History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa
Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884.
Washington Township
Transcribed by Bobbi Pohl
Benjamin Briggs - Among the prominent and successful men of this township we will
not forget to mention Benjamin Briggs, who is a native of New York, born August
19, 1815. He remained in New York until twenty-five years of age when he came to
Wisconsin and took up wild land and laid out a farm. In 1870 he came to Adair
county and laid out his present farm, which contains one hundred and ten acres
of fine land, an orchard of one hundred and twenty-five bearing trees, and is
nicely situated. He was married on the 31st of October, 1839, to Miss Lydia
Slocum. They have three children--Emma, Bayman and Frank. Mr. Briggs has held
office in the township a number of terms.
S. J. Casteel is a native of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, and
was born December 5, 1829. He is the son of James and Mary (Dorr) Casteel, both
natives of Pennsylvania, and he is the second in a family of three children. The
parents both fell victims to that dread disease, small-pox, when S. J. was but
two years of age, and the task of rearing him, left as a chld without parents
fell to the lot of his grandparents. They removed to Perry county, Ohio. There
the subject of this sketch lived until 1856, when he went to Mahaska county,
Iowa, where he resided until 1863. He removed to his present location in this
county in 1865. Here he has one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, consisting
of timber and prairie, well adapted for stock, grain or grass. He is engaged in
the general pursuit of grain cultivation and stock raising. His residence and
outbuildings are kept in good repair, and the general aspect of the farm is
pleasing. He also has a valuable orchard. He was married September 10, 1856, to
Miss Mary Cove. They have six children living--William, John, Hannah Jane,
Lizzie, Josh and Asa. Mr. Casteel has held the office of justice of the peace
for seven years, to the entire satisfaction of the people.
Joseph Dunlap settled on the northwest quarter of section 24, in
1855, entering the land. He afterward purchased forty acres more, making his
farm two hundred acres. He was born in Claremont, New Hampshire, in October,
1814, and was raised on a farm. When he was twenty-two years of age he came
west, locating Wilmington, Illinois. Here he was married to Miss Catherine
Henderson, a native of the north of Ireland, who had come to New York where she
was but four years old. They have three children living--Charles H., Mary L.,
wife of Jame H. Hulbert; and George W. In 1869 Mr. Dunlap, with his family,
except Mrs. Hulbert, removed to a farm near Seattle, Washington territory, where
they now live. Mr. Dunlap was a great reader and a lover of domestic life, and
had many friends.
Shelby Garner, Sr., ranks among the early settlers of Washington
township. He was born in Wayne county, Indianda, on Middle Fork, February 8,
1816, and is the son of Laban and Jane (Littler) Garner, both natives of North
Carolina. Mr. Garner spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native
county, with the exception of four years in Montgomery county, and then removed
to Tippecanoe county. His next removal was to Warren county in the winter of the
same year. He there cultivated a farm and that has ever since been his
occupation. In 1837 he came to Iowa before the first land sale. He was at the
first land sale and was the first settler in Louisa county. When he had been
there ten years he returned to Indiana. After remaining in Indiana eighteen
months, he started, April 16, 1848, for California. He made a stop at Salt Lake
on the journey, and arrived at the gold diggings January 23, 1849. He remained
there three years, and then returned to Montgomery county, Indiana, arriving
there in 1852. In 1853 went to Louisa county again, and in November, 1854, he
settled on his present farm, and here he has seen most of the events in the
history of his township as they transpired. His farm formerly contained one
thousand acres, but as he has divided a portion of it among his children and
sold some, it now consists of two hundred and fifty acres. He was married in
May, 1852, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, to Miss Elizabeth Thompson, daughter
of Samuel and Sarah (Taylor) Thompson, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio,
respectively. They have seven children living, whose names are--Peter, Henry,
Elizabeth, Shelby, Sam W., and Sarah. Two of their children have died --Hannah
and Laban. Mr. Garner has never aspired to hold office, but enjoys the
confidence of his neighbors in a large degree. E. S. was married to Elizabeth
Adams, daughter of John and Rebecca Adams, July 23, `837. She died August 17,
1847. Peter and Laban were sons of his first wife.
Henry Griffin is a native of Walworth county, Wisconsin, and was
born January 26, 1846, his parents being Elias and Isabella (Charlton) Griffin,
the former a native of New York state, and the latter of England. They were the
parents of four children, our subject being the oldest. His early life was spent
principally on the farm, he receiving his education in the district schools in
the intervals of farming. In 1864 he came to Washington township, Adair county,
where he has since made his home. He has one hundred and forty acres of good
land, well adapted to all the purposes of farming and stock raising. He was
married March 12, 1865, to Miss Lydia Guile, daughter of Elijah and Charlotte
Guile. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin are the parents of six children--Flora Belle, Chase,
Orville, Louie Cleborn, William H. and Charles F. Mr. Griffin is one of those
men who takes an interest in the affairs of his township and county, though he
has never aspired to public office.
