BACON, R. P., born in Washington county, Ohio, Nov. 24, 1825; he came to Iowa, to Mahaska county, in July, 1848; located in White Oak township, being one of the early settlers; during that winter he and his brother, and the Dibble boys, Josiah and David, intended to get out lumber for a house, but the well remembered big snow came and they could do nothing but hunt. Mr. Bacon and his brother dug out a canal and went from Currier's Mills, being the first navigators of Skunk river, down to Ft. Madison; the voyage was a perilous one; they remained in Keokuk during the summer, and in the fall went to California by way of New Orleans, going by water all the way, except crossing the isthmus; was engaged in mining four years, then returned; has been engaged in farming and in the mercantile business. There are few older settlers than he now living here; he holds the office of town trustee, and has held other town and school offices. He married Phebe A. Dunbar, May 22, 1853. She was from Indiana, and came to this county with her parents in 1846. Her father was one of the earliest settlers, and was one of eight persons who started the Republican party in this county.

BAER, JOHN R., deputy sheriff; Oskaloosa; born in Park county, Indiana, March 11, 1839; when quite young he went with his parents down to the Cherokee Nation and remained there until six years of age, and then came to this county with his parents in 1844; they were among the earliest settlers. Upon the breaking out of the war, he enlisted July 15, 1861, in the 7th Regiment Iowa Infantry, Co. C, and was in the battles of Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, and siege of Corinth; was in service three years. After the war he was engaged in business at Beacon for five years, and was appointed deputy sheriff, January 1, 1878. He married Miss Frances Carnahan, from Ohio, November 8, 1866; they have two children, Nellie A., Grace L.

BAKER, ANDREW, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Eddyville; has a farm of 205 acres and 35 acres of timber; was born in Wayne county, Ohio, July 4, 1850; his parents emigrated to this Co. when he was about two years old; he still has the wagon and harness his parents emigrated to this Co. with, 27 years ago. He married Miss Eva B. Riggs, October 15th, 1873; she is a native of Warwick Co., Indiana. No family.

BAKER, S. P., dealer in drugs and medicines; deputy postmaster, Indianapolis; born in this county in 1850; has been engaged in his present business about seven months.

BALDAUF, SAMUEL, firm Baldauf Bros., dealers in dry goods, carpets and notions, Oskaloosa; born in Bavaria, December 20, 1848, and came to America in the spring of 1866. He attended college in Chicago, and afterward came to Iowa and located in Oskaloosa, and established the business of the present firm in 1870, the firm name being Samuel Baldauf. In the spring of 1877 his brother became interested in the business with him, and they are doing a large and extensive trade.

BALDWIN, SYLVESTER, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Granville; born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1841; came to this county with his parents in 1846; owns 180 acres of land. He enlisted in the 33d Iowa Infantry in the late war, served three years, and was in all the engagements in which his regiment participated; he married Miss H. J. Turner, in 1866; she was born in Maryland; he has four children: Gelene, Imogene, Ernest and Nellie M.

BALDWIN, THOMPSON, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Granville; born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1816; came to this county Oct. 28, 1846; owns 400 acres of land; he married Miss Sophronia Phelps, in 1837; she was born in Union Co., Ohio; has three children living: Sylvester, Maria (now wife of O. Hull, Esq., of Smith county, Kan.) and Marley; lost five: Rosaltha, Imogene, Edna, Caroline, and Hannah J.

BALES, DAVID, farmer, Sec. 14; P.O. Ferry; owns 120 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; born in Monroe county, Indiana, 1843; came to Iowa in 1861, and settled with his parents in this township. Married Sarah Nowles, in 1863; she was born in this township in 1846; have four children: Willis, Oscar, John and Fanny. Rep.

BALLINGER, J. J., Sec. 34; P. O. Oskaloosa; owns 145 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; born in Greene county, Ill., in 1826; came to Iowa in about 1838, and settled on his present farm in 1844; married Margaret Starlin in 1857; she was born in Ohio in 1842; have nine children, Barbara, Susan, Lucinda, Maggie, Sedalia, Aliva, Jeremiah, William, James. Democrat.

