History of Hardin County, Iowa 1883 - Hardin Township

Hardin County >> 1883 Index

History of Hardin County, Iowa
Springfield, Ill: Union Publishing Company, 1883.

Hardin Township

O. E. Abel was born in Orange county, Vt., in February, 1823. When eighteen years of age he went to Rhode Island, where he learned the trade of machinest. He went to Chicago in July, 1849, where he worked at his trade in the shop of C. H. McCormick & Co., the noted harvester firm. He came to Iowa Falls in October, 1855. For the last eighteen years Mr. Abel has been engaged in the sewing machine business. He sold the Wheeler & Wilson machine for many years. He has had an extensive experience in the repairing of machines, in which he is still engaged. Mrs. Abel was formerly Miss Charlotte Loveley, born in Canada, in 1829, of French parentage. They were married April 5, 1846, and came to Iowa Falls in 1855. A brother of Mr. Abel (G. P. Abel,) settled in this State, and died at Des Moines, about 1870.

Levi Allison is a new comer in Hardin county, becoming a resident of the same in August, 1879.  He now owns 114 acres of land.  Mr. Allison was born in JoDaviess county, Illinois, March 28, 1849, and his parents were John and Elizabeth (Todd) Allison.  In June, 1873 he married Miss Eliza Burchell, then of JoDaviess county, but a native of Vermont; they now have four children -- Mabel, LeRoy, Abbie and Levi William.

David J. Alvord came to Hardin county in 1864, and was at once accepted by the people of Hardin township as a prominent and influential citizen.  His honesty and good natured disposition has made him many warm friends.  He is a Republican in politics, and has been a public officer most of the time since coming to the county.  Mr. Alvord is a native of Western New York, where he was born September 3, 1818.  His father, Obed Alvord, was a native of Connecticut, and his mother, Susanna (Johnson) Alvord, of Rhode Island.  In about 1824 the family migrated to Lake county, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch learned his trade -- that of wagon maker -- and followed the same for several years; he acted as a traveling salesman for a firm in Cleveland, until 1864, since which time he has resided at Georgeton, and made farming his principal business.  He was married in 1843 to Miss Mary Ann Turner, and they now have four children -- Jane, now Mrs. Chas. J. Comar; Daniel, yard-master at Collinwood, Ohio; Wealthy, now Mrs. Abram Gray; and Hattie, now Mrs. George Fitts.

William F. Beck, station agent for the Illinois Central Railroad Company at Iowa Falls, has been located here since 1865. He came here before the completion of the road to this point. Mr. Beck served in the capacity of clerk till 1867. Mr. V. A. Bryant being the first agent, Mrs. Bryant served as operator. Mr. Beck has been agent since 1867. But few men, if any on this road, have occupied a similar position for so great a length of time. Mr. Beck is a native of England, where he was born in 1836. His parents emigrated to Canada when he was a child. He went to Cedar Falls in 1864, and was in the employment of the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad Company at that place till he came here the following year. Mr. Beck�s long connection with this railroad at this point, shows the confidence placed in his ability and integrity. He has been offered more lucrative positions, but his attachment to the place, from long and pleasant associations, has prevented his making a change. Mrs. Beck, formerly Miss Jane Tucker, is also a native of England. They have two sons � Thomas, who is station agent at West Bend, and William F., an operator for the Illinois Central Railroad Company. Mr. Beck is a courteous intelligent gentleman, possessing much general information, and thoroughly informed on whatever pertains to his business.

Isaiah Biggs is one of the prominent farmers of Hardin county.  He resides within the limits of the corporation of Iowa Falls.  He was born in Ohio in 1827; removed to Warren county with his parents, and to Hamilton county, Iowa, in 1856, where he bought land and improved a farm; came to Hardin county in 1865.  His farm contains about 400 acres.  Mrs. Biggs was formerly Miss Anna Woodward.  They have two children -- Florence, wife of Warren Brown, the present Recorder of Keokuk county, Iowa; and Valencia, who is still at home.

E. M. Bird settled on section 13, where he now resides, in 1865, and is now a large and prominent farmer, cultivating 320 acres of land.  Mr. Bird was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., October 24, 1821, and resided in his native State until sixteen years of age.  He then went to Michigan, and in 1839 to Davenport, Iowa; but in June, 1840, returned to Michigan, and resided there most of the time until he came to Hardin county.  In 1846 Mr. Bird married Miss Eliza Bamey, a native of Ohio.  They have had seven children, four of whom are now living -- Ella, now Mrs. James B. Hathaway; Cynthia, now Mrs. Frank Strahorn; Chas. H. and Alice L.

L. O. Bliss, of the firm of Wilde & Bliss, came to Iowa Falls June 4, 1864.  He soon after opened a grocery and crockery store, just west of Woods' hotel.  This was the first exclusive grocery and crockery store established in the village.  He continued in the grocery trade about two years, during the last of which his brother, M. H. Bliss, was associated with him.  Mr. Bliss was born at Cayuga county, N. Y.  He removed with his parents to Ashtabula county, Ohio, when he was a child.  He was engaged as a clerk for some time in Ohio.  He went from Ohio to Wisconsin, and thence to Minnesota.  He came here, as stated, in 1864.  His wife was Miss Ruth Seymour, born in the State of Ohio.  They have three children -- Byron B., Frank E. and Mary H.  Messrs Wilde & Bliss are numbered with the prominent and successful business men of Iowa Falls.  They are genial and intelligent gentlemen, as well as successful business men.

H. J. Brown resides on section 10, where he located in 1869, and he now owns 80 acres.  He is a native of Canada, born November 8, 1839, and resided in his native country until 1868, when he came to Hardin county.  In the fall of 1868 he returned to Canada, and, in December, was married to Miss Eliza E. Dancy.  They have four children -- Harry F., Willfred, Ettie M. and Ellen Grace.

Spencer W. Brown resides on section 26.  He settled where he now lives in December, 1864.  He bought his original farm, which contained 80 acres, of Thomas B. Knapp, of Cedar Falls.  Mr. Brown was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1830, but was brought up in Otsego county, in that State.  He went to Illinois in 1855, and to Lafayette county, Wis., in 1857.  He enlisted, August 13, 1862, in the 96th Illinois Infantry, and served till the following February, when he was discharged for disability, the result of an accident from which he has never recovered.  He came to Hardin county in May, 1864.  His wife was Miss Helen F. L. Wright, born in Greene county, N. Y.  Her father died when she was a child.  She went to Lafayette county, Wis., on a visit, in 1858, where she met Mr. Brown.  They have eight children, four boys and four girls.  Mr. Brown has increased his farm to 260 acres.

William W. Bunce came to Iowa Falls the spring of 1857.  He was born in Indiana in 1829.  He lived in Rush county in that State, from 1840 to 1850; in the last year mentioned, he started for California, and on reaching Cedar county, in this State, was prevailed upon to postpone the journey for a time, and finally changed his mind and engaged in farming.  He married Lydia M. Bond, born in Chautauqua county, New York, and came with her parents to Iowa, in territorial times.  Mr. Bunce came here, as stated, in 1857.  He worked at the trade of a carpenter and joiner for many years.  He enlisted July 5, 1861, in the 6th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry.  He served but a few months, when he was discharged for disability.  He afterward was engaged in recruiting, and finally re-enlisted, and served in the Northwest, being stationed at Fort Sully.  After the war he worked at his trade for about a year, when he was injured by a fall, and was obliged to relinquish it.  He then followed the business of painting for several years; was elected Constable, and served six years, and was for two years Deputy Sheriff of Hardin county.  Has been a Justice of the Peace for two years.  Mr. and Mrs. Bunce have had three children, all of whom are deceased.  They lost two children at Cedar Rapids.  Their last child, Charlie W., died May 29, 1881, at the age of twenty-one years.

Jonathon T. Buttolph has been a resident of Iowa Falls since June, 1857. He was born in Middlebury, Vt., December 10, 1826. His parents were Joseph and Harriet (Treadway) Buttolph. The Buttolphs settled early in Connecticut, and his grandfather, Elisha Buttolph, was one of the early settlers of Middlebury. Mr. Buttolph�s father was a soldier in the second war with England, and his maternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Buttolph was educated in his native town. His parents intended that he should receive a collegiate education. He entered college, but left in the freshmen year. A student�s life seemed to be distasteful to him. He has a speculative turn of mind, afterwards fully developed, but it ran to live stock and corner lots rather than to scientific pursuits. At eighteen years of age, he went to Ticonderoga, N. Y.; was there employed as a clerk for two years, then came as far West as Fon du Lac, Wis., in 1849, and engaged in speculating. A year or two later he returned to Vermont and farmed for six years in Orwell, and, as stated, came to the village of Iowa Falls in June, 1857. Here he began at once to buy and sell land, and to deal in live stock. On the 1st of October, 1874, the bank of Iowa Falls was incorporated. Mr. Buttolph was made its President, and has held that position since that time, except an interval of one year. Mr. Buttolph has been a life-long Democrat, strongly attached to his party, quite active in county politics, but has no aspirations to office. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for many years, and is a liberal supporter of benevolent and religious enterprises. His wife was Miss Maria Woodruff, of Iowa Falls. They were married January 1, 1859. Their family consists of three children � Kate R., now Mrs. J. D. Steere; Nellie M. now Mrs. J. P. Carleton; and James S. Mr. Buttolph is endowed with a large degree of common sense, good judgment, and much Yankee shrewdness. He is a prudent and careful manager, and success has attended him in every branch of business.

Austin M. Caldwell, dealer in books, stationery, wall-paper, notions, etc., established his business in the spring of 1880. He has the only store of the kind established here. He is the son of John Caldwell, one of the very earliest settlers of the township of Hardin, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere. Mr. Caldwell was born in Pennsylvania, August 4, 1841. He came to Hardin county with his father, May 31, 1852. He was brought up on his father�s farm. He learned the trade of harness-making, and carried on that business here for about five years. He married Adeline, daughter of Silas W. Bond. They have two children � Willard E., born 1870, and Everest B., born 1880. Mr. Caldwell enlisted August 11, 1862, in the 32d Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He participated in a number of important campaigns and battles; was taken prisoner at the battle of Pleasant Hill, La., and was confined in the rebel prison at Tyler, Tex., till May 17, 1865.

John Caldwelll came here with Nathan Townsend May 31, 1852, and settled on section 20, where he now lives.  He was born in Beaver county, Pa., in 1812.  His present wife is his second wife; his first being Sarah McConnell, also born in Beaver county.  Mr. Caldwell removed to Pittsburg from Beaver county, where he worked for a company at the business of turning various implements.  His trade was that of a wagon maker, which followed for a number of years.  He came to Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1851, and came here, as before stated, in 1852.  He settled on 80 acres of government land, which he afterwards increased to 160 acres.  His first wife died February 25, 1867.  Mr. Caldwell has seven children -- E. J., now Mrs. J. R. Haworth, living in California; Mary Ann, wife of Solomon N. Jones; Austin, Emeline, wife of A. Palmer; Charles and Edmond and Alvin, twins.  They lost two children.  Mrs. Caldwell belonged to a family of Friends.  Mr. Caldwell is a member of the Methodist Church.  His present wife was Mrs. Adamson, widow of Samuel Adamson.

