Benton County >> 1878 Index

E

Unless otherwise specified, biographies submitted by Tierney Ratti.

Ealey, W. C., mechanic, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Ealy, E. M., farmer, P. O. Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Ealy, H. B., insurance agent, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Early, P. H., ticket agent and telegraph operator for the C. & N. W. Railway, Blairstown; was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 1, 1852; came to this town in 1872; has followed the business of telegraphing eight years; has been ticket agent four years. He married Maria Kirby, in this place, Jan. 11, 1874; she was born in Geneva, Ill.., in 1853; they have one child -- John Edward, born in this town on the 16 th of Dec., 1874. (1878 LeRoy Township)

Eaton, Josiah, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Vinton. (1878 Jackson Township)

Eaton, T. J., farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Urbanna. (1878 Polk Township)

Eberhart, Universalist minister, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Eberhart, B., farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. La Porte City. (1878 Bruce Township)

Eckenberger, N. C., railroad agent. (1878 Taylor Township)

Eckert, Daniel, carpenter, Blairstown. (1878 LeRoy Township)

Eckert, William, photograph artist; born in Delaware Co., N.Y., April 27, 1846; removed from there to Wisconsin in 1864, and studied his profession in Madison, Wisconsin; he came to Iowa in 1869, and came to Vinton in 1876. Married Miss Jennie E. Dwryee, from Delavan, Wisconsin, in Sept., 1868; they have one son - Ernest C. (1878 Taylor Township)

Eddy, A. W., farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Blairstown. (1878 LeRoy Township)

Eddy, G. W., dry goods. (1878 Taylor Township)

Eddy, H. G., dry goods. (1878 Taylor Township)

Eddy, Henry H., firm of Eddy Bros., dealers in dry goods, notions and carpets; born near Sandusky, Ohio; came to Iowa and was engaged in mercantile business at Mechanicsville, Cedar Co., for seven years; came to Vinton in 1873, and engaged in mercantile business, firm of Eddy & Spears, until 1877, when his brothers became interested with him. Was in the army; enlisted in the 93d I.V.I., Co. F; was in the battles of Mission Ridge, Allatoona Pass, and other skirmishes; enlisted as private, and was promoted and commissioned First Lieutenant. Married Miss Helen M. Aukney, from Clinton, Iowa, in August, 1873; they have one son - Clarence C. Eddy, born June 20, 1876. (1878 Taylor Township)

Eddy, J. J., dry goods. (1878 Taylor Township)

Edmond, S. M., farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Vinton. (1878 Jackson Township)

Edmonds, Luana M., Mrs., Sec. 22, formerly Luana M. Whipple; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, and moved to Indiana when 6 years of age. She married James Edmonds Jan. 1, 1850; he was born in Ohio; they came to Benton Co. by their own conveyance, and arrived here June 15, 1856, and located where she now lives and engaged in farming; Mr. Edmonds died Dec. 22, 1872; leaving an estate of 227 acres of land; they have five children - John G., Anna C., Cyreneus R., Olive E. and Ida May; lost two children. (1878 Taylor Township)

Edmons, J. G., clerk. (1878 Taylor Township)

Edson, O. S., retired farmer, Blairstown. (1878 LeRoy Township)

Edwards, Albert T., farmer, Sec. 34; born in Brown Co., Ohio, Sept. 2, 1841. Was in the army, enlisted in the 7th Regt. Ohio Cav., Co. D; was in the battles of Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville and Hillsboro. Came to Benton Co., Iowa, in 1864; rents farm of Washington Young. Married Miss Martha J. Brewer, from Johnson Co., Ind. : they have four children - Anna C., Cora E., Katie L. and Lola B.; lost two. (1878 Taylor Township)

Egen, D., farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Luzerne. (1878 LeRoy Township)

Egenes, Peter G., farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Florence. (1878 St. Clair Township)

Eggers, Rolf, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Belle Plaine. (1878 Kane Township)

Eglson, Levi C., farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Vinton. (1878 Eden Township)

Eglson, W., farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Vinton. (1878 Eden Township)

Ehles J., teamster, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Ehred, W. H., insurance and marble agent, Blairstown; was born in Petersville, Northampton Co., Penn., on the 21 st of Oct., 1840; in 1859, he went to Wisconsin, in which State he remained until 1861; then he returned to his former home, and remained there until 1867; he then came to this county; during the time he was in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, he was principally engaged in the mercantile business and teaching school; during his residence in Blairstown he has held the offices of Town Recorder and Alderman a number of years. He married Miss Mary E. Wehr, in Marshall Co., this State; she was born in Carbon Co., Penn., on the 31 st of May, 1845; they have three children - Claude T., born in Blairstown on Oct. 26, 1870; Frank W., born in Blairstown on March 28,1874; Mary A., born in Blairstown on March 16, 1876. Mr. Ehred represents the following insurance companies: the Farmers' of Cedar Rapids; the Germania American of New York, and he also represents the marble works of Searles & Baxter, Cedar Rapids. (1878 LeRoy Township)

