History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa
Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884.
Walnut Township
Transcribed by Bobbi Pohl
Jesse R. Comly, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Thompson) Comly, was born in Elk county, Pennsylvania , January 26, 1844 . With his parents he moved to Center county, in the same state, and remained there until he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to Powesheik county, Iowa, and from there came to Adair county, then going to Casey, and in February, 1878, came to present location in Walnut township, on section 29, where he bought one hundred and tweny acres, all of which he has under cultivation. He has a comfortable residence, and good stables, a large crib, and stock yards. He has a grove started, and has an orchard which has just commenced to bear, and has the best location in the township for a farm. He follows farming and stock-raising, and has some graded shorthorn cattle, and is also turning his attention to the Duroc hogs, having a nice bunch of them on hand. He was married in September, 1873, to Miss Alice M. Buck, a daughter of William and Mary (Patterson) Buck, in Powesheik county. They have two children--Ardon B. and Troy F. Mr. Comly is a member of the Friends church.
R. C. Hollenbeak, a son of Armont N. and Permelia (Decker) Hollenbeak, was born in DeKalb county, Illinois , June 14, 1851 . He came to Walnut township, Adair county, May 17, 1876 , and settled on section 7, owning the south half of the same, which he has improved. He has a good frame residence, from which a good view of the surrounding country can be had. He has a large grove and an orchard, a good barn, granaries, and suitable machinery for running the farm. He was married in DeKalb county, Illinois , December 16, 1874 , to Miss Emma R. Brown, a daughter of Jeremiah L. and Eliza A. (Jackman) Brown. He is a farmer and stock-raiser, having Poland-China hogs and a herd of graded shorthorns, at the head of which is the imported Hereford , Gordon, which was shipped from England some six months ago.
John D. Keeney, son of Ira and Betsey Keeney, was born December 7, 1832 , in South Manchester , Hartford county, Connecticut . In March, 1859, he removed to Beloit , Wisconsin , and from there went to Pike's Peak , returning to Wisconsin in August, 1859. He then entered a papermill as superintendent of machinery, which position he held for four years, then taking the foremanship of the mill, holding the same eight years. In 1872 he, in connection with two brothers, built a paper-mill in Rockford , Illinois , and after running it for eight years sold his interest to his brothers. April 1, 1881 , he came to Walnut township, Adair county, settling on the southwest quarter of sction 5, and owns the north west quarter of section 6, and southwest forty acres of the same section, and has seven acres of timber in Guthrie county. He is a general farmer and the owner of three pedigreed stallions--one Norman-Clydesdale, and Consternation and Black Hawk, all being fast horses. His herd of shorthorns is headed by the registered thoroughbred Prince Jerry. His residence makes a fine appearance, and is so situated as to give a splendid view of the surrounding country. The town of Adair can be seen from there, and Casey is just three miles distant. His barn, like his house, is in good condition, the main part being 42x42, and has large additions. He uses all the modern improvements for farming, including hayforks. His first marriage was solemnized December 4, 1859 . He has four children by that marriage--Walter, Jennie, Hatie and Marble. He was married June 20, 1875 , to Miss Sarah Winn, a daughter of Chester and Harriet (Shaffer) Winn. Mr. Keeney is a member of the A. O. U. W., and of Ellis lodge No. 166, of Rockford , Illinois .
Norris Keeney, a farmer and stock-raiser on section 8. He was born on the 14th of February, 1824, in Connecticut, and in 1850 moved to Massachusetts, and there worked at the paper-making trade until 1856, when he came to Wisconsin, and in 1871 came to Iowa, settling on his present location in Walnut township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land under cultivation. He has a large barn and an excellent house, several beautiful groves and a large and bearing orchard. He has some fine Hereford and shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and from his place has a fine view of Adair and of the surrounding country. In 1870 and '71 there were deer roaming over the wild prairie, which is now covered with groves and meadows. Mr. Keeney was married on the 31st of August, 1851 , to Miss Anna Lord. By this union they have had four children--Vesta A., Ella A., Charles F. and George A.
