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. FOUR MILE TOWNSHIP. BARLOW, THOMAS E.--Farmer, section 2, P. O. Rising Sun. Among the prominent and successful farmers of Polk county is the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Shelby county, Indiana, and was born March 29, 1829. Made that county his home until about twenty-two years of age and had all the advantages of a common school education. He was there married to Miss Eliza J. Bonner, January 10, 1850. She is a native of the same place. They came to this county in June, 1852, by wagon, and were one month on the road. Entered 230 acres of land from the government in this township, and he is now the owner of 200 acres, all well improved. They have one daughter, Mary (now Mrs. A. B. Sims). The career of Mr. Barlow has been both honorable and successful, and he has always enjoyed FOUR MILE TOWNSHIP. 919 the confidence and respect of the community in which he has resided. Every good cause receives his hearty support. BARLOW, JESSE-Farmer, section 3, P. O. Rising Sun. Was born in Shelby county, Indiana, May 6, 1834, and when in his eighteenth year removed from there to this county, where he has since resided. He received a common school education. Was married in this county to Miss Lucy J. Madden, a native of Pennsylvania. They have had four children, two of whom are now living at home. BURK, ALEXANDER-Farmer, section 1, P. O. Rising Sun. Was born April 10, 1832, in the State of Virginia, and when two years of age was taken to Adams county, Illinois. From there he came to this county in the fall of 1844, settling in Beaver township. In 1877 he moved upon his present homestead of fifty acres of well-improved land. He has been twice married. First to Miss Harriet Shaw, a native of Wapello county, this State. She died May 30, 1876, leaving six children living, and he married for his second wife Miss Olive Rooker, a native of New York, but raised here. They have two children living. CREWSE, J. C.-Farmer, section 14, P. O. Rising Sun. Was born in North Carolina, February 4,1842, and when eight years of age moved to Hendricks county, Indiana, received a common school education, and there he lived until the fall of 1860, since which time he has for the most part lived in this county. He was married in this county, about the year 1861 ,to Miss Sarah F. Boatwright, a native of Indiana. They had nine children, six of whom are living, all at home. He is the owner of 140 acres of land. ELLIS, Rev. D. R.-Minister and farmer, section 3, P. O. Rising Sun. Was born in Orleans county, New York, August 3, 1841, and made that place his home until ten years of age, when he moved to Marshall county, Illinois. In the spring of 1855 he came to this county. He never had any but a common school education. He owns 177-1/2 acres of land. December 23, 1865, he married Miss M. J. Ellis, a native of Wisconsin. They are the parents of seven children, five now living. Mr. Ellis is pastor of the Christian Church. He preaches at four regular places, Rising Sun being the principal place of worship. That church was organized under his jurisdiction and has about eighty members. JOHNSON; R. B. and G. M .-Farmers, section 1, P. O. Rising Sun, sons of Samuel A. Johnson, of Valley township, this county, and were born in Knox county, Ohio. In the fall of 1853 they moved to this county and have resided here ever since. They received their education in the common schools. They are owners of ninety acres of well-improved land. LEFTWICH, CHARLES--Farmer, section 1, P. O. Rising Sun. Intimately associated with the early history and struggles of this county, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Breckenridge county, Kentucky, on the 5th day of April, 1820, and until eighteen years of age lived in his native State. In 1838 he removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he lived until 1846, when he carne to this county and made a claim near where he now resides, moving his family in November of that year. He owns a farm of 333 acres in a good state of cultivation, and a fine forest grove of forty acres adds much to its appearance and value. Mr. Leftwich was married January 7, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Oglevie. She was born in Harrison county, Indiana, November 5, 1827. They have a family of eight 920 BIOGRAPHICAL. children living: George W., Zachary T. (both living in Nebraska), Thomas E., Annette, Jerry T., May, Rose and Laura D. Have lost five: Eliza J., Ruth E., Catharine E., James R. and John R. MARTIN, DR. I.W.-Eclectic physician and surgeon Rising Sun. Was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, November 11, 1838, and at the age of four years moved to La Porte county, same State, residing there until 1856. He then moved to Dallas county, this State, where he remained until 1860, and then went to Chicago, Illinois. While there he studied medicine with Dr. J. R. Duncan, and graduated from the Bennett Medical College in the spring of 1875. That same year he came to the place where he now resides. He has a good practice and is well liked by all. He was married in Dallas county, August 12, 1860, to Hannah J. Rigg, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, August 31, 1837. They have two children living: Walter (born March 28, 1867), and Maudie (born June 26, 1874). Lost two: Eddie (born September 20, 1864, died July 20, 1866). Their eldest daughter was born May 14,1861, and died September 20,1864. MOSTELLER, DR. E. C.