BALLINGER, THOMAS, farmer and preacher, Sec. 13; P. O. Lacey. The following chart of character was given by Benjamin Brunning in 1858. Mr. Brunning was a lecturer on the science of phrenology of more than ordinary ability. We quote from the chart: "You have a full sized brain with great activity; your temperament is marked - lymphatic 4, sanguine 6, bilious 5 1/2; you have large adhesiveness; are eminently social, an ardent, sincere friend; enjoy friendly society extremely well, and form strong attachments; you love home well, but have no undue attachment; can go where duty calls without remorse; you possess the power of concentrativeness to a reasonable extent; have no eager desire for life, though you love it well; are resolute and courageous; spirited and efficient as an opponent; quick and intrepid in resistance; love debate; boldly meet, if you do not court opposition; you are loth to cause or witness pain; have a good appetite, but can govern it well; are not penurious; love property for the comforts it will bring; can keep a secret, but are not cunning: are always watchful, careful and anxious: are keenly alive to public opinion: set everything by character, honor, etc.: have much self-respect, pride of character and independence: have firmness enough for ordinary occasions: are faithful, honest, upright at heart, moral in feeling, forgiving, love the truth, cannot tolerate wrong, consult duty before expediency: are generally sanguine and careful - rising above present troubles: have but little faith in the marvelous: are not habitually serious, although capable of religious fervor and devotion: you are inclined to do all the good you can - gladly sacrifice self on the altar of benevolence: have refinement of feeling without sickly sentimentality: you are an admirer of nature - mountain scenery, etc.: have a quick, keen perception of the ludicrous - make a great amount of fun: are quick at repartee: laugh heartily at jokes: have fair observing powers: recognize persons and countenances: appreciate order: have a clear and attentive memory of historical facts: are a fluent, easy and pleasant speaker: adopt means to ends well: have an active desire to ascertain causes: have a happy talent for comparing: win confidence and affection, read character and motives of men from physiognomy: are not suspicious - may be, but not easily imposed upon."

Thomas Ballinger is a native of West Middlebury, Logan county, Ohio, where he was born Dec. 21, 1817. He is of French, Dutch and Welch ancestry - his progenitors emigrating to America some one hundred and fifty years ago, and settled in New Jersey, where traces of the family still remain, and where his parents were born. In about 1806 they moved to Ohio, where the father died in 1845, and the mother in 1854. Thomas was raised and well trained in the laborious industries peculiar to a farmer's life. He shared the advantages of the common schools of Ohio - attending from three to six months a year until about fifteen years of age. Since that date he has been engaged in battling with the duties of life, receiving some benefit from private instruction in the higher branches, and in the languages.

As a pastime for youth, he devoted considerable time during his residence in that part of Ohio to hunting game, such as deer and turkeys, being very abundant. In 1837 he was married to Miss Mary Devore, a native of Ohio. She died in March, 1845, leaving two children, one only of whom Mrs. Mott now survives, for several years past a teacher in the public schools at Oskaloosa.

In 1834 he experienced a religious awakening, which resulted in his joining the Methodist church. Having his attention directed to the subject of baptism, he finally became a member of the Disciples church, and for ten years was a preacher of that faith. Coming in contact with believers in Universalism, and studying the subject of the Divine government, and the final destiny of the race as the result of benificent economy, he finally concluded that if salvation was good for one it was good for all, and that God in his wisdom, justice and goodness would so arrange the dispensations of his Providence as to insure the impartial and universal result. This mode of reflection lead him to embrace the Abrahamic faith, and for twenty-five years he has been engaged in proclaiming the unsearchable riches of God's impartial grace. In September, 1845, he married Miss Lydia A. Hildreth, a native of Vermont. In 1850 he moved West, and settled first in Van Buren county, but shortly moved to Mahaska county, and settled in Oskaloosa, where he lived until 1854. For the next two years he engaged in farming near Oskaloosa, and being invited to take charge of the society at Bentonsport, he preached with them for two years, and then returned to the farm. In 1861 he moved on his present farm, six miles north of Oskaloosa. During these years he has preached extensively through southeastern and central Iowa. He has held some eighteen discussions with prominent preachers of different denominations. In these discussions he has displayed more than ordinary forensic ability, and a well grounded knowledge of the Bible, and of biblical interpretation. In 1867 he was elected to the legislature, and served through the Twelfth General Assembly as member of the House. He made an independent member, conscientious in all his acts, too much so to be trammeled by party tactics. He had sufficient manhood to not join in the bitter and uncalled for tirade of partisans against Andrew Johnson, as manifest by a majority of the members of the legislature, such as Thomas Ballinger. He is widely known throughout Iowa, in fact he has a reputation extending through the range of Universalistic believers throughout the West.

BARBER, JOSEPH B., farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Eddyville; owns a farm of 120 acres; was born in Louzerne county, Penn., March 12, 1846; he came to this county in June, 1860. He married Miss Anna E. Benford, Sept. 14, 1870; she is a native of Boston, Mass.; has a family of two sons, Charles W., and Clyde C.

BARBER, S. W., merchant, of the firm of Barber & Young, Leighton; was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1838; he lived there until 1866, and then removed to Cass county, Michigan; lived there about four years, and then came to this county, and to Leighton, May 12, 1871; not married.

BARNES, GEORGE, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Olivet; has a farm of 280 acres; born in Stark county, Ohio, July 18, 1828; he lived there until 1861, and then came to this county.