E. R. Calkins is the son of P. N. Calkins, who was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., December 10, 1816.  P. N. Calkins went to Wisconsin when about twenty-five years of age, but returned to the State of New York.  He came West permanently in 1856.  He came to Hardin county in the spring of 1866.  He and his son, E. R., bought the farm which the latter now owns, of Buttolph and Wisner.  The farm, at the time of its purchase, was wholly unimproved.  Mr. P. N. Calkins removed to Virginia in September, 1877.  He had three children -- Jane Ann., now Mrs. Alvin Clarke; E. R., and Hiram, who is in Virginia with his parents.  Mr. E. R. Calkins was born in Wisconsin in 1842.  He married Sabra Thompson, who was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1849.  Mr. and Mrs. Calkins have eight children -- Frances, Romaine, Clarence, Clara, Charles, Mark, Harry and Ernest.  Mr. Calkins' farm is on section 15, and contained 181 acres.

R. A. Carleton is of the firm of R. A. Carleton & Co., dealers in lumber other building materials; also, farm implements, wagons, coal, lime and stone. The lumber yard was established by Barber & Gilmore, who were succeeded by George D. Wilson, and he by J. L. Carleton, and the latter by J. H. Carleton & Brother, who were succeeded by R. A. & J. T. Carleton, and they by the present firm of R. A. Carleton & Co. Mr. Carleton is a native of Maryland, and was born in Cumberland county, in that State, in 1843. His father, J. M. Carleton, came to Iowa with his family in 1852, and settled in Iowa City, where he resided until his death. Mr. Carleton was a member of the 2d Iowa Cavalry during the rebellion; he served in the army four years and three months. He came to Iowa Falls in 1870. His wife was Ellen Moreland, born in Pennsylvania. Her parents settled in Iowa City, but now reside in Cass county. Mr. and Mrs. Carleton have one daughter � Edith. They have lost three boys � the last one, Richard Lee, died February 6, 1862, at the age of three years.

J. A. Collins is a native of Madison county, N. Y., where he was born in 1828.  He removed to Chenango county, in that State, when about fifteen years of age.  His father was Joshua Collins, Sr.  The family are of Quaker origin, formerly from Rhode Island.  The entire family of Joshua Collins, Sr., consisting of himself, wife and three sons, the latter all married, came to Hardin county March 1, 1856.   Mr. Collins, Sr., had bought the farm where his son J. A. now lives, the previous year.  His sons were, Joshua A., Nelson and Joseph.  Nelson was a member of the 12th Regiment Iowa Infantry, in the war of the rebellion.  He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Pittsburg landing, and is supposed to have died in St. Louis.   Joseph now lives in Michigan.  The father died here in 1863.  Joshua A. was married in the State of New York, and his wife died here.   His present wife was Belle Couenhoven.  They have had born to them two daughters -- Annabel, born March 11, 1871, and Edna P., born January 18, 1873.  Mr. Collins resides on section 11.  His farm contains 275 acres.

Robert Cooper is the pioneer furniture dealer of Hardin county. He established his business here in the spring of 1858, and has been engaged in the same since that time, except an interval of five years, when he was engaged in farming. Mr. Cooper was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., November 5, 1828. He removed to Otsego county with his parents, when he was a boy. He learned the trade of a chairmaker, and engaged in the furniture business in Otsego county. He went to Wisconsin in the fall of 1857, and came here the following spring. His wife was Annie C. Wilcox, born in Otsego county. They have three children � Lamond R., Mary B. and Nellie M. They lost three children; one son and two infant daughters.

John Creath

The Iowa Falls Woolen Mills are now owned by Mr. John Creath, who has introduced improved machinery, and enlarged the manufacturing capacity of the factory. Mr. Creath took possession of the factory December 1, 1881. He is a native of Mount Sterling, Madison county, Ohio, and came here from Kansas. Mr. J. P. Sharp, general manager of the mills, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1844. He went to Kansas in 1870, where he had about eight years experience in his present business. He and the owner, Mr. Creath, are brothers-in-law, and came here together from Kansas. Under the present management, and with improved facilities for manufacturing, the mills promise to be a success.

Adam Crim, an uncle of Jacob Kidwiler, settled in Jackson township, in the fall of 1850.  He never married.  He afterward settled in the town of Hardin, and finally removed to Missouri, where he died in 1873.

Oliver M. Cross was born in Onondaga county, 1805.  He lost his father when he was small.  He was then taken to Massachusetts, where he lived until he was twenty-four years of age.  He then returned to the town of Fabins, N. Y., and afterward settled in Cattaraugus county, where he lived three years.  He then removed to the town of Dover, Cuyhoga county, Ohio, where he lived thirteen years, and he then moved to Dane county, Wis., where he lived till the fall of 1868, when he came to Hardin county, and then bought his farm of Seneca Wildman.  His first wife was a native of Franklin county, Mass.  She died here.  His present wife was Miss Harriet Bond.  Mr. Cross has five children -- four sons and one daughter.  Mr. Cross is one of the largest farmers of the town of Hardin.  The farm where he resides contains 340 acres.  He also owns another farm of 231 acres.

Ira Demander is a native of Brown county, New York, born August 20, 1827, his parents being James and Emaline (Dean) Demander.  When he was but a small boy, he commenced to work at lumbering, and continued work at the same until eighteen years of age.  He then went to New York City, learned the carpenter�s trade, and afterwards served as bridge carpenter for the New York and Erie Railroad Company.  In 1850 he married Miss Harriet Wiest, a daughter of Stephen Wiest, one of the first settlers of the Mohawk Valley.  In 1854 Mr. Demander removed to Ogle county, Ill., and from there in 1857 to Hardin county, Iowa; but he did not bring his family to Hardin county until the following spring.  In 1870 he purchased his present property, which is known as the Alexander Pierson farm.  This contains 80 acres, and is well improved.  Mr. Demander is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the I. O. O. F.  Of the six children, only one is now living � Rose, now Mrs. Morris Sheehan, of Fargo, Dakota.

D. F. Ellsworth

Mr. Ellsworth [John] subsequently resigned, and was succeeded by Alexander Smith, and he by D. F. Ellsworth -- Freeman Ellsworth, as he is known by every old settler in the county.  For many years he "kept hotel" in Eldora, and has royally entertained thousands of travelers.  He was the first attorney admitted to the Bar in Hardin county, but never gave special attention to the duties of the profession.  He was, and is today, a Democrat of the old school, and swears by Jackson and all the other great apostles of Democracy.  He has, on more than one occasion, led the "forlorn hope" in county and State.  On the incoming of the administration of Abraham Lincoln, he had to "step down and out" of the postoffice.

Eugene S. Ellsworth established his real estate and loan office in Iowa Falls in the fall of 1870, and has been, since that time, an extensive dealer in wild lands and town property.  He is Secretary of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls and Northwestern Land and Town Lot Company.  Mr. Ellsworth was born in Milwaukee in 1836, being among the earliest settlers of that city.  His father, Orlando Ellsworth, raised a company  in the war of the rebellion, of which he was made Captain.   This company became Company K of the 24th Wisconsin Infantry, which entered the service in 1862.  Eugene S. accompanied his father as drummer boy of the regiment.   They served about eighteen months, when his father resigned from ill health.   The family immediately after settled in Iowa Falls, where the father died June 27, 1872.  Mr. Ellsworth took a course at Bailey's Commerical College at Dubuque, and established his business, as before stated, in 1870.  His wife was Miss Hattie Northop, born in Dodge county, Wis.  Mr. Ellsworth is a gentleman of excellent business attainments.  He has one of the most beautiful residences in Iowa Falls.

John Ellsworth, the first postmaster of Eldora, was a native of Pennsylvania, but settled in Ohio at an early day, from which State he came to Iowa, and to Hardin county in 1853.  He was a good old man, with but a very limited education.   He erected the first hotel in Hardin county, or rather, made the first public announcement that he was prepared to entertain travelers.  Previous to this time every settler's cabin was a hotel, and all were welcome to partake of the hospitalities of the pioneers, even if no bed could be provided.  Some of the best men in the land have enjoyed a good night's rest on the puncheon floor of those whose "latch strings always hung out."  Mr. Ellsworth has long since been "gathered to his fathers."

Jason L. Estes

No name is more prominently connected with the history of Iowa Falls than that of Jason L. Estes.

Mr. Estes was born in South Adams, Mass., October 1, 1817.  When first years of age he removed with his parents, John and Sarah Estes, to the town of Manlius, Onondaga county, N. Y., and two years later to Genesee county, in that State.  He resided on a farm till twenty-one years of age.  He engaged for a time in teaching; studied civil engineering at Rochester, N. Y.; went to DuPage county, Ill., in 1838, and engaged in farming, which he followed for ten years, when he engaged in surveying and civil engineering on the first railroad of Illinois.  In 1851 he went to California, but, on account of failing health, he remained there but seven months.  He came to Iowa Falls in 1855.  He was one of the three original proprietors of the town plat, and one of the builders of the flouring mill in 1857.  Much of his time, for many years, was given to surveying.  He was County Surveyor for considerable time.  Mr. Estes was a practical business man, of excellent judgment, and was uniformly successful in his business enterprises, accumulating a fine property.  He was always prominent in any enterprise whose object was to promote the best interests of the community with which he was identified.  He was married in Illinois, in May, 1843, to Miss Sarah M. Sargent, who was born at Colesville, Genesee county, N. Y.  Mr. and Mrs. Estes had two daughters; the elder, Abbie J., is the wife of Dr. J. H. Foster, married June 23, 1864.  Their youngest daughter, Mary A., died July 16, 1864, at the age of eighteen years.  Mr. Estes died October 12, 1876.  The success to which Mr. Estes attained was, in a measure, due to the valuable assistance of his wife, who is a woman of culture and refinement, as well as of practical business attainments.

W. E. Fisher is found among the early settlers of the county, as he pre-empted eighty acres of his present farm in 1855, and settled on the same in 1857.  When Mr. Fisher came to Hardin county, his worldly goods consisted of fourteen dollars in money, and as the panic of 1857 came on, he experienced many hardships of pioneer life.  For three years there was no money to be obtained; one could not get ten cents for a days labor, and the only way to get provisions, was to trade grain for the same.  In those days he hauled dressed pork to Cedar Falls and sold it for $1.50 per hundred, and his wheat for 40c per bushel.  Mr. Fisher is a native of Essex county, New York, born July 27, 1832.  He learned the moulder�s trade, and followed the same for six years; during this time he worked in several of the Eastern and Middle States.  He was married November 17, 1856, to Miss R. A. Smith, and they now have three children � Mary, now Mrs. J. F. Bullis of Hancock county; Charles and Irene.

Jacob George, a native of Maryland, was born in the year 1800.  He removed to Richland county, Ohio, and in 1821 married Miss Martha Cantwell, and in 1853 started for the Western frontier.  He brought his family as far as Washington county, Iowa, then came alone to Hardin county, and in February, 1854, entered 240 acres of land on section 29, and 160 on section 19, of Hardin township.  He then returned to Washington county, and brought part of his family to their new home, but the entire family did not get to Hardin county until the following August.  Mr. George settled on section 29, and there spent the remainder of his life.  His death took place in November, 1869, and his wife died February 27, 1879.  They had eleven children, six of whom are now living.

