Black Hawk County >> 1886 Index

Historical and Biographical Record of Black Hawk County, Iowa
Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co., 1886

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W. W. Edgington, Sheriff of Black Hawk County, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, February 8, 1840, the second son of George and Mary ( Taylor ) Edgington, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectfully. The grandfather, John Edgington, came from Virginia, and was one of the early settlers of Eastern Ohio . In 1846 W. W., our subject, moved with his parents to Iowa, they located in Linn County, where he was reared to manhood on a farm. Receiving a common-school education in the schools of his neighborhood. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-Fourth Iowa Infantry, and served three years. He participated in the battles of Champion Hills, Port Gibson, siege of Vicksburg, and Jackson campaign. He was then transferred to General Bank's command and was with him in the Red River expedition, after which his regiment was sent with several others to General Sheridan, in the Shenandoah Valley . He was then sent to General Sherman, and was with him at the surrender of General Joe Johnston, after which he did garrison duty at Savannah, Georgia . He was mustered out in August, 1865, when he returned to Black Hawk County, Iowa, and the same year began dealing with grain and agricultural implements which he followed till 1878. He was then appointed to the office of deputy sheriff under George W. Hayzlett, and in 1883 was elected sheriff, assuming the duties of his present office in January, 1884. Mr. Edgington was married in 1865 to Sylvia A. Rathburn, a native of Cedar County, Iowa . This union has been blessed with one daughter- Laura.

Albert J. Edwards, Clerk of the District and Circuit Court, was born in Walworth County, Wisconsin, January 22, 1847, his parents, Jonathan and Adeline (Paine) Edwards, being natives of Massachusetts. His parents left their native State about 1840, coming West to Wisconsin, but returned East about the year 1851, the father dying in Thomaston, Connecticut, in 1853, and the mother in the fall of 1867. Albert J. was about five years of age when his father died. He remained with his mother till 1855, when he and his younger brother, Luther H., returned to Wisconsin. In the spring of 1857, he came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, with his uncle, Charles Marsh, where he attended the public schools at Waterloo in the winters, and worked on his uncle's farm during the summer months till he grew to manhood. He remained on the farm till the winter of 1868 and 1869, when he went to the pineries of Wisconsin where he ran a stationary engine. He returned to Black Hawk County the following spring, when he engaged in the mercantile business as a clerk at Waterloo, Iowa. In the winter of 1870 he was appointed deputy sheriff under W. F. Brown, serving in that capacity till January, 1873, when he was appointed deputy clerk under J. C. Gates, holding that position till January, 1881. In the fall of 1880 he was elected to his present potition and is filling the office very acceptably. Mr. Edwards was married in 1873 to Amanda F. Hall, daughter of Samuel Hall, of Waterloo, and to this union have been born four daughters. Mr. Edwards was admitted to the bar June 19, 1884.

Calvin W. Eighmey, one of the pioneer settlers of Eagle Township, residing on section 10, was born in Saratoga County, New York, October 11, 1831, his parents, Leman A. and Chloe (Barrass) Eighmey, being born, reared and married in the same State. Calvin W. was reared in his native county till sixteen years of age, when he came to Dubuque County, Iowa, with his parents, where his father engaged in the hotel business at Rock Dale. In 1868 his parents settled on section 10, Eagle Township, Black Hawk County, where the father died April 14, 1872, aged sixty-four years. He was born and married near Saratoga, New York. His widow was born in Oswego County, New York, February 27, 1810, and is now living on the homestead on section 1, Eagle Township, with her son Orson. Her sons Hiram, Parley, Orson, and Calvin W. have made homes in Eagle Township, and are all prosperous farmers. Her son Charles is a banker at Dubuque. Of her daughters, Mrs. Helen Taggart lives in Eagle Township; Mrs. Mary Jane Conrad lives in Lewis, Cass County, Iowa; and Mrs. Nettie Coles resides in Kansas. When a young man our subject began working in the lead mines at and near Dubuque, which he followed for years. In 1853 he went to La Salle County, Illinois, remaining there about one year. He was married in that county April 19, 1854, to Catherine A. Penney, a native of Germany, born October 20, 1834, coming to the United States when about eleven years of age. Of the five children born to Mr. And Mrs. Eighmey four are living - William, a merchant at Hudson, Iowa; Nettie, wife of Henry Miller, of Lincoln Township; Frank, cashier of a bank at Dell Rapids, Dakota, and Charles, at home. Jessie, the youngest child, died at the age of three years in April,, 1876. When Mr.and Mrs. Settled on their present farm it consisted of eighty acres of raw prairie land. He has now one of the finest farms in the township, containing 160 acres, his building improvements being noticeably good. In politics Mr. Eighmey affiliates with the Republican party. He has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church for thirty years. He has held many official trusts in his township, always proving himself capable and trustworthy. No man in Eagle Township has lived a more honorable life, and none more fully enjoys the respect, confidence and esteem of the people than C. W. Eighmey. Mrs. Eighmey's parents, John and Elizabeth Penney, settled in La Salle County, Illinois, in the year of 1845, coming to Eagle Township in 1857, where the father died in 1870. The mother is still a resident of Eagle Township, making her home with her son William.

