Guthrie County >> 1884 Index

History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa
Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884.

Beaver Township
Transcribed by Bobbi Pohl

Eli W. Bailey, a farmer and stock-raiser, on section 22 [Beaver township], was born on the 13th of March, 1828, in Chester county, Pennsylvania. He moved with his parents to Ohio, in 1833, and there remained until 1849, when he moved to Illinois. In 1853 he came to Iowa, and settled in Cedar county, where he remained until 1880, when he came to Madison, and then to his present location, on section 22, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. He was married on the 6th of July, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Shaw, a daughter of Joseph Shaw. They have five children--Emma, Mary J., Sallie A., Lizzie M. and Clark A. Mr. Bailey has held the position of school director, the school-house having been built in 1877.

Marshall Bailey was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1848, and is the son of Michael and Ann (Pringey) Bailey. Marshall was married in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 8, 1868, to Miss Sabina Sipe, a daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Hess) Sipe. By their union seven children have been blessed, whose names are as follows--Laura Etta, Alice R., Nevi S., Edwin P., Ora Bessie, Albert A. and Annie May. In 1869 Mr. Bailey went to Fayette county, and there remanined until 1870, when he removed to Muscatine county. In 1873 he left Muscatine county and came to Adair county, when he remained until one year later, when he came to Beaver township and settled on section 18, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, one hundred of which are cultivated. Mr. Bailey has been school director and roadmaster.

David A. Branson was born in Parke county, Indiana, January 8, 1846. He is the son of John F. and Margaret C. (Mains) Branson, with whom he came to this township. In February, 1869, he was married to Miss Nancy J. Cabbage, a daughter of Henry and Amelia (Moore) Cabbage. The union has been blessed by five children--Mary A., Sarah E., Armanella, Estella V. and Lulu I. Mr. Branson owns three hundred and thirty acres of land, one hundred and sixty acres of which is broken, the rest being in timber, pasture land and meadows. He has held the township offices of road supervisor and school director, the latter position of which he now holds.

John P. Cabbage, a farmer and stock-raiser on section 33 [Beaver township]. The subject of this sketch was born on the 1st of February, 1856, in Parke county, Indiana. His father having died, his mother and he came to Guthrie county in 1868 and settled on section 33, Beaver township. He was married on the 20th of July, 1878, to Miss Anna Miller, a daughter of Garrett and Rachel (Strange) Miller. They have two children--Oscar D. and Lewis L. He owns a farm of eighty acres, all being under cultivation, and he raises stock of different kinds. Mr. Cabbage has held the position of road supervisor.

John L. Capps, a son of Asa and Mary A. (Brooke) Capps, was born in Warren county, Illinois, October 18, 1847. He was married there in October, 1869, to Miss Francis McLaughlin, a daughter of William McLaughlin. They came to Madison county, Iowa, in October 1871, where his wife died. He then came to Beaver township, Guthrie county, and settled on section 22, in April, 1877. On the 24th of December, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara Inghram, a daughter of George and Lydia Inghram. They have six children--Arthur, Cooper, Alva, Eva, Channa and Gracie. Mr. Capps has held the position of road supervisor. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land under cultivation, and well improved.

Lewis M. Capps, one of the most prominent farmers and stock-raisers of this township, is a comparatively new settler here, coming to Guthrie county in February, 1880, and purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 21 [Beaver township], has so well improved it and brought it under a high state of cultivation, as to mark him as one of our best farmers. He is the owner of some very valuable and blooded stock, and is noted as one of the best raisers of that class of animals in the township. He is a native of Warren county, Illinois, was born on the 6th of April 1853, and is the son of Asa and Mary A. (Brooks) Capps. Mr. Capps has been a school teacher in early life having taught some two years in Madison county in this state, in 1875 and 1876 he, having moved to that county in March of the former year. He returned to Illinois in March, 1877, where he remained until coming here. On the 25th of December, Christmas day, 1877, he was united in marriage with Miss Ella A. Eaton, a daughter of James and Malvina A. Eaton, by whom he has one child--Harry Boland.