William George, oldest son of Jacob and Martha (Cantwell) George, was born in Richland county, Ohio, April 19, 1833.  He came with his family to Iowa, and on his twenty-first birthday arrived in Hardin county.  In 1857 he went to Kansas, and remained six months.  In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, of the 1st Iowa Cavalry, and served about two years, when he was discharged on account of disability, caused by a gunshot wound received at Cape Girardeau, Mo.  He then returned to Hardin county, and has since made farming a business.  He now owns 170 acres of well improved land.  September 13, 1862, at Sterling, Ill., he married Miss Lucretia Shepard, a native of New York, and they now have seven children living -- Laura June, Ada Rose, Sherman S., Clara Belle and Carrie Adell (twins); Thomas Ray and Jennie Angela.

P. S. Gray is a native of Sullivan county, N. Y., where he was born December 22, 1812.  His parents, Abraham and Ann (Starr) Gray, were both natives of Danbury, Conn.  In 1825 the family removed to Huron county, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch received a common school education, and subsequently made farming a business.  In January, 1835, he married Miss Lucy B. Stiles.  She died, however, in less than six weeks after marriage.  In May, 1837, he married Miss Alice Knapp, daughter of Thomas Knapp, of Danbury, Conn.  In 1854, accompanied by T. B. Knapp, concluded to seek a location in the West.  They therefore took the railroad to Henry, Ill., and from there continued the trip with teams, to Hardin county.  Mr. Gray purchased 140 acres on the north side of the Iowa river, on section 35, Hardin township, which was then unimproved prairie.  He then built a cabin near where Mr. Cross now lives, which was about one mile from his land.  The reason he built here was because there was timber in that locality; besides T. B. Knapp, E. S. Hamlin and J. S. Cobb had already located at that place.  Mr. Gray then returned for his family, which, in the meantime, had removed to Illinois, and in September, 1855, settled in the new home, and here they passed some of the happiest days of their lives.  A few years subsequently Mr. Gray erected a dwelling on his own farm, and there resided until April, 1866, when he purchased his present farm of 80 acres, located on section 24, and now has a pleasant home.  His wife died March 9, 1879, leaving two children -- Lucy B. and Abram.  Abram Gray, the only son of P. S. Gray, was born in Huron county, Ohio, March 4, 1842.  He came to Iowa with the family, and has since resided with the same.  He has had charge of his father's farm since 1873, and he also owns 40 acres.  Mr. Gray, in June, 1870, married Miss Wealthy Alvoid [Alvord], daughter of David J. Alvoid [Alvord].

Daniel P. Griffith, resides on section 7.  He bought his farm in 1855 of Alpheus Palmer, but Mr. Griffith is the first settler on the place.  He was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1821, where he lived till he arrived to manhood.  When a young man he engaged as clerk for several years, was also engaged in teaching, both in his native county, and in Baltimore county, Md.  He was married to Sarah L. Hough, born in Payette county, Pa.  Mr. Griffith engaged in mercantile business for one year in Washington county, Pa., and went thence to Bridgeport, where he was engaged in merchandizing for eight years.  He came to Hardin county, May 16, 1856.  His family came the following year.  He was of the company who built and operated the first saw-mill at Rocksylvania.  After a residence of eight years in Hardin county, he went to Albion, Marshall county, where he was engaged as clerk for eight years.  He returned to Hardin county, and was engaged for a time in the bank at Iowa Falls.  He then built his present house and began improving his farm which contains 120 acres.  Mr. And Mrs. Griffith are members of the Orthodox Church of the Society of Friends.  Politically, Mr. Griffith is a Republican.  His brother George P. Griffith came here in the spring of 1856.  He was engaged in teaching for several years; was married here, and was a resident of the county until 1868, when he died at Iowa Falls.

James C. Hammond was one of the early settlers of Union township. His settlement there dates from October, 1854. He was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., where he lived till he was seventeen years of age, when he removed with his parents to Michigan; the family afterward removed to Illinois. His parents came to Hardin county in 1856, and settled in Eldora township, where they resided until their death. As before stated, Mr. Hammond�s settlement in Hardin county dates from the fall of 1854. He is a millwright by trade. In 1856, in company with Luther Sanderson he built a saw-mill in Union township. He run the mill for about three years, when he sold out to this partner, and removed to Xenia, in Eldora township. There he built a saw-mill, of which, for a time, he owned a third interest. He lived in Xenia till the spring of 1866, when he removed to Iowa Falls. He worked here for several years at the business of carpentering and millwrighting. He has been a Justice of the Peace and an Insurance Agent for several years. Mrs. Hammond was formerly Miss Jane Turner, a daughter of Wm. Ross Turner. She was born in Oswego county, N. Y., in 1826. Her father died in the State of New York. Her mother, with her family, removed to Boone county, Ill., in 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond were married in Illinois, in 1846. They have had no children, but have an adopted son � Mathew Fitzmaurice, born in 1852, and adopted when but 21 months old. He is now in Polo Pinto county, Texas.

J. A. Harp, a large and prominent farmer of Hardin township, came to this county and located on section 27, where he now resides, in 1865; he now owns 400 acres of land.  He was born in Clairmont county, Ohio, in 1831, his parents, Samuel and Jane (Butler) Harp, having settled there in 1808.  In 1838 the family removed to Miama county, Ind., where the father still resides, having reached the advanced age of four score years.  The mother died in 1880.  Mr. Harp was bred to farm life, and in 1855 married Miss Mary Personett, a daughter of Israel Personett, who was an early settler of Wayne county, Ind.  He then removed to Illinois, and from there to Hardin county.  Of the twelve children, ten are now living -- Ida, Eva, Oliver, Lottie, Keziah, Jane, Hannah, Sibyl, Mabel and James.

Oliver Harp, of the firm of Harp & Cammack, livery, is a son of J. A. and Mary Harp, and he was born in Illinois in 1860. He came with his parents to Hardin county, and helped till the soil until 1882, when he engaged in his present business.

James Havens is engaged in farming, and resides in the northern part of Iowa Falls.  He was born in Monmouth county, N. J., July 16, 1813, where he was reared.  He married Hannah Johnson, who was born in the same county in 1816.   They removed to Wayne county, Ind., in 1848, where they lived twelve years; then came to Hardin county in October, 1860, and settled on section 10 in 1863, Mr. Havens having rented a farm previous to that time.  He sold his farm in 1881, and settled in the village of Iowa Falls, where he had owned a place for twelve years.  Mr. and Mrs. havens have nine children -- Elizabeth, born in 1835; Lewis, born  in 1838; Mary, born in 1840; Benjamin, born in 1842; James, born in 1847; Sylvester, born in 1849; George W., born in 1852; Catherine, born in 1854; and Columbus, born in 1856.  They lost two children -- Ann and William.  Mr. and Mrs. Havens are member of the M. E. Church.

Joel W. Hiatt came to Iowa in October, 1842.  He lived in Henry and Lee counties till September, 1860.  The last years of his residence there, he was engaged in the mercantile business in Salem, Henry county.  During the former years, he was engaged in farming.  He came to Hardin county in 1860; has been a resident of Hardin county since that time, except two years which he spent in McLean county, Ill.  He was engaged in the lumber business here for several years.  Mr. Hiatt was born in Guilford county, N. C., December 17, 1814.  He removed with his parents to Clinton county, Ohio, when a child; afterwards to LaSalle county, Ill., and in 1830 to Wayne county, Ind.  He was married in Wayne county to Lydia Williams.  She was born in Montgomery county, Pa.; is a daughter of Rev. Daniel Williams, native of Guilford county, N. C., who moved to Pennsylvania when a young man.  Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt have had no children of their own, but have raised eleven children from different ages of childhood.  Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt are members of the Society of Friends.

A. P. Hill was born in Vermont, August 30, 1822.  His parents being Asa and Sally Hill.  In 1846 the family removed to Franklin county, New York.  Here the father died, and the mother soon afterwards returned to Vermont.  But A. P. Hill subsequently migrated to Whiteside county, Ill., and in September, 1861, enlisted in Company C of the 8th Illinois Cavalry, and served three years.  He then returned to Illinois, and in 1865 came to Hardin county, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years, which he spent in Illinois.  In 1878 he married Miss Susan Green of Whiteside county, Illinois.

J. L. Hoag owns the pioneer drug store of Iowa Falls. The business was established by Dr. Foster, in 1858. Dr. Foster was succeeded by Arnold & Soule, and they by Foster & Hoag. Mr. Hoag has conducted the business alone since 1877. He was born in Wolfsboro, N. H., in 1834, and came to Iowa Falls in 1855. His wife was Miss Emma Frost, a native of Boston, and a resident of Iowa Falls since 1859. They have one daughter � Bertha, born in 1862.

Lindley Murray Hoag was the son of Joseph and Huldah Hoag. He was born in Charlotte, Va., the 29th of September, 1808. His parents were early settlers in that part of the State, and had to endure many of the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life; consequently they could not give to their children � eight in number � all the educational advantages that they desired. They were both ministers of the gospel. His father traveled extensively, and was absent from his home more than half the time for twenty years. His early training devolved, principally, upon his mother, and he bore witness to her faithfulness to this trust. He learned to read at a very early age, and, other books being scarce, he became a great Bible student; so that it could be said of him, as of Timothy, "He knew the scriptures, from a child." He was recorded a minister of the gospel, of the "Society of Friends," in his twenty-first year. His preaching was remarkably in accordance with the injunction of the apostle, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." So copious were his quotations from the Bible and from doctrinal authors, and so just and illustrative his application, that some who heard him, queried, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" In his twenty-first and twenty-second years he traveled, as an Evangelist, in the State of New York, in the New England States, Lower Canada, and some of the adjacent Atlantic islands. In 1831 he located on a farm at Wolfboro, N. H. Soon after he married Huldah B. Varney, of that place. She possessed a capacious and lucid mind, a vivacious and amiable disposition, combined with engaging manners. Their married life was a very happy one. They had four children, three of whom are living. The oldest, Hannah H. Leggett, lives in New York. She is a minister, and earnestly engaged in Evangelistic work. Joseph L. Hoag is a druggist in Iowa Falls. Zeno K. Hoag, a dealer in lumber, coal, salt, etc., in the same place. Both of them are known as honorable business men. After his marriage he was, as the apostle exhorts, "Diligent in business and fervent in spirit;" working on his farm to provide things comfortable for his family, and still faithful to the calls of his Master. He visited the churches of his own denomination, and held public meetings in the towns and many of the cities of the Middle, Western and Southern States. His wife died in 1843. She was, also, a minister, highly esteemed in the church and society for both her christian and native graces. Soon after this bereavement he visited Europe, preaching in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany and Switzerland. Upon his return, he produced to the church abundant testimonials to the appreciation of the value of his labors from those amongst whom he traveled. He was absent about three years, and, as Paul resumed his occupation of "tent maker," so did L. M. Hoag again grasp the handles of his plow, on the banks of Lake Winnipissiogee, and he could say, like the apostle, "Mine own hands have ministered to my necessities," and to the wants of those dependent upon me. In 1853 he re-visited Great Britian. He also visited Norway and Denmark, where he found many seeking to know the "Truth." He was absent about one year. Soon after his return he sold his property in New Hampshire. He came to Iowa in the summer of 1854; bought land in Marshall and Hardin counties, and returned to New Hampshire. In the spring of 1855 he came again to Iowa; was married to Anna C. Darlington, of Muscatine, Iowa, and with here he came to Hardin county, in Nomveber of that year. They had one child, Ella Hoag, who resides with her mother, and has a position as teacher in the public school at Iowa Falls. He was one of the proprietors of the village of Rocksylvania, living on a farm adjoining. During the remaining twenty-five years of his active and useful life he was often engaged, with others, in organizing churches of his own denomination in different parts of the State. He spent much of the time from home in missionary work, in the States of Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, and some parts of New England, Canada, New York, Kansas and Missouri. He was a life-long friend of the slave and the Indian. In politics he was a sterling Republican, of the Whig school. As a citizen he was ever ready to do his part to promote the interests of the community. As a neighbor, he was kind and obliging. In his family he was genial, affectionate and sumpathetic. "Having fought the good fight, and kept the faith, he finished his course (on the 27th of November, 1880, in the seventy-third of his age), to receive a crown of righteousness from Christ, the righteous Judge." Mr. Hoag was gifted with a wonderful memory, and his sermons contained copious illustrations and quotations from the Bible and New Testament; so much so as to cause a wonder on the part of his hearers as to the profound insight he seemed to possess of the Word of God. He has a style of delivery peculiarly his own, and often would thrill his hearers with the most beautiful imagery and word painting. His personal magnestism was wonderful. It is the opinion of many persons who have listened to our great pulpit orators � Beecher, Talmage, Chapin, and others � that Mr. Hoag had the natural ability, if placed where circumstances would draw it out, to equal any of them. Remarkable as this may seem, yet it is true; and this gifted man gave his time and great talents to the Society of Friends, among whom he stood as one of the chief pillars, not only in this country, but across the ocean in foreign lands. In the sketch of the life of Lindley M. Hoag, there is a lady, Mrs. Anna Hoag, his widow, who survives him, who is entitled to more than a passing mention. It is half of success for a man to have such a wife. Gifted herself with more than ordinary talent, she served to increase and widen her husband�s influence. During her entire life she been known as a lovely Christian character, exerting herself in all the avenues of Christian influence, and being a power for good in her society. As an educator, she has few equals, and she has filled several stations as a teacher with great success. She remains to continue the good work which her lamented husband laid down; and a crown awaits her as a faithful, efficient, self-sacrificing servant of the Master.

