Franklin co. Iowa Biographies 1883

1883 Biographies
History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo Counties, Iowa; Springfield, Ill. Union Publishing Co., 1883

Transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall

A. W. Ufford settled in Franklin county in the fall of 1871. He owns 100 acres of improved land on section 3, West Fork township, which he values at $25 per acre. He resides at this writing on the farm of R. C. Mathews. He is a practical farmer and devotes much attention to stock raising. He owns sixty head of cattle and is engaged in the manufacture of butter. His herd includes twenty-five milch cows. He was born Aug. 8, 1836, in Oneida Co., N. Y. His parents Charles and Polly (Warner) Ufford, were natives of the Empire State, where they belonged to the farming element and reared their son to the same vocation. He obtained a fair education at the district schools, and at nineteen, went to Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand until the war of the rebellion. He enlisted at Rockford, Ill., in company A, 74th Illinois Infantry, and served three years. He was under fire at Stone River, and soon after his company was detailed to act in the Pioneer Corps. He was afterward transferred to the First U. S. Engineers, where he completed his term of enlistment. The regiment was chiefly employed in getting out lumber to be rafted to the Tennessee river, for use in building barracks, fortifications, etc. Mr. Ufford was discharged in 1865, and again engaged in farming in Winnebago Co., Ill. Two years later he removed to Fayette Co., Iowa. He resided there three years, sold his property and settled in Franklin county. He was married June 11, 1861, in Winnebago county, to Caroline Smith. Their family comprises six children — Franklin A., Alfred H. and Albert H. (twins ), Ella May, Polly Ann and Charles Gilbert. (Chapter 34, West Fork twp.; pages 583-584)

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Garrett Van Riper, an early settler of West Fork, was born in Yates Co., N. Y., March 22, 1835. His father was a carpenter, and lost his life while raising a barn when his son was fourteen years old. Mr. Van Riper subsequently moved to St. Joseph Co., Ind., where he enlisted, Aug. 27, 1862, in company K, 87th Indiana Infantry. His term expired in January, 1863, and he re-enlisted in the 38th Indiana. At the battle of Perryville he had his ankle broken, and is now in receipt of a pension in consequence. His second term expired in 1864, and he again enrolled as a soldier of the Union, and remained until the war ceased. He was mustered out in June, 1865, and went to Illinois, residing eighteen months in Stephenson county. His house there was destroyed by fire, and a child perished in the flames. The building and contents were entirely destroyed. In January, 1867, he came to Franklin county, and has since resided in West Fork township. On arrival, his financial assets showed a total of ten cents. He has, by energetic perseverance, accumulated a substantial property. Mr. Van Riper, married Elizabeth Wood, at Edwardsburg, Mich., in February 1858. Her parents were pioneers in Indiana. Eight of her eleven children are living — Emma J., Ermina M., William H., James N., Bertha A., Mary E., Sarah L. and George A. Mr. Van Riper has served as constable, and is now school director. He has been road supervisor for the past twelve years. (Chapter 34, West Fork twp.; pages 578-579)

William Vandever, of Dubuque, was elected a member of the thirty-sixth Congress and re-elected to the thirty- seventh. William Vandever was a native of Maryland. In 1839, he came west, locating in Rock Island, where he remained until 1851, when he moved to Dubuque. In 1855, he formed a partnership with Ben. W. Samuels, of Dubuque, in the practice of law. In 1858, he was elected a member of the thirty-sixth Congress. He made a useful member of that body. While serving his second term, he abandoned his seat in Congress, returned home and raised the 9th Iowa Infantry, of which he was made colonel. In 1862, he was promoted to a brigadier-general, and at the close of the war was breveted major-general. (Chapter 12, Representaton; page 250)
[Note: Franklin county was a part of the second congressional district, represented by Mr. Vandever]

David H. Vankirk is the present township clerk of Reeve. His parents came to Franklin county in 1866, where he has since resided. He is the eldest son of William Vankirk, and was born in Ohio in 1854. He was married in 1877 to Catherine Way, born in Wisconsin in 1856. She is the daughter of a prominent citizen of the township, and is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Mr. Vankirk takes an active interest in politics and is a republican. He has acquired a good liberal education, and has followed teaching nine years. They have three children — Rosa M., Leonard M. and Leona. (Chapter 30, Reeve twp.; pg 522)

S. H. Vankirk was elected county surveyor in 1867 and served for one term ... was again elected in the fall of 1877 to fill the vacancy left by L.B. Raymond, and for the ensuing regular term. S. H. Vankirk was re-elected in 1879 and 1881.(Chapter 12, Representation - County Surveyors; pg 259)

John Vincent came to his present home in Reeve township, in 1875. He was formerly a merchant, but is now engaged in farming. He was born and reared in Jo Daviess Co., Ill., where he received a good common school education. He is a son of Henry and Sarah (Mitchell) Vincent, natives of Cornwall, England, who emigrated to the United States, in 1833, and were among the pioneers of Jo Daviess county, where they made their home until their death, the father dying in 1851, the mother in 1864. They reared a family of eleven children, John being the tenth. He enlisted, in 1862, in company A, 96th Illinois, serving three years. At the battle of Lookout Mountain he received a gunshot wound, the ball entering near the right eye and ranging downward, came out just back of the ear. From the effects of this wound he is on the pension list. He served as color-sergeant. On receiving his discharge he returned to Jo Daviess county, remaining until 1875, when he came to Iowa. Mr. Vincent has been three times married. He first married Augusta Langdon, Dec. 24, 1864, born in 1841. By this union there was one child, which died in its first year, the mother dying Jan. 3, 1866. His second wife, Adelaide Miller, to whom he was married on March 27, 1868, was born in Jo Daviess Co., Ill., July 4, 1855. They had two children— Alfred H. and Charles J. His wife died July 22, 1882. Mr. Vincent was again married, Dec. 24, 1882, to Lillian Lamore, born in Hampton, Ill., in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Maysville. (Chapter 30, Reeve twp.; page 532)

David Vought came to Franklin county in 1878, and settled where he was still living in 1883, the owner of 240 acres of land. He was born in Stephenson Co., Ill., March 5, 1847. His parents were Godfrey and Lucy (Wilson) Vought. David's early life was spent in his native county, where he received a good education at the common schools. May 20, 1875, he married Alice Hollingsworth, a native of Illinois. They have three children — Nellie, Ophelia and Lucy. (Chapter 32, Richland twp.; pg 563)