The following biographies were scanned from the remnants of a book that apparently was a copy of "The History of Polk County, Iowa" published by the Union Historical Company, Birdsall, Williams & Co. 1880.  Marion John Rice has a copyright to this transcription file and gives permission for this file to be posted to at the Iowa Biographies Projects. CAMP TOWNSHIP. BRINGOLF, A.-Farmer and stock-raiser, section .15, P. O. Des Moines. Was born in York county, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1810, and was there raised a farmer. He removed to Indiana and afterward to Missouri, and then came to this county in 1854. He has held several offices in the township. Has been supervisor, and was elected supervisor of the county, but resigned. He is the owner of 617 acres of land in this county, mostly improved. He was married in Missouri to Miss Mahala Mann, of Indiana. They have six children living: Samuel, B. F., Ellen (wife of F. A. Blasier), W. A., Jacob and Sheldon. Have lost five. His ancestry dates back to the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Mr. Bringolf also owns four houses and three lots in East Des Moines, and one house and two lots on the West Side of the river. BROWN, E. H.-Farmer, section 16, P. O. Des Moines. Was born June 24, 1822, and is a native of Rockingham county, Virginia. When a child his parents moved to Ohio, Champaign county, where he engaged in farming and, in 1845, went to Minnesota. After remaining there for four years he came to Van Buren county, this State, in 1849, and in 1855 moved to Mahaska county, and from there came to this county in the fall of 1863. He is a machinist by trade and this he has followed more or less since residing here. Owns a farm of 160 acres. Has held the office of justice of the peace one term and has been district road supervisor. While living in Van Buren county he was postmaster three years. March 4, 1841, he was married in Ohio to Miss Eliza Spry, a native of Champaign county, Ohio. They have a family of six children, four sons and two daughters:: C. F., John E., J. C. James E., Annie E. and Emma B. Lost two children : Mariett S. and W. R. BURNETT, Z. M.-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 11, P. O. Mitchellville. Was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, 1825, September 11, and CAMP TOWNSHIP. 927 when two and a half years of age moved with his parents to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he was raised. His home there was in Springfield, and while there he engaged in farming as an occupation, which, with stock raising, he has since followed. In the spring of 1849 he came to this State and located on his present homestead, now consisting of 226 acres, well improved. He has been road supervisor and for two terms trustee of the township. Mr. Burnett was married in Sangamon county, Illinois, January 16, 1848, to Miss Nancy H. Foutch, of Indiana. They have a family of nine children living : Margaret A., B. K., Altha J., George Etta, D. S., Jeremiah, Lucy B., M. and Milo. His ancestry on both sides of the house were natives of Kentucky, and their ancestors were pioneers of that State in the days of Daniel Boone. CALDWELL, JOSEPH-Farmer, section 29, P. O. Adelphi. Was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, November 13, 1809, and when four years of age came with his parents to Athens county, Ohio. His principal avocation through life has been farming and while in Athens county followed that business. In March, 1856, he came to this county and settled on his present homestead, which consists of 211 acres of well improved land. Since residing here he has held the office of township trustee, besides several others. Mr. Caldwell has been twice married. First, in Ohio, in 1834, to Miss Elma A. Laughlin, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in July, 1836, leaving one daughter, who has since died. His second marriage was also in Ohio, in 1837, to Miss Sarah D. Lottridge, of that State. They have one son and one daughter living: Edwin. and Mary A. (wife of J. L. Baker). His father was of Irish descent and was raised in county Tynne, Ireland. His mother was of English origin, but raised in New Jersey. CLARK, CAPT. W. .-Farmer, section 1, P. O. Prairie City. Was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, December 21,1837, and was raised in that State. He removed to Illinois, and from there came to this State in 1866. During the war, on the call for men to suppress the rebellion, he enlisted on the 10th of May, 1861, in company W, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry and served until May 11, 1866, when he was discharged. He was married in this county in 1869 to Miss H. Z. Botsford, of Illinois. They have two sons: William and John. KENNEDY, ROBERT-Farmer, section 21, P. 0 Adelphi. Was born in Ohio in 1822, and resided there for a while and then moved to Indiana, where he lived until he came to this county in 1849. He was raised on a farm and now owns 120 acres of land. Was married in Montgomery county, Ohio, July 9, 1846, to Miss Nancy A. Warren, a native of Indiana. They have six daughters living: Mary J., Sarah E., Hannah C., Melissa A., Martha E. and Louisa F. Lost two. The father of Mr. Kennedy came from Scotland when seven years of age, and his mother from Ireland when about the same age. They lived in Pennsylvania for a long time and then went to Kentucky, and from there to Ohio. Then left there and went to Indiana, and thence to this county. His mother died here and his father returned to