Royal Guile is a native of Wyoming county, New York, and was
born May 29, 1833. His parents were Elijah and Charlotte (Jefferson) Guile, the
former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Massachusetts. Royal was the
fourth, in order of age, of their six children. In 1843 his parents removed to
Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he was reared, and where he worked on the farm
and received his education. When nineteen years of age he went to Sauk county,
Wisconsin, where he resided some two and one half years. He was married there,
September 24, 1854, to Miss Mary A. Barringer, a native of Sauk county. He
traded his farm in that county for one in Dane county, where he lived eight
years. In February, 1865, he came to Adair county, first settling in Greenfield,
where he resided some three years, engaged in the hotel business for a part of
the time. In 1869 he came on to his present farm in Washington township. He has
one of the best stock farms in the county, and his possessions comprise seven
hundred and forty acres. It is upland prairie, bottom land, and timber. It is
well supplied with running water and springs, and well adapted to farming and
stock-raising. His barns and out-buildings are all comfortable, as is also his
residence. Mr. and Mrs. Guile have a family of six children--Isadore, Elvin,
Emma, Clara, Clayton, and Royal Jay. They have a high standing in the township.
Mrs. Guile is a native of Steuben county, New York.
Thomas Kembery was born in Somersetshire, England, in May, 1835,
his parents being James and Ann (Hicks) Kembery. Thomas was the fourth in age of
their seven children. When he had reached the age of eighteen he determined to
try his fortune in a foreign clime, and sailed for the West Indies, and while
there was among the orange groves of Jamaica and Antiqua. But that land did not
reach his expectations, and after staying a short time he went to New Orleans.
From there he started for Texas, but instead he went by river to Muscatine,
Iowa, arriving there in 1853. From there he went to Iowa City and thence to Des
Moines. He was there engaged in teaching and other occupations. In 1859 he went
to Indiana, and after spending about two years in that state and Ohio he
returned to Iowa, teaching school several terms. He came to this county in
March, 1861, and settled on his present farm in 1866. He enlisted in February,
1865, in the 2d Iowa cavalry, Company I, Colonel Horton commanding. He was in
the service nine months, when he was honorably discharged, the war being at an
end. He has five hundred and sixty acres of good land, suitable for all the
purposes of agriculture and stock-raising. To these pursuits he gives his
attention and he has been very sucessful. He was united in marriage in
September, 1866, to Miss Sarah Ann Campbell, of Washington township. They have
seven children--James B., Sarah Ann, William E., Ethel May, Maria Agnes, Bessie
I. and Thomas Franklin.
Hugh McCall entered land on section 25 in 1855. His present
residence is still in the township on section 32, and his personal sketch will
be interesting. Among the early settlers of Washington township who are closely
identified with its interests we may mention the name of Hugh McCall. He is a
settler of 1855, and has consequently witnessed with his own eyes much of the
transition which has taken place in transforming the area of the county from an
uncultivated waste to a land of peace and plenty. He is a native of Fulton
county, Illinois, and was born July 25, 1838. His parents were John and Polly
Ann (Maxwell) McCall, the former a native of Indiana, the latter of Illinois.
Hugh was the oldest their twelve children. When he was but a year old, his
parents removed to Bates county, Missouri, where they remained eight years, then
going to DeKalb county, Missouri. Hugh was there eight years, and came to Adair
county, as before stated, in 1855, locating on section 25, Washington township.
His early life was spent on the farm, and there the war found him. When the
country needed the aid of her sons in defense of her honor and her flag, he was
one of those who presented himself for enlistment, and August, 1862, found him
enrolled in Company D, 29th Iowa, Colonel Thomas H. Benton, jr., which did
valiant service in the army of the Southwest. He was, among others, in the
battles of Little Rock and Mobile. During the service he was promoted from
private to the position of corporal. He was honorably discharged, and returned
to Washington township. He went onto his present farm, which was then wild land,
in 1872. He has one hundred and twenty acres, and that which is not timber is in
a good state of cultivation, and good water. He is engaged in general farming
and stock-raising. He was married December 6, 1866, to Miss Cynthis J. Campbell,
of this township. They have three children--James Curtis, Diantha A., and John.
He enjoys the esteem of his neighbors generally, and is prospering in his
business of farming.
James Moar was born on the 12th of September, 1849, in Scotland,
and there remained until nineteen years of age when he came to America and
settled in New York, on the 1st of June, 1868. He remained there four years when
he came to Adair county, Iowa, and bought a farm in Washington township. He has
one of the best farms in the township, being micely improved and under good
management. He has some fine cattle and horses, and is known as one of the
finest stockbreeders in the township. He was united in marriage in March, 1876,
to Miss Millie Sullivan, a daughter of E. B. Sullivan, one of the prominent men
of this county.
James H. Stanley - Few indeed, are the settlers of Washington township that have
witnessed more of its growth and development than James H. Stanley. He was one
of its pioneers, and there is probably not a better posted or better known man
in the township. He was born May 30, 1828, in North Carolina, his parents being
Harris and Sarah (Brown) Stanley, and was the seventh in a family of nine
children. When he was about ten months old his father removed to Rush county,
Indiana, where he resided three years. He then went to Hamilton county, Indiana.
