History of
Floyd County, Iowa Cedar Township Joseph
L. Atherton, farmer; P.O. Stillwater; son of Ozias and Lydia Pearsons
Atherton, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont, respectively; they died in
Vermont. Joseph L. was born in Vermont, Sept. 10, 1815, where he was educated,
and followed farming until he came to Iowa, in 1858; he now owns 400 acres of
fine land on section 29,Cedar, and section 28 Floyd, townships; his home is in
Cedar, where he has fine buildings and pleasant surroundings. In 1840 he married
Lucy B., daughter of Gardner and Betsey Proctor Adams; she was born in Vermont,
Feb. 12, 1824. This union as been blessed with four children--Ella A., born Aug
25, 1841, wife of John Q. Adams, of Mitchell County, IA; Edgar F. born Mar 23,
1845, married and living in Charles City; Eddie B., born Dec. 28, 1859; Walter
E., born June 10, 1862. Mrs. Atherton is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Atherton votes the Republican ticket. W.
H. Ballard, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O.., Charles City; son of Thomas
and Ann (Bennett) Ballard, natives of England. They came to the United States
abut 1829, and located in Troy, where they lived a short time; then moved near
Buffalo, and lived three and a half years; then came to Chicago. He build the
first frame house there; he died in Lake County, Ill., in 1851. Mrs. Ballard
died in Floyd County in 1873. W.H. was born in Chicago, July 5, 1834, and is one
of the first white children born there. In 1862 he came to Iowa and bought a
farm, and now owns 125 acres of land on section 25, which he has in a good state
of cultivation. In 1861 he married Melinda A., daughter of Ephraim and Nancy
(Irving) Bruce, natives of Vermont. They came to Iowa, and now live with W.H.
Ballard. Mr. Ballard and wife have been blessed with seven children, six living
- George H., born March 4, 1863; Annette, April 20, 1864; Edith, Aug. 20, 1865;
Nellie, Jan. 29, 1871; Mary, Oct. 22, 1873, died Sept. 10, 1875; Alida born Feb
23, 1878; and a baby boy, born May 23, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard are members of
the Wesleyan Methodist church. Mr. Ballard votes the Republican ticket. He deals
in fine stock considerably, Norman and Clydesdale being his fancy. George
Bennett, farmer; postoffice, Orchard; son of Stephen and Betsey
Knickerbacker Bennett, natives of New York. George was born in Lake County,
Ill., Dec 14, 1844; he was educated in Iowa, where the family moved in 1855. Mr.
Bennett has followed farming and now owns 228 acres on sections 22 and 27, Cedar
Township - which is finely cultivated. In 1872 he married Jennie L., daughter of
Theodore and Jane Wilson, natives of New York and New Hampshire respectively. By
this union there are three children - Bessie A., born Sept. 15, 1875; Emma
Louisa, Aug. 29, 1878; Samuel Wilson, March 9, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are
members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He votes the Republican ticket. Mr.
Bennett is paying particular attention to fine stock; the CLydesdale is his
specialty. Samuel
Bennett, farmer; postoffice, Charles City; son of Stephen and Betsey
Kickerbacker Bennett, natives of Dutchess County, N.Y. Samuel was born in
Illinois, Nov. 10, 1840, where he was educated. In 1855 he came to Iowa. He has
followed farming and now owns 218 acres of finely improved land on sections 26
and 35. In 1861 he married Sarah, daughter of Israel and Mary (Warren) Walling,
natives of New York; they came to Iowa at an early day, where Mrs. Walling died.
Mrs. Bennett was born in New York in 1844. By this union there are two children
- Stephen Curtis, born April 11, 1864, and Mary Frances, Oct. 30, 1871. Mr. and
Mrs. Bennett are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He votes the
Republican ticket. William
Bleckly, farmer and baker; postoffice Charles City; was born in England,
April 21, 1814; he was educated there and learned the trade of a baker, which he
worked at until he came to the United States in 1846; he bought a farm in
Wisconsin where he lived nineteen years; he then came to Iowa and bought his
present farm of 160 acres on section 30, where he now lives. He now owns eighty
acres, having given his son eighty acres of the original farm. His house was
struck by a cyclone on the 17th of July, entirely demolishing the greater part
of it, carrying fragments eighty rods away, distributing a cook stove for ten
rods, tearing up apple-trees and destroying everything in its way. In 1839 he
married Maria, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Edwards, natives of England,
where they died. By this union there have been six children, five living -
Ellen, born Feb. 6, 1841, wife of John Bloomhall of Dakota; Carrie, born Feb.