F. Marion Coleman, a native of Park county, Indiana, was born on the 15th of December, 1832. He came with his parents, Lemuel and Rosanna Coleman, to Beaver township, Guthrie county, in May 1852. On the 21st of August, 1853, he was married to Miss Deborah Haskins, a daughter of Hiram Haskins. They have five children--Sarah R., Lemuel T., Melinda J., Martha A., and Mary E. Mr. Coleman has held the offices of justice of the peace, constable, road supervisor, assessor, township clerk, and school director. He owns one hundred and fifty-three acres of land, ninety acres of which are under cultivation, and has resided on this farm, on Section 34 [Beaver township], since 1859. Mr. Coleman follows farming and stock-raising, and his farm is known as one of the prettiest places in the township.

J. Martin Coleman, a son of Lemuel P. and Rosanna (Moore) Coleman, was born March 26, 1843, in Parke county, Indiana. When ten years of age came to Beaver township with his parents. He was married in Jackson township, October 15, 1863, to Miss Rebecca Nye, daughter of Adam L. and Elizabeth (Crobarger) Nye. They have six children living--Mary E., Ida E., Orpha M., Alice A., Nettie F. and Jesse Joseph. Mr. Coleman is a member of the Church of God. He has held the offices of school director and road supervisor. Owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, on hundred acres of which is under cultivation, and all fenced. He resides in section 34, and is a farmer and stock-raiser.

Lemuel P. Coleman was the second settler making a claim upon parts of section 4 and 5, in this [Beaver] township about the 1st of May, 1852. He was a native of Virginia, born August 22, 1808, and was the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Parker) Coleman. Mr. Coleman came to this section from Parke county, Indiana. He took up the claim as above mentioned, but lived during that summer in Jackson township in a cabin which he built on the claim of his brother-in-law, Silas G. Weeks. Grain and provisions were scarce, so he went to Des Moines to winter, and in March, 1853, returned to his claim where he erected a cabin of logs, in the simple architecture of the frontier on lot 1, in section 5, and commenced breaking and improving his land. Mr. Coleman was united in marriage on the 8th of October, 1827, with Miss Rosanna, a daughter of Jesse and Emilia (Stone) Moore, by whom he had eleven children, eight of whom are living. These were--Thomas M., Francis M., Melinda, Ruth Ann, Sarah, Joseph M., Alice J., Rosanna, Emilia, James and Martha. The three last have been called to their eternal home. Mr. Coleman was a democrat of the Jefferson school, and always took an active part in political matters. He died upon the 7th of April, 1872, leaving his wife and family to mourn their loss. The widow lives with her son Thomas, who is a resident of the township still. Mrs. Coleman was born in Knox county, Kentucky, May 29, 1812.

Thomas M. Coleman, the fifth settler in Beaver township, was born in Parke county, Indiana, May 15 1830, and is the son of Lemuel P. and Rosanna (Moore) Coleman. He was married on the 30th of October, 1851, to Miss Catharine Miller, a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Zech) Miller, and moved to Iowa in 1852. They have seven children living--Frank, John, Anna, Nellie, William E., James and Siddie May. Edward, the youngest, died in 1869. Mr. Coleman has been a member of the Guthrie Center A. F. and A. M. lodge, of which he has been master two or three terms. He has held the position of county surveyor, and was a member of the board of supervisors for nine years. He was appointed collector of delinquent taxes under Mr. John Heriott, county treasurer. Being a prominent man ot this county, he has held all the township offices, with the exception of constable. Mr. Coleman owns two hundred and twenty-two acres of land, one hundred and forty acres of which are under cultivation, and raises live stock and follows general farming. Mr. Coleman is one of the prominent men of the township and is one of the most honorable and well known in the county. Being a firm believer in Christianity, and a strong temperance man, he has been an active worker in both these causes.

