Black Hawk County >> 1886 Index

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

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THOMAS J. SHANE, farmer, section 27, Barclay Township , postoffice Jesup, Buchanan County , is a native of Pennsylvania , born February 18, 1841 , a son of Michael and Sarah Shance, also natives of the Quaker State . He was reared in his native State and in 1867 came to Iowa and located in Black Hawk County . He has followed agricultural pursuits through life with the exception of two or three years, and has made a success of his vocation, having now a fine farm of 320 acres, under a good state of cultivation, all acquired by his own energy and industry as he had no means with which to begin life. He is an influential citizen of the township, and is always ready to do all in his power to advance any enterprise in all questions pertaining to the material elfare of thw township, and has held several offices of trust, always performing his duties in an efficient and painstaking manner. In 1861 he enlisted in the defense of his country in the Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and served three years and ten days. He participated in the engagements at Vicksburg , Shiloh , Corinth , Hatchie , and many others of less note. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a Republican. He was married in 1871, to Andora Trumbauer, who was born in Pennsylvania , December 16, 1851 , a daughter of Peter and Mary (Boyer) Trumbauer, also natives of Pennsylvania , now of Buchanan County , Iowa . They have four children; but two are living � Neven V., born August 27, 1878 ; Charles N., Born July 19, 1880 ; Cora Mary, born August 19, 1871 , died September 23, 1876 , and Mella Viola, born March 18, 1874 , died September 11, 1876 .

Augustus S. Smith was born in Litchfield , Connecticut , August 24, 1814 . When he was two years old his parents, Libeus and Betsy Smith, moved to Bradford County , Pennsylvania , they being among the fist settlers of that county. He was reared to manhood in Bradford County , and November 10, 1841 , he was married to Sarah M. Baldwin. She was born January 18, 1820 , in Newton , Fairfield County , Connecticut , a daughter of Philo and Hannah A. Baldwin, who were also early settlers of Bradford County . To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born four children- Robert S., Sarah A., Edward P. and Ella S. In 1856 Mr. Smith removed with his family to Black Hawk County , Iowa , and settled in Cedar Falls , where he has since lived, and for years operated a saw mill. He was also engaged in the mercantile business for a short time in Floyd County, Iowa. Of late years he has devoted his attention to real estate business. He at one time owned a fine farm of 240 acres, about two miles south of Cedar Falls . In his political views Mr. Smith affiliates with the Democratic party. He is one of the oldest residents of Cedar Falls , and as a citizen he is highly respected. He has held the office of Mayor of Cedar Falls, and has also served as a councilman. He is a member of the Odd fellows order.

SAMUEL SMITH, son of Henry and Polly Smith, was born in Somerset County , Pennsylvania , January 6, 1842 . His mother died when he was but three years of age, and after being cared for by his mo­ther's sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, for a few months, he was taken into the family of Michael Tutman, where he had a good home for eighteen years. He received a fair common-school education, and at the age of eighteen became his own master. In November, 1860, he began learning the carpenter's trade, which he has since fol­lowed at various times. He came to Black Hawk County , Iowa , in March, 1864, and made his home with his brother, George K. Smith, the following two years. He bought the land where he at present resides, on section 4, in June, 1868, and from the raw prairie he has made one of the best farms in the township, the building im­provements, which are noticeably good, being mainly done by himself. Mr. Smith was married February 16, 1869 , to Miss Lydia Casebeer, a native of the same county as her husband, born December 19, 1847 . Of the nine children born to this union eight are living�Ellen F., Norman C., Nora E. and Emma B. (twins; the latter died aged seven months), Rollin B., Eliza J., Austin E., Mary E. and Frank W.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are earnest members of the Brethren church , or Dunkards. In politics Mr. Smith affiliates with the Re­publican party. He is greatly interested in the cause of education, and is now act­ing in the capacity of school director.

Wesley S. Stokes, a prominent agriculturist of Orange Township, residing on section 8, is a native of Putnam County, Indiana, born April 8, 1844. When he was four years of age his parents, Robert F. and Sally Ann Stokes, settled in McDonough County, Illinois, and there his mother died in 1855, aged forty-one years. Wesley S. spent his youth in assisting his father on the farm, and attending school during the winter months. As soon as he was old enough he volunteered in defense of the Union, enlisting in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry, August 12, 1862. He participated in the campaign and battles leading to the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and later was in the campaign against Johnston’s army. His regiment being transferred to the Gulf department, he participated in the campaign against Mobile in 1865, and was in the assault and capture of Spanish Fort, where he acted as Colorbearer. During his three years of service he only off duty three days. He was honorably discharged, being mustered out at Chicago as Sergeant, August 15, 1865. After the war he went to Henderson County, Illinois, his parents having moved to that county during his absence. He was married in that county February 12, 1868, to Mary C. Grigsby, a native of Muskinghum County, Ohio, daughter of John and Jane Grigsby. Mrs. Stokes died June 1, 1883, leaving five children – Edward E. and Ella E. (twins), Ida M., Clara E. and Arthur E., who died December 31, 1884, in his ninth year. After his marriage Mr. Stokes made his present residence his home, and commenced improving his prairie farm of 200 acres. This farm is now classed among the finest improved farms in this part of Black Hawk County, and building improvements are not excelled in this neighborhood. Mr. Stokes was again married, February 22, 1885, taking for his second wife Rebecca Miller. She was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1845, a daughter of Jonas and Sarah Miller. When she was five years old her mother died. Her father subsequently married again and settled in Orange Township in 1875, where he died in June, 1881, in his seventy-third year, after which his widow returned to Pennsylvania. In politics Mr. Stokes affiliates with the Republican party. He is at present a member of the Board of Township Trustees, and is one of the township’s most esteemed citizens. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his wife belongs to the German Baptist church.

William N. Switzer was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1842, a son of David and Barbara Switzer, natives of the same county, and there his father died October 6, 1861, aged fifty years, and his mother makes his house her home. Six of her sons and one daughter--Josias D., Amos D., William N., John N., Peter D., Cornelius D., and Mrs. Lydia Speicher--live in Black Hawk County, and one daughter, Mrs. Joanna Baxter, lives in Grundy County, Iowa. William N. Switzer was reared to the life of a farmer, and the practical lessons learned in his youth in the old State of Pennsylvania, have been of lasting value to him on the prairies of Iowa. He was the first of the family to come to Iowa, becoming a resident of Black Hawk County, April 18, 1861. For a year or two he worked for others, but not being satisfied with merely earning wages, he rented a farm in Orange Township, where he lived till September, 1868, when he bought his present farm on sections 3 and 10, Lincoln Township. He immediately began improving it, and built a residence into which he moved the following spring. Mr. Switzer is a thoroughly practical farmer as is shown by the evident care, thrift and enterprise of the owner of his 320 acres of choice land. His building improvements are notably fine, being excelled by none in the township. Fully realizing that it is not good for man to live alone, in 1873, he returned to his native county, and was there united in marriage, January 29, to Susan A. Engle. To Mr. and Mrs. Switzer have been born four children--Edna, Ora, Herbert Ray and Pearl. They have been for several years members of the Brethren church. In politics Mr.Switzer casts his suffrage with the Repbulican party.