1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Graves |
Kite |
Ralston |
Vandeburg |
Starr |
Stephenson |
Fritz |
Seymore |
Kellogg |
Potts |
Fudge |
Lamphere |
Dighton |
Clark |
Pinney |
Fleming
Z. H. GRAVES, a retired citizen of Panama, has been a resident of Shelby County, Iowa, since 1882. He was born in Onondaga County, New York, April
13, 1818, and is the son of Waters and Hannah (Chapel) Graves. The father was a native of Massachusetts, and the mother was born in Connecticut. They had eight children born to them -- Salinda (deceased), Waters (deceased), Z. H., John W., Sheldon, Theoron, Mur, Welsie Ann, the wife of Z. H. Bartlett. By a previous marriage Mr. Graves had nine children -- Fannie, Elihu, Rasius, PoIly, Olive, Esther, Abigail, Almyron and Wells. Z. H. Graves, the subject of this notice, was married to Ellen Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gressman) Fish, April 29, 1865. Mrs. Graves is a native of the State of New York; she was born in Onondaga County, October 5, 1833. The result of this marriage has been three children -- Waters B., born April
29, 1867, and died April 9, 1880; Lizzie I., the wife of Nicholas F. Burks, born July 19, 1870; and Theoron B., born February 7, 1875. Mrs. Graves had one child by her first husband, Elmer E. Rosser, a resident of Dunlap, born May 18, 1861. Mr. Graves had one child by his first marriage; his name was Seth,
now deceased. Mr. Graves has served as a justice of the peace one term. Politically he is inclined to the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 600 & 603. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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R. W. KITE, farmer and stock-raiser, is a highly esteemed and well-known citizen of Monroe Township, and has been identified with the history of Shelby
County since 1872. He was born on the Shenandoah River in Page County, Virginia, February 17, 1831. He is a son of John and Mary (Eppard) Kite, also natives of Page County, Virginia, and of German ancestry. R. W. Kite was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received the limited educational
advantages afforded by the common schools of his youth. Arriving at the age of manhood he was united in marriage August 17, 1852, to Miss Caroline Kite, who was born and reared in Page County, Virginia, and is a daughter of Noah and Isabelle (Pirkey) Kite, also natives of Virginia. Three years after his marriage, in 1855, Mr. Kite was seized with a desire to try his fortunes on the frontier, as Iowa was then called. He emigrated to the west, and settled in Cedar County, Iowa, near Tipton. There he resided until 1872, when he came to Shelby County and bought 120 acres of land which had been broken the year previous. He has built a good story and a half house, and buildings for stock and grain. He has provided for future comfort and enjoyment in planting a grove, and an orchard of five acres. By industry and thrifty management Mr. Kite has made his farm one of the most desirable in the township. He also owns a good farm in Douglas Township, Audubon County. Mr. and Mrs. Kite have had born to them twelve children, ten of whom are Iiving -- Lathaniel, Mary Jane, D. M., Benjamin F., Alice Rebecca, George W., Harvey H.,Ellen V., N. B. and I. Newton. Stephen D. died at the age of four years, and Oliver in his third year. In political thought and action Mr. Kite is Democratic. He has served as a member of the school board, and is interested in all measures tending to advance the educational standing of the community. His family are numbered among the leading citizens of Monroe Township.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 602-603. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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JOHN N. RALSTON has been a resident of Shelby County during the last five years. He was born in Illinois, August 26, 1852, and is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Peyton) Ralston, who removed to Iowa when our subject was two years of age, and settled in Dallas County; there the father died at the age of thirty years; the mother still resides in Dallas County, at the age of sixty-six years. They were the parents of five children -- Samantha Ann, the wife of H. Watkins; Caroline (deceased), Benjamin F., John N., and Jennie, the wife of George Saky. John N. began to support himself at the age of fourteen years. April 7, 1871, he was married to Miss Libbie, daughter of William and Lucinda Thompson. She is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born September 4, 1852. For three years after his marriage Mr. Ralston rented and farmed his mother's land in Dallas County. He then bought eighty acres of wild land in Madison County, Iowa, which he improved and made his home for seven years. At the end of that time he sold out and came to Shelby County, and rented until the fall of 1888, when he bought eighty acres of improved land in section 2, Washington Township. Mr. Ralston has been politically identified with his township as trustee, and is the present assessor; the township assesses $180,000. He is a member of the Democratic party. Mr.