BARNES, JOHN R., firm of Boyer & Barnes, Oskaloosa, dealers in dry goods and clothing; born in Stark county, Ohio, August 19, 1833; he was brought up and received his education there; he came to Iowa and located in Mahaska county, April 1, 1855; located in Scott township and engaged in lumbering. In 1859, he engaged in the mercantile business with Dr. Boyer, of Rochester; he was elected and served three years as county supervisor. In 1871 he came to Oskaloosa and engaged in the mercantile business, the firm being Boyer & Barnes. He holds the office of county treasurer; was married to Miss Mary R. Boyer, daughter of Dr. Boyer, December 27, 1858; they have six children, Eddie A., Andrew T., Nellie, Frankie, Fred, John R.

BARNES, ROBERT, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Olivet; born in Washington county, Pa., in 1806; his parents moved to Alleghany county, Pa., three years later; he resided there about sixteen years, then moved to Stark county, Ohio, where he lived until the spring of 1856, and then removed to this county and located where he now lives; has a farm of 300 acres; he married Miss Mary A. Hildreth October 18, 1840; she was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1815; they have two sons and one daughter, Cordelia, Robert H., and James H.

BARR, ALFRED, Sec. 19; P. O. Oskaloosa; owns 210 acres of land valued at $30 per acre; born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1815, came to Iowa in 1854 and settled on his present farm; married Maria Marguess in 1841; she was born in Darke county, O., in 1823; have five children, Marguess, Moses S., Marinza, Carlton D,. and Laura. Republican.

BARR, MARQUIS, sheriff of Mahaska county, Oskaloosa; born in White county, Ind., August 14, 1844. When ten years of age, came with his parents to Iowa by wagon, and was nineteen days on the way; arrived here in October, 1854, and located in Adams township, and has lived here since then. He was in the army in the 47th Regiment Iowa Infantry, Co. I, one hundred days' service. He was elected sheriff of this county in the fall of 1877. He married Miss Augusta Ballinger, from this county, in December, 1873; they have three children, Elda, Nellie, and Cora.

BARROWMAN, W., farmer and miner, Sec. 9; P. O. Oskaloosa; born in Scotland, in 1823; came to the United States in 1848 and to this county in 1867; owns 68 acres of land; he has a valuable coal bank on his land containing a vein of coal five feet in thickness, and is noted for its purity; it meets with ready sale as fast as mined; he has held the office of school director; he married Miss Agnes Kinnon in 1846; she was born in Scotland; they have seven children, William, Agnes, Jane, Mary, James, Richard and Elizabeth.

BARTLETT, WILLIAM, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Oskaloosa; born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Nov. 29, 1839, and was brought up there and in West Va., and came to Iowa and located in Oskaloosa in 1861. He was in the army; enlisted in Feb., 1862, in the 4th Reg. Iowa Cav. Co., F; was in battle of Vicksburg and in a great many fights and skirmishes, and was in the service three years and three months; after the war returned here and engaged in farming; owns 120 acres of land. Married Miss Mary C. Prine, from Indiana, daughter of H. H. Prine, in 1867; they have four children: Fred, Edwin, Clyde, and Hoyt.

BASS, ROBERT, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Comet; owns 405 acres, valued at $30 per acre; born in Boone county, Kentucky, in 1827; came to Iowa in 1843; married Martha Allgood in 1865; she was born in Indiana in 1838; have five children, Mary, Charlie, Frank, Robert, Agnes; Mr. B. has two children by a former wife: Rosa and John. Greenback.

BAUGH, GEO. H., born in Highland county, Ohio, January 22, 1838; when 11 years of age he came to this county with his mother and step-father; they located on a farm and were among the early settlers here; he used to cart wood into Oskaloosa at $1.00 per cord, and melons at $1.00 per load; in the spring of 1858 he came to this city and attended school, and afterwards studied law, and in 1862 engaged in practice of law here for four years; he bought a woolen and grist mill, and carried on the business for sometime; he was elected Mayor of this city in March 1870, and was re- elected for six successive terms, when he declined a further re- election; he also held the office of Justice of the Peace. He was elected Captain in the 7th Regiment, Iowa cavalry, but on account of ill health did not go into the field. Married Miss Flora I. Lough from Ohio, in March 1865; they have 4 children; Richard, John, Daisy and Thomas.

BAUGHMAN, A., miller and proprietor of Baughman's Mills, Sec. 17; P. O. New Sharon; born in Pennsylvania in 1814; came to this county in 1853; owns 167 acres of land; previous to his removal to this county he lived in Ohio and Indiana; he married Levina Kauffman in 1842; she was born in Pennsylvania, and died in 1863; he afterward married Philinda Bump in 1863; she was born in Ohio; has eight children by first marriage, Elias, Elizabeth, Henry, Rebecca, John, Melissa, Abraham, and David; and two by the second marriage, Francis A., and Willis H.

