History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa
Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884.
Harrison Township
Transcribed by Bobbi Pohl
John H. Fisher came to Harrison and located at Port Union, January 14, 1883 , and engaged in the mercantile business with his brother James. He was born in Mercer county, West Virginia , February 4, 1862 . In 1863 he removed with his parents to Iowa , settling in Cedar county. After a year's residence in Cedar county he came to Port Union, as heretofore stated. His father died in 1862 at Camp Douglas , Chicago , Illinois . At present his mother resides at Durant , Iowa .
James W. Fisher - January 14, 1883 , James W. Fisher, son of John and Arabella (Fisher) Fisher, located at Port Union, Harrison township, engaging in the mercantile business. He was born in Montgomery county, West Virginia , February 19, 1885 [sic], and when four years of age went with his parents to Mercer county, where they remained about three years. They then removed to Giles county, and in 1865 returned to Mercer county. In 1868 they emigrated to Iowa , locating in Cedar county, where he was employed as a farm hand, after which they removed to Durant. Here he attended school until 1878, after which he taught school for five years in Scott county. He was married near Durant, in Scott county, March 11, 1880 , to Ida Bry, daughter of Captain Randolph and Theresa (Johnson) Bry, Rev. R. H. Ingram officiating. He is postmaster at Port Union, receiving his commission February 16, 1883 . He is also township clerk.
George Ford was born in New Jersey , near Trenton , April 29, 1838 . He was the son of George and Phoebe ( Hutchinson ) Ford, natives of New Jersey . In the fall of 1838 he removed with his parents to Columbiana county, Ohio , and from there to Cedar cojunty, Iowa , in 1852. In 1875 he came to this township [Harrison], settling on section 8, where he still resides upon a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, all under cultivation. On the 22d day of October, 1863, he was first married to Lavina Wilkes, and they ahd three children, one of whom is dead. Emma and Phebe L. are the names of the two living. His second marriage occurred in Cedar county, Mary E. Buzzell, daughter of Gilman and Eliza (Watson) Buzzell, being his bride. By this union they have six children--Willie G., Lavina M., Grace E., George G., Harry G.. and Glenn L. He raises considerable stock of a good grade, and has a nice residence surrounded by a grove of about two acres, besides other good and substantial out-buildings. He also has an orchard of one hundred and sixty fine trees. He is a member of the Christian church.
J. M. Head resides on section 10 of this township [ Harrison ]. He is the son of Thomas and Mary (Fallman) Head, and was born in Fairfield county, Ohio , in October, 1838. He came with his parents to Shelby county, Illinois , 1842, and in 1870 came to Stuart , Iowa . His father died in 1856, and after coming to Iowa , his mother's death occurred in 1875. In February, 1881, he came to his present location, and has one hundred and sixty acres of land in a fine state of cultivation. He was married in Illinois , November 9, 1871 , to Ella Ide, daughter of Jesse and Roxanna (Nye) Ide, and six children were born to them--Merritt, Blanche, Eva, Mabel, Edith and Elsie. Has a fine grove of trees about his residence, and a bearing orchard of about two acres. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge at Stuart, his first membership with that order dating back as far as 1878.
Elijah Jones is a native of Holmes county, Ohio , being born September 16, 1831 . He is the son of William and Rebecca (Skeeles) Jones, who both died in Ohio . In March, 1870, he emigrated to Iowa , settling in Harrison township, on section 5. He was united in marriage in October, 1857, in Ohio , to Elizabeth Lenocker, daughter of David and Susan (Dubi) Lenocker, natives of Ohio , who are both dead at present. They have seven children living--Byron W., Milton D., Villa F., Ella M., John H., Alma M. and Gertrude J. He is justice of the peace, having served in that capacity for six years. He has six hundred and thirty acres of land, one hundred and sixty of which is in section 5, and the balance in sections 8, 6, 18, and 30. He raises some fine stock, having a thoroughbred animal, imported from England at the head of his herd of cattle, and hogs of the Poland-China grade. He also makes a specialty of raising bees, having a large number of stands. His residence is one of the finest in the township, being in a fine location, and commanding a beautiful view of the surrounding country. There are also three other houses upon the farm. There is a bearing orchard of about four acres, besides four or five acres of grove and shade trees about the place.