and Mrs. Ralston have had born to them two children -- May, born September 15, 1872, and Anna, the wife of Patrick Buckley, born December 15, 1874. Mr. Ralston is a teacher, and had the advantages of a good education. May is also a teacher; she was graduated from the classical course at St. Mary's Academy, Council Bluffs, in 1887.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 603-604. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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J. D. VANDEBURG, of Jackson Township, has been a resident of Shelby County since the year 1875. He was born in Greene County, New York, January 15, 1816, and is a son of Peter and Hannah (Shersey) Vandeburg, natives of the State of New York. J. D. grew to man's estate in Greene County, being reared to the occupation of a farmer, and obtaining his education in the common schools. He was married May 2,1840, to Marilla Crosby, of Greene County, New York. By this union six children were born -- Eder, Van Buren, Lucinda, Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth. Mrs. Vandeburg died in
1851, and Mr. Vandeburg was married to Sarah F. Crosby, September 4, 1852. She is a native of Greene County, New York, and is a daughter of B. L. and Huldah (Hull) Crosby, natives of the State of New York. Mr. Vandeburg lived in Greene County until 1861, when he removed to La Salle County,
Illinois. He remained there four years, and at the expiration of that time he went to Rock Island County, Illinois, where he resided until 1875. He then came to Shelby County, Iowa, and purchased 160 acres of wild land. He was the first settler in the neighborhood, there being no house to the east of his place in Shelby County, and the nearest house being five miles away. He has expended much time and labor upon the place, and to-day the Vandeburg farm is considered one of the best in the township. There is a good residence, attractively surrounded by a fine grove of maples, an orchard, a large barn, and other good farm buildings. There is an air of neatness and thrift about the place that gives an index to the character of the owner. By his last marriage eleven children were born, eight of whom still survive -- Huldah, Alida, Carrie, Grace (a popular teacher, now attending college), Lulu, David, Adelbert and Elmer. James died in Arizona in December, 1888; Charlie died in his third year, and Crosby died in infancy. Mr. Vandeburg was for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife is an Old-school Baptist. They are both intelligent people, hospitable and cordial, and
have the esteem and respect of all who know them.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 604. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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G. W. STARR, a farmer of Clay Township, has made his home in Shelby County since 1881. He was born in Clark County, Indiana, February 22, 1835,
and is a son of Isaac and Nancy (Griffin) Starr, natives of North Carolina. He was a babe when his parents settled in Johnson County, Indiana. His father died when he was four years old, when his mother removed to Hamilton County, Indiana. She died when he was eleven years old, and he then went to live with a sister, Mary Stuart, wife of Greenberry Stuart. When our subject was fifteen years of age the family came to Iowa, five yoke of oxen drawing the wagon. G. W. drove young stock most of the way from Indiana. They crossed the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa, and settled in Washington County, where Mr. Starr resided until 1852. He then spent one year in Indiana. He was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received his education in the primitive log school-house of that time. Mr. Starr was united in marriage, October 21, 1860, to Miss Maria Hyatt, who was born in Highland County, Ohio, July 8, 1841. She is a daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Adams) Hyatt, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. Mrs. Hyatt was a second cousin to John Q. Adams. Mrs. Starr was three months old when her parents came to the Territory of Iowa, settling among the Indians in Washington County. The father died in 1877, and the mother still lives in Washington County. Mrs. Starr attended the first school, held in a log school-house, and there met her future husband. After his marriage Mr. Starr lived in Decatur County, Iowa, for eighteen months, and then returned to Washington County, where he resided until he came to Shelby County in 1881. He owns 160 acres of land, divided into fields of forty acres each. He has a comfortable residence, an orchard of two acres, a good barn, and cribs for grain. All the surroundings bespeak the thrift and prosperity of the owner. Mr. and Mrs. Starr are the parents of nine children -- William F., John V., Nancy E., Louis F., Rosa E., Martin V., Calvin V., Frank F. and Jennie B. Two of the children are married -- William F., who resides in Audubon County, Iowa, and Nancy E., who is the wife of George Pontius, also residing in Audubon County. Mr. Starr is a Republican. Five of the children are members of the Adventist church. Louis F. is in Baltimore, Maryland, engaged in mission work. He was educated at Battle Creek, Michigan. Rosa E. is at Blair, Nebraska, attending school.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 604-605.
