Concord Township

E. F. Griffith came to Hardin county in the year 1876, located in Concord township, and was immediately accepted by the public as a trustworthy and influential citizen.  He has since held the offices of trust, and has ever shown himself wide-awake in the interest of any public enterprise, or the advancement of education.  Mr. Griffith settled on section 27, where he now resides, in 1881, and he now owns 160 acres of well improved land.  Esli F. Griffith was born in the State of Ohio, on the 19th day of November, 1840.  In 1853 the family immigrated to Iowa and settled in Story county, and there continued farming.  The subject of this sketch resided in Story county until 1862, then went to Indiana, and one year later, to Canada, where, in 1865, he married Miss Isabelle Atkinson.  He then returned to Iowa, but soon went back to Canada, and there lived until 1869.  He then again returned to Iowa, resided in Union county, and from there to Hardin county.  Mr. Griffith is a Republican in politics, and his religious connection is with the Disciple Church.  The children are:  Sarah, Nelson W., Esli E., Elijah M., William W. and Permilla.  Mr. Griffith's parents were natives of Pennsylvania.  His father, Jonah Griffith, was born in 1810; died in Story county, in 1877.  His mother, Sarah (Merriman) Griffith, was born in 1812, and is now living with her son, E. F.

I. Harris has lived in or near Hardin county nearly all his life, as he was born in the north part of Marshall county in 1855.  When he was about nine years of age the family moved to Winneshiek county, and about four years afterward to Hardin county, and settled in Union township.  Soon after coming to Hardin county, the father died, the mother having died when the subject of this sketch was but two years of age.  Mr. Harris, therefore, after the death of his father, was compelled to work for other parties until 1874, when he married Miss Mary Welch, and they now have two children -- Ralph and Edna.

David H. Hodson, a native of Hendricks county, Ind., settled on section 8, 1876, where he owns 80 acres of well improved land.  Mr. Hodson was born on the 9th day of December, 1847.  In 1849 the family came to Iowa, lived in Warren county until 1853, then came to Hardin county and settled in New Providence, where the father, Jabez Hodson, still resides.  The mother died on the 30th day of May, 1860, leaving two children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the older.  He helped till the soil, was educated at Westfield, Ind., and subsequently taught school until 1876.  Mr. Hodson has been twice married.  In 1877 to Miss Clara Jones.  She died January 17, 1880, leaving one child, since deceased.  April 27, 1882, he married Miss Mary Barrett, of Indianapolis, Ind.

John A Hubbard is the oldest son of S. B. and Anna (Topman) Hubbard.  He was born in Piatt county, Ill., May 10, 1852.  He came with the family to Iowa in 1855, and in 1856 to Hardin county, and settled on section 21, Pleasant township.  Here he helped till the soil, and received a common school education.  In 1876 he married Miss Francis Miller, daughter of Franklin Miller, and soon purchased his present farm of 120 acres, and has since resided on the same.  Mr. Hubbard is a wide-awake and industrious farmer, is a Republican in politics, has held local offices, and taken an active interest in any public enterprise.  Their children are Edward, Wilson and Samuel.

William V. Hutchens is a son of Thompson and Sarah (Philips) Hutchens, who were natives of North Carolina, and settled in Providence township, Hardin county, Iowa, in 1864, and there resided until May, 1876, when they emigrated to Oregon.  Mr. Hutchens was born in Yadkin county, North Carolina, October 4, 1836; removed with his parents to Indiana in 1859; then went to Missouri.  In 1860 he returned to his native State, and there married Miss Julia Ann Wilhelm.  The next year he removed to Morgan county, Indiana, from which place, in 1864, he came to Hardin county.  In 1872 he became a resident of Concord township.  The children living are Elizabeth, Nettie, Mary, Sarah, Thomas and Ettie.

S. M. Johnson is a native of Norway, born June 22, 1855. He came to the United States in 1873, and first lived in Marshall county, Iowa. In 1878 he came to Hardin county, and in 1880 purchased his present farm on section 22, the same containing 160 acres. Mr. Johnson, October 21, 1880, married Miss Lula M. Sink, an adopted daughter of A. H. Sink, and they now have one daughter -- Edna E.

