History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa
Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884.
Grove Township
Transcribed by Bobbi Pohl
Hiram Sackett, a native of Delaware county, Ohio , was born February 22, 1832 . He is the son of Elijah and Malinda (Lee) Sackett, and was the second child of a family of thirteen. He spent most of his life in Ohio at farming. In September, 1874, he emigrated to Iowa , settling on section 24 in this township, but subsequently came to section 26, where he resides at present, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which are a natural grove and an orchard of about an acre. He was married October 7, 1861 , to Mary E. Brown, a native of Delaware county, Ohio , and the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Hedges) Brown. They have seven children--Lyman E., Frank, Dudley, Harry, Orville, Clark, Lillian, the latter dying January 17, 1869 , at the age of four years. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church, and is republican in politics.
Samuel Wilson, son of Asa and Hannah ( Hopkins ) Wilson, natives of New York , was born in Washington county, New York . When six years of age he went with his parents to Ohio , where he received an education in the common schools and at Auburn seminary. In 1871 he came to Iowa, locating on section 28, where he still lives, and owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in a good state of cultivation, on which is an orchard of five acres. He is a member and also an elder of the Presbyterian church, and has held the offices of township clerk and treasurer. He was married November 1, 1855 , to Mary W. Hawley, of Lawrence county, Ohio , and have three children living--Alice M., Robert M., Wallace.
S. C. Bloom is a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania , and was born July 31, 1833 , his parents being Samuel and Mary ( Campbell ) Bloom. They had eleven children and the subject of this sketch was the oldest of them. The Bloom homestead in Pennsylvania had been held by the family before the revolutionary war. When S. C. was six years of age, his parents removed to Richland county where he resided until 1852, following the occupation of farming. He came to Iowa in January, 1852, locating in Keokuk county. After staying there one year, he went to Louisa county, whre he resided nine years. He enlisted in Company F, 28th Iowa , Colonel William Stone, serving some three months. He was honorably discharged, and returned to his home. He came to Adair county and bought his farm in June, 1865. It was then wild land, but soon succumbed to the influence of cultivation. He bought his present farm in 1869, and on it extablished his home. The farm contains six hundred and eighty acres of as good land as there is in the twonship, and it is well improved. He carries on farming and stock-raising. His land is bottom land, timber and upland prairie. he was married November 15, 1854 , to Miss Frances Mont, a daughter of James and Jane Mont, of Richland county. They had ten children, of whom seven are living--S. J., Mary Jane, Laura Maria, Andrew Taylor, Eva, Smantha, Chester E., and George Arthur. The three deceased were--Frances Jane, Albert LeRoy, and Stephen Culver. He is one of the substantial men of Washington township.
John McCrea, one of the most prominent men of Grove township, is a native of Indiana county, Pennsylvania , and was born December 12, 1832 , and was there reared. His parents, Thompson and Anna (McKessen) McCrea, were also born in that county. From the time he was eleven years of age he was on the tow-path, until he was fifteen years of age, when he took charge of a boat, and then learned the carpenter trade. The only education Mr. McCrea redeived was from a book which he got hold of on the tow-path and studied. In 1855 he went to Davenport , Iowa , where he followed the trade of carpenter and joiner till 1860, when he married and went to farming, and has continued the same ever since. When he arrived in Davenport he had only about six dollars and fifteen cents with him, having worked his way on a steamboat from Pittsburgh . In February, 1880, he came to Grove township, Adair county, to his present location on section 33. he was married February 14, 1860 , to Ann G. Skiles, a native of Pennsylvania . They have six children living-- James T., Clara B., Porter Tl, Harvey C., Roy E. and Nettie L. There are two dead--Maggie and Robert. Mr. McCrea is a republican in politics, and has been honored by offices a number of times, being now a member of the county board of supervisors, and is the nominee of the same party for the next term. He is also a trustee of Grove township, and has been school director, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. He has a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, and all in a good state of cultivation.
Charles D. Sackett, who resides on section 29, is a native of Delaware county, Ohio , and was born December 17, 1840 . He came with his parents to McLean county, Illinois , when twelve years of age, and in August, 1861, enlisted in Company I, 3d Illinois cavalry, as a private, and was discharged as second lieutenant in September, 1865. He was in the Sherman Visksburg campaign, Arkansas Post, Pea Ridge, with General A. J. Smith, at Cupola, and with General Thomas at Nashville, Tennessee, and was sent to Devil's Lake to keep the Indians in check in 1865. He then returned to Illinois , where he remained until 1874, when he came to Iowa , locating where he now resides. He has a farm of eighty acres, and owns an interest in eighty acres on section 10 [Grove township]. April 25, 1864 , he was married to Mary Gordon, of Franklin county, Ohio . They have ten children--Gearge G., Lucy L., Arthur, Mabel, Gertrude, Abe, Charles El, Bertha, Ella, and Jessie. Mr. Sackett was assessor and secretary of the school board for two terms, and is the present constable of the township. He is also a member of the G. A. R.
W. E. Walbridge is a native of Vermont . He was born in Bennington , March 8, 1856 , and was the fifth child of a family of eight children. At the age of twenty-one he went to New York City , and was engaged in a wholesale establishment. He enlisted in Company A, 4th Vermont regiment, in September, 1861, and after his discharge returned to Vermont . In the spring of 1873 he came to Des Moines , Iowa , and engaged in the gardening business, and in the spring of 1884 exchanged his property there for his present farm. He was married June 14, 1860 , to Anna Rice, of Bennington , Vermont . They have three children--Charles S., William E., and Eugene H.