Zeno K. Hoag, of the firm of Hoag & Steere, lumber dealers. This is the pioneer lumber yard of Hardin county. Messrs. Hoag & Steere have owned the yard for a number of years, and are having an extensive trade in lumber, coal, etc. Mr. Hoag is a representative of one of the most prominent and influential men of the early residents of Hardin county. A sketch of his father will be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. Hoag married Miss Annie Griffith, a daughter of Mr. Daniel Griffith.

Rev. David Hunt, pastor of the Friends' Church at Iowa Falls, is a native of Ohio, having been born in Highland county, in that State, in 1806.  He comes from a family of Friends.  His father, Phineas Hunt, was born in Guilford county, N. C., and removed with his family to the territory of Ohio in 1796.  Mr. Hunt is the only surviving member of a family of twelve children.  He has been engaged in the ministry for more than forty years.  He came to Hardin county in 1856, and settled in the township of Providence, where he resided for a long series of years.  His house and other property was destroyed by the tornado of 1860.  Fortunately, he and family were attending meeting at a distant farm-house, and were uninjured.  He was pastor of the church in Providence till he came to Iowa Falls, in 1871.  In 1866 he crossed the Atlantic, visiting England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.  He went abroad in the interested of the Society of Friends.  He was absent about a year and a half; while there was engaged in preaching the gospel, and doing other work in the interests of Christianity.  Mr. Hunt has been four times married.  His present wife is a native of Ohio.  He has had seven children, only two of whom are living, viz -- Mary D., wife of Wm. F. Andrews of New Providence, and L. G., also of the township of Providence.  An adopted daughter of Mr. Hunt is the wife of Thomas J. Ashby, of Iowa Falls.  Mrs. Hunt has also had seven children, five of whom are residents of this township.  Mr. Hunt has been identified with the Republican party since its organization.  He was a member of the State Legislature for the years 1859 and 1860.  He served as County Surveyor for a time, being appointed by the Board of Supervisors to fill a vacancy in that office.

Nathan Hunt resides on section 35.  He settled in Hardin county in the spring of 1863.  He was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1835.  His parents were Robert and Ruth S. Hunt, the former being a native of Virginia and the latter of North Carolina.  The father died in Ohio.  His mother came here in 1864, and afterward went to Kansas, where she died at the home of her daughter Ann, in February, 1881.  Mr. Hunt came here from Ohio.  His first wife was Esther T. Stubbs, a daughter of Elisha Stubbs.  She died in Ohio.  His present wife was Miss Lizzie Wildman, daughter of Seneca Wildman.  She was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1841.  Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have one son -- Milo, born April 22, 1869.  They have also an adopted daughter -- a niece of both Mr. and Mrs. Hunt.  Mr. Hunt's farm contains 140 acres.  Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were married in a log cabin on section 27, in March, 1864.  The ceremony was in accordance with that of the Society of Friends, of which they are members.

A. Ives is a native of New York, born August 24, 1833.  His father, Josiah Ives, was also a native of the Empire State, and his mother, Margaret Ives, of the State of New Jersey.  The parents came to Hardin county in 1867.  The mother died in 1873, and the father now lives with the subject of this sketch, who came to Hardin county in 1868, and first settled in Etna township, and followed farming about three years.  He then acted as traveling salesman for about five years, after which he removed to Franklin county, and again resumed farming.  In 1880 he returned to Hardin county.  Mr. Ives in 1872 married Miss Retta Grant, daughter of Oliver Grant.  They have had three children, all of whom are deceased.

G. A. Ivins, harness-maker, entered into business here in August, 1865. This is the oldest established harness shop in the county now doing business. Mr. Ivins was born in Ohio, in 1841. He was brought up in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. He came to Hardin county, the first time, on July 3, 1857; he staid at Hardin City a short time, and then went to Iowa City, where he learned his trade. He enlisted at Davenport, in the fall of 1861, in the 2d Iowa Cavalry. He served about two years in the cavalry branch of the service, and was then transferred to the marine branch, where he served the remainder of his term of enlistment. He came here, as stated, in 1865. His wife was Mary E. Baxter, a native of Pennsylvania. They were married at Iowa City.

Hugh Johnson resides on section 21.  Mr. Johnson was born in Monmouth county, now Ocean county, N. J., in 1813.  He lived there till 1840, when he removed to Indiana.  Mr. J. is a millwright by trade.  He bought a mill in Indiana, which he run for some time, and then rebuilt and sold.  He came to Iowa to improve his health.  He came to Hardin county, from Indiana, with teams, in 1856.   Mr. Johnson bought his first land (340 acres) of Robt. and John Simpson.  He has now 500 acres in his home farm and owns land in other places.  His first wife was Ann Potter, of New Jersey.  She died in Indiana, leaving Mr. J. with three small children.  His second wife was Caroline Hough, born in Indiana.  She died here in March, 1858.  His present wife was Ann Macy, who came here with her father, Henry Macy, in 1855.  Mr. Johnson's children by his first marriage are all deceased.  Of these, James was a member of the 6th Iowa Infantry, and was captured at Jackson, Miss., imprisoned at Libby three months, and died at Annapolis in 1863.  Mr. Johnson had six children by his second wife, all of whom but one (John) are living.  John was in the cavalry service during the war of the rebellion, and died at home of disease contracted in the army.  Mr. J. had three children by his present wife, two of whom (Casto and Martin) are living.  Mr. Johnson has been one of the successful farmers of Hardin county.  He had no advantages for an education when a youth, but acquired sufficient knowledge of books, after reaching manhood, to transact all necessary business.   In politics, he was an admirer of Horace Greeley, of whose paper he was a constant reader for a long series of years, and he still continues to read the New York Tribune out of respect for its great founder.  He is now independent in politics, voting as his conscience dictates.

Proctor E. Johnson, architect and builder, was born at Wentworth, Grafton county, N. H., January 11, 1823. At the age of twenty years, after receiving a common school education, he went to Qunicy, Mass., and remained there three years, learning the stone-cutter's trade. From there he went to Manchester, and worked at mechanical work until 1848. He then went to Hopkinton, Mass., and, on December 17, 1849, was married to Clarinda Ellery, of that place. He then bought a saw-mill in Hopkinton, and run it successfully for three years, when he sold out and returned to Wentworth, N. H., and there rented the large saw-mill known as the Mellen Mills, and another, three miles distant, known as Peabody Mills. These mills were supplied with timber bought by the acre, and necessarily required a great many men and teams to do the work. This business was carried on successfully until the spring of 1854, when a freshet carried away the dams to both mills, and no possibility to rebuild them until late in the summer, and a heavy supply of logs in the yard and woods made practically valueless, resulted in his losing all that he had gained by his great industry. He then took a position with Brooks & Norcross, lumberman, of Lowell, Mass., and stayed there until 1856, when he and his brother Alonzo P. Johnson, joined the Army of Western Pioneers, and went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, then supposed to be at the front; remained there a short time, and, in June, 1857, he went to Iowa Falls. His family joined him a few months later, and, with the exception of three years spent in Ohio during the war, he lived at Iowa Falls until his death, June 19, 1879. Proctor E. Johnson was one of the finest architects and builders in the State of Iowa, and the principal buildings and bridges throughout the State are still monuments of his untiring energy. He was kind-hearted, and was liked by all who knew him, as one of the most companionable of men. At the time of his death, he left a wife and two sons -- Wilbur K. and William E. Johnson, who are now living at Canon City, Col., the sons being extensively engaged in mining.

F. Q. Jones, dentist. The first established dentist in Iowa Falls, was Dr. E. P. Wheeler, who located here about 1858. Dr. Jones served an apprenticeship with Dr. Wheeler with whom he engaged in 1859, and continued two years. He was also engaged in the office of Dr. J. P. Porter of Dubuque. He is the son of H. P. Jones; was born in New Haven, Conn. In 1843, came to Iowa Falls with his father�s family in 1858. At the breaking out of the war he was in the office of Dr. Porter of Dubuque. He returned to Iowa Falls in 1862, and enlisted in the 32d Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He remained in the army about three years, doing hospital duty most of the term of his enlistment. He established a dental office here in 1866. Dr. Jones has been three times married. His present wife was Alice Barnett of Butler county, Iowa, a native of the State of New York. He has two children by first wife � Horace N. and Alice M.

L. P. Jones, proprietor of the Jones Hotel, Iowa Falls, is a settler of 1858, and has been in the hotel business since 1859, except an interval of two years. He built a hotel on Washington avenue in 1872, called the Jones Hotel, which was burned. He then erected a hotel on the site of his present building, which was also destroyed by fire. His present hotel is brick, built in 1874; dimensions, 95 by 22, and two stories in height. He also occupies, for hotel purposes, part of an adjoining building. Mr. Jones was born in Litchfield county, Conn., in 1826. His father was H. P. Jones, who, for twenty years, kept a hotel in New Haven, Conn. The entire family came here in 1858. Mr. H. P. Jones kept the Western Hotel here for some time, and L. P. was also, for a short period, landlord of that house. The parents are now residents of Cedar Falls, where they have lived since 1864. Mrs. Jones was formerly Miss Agnes Hammond, born in Canada. Mr. Jones has been quite unfortunate in having his hotel twice destroyed by fire, but has displayed commendable energy in rebuilding. He keeps an excellent business qualities, and is a superior landlady, and to here is due, to no small extent, the high reputation which the Jones Hotel bears for its excellence. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have one son, Louis, born in Connecticut, October 19, 1858. He is at present chief assistant in the real estate and loan office of E. S. Ellsworth. He was but six months old at the time he came here with his parents.