Hiram B. Eighmey, residing on the southwest quarter of section 4, Eagle Township, dates his birth in Saratoga County, New York, September 13, 1838. When he was eight years old he was brought by his parents, Leman and Chloe (Barrass) Eighmey, to Dubuque County, Iowa, where he was reared to manhood, and was engaged in mining at and near Dubuque. He in 1849 went to Pike's Peak, and remained there till war broke out, when he returned home and volunteered in defense of the Union, in October, 1861, enlisting in Company H, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, his first engagement being at the battle of Shiloh. The Sunday morning on which the battle opened his regiment reached the steamboat landing, and on disembarking were supplied with ammunition, and sent directly to the front of the battle, where the regiment lost very heavily. Mr. Eighmey participated in the siege of Corinth, and later in the battles of Corinth and Iuka, and in the siege and capture of Vicksburg. In the spring of 1864 he returned home on veteran furlough, re-joining his regiment at Dallas, Georgia. At Atlanta, July 22, his gallant corps commander, General Macpherson, was killed, and the entire regiment captured and sent to Andersonville Prison. After being confined there two months they were by special cartel exchanged. Out subject then followed Sherman on his march to the sea, and through the Carolinas, and to the nation's capitol, where he participated in the grand review of Sherman's army. He was honorably discharged as Sergeant of his regiment, at Louisville, Kentucky, in July, 1865, when he returned to his home in Dubuque, remaining there till 1867. In that year he visited Black Hawk County, Iowa, buying the farm of 160 acres, which he still owns. He spent the winter following in Chicago, and in the spring of 1868 settled on and commenced the improvement of his farm where he has since made his home, his land being now under a high state of cultivation. October 9, 1872, he was married to Miss Lizzie Long, a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, born April 28, 1849, a daughter of George and Catherine Long. Her father died of Cholera in Quincy, Illinois, in 1852, while en route with his family to Carroll County, Illinois. Mrs. Long died in Carroll County, her death occurring May 28, 1881. To Mr. And Mrs. Eighmey have been born five children - Orville E., Grace E., Clyde H., Ralph L., and Myron B. Myron died aged four years. Mrs. Eighmey is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Eighmey is as worthy a citizen as he was a gallant soldier, and has held many positions of trust in his township, with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Among the offices held by him may be mentioned township clerk, assessor, magistrate and school director, and in 1880 he took United States census of his township. In 1876 he was elected supervisor of the Fourth District, comprising Orange, Clack Hawk, Lincoln and Eagle townships. While living in Dubuque County he served two years as Government inspector. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and does all in his power to promote the interests of his party.

Orson Eighmey, a son of Leman and Chloe Eighmey, is a native of Iowa, born in Rock Dale, Dubuque County, July 6, 1849. In his youth he worked in the lead mines of his native county, and in the year 1868 he came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, with his parents, settling in Eagle Township, on section 10, where his father died April 14, 1872. He now owns the homestead, to which he has added till the farm contains 120 acres of choice land. His widowed mother makes her home with him. March 22, 1877, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Hopkins, who was born in Waterloo, this county, February 6, 1857, a daughter of Peter and Adeline Hopkins. To this union have been born three children - Edith M., Ada and Lucretia G. Mrs. Eighmey is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Eighmey casts his suffrage with the Republican party.