14, 1842, wife of George Boyer, of Dakota; George, born Sept. 19, 1843, married;
Kate, born Sept. 9, 1845, wife of Frank Houghy; Eliza Ann, born Dec. 5, 1847,
wife of R.W. Town of Dakota. The first four were born in England; Eliza Ann, in
Dane County, Wis. Mr. Bleckly and family are members of the M.E. church. Mr.
Bleckly votes the Republican ticket. William
Boyer, farmer; P.O., Charles City; son of Samuel and Jane (Boyer) Boyer,
natives of England where they died. William was born June 30, 1823, and educated
in England. He worked in a chemical laboratory until he came to the United
States, in 1846. He located in Dane County, Wis., coming out with what was then
known as the "British Temperance Emigration Society," which soon broke
up. Mr. Boyer purchased a farm, and has followed this occupation, living in
Wisconsin until January, 1867, when he came to Iowa, purchasing 245 acres of
fine land on section 30. He has sold a portion, and now owns 165 acres of finely
cultivated land and a good home. In 1842 he married Mary, daughter of John and
Mary (Tyson) Lowndes, of England, where they died. Mary was born Aug. 11, 1822.
This union has been blessed with ten children, eight living - George, born July
20, 1843, married, and living in Dakota; Mary Jane, born Oct. 19, 1845, died May
31, 1847; G.L., born Feb. 25, 1849, married, and living in Dakota; Olive
Melissa, born May 24, 1851, wife of Levi Pierce, living in Dakota; Martha Ann,
born Nov. 14, 1853, wife of W.H. Hill, living in Dakota; William, born May 24
1856, married and living in Dakota; Mary, wife of S.R. Laughlin, of Dakota, was
born April 18, 1858; C. W., born Dec. 13, 1860, living in Dakota; R.F., Aug. 19,
1863; one child died in infancy.Mr. Boyer and all his family are members of the
M.E. church, in which he is a local deacon, and supplies the Orchard Circuit.He
has held many of the township offices, and is at present one of the Trustees. He
votes the Repulican ticket. He is one of the substantial and reliable men of
Floyd County. Samuel
Clay, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O., Orchard Station, Mitchell County.
Mr. Clay is the fourth child of his father's family of fourteen children. He was
born in England, Jan. 5, 1830, and remained there until his twenty-second year;
then came to the United States, and located in Illinois, where he remained three
years; then came to Iowa and entered a quarter section of his present homestead.
He now owns 545 acres of excellent land on sections 21, 22 and 27, all under an
excellent state of cultivation. Mr. Clay has been an extensive grain-raiser, but
recently has changed his manner of farming, and is giving much attention to fine
stock; Norman and Clydesdale horses are his specialty; he has several of the
best of these horses to be found in the county, and persons desiring to improve
their stock should examine his before purchasing. In 1852 he married Mary Ann
Landon, a native of north of Ireland, where her parents still live. Three
children blessed this union - Ada Alberta, wife of Charles Knowlton,of Floyd
Township; Herbert Harrison, living in Idaho; and John William. Mrs. Clay died in
1857. Mr. Clay married, in 1858, Rosetta, daughter of Benjamin and Jane
(Workman) Shaw, natives of England, where they died. Mrs. Clay was born in
England, Oct. 19, 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Clay have been blessed with a family of
four children - Clara Jane, born 1859; Mary Ann, born 1861; Henry W., born 1864;
Katie, born 1866. Mr. Clay has held many of the township offices, and has
faithfully discharged all the duties thereof, and is one of the prominent and
respected citizens of Floyd County. He votes the Republican ticket. P.
