riverton Township, where he has 197 acres of good well-improved land. He was married in 1848 to Rachel Roderick. They had three children - Adell, Alfred and Sherman. Mrs. Butler died in 1856, and in 1857 Mr. Butler married Matilda Carter, a native of Canada, born in 1833. They have four children - Sophronia, Leo, Ida and Berta. Mr. Butler is a Republican.

Transcribed by Lynn Diemer-Mathews and uploaded September 15, 2024.

Source: History of Floyd County, Iowa, Together with Sketches of its
Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military and Political
History; Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Representative Citizens.
Published by Interstate Publishing Company, Chicago, 1882

Floyd County IAGenWeb

History of Floyd County, Iowa 1882 Biographies Letters A and B

History of Floyd County, Iowa
1882
Biographies
Letters A and B