Add'l Notes: George Washington Starr's daughter, Nancy Starr, was my great-grandmother. The name of her husband was George PONTIUS. Opal Adaline Pontius-Ford was my grandmother. She was one of 9 children born to George and Nancy Starr-Pontius. George Pontius died and Nancy Starr-Pontius remarried Arthur Stocking. My grandmother, Opal, passed away in 1989. -- from Maxine Marshall
Biography contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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GEORGE R. STEPHENSON is an early settler of both Audubon and Shelby counties, having come to the former in 1863, and to the latter in 1869. He was
born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1843, and is a son of James and Nancy (Smith) Stephenson, natives of Pennsylvania, the father being of Irish descent. When George was eleven years old his parents removed to Rock County, Wiscousin, and settled seven miles from Beloit, where they lived two years. The family then went to Story County, Iowa, and were among the early settlers there. In this county George grew to manhood, receiving a fair education in the common schools. In 1863 he came to Audubon County, when there were only nineteen voters in the county, ten of
whom were Republicans and nine of whom were Democrats. This was the year in which there was such a bitter contest over the election of county officers, an account of which will be found in the general history of Audubon County. During the civil war Mr. Stephenson lent his aid in the preservation of the nation; he enlisted in March, 1864, and took part in the battle of the Spanish Fort, in which he was wounded in the foot by a minie-ball, which he keeps as a relic of the war. He was confined in a hospital for some time, and on obtaining a furlough he returned to Davenport, Iowa; there he was held until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He returned to Audubon County, and there made his home until 1869, when he
came to Shelby County and settled in Clay Township; He came on his present farm in 1872. Mr. Stephenson was united in marriage January 6, 1870, to Miss Darliska Fish, a native of Summit County, Ohio, and a daughter of Mason Fish, Esq., a prominent citizen and early settler of Clay Township.
Six children have been born of this marriage -- Nye and Guy are twins, born April 13, 1877; Ina, born November 4, 1882; Goldie, born June 17, 1885; William, the oldest, born June 5, 1871, died in Kansas in 1879, while his parents were making a visit in that State; Nettie P., born July 2, 1873, died at
the age of twenty months. In politics Mr. Stephenson votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, of Marne, Iowa, and also of the I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Protestant Methodist church, and are among the worthy and respected citizens of the township.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 605-606. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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JOHN FRITZ, of Jackson Township, is a well-known, early pioneer, having come to Shelby County, Iowa, in 1859. He was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1828, and is a son of Martin L. and Mary (Hoffman) Fritz, natives of Pennsylvania. Martin L. Fritz was a son of Martin
Fritz, a native of Germany, who emigrated to America before the Revolution. Mary Hoffman Fritz was a daughter of Adam Fritz, who served in the Revolutionary war, in which he was wounded; he carried the British lead to his grave. Martin L. Fritz and wife were the parents of ten children who grew to maturity -- Joseph, Peter (deceased), Elizabeth, Adam, Nancy (deceased), Silas, Catherine, John, Sarah and Samuel. When John was twelve years of age his parents removed to Owen County, Indiana; the mother died on the journey, and the father survived her four years; so at the age of sixteen John
Fritz was left an orphan. He went to Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana, and there served an apprenticeship of three and a half years at the cabinet-maker's trade. He was married June 1, 1853, in Putnam County, Indiana, to Miss Eliza Ann Dunnington, a native of Woodford County, Kentucky. Her
parents were Alexander and Levisa (Sellers) Dunnington, and when she was three years old her father removed to Indiana; her mother died in Kentucky.