BAUGHMAN, ANDREW J., lumber dealer, Oskaloosa; born in Hardy county, Virginia, March 31, 1826; when 3 years of age removed to Ohio and was brought up there; married Miss Mary Carpenter from Alexandria, Ohio, May 9, 1850; they came with their own wagon to Iowa, and were 21 days on the way; arrived in Oskaloosa the last of September, 1851; the next day he traded his team for the first house that was built in this city, they used to hold court in it; the lot is the one on which Philip Herbig's brick building now stands; engaged in the book business, being appointed agent of the History of the United States; after one year he engaged in farming, and continued for many years; since January, 1876, has been engaged in the lumber business; has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and other town and school offices; they have four children; Orlena, Frank A., Emma and Carrie D.

BAUMGART, LOUIS, proprietor great western bakery and restaurant; born in Prussia in 1833, and when fourteen years of age, emigrated to America, in 1847, and located in Troy, New York. He removed from there to Saginaw, Michigan, and lived in that state fourteen years, and came to Iowa in 1864, and located in Mahaska county, and engaged in farming. He has been engaged in his present business for the past seven years, and since then has built large improvements; married Miss Barbara Kofka, July 11, 1859; she was from Bohemia; they have six children, Emil, Julia, Meda, Tilda, Lena, and Ella, and have lost three children.

BAUMSTARK, A., dealer in confectionery, choice cigars, tobacco, etc., wine and beer saloon, Eddyville, Iowa; born in Baden, Germany, in 1835; came to Iowa in 1853, and located in Burlington; removed to this place in 1871, and engaged in his present business; married Anna Singer in 1873; she was born in Guttenberg, Germany. Democrat.

BEAL, W. M., farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Flint; born in Union county, Ohio, in 1839; came to this county in 1855; owns eighty acres; he married Miss Mary E. Jackson in 1860; she was born in Ohio; has five children, Hiram, Flora, Charlie, Clara and Florence.

BEAL, Wm., farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. New Sharon; born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1821; came to this county in 1852; previous to his removal to this county he lived in Ohio, and Henderson county, Illinois; he owns 120 acres of land; has held office of town trustee and school director; he carted lumber from Burlington to Granville to build him a house; he married Elizabeth Thomas in 1842; she was born in Ohio; has three children, Rebecca E., John S. and Isaiah N.

BEAN, WM., farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Council Bluffs; farm contains 260 acres; born near St. Louis, Mo., in 1809; his parents removed to Pike county, Mo., while he was quite young, where he lived until he was sixteen years old; he then went to Illinois; he came to this county in 1844, and was one of the first settlers; he married Nancy Hilleary, a native of Adams county, Ills., in 1833; have three sons and four daughters, Emily (now Mrs. John Loughridge), Jane (now Mrs. Joseph A. Lindly), James, Amilda (now Mrs. W. H. Orton), Thomas, William H., Charlotte A. (now Mrs. G. H. Clark), and have adopted one son and one daughter, Lois and Isaac Bridges.

BEARDSLEY, WILLIAM, druggist, Beacon; born in England Oct. 15th, 1850, and was brought up and learned his business there; came to the United States in 1870; lived in Columbiana Co., Ohio, three months, and in Washington Co., Illsnois, four months, and then spent ten months in Kansas, Missouri, and the western Territories, and came to Iowa Sept. 3d, 1871, and has been engaged in business at Beacon for the past two years. He has depended entirely upon himself since he was ten years of age. Married Miss Mary Ann Evans, from Wales, Jan. 5, 1872.

BEATTY, E. M., merchant, dealer in boots and shoes, Oskaloosa; born in Morrow county, Ohio, in 1830; was brought up and lived there until 1857; when he came to Iowa and located in Poweshiek county, at Montezuma, and was engaged in mercantile business there for 8 years; then came to Oskaloosa, in 1866, and was engaged in the firm of Siebel & Co., in the milling business for eight years; and since then has been engaged in his present business. He has held town and school offices; married Miss A. H. Shipley from Pennsylvania, in 1860; they have one daughter, Winnie P.

BEDWELL, J. W., farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Rose Hill; owns 120 acres, valued at $30 per acre; born in Lawrence county, Indiana, in 1828; came to Iowa in 1843, and settled in Monroe township, and has been a resident of this township since; married Eliza Myers in 1871; she was born in Washington county, Iowa, in 1843; Mrs. B. has one child by a former husband, Johnny R.; Mr. B. has been township trustee for three terms. Are members of Christian church. Republican.

BEECHLER, G. N., firm Beechler Bros., druggists, Oskaloosa; born in Williams county, Ohio, February 21, 1841; he was brought up in Ohio until 20 years of age, and then went in the army, and was in the medical department; after being in the service 17 months he was obliged to leave it on account of ill health; he studied medicine and graduated at Columbus, O.; practiced medicine at Lima, Ind., for 3 years, then wegt to Virginia City, Nevada; he came here in 1871, and since then has been engaged in the drug business.

BENNETT, GEORGE, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Pella; was born in Stark county, Ohio, where he lived until 1851, and then removed to this county, he now lives; has a farm of 160 acres and 9 acres of timber; January 17, 1849, married Miss Margaret Haslett, a native of Bucks county, Penn. - born December 1828; they have three sons and one daughter, William A., Robert N., Minnie B. and George E.; lost one daughter, Florinda, who died in Colorado, May 6, 1876.