Wm. Jones, or Squire Jones, as he is generally known, came to Hardin county on the 1st day of November, 1855. He settled in what was then the village of Rocksylvania; he built the first frame house in the village, which stood till 1880, when it was burned. He was a blacksmith by trade, and was the first to engage in that business in Hardin township. At the time of its erection, Mr. Jones� house was about the only one between Webster City and Cedar Falls, and he was compelled by force of circumstances to keep a public house to accommodate travellers; he enlarged his house by a stone addition for that purpose. This was the first public house in Hardin township. Mr. Jones was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1856, and served in that capacity for eighteen years. He is now engaged in the insurance business, and represents the State Insurance Company of Des Moines. Mr. Jones was born in Winchester, Vt. In 1812, where he lived till twenty-one years of age, when he went to Montgomery county, Ohio, near Dayton, where he was married to Miss Mary Miller, who was born in Montgomery county, in 1821. They removed to Green county, Ohio, where they lived nine years, coming here in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had ten children, all of whom are living but their second son and third child, Thomas B., who was a member of the 6th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died at St. Louis, April 16, 1862.

Leonidas L. Kelly is the proprietor of the Iowa Falls Creamery, and also of the bath-house and medicinal spring. His father, Samuel Kelly, with his two sons, Enos and L. L., built the Iowa Falls Wooden Mills.

Samuel Kelly came here in 1864. He was attracted hither by the well-known, valuable water-power and beautiful location of Iowa Falls. He selected the site for a factory, and the following year his sons came on, and they built the factory that season; but the dam being carried away, manufacturing was not begun until 1866. Enos Kelly died in 1869, and the father lost his wife, by an accident, in the spring of 1872. L. L. conducted the business until 1875, when he rented it to Chas. E. Phillips, who run it one season. L. L. again run the mill, until 1880, when, with Mr. E. Stickler, he put in extra machinery, and they run it together till the following year, manufacturing what is known as "convict goods," which was used in Anamosa and Fort Madison penitentiaries, and other institution of the kind. Mr. Kelly then sold the factory to Mr. Stickler, but it is now in the hands of Mr. John Creath, who is running it quite successfully in the manufacture of yarns and flannels. The building is a frame one, 30 by 80 feet, and located about one and one-half miles below the central portion of the village.

In May, 1881, Mr. Kelly, with Charles E. Frink, built the Iowa Falls Creamery. He bought Mr. Frink�s interest in January, 1882. The capacity of the factory is 1,000 pounds of butter per day. Mr. Kelly has at his creamery a fine mineral, or medicinal spring, the water of which is similar to that of the Siloam spring, located near the city. He has also a bath house connected with the spring, where the weary or afflicted may indulge in the luxury of a warm or cold bath, and be restored to cleanliness and improved in health.

Mr. Kelly was born in Ohio, in 1846, where he was brought up. He served for a time in the war of the rebellion, in the 169th Ohio Infantry. His wife was Miss Lucena Eldred, a daughter of Nelson Eldred. They have one son � Frederick.

Adam F. Kidwiler resides on section 25.  He is the son of Jacob and Mary Kidwiler, who were among the very earliest settlers of Hardin county.  A sketch of his father will be found elsewhere.  Mr. Kidwiler was born near Crawfordsville, Ind., May 18, 1847.  He has lived in this county since the fall of 1850, except two years, which he spent in Missouri.  He bought his present farm of Richard Jones.  Mr. Kidwiler was joined in marriage to Miss Mary A. Keller, who was born in Stephenson county, Ill.  They have three children, Joseph, Nettie May and Myrtie R.  His farm contained 120 acres.

Israel Klopp resides on section 24.  He was born in Bucks county, Pa., in 1835, and moved to Ohio with his parents, Daniel and Susanna Klopp, and from Ohio to Stephenson county, Ill.  His parents finally settled in Black Hawk county, Iowa, where they lived till their death.  Mr. Klopp married Margaret Wilson, a daughter of James Wilson.  They came to Iowa in 1863, and settled on this place, which was formerly owned by the father-in-law of Mr. Klopp, who purchased it of Mr. J. W. Miller, who was the first settler on the farm.  The farm contains 80 acres.  Mr. and Mrs. Klopp have three children -- Ellen E., Martha A. and James W.

Thomas Bracy Knapp is not only one of the earliest settlers of Iowa Falls, but also one of the first residents of this portion of the State of Iowa.  He located in the valley of the Iowa river, five miles southeast of the present city of Iowa Falls, in 1854.  His parents were Thomas Bracy Knapp, Sr., and Mercy (Seger) Knapp, who was born in Danbury, Conn., on the 9th of July, 1822.  The family were originally from England, and were early settlers of the Province of Connecticut.  The grandfather of Mr. Knapp was a paymaster in the Revolutionary army, and lost his house when Danbury was burned by the British.  His maternal grandfather was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war.  The Segers were of Welsh origin.  When Mr. Knapp was twelve or thirteen years of age, the family moved to Sheldon, Wyoming county, N. Y., and three years later to Clarksville, Huron county, Ohio, where Mr. Knapp was for some time a student of the Norwalk Institute in that county.  In 1840 he went to Alabama, and clerked in a store for several years in Montgomery; and in 1846 he was elected Lieutenant of a company, which offered its services for the Mexican war, but was not called out.  He engaged in business for himself about that time, which he followed till the "gold fever" began to rage all over the country, and early in 1849 he went to California.  There he mined and traded for between three and four years, arriving in New York City, on his return, in December, 1853.  Proceeding to Alabama, he spent the winter there, and in April, 1854, he came to Hardin county, and purchased a farm, which lay on both sides of the Iowa river.  That season he looked over the ground where Iowa Falls now stands, and was very favorably impressed with the beauty of the location.  Mr. B. I. Talbott and Capt. Samuel White had then erected a mill here, and were the only residents on the present site of the town.  Mr. Knapp continued to improve his farm until after the commencement of the civil war.  In 1862 he was elected Sutler of the 32d Iowa Infantry, serving in that capacity till the winter of 1864, when he resigned.  Soon after, he sold his farm and settled in Iowa Falls.  He was in the general merchandise business until 1870, when he closed this branch of trade, and in 1873 he opened a hardware store, in which business he continued for a number of years.  Mr. Knapp was a member of the General Assembly in 1866 and in 1868, taking an active part in both sessions.  During one of them he was Chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings; during the other, of the Committee on Public Lands; also served on several other committees.  In 1868 he was one of the committee appointed to visit the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Cedar Falls.  He has been in the local Council or on the School Board for many years.  Mr. Knapp aided in organizing the Republican party in Hardin county; was a Delegate to the first Republican State Convention, and is still one of the local leaders of the party.  Religiously, he has long been connected with the Baptist Church.  His wife was Mrs. Louisa Hoover, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, a graduate of Cornell College, located at that place.  Her maiden name was Lamb, born in Wayne county, Ind., in 1839.  She married Henry Hoover in 1856, moved to Mount Vernon, Iowa, became a widow at nineteen, and afterward went through college, graduating in 1864.  She was engaged for a number of years in teaching, and is a woman of fine literary taste and much mental culture.  A sad event in the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Knapp was the death of their only child (Henry Hamlin), who died July 23, 1879.  He was born May 3, 1866, and had therefore entered his fourteenth year.  He was a boy of much promise, and many bright hopes of the future were blasted by his early death.

J. T. Lane settled in Iowa Falls in June, 1855.  Mr. Lane was born in the State of New York, but was brought up in Illinois, where his parents emigrated when he was nine years of age.  He came to Hardin county from Illinois.  His wife was Phoebe J. Ackley, born in the State of New York.  They have one daughter.  Mr. Lane has been generally engaged in farming.  He owns a farm on section 1; also owns a house and lot in Iowa Falls.  He was, for quite a number of years, engaged in putting in wells.  Mr. Lane's father died in Illinois.  His mother came to Hardin county with her son Charles in 1856; the latter is now in Minn.  A sister of Mr. Lane, Mrs. Jackson, of Iowa Falls, came at the same time.  Perhaps no one has lived longer on the town plat of Iowa Falls than Mr. Lane.

Daniel T. Lane, an uncle of J. T. Lane, came to Hardin county in August, 1855, and settled at Iowa Falls.  His wife died in the spring of 1856, and was the first person buried in the Iowa Falls cemetery.  He returned to Illinois in 1857, where he now resides.

George E. Luttje resides on section 21.  He is the son of Evart Luttje, who settled in Hardin county in 1869, where he died two or three years later.  George E. was born in Germany, and came to this country with his parents in 1869, and has lived in this county since that time.  He married Ella Rickord, a daughter of Adam L. Rickord.  Mrs. Luttje was born in Tama county, in this State, in 1860.  Her parents reside in Hardin city.  The mother of Mr. Luttje, Mrs. Geeske Luttje, also lives in Hardin City.  Mrs. Luttje's father enlisted, in 1862, in the 32d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war.

J. S. Maden, resides on section 26, where he settled in the fall of 1858.  Mr. Maden was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1831, where he was brought up.  He was married there to Miss Ruth Wildman, daughter of Seneca Wildman, an early settler of the township of Providence.  Mr. Maden has three sons, all of whom were born on the homestead farm.  Their names are respectively -- Edwin L., Alvin C. and Charles S.  Mr. Maden's farm contains 195 acres.

Edward Mark resides on section 2; was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., in 1837.  His parents were John and Laura Mark.  They removed to Kane county, Ill., in 1839, where his father died; his mother still lives there.  Mr. Mark is an early settler of Iowa Falls, having come there in 1855.  He settled on this place in 1865; bought his farm of Benjamin Holden.  His wife was Sally Lane, sister of J. T. Lane.  They have six children -- Laura, Charles, Nellie, Clara, Mary and Walter.  They lost one son -- Willie.  Mr. Mark's farm contains 160 acres.

Arthur P. Martin is a son of John A. Martin, and he was born in Grafton county, N. H., May 25, 1853.  He came to Iowa with his family in 1863, and settled in Hardin county; here he learned the painter's trade, and followed the same for about three years, since which time he has been farming; and, in the spring of 1873, he associated his brother as partner, and took charge of his father's farm.  In 1880 he purchased his brother's interest, and has since carried on the same alone.  The farm contains 210 acres, 7 acres having been sold, as the celebrated Pool of Silome is situated on the same, and is now well improved and run as a stock farm, feeding 75 head of home cattle and 100 hogs.  Mr. Martin was married in March, 1881, to Miss Maggie J. Hadlock, and they now have one daughter.