P. Cole, farmer; P.O., Charles City; son of Raphael and Aurelia (Lewis)
Cole, natives of Vermont. They moved to Pennsylvania, where they lived some
time, and in 1846 came to Wisconsin, and bought a farm, where they lived until
1876, when they came to Iowa and located in Cedar Township; They now live in
Charles City. P.P. was born in Pennsylvania, July 21, 1836, where he lived until
ten years of age, then with his parents came to Wisconsin, where he was
educated. He has always followed a farm life, and in 1874 came to Iowa, and
bought his present farm of 145 acres, on sections 2 and 35, Cedar Township,
which is finely cultivated. In 1867 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and
Harriet (Golden) Darby, natives of England. At an early date they moved to the
United States, locating in New York, and soon removed to Illinois, where Mrs.
Darby died and his wife still still lives. (? Should this have been Mr. Darby
died) Mrs. Cole was born in New York State, July 11, 1844. By the above union
there are four children, three living - Addison Jay, born Aug. 19, 1870; Bertha
Mertilla, born Dec. 23, 1872; Jessie Lillian and Austin Everett, twins, (Austin
in deceased), born Aug. 26, 1876. Mr. Cole votes the Republican ticket. In 1862
he enlisted in the Ninty-sixth Illinois Infantry Volunteers, and served three
years, being in many of the hard-fought battles of the war: Chickamauga, Lookout
Mountain, Franklin, Resaca, Nashville and numerous others; he was discharged
June 29, 1865, at Chicago. He is Secretary of the Floyd County Farmers' Mutual
Fire Insurance Company; has been Township Clerk two terms, and Assessor two
years; ia at present Assessor of the township. Samuel
F. Ferguson, farmer; postoffice, Charles City; was born in New York,
July 7, 1829, where he was educated; he is the son of James and Susanna (Smith)
Ferguson, natives of New York. Mr. Ferguson died in New York. They had a family
of three children, Samuel being the oldest. In 1864 he came to Wisconsin, living
there one year, then came to Iowa and bought his present farm of 240 acres on
section 28; he now owns 620 acres of land. He has made farming a success; is
well situated on an excellent farm and is giving some attention to fine stock.
In 1867 he married Nancy Ann, daughter of John and Florilla (Walls) McKinney,
natives of Ireland; they now live in New York, where Mrs. Ferguson was born, May
25, 1840. This union has been blessed with four children - James Alexander, born
May 13, 1860; Charlotte, born Sept. 24, 1862, died May 12, 1879; Flora, May 8,
1869; John Milford, Sept. 29, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church, in which denomination he is a Local Deacon. He has
held several township offices, the duties of which he has faithfully discharged.
He votes the Republican ticket, and is one of the energetic, enterprising and
respected men of Floyd County. Lucien
M. Foster, mason, minister and farmer; P.O. Orchard; son of Samuel and
Lois (Miller) Foster. They were of New England nativity, and had a family of
five children, of which Lucien is the youngest. He was born in Washington
County, N.Y., and was educated there and learned the trade of a mason, which
business he followed several years, and then studied for the ministry and began
preaching in 1831 for the Congregational denomination. He moved to Lake County,
Illinois, and lived two years. In 1855 he moved to Iowa and united with the
Wesleyan Methodist church, and has preached for them much of the time till now.
On coming to Iowa he pre-empted a homestead, being the first settler on Plum
Prairie. His experiences with his friends the red men would fill a good sized
volume, but by uniform kindness, never had any trouble with them. In 1834 he
married Sarah Maria Stockwell, a native of Vermont. This union was blessed with
five children, two living - Royal A., born Aug. 9, 1838, married; Carmi J., born
Nov. 14, 1857, married and living in Floyd County; Samuel A., died in the army;
the others in childhood. Royal A. lives on section 22, where he owns 175 acres
of fine land, under good cultivation.In 1864 he married Sylvia Bennett. She was
born in Lake County, Ill., March 30, 1843. By their union there is one child -
Jerome Ashley, born Feb. 4, 1870. They are members of the Wesleyan Methodist
church, and he votes the Republican ticket, as does his father, who has held
several of the township offices. They are highly respected by their friends.