J. P. Irish was born in Erie county, New York , August 25, 1837 , and is the son of Jeduthun and Phoebe (Harrington) Irish. He came with his parents to DeKalb county, Illinois , when three years of age, where he resided until eighteen years of age, when they removed to Cedar county, Iowa , and in 1874 he came to his present location in this township, where he owns three hundred and seventy-five acres of land, all under cultivation and finely improved. He was married February 17, 1858, to Mary A. Craig, daughter of William Craig, of Scott county, Iowa, and have had five children--Olinda E., Ametta J., Roscoe E., Cora M. and Arthur O., deceased.
Alexander Montgomery, deceased, was born near Toronto , February 12, 1825 , and was the son of Alexander and Rebecca ( Wilson ) Montgomery. He was married February 23, 1846 , to Jane Chapman, daughter of William and Ellen (White) Chapman, natives of Canada . She was the eldest of a family of eleven children. They resided in Canada until 1870, when they came to Adair county, settling near Stuart, and in 1880 came to their present farm in this township. They had nine children--J. T., Joseph, Rebecca, George, Frank, Eleanor, Fred, William and Ernest. July 3, 1875 , Mr. Montgomery was at Greenfield attending a celebration. He started home in company with his wife and two children--Eleanor and Fred, and his eldest son's wife and her three children, and Mr. Baker, and while attempting to ford the Middle river five of the number were drowned--Mr. Mongomery, Mr. Baker, Mrs. J. T. Montgomery and her two children. Mrs. Montgomery is at present pleasantly situated on a fine farm of four hunfred acres, with a nice residence and good improvements. Her two sons, William and Ernest, manage the farm.
Jacob Rush, of Grove township, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio , May 31, 1853 . When five years of age, his parents removed to Whitley county, but the location not suiting them they went to Wayne county, Iowa . From there Jacob came to Adair county, and has since remained, pursuing the life of a farmer and stock-raiser, having attended the county schools and acquired a common school education. He has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is under cultivation, and five acres of natural grove. he is a democrat in Politics, though he has never sought for office.
E. R. Smith, farmer and stock-dealer, of Grove township, is a native of Franklin county, Kentucky , and was born March 23, 1837 . His parents were John and Rebecca (Duel) Smith, and he was their eighth child. When eleven years of age the family moved to Muscatiine , Iowa , and after remaining there some four years, went to Marengo, Iowa. Mr. Smith remained in Marengo about two years, then spent six years in Keokuk county, and from there went to Madison county, locating near Winterset in 1857. After spending about eight years at that place, he went to Teuton, Clay county, Dakota, and engaged in farming and the stock busiiness. He than returned to Winterset, and after staying four years, removed to Adair county, locating in Grove township. He took possession of his present farm in September, 1881. He has one hundrred and sixty acres of good land, all well adapted for grain or stock-raising. He was married January 17, 1859 , to Miss Sarah Dill, a native of Trimble county, Ohio . Her parents' names were John and Margaret. Eight children have blessed their union--Rebecca D., A. M., F. D., C. W., Samuel F., Ida May, Ada J. and Elmer. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the M. E. church. He is a member of the school board, and in politics is a republican.
Jonathan W. Brown, a resident of Grove township, was born in Ulster county, New York , December 31, 1828 , and was the son of Obadiah and Phoebe L. (Buchanan) Brown. He came with his parents to Monroe , New York , where he resided until 1855, when he went to Illinois . He spent several years in the South and Just before the war broke out returned to New York , where he enlisted in the spring of 1861 in the 3d New York cavalry, under Colonel Lewis, and served three years. After his discharge he returned to his home in Rochester , New York , soon after which he emigrated to Illinois , where he resided ten years. He then came to Adair county, settling on his present farm, which was at that time wild land, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred and forty of which is under cultivation and finely improved with bearing orchard of fifty-five trees besides other small fruit. June 12, 1867 , he was married to Margaret A. McClarey, who are the parents of one son--James H., born December 26, 1868 . He has held the office of township trustee and is an independent republican in politics.
Wash Carl, a native of Cedar county, Iowa , was born October 2, 1838 . He was the son of Daniel and Sarah (Iman) Carl, natives of Indiana , and one of the first settlers of Cedar county. The subject of this sketch enlisted in August, 1861, in Company E, 11th Iowa infantry. He was in the battles of Shiloh , Atlanta , Vicksburg and Champion Hill, serving three years and eleven months in all. In 1871 he came to Adair county, settling on his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres which is well improved. He was married April 10, 1863 , to Margaret J. Dwigans, of Cedar county. They have five children--Sarah F., Edward S., John, Alma B. and Ernest.
E. C. Crawford, a resident of section 29 [Grove township], and a son of William and Matilda (Churchman) Crawford, was born in Knox county, Tennessee , November 20, 1824 . When fourteen year of age, he went with his parents to Jefferson county, Tennessee, after which they removed to Hendricks county, Indiana, and in 1854 they came to Henry county, Iowa, where they resided until 1875, when he came to this county and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, where he still resides. There is also an orchard of four acres, and other small fruit. He was married February 14, 1848, to Margaret Farland, in Hendricks county, Illinois. They have four children living--William A., Alvin H., Maud E., Mary F. He has held nearly all the township offices, and has been justice of the peace for four years.
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