John A. Martin was born in Bradford, New Hampshire, July 23, 1817.  His father, William Martin, was born in Warren, New Hampshire, in 1762, and his mother, Sarah (Andrew) Martin, in the same State in 1779.  J. A. Martin entered college to prepare for the ministry, but remained only about eighteen months, when he turned his attention to the tailor's trade, which he followed for several years.  He then carried on a mercantile business; also followed farming until 1863, since which time he has been a resident of Hardin county.  When Mr. Martin came to Iowa, he at once purchased property at Iowa Falls, rented some land and followed farming.  In 1866 he purchased 220 acres, located on sections 11 and 12.  For this he paid $25 per acre, which was considered an enormous price, as the property was but little improved.  Mr. Martin, however, saw that it possessed many advantages, among which were timber, water and location.  He at once improved the same by erecting good buildings, etc., and in 1870 sold the property to Isaac Painter for $7,500; but in 1874 he bought back the same for $8,000, and he thinks he got a good bargain.  In 1878 he sold off 20 acres, on which is located the celebrated "Pool of Silome," but Mr. Martin is a stockholder in the same.  In 1877 he retired from active life, and now resides at Iowa Falls.  On April 17, 1842, Miss Samantha Bind became his wife.  She was born in Washington, Vt., September 5, 1822.  They have had twelve children, eight of whom are now living -- Lucy M., Sarah F., Arthur P., Clarence C., Hurbert J., P. W., Henry O. and Chas M.

R. J. O. McGowan, general merchant, established his business in the fall of 1865. He first engaged in business with J. K. Matthews, who lived here but one year, and is now a resident of Ohio. Mr. McGowan was then alone in business till 1872, when he formed a partnership with E. S. Hamlin, which continued one year. He has been alone since. When the latter partnership was formed, the stock of S. G. Gibbs, general merchant, was purchased. Mr. McGowan was born in County Down, in the North of Ireland, in February, 1839, and came to this county with his father, Alexander McGowan, in 1849. The family lived in Ohio one year, and them settled in Waushara county, Wis., where the parents of Mr. McGowan resided till their death. Mr. McGowan enlisted, in May, 1861, in Company G, 5th Wisconsin Infantry. He served in that regiment as a private till December, 1862, when he was discharged for disability. He re-enlisted, in February, 1864, in the 33d Wisconsin Infantry; was assigned to duty in Madison, Wis., for one year, when he was commissioned as Captain of Company B, 47th Wisconsin, and served until the close of the war. He married Edith A. Odell, daughter of Robert F. Odell, of Cedar Falls. They have two children � Robert A. and Lilla.

Earl H. McMillan, of Iowa Falls, is the son of George McMillan, who settled in Ellis township with his family n June, 1859.  George McMillan was born in Erie county, N. Y., about 1817.  He married Mary Ann Wilcox, who died in the State of New York.  His second wife was Eliza Mcmaster, who lives in the town of Ellis, Mr. McMillan died in that township in December, 1879.  He settled on a farm on section 5, where his widow still lives.  He had four children by his first wife, two sons and two daughters.  The daughters are deceased.  The sons are Earl H. and Charles T.; the latter lives in Ellis township.  There is one son, George D., by his second wife.

Earl H. McMillan was born in Erie county, N. Y., in 1837.  He now lives at Iowa Falls, but has a farm in Ellis township, adjoining the homestead.   His wife was Miss Mary Fisher.  They have four children-- Cora L., Clara J., Charles H. and Clyde E.  Mr. George McMillan was one of the first supervisors of the town of Ellis.  Earl H. enlisted, in 1862, in the 1st Regiment of Iowa Cavalry, and served about a year and a half, when he was discharged for disability.

John McWhirter, who resides on section 11, was born in Ayreshire county, Scotland, April 16, 1834.  He came to the United States with his parents in 1851.  They lived several years in Tioga county, N. Y., and came to Hardin county in April, 1855.  His father was James McWhirter.  He settled on his farm where his son now lives.  The parents of Mr. McWhirter had nine children, five of whom came to this country.  The others died in Scotland.  The names of the children who came here with their parents were:  Janette, now in Dakota; Elizabeth, now in Henry county, Ill., and John.  The others, Mary and James, are deceased.  James McWhirter, Sr., died here March 4, 1874.  His wife died of cholera in Rock Island, July 24, 1857.  John, who owns the homestead farm, married Bridget McCarty, born in County Galway, Ireland, October 4, 1833, and came to this country in 1851.  Mr. and Mrs. McWhirter have five children -- Fanny, Ella, Hugh, Albert and George -- all of whom were born in this township.

George W. Miller was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., July 24, 1835.  In 1854, with his parents, David and Alvina Miller, he removed to Green county, Wis., where, in 1858, he married Miss Melvina Bump.  He then continued farming until 1865, when he enlisted in Company G of the 49th Wisconsin Infantry, and served one year.  Mr. Miller, after being mustered out of the United States service, returned to Wisconsin, and in 1866 came to Iowa, and has since been a resident of Hardin county, with the exception of two years, which he spent in Wisconsin.  In May, 1877 -- his first wife having died -- he married Mrs. Mary Collins nee Tyler, and they now have one daughter -- Ethel M.

H. C. Miller, Cashier of the Bank of Iowa Falls, was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1850. His father is John P. Miller, who came to Hardin county with his family in 1856. Mr. H. C. Miller has been Cashier of this bank during the whole of its existence, except the first nine months. He was married to Miss Annie Downend. They have two boys � John R. and Frank.

John T. Miller resides within the village limits.  His farm adjoining is on section 8.  Mr. Miller is one of the early settlers of Hardin county.  In 1856 he located at Rocksylvania, where, with M. W. Hollingsworth and D. P. Griffith, put put a steam saw mill there, bringing the machinery with teams from Dubuque.  They operated this mill for about two years, when it was sold and transferred to Clear lake, where it was still in use but a few years since.  He bought the farm which he now owns of Dr. Joel Willis, where he located in February, 1858.  Mr. Miller was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1823, but removed with his parents to Warren county; married Dorcas Ellis, who was born in Clinton county.  An older brother, Joseph Miller, came here the same year with the intention of settling, but returned to Ohio, and now resides in Columbus, in that State.  Mr. and Mrs. Miller have eight children -- Laura C., wife of Fred Texido; Hiram C., Florence, Ida, Lydia A., Lewis N., Robert E. and David.  They lost two children: Amanda and Horace.  His father, Solomon Miller, was a native of Pennsylvania, and settled in the Miami Valley, Ohio, in 1816, but resided in Warren county at the time of his death, in 1864.  His mother was a native of Louden county, Va., and died in 1863.

Daniel Moler, dealer in wind-mills, fanning-mills and pumps. Mr. Moler established the pump business here in 1868. He manufactured pumps exclusively for four years, having at that time the first and only institution of the kind in the county. He discontinued the pump business for a time, and engaged in the hardware business, but resumed his former business, at the same time engaging in the sale of fanning and wind-mills. Mr. Moler was born in Ohio, but was brought up in Michigan. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Moler, are still residents of the latter State. Mr. Moler has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Ives. His present wife was Mrs. Sarah Demmons, native of Oakland county, Mich. He has seven children by his first wife and two by his second.

Henry Moseley came to Hardin county in November 1865, and settled on section 16, Hardin township, where he now resides and owns 320 acres of land.  He is a native of Monroe county, N. Y., born march 10, 1818.  He was bred to farm life, and resided in his native State until 1846, when emigrated to Dodge county, Wis., where he purchased a farm, and, in 1847, married Miss Sarah A. Spafford, then of Erie county, but a native of Genessee county, N. Y., and continued to reside in the Badger State until he came to Hardin county.  His wife died in 1875.  She had given birth to eight children, one of whom died in infancy, one at the age of two years, and one daughter, Sarah A., reached the age of twenty.  The five living children are:  George S., Nora K., now a matron in the Institution for the Blind, of Nebraska, where her husband, John B. Parmelee, is the Superintendent; Etta D., David A. and Hattie G.

Elijah Odell is a native of Westchester county, N. Y.; born November 28, 1807.  He early learned the blacksmith trade, and followed the same in New York City, in his native State, until 1837.  During this time, in 1828, he married Miss Eliza Ann Davis.  He then removed to Indiana county, Pa.  Here his daughter, Elizabeth, married John Martin, and after two children were born, Mr. Martin concluded to migrate to the Western frontier, and accordingly purchased property at Iowa Falls.  The two children spoken of were very dear to their grandmother (Mrs. Odell), and she therefore desired to go with them to the Western wilds.  Mr. Odell therefore came to Iowa, located at Iowa Falls in 1857, and two years subsequently sold his property in the East and brought his family to their new home in the West.  Mr. Odell continued his trade at Iowa Falls, and did the iron work on the first cutter built in that place.  He also sharpened the first caststeel plow in the place.  His place of residence now is on section 23, where he located in 1865, and here pursued his trade, more or less, until 1880.  His wife died in 1875, leaving two children -- Elizabeth, of whom we have already spoken, and Phoebe J., now the wife of David S. Martin, who is a pioneer of 1856.  He is a native of Ireland; born in 1834.  He came to the United States in 1856, and first lived in Pennsylvania.  He was married in February, 1882.

Mathew Roberts is one of the firm of Roberts & Pollock, dealers in groceries and boots and shoes. The firm was formerly Caldwell & Roberts. Mr. Roberts was born in the State of Vermont. His father was Joseph Roberts. He removed with his family from Vermont to Fairplay, Wis. Mr. Joseph Roberts came here as early as 1856, but did not settle here with his family till 1860. Mathew came here with his father�s family. He learned the trade of miller with Mr. Robert Wright, and worked in the mill for thirteen years. His wife was Ida A. Harp. Her father came to Hardin county in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have three children.

H. H. Senter is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, born in 1836.  His parents being D. K. and Susan Senter.  In about 1853 the family migrated to Ohio, and from that State, in 1857, H. H. Senter came to Hardin county, and has since resided in the vicinity of Georgeton.  In 1861 he married Miss Celia Van Avery, and they now have one daughter -- Luna.

J. P. Sharp

The Iowa Falls Woolen Mills are now owned by Mr. John Creath, who has introduced improved machinery, and enlarged the manufacturing capacity of the factory.  Mr. Creath took possession of the factory, December 1, 1881.  He is a native of Mount Sterling, Madison county, Ohio, and came here from Kansas.  Mr. J. P. Sharp, general manager of the mills, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1844.  He went to Kansas in 1870, where he had about eight years experience in his present business.  He and the owner, Mr. Creath, are brothers-in-law, and came here together from Kansas.  Under the present management, and with improved facilities for manufacturing, the mills promise to be a success.

L. F. Shaw is an enterprising young farmer, who came to Hardin county in March, 1881, and settled on section 5 of Hardin township, where we now find him the owner of 160 acres of land.  Mr. Shaw is a native of JoDaviess county, Ill., where he was born July 31, 1857.  His father, Joseph P. Shaw, was a native of New York, who settled in JoDaviess county in 1837, he there married Miss Nancy A. Clay, a native of Ohio, and continued farming with marked success until his death, which took place June 5, 1879.  The subject of this sketch is the second of five children, he received a common school education, and resided in his native county until he came to Iowa.  February 4, 1880, he married Miss Serena R. Williams, daughter of Benj. and Elizabeth Williams, of JoDaviess county.  They now have one son -- Eddie.

William H. Sherwood came to Iowa in 1870, and in 1873 to Hardin county.  He located on section 3, where he now resides, in 1879.  Mr. Sherwood was born in Orleans county, N. Y., June 30, 1842.  In 1862 he responded to the call of his country by enlisting in Company A, of the 8th New York Heavy Artillery, and served until the spring of 1865.  During this time, August 25, 1864, he was taken prisoner at Ream Station, and kept as such six months.  After service, he spent four years in Pennsylvania, then one summer in New York, then returned to Pennsylvania, and soon came to Iowa.  December 25, 1867, in Pennsylvania, Miss Anna L. Trussler became his wife, and they now have three children -- George A., W. Leon and Mary J.