Edward Lee made a settlement on section 34 [ Harrison township], in the fall of 1859. He is a native of England , coming to this country in 1849. He remained in the state of New York several years, and located in Madison county, Iowa , in 1857, from which place he came to Harrison township, where he still resides. He has been married twice since coming to America , his first wife dying in New York in 1853. He enlisted in Company D, 29th Iowa infantry, in 1862, and was mustered out at Davenport , August 13, 1865 .
William McAferty - Among the prominent, as well as pioneer, settlers of Harrison township is William McAferty, who resides on section 23 [ Harrison township]. He came from Madison county and settled upon the farm now owned by M. L. Beaman, on section 20, in the year 1857. William McAferty is the son of John and Letitia (Leach) McAferty, and was born in 1839, in Linn county, Iowa . He moved from there to Madison county in 1855, where he lived for two years, and then came to this county, where he has since resided. He has a farm of two hundred and forty acres, eighty of which is under cultivation, and the other one hundred and sixty is fenced. A fine grove surrounds two acres, and there is also a good orchard. It is a finely located farm, being well adapted for the raising of grain, all of which is fed on the farm, he being extensively engaged in stock-raising. His father died in California in 1853, and his mother now resides in Greenfield , being the wife of William McDonald. Mr. McAferty is a member of the A.F. and A.M., having become a Mason in Dexter.
John M. McCauley, the son of William and Sarah ( Douglas ) McCauley, was born in Richland county, Ohio , August 15, 1826 . In 1850 he moved from there to Cedar county, Iowa . In 1852 he went across the plains to Oregon , where he remained three years, and in the latter part of 1854 came back as far as Colorado , making part of the return trip by ocean. In 1856 he returned to Cedar county, Iowa , and in February, 1869, he moved from there to Adair county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 1, in Harrison township. He was married in Cedar county, August 14, 1858 , to Miss Phoebe Treadwell, daughter of Mulford and Julia A. (Metscan) Treadwell. They have six children-- Charley U. , Sallie, Anna, William M., Ruth and Capitola B. He is a farmer and stock-raiser, having one hundred and thirty head of Poland-China hogs. Has a good grade of cattle, with a thoroughtbred shorthorn at the head of the herd. The farm is conveniently located near several towns, and contains a bearing orchard of one hundred and forty trees. Mr. McCauley has been school director, and is a present secretary of the school board. He is also a member of Mt. Tabor Lodge, A. F. and A. M. of Dexter, and has an apron with the emblems of the order on it, which is very fine. He joined this order in 1854, while in Jacksonville , Oregon .
Robert J. Murphy, a son of James and Sarah (Denkins) Murphy, was born in Clay county, Indiana, on the 2d of January, 1837 . Removed with his parents to Boone county, Iowa , in 1853, and to Adair conty on the 1st of September, 1854 . He settled on section 25, in Harrison township, while a resident of that section, was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha (Key) Neese, daughter of William and Nancy Key. He now lives on section 3, of Grand River township.
James Roberts, who resides in section 36 [ Harrison township], is among the earliest and best known settlers of this township. He settled with his family upon the foregoing named section, September 19, 1854 . His first dwelling was a small cabin, 16x18, with stick and clay chimney. At that time they were obliged to go below Winterset to get corn ground, and to Indianola, Warren county, for flour. Mr. Roberts is Kentuckian by birth, being an active old gentleman of seventy-six years, who looks after his farm and attends to all his business affairs. He has been married three times, and has raised a large family of children.
John B. Rogers is one of the early settlers of Harrison township. He emigrated from his native state, Ohio , in 1860, to Richland county, Illinois , and in the spring of 1861 settled on section 8, this township [ Harrison ], where he still resides. He was deputy auditor for one year, after which he engaged in the insurance and land business at Orient and Fort Union . At present he owns the store and grist-mill at the latter place. He was married in Adair county to Almira J. Stowell, daughter of W. M. and Miriam W. (Palmer) Stowell. The have two children living--Frank and Mabel.