Parley P. Eighmey has been a resident of Black Hawk County, Iowa, since August, 1865, when he settled on his present farm on section 9, Eagle Township. Mr. Eighmey was born in Saratoga County, New York, December 25, 1842, a son of Leman and Chloe (Barrass) Eighmey. When he was five years of age his parents settled in Dubuque County, Iowa, and in that county his boyhood was spent. November 16, 1861, he enlisted in the late war, in Company A, Third Iowa Infantry. He has previously enlisted without the consent of his parents, at the first call of President Lincoln. His first engagement was at Blue Mills, Missouri, after which he participated in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Hatchie River, and in the campaign and battles leading up to the siege and capture of Vicksburg. He was also at the battle of Jackson, and soon after re-enlisted and returned home on a veteran furlough. He then joined Sherman's army at Kenesaw Mountain, and was in the battle in front of Atlanta. July 22 his regiment lost every commanding officer who went into the battle, coming out of action under command of a Sergeant. Mr. Eighmey followed the banners of Sherman to the sea, and through the Carolinas, taking part in the final grand review at Washington in June, 1865. He was a gallant and faithful soldier, and during his entire term of service was never in hospital, never missed a march, participating in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, and was one of the few who never received a wound. He was honorably discharged in July, 1865. Mr. Eighmey came to Eagle Township a single man, but returned to Dubuque County for his bride, Miss Jennie Bradbury, whom he married October 11, 1866. She was born in Yorkshire, England, March 16, 1842, coming to America with her parents, Charles and Elizabeth Bradbury, in 1854. Her father died of Cholera in the hospital at Brooklyn, New York, when her mother went with her family to Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and in 1856 settled in Dubuque County, Iowa. She died of apoplexy August 22, 1875, while on a visit to Mrs. Eighmey. Of the four children born to Mr. And Mrs. Eighmey two are living - Leman and Orlie C. Louisa and Charles died in infancy. Mr. Eighmey began life in Eagle Township on eighty acres of unimproved land. He has by his industry and good management brought his land under fine cultivation, and has added to it till he now owns 120 acres, with a comfortable home and good farm buildings. He has served his township many terms as justice of the peace, was township treasurer four years, and was also school secretary of the township. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He and his wife are attendants of Union Church in Eagle Township. Mr. Eighmey is a member of Robert Anderson Post, No. 68, G. A. R., at Waterloo.

Solomon Emmert, deceased, was one of the progressive and substantial farmers of Black Hawk County . He was a man of strict integrity, perfectly honorable and upright in all his dealings, and was respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, who admired his many manly qualities, and genial, social manners. He was born in Pennsylvania, January 7, 1821, a son of John Emmert, and was married in his native State, in Somerset County, in 1843, to Mattie Kring. He came West to Illinois in 1866, and thence in 1868 to Iowa, and settled on the farm in Big Creek Township, where his family now resides. He died November 20, 1881 . He was twice married, his family by the first marriage consisting of the following children--Lizzie, born December 11, 1845, now lives in Nebraska; Lucy, born August 18,1847, lives in Benton County, Iowa; John, born November 28, 1848, of Nebraska; David, born May 31, 1851, of Iowa; Mary, born April 11, 1853, lives in Illinois; Susan, born June 29, 1854, lives in Pennsylvania; Sophie, born November 8, 1857, lives in Ohio; George, born February 11, 1850, was stabbed and killed February 7, 1875, just as he was leaving church; Hattie, born May 17, 1860, lives in Nebraska; Ida, born January 7, 1862, lives in Nebraska, and Wesley, born June, 1866. His second wife, to whom he was married in 1872, was Rose McDowell, born in 1841, a daughter of George and Mary (Roberts) McDowell. To them were born four children--an infant, born September 27, 1873, died November 5, following; Edwin, born September 25, 1874; Arthur, born May 12, 1878; and Miller, June 22, 1881. Mrs. Emmert has charge of the homestead, Wesley making his home with her.