James S. Smith is one of the prominent business men of Iowa Falls, and one of its earliest settlers. He has also the honor of being the first merchant in this city. He was born in Dorchester, N. H., May 27, 1831. His parents were Thomas and Lydia P. (Wright) Smith, natives of New Hampshire. Mr. Smith was reared in the town of Holderness, and received an academic education at New Hampton, Belknap county. He was engaged as clerk for several years in Wentworth, N. H., and was then engaged in merchandising for himself for about a year. He came to Iowa Falls in October, 1855. As before mentioned, he was the first merchant of the place, hauling his first load of goods from Dubuque, a distance of 150 miles. He continued in the mercantile trade for fifteen years. In 1870 he engaged in the grain and live stock business. As a business man, Mr. Smith has been very successful. He bears a high reputation for straight-forward, fair dealing, early securing and steadily retaining the confidence of his patrons. Politically, he is a Democrat. His wife was Miss Rhoda A. Whipple, of Wentworth, N. H. They have had five children, four of whom are living.

Stephen P. Smith was one of the earlier settlers of Iowa Falls. He has a general grocery store, and is also a partner in the firm of Cady & Smith, jewelers. He has also for many years been engaged in the insurance business, and represents most of the best fire insurance companies in the country. He was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1827, where he lived until 1858. He was brought up to the business of farming, and, when a young man, was engaged in teaching and clerking for some time. He came to Iowa Falls in July, 1858, and for several years was engaged in speculating, etc. In 1862 he engaged in the insurance business, which he has since followed. He established the mercantile business in 1870, was burned out in 1874, and rebuilt on the same site, the same season. He sold out in 1875, and resumed business in July, 1881. The firm of Cady & Smith, jewelers, was formed in 1878. Mr. Smith is a successful business man, and a genial and popular gentleman. Mrs. Smith was formerly Miss Farrelia Hardin, a daughter of Chauncy and Sally Hardin, who came to Iowa Falls at the time Mr. Smith came. Mr. Hardin died in December, 1876. Mrs. Hardin is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one daughter � Jennie A.

E. L. Stebbins is a native of South Hampton, Massachusetts, born in 1818.  In 1820 the family removed to Cattaraugus county, New York.  Here in 1857 E. L. Stebbins married Miss Clara M. Babcock, a native of Vermont, and in 1871 came to Iowa and settled in Hardin county.  They have three children living -- Flora, Frank and Anna

Hosmer Stevens, proprietor of the Stevens Hotel, is one of the three original owners of the town plat of Iowa Falls. He same [sic] here in 1855. He selected the site for the dam of the flouring mill, and in 1857, with Messrs. Larkin and Estes, built the mill, and owned a third interest in the same till the spring of 1861, when he sold his interest to Mr. Robert Wright. Since that time he has been engaged in the hotel business. He built his first hotel in 1860, which was burned in 1874, when he built his present building. Mr. Stevens was born in the town of Shelden, Wyoming county, N. Y., in 1820. He went to Adrian, Mich., in 1837; thence to Marshall, in the same State; thence to Chicago, and finally settled in Kane county, Ill., where he lived till 1855, when he came here. Mr. Stevens has been married twice. His first wife was Maxey Marvin, born in the State of New York. His second wife was Mrs. Isabel Pierce, also from the State of New York. He has three children by his first wife.

Ralph Surles is a son of Samuel and Ruth Surles, and was born in Cass county, Mich., May 26, 1850, but when only two years of age, he was brought by his parents to Hardin county.  June 16, 1875, he married Miss Lurette Schrack, and they have had three children, two of whom are now living -- Wesley and Ralph.

Benjamin I. Talbott, Nathan Townsend and John Caldwell were the first settlers in the township.  In the fall of 1851 these three came and selected their claims and erected their cabins, Mr. Talbott locating on section 18, Mr. Townsend on section 17, and Mr. Caldwell on section 20.  After building their cabins, Mr. Townsend and Mr. Caldwell returned to Jefferson county, Iowa, where their families were stopping, leaving Mr. Talbott and son, sole monarchs of the whole neighboring country.

Mr. Talbott was from Michigan, and at the time of his removal here was a widower.  With his son, he lived alone during the winter of 1851-2, but early in the spring he arrived at the wise conclusion that "it was not good for man to live alone," and sought out and married Martha Dobbins, of Honey Creek, in this county.   After making a visit to Jefferson county, the couple returned to their new home, and Mrs. Talbott, therefore, became the first white woman in the township.  Mr. Talbott was a Friend of the strictest persuasion, and held conversation in the plain language of that people with those he met.  He was an excellent citizen, enterprising and earnest in all he undertook, either for himself or the public.  He left the township, with his family, in 1868, and now resides in Linn county.

F. C. Texido was born in Sullivan county, New York, December 27, 1850.  His father, Emanuel Texido, was a merchant, and his grandfather, Captain Emanuel Texido, was a Spaniard, and the owner of a line of vessels that sailed on the Atlantic Ocean.  Captain Texido was given thirty thousand dollars by his employers, ordered to buy a vessel with the same, and return the money whenever convenient, and thus he got his start in life.  The subject of this sketch resided in his native State until 1876, he came to Iowa, and has since been a resident of Hardin county.  In 1877 he married Miss Laura Miller, daughter of John T., and Dorcus Miller, and they now have two children -- Harry and Mary.

I. L. Townsend, the Iowa Falls photographer, is a native of Knox county, Ohio, born July 19, 1839. He came to Iowa in 1853, and first lived in Cedar county. In 1860 he engaged in a photograph business, and in 1861 located at Iowa City, but he has since continued the business in several different places at different intervals. He came to Iowa Falls in September, 1880. Mr. Townsend, in 1861, at Indianapolis, Ind., married Miss Mary J. Yount, and they now have two children � James A. and Clara.

Nathan Townsend, one of the early settlers, not only of the township of Hardin, but also of Hardin county, resides on section 17.  He was born in Beaver county, Pa., of Quaker parentage, in 1807.  He was brought up in Pennsylvania.  He married Sarah Mercer, who was born in Columbia county, Ohio, in 1809.  They lived a number of years in Pennsylvania after their marriage, and then removed to Ohio; came to Jefferson county, Iowa in 1843.  They came to Hardin county in the spring of 1852, and settled on the farm where Mr. Townsend now lives, which he entered as government land.  His wife died July 14, 1882.  They has lived together for the very long period of more than fifty-two years.  They had ten children, seven of whom are living -- Lydia A., now Mrs. Daniel Dillon; Thomas A.; David W., Cyrus M., Nathan, who resides in California; Sarah, now Mrs. Ellsworth M. Fisk (Mr. Fisk died in May, 1877), and Oliver.  The names of the children deceased, were Annetta, and Allena, wife of  Recellus Horr.  Cyrus was a member of the 37th Iowa Volunteer Infantry.  He was taken prisoner at the battle of Pleasant Hill, and remained as such at Tyler, Texas, for fourteen months.  Nathan also served three months during the rebellion.  Mr. Townsend being one of the earliest settlers of the county, endured all the privations incident to a pioneer life.  He possesses an excellent memory, and has a vivid remembrance of the early events in the pioneer history of Hardin county.  He and his faithful wife were life long members of the Society of Friends.  He has outlived her with whom he had journeyed for more than half a century, and is patiently waiting for the summons to join her in that land where there will be no more separation.

W. H. Townsend, also in furniture business, established his business here in November, 1880. He is a native of Galena, Illinois.

Rev. Gould J. Travis, the present pastor of the Baptist Church, was born in Kent, Putnam county, N. Y., in 1814. He was educated at Madison University, Hamilton, N. Y., graduating in 1870, with the degree of A. B. He graduated from the Theological Department of the same institution in 1876. He was ordained in 1870 at Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y., where he labored two years. He went from there to Pana, Mich., where he remained three years in charge of a church at that place, and then to Waterville, N. Y., where he remained four years, when he came to Iowa Falls. His wife was formerly Ella L. Ford, who was born in Steuben county, N. Y. They have four children � Eli M., Seward S., Charlisle and Ella.

Colonel Mathew Van Buskirk, general merchant, established his business in September, 1865. When he began business, he dealt for a time in boots, shoes and crockery. He afterward added dry goods, etc., to his stock, and is now doing a general merchandising business. Colonel Van Buskirk was born in Clinton county, N. Y., January 1, 1835. He left home in 1856, and went to Illinois, where he lived one year in LaSalle, and then removed to Polo, in that State. He enlisted, in September, 1862, in the 92d Regiment, Illinois Infantry. On the organization of Company E of that regiment, he was made its Captain. In February, 1864, he was promoted to the position of Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, and had command of the regiment from October, 1864, until the close of the war. He was in active service during his entire term of service in the army, participating in a large number of battles, including the desperate battle of Chickamauga, and many others almost as severe. His regiment belonged to the 14th Army Corps, and participated in the full Atlantic campaign, and also in Sherman�s march to the sea. In 1863 his regiment was mounted, and served as cavalry during the rest of the war. Colonel Van Buskirk came here in July, 1865, and established his present business in September following. His wife was Nellie C. McGiven. They have six children � two sons and four daughters.

D. B. Walthall resides on section 31, where he settled in the spring of 1869, and bought his farm of Peter S. Gray.  He was born in Dinwiddie county, Va., in 1823, where he lived until seven years, of age, when he went to Ohio with his parents, William B. and Martha Walthall.  They settled in Clinton county, in that State, where his parents resided till their death.  Daniel B. was married in Ohio, to Elizabeth Fawcett, who was born in Belmont, Ohio, 1831.  After marriage they removed to Howard county, Ins., where they lived eight years; returned to Green county, Ohio, and came to Iowa in April, 1869.  Mrs. Walthall's parents were Robert and Mary Fawcett, natives of Virginia; afterward settled in Greene county, Ohio, where they resided till their death.  Mr. and Mrs. Walthall have eight children, six sons and two daughters -- William Levi, Sarah, Mary, Robert, Elijah, John and Samuel.  They are members of the Society of Friends.  Mr. Walthall's farm, which he bought in 1866, contains 120 acres.

Josiah D. Walton was born in Steuben county, New York, September 9, 1852.  The family soon removed to Pennsylvania, and from there, in 1865, to Iowa, and became a resident of Hardin county.  The mother died in 1867.  She had had ten children, seven of whom are now living.  The father died August 6, 1880, while on a visit to one of his sons in Adams county, Wis.   The subject of this sketch followed farming in Hardin and Franklin counties, until 1872, he spent one year in Pennsylvania, when he again returned to Hardin county.  In 1878 he married Miss Hattie Berdine of Franklin county, Iowa.  Mr. Walton is a conscientious upright man who does just as he agrees.  His politics are Republican, and his religion, Methodist Episcopal.  The children are -- Ellis B., Ernest A. and Cyrus A.

R. T. Ward came to Hardin county in the summer of 1856, and became an early settler of Georgeton.  Here he continued his trade -- that of wagonmaker.  He also did carpenter work; and, as contractor and builder, has continued the same to the present time, with the exception of about five years, when he carried on a nursery.  He located on the north side of the river, on section 14, where we now find him in 1863.  Mr. Ward is a native of England, born in 1824; there learned his trade, and followed the same in his native country until 1847, when he came to the United States, and first settled at Cleveland.  He was married in 1844 to Miss Mary Gale, and their household has been blessed with nineteen children, three of whom are now living -- F. B., A. G. and Rhoda A. C.