When Mr. Fritz came to Shelby County in 1859, he engaged in the carpenter's trade; he helped build the first court house in Harlan, and built many homes, and some of the first school-houses in the county. He lived in Harlan until 1862, when he rented a farm of L. D. Sunderland. His first purchase was forty-eight acres in Bowman's Grove, which he improved and sold in a short time. During the late Rebellion he enlisted October 4, 1863, in the Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company H, and served twenty-eight months in the southwestern division. He was honorably discharged and returned to Putnam County, Indiana, where his family had located during the war. There he resided until 1870, when he returned to Shelby County, and in 1873 he bought his present farm which was then wild land. He has placed the land under good cultivation, has erected buildings, has planted a grove and
an orchard, and has made numerous improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz have had born to them nine children -- Frank F., William D., Ina S., wife of H. B. Madison, of Rock County, Nebraska; Mary L., Edgar, John H. and Fred. Albert died in infancy, and Archie at the age of four and a half years. Mr. Fritz
is a Republican. He has served on the school board, as county supervisor in 1874, as township trustee, and as school treasurer for nine years. He is a member of Parian Lodge, No. 321, A. F. & A. M., and of Olivet Chapter, No. 107, R. A. M. He was made a Mason in 1856, in Putnam County, Indiana. Mr. Fritz is among the honored and honorable pioneers of Shelby County.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 606-607. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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MONROE SEYMORE, one of the leading agriculturists of Clay Township, Shelby County, is a native of the State of New York, and was born in Wyoming County, September 10, 1845. He is a son of Henry and Betsey (Dout) Seymore, who were born in the State of Pennsylvania. Monroe grew to manhood in the place of his birth, where he was trained in that great school which makes us an independent nation, the farm. He obtained his education in the
common schools. During the great civil war, when there was a call for more men to defend the flag of our nation, Mr. Seymore enlisted December 28, 1863, in the Second New York Mounted Rifles, Company B. He took part in the engagements of Hatch's Run, Petersburg, Cold Harbor, North Anna and
the latter part of the great battle of the Wilderness under General Grant. He was at Appomattox when General Lee surrendered to General Grant. After his honorable discharge at Buffalo, New York, in 1865, he returned to Wyoming County. In 1866 Mr. Seymore removed to Whiteside County, Illinois, and resided there until 1876, when he went to Calhoun County, Iowa; he remained there one year, and then came to Shelby County. The first two years he lived in section 28, and in 1879 came to his present farm, where he has since made his home. He owns eighty acres of fine land in a high state
of cultivation; he has a good dwelling, stables and cribs; he has planted a grove and an orchard, and has developed his farm into a very desirable place. Mr. Seymore was married in Whiteside County, Illinois, in 1869, to Miss Anna McNeil, who died in August, 1874. In the spring of 1876 he was married to Miss Carrie B. Hudzel, a daughter of Jeremiah and Malinda (Roub) Hudzel, natives of Pennsylvania. By this union three children were born -- James H., Caroline and Julia Malinda. In politics Mr. Seymore is a Republican. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, of Marne.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 607. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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LEWIS KELLOGG, a farmer and stockraiser of Clay Township, has been a resident of Shelby County, Iowa, since 1868. He was born in Oswego County, New York, near the place where Oswego now stands, May 22, 1836. His father, David Kellogg, was a native of Connecticut; his mother, Harriette (Loomis) Kellogg, was born in England, and emigrated to America with her parents when she was ten years old. Lewis Kellogg was two years old when his parents removed to Allegheny County, New York; there he lived until he was eighteen years old, spending his time in farm work, and in attending the common schools. When he was seventeen years of age his mother died, and the following year the family went to Wisconsin, settling in Grant County, near Boscobel. Mr. Kellogg was united in marriage December 23, 1858, to Annar Fish, a native of Warren County, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Mason Fish (deceased). At Lincoln's call for 300,000 men in the late Rebellion, Mr. Kellogg enlisted in the Twentieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company C. He served nine months, and was honorably discharged; he took part in the battle of Prairie Grove. After returning from the war he lived in Wisconsin until 1868, when he came to Shelby County and settled on 160 acres of wild land, which he has improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. He has a comfortable dwelling, a good barn, and cribs, and has planted an orchard and a grove. Mr. Kellogg devotes his time exclusively to farming and stock-raising, and has been successful in these pursuits. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg -- Ed. M. resides in Clay Township, where he owns a good farm; Clara, wife of Christ Olson, resides in Cass County, Iowa; Lyman L. lives in Shelby County. In politics Mr.
Kellogg zealously supports the Republican party. He is a member of Grove Lodge, No. 492, A. F. & A. M., of Marne, Iowa. He was made a Mason at Avoca, Iowa, and at one time was a member of Parian Lodge, No. 321.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 607-608. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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GEORGE W. POTTS, a farmer and stockraiser, of Clay Township, Shelby County, was born in Richland County, Ohio, July 5, 1823. He is a son of Benjamin and Abigail (Peer) Potts, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. When George W. was thirteen years old his parents
removed to Noble County, Indiana, where his father and one Dave Harriman were the first settlers in Jefferson Township; his father and mother resided there until death. He remained there until he was grown, and received a fair education in the subscription schools. October 28, 1848, Mr. Potts was
married to Miss Mary Kline, a native of Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Mults) Kline, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively. Mr. Potts lived in Noble County until 1876, when he came to Marion County, Iowa, and lived near Pella one year. He then removed to Polk County, and resided there three years. In 1879 he came to Clay Township, and settled on wild land, which he has improved, and made into one of the best in the township. He has a good story and a half house on a pleasant site, a barn, and other substantial farm buildings, all showing Mr. Potts to be a thrifty and prosperous farmer. Six children have been born to our subject and his wife -- Warren W.,Celesta, wife
of David Prichard; George W.; Kate, wife of Dell Vandeberg; Fred L. and Walter E. Mr. Potts is a Democrat, and is a strong adherent of the old Jacksonian principles. He is firm in his convictions of right and wrong, is strictly honorable in business, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 608. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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M. S. FUDGE, a farmer of Clay Township, has been a resident of Shelby County since 1882. He is a native of the State of Virginia, born June 17, 1846.