Frank Cottrell, a farmer and stock raiser on section 30 [Beaver township], was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on the 26th of August 1857, and is the son of John and Cordelia (Burnham) Cottrell. He was married on December 18, 1879, to Miss Ida Wolfersberger, a daughter of Charles and Susannah Wolfersberger. They have one child --Blanche. Frank and his wife came to Beaver township in March, 1881, and settled on his present location. He raises stock of various kinds, and has some shorthorns, of which the Duke of Fordland, a very valuable animal, is at the head. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land and a fine grove of some four acres. He has a stock-well over fifty feet deep, and every convenience for raising stock.

Giles H. Cottrell, farmer and stock-raiser on section 35 [Beaver township]. The subject of this sketch was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, May 8, 1833. He moved with his parents to Illinois in 1865, where he remained until 1880, when he came to Guthrie county and settled on section 35, Beaver township. He was married January 19, 1864, to Miss Robina McClure, a daughter of William McClure. He was again married in 1876 to Anna Chapman, of Guthrie county. They have two children--Edith and Eunice. Mrs. Cottrell's father, who first settled on the farm now owned by Giles Cotrell in 1868, was a soldier of the rebellion, having enlisted in Company E, 40th Iowa infantry. He was a native of Ohio, and was married in Indiana in 1847. He died in 1876, leaving a wife and six children, the former now living in Carroll county, Iowa.

Edward L. Cox was born in Monroe county, New York, on the 28th day of September, 1831. He moved to Illinois in March, 1864, where he remained until 1867, when he went to Marion county, Illinois. Two years later he moved to Polk county, Iowa, and to his present location in Guthrie county, in February, 1872. He owns one hundred and sixty-six acres of good land on section 26, Beaver township, and has a herd of shorthorn and Hereford cattle, and a number of Poland-China hogs. He was married on the 16th day of February, 1867, in New York, to Miss Elizabeth M. Reed, a daughter of Edward J. Reed. They have been blessed with one child--Edward R., born on the 4th of September, 1868.

George M. Crabb who is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 31 [Beaver twonship], was born in Licking county, Ohio, on the 24th of March, 1845. He moved with his parents to Williams county, Ohio, in 1848, where he remained until 1865, when he went to Henry county, Illinois. He was married in Peoria county, March 7, 1867, to Mrs. Catharine Foote, a daughter of Elias Potter. They have five children--William, Albert, Alice, Ada, and Eva. In 1869 he came to Adair county, and in October, 1875, he came to Guthrie county, where he settled on his present location in Beaver township. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land, all of which is under cultivation. and has a nicely situated home. Mr. Crabb is a member of V. A. S. of Menlo. He now holds the position of school director.

James Dawson, a son of Henry and Nancy (McCain) Dawson, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, on the 8th of August, 1829. He moved to Henry county, Illinois, in 1849, where he remained until 1875, when he came to his present location on section 26 [Beaver township], where he now posesses one hundred and sixty acres of good cultivated land, and raises stock to some extent. He also owns an orchard and a grove of ten acres. He was married in Henry county, Illinois, on the 25th of November, 1854, to Miss Mary E. Ogden, a daughter of John Ogden. They have been blessed with five children--John H., Nancy R., Jennie E., May E., and James N. Mr. Dawson is known as an enterprising farmer, and is highly respected by all who know him.

John Funk is a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and was born on the 15th of June, 1837. He moved to Wapello county, Iowa, with his parents in 1842. He moved to Jasper county in 1860, where he remained until 1865, when he came to his present location on section 27 [Beaver township], where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. He raises cattle of various kinds, and follows farming in general. He was married in Wapello county, on the 15th of March, 1860, to Miss Levina Newell, of that county. She died on April 10th, 1878, leaving four children--Frances, Olive, Dora and George.