Pennsylvania and there died. LATIMER, JAMES-Farmer, section 15, P. O. Yandalia. Was born in New London county, Connecticut, February 6, 1821, and when about five years of age emigrated with his parents to Ohio. In 1836 they moved to Kosciusko county, Indiana, and he was married in that county February 1, 1844, to Miss Amanda Sutton. In October 1845, he came to 928 BIOGRAPHICAL. Iowa and located in Davis county, and in the spring of 1846 moved to what is now Warren county. One year later he removed to Logan county, Illinois, and there made his home until he moved to Henry county, that State, in 1852. August 12, 1862, he enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois volunteer infantry, and served one year, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. In October, 1863, he sold out and came to this State, living for two years in Marion county, previous to his coming here, which was in 1865, and then moved on his present homestead. Has held the office of justice of the peace in Marion county and township trustee in this county. While in Henry county, Illinois, he was a member of the Board of County Supervisors, which position he filled for seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Latimer have two daughters. Nancy (wife of James Coatney), and Hannah (wife of W. F. Logan, of Madison county, this State) McDANNIEL, G. W.-Farmer, section 20, P. O. Adelphi. Was born in Warren county, Iowa, on the 14th of March, 1857, and is consequently in his twenty-fourth year. He resided in his native county until 1870, when with his parents he came to this county. Here he was married on the 18th of December 1876, to Miss Mary E. Warren, a native of this county. They have one son, Warren Chester. MILER, JAMES-Farmer, section 26, P. O. Vandalia. Was born in Gallia county, Ohio, December 7, 1813, and when about three years of age accompanied his father to Kentucky, where he remained for about one year, and then to Perry county, Indiana. He resided there until eighteen years of age and then removed to Morgan county, Illinois, and from there came to this county in February, 1845. Mr. Miler has been twice married. First in Morgan county, Illinois, in 1836, to Miss Sarah Roach, who died in 1846, leaving three children: Mary F. (wife of Jno D. Grim), Thomas H. and Sarah A. (wife of Daniel Beach). His second marriage was in Marion county, this State, in 1848, to Elizabeth Brouse. They have five children living: John, David, Emma, Paulina, Rosella, and one, Martha, deceased. MONTGOMERY, T. G.-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 10, P. O. Mitchellville. Was born in Shelbyville, Shelby county, Indiana, on the 8th of August, 1841, and from there came to this county with his parents in April, 1843. Here he has been raised, following farming as his occupation. On the 15th of August, 1862, he enlisted in company G, Twenty-third Iowa volunteer infantry, and served until August 15, 1865, when he was discharged. He participated in all the battles of his regiment, and after the war he returned to this county. Has held several offices in the township, that of trustee several terms, clerk for two terms, and president of the school board. His marriage was in this county January 11, 1866, to Miss Margaret A. Burnett, of this county and township. They have one son and three daughters: Moma, Magnolia, and Lon Antona. Lost two: Amos Bliss and Mary. Mr. M. owns 160 acres of improved land. MURROW, J. S.-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 3, P. O. Mitchellville. Was born in Parke county, Indiana, January 31,1836, and in 1843 he came with his parents to this State, locating in Jefferson county. He was raised as a farmer and has followed the same most of his life. In March, 1848, he came to this county and remained until 1864, when he went overland to California, engaging in farming and stock-raising. In 1867 he returned to this county, and since that time has been a resident here. His present farm consists of 415 acres of land all improved. Was married in this county in March, CAMP TOWNSHIP. 929 1862, to Miss Emily Jonney, of Missouri. They have a family of six children: Eliza (wife of D. Bennett), George W., Mary, Alice, Nicholas and Alfred D. Lost two: John and Ulysses. PENCE, DR. W. L.-Farmer and physician, section 28, P. O. Adelphi. This gentleman owes his nativity to Logan, Kentucky, where he was born on the twenty-seventh of March, 1832. He resided there until sixteen years of age, and then traveled through Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee, remaining a short period in each State. Having made choice of medicine as a profession he commenced its study and read in Greensburg, Decatur county, Indiana. In June, 1855, he graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and came to this county in 1857, at once commencing the practice of his profession. This he followed until October, 1865, when he also became engaged in farming, but is still engaged in practicing medicine. Has been supervisor and assessor of the township, and at present is trustee. Dr. Pence was married in this township in February, 1863, to Miss Abigal E. Powers of Indiana. She died in February, 1867, leaving one son, James M. Was married again to Miss Julia A. Norris of Jasper. They have two children: John and Wm. R. He owns a farm of two hundred and ninety acres. His father was of German ancestry and his mother of Welsh, English and Irish origin. - PERSON, E. C.