-Physician, Rising Sun. Was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, June 22, 1845, and was twenty-two years of age when he moved to Neosho county, Kansas. There he lived for three years, and in 1870 came to this county, where he has since resided. Having made choice of medicine as a profession he commenced its study and attended lectures at the Rush Medical College of Chicago, and also at an eclectic school, graduating from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati. He practices some in both schools, enjoys a good business, and is well respected by all who know him. During the late war he was mustered into the. service in September, 1861, in the Tenth Illinois cavalry, and was discharged for disability at Camp Butler in 1863. Was mostly in detached service, and in 1864 was mustered into the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Illinois infantry and served to the close of the war. Dr. Mosteller is of acknowledged ability as a physician, and he is a welcome visitor in the sick room. Was married August 22, 1869, to Miss Love Bell Holliday, a native of Muscatine county, Iowa. She died November 12, 1870, at Medoc, Jasper county, Missouri, leaving one child, Resin, who died February 2, 1871. His second marriage was to Rachel, daughter of Eliza Wicker, of Camp township; March 6,1872. She was born in this county October 9, 1851. They are the parents of four children; Love N. (born January 11, 1873, died April 5, 1873), Eva (born June 2, 1874), Maud (born August 15, 1877), and Lottie (born July 6, 1879). SIMS, A. B.-Farmer, section 2, P.O. Rising Sun. Was born in this county January 30, 1849, and has resided here since. He is the owner of 196 acres of land. He married Miss F., daughter of Thos. E. Barlow, of this county. She was born in Indiana. STUART, LEVEN-Farmer, section 12, P. O. Rising Sun. Was born May 10, 1838, in Putnam county, Indiana, and lived there until two years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Adams county, Illinois. He received a common school education, and in March, 1847, came to this county, where he has since resided. He owns 157 acres of land, well improved. He was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Carter, a native of Wayne county, Indiana. They are the parents of five children, four are now living at home. STUART, BAZEL-Farmer, section 7, P. O. Rising Sun. Was born in Adams county, Illinois, and at the age of two years moved to Polk ALLEN TOWNSHIP. 921 county and has resided here since. He received a common school education. September 19, 1862, he was mustered into the service in company C, Twenty-third Iowa infantry, participated in the battles of Champion's Hill; Port Gibson, Black River, Vicksburg and Spanish Fort, beside numerous skirmishes. He was mustered out in 1865. October 27, 1868, he was married to Miss Sarah Ann Woodard, a native of Macoupin county, Illinois. They are the parents of five children, all of whom are living. He owns 160 acres of well-Improved land. STUART, J. W.-Farmer, section 6, P. 0. Rising Sun. Was born in Adams county, Illinois, October 16, 1841, and in March, 1847, came to this county, living here since. He owns 100 acres of land, well improved. He was married to Miss E. C. Arney, a native of Indiana. She died March 25, 1878, aged thirty years. They had three children, two now living at home. September 19, 1862, he enlisted in company C, Twenty-third Iowa infantry, and was mustered out in 1865. He participated in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, Esperanza, Texas, and Spanish Fort, beside many skirmishes. STUART, ELIZABETH-Farmer, section 1, P. 0. Rising Sun. Was born in Roanoke county, North Carolina, August 13, 1815, and when fourteen years of age moved to Clark county, Indiana. From there she went to Adams county, Illinois, and to this county, in March, 1847. She married, June 14, 1844, to David Stuart, who was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, Sept 15, 1811, and died November 28, 1865, on the farm she now occupies. This farm he entered from the government, and it consists of eighty acres of land. She has had eleven children, nine of whom are living. Two daughters, single, are living at home. WINTERROWD, JOSEPH-Farmer, section 6, P. O. East Des Moines. Was born October 8, 1847, and when four years of age came to this township and has lived here ever since. Was educated in the common schools, and now owns eighty acres of well-improved land. September 6, 1876, he was married to Miss Sarah Arney, a native of Huntington county, Indiana. They have one child living. WINTERROWD, ANDERSON-Farmer, section 12, P. 0. Rising Sun. Is the son of J. F. Winterrowd, of East Des Moines, and was born in this county on the place where he now resides, June 25, 1856. He has lived here ever since, and was married, October 31, 1876, to Miss Mary A. Barlow, who died March 16, 1879. He owns eighty acres of land, all well improved.