Mrs. Lucien Foster died on Oct. 14, 1876; it was occasioned by a fall and the
breaking of her right hip. Rev. Foster owns 135 acres of land on section 22. (transcriber
notes, the Foster family are buried in Howardville cemetery, West Cedar
Township. It appears that Rev. Foster may have married second a lady whose given
name was Henrietta. She died 28 Dec 1885. According to his tombstone, Rev.
Foster lived to be over 100 years old.) John
Henry, farmer and carpenter; postoffice Stillwater; son of John and Jane
(Orr) Henry, of Scottish descent. Our subject was born in Ireland, County Caven.
When eighteen years of age he came to New York State, where he commenced the
carpenter's trade; from there he went to Philadelphia, and thence to Liverpool
and london, and continued to work his trade in all these places. He returned to
the United States in 1858, and again lived some six years in Philadelphia, and
five years in Chicago. In 1870 he purchased his farm of 240 acres on section 20,
Cedar Township, IA, where he has since lived. In 1858 he married Mary, daughter
of James and Mary (Holland) McKitterick, natives of Ireland, where they died.
This union has been blessed with six children, five living - John, born March
11, 1860; Margaret, March 27, 1861; Julia Ann, Dec. 29, 1863 (all born in
Philadelphia); Mary, born Chicago, May 14, 1867; William Henry, born Oct 17,
1868, in Lakeview, Ill. Mrs. Henry is a member of the M.E. church. Mr. Henry is
a member of the A.F. & A.M. and I.O.O.F. lodges. He has held several of the
township offices, and faithfully discharged the duties of each. He votes the
Republican ticket. James
Haughey, farmer; postoffice, Floyd; son of John and Julia Ann (Young)
Haughey, natives of Delaware. They moved to Illinois at an early day and died
there. They were the parents of twelve children. James was the fifth child and
was born in Ohio, Nov. 14, 1811, where he was educated; he learned the trade of
a carpenter and worked at it several years; is also a cabinet maker. On Aug 13,
1837, he married Mary, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Coon) Stout, natives of
Pennsylvania; she was born in Ohio, Dec. 4, 1817. By this union there are eight
children, five living - Sylvanus, born Junee 6, 1840, and died in 1870; he
served through the war of the Rebellion, and contracted the disease of which he
died; Francis, April, 1842, married; Mary Hartford, Aug. 18, 1845, wife of
George Bleckly; Julia Ann, June 18, 1847, wife of Frank Pelton; Martha Jane,
June 25,, 1849, wife of Adam Fehr; Sophia Ellen, deceased; Harriet Hydassa, Nov.
14, 1853; James Buchanan, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Haughey came to Iowa in 1854.
He owns 300 acres of fine land in section 28, Cedar Township, mostly improved.
Mr. and Mrs. Haughey are members of the M.E. church. Mr. Haughey has held
several township offices and votes the Republican ticket. W.
B. Howard, farmer; postoffice, Charles City; son of Elbert and Phoebe
(McNeil) Howard, natives of Kentucky. W.B. was born in Kentucky in 1815; was
educated in Indiana, and came to Illinois in 1834 and to Iowa in 1854; he owns
eighty acres of land on section 25, where he now lives. In 1840 he married
Lucetta Hinsdell, a native of New York. This union was blessed with six children
- Sarah Elizabeth, deceased; Fidelia J., deceased; Sanders M., married and
living in Emmet County, IA; Nora J., wife of John A. Wright, of Mitchell County,
IA; Phoebe A., wife of Almon D. Couse, of Orchard, IA; Antoinette, died in
infancy. Mrs. Howard soon followed. In 1860 Mr. Howard married Melissa Ann
Southard, a native of Massachusetts. Has been County Supervisor three terms. Mr.