Philip Nolan is a native of Highland county, Ohio , and was born May 7, 1843 , his parents being Philip and Eva (Funk) Nolan. In January, 1868, he removed to Marion county, Iowa , from there to Jasper county, and from Jasper county came to Walnut township, Adair county, October 22, 1882 , and settled on the southeast quarter of section 17, which he bought of Nathan Workman. He has a grove, a good residence, granaries, etc., and, in fact, his farm is well improved, and he carries on general farming. His first marriage took place in Ohio on the 17th day of April, 1885, to Miss Martha J. Young, a daughter of Lewis and Barbara (Workman) Young, and she died July 8, 1873 . He was again married in Jasper county, Iowa , on the 17th of September, 1877 , to Miss Christine Johnson, a daughter of Morris and Elizabeth Johnson. His residence is located so as to obtain a good view of the surrounding country.
John Roper was born on the 30th of October, 1830 , in Yorkshire , England . He came to America in September, 1852, being just one month on the sea, and coming to Brooklyn, New York, he made that his home for two years, when he came to Illinois, first settling in Mercer county, and then in Genesco, where he remained until 1874, when he came to Adair county, Iowa, and bought a farm to Walnut township, where he has since remained. When his house was first erected a storm approached, and did considerable damage to his building, which was a great loss to Mr. Roper. He is a general farmer and stock-raiser. He is a general farmer and stock-raiser, has a fine grove, and some of the finest Clydesdale stock in the county, and many fine cattle and hogs. He has a splendid view of the surrounding country, having a distinct view of the towns Adair, Greenfield and Fontanelle, and has some land in three or four townships in the county. Mr. Roper was married in 1851, in England , to Miss Myram Stephenson. They have been blessed with eight children--John W., George, Sarah, Charles, Frank, Minnie and Fred. He is one of the most prominent men in the township, and greatly rewards the prominence given him. In the early part of his life he learned the carpenter trade, and in England and in this country followed it as a mode of livelihood, until coming to Adair county.
Moses Stockwell - Another early settlement was made in this township [Walnut] by Moses Stockwell in 1868. he was born in Louisville , Kentucky , May 12, 1839 , and removed to Ohio when quite a small boy. He emigrated to Illinois , in 1845, where he remained until 1863, when he came to Iowa and located in Guthrie county. As above stated, he came to this township in 1868, where he entered land on section 4, his present residence.
Lewis Underwood came to Walnut tonwhip with his family in April, 1854, from Henry county, this state. He was a native of South Carolina , but had lived for some years in Randolph county, Indiana and come to Iowa from there in 1855. He settled upon section 12, where he built a cabin, which is still standing, being used as a granary on the farm, which is owned by Gow brothers. Mr. Underwood died on this place in 1867, and was buried near Middle river . He left a widow and four children--Axiom, Andrew, Lucinda and Elizabeth. The widow died some year and a half ago, at the residence of Stover Rinard, in Jefferson township.
A. G. Weeks, a Mormon preacher, who is a native of Polk county, Indiana, settled upon section 3 [Walnut township], during the year of 1855. He remained her until the 1863, when he disposed of his property to R. H. Marshall. HIs present residence is in Missouri.
Robert H. West was a native of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , having been born on the 29th of April, 1830 . When about twenty-six years of age he moved to Kentucky , where he lived for years. And on the 25th of February, 1850 , removed to Illinois . In 1855, to Adair county, and settled in Washington township. In 1876 he came to his present location in Walnut township, and bought two hundred and forty acres of land, all under cultivation; has a large grove and beautiful evergreens around his house. He has some fine cattle and horses, and is known as a fine stock-raiser. He was united in marriage in Campbell county, Kentucky , November 20, 1855 , to Miss Nancy Gosney, by whom he has had six children--John L., Mary A., William W., Harvey E., Addie F. and Jesse A. Mr. West has held the position of road supervisor, and school director.
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