BENNETT, N. F., farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Leighton; farm of 130 acres; was born in St. Jos. county, Indiana, May 9, 1837; he lived there until 1853, and then came to this county; he married Miss Eliza Burns, June 16, 1860 - born in Lee county, Iowa, in 1841; they have one son, John E.

BERRY, WM., farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Granville; born in Virginia, in 1814; came to this county in 1848; previous to his removal to this county he lived in Ohio; he is one of the oldest settlers; his nearest postoffice when he came, was Oskaloosa; he has held the offices of township trustee and school di-director; he owns 280 acres of land; married Miss Nancy Johnson; she was born in Ohio; has three children: John H., Laurin B., and Charlie G.

BETHEA & SON, dealers in general merchandise and grain. Rose Hill J. W. Bethea was born in Tennessee, in in 1822; married Margaret Stewart in 1845; have four children: Elizabeth, Florence, William W., and Frank. Wm. W. Bethea, the junior partner, was born in this county in 1855.

BETTS, FIELDING, retired, Sec. 17; P. O. Pella; was born in Scott county, Kentucky, September 9, 1803; he lived there until 24 years of age; from there he went to Montgomery county, Indiana, where he remained until the fall of 1843; he came to Jefferson county, Iowa, in the winter of 1843-44, and the following summer moved to Henderson county, Illinois; remained there until April, 1847, and then removed to Black Oak township, this county, and located on Sec. 17; he married Hannah Wilson, in November, 1831, a native of Kentucky; has one son and six daughters, Joseph, Nancy A. (now Mrs. Josiah Rourk), Mary E., (now Mrs. L. Zering), Harriet J., (now Mrs. J. A. Ergembright), Sarah A., (now Mrs. F. Rector), Henrietta R. and Martha; was justice about six years. Mr. B. served in the Black Hawk war.

BILLICK, J., farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Oskaloosa; born in Washington county, Pa., in 1828; came to this county May 29, 1868; owns 280 acres of land; he married Miss Mary Fonner in 1850; she was born in Greene county, Pa.; they have five children, Martin L., William J., James L., Elmer E., and Mary L.

BLANCHARD, LUCIEN C., Judge of the 6th Judicial District of Iowa, Oskaloosa; born in Lewis county, New York, April 15, 1838; he enjoyed the advantages of the schools there, and entered Rock River seminary, at Mt. Morris, Illinois, in 1858; he came to Iowa in 1860, when he engaged in teaching, and reading law; during the Rebellion he enlisted as private in Co. K of the 28th Regiment of Iowa Infantry; he was in the battle of Port Gibson, Champion Hills and the assault of Vicksburg. He entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and graduated; he commenced the practice of his profession in Montezuma, Powshiek county; in 1867 he was appointed county judge of Powshiek county, to fill an unexpired term; in the fall of 1868 he was elected judge of the 6th Judicial District, comprising the counties of Jefferson, Washington, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marion, Jasper and Powshiek, and took his seat on the Bench in January, 1869; he married Miss Sallie Kilburn, daughter of F. A. Kilburn of Montezuma, January, 13, 1870; she died February 19, 1878, leaving 2 children, Rosa and Claude.

BLATTNER, CHARLES, firm of Blattner & Newbrand, proprietors of the Oskaloosa Brewery; born in Xenia, Ohio, Oct. 12, 1845; when 7 years of age he removed with his parents to Kentucky, and lived there for 14 years, and came to Iowa and located in Oskaloosa in Dec., 1867, and engaged in the brewery business; he is also extensively engaged in gardening and fruit. employing seven and eight men in its cultivation; he has sold the present season about 100 bushels of strawberries and 150 bushels of cherries; he married Miss Louise Blattner, from Ohio, in June, 1869; they have one daughter, Rosamond.

BOLTON, E. P., farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Union Mills; born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1842; came to this county in 1866; owns 80 acres of land; enlisted in the 85th Ohio Infantry in the late war; he married Miss Emeline McMains in December, 1867; she was born in this county; have two children, Ernest, and Della M.; lost one son, Olla E.

BOLTON, JAMES B., attorney at law, Oskaloosa; born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1840; he was brought up and received his education there; he attended Martinsburg Seminary and Academy; entered the freshman class, and was there until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in the Third Regiment Ohio Infantry, and was transferred to the Fourth Ohio three months men under Loring Andrews; owing to ill health he was obliged to return; he came here to this county Mar. 16, 1863, and studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1871; married Miss Anna McMains, a native of this State, in 1867; they have one son, Leslie C.