Edmund Genung, born March 25, 1811, in Morris county, New Jersey, is the son of Joseph and Mary (Coil) Genung. He moved to New Albany, Indiana, in 1816, where he remained until 1819, when he came to West Fork White river, Owen county. He then went to Terre Haute, Vigo county, where he remained ten years; removed to Henderson county, Illinois, in 1838, where he bought one thousand acres of land. He was married in Henderson county, Illinois, May 30, 1844, to Miss Matilda Bryan. By this union they have six children--Albert H., Charles E., William B., Sylvester S., Richard H. and Anna, five of whom are now living, Albert being deceased. In 1869 he moved to Menlo, Guthrie county, where he purchased a section of land. He built the second store-house in Menlo, where three of his sons engaged in business. He is now living on his farm, section 35 [Beaver township], where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Genung is one of the prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Charles Haskins, his [Frances M.] brother, born in Adams county, Illinois, June 22, 1833, is also a resident of this township [Beaver]. He came to Iowa in 1841, having stopped one year in Missouri, and located in Lee county, where he remained two years. In 1842 he removed to Davis county, where he remained ten years, when he came to Guthrie county in 1852. In the fall of 1853 he moved back to Davis county, where his wife died in the fall of the same year. The following spring he started to California with a large train. On his arrival there he located in Eldorado county, near the Mud Springs, where he staid [sic] three years, and then went to Mendocino county. Most of his time was spent in hunting, as game was very plentiful. On August 12, 1882, he returned to Guthrie county, and once more settled down.

Francis M. Haskins, a son of Hiram's, is a farmer and stock-dealer, on section 34 [Beaver township], and was born in Davis county, Iowa, on the 22d of January, 1844, being the son of Hiram and Sarah (Miller) Haskins. He came with his parents to Beaver township, May 5, 1851. He was married on the 19th of October, 1866, to Miss Sarah M. Branson, a daughter of John F. and Margaret A. (Mains) Branson. They have five children--Charles F., Andrew J., Nancy J., Isaac N., and Minnie. In Angust, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 29th Iowa infantry, and was mustered out at New Orleans, in 1865. He took part in the engagements at Helena, Saline river, Spanish Fort, Little Rock and Mobile. By trade Mr. Haskins is a mason, which trade he works at, and runs the farm in connection.

Hiram Haskins

The first to make a settlement within the limits of the present township of Beaver was Hiram Haskins, on the 5th of May, 1851. This pioneer was born in New York, October 27, 1802, and was the son of James and Margaret (White) Haskins. From his native state he removed to Indiana, where he was married to Miss Sarah Miller, who was a daughter of David and Elizabeth Miller. Shortly after his marriage they removed to Adams county, and then to Missouri in 1840. In 1844 he emigrated to this state, locating in Davis county. On coming to this place, he settled upon section 3, entering the land upon which Glendon now stands. On the 15th of May, 1854, a few days more than three years after settling here, he died at home, and his remains were interred in what was afterward the Glendon cemetery. Mr. Haskins built a cabin when he first came here just north of the bridge at Glendon. He had a large family, seven children by his first wife, and two by the second. Some of them are yet residents of the county. Their names were as follows: James, Charles, Deborah, John, Henry, Francis, William, Sarah and Harvey.

Henry Mains

The next [third] to make their appearance here [Beaver township] were Henry Mains and J. F. Branson. Mr. Mains, on the 17th of July, 1852, took up a claim on lot 4, section 4, and during the next year built a log-cabin thereon. He was born on the 22d day of February, 1822, in Richland county, Ohio. and is the son of Peter and Catharine (Peters) Mains. His parents moved to Park county, Indiana, in 1836, and he went with them. While there he was married, on the 27th of February, 1839, to Miss Elsie, a daughter of Jesse and Millie (Stone) Moore. Ten children have blessed this union, of which five are living and whose names are--John P., Jessie P., Samuel C., William C. and Catherine. In the spring of 1852, Mr. Mains, being seized with the Western fever, went to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where he remained some few months when he moved hither. He has been closely identified with the interest of the township and county ever since, and is one of the largest land owners in Beaver, having some one thousand and thirty-two acres, nearly all under cultivation except some two hundred acres of timber land.

John F. Branson, a brother-in-law of Mr. Mains, came with him and located in the same neighborhood. He is a resident of Valley township at the present time.