R. H. Jones is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio; born November 23, 1822.  He is the second of nine children.  In 1839 he removed with the family to Grant county, Ind., where, in 1841, he married Miss Martha J. Webb.  In 1853 he removed to Michigan, and in 1861, to Minnesota, from which State he came to Hardin county, in 1874.  Of the ten children, eight are now living -- Oliver D., Elvina, Calvin W., Mary R., Sarah, Martha L., Isaac T. and Walter F.

William Lee is a native of Wayne county, Ind.; born May 13, 1844.  His father, John Lee, was a native of North Carolina, and his mother, Hannah (Baldwin) Lee, a native of Ohio.  In 1853 the family came to Iowa, and settled in Dallas county.  In 1869 William Lee came to Hardin county; lived first in Providence, next in Grant, and, in 1874, settled in Concord township, and here erected his present dwelling, which was the eighth house built in the township.  Mr. Lee was married at Eldora, to Miss Sarah Pierce, and they now have four children -- Riley A., Albert A., Alonzo J. and Adella.

William C. Paul, the second man who settled in Concord, and now the oldest settler in the township, is a native of England, born February 9, 1846.  In 1853 the family came to the United States, and settled in Grant county, Wis.  Here, William C. Paul helped till the soil, received a common school education, and subsequently resided in Iowa county, where, in 1865, he married Miss Hannah Biddick, daughter of Matthew and Nellie Biddick.  In 1870 Mr. Paul came to Iowa in search of a location, and soon purchased his present property, then returned to Wisconsin, and, in the spring of 1871, removed to his new home.  The family consisted of Mr. Paul, wife and three children. They had no neighbors north, east or south of them for several miles; on the west, however, in Hamilton county, there were a few settlers.  Mr. Paul now owns 200 acres of land; is honest, industrious and enterprising.  They have had four children, three of whom are now living -- Ella H., Charley A. and Allie J.

W. C. Rose

Among the citizens of the township, no one is more highly respected than W. C. Rose; for he is honest, industrious, and ever ready to help his neighbor in time of trouble.  Mr. Rose is a son of Rufus and Pheobe (Jackson) Rose, and he was born in Pennsylvania on the 12th day of April, 1846.  In 1855 the family migrated to Illinois, and settled on a farm in Carroll county.  In January, 1867, W. C. Rose married Miss Ett Murphy, came to Iowa, resided in Tama county until 1876, then purchased his present property, and became a resident of Concord township, Hardin county.  Mr. Rose is a Republican, has held local offices, and takes an active interest in education.  His farm is on section 27, and contains 160 acres.  The children are Harry, Mary, Edward , and an infant not named.

Mr. Rose, May 14, 1864, enlisted in Company G, 142d Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until October 26, 1864, when he was discharged by reason of expiration of term of service.  He again enlisted, march 4, 1865, in Company B, 7th Illinois Cavalry, serving until November 4, 1865, when he was discharged by reason of close of the war.

Colben Sime, the most prominent farmer of the township, resides on section 29.  He is a native of Norway.  Mr. Sime was subsequently married, and in 1861 came to the United States and settled in Shelby county, Ill.  He subsequently lived two years in Chicago, and in 1869 immigrated to Iowa; lived at Nevada until 1876, then came to Hardin county and located where he now resides and owns 480 acres of land.  The six children are: Jennie, now Mrs. I. Ringheim; Thomas, Lewis, Corben C., Sarah and Martha.  C. C. Sime came to Hardin county with his parents, and now owns a one-half interest in the personal property and has charge of the farm.

A. H. Sink, a prominent farmer of Concord, settled on section 35 in 1878, and he now owns 560 acres of land.  He was born in Ohio in 1836, removed to Michigan in about 1850, but afterwards returned to Ohio, from which State he came to Iowa, lived first in Tama, next in Marshall, and from there came to Hardin county.  In 1862 he married Miss Hellen Crofutt.  They have four children -- O. Grant, Berton A., Charles W. and Silva.