BOND, E. B., farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. White Oak; owns 185 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; born in Illinois in 1838; came to Iowa in 1841, and settled in Keokuk county; removed to this county about 1845; he married Nancy Bridges, in 1859; she was born in this county in 1842; have seven children: Dora, Alice, Emma, Ida, Mattie, Willie, and Cora. Bonsall, T. P., farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Flint; born in Philadelphia, in 1826; came to this county in 1859. He owns forty acres of land. He married Mary E. Randels, in 1849; has three children, Hiram, Laura and Jane.

BOVELL, J. N., farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Oskaloosa; was born in Indiana in 1819; moved with his parents to Illinois when about two years old; came to this county in 1850; married Elizabeth W. Means April 4, 1844; have a family of five daughters and one son, Susan E., Anna J., Mary A., Flora E., Ollie E., and Elmer N.

BOWDLE, ISAIAH, of the firm of Bowdle Brothers, carpenters and builders, New Sharon; born in Madison county, Ohio, in 1840; came to this county in 1866; owns jointly with his brother one hundred acres of land. He enlisted in the 50th Ohio Infantry, in the late war, and was discharged on account of disability. He married Miss Adaline Vickers, in 1869; she was born in Washington county, Ohio; has two children, Gertrude and Ollie.

BOWDLE, J. W., carpenter and builder, of the firm of Bowdle Brothers, New Sharon; born in Madison county, Ohio, in 1837; came to this county in April, 1865; has worked at his trade twenty-one years, and was the first carpenter in the town of New Sharon. He owns, with his brother, one hundred acres of land; has served as member of the city council and town clerk. He married Miss Nancy J. Leslie, in 1868; she was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania.

BOWEN, C. T., dealer in drugs, medicines, paints, oils, books, stationery and druggists' sundries, New Sharon; born in Pennsylvania, in 1855; came to this State in 1857, to this county in 1864, and to this town, July 10, 1877.

BOWEN, JOHN W., P. M. at Beacon; born in Wales in April, 1844, and came to this country in infancy, and was brought up in Pittsburgh, Pa. He came to Iowa in 1855 and located in Van Buren Co.; lived there until the war, and enlisted in the 15th Reg. Iowa Inf., Co. E, in June, 1862; was in battles Black River, Vicksburg and siege of Atlanta; was wounded there July 21st; came home on furlough; again joined his regiment; was in siege of Savannah, and went with Sherman to Washington, and was in the grand review; after the war was in Colorado two years, and then came here; held office of P. M. in 1873, and was again appointed in October, 1877. Married Eleanor Burdess, from England, 1870; they have four children: Albert, Harry, Willie and Cora.

BOWMAN, DAVID L., blacksmith, Leighton; was born in Franklin county, Virginia, April 3, 1845; he lived there until October, 1864; in the fall of 1865, he came to Leighton, and has been a resident here ever since; he married Mrs. Eliza Fleck, widow of J. B., August 3, 1873, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, August 14, 1853; she died October 25, 1876; left one son, William A.; Mrs. B. left two sons by her former marriage, John A. C. and David F.

BOYCE, A. T., farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Union Mills; born in Washington county, N. Y., in 1808; for seventeen years he was a sailor; came to this county in 1868; he married Eliza P. Tabor in 1849; she was born in New York; have three children, Charles W., Morgan P., and Allen A.; lost two, Frank, and Phebe J.

BOYER, DR. E. A., Sec. 28; P. O. Tracy; was born in Uniontown, Frederick county, Maryland (what is now Carroll county), in 1816; he made his home there until he was eighteen years of age; from eighteen until he was twenty-one years of age he traveled more or less; he then went to Noble county, Indiana, but remained there only a short time; in 1840 the doctor came to Iowa, and located in Van Buren county; he came to this county in April, 1843, and removed his family here the following May, and still lives within one-quarter mile from where he first settled; he owns 1,500 acres of land in this county; owns a general store at Tracy, and a drygoods store in Oskaloosa, under the firm name of Boyer & Barnes; he married Miss Mary Wiley, of Windsor county, Vermont, in 1840; they have eight children, named Mary, (now Mrs. J. R. Barnes,) William E., Richard M., Frank D., Ella (now Mrs. Dr. E. B. Young) E. A. Jr., Frances H. and Thomas; lost one daughter, Annie E., (wife of Dr. David E. Scott,) of Oskaloosa. BRADBURY, D., farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Oskaloosa; born in Fayette county, Pa., in 1846; came to this county in 1872; owns 100 acres of land; has served as treasurer of the district in which he resides; he married Miss Mary L. Conner December 31, 1877.

BREWER, HARRY, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Given; was born in Cooperstown, Otsego county, N.Y., November, 19, 1815, he emigrated to Whiteside, county, Ills., in 1835; he came to Van Buren county, Iowa, in the spring of 1842, and to this cnunty, April 20th, 1843, and staked out his claim after midnight on May 1st., this being as soon as they were allowed; he entered 160 acres and has now 550 acres. He married Hellen M. Adams, March 13, 1844. She was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 16, 1826; she came to Iowa in 1839, and to this county in April, 1844; have six sons and one daughter, Emily, (now Mrs. F. McGrew,) George W., Frank P., Edward D., Webster L., John E., and Albert H.