Samuel C. Mains, a prominent young man of Beaver township, was born in Parke county, Indiana, October 24, 1850, and is the son of Henry and Elsie (Moore) Mains. With his parents he came to Beaver township in July, 1852. He was married here October 4, 1861, to Miss Annie E. Ryan, daughter of Willis and Mary (Gusten) Ryan. Two children have blessed their marriage--Cloe Blanche and Mary Lorena. Mr. Mains follows farming, and is also engaged in stock raising. He owns one-half of a section of good land in Mandison county, Indiana. He is a young man, but is full of energy, and is a good manager.

William C. Mains, one of the prominent men of Beaver township, was born on the 21st of October, 1851. He came to this township with his parents, in July, 1852, where he was married, on the 9th of November, 1873, to Miss Lucinda C. Henderson, a daughter of Jonathan Henderson. They have five children living--Luella Viola, Emily Eldora, Jesse Edward, Ida May, and Sarah Jane. Mr. Mains owns one hundered and twenty-three acres, all of which is under cultivation, and is raising stock. He owns fifteen acres of timber land, which is included in his farm. He has held the position of school director for a year.

John McClellan

In the fall of 1857, John McClellan moved to Beaver from Jackson township and settle upon section 28. He a native of Jefferson county, Indiana, where he was born October 20, 1830. About 1836 his parents, Richard and Margaret (Osborne) McClellan, moved to Jennings county, in the same state, where they both died. In May, 1853, John McClellan came to Guthrie county, and purchasing eight acres of land in Jackson township, made a short stay of about two weeks, when he returned to Indiana. In 1855 he returned and settled upon the land he had purchased, where he remained until the fall of 1857, when he sold out and came to this township, where he has remained ever since. On his first arrival he settled upon section 28, but removed to his present location on section 33 in the spring of 1880. He was married here on the 13th of September, 1875, to Miss Malinda, daughter of L. P. and Rosanna (Moore) Coleman, and has five children--James, Alice, Martha, Annie and Sadie. Mr. McClellan has been quite prominent in township affairs and has held a number of township offices.

Eli Messinger was born July 26, 1841, in Delaware county, Indiana, being the son of Michael and Susannah (Melisa) Messinger. He was married there September 6, 1860, to Miss Martha E. Barrett, daughter of Thomas and Eleanor (Johnson) Barrett. They have a family of twelve children--Philip, Susan, William, George, Cora May, Sarah S., Eda, Prince, Michael, Mattie, Charles and Blanche. In 1865 he moved to Henry county, Indiana, and from there to Polk county, Iowa, in 1871. In the spring of 1881 he came to his present location, Beaver township, section 4. He has been road supervisor. Mr. Messinger owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in the township, one hundred and thirty acres of which is under cultivation, and is a farmer and stock-raiser.

Christian Miller, the next of the hardy band of pioneers that thus pushed the verge of civilazaton on to the soil of Beaver township, came here on the 11th of June, 1853, and purchased eighty acres of land, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 34-79-31, on which he built a cabin after the fashion of all pioneers. He was not spared very long after coming here, dying on the 9th of October, 1853. He was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to this section, from Parke county, Indiana. He was married before he left the "Keystone state" to Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of Daniel and Madaline (Fry) Zech, by whom he had three children--Garrett, Elijah S. and Catherine. The widow is still living with her son Elijah.

Elijah S. Miller was born April 19, 1840, in Wayne county, Ohio, being the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Fry) Miller. His parents came to Beaver township June 11, 1853, where Elijah was married November 29, 1865, to Vera W. Cole, a daughter of Samuel W. and Eunice (Kilman) Cole. Three children of this union are now living--Eddie S., Hattie C. and Nellie I. He is a member of Charles Hill Post, G. A. R., No. 41, of Glendon. August 13, 1862, he enlisted, at Morrisburg, Guthrie county, in company I, 29th Iowa volunteer infantry. He took part in engagements at Helena (Arkansas), Saline River (Arkansas), Fort Spanish (Alabama), and a number of minor engagements. He was discharged August 13, 1865. His residence is in section 4, where he owns forty acres of land, and by occupation is a general farmer. He has held the positions of trustee, road supervisor and school director.