Howard has held most of the township offices, and has faithfully discharged the
duties of them all. He votes the Republican ticket. Williard
Lanphere, farmer, postoffice, Charles City; son of Russell and Lydia
(Miner) Lanphere, natives of Connecticutt, where they died. Williard was born
Feb. 25, 1820, in Connecticut, where he was educated. He is one of a family of
fourteen, and is the tenth child. He went to New York in 1836, remaining about
seven years; thence to Ohio for a short time; thence to Wisconsin, and then to
Iowa in 1852, and to Floyd County in 1856, where he entered land; he has now a
farm of forty acres on section 24, Cedar Township. In 1848 he married Mary,
daughter of Isaac and Mary (Sawyer) Hoisington, natives of Vermont and
Massachusetts respectively. By this union there have been eight children, four
living - Carrie (wife of Everton Canfield), Franklin, Phineas and Olive. Mr. and
Mrs. Lanphere are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He votes the
Democratic ticket. Isaac
Naden, farmer; postoffice, Orchard, Mitchell County; son of Samuel and
Martha (Milner) Naden. They were natives of England and moved to the United
States, and located in Illinois in 1845, where they both died. Isaac was born in
England, Sept 9, 1824 where he was educated; he came to the United States with
his parents, and in 1855 he came to Iowa, and entered his lands where he now
lives. He has 320 acres of as fine land as can be found; it is on section 21,
Cedar Township,Floyd County, and sections 16 and 15, Lincoln Township, Mitchell
County. Mr. Naden has the best improved land in the township, and is
thorough-going in whatever he undertakes. In 1845 he married Elizabeth, daughter
of James and Elizabeth (Butterworth) Turner, natives of England, where they
died. By this union there have been four children - J. W., born 1846, married
and keeping store in Orchard; Noah S., born 1848, married, and lives in Orchard;
Mary A., born in 1851, wife of R.F. Hill, of Chicago; and W. H., born 1855. Mr.
Naden and family are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Naden has held many of
the township offices, but of late refuses to accept any. He votes the Republican
ticket. George
F. Nash, farmer; postoffice, Charles City. He was born in New York, Dec.
17, 1850, and at an early age moved to Illinois, where he was educated. His
father was Jeremiah, and his mother Olive (Oaks) Nash, natives of New York; they
now reside in Illinois. In 1871 he married Genella G., daughter of Daniel and
Eliza (Getman) Stowell, natives of New York. Mrs. Stowell died in 1868, in
Illinois, where the family had moved. By the above union there are four
children, three living - Edith, born Nov 11, 1874; Ralph Clinton, Dec. 16, 1877;
Frank George, Dec. 2, 1879. Mr. Nash and wife are members of the Methodist
church. Mr. Nash owns 275 acres of fine prairie land on section 35. He has held
several township offices and votes the Republican ticket. Addis
Schermerhorn, farmer; postoffice, Charles City; son of William and
Harriet (Lottridge) Schermerhorn, was born in Chenango County, N.Y., March 5,
1843. Mrs. and Mrs. William Schermerhorn were both natives of New York, and were
parents of five children, four living - Perry, Addis, Marvin, living in
Minnesota, and William W. living with his parents in Cedar Township. Addis was
educated principally in Iowa, attending the first school ever held in the
township, at the house of W.B. Howard. He has followed farming for a livelihood,
and now owns seventy-two acres of finely improved land, on section 35, Cedar
Township. He married, in 1860, Samantha, daughter of J. and Susan (Jacobs)
Aldrich, natives of Rhode Island. Her mother died in Iowa, in 1857; her father
is still living in Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Schermerhorn have four children -
Geneva, born Jan. 4, 1862; Cora, June 1, 1864; Charles Wesley, April 11, 1873;
Ida, Dec. 12, 1876. They are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. Mr.