BREWSTER, THOS. K., surgeon dentist; born in Green county, Ohio, in 1828; he received his education and studied his profession in Dayton, Ohio, and attended dental college in Cincinnati, and graduated in the winter of 1851-2; he engaged in the practice of his profession in Dayton, and continued until 1874, when he came to Iowa and located in Oskaloosa, and since then has practiced his profession here; he was in the 100-day service during the war in the Ohio National Guards; he married Miss Mary Emma Snowden, from Green county, Ohio, in April, 1858; they have two children, James B. and Katie; have lost one daughter, Bertha B.

BRIGGS, HENRY L., firm of H. L. Briggs & Co., druggists, Oskaloosa; born in Troy, Davis County, Iowa, April 21, 1851; he was brought up in this State, and received his education at Mt. Pleasant; he came to Oskaloosa in 1867, and learned the drug business with Dr. Wm. H. Wells, and since then has been connected with the business; he married Miss Jennie Seevers, Dec. 1, 1875; she is a native of this city, and daughter of Judge Wm. H. Seevers; they have one daughter, Hattie.

BRIGGS, JOB, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Oskaloosa; born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, January 17, 1803; he was brought up there and learned millwright and carpenter trade; studied surveying and followed that for several years. He married Ann Romans, from Chester Co., Pa., June 30, 1830; they came to Iowa, by wagon, and were thirty-one days on the road, and arrived here October 14, 1854, and located where they now live, and engaged in farming; they were early settlers; own a farm of 70 acres. They have four children: Lydia, Maria, Amos, and Harriet; they have lost nine children.

BRIGGS, MRS. RHODA, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Eddyville; was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, June 16, 1831; came to Iowa and to Eddyville in the spring of 1851. Mrs. Briggs' maiden name was Ewing, a native of Gallia county, Ohio. Married May 22, 1859. Mr. Briggs' death occurred August 12, 1871, an account of which will be found elsewhere. He left a family of three sons and three daughters, William G., John D., Anna Eliza, Sarah E., Edwin T., and Georgia E.

BRINEY, ALEXANDER, Sec. 10; P. O. Oskaloosa; owns 112 acres of land valued at $50 per acre; born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1843, came to Iowa in 1850; married Elizabeth Fisher in 1865: she was born in Dark Co. Ohio in 1844; have eight children, Magdaline, Jane, Henry, Johnny, Lewis E., Lettie, Martin L., Carl A. Democrat.

BRINEY, JACOB, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Lacey; owns 175 acres of land, at $35 per acre; born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1825; came to Iowa in 1852. and settled on present farm; married Nancy Dimmitt, in 1848; she was born in Indiana, in 1833; have six children, Sarah J., Miles D., James O., John H., Laurinda E., Nancy Eliza; are members of Baptist church. Democrat.

BRINEY, JOEL, Sec. 14; P. O. Oskaloosa; owns 240 acres of land valued at $30 per acre; born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1840, came to Iowa in 1850 and settled in Adams township; married Elizabeth Roberts in 1864; she was born in Kentucky in 1840; have four children, Chas. A., Wm. F., Miranda J., and John N. Democrat.

BROERMAN, H., farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Oskaloosa; born in Hanover, Germany, in 1813; came to the United States in 1834, and for many years worked at the trade of carpenter in various parts of the middle and southern states; he came to this county in 1857; he owns 220 acres of land; married Mary H. Miller in 1842; she was born in Prussia; they have five children, Charles, Siegel, Lizzie, Lena and Sophia.

BROOKS, T. L., farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Sherman, Poweshiek county; born in Maryland, April 25, 1827; came to this county in 1851; owns 272 acres of land; his door-yard is ornamented with the largest and most handsome evergreens in the county; he has held office of township trustee and school director; he married Miss Catharine Mass, in 1849; she was born in Maryland; has 7 children, William K., Charles T., Sarah D., Ann M., Alice, Frances P. and Clara.

BROWN & STEWARD, of the firm of Brown, Steward & Ewing, Rose Hill. W. W. Steward was born in Washington Co., Ohio, in 1857, and came to Iowa in 1873. C. Brown, physician and surgeon, was born in Know Co., Ohio, in 1850; came to Iowa in 1870. The business of Brown, Steward & Ewing was established in 1878.

BRYAN, WM. A., farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. New Sharon; born in Ohio in 1835; came to this county in 1849. He owns two hundred and fifty-six acres of land; has held office of school director. He married Catharine Pierson in 1856; she was born in Logan county, Ohio; has five children, Lillian A., Charles F., Freddie H., Ernest and Willie; lost two, Elmer A. and Arthur C.