-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 26, P. O. Vandalia. Was born in Meigs county, Ohio, May 28, 1830, and in 1852 came from there to this county, and since that time has resided here. He was raised as a farmer and now owns a farm of two hundred acres, well-improved and in cultivation. His marriage was in Ohio, in 1853, to Miss Sarah A. Tippy. They have one daughter living, Ida; and one son deceased, Alanson W. PETERS, B. F.-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 4, P. O. East Des Moines. Is a native of Orange county, Indiana, and was born on the twenty-seventh of May, 1832. He lived there until twenty-one years of age, and then came to this State in 1853, locating in this county. He has since resided here with the exception of one season spent in Colorado, and one year in Taylor county, this State. He located in Des Moines in the fall of 1861 and remained in that city until he came to his present home, which consists of two hundred and sixty acres, which he has made by industry and economy. He also owns about one hundred acres in other counties, some of which is in Warren county. In 1857 he obtained two hundred acres by warrants in Page county, and after partly improving the same sold it for a good sum. He has held various district offices. Mr. Peters was married in Floyd county, Indiana, in February, 1856, to Miss Phebe C. Keith, a native of that State. They have a family of five children living: William N., Mary E., Emma C., Charles F. and Etta May. The ancestors of his parents were from Kentucky, and, on both sides, of English origin. PORTER, REZIN-Retired farmer, section 2, P. O. Vandalia. Was born on the twenty-fifth of December, 1831, in Ross county, Ohio, and was raised there at farming as his occupation until about nineteen years of age. In the fall of 1847 he came to this county with his parents, locating in this township, and has since made this county his home. April 4, 1863, he enlisted in company D, Seventh Iowa volunteer cavalry, and was discharged in May of 1866. During the latter part of his service he was out on the plains participating in all the battles of his company and regiment. He 930 BIOGRAPHICAL. was married in this county February 5, 1856, to Miss Maria McCall, a native of Illinois. Mr. Porter's ancestors were natives of the State of Maryland. PRICER, W. A.-Farmer, section 5, P. O. Adelphi. Was born in Ross county, Ohio, April 10, 1832, and was raised there at farming as an occupation, until he reached his majority. From there he came to this county in the fall of 1855, and since that time he has resided here, with the exception of two years spent in his native State. During the late war he enlisted in August, 1862, and was discharged on account of disability, after having served about one year. He is one of the present township trustees. Mr. Pricer was married first in this county, in 1865, to Miss Margaret Garrett, who died in 1867, leaving two children: Frank E. and Nettie. Was married the second time to Josie Irwin, in 1874. They have two children: Effie and Nellie. Owns eighty acres of land. SELLARS, IRA S.-Farmer, section 22, P. O. Vandalia. Was born in Butler county, Ohio, December 1, 1813, and was raised there until about nineteen years of age. when he removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, with his parents. He was brought up as a farmer and continued that occupation until he reached his majority, then studied medicine, which he afterward practiced in Indiana and this State together, for about twenty years. He then engaged in agricultural pursuits as his principal vocation, which he has since followed, and at the same time has practiced his profession more or less. Was married in Cass county, Indiana, September 13, 184-, to Miss Nancy Williams, a native of Ohio. They have three sons and two daughters living: Emily, James M., Annie M:, Nathaniel T. and John S. Have lost one. SEXTON, M. C.-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 11, P. O. Vandalia. Is a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and was born March 11, 1822. When only a child his parents moved to Ohio, and there he was raised, making it his home until 1847. Then removed to Indiana and resided there until he came to this State, settling on his present homestead in 1857. Between the years 1863 and '65 he went back to Indiana, but with that exception has resided here since first coming Owns two hundred and forty acres of land with good improvement. He was raised on a farm and has made that his principal vocation during life. Has held the offices of justice of the peace one term, and school treasurer for four terms-three terms in succession. His marriage was in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, in August, 1849, to Miss Jane Rawson of Virginia. They have three sons and two daughters living: James B., Alcesta (wife of John Monasmith), Maria (wife of H. N. Groves), Francis M. and Orion. Lost one son, Van R. His. ancestors on both his father's and mother's side were natives of the Southern States. STEWART, J. B.-Farmer, section 11, P. O. Vandalia. Was born in Christian county, Illinois, February 3, 1843, and when three years of age his parents came to this county, settling here in 1846. Since that time he has lived here with the exception of eleven years that he lived in Nebraska. He returned to this county in the fall of 1879. Has held the office of constable. Was married in this county to Miss I. S. Foutch in 1866. She is a native of Illinois. They have a family of five children: H. S., Mary E., Lucy E., Maggie D. and Emma B. Mr. Stewart owns one hundred and fifty-six and a half acres of land.