Schermerhorn votes the Republican ticket. Charles
H. Towner, farmer; P.O., Charles City. His father was James S. and his
mother Eveline (Barney) Towner, natives of Vermont. The father came to Illinois
at an early day, where he died; the mother still lives there. Charles was born
in Vermont, Nov. 4, 1834, where he was educated. He worked at farming, and came
to Illinois in 1848, where he lived until 1856, when he moved to Iowa and bought
a farm. He now owns 285 acres of excellent land on section 36, where he now
lives, and has under a high state of cultivation. In 1856 he married Louisa
Bennett, who was born March 22, 1839, in Illinois, a daughter of Stephen and
Betsey (Knickerbacker) Bennett, natives of Dutchess Co., N.Y. They moved to
Illinois in 1837, where Stephen died, and in 1855 Mrs. Bennett and family came
to Iowa, where she still lives with her children. By the above union there are
six children - George, born April 27, 1859, married; Owen C., April 16, 1862;
Oscar J., Sept. 16, 1865; Royal C., July 27, 1868; Mary E., Aug. 29, 1875; Ralph
S. Dec. 17, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Towner are members of the Wesleyan Methodist
church. He votes the Republican ticket. William
B. Towner, farmer; postoffice Charles City; son of James S. and Eveline
(Barney) Towner, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont repectively, who were the
parents of six children - William B., Charles H., Mary E., Carlos C., F.B., and
Eveline. Three live in Iowa, two in Illinois, one in Michigan; all born in
Vermont. William B. was born in Castleton, Rutland County, Vt., Dec. 25, 1831,
where he was educated. In 1864 he came to Floyd County, IA. He now owns 203
acres of fine land on sections 35 and 36, mostly well improved. In 1856 he
married Harriet A., daughter of Edward and Harriet (Golden) Darby, of
England.They came to the United States many years ago, and Edward died in
Illinois, where his wife still lives. By the above union there are five children
- Adrin J., Ella M., Cora M., Edward J. and Frederick H. Mr. and Mrs. Towner are
members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. Mr. Towner votes the Republican ticket
and has held several township offices; is Secretary of the School Board and
Justice of the Peace; has held each of these offices some ten years, and was
County Supervisor four terms. Chester
M. Townsend, farmer and stock raiser; post office Charles City; son of
John C. and Lucinda (Underwood) Townsend. The subject of this sketch was born in
the State of New York, Dec. 6, 1837. He was educated in Iowa and has followed
farming. He owns 535 acres of land on section 1, 30 and 31, Cedar Township. He
also owns 320 acres in Dakota. In 1866 he married Harriet, daughter of John and
Mary A. (Park) Hill, natives of New York and Massachusetts respectively, both
deceased. By this union are three children - Schuyler C., born July 10, 1868;
Rollin M., Aug. 26, 1870; Gertie V., Sept. 2, 1877. In 1861 Mr. Townsend
enlisted in the Third Iowa Infantry, Company I, Captain M.M. Trumbell, and
served three years in that regiment, and in February thereafter re-enlisted in
the Second U.S. Veteran, General Hancock's Corps, Company H, and served one
year. While in service he was engaged in many of the hard fought battles; that
of Pittsburgh Landing and Hatchie River, where he was wounded in the abdomen by
a canister ball striking on the U.S. belt plate; seige of Vicksburg and Jackson,
Miss., where he was taken prisoner and sent to Libby Prison, Richmond and to
Belle Isle. He was discharged at the expiration of the three year's service, at
Davenport, Ia., and in Washington, D.C., at the expiration of the one year's
enlistment. He votes the Republican ticket. John
C. Townsend, farmer; postoffice Charles City; was born in the State of
New York, Sept. 18, 1813, where he was educated. His father was Chester, and
mother Delight (Wilber) Townsend, natives of Massachusetts and Rhode Island
respectively. They moved to New York in 1801, and lived there until 1839, when
they came to Gratiot County, Mich., where they died. John C. has followed
farming, and in 1854 came to Iowa and took up his present farm of 160 acres on
section 36, where he has lived ever since. He owns 163 acres adjoining. In 1835
he married Lucinda, daughter of Chester and Theda (Trask) Underwood, natives of
Massachusetts and Connecticutt respectively. They are both deceased, Mr.
Underwood dying in Genesee County, N.Y., and Mrs. Underwood, after again
marrying, in Walworth County, Wis. Lucinda was born in Massachusetts, Dec. 12,
1813. This union has been blessed with four children, three living - Chester M.,
born in New York, Dec. 6, 1837, married and living near his parents; Livonia J.,
wife of Lorenzo J. Dawley, of Minneapolis, born June 17, 1840; Jerome W.,
married, living in Kansas, born Aug 17, 1844; Viola H., born January, 1852, died
Aug. 7, 1858. Mr. Townsend is a Spiritualist. He has held many of the township
offices; has been County Supervisor, and has faithfully discharged all the
duties. He votes the Greenback ticket. |