BUFFINGTON, WM. H., farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Kirkville; was born in Jackson county, W. Va., in 1799; he lived there until 1841, and then moved to Louisa county, Iowa; lived there about six years, and then removed to Marion county, Iowa; he remained there until 1848, and then came to this county; has been married twice; he married Mary Rowley, a native of New York, in 1820; she died in 1842; he married again to Sarah Holmes, a native of Adams county, Ohio, in 1849; has nine children by first marriage, Elizabeth, Chloe, Joseph W., William J., Marguret, Rebecca, Nancy, Samuel, and Mary; two sons and one daughter by the second marriage, Zachariah T., Annie, and Elijah H.; has a farm of 160 acres.

BURGESS, SAMUEL, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Eddyville; born in Indiana in 1840; came to Mahaska county in 1851; married to Hannah Hartshorn in 1860; has a family of four daughters and two sons, Josie, Nettie, Maggie, Arvilla, William, and Baby.

BURKET, W. D., grocer, New Sharon; born in Henry county, Indiana, in 1848; came to this county in 1854. He owns two hundred and twenty acres of land in Sioux county; holds the office of mayor of the city. He married Miss Jennie F. Jackson, in 1872. He enlisted in the 33d Iowa Infantry, in the late war, before he was fifteen years old, and was in both the 7th and 13th army corps, and crossed the Gulf seven times while in the service.

BUTLER, FRED, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Oskaloosa; son of Peter Butler, who was born in Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1836, and located in Ashland county, Ohio; came to this county in 1852; his mother's maiden name was Barbara Butler; Mr. B. died in 1853, leaving a family of two sons and two daughters, Peter B., Gertrude, Maria and Fred, who served three years in the late rebellion in Company C, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

BUTLER, P. G., farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. Ferry; owns 400 acres of land, valued at $20 per acre; born in Onondaga county, N.Y., in 1820; came to Iowa in 1838, and located in Lee county; removed to this county in 1855, and settled on his present farm. Married Mary A. Taylor in 1851; she was born in Venango county, Penn., in 1823; have six children: Livona, Lodena, Jennie, William M., Alvira J., and Louisa; held office of ounty supervisor seven years. Greenback.

BYERS, JAMES M., retired, Oskaloosa; born in Mercer county, Pa., Feb. 12, 1814; he was brought up there and learned the trade of brick layer; he came to Iowa in 1851, spent one summer in Burlington, and one year in Washington Co., and came to this county in March, 1853; he engaged in building; he built the Presbyterian Church, St. James Hotel, and many of the best buildings here; he built the house where he now lives the first year he came, twenty-five years ago; he opened the first coal bank near Oskaloosa; he holds the office of coroner of this county, and has held other town and school offices. Mr. Byers has been married three times; he married Permelia E. H. Marshall, from North Carolina, in 1836; she was a grand neice of Chief Justice Marshall; she died August 21, 1838, leaving one son, Samuel H. M.; married Eliza Birch, from Pennsylvania, in 1839; she died in 1845, leaving three children, Sarah, Annie and James W.; he married his present wife, Hannah E. McVickers, from Ohio, in 1847.

BYERS, SAMUEL H. M., son of James Byers, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1838; he received a common school education, and studied law with Hon. Wm. Loughridge, and was admitted to the bar in 1861; upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, he enlisted in 1861 in the 5th Regiment Iowa Infantry, and was appointed quarter-master sergeant; he was soon after promoted to adjutant of the regiment; at the battle of Mission Ridge he was taken prisoner with eighty others of his own regiment, Nov. 25, 1863; he was held a prisoner for sixteen months, and was taken from one prison to another, and suffered almost everything but death. After making two attempts to escape and being recaptured, the third time, Feb. 16, 1865, he was successful. While in prison he composed the song which has become national, "Sherman's March to the Sea." After his escape Gen. Sherman sent for him, and assigned him to duty on his staff; he was selected by General Sherman as bearer of the first dispatches to Gen. Grant and the President after leaving Savannah. After the war he returned here; in 1869 he was appointed United States Consul to Zurich, Switzerland, and he has held that position since then, nine years, and is the only one of President Grant's foreign appointments that remain abroad; he married Miss Maggie Gilmore, from Michigan, in 1869; they have two children, Lawrence and Helen.

BYRAM, M. W., druggist, Fremont; was born in Butler county, Ohio, December 1, 1837, and lived there six years; his parents then removed to Dark county, Ohio, where he lived until the spring of 1861, and then to McGoupin county, Ill., and remained there until September, 1864; he then returned to Dark county, Ohio, where he remained until September, 1873, and then came to thiis county; he married Mary J. McFarland August 7, 1859, of Randolph county, Indiana; she died June 9, 1873; was married again to Mahala Oldham, of this county, June 13, 1875; she died September 22, 1875; married again April 27, 1876, to Mary I., widow of E. Roberts, her maiden name was Ferguson, a native of this county; has two children by first marriage, Ida A. and Laura M., and one son by third marriage, Lawrence L.; has taught school, more or less, for twenty years.