Eichmeyer, Fritz, laborer; P. O. Luzerne. (1878 LeRoy Township)

Eisenhamer, Nick, brick maker. (1878 Taylor Township)

Elfet, Charley, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Blairstown. (1878 Union Township)

Elgen, H., farmer; P. O. Shellsburg. (1878 Fremont Township)

Elias, Charles, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Blairstown. (1878 LeRoy Township)

Elias, Charles H., farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Blairstown. (1878 LeRoy Township)

Ellerston, Chris, miller, Florence. (1878 Florence Township)

Ellingson, E., farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Florence. (1878 Florence Township)

Ellingson, L., farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Florence. (1878 Florence Township)

Elliott, B., farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Florence. (1878 Florence Township)

Elliott, J., farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Florence. (1878 Florence Township)

Elliott, J., farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Florence. (1878 Florence Township)

Elliott, Warren, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Vinton; owns 140 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre; born in Cayuga Co., N.Y., in 1813; he came to Iowa in 1860, and settled on his present farm. Married Catharine Smith in 1837; she was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1812; have one child - Mary (now Mrs. Rampton); lost one - Hannah, born in 1838, and died in 1861. Are members of M.E. Church; Republican. (1878 Jackson Township)

Ellis, C., lumber dealer. (1878 Taylor Township)

Ellis, Lewis, clerk, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Ellis, W. E., carpenter. (1878 Taylor Township)

Ellis, William C., firm of Ellis & Son, dealers in lumber and building material; born in Marion Co., Ind., July 4, 1853, and came with his parents, when 3 years of age, to Vinton, and has lived here twenty-two years; was brought up in the lumber business, and became associated with his father in the firm of Ellis & Son Jan. 1, 1874. Married Miss Getty H. Young, of this city, Nov. 4, 1875; they have one son - Robert C. Ellis, born Nov. 7, 1876. (1878 Taylor Township)

Ellison, George, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Vinton. (1878 Eden Township)

Ellsworth, J. E., farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Mt. Auburn. (1878 Cedar Township)

Ellsworth, P. C., attorney at law, Garrison; born in Cayuga Co., N.Y., in 1845; came to Iowa in 1874, and located in Garrison. Married Alice Gregory in 1868; she was born in Cayuga Co., N.Y., in 1846; have two children - Arthur E., and Gregory. Republican. (1878 Jackson Township)

Ellsworth, W. O., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 15; P. O. Vinton;. born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., April 18, 1820; came to this county in 1854; has 205 acres of land, valued at $8,200. Politics, Democratic; belongs to the M. E. Church. Married Adeline Smith in 1843; she was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., April 24, 1818; is the mother of four living children -- Martha A., born Jan. 22, 1844; S. G., born Oct. 10, 1848; Christianna, born Feb. 27, 1852; William A., born Dec. 19, 1862. From New York State came to Stephenson Co. Ill.; lived there nine years, then came to this place, where be has remained since. Mr. Ellsworth 's family was the fourth family that came into Eden Township; was one of the Judges of the first election held; built a log shanty the first year; came out and moved into it the same year; he now has a good, comfortable house, and is well off; he came in here when he had to rough it, and knows what a pioneer life is. (1878 Eden Township)

Ellyson, H. H., farmer and stock raiser; Sec. 13; P. O. Vinton; born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, March 8, 1826; came to this county in July, 1854; has 200 acres of land, valued at $6,000. Politics, Republican. Held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Township Assessor and Township Trustee. Belongs to the Friend's Church. Married Sarah Hutton; she was born in Portage Co., Ohio, Nov. 30, 1825; is the mother of four children - Eliza, born Jan. 12, 1846; Willis H., May 7, 1850; Grace H., Feb. 3, 1858; Mary A., Sept. 7, 1868. Emigrated direct from Ohio to this county; was here at the organization of the town; was also at the first election; came when there were not more than a dozen inhabitants in the township, it being in its wild state, and he has seen it developed into as fine a farming county as can be found in any State; Mr. Ellyson has some full blooded Short-Horns; is one of the leading farmers in the township. Had one son in the 28 th Regt. Iowa Vol., Inf. Co. A; enlisted in July, 1862; was in the service only about eight months when he contracted the disease of typhoid fever, and died at Helena, Ark. Mr. Ellyson is President of the Eden Fire Insurance Company. (1878 Big Grove Township)

Ellyson, Willis H., farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Vinton; born in Stark Co., Ohio, May 7, 1850; came to this county when he was 4 years old, in 1854; has eighty acres of land, valued at $3,000. Politics, Republican. Held the offices of President of the School Board, and School Director. Married Florence Schutts; she was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., Oct. 27, 1854; mother of one child - Minnie, born Sept. 9, 1875. Raises on an average of 1,200 bushels of corn; 150 bushels of wheat; 150 bushels oats; turns off about 25 head of cattle yearly. Mr. Ellyson came here with his parents, and was amongst the earliest settlers in the township. (1878 Big Grove Township)