Garrett Miller, a son of the above [Christian Miller], was the next settler, locating here shortly after the death of his father, in October, 1853, and is a resident of the township [Beaver]. He was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of November, 1819, and in 1823 he moved with his parents to Wayne county, Ohio, where he remained ten years. He than moved in Parke county, Indiana, where he was married on the 21st of October, 1851, to Miss Margaret A. Stevens, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Pollard) Stevens. They had three children; two died in infancy, one, Elizabeth J., only living. In August 1857, Mrs. Miller died. He remained a widower until January, 1860, when he was married to Miss Rachel W. Strange. This union was blessed with eight children--Anne C., Mary J., Martha M., Vera V., Fred A., Frankie F., Charlie F. and Sidde S. The subject of this sketch came to Des Moines in 1852, and to Beaver township, Guthrie county, in 1853, and built a house on section 33. He came to his present location on section 6 in February, 1882. He owns forty acres of land, all of which is under cultivation.

Jacob K. Miller, born on the 5th of February, 1840, in Wayne county, Ohio, is a citizen of Beaver township. He moved to Parke county, Indiana, in 1842, where his father died. Joseph Miller, his uncle, then took him to raise, and in 1852, came with him to Des Moines. He then came to Beaver township, and settled on section 34. He was married on the 4th day of April, 1861, to Miss Catherine J. Branson. The union has been blessed by eight children. Nancy A., John J., Mattie J., Franklin H., George W., Mary A., Ettie May and Lillie F. He came to his present qurters in October, 1882, where he owns one hundred and seventy acres of land, of which one hundred and twenty acres are under fence. In August, 1862, he enlisted in company I, 29th Iowa infantry, at Panora. He took part in the engagements at Helena, Little Rock, Camden, Saline River, Mobile and a number of skirmishes. He was discharged in August, 1865. Mr. Miller is a member of the William Hill Post, No. 41, of which he is quartermaster.

Joseph L. Miller, located the next in order, on the southwest quarter of section 33, township 79 [Beaver], range 31, in October or November, 1853, and put up his cabin with the help of his neighbors, and surmounted it with a sod chimney. He is a resident of the township still. Joseph L. Miller, one of the prominent men of Beaver township, came to his present location on section 33, in October, 1853. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, partly under cultivation, and twenty acres of timber. He owns some valuable cattle and different kinds of stock. The subject of this sketch was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1811. In 1832, he moved with his parents to Wayne county, Ohio. In 1833 his parents moved to Parke county, Indiana, but Joseph did not follow for a year and a half. He was married in Putnam county, Indiana, on the 21st of September, 1843, to Miss Julia A. Switzer, a daughter of Peter Switzer. They have three children--Thomas J., Catharine and Rachel J. His wife died in Beaver township in 1859, leaving her husband and children to mourn her departure. He was again married in 1863 to Mrs. Eliza A. Miller, by whom he had one child--George M. C. His second wife died on the 6th of May, 1864, and in the spring of 1867 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Nancy Roberts. Mr. Miller has held the offices of trustee, school director and road supervisor. When he first came to this township he was a great hunter, and deer were plentiful.

Oliver P. Miller was born June 23, 1842, in Parke county, Indiana, and is the son of Enos and Rufa Ann (Switzer) Miller. He moved with his parents to Des Moines in the fall of 1851, and came to Jackson township in the spring of 1852. In December, 1865, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Boyd, a daughter of John and Melinda (Pernell) Boyd. They have seven children -- Mary E., Joseph, Enos B., Perry L., Rufa Ann, James R. and Elizabeth A. M. Oliver came to this township in the fall of 1867, and settled on section 5, where he owns two hundred acres of land, mostly under cultivation. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 29th Iowa infantry, and took part in the engagements at Helena, Fort Pemberton, Little Rock, Jenkins' Ferry, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and Whistler. He was discharged at Davenport in August, 1865. He is a member of William Hill Post No. 41, of which he is adjutant.