Here James was reared, following the occupation of a farmer, and receiving the
education common at that day, which would now, with all our school facilities be
considered, probably, quite limited. April 14, 1853, he departed for the then
wild west of Iowa. Arriving in this state, he wintered in Morrison county, and
in the spring of 1854, continued his journey, and located in Washington
township, this county, settling first on section 3. There were then but five
families in the township, and inside its boundaries there was not a bridge. He
built a log house 16x18, where he resided for several years, and has experienced
all the privations and hardships of pioneer life. In 1857 he removed to his
present farm where he owns four hundred and thirty-seven and one-half acres of
as good land as the township affords. He has a bearing orchard of six acres, and
raises considerable small fruit. Besides farming, he pays considerable attention
to general stock-raising. He was united in marriage August 21, 1851, to Miss
Harriet King. They have seven children--Ann, Melinda, William, Harriet May,
Henry, Isaac and Nancy Isabel. The have lost by death three children--John
Wesley, Rebecca Ann and Lucinda. Mr. Stanley is highly respected by all who know
him, and has a large fund of information in regard to the early events in the
township and county. Rev. Harris Standley, the parent of John and James Standley,
followed them in their settlement. He was a minister of the denomination of
Disciples, or more commonly known as Campbellites. Of him it is said that he was
the first resident minister located in the county, although there had been
occasional services held by Elder Rann, of the Methodist church, a year earlier.
D. M. Strong, one of the public-spirited citizens of Washington
township, is a native of Niagara county, New York, and was born July 20, 1833.
His parents were John M. and Olive (Standish) Strong, both natives of Vermont.
Their family consisted of seven children, of whom our subject was the youngest.
He was reared in Niagara county until he had reached the age of fourteen, when
the family removed to Illinois, locating in Ogle county. D. M. Strong resided
there until 1866, and received his education in the common schools. On leaving
Illinois he removed to Franklin county, Iowa, and after spending three years
there he came to Adair county, and located on his present farm, which was then
quite wild land, but which is now well improved. It consists of one hundred and
twenty acres, and contains a good bearing orchard. Small fruits are also among
its productions as well as the ordinary products of the farm. He was married May
10, 1853, to Miss Lucy Jane Fellows, of Lee county, Illinois. Mr. Strong is one
of the successful farmers of the township.
Elijah B. Sullivan, a native of Indiana, is among those who
comprise the early settlement of Washington township. In December, 1854, he
entered land on section 16, and erected a log cabin, and in January 1855, moved
his family to the township, where they still reside. With him came his
brothers--Titus H. and J. B. The latter of these is a resident of Jackson
township.
Samuel Thompson, a native of Montgomery county, Indiana, was
born on the 17th of January, 1829, came to Adair county in the fall of 1854, and
located upon section 16, in Washington township. In the fall of 1865 he removed
to Jackson township, where he is still living. He was one of the parties
interested in the fourth marriage in the county, having married Miss Sarah
Garner, on the 29th of August, 1855.
Monroe Winn came in 1854, and settled on section 31, where he
still resides. Monroe Winn is a native of Hancock county, Indiana, and was born
August 7, 1832. His parents were Isaac and Rachel (Winn) Winn, both natives of
Kentucky. Monroe was the fifth child in a family of seven children. His early
life was spent in assisting his father on the farm. At the age of twenty-one
years he removed to Iowa, taking a team, and locating for eight months at
Winterset. He then came to Adair county, locating in Washington township. He has
a fine farm of two hundred acres, containing both tember and prairie land, well
adapted for both stock and grain. He was united in marriage June 15, 1855, to
Miss Phoebe Cox, a native of North Carolina, and daughter of Isaac and Seely
(Williams) Winn. They have eight children--Lorenzo, Frank, Charles, Edward,
Harvey, Theodore, Eveline and Alice.
B. W. Witt, a son of Josiah Witt, was born on the 14th of July,
1832, in New Hampshire. He was the second of a family of five children, and in
1833 he moved to New York, and was there reared on a farm. He then learned the
mason's and in 1854 he came to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he remained one
year, and worked at his trade. In 1872 he came to Iowa and settled in Kossuth
county, where he owned a farm near Algona. He remained there one year, when he
moved to Hancock county, thence to Adair county, in 1875, where he settled in
Washington township. He first improved a farm on section 12, but not being good
land he settled on section 10, where he owns five hundred and fifty-one acres of
good land, and contains the oldest farm in the county, settled by Thomas Johnson
in 1849. Mr. Witt has a nice barn for his stock, and has everything that is
necessary for farm life. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising, having some
of the finest stock in the township. He was married in November, 1857, to Miss
Priscilla Alden, a native of New York. They have five children--Clara E., Waldo
A., Mary E., Albert E., Ida J. Mr. Witt's family are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He has been a member of the school board, and is one of the
most promineent men in the county.
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