Elsan, J. E., attorney at law, Shellsburg; born in Coshocton Co., Ohio., July 30, 1836; came to this county in Oct., 1852. Held the office of Justice of the Peace and Mayor of Shellsburg. Married Mary E. Rathburn March 8, 1863; she was born in Champaign Co., Ohio; mother of two children -- Elbert, born Dec. 23, 1869, and Madge E., born Dec..11, 1873. Emigrated to Linn Co. in 1852, and lived there until 1861. Then enlisted in the 9 th Vol. Inf., Company C, as private, and served eighteen months; then was promoted to Sergeant, and afterward to Captain of the company. Was at the battle of Pea Ridge, and was wounded severely in the shoulder; also, the surrender of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Resaca and Atlanta; was with Sherman on his march to the sea; was at the surrender of Johnston, and the grand review at Washington. After the war, engaged in mercantile business five years; since that, has practiced law. (1878 Canton Township)

Elsberry, C. R., farmer, Sec. 21, P. O. Dysart; born in Pendleton, Ind., in 1833; removed to Fond du Lac Co., Wis., in 1846; then went to Benton Co. in 1868; owns eighty acres of land valued at $35 per acre. Married Hannah Lipton in 1868; she was born in Belmont, Ohio, in 1839; have two children -- Allice, born in 1869; Lillie, born in 1873. Democrat. She is a member of the United Brethren Church. He enlisted March, 1864, in Co. H, 24 th I. V. I.; participated in the battles of Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill; mustered out Aug. 5, 1865. (1878 Monroe Township)

Elsinghans, J., farmer; P. O. Florence. (1878 Florence Township)

Elson, Daniel, farmer Sec. 36; P. O. Shellsburg; born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, Jan 15, 1834; came to this county in 1852; has 160 acres of land, valued at $3,200. Politics, Republican. Married Catherine Swallum, who was born in Merrill Co., Ohio, Oct. 26, 1837; mother of ten children -- Sylvester H., Albert A., Mary A., James E., Roxa I., Phebe L., Cora A., Rebecca J., Sarah E. D., and Oliver Thomas. Emigrated from Ohio, direct to Benton Co., where he has resided since; was amongst the first who come to the county; had to rough it, and knows what it is to lead a pioneer life; when he first came here he worked for $13 per month, and by hard work has made a good home. (1878 Benton Township)

Elson, J. M., insurance agent, Shellsburg. (1878 Canton Township)

Elson, S. H., farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Shellsburg. (1878 Benton Township)

Elwood, E. Z., farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Vinton. (1878 Benton Township)

Ely, Dwight, farmer, Sec. 31. (1878 Taylor Township)

Emerson J. P., Railroad employee, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Engelking, William, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Blairstown. (1878 Eldorado Township)

Engledow, E., farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Mt. Auburn. (1878 Cedar Township)

Engledow, W., farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Mt. Auburn. (1878 Cedar Township)

Epperson, P. W., P. O. Vinton. (1878 Harrison Township)

Erland, Signor, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Florence. Signor came to America from the Rogaland county of Norway. Born in 1842, married Sarah Elson and as of the 1880 Census (Digitalarkivet: Norwegians living in Iowa) they had three children: Elizabeth - 5, Oscar - 4, and Otto - 1. Oscar went on to marry Margaret Sparrenberger. Her father was a farmer in the Fremont township born in Wiesbaden, Germany. (1878 Eldorado Township)

Erlenger, A., merchant, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Ervin, E. W., stone mason. (1878 Taylor Township)

Ervin, J. F., stone mason. (1878 Taylor Township)

Ervin, Thomas, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Urbanna. (1878 Polk Township)

Erwings, Frank, cabinet dealer. (1878 Taylor Township)

Esget, D. W., farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Shellsburg. (1878 Canton Township)

Evans, Edward M., County Auditor; born in Marion, Linn Co., Iowa, July 28, 1845; came to Benton Co. in infancy; learned the trade of harness maker. He was in the army; enlisted in the 28th I.V.I., Co. D; was in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills, through the siege of Vicksburg, New Orleans, and up the Red River with General Banks; Sabine Cross Roads; then went to Washington; was with Sheridan in Shenandoah Valley; at the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek; was severely wounded at the battle of Cedar Creek; was in service three years. Was elected Auditor of this county in 1869, and was re-elected in 1871, and again re-elected in 1873, 1875, and 1877; serving his fifth term; has held the office of City Treasurer, and school offices. Married Miss Sarah F. Merritt, from New York, December 31, 1868; they have two children - Walter and Edith. (1878 Taylor Township)

Evans, J., attorney at law, Shellsburg. (1878 Canton Township)

Everest, A. E., Congregational minister, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Ewen, Mat, blacksmith, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Ewen, Peter, saloon keeper, Belle Plaine. (1878 Iowa Township)

Eyler, Henry, laborer, Watkins. (1878 St. Clair Township)

Eyler, Peter, clerk, Watkins. (1878 St. Clair Township)