He is a son of William Fudge, a descendant of an old and honored Virginia family. His mother's maiden name was Thompson, and she too was a Virginian by birth. M. S. was a child three years of age when his parents removed to Coles County, Illinois, where they resided five years. At the end of that time they went to Jasper County, Iowa, and there the mother died when M. S. Fudge was eleven years old. He passed his youth in the duties assigned usually to farmer's sons, and obtained his education in the common schools. In 1869 he went to Cass County, Iowa, and there made his home for five years. He then went to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and remained there until 1882, when he came to Clay Township, and settled on his present farm. The land was wild, but had a few cheap buildings on it. Mr. Fudge has made it a valuable farm by placing it under good cultivation and erecting substantial buildings. The dwelling is a large two-story frame house, on a very sightly elevation, from which is obtained a fine view of the country for miles away. There is a grove, and an orchard of two acres has been planted. Mr. Fudge was married September 10, 1874, to Miss Melvina Beath, of Ross County, Ohio, a daughter of Joseph and Christina (Teter) Beath, natives of Ohio. She was sixteen years of age when she came to Jasper County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Fudge have had born to them three children -- Justus B., Marion A. and Clarence Elsworth, who died: at the age of five years and one month. Mr. Fudge affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a respected member of the community.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 608-609. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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JOHN LAMPHERE was born in Oneida County, New York, January 27, 1838, and is a son of Smith and Eleanor (Paddock) Lamphere, natives of the State of New York. He was a lad of thirteen years when his parents decided to try their fortunes in the west, and removed to Whiteside County, Illinois. There John grew to manhood, passing his youth in agricultural pursuits, and in attending the common school. In the year 1861, in the month of February, Mr.
Lamphere was married to Miss Mary Hotchkiss, a native of Oswego County, New York, and a daughter of David and Phoebe Hotchkiss. Six children have been born of this marriage, four of whom still survive -- Lucy, wife of David Willson, of Cumberland, Iowa; Duly, Merritt and Bert. Claude died at the
age of nineteen years and five months, and Meda, in her sixth year. During the great Rebellion Mr. Lamphere went to the defense of the old flag, enlisting in 1862 in the Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company B. He took an active part at Perryville, where his company lost forty-four
men out of fifty-five. He also participated in the engagements at Danville, Cumberland Gap, and Stone River. As he was not able to travel he was detailed as teamster for a time. He was honorably discharged at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and returned to Whiteside County, Illinois, engaging in the more peaceful pursuits of agriculture. He resided in that county until 1875, when he came to Shelby County, and settled in Clay Township. He has 120 acres of valuable land, having made many improvements. There is a substantial residence, a good barn, and other buildings for the care and protection of stock; a grove and an orchard have been planted, and in a few years will add very materially to the value of the place. In politics Mr. Lamphere supports the issues of the Democratic party. He has served as road supervisor and as a member of the school board. He belongs to the G. A. R. Post, of Marne, Iowa. He is counted among the reliable farmers of the township.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 609. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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B. B. DIGHTON, an intelligent and enterprising farmer of Clay Township, is a native of the State of Iowa, born in Delaware County, April 17, 1856. He is a
son of B. F., a native of Pennsylvania, and Catherine Jane (Ritts) Dighton. The father was an early and well-known settler of Delaware County, and is still living there; the mother died when B. B. was six years old. Mr. Dighton was reared to the life of a farmer, and received his education in the common
schools of Delaware County, Iowa. At the early age of sixteen he left his home and went to Pottawattamie County. After a short time he returned to Delaware County, and at the end of two years he went to Hardin County, Iowa, and remained there four years. His next move was to Shelby County, where he has since made his home. He was married in Cass County, Iowa, January 1, 1880, to Miss Susan Lamer, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Lamer; she was born, reared and educated in Hardin County. Two children have been born of this marriage -- Etta C. and Willie D. In political thought and action