Wm. M. Stowell, a mechanic by trade, and son of Lucius and Sarah (Ketchum) Stowell, was born January 3, 1825, in the town of Virgil, Courtland county, New York; was married to Marian W. Palmer, daughter of Ebeneser and Polly M. Palmer, of the same place, September 25, 1849; was born to them there three sons--Henry D.M., Herman D. V. and Herbert M.; one daughter, Ida V. April 24, 1857, removed to Crestline, Crawford county, Ohio; born to them there, Almina J. and William Sherman; was a member of the Advent churh, October 30, 1861; enlisted at Mansfield in the 64th Ohio volunteers as member of the cornet band; broke camp December 17 and went aboard train for Cincinnati; 18th, went to Louisville, Kentucky, on the boat Jacob Strader; 19th, went into camp one mile south of the city, here being organized into brigade of three regiments--64th and 65th Ohio, and 51st Indiana, Col. Harker commanding; December 26, received marching orders, being attached to the Army of the Tennessee, under General Buel, marching through Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama, and counter-marched back to Kentucky; was with the army in several engagements such as Shiloh, Corinth, Iynca, etc. Received discharge papers at Nashville , Tennessee , September 9, 1862 . He was paid off at Louisville , Kentucky ; discharged by reason of General Buel's general order, No. 44, August 13, 1862 , requesting all bands mustered out of service. He then continued with the army in the capacity of sutler until February 10, 1864 , and was with them at the battles of Stone river, Tullahoma and Chattanooga . He returned home to his family, in Ohio , February 12, 1864 . On October 13, 1867 , he removed to Harrison township, Adair county, Iowa , and located on his present farm, of two hundred acres, in northwest quarter of section 21, range 76-30. He traveled quite extensively through the United States in 1875 and 1876, and visited California , Oregon , Washington Territory and British Columbia , since which time he has been occupied on the farm. He has held offices of township trustee, school director, president of the board and road supervisor district No. 5.
William Thomas - In April, 1855, William Thomas settled on section 32. He was born in Madison county, Kentucky , August 3, 1810 , and when twelve years of age the family removed to Monroe county, Indiana, where they resided about five years. After a residence in Putnam and Vigo counties, Indiana, and Boone county, Iowa, he settled on the present homestead in Harrison township. He was first married in October, 1850, to Elizabeth Godwin, of North Carolina , who died April 17, 1877 . He was again married to Charlotta Baldwin, a native of New York .
Levi Watts was born in Holmes county, Ohio , on the 20th of October, 1845 , his parents being John and Elizabeth (Gardener) Watts . From there he came to Harrison township, in 1876, where he settled on section 7, having purchased a farm of two hundred and forty-seven acres, all of which is under cultivation. He has a five acre bearing orchard and a nice grove the same size. There is a good stream of water running through the farm and which makes it a desirable place for the raising of stock. He has a good herd of graded shorthorns with a seven eighth shorthorn at the head of the herd; he also raises Poland-China hogs. He was married in Ohio to Miss Sarah E. Owen, daughter of Thomas and Martha Owen, on the 26th day of February, 1871. Seven children have blessed this marriage, whose names are--Martha E., John O., Coral G., Edith M., Maud, Eva and Laura. Mr. Watts has been road superintendent for five years. He is a member of Mt. Zion Christian church.
George Wright - One of the pioneer settlers of Harrison is found in the personage of George Wright, who was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky , September 20, 1826 . He removed with his parents to Rush county, Indiana, when about three years of age, where they remained until 1835. After a residence in Hancock county, Indiana, Knox county, Illinois , Lee county, Illinois , he came to this township in 1857, and entered land on section 13, where he still resides. In 1851 he was united in marriage to Mary A. Robertson, in Henry county, Illinois , she being the daughter of Larkin and Mary (Cox) Robertson. She has since died. He was married the second time, in 1864, to Mary Lucas, daughter of Solomon and Mary (Roberts) Lucas.
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