A. A. Weaver, Principal of the Public School of Iowa Falls, is a native of Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he was born in 1849.  He was for some time a student of Forestville Academy, in his native county; was afterward a student at Whitestown Seminary, for two and one-hald years.  He began teaching in Chautauqua county in 1868.  In 1869 he entered the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, where he remained two years and a half.  He then returned to the State of New York, and resumed teaching.  He went to Minnesota in 1875, and took charge of the school at Wabasha for one year; thence to Steamboat Rock, in this county, where he remained one year, and came to Iowa Falls and assumed the principalship of the school in 1877.  Prof. Weaver is an excellent scholar, and a practical and thorough teacher.  Under his management the schools of Iowa Falls have taken rank second to none in Hardin county, and compare favorably with the best schools in the State.  Mrs. Weaver was formerly Miss Florence E. Clark, of Erie county, N. Y.

J. H. Weiland, now engaged in the insurance business, was one of the earliest merchants of Hardin county. He came to the township of Hardin in the spring of 1857. He engaged in the mercantile business at Rocksylvania with Mr. Joseph White, but they removed their stock to the village of Iowa Falls, in the fall of 1859. After several years of mercantile life, he bought a farm on section 1, and was for some time engaged in farming. In 1868, Mr. Weiland went to Clear Lake, and engaged in the milling business, which he followed about four years, returning to Iowa Falls in the fall of 1872, and has been engaged in the insurance business most of the time since. His wife, now deceased, was Elizabeth Leonard. Mr. Weiland�s children are � Sebastian L., in Louisville, Ky., engaged in railroad business; Melvina N., wife of Charles B. Caldwell, in California; Clinton C., in Ohio; Frank, in California, and Riley, in Hardin county. Mr. Weiland was born in York county, Pa., in 1818. He learned the trade of a miller when a young man, which business he followed for many years. He went from his native State to Indiana in 1841, coming here from that State. His wife died many years ago.

Joseph White located in Rocksylvania, May 17, 1857.  He engaged in the mercantile business with Mr. J. H. Weiland.  They were the first merchants in the township, although a few goods were brought here and sold previous to that time.  They afterwards removed the store to Iowa Falls.  Mr. White continued in the mercantile business till 1867.  Since that time he has been engaged in farming, in which he has been very successful.  He owns 940 acres of land.  Mr. White was born in North Carolina, in 1828.  He removed with his parents to Indiana in 1835.  His parents, Caleb and Mary White, natives of North Carolina; at the time of their death they resided in Knightstown, Henry county, Indiana.  Mrs. White's maiden name was Anna Eliza Pyle, and at the time of her marriage with Mr. White, she was the widow of Jonathon Wildman of the township of Providence.  Mr. and Mrs. White have two children -- Hattie and Charles.  Mrs. White has a daughter by her former marriage -- Emma Wildman, now the wife of Isaac Rich of Jefferson county.

William Whitesell is a native of Canada, born March 17, 1849.  In 1850 the family emigrated to the United States, and first settled in Illinois.  In 1854 they came to Iowa, lived one winter at Ft. Atkinson, then in Cerro Gordo county, and in 1861 removed to Franklin county, from which place the subject of this sketch, in 1872, came to Hardin county.  Mr. Whitesell owns 120 acres of land, and has improved the same by erecting good buildings.  In 172 he married Miss Sarah Arlidge.  They have seven children -- Mary E., Ettie M., Effie Luella and Eva Evaline (twins), Lydia C., John L. and Julia.

Wm. Wilde, general merchant, established business here in March, 1864. He has been constantly in business since that time, and has been longer established than any other general merchant in town. In 1866 the present partnership of Wilde & Bliss was formed. Mr. Wilde was born in the city of Leeds, Yorkshire, England, in 1829. His parents, John and Mary Wilde, emigrated to the United States when William was less than six months old, and settled at Pottsville, Schuykill county, Pa. In the spring of 1834 the family removed to Galena, Ill., and to Mineral Point, Wis., in 1835. In March, 1836, they removed to Dubuque, where his parents resided until their death. Mr. John Wilde was a carpenter by trade. He was one of the earliest settlers of Dubuque. In 1851 Mr. Wilde engaged in the smelting business, which he followed until 1863, and at the same time was merchandising. He came here, as before stated, in 1864. Mr. Wilde has been twice married. His first wife was Sarah A. Long, whose family were early settlers of Dubuque. His present wife was Mary R. Robinson, of English birth. Mr. Wilde has three children by his first wife, viz: Maggie M., Richard and Ada Blanch; and one daughter by his second wife � Bessie A.

Dileston K. Wilkinson resides on section 23.  He was born in Bennington county, Vt., in November, 1835, where he lived till twenty-one years of age.  He then went to Ohio, and thence to Iowa in 1857, and has been a resident of Hardin county since that time.  Mr. Wilkinson is a carpenter by trade.  He came to this county with the company that built the mill at Hazel Green.  He bought the farm where he now lives of Thomas Williams.  His farm contains 160 acres.  His wife was Elizabeth Stotser, daughter of John Stotser, an early settler of Etna township.  Mrs. Wilkinson was born in Ohio, and came here with her parents from Illinois.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have five children -- Cora A., Nettie J., Rosa B., John and Bertie.  They lost their oldest child -- Rollin A.  Mr. Wilkinson's farm contains 80 acres.

Samuel L. Wilson resides on section 24.  He was born in Clinton county, Penn., in 1833.  His parents were James and Elizabeth Wilson.  His father removed with his family to Stephenson county, Ill., in June, 1850.  Samuel L. Wilson came to Hardin county in 1855.  He worked the following season with James A. Cutler, who was one of the earliest settlers of Etna township.  His trade was that of a carpenter.  In the spring of 1856 he bought his first 40 acres of land in Etna township.  He was married December 17, 1856, to Mary J. Stotser, a daughter of John Stotser, who came from Illinois in 1856 and settled in Etna township.  Mr. Wilson's first permanent settlement was on section 19, Etna township, on 80 acres of land, where he lived for fifteen years.  He bought his present farm of George Hathaway.  It was first owned by Levi Livengood, in 1854.  Mr. Wilson has 160 acres of land.  He made all the improvements on his place, has good buildings and his farm possesses other evidences of thrift and enterprise.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have four children -- Winthrop D. Isabel, Etta and Byron.  His father, James Wilson, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1801, and removed to Illinois, as before stated.  He came here with his wife, Elizabeth Wilson, in 1863.  Mr. Wilson's mother died in September, 1870.  His father still lives, at the age of 81 years.  He has seven children living -- Jane, now Mrs. Wm. Shaner; Samuel L., Thomas H., Geo. W. and Margaret (twins), born March 1, 1841; Robert P., and Sarah E., wife of Joseph Reynolds.  They lost four children.

L. F. Wisner, a Hardin county pioneer, was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1832.  He was reared on his father's farm, but at a very early period in life, began business for himself.  Believing the West better adapted to the growth and development of a man, he left his native State, and, for a time, stopped in Illinois, but in 1856 he located in Hardin county, where he has since continued to reside.  In 1868 Mr. Wisner and Julia A. Hatch were united in marriage.  They have one son -- George H.  Mr. Wisner came to Hardin county a poor man, but he had energy, strength, and a determined will, and to-day he is recognized as one of the wealthiest men in the county.  By many he is thought to be a cold, hard man, without a heart to feel for the wants of others.  That this is not the case, is illustrated by the following incident: Some years ago a poor man bought a small farm, which he supposed to be unincumbered.  He paid every cent that had for the place, and was happy in the thought he had provided a home for himself and family.  The man from whom he purchased left the country, and in due course of time the purchaser learned that Mr. Wisner had a mortgage on the place for $400.  What to do he knew not.  He was advised, and finally persuaded to state the case to Mr. Wisner, but had little faith that any good would result.  When Mr. Wisner heard the poor man's story, and satisfied himseld of its truthfulness, he at once cancelled the mortgage and surrendered his claim.  He thus showed himself to be possessed of a heart that could be touched by the troubles of others.  Mr. Wisner made Iowa Falls his home for many years, but now resides in Eldora.  He is the President of the Hardin County Bank in that place, but has strong affection for his first love -- Iowa Falls -- and in addition to his interests in the bank, has much property besides.

Marcus C. Woodruff was born in the village of Aurora, Erie county, N. Y., March 21, 1831.  His education was such as was afforded by the common school system of those days, to which should be added a course at and graduation from the Aurora Academy.  At nineteen he taught school in his native town, and for a few years served as mercantile clerk in Buffalo.  Touched by the spirit of Western adventure, he emigrated to Illinois, and three years later to Hardin county, Iowa.  On the 7th of August, 1855, the day on which James W. Grimes was chosen Governor, he came to Iowa Falls, then an embryo village, consisting of a log farm-house and a small saw mill.  In October of that year he built the first frame building in the town, and continued a resident of the place until the spring of 1871, when he moved to Waterloo.  In the summer of 1863 he purchased the Hardin county Sentinel, at Eldora, and two years later moved it to Iowa Falls, where he continued its publication until he left the county.  In 1871 he became half owner and editor of the Waterloo Courier, and three years later sold out and bought a half interest in the Dubuque Daily Times, of which he was editor until impaired health compelled him to abandon the business in 1881.  Mr. Woodruff was Postmaster of Iowa Falls from the inauguration of President Grant until his removal to Waterloo.  In September, 1878, he was appointed Railroad Commissioner of the State, to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of ex-Governor Carpenter, who was elected to Congress.  Mr. Woodruff was re-appointed for a full term as Commissioner in the following April, and continued in the position until April, 1882.  He is still a resident of Dubuque.  His family consists of a wife, Eliza E. Weller, whom he married April 7, 1861, and five children -- Julia, Minnie, Mary, Frances and Mark.

Robert Wright

The Iowa Flouring Mill was built in 1857, by Estes, Larkin & Stevens. It is of limestone, 28x40 feet, and 4 � stories in height. The mill, originally, had three central discharge water-wheels, and two run of burrs. As a custom mill it supplied a vast extent of country. It was patronized from the west as far as Fort Dodge, from beyond Hampton from the north, and New Hartford from the East. There being no other mill for a great distance, north, west or east. The parties who built the mill, run it till the spring of 1859. Mr. Robert Wright has had charge of the mill since that time, except an interval of one year, and has owned a third interest, since the spring of 1862. The property since that date has been in the firm name of Estes, Woods & Wright. Several dams have been carried away by the floods, during the existence of the mill. In 1872 a new flume and two new water-wheels (Eclipse) were put in, also an additional run of stone and a new bolt were added, and general repairs were also made. Mr. Wright who has been the practical man connected with the mill during nearly the whole of its existence, is a native of England, where he was born in 1818. He served an apprenticeship of seven years to the milling business. He came to New York from England March, 1846, thence to Galesville, Washington county, N. Y. From the State of New York he went to Manchester, Vt., where he was engaged in the milling business for eight years. He went from Vermont to Grant county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged as a civil engineer for a mining company for a year and a half. He lived in Grant county about three years, and came here, permantly [sic], in 1859, coming first in 1856, Mr. Wright has been married twice; lost his first wife here. He has one son � Robert, born in Iowa Falls, July, 1869. Mr. Wright is also a member of the mercantile firm of Wright & Shipley.