Mr. Dighton is a Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, of Marne. He and his wife are members of the Protestant Methodist church. Mr. Dighton is yet in the primed of manhood, and has the confidence and respect of the community in which he lives.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 609-610. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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J. M. B. CLARK, a successful farmer of Clay Township, has been a resident of Shelby County since the year 1871. He was born in Barren County, Kentucky, August 26, 1850, and is a son of John M. Clark, a prominent citizen of Monroe Township, whose biography appears upon another page of this history. Mr. Clark was three and a half years old when his father settled in Grant County, Wisconsin. There he grew to manhood, passing his time on the farm and in attending the common schools. He was in his twenty-first year when he came with his father to Monroe Township. He broke out the first prairie in the neighborhood where his father lives, and assisted in placing the home farm under cultivation and making other improvements. December 28, 1873, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Nellie Adelia Whitney, a native of Oswego County, New York. She was eight years old when her parents, Thomas and Anna (Jewell) Whitney, removed to Whiteside County, Illinois. The father and mother lived in Whiteside County for five years, then in Shelby County until 1876, when they removed to Rio Grande County, Colorado, and there lived until death claimed them one year later. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had born to them eight children -- Robert F., Charles Thomas, Mary Isabelle, Carrie Maria, John M., Olie Eliza, Rockie Mildred and Addie May. Politically Mr. Clark holds the views of the Democrats, sympathizing with the Greenback element. He has served as a member of the school board. He is in the prime of life, is of a genial disposition, and has the respect of the community.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 610. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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HARMON PINNEY has been a resident of Clay Township for the past six years, having come there in 1883. He was born in Mentor Township, Lake County, Ohio, near the home of.James A. Garfield, October 10, 1848, and is a son of Randolph Pinney, a native of Connecticut, and Patience (Harmon) Pinney, a native of Lake County, Ohio. Harmon was reared in his native county, and passed his youth in farm work and in attending the common school. He was united in marriage December 11, 1872, to Miss Alice Reynolds, of Kirtland Township, Lake County, Ohio; she is a daughter of Alonzo and
Melissa (Fuller) Reynolds, natives of Ohio. Mr. Pinney lived in Lake County, Ohio, until 1877, when he came to Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa, where he bought a farm of eighty acres adjoining the corporation of Mitchellville; lived there five years, sold out and came to Shelby County, Clay Township,
in 1883. He had been engaged in farming in his Ohio home, and he continued this occupation in his newly chosen place of abode. He purchased 160 acres of land which had been partially improved by George Richardson. Mr. Pinney has since added many other improvements, and to-day has one of the best farms in the community. He has a fine residence, built in modern style, surrounded with shade and ornamental trees, a good barn, cribs and other necessary buildings. He devotes his time exclusively to farming and stock-raising, and has been quite successful. Mr. and Mrs. Pinney are the parents of one child -- Jessie B. Politically Mr. Pinney affiliates with the Republican party. He is a man honorable in business, and is counted among
the reliable citizens of Clay Township.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 610-611. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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DANIEL FLEMING, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Henderson) Fleming, was born in the Buckeye State near Columbus, May 24, 1826. His father was also a
native of Ohio, and was one of the first settlers of Franklin County. Daniel was reared in Ohio, and passed his youth in farm work, and also did some work in a stone quarry near his home. When he had reached his twenty-first year he went to Allen County, Indiana. There he was married August 15,
1850, to Miss Catherine Crance, a native of Allen County, and a daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Fent) Crance. Jacob Crance was a native of the State of New York, and was one of the early settlers of Allen County, being there when peace was declared with the Indians. His wife was born in Tennessee.
Daniel Fleming resided in Allen County until 1868, when he removed to La Porte County, Indiana; there he lived until 1877, when he came to Iowa. He lived in the south part of Clay Township for seven years, and then came to his present farm. He owns 160 acres of well improved land, 145 of which are under cultivation, and the balance is in pasture and meadow. He has a good frame house, a barn and cribs; he has planted a grove and an
orchard, and has made many other improvements which will add very much to the comfort of living. Mr. Fleming is enterprising, and has been successful in his work, a result of industry and wise management. He is plain of speech and manners, is firm in his convictions of right and wrong, and is an honored and esteemed citizen of Clay Township. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the G. A. R., of Marne, Cass County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming are the parents of nine children -- William James, Emily, Sarah Amanda, Jacob Samuel, Albert, Malinda, Hester Anna, Ida May and Edna Bernice.
Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 612 & 615. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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