John J. Northrop, section 9 [Beaver township], a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of this vicinity, owes his nativity to Oneida county, New York, where he was born on April 3, 1839. He was left an orphan at the age of fifteen, and removed to Sterling, Illinois, where he worked at the Wallace house for two years. He moved to Northern California, in 1859, where he remained some eight years, when he came to Cedar county, Iowa. In 1875 he came to Guthrie county, and in 1878 settled in his present locality, where he owns some eighty acres of land, all of which are in a cultivated state. He raises stock and follows general farming. When Mr. Northrop first came to Guthrie county he settled in Menlo, where he ran a butcher shop for some two months.

John Patterson, another early settler, made his appearance here, and made a claim on section 7; on the 4th of April, 1854, John Patterson was born May 9, 1820, in Muskingum county, Ohio, being the son of Abijah and Eleanor (Winn) Patterson. His parents moved to Noble county, Ohio, about 1835. John was married there, February 17, 1849, to Miss Sophronia Thorla, daughter of Benjamin and Eliza (Allen) Thorla. Mrs. Patterson was born March 7, 1832, in Noble county, Ohio. By their marriage they have five children--Elizabeth, Elmira, Lucy, Amanda, and Robert Lee. November 4, 1853, they came to Morrisburg; and to present location, Beaver township, section 7, April 4, 1854, and built a log cabin just north of their present residence, in which they lived till the summer of 1866, when they moved into their present home. Mr. Patterson now owns five hundred and sixty acres of good land in Beaver township, which is mostly under cultivation. When he first came to the township he had only eighty acres, but by hard work and good management is now in good financial circumstances.

Thomas Powell is a native of England, having been born on the 1st of May, 1845, and is also the son of Joseph and Martha (Harris) Powell. He emigrated with his parents to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1849, and there remained until coming to Scott county, Iowa, in 1854, where his parents still reside. He was married in Scott county to Miss Isabella J. Speer. They have three children--Martha Lilian, Mary A. and Joseph B. Thomas moved to Chicago, Illinois, in the fall of 1868, where he was employed in a meat-market for some time. He was in Chicago and in the vicinity for over two years. In 1870 he returned with his family to Tama county, Iowa, and came to Guthrie county in 1874, where he settled on section 18, Beaver township. He here owns three hundred and ninety-six acres, one hundred and sixty of which are under cultivation and fence. He raises considerable stock, and follows farming in general.

William C. Pugh, is a native of Randolph county, Indiana, and was born on July 6, 1842. On the 10th of November, 1856, he moved to Redfield, Dallas county, Iowa, where he remained until September, 1868, when he came to his present location on section 27 [Beaver township]. He owns eighty-one acres of land, all being cultivated, and his general occupation is farming and stock-raising. He raises Hereford and shorthorn cattle, and Poland-China hogs. This worthy was united in marriage in 1864, to Miss Lavinia Fee, a daughter of Isaac Fee. They have been blessed with three children--Charlie C., Jimmie C., and Eleanor G. Mr. Pugh is known as one of the most honest and progressive farmers in Beaver township.

Stewart Reed, a native of county Antrim, Ireland, was born January 4, 1833, and is the son of Robert Reed. He emigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1853, where he was married in 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Wilson, a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Evans) Wilson. They have been blessed with eight children--Martha J., Alexander, Bobbie, Mary J., Stewart, Wilson D., Hannah and Lida R. The first six of these were born in Philadelphia, the two younger in Illinois. Mr. Reed moved to Henry county, Illinois, on the 13th October 1870, and in March, 1883, he came to Beaver township, where he settled on section 30, where he follows general farming and raises fine stock. He is a member of the Cambridge lodge, No. 133, A. O. U. W. of Henry county. Mr. Reed is known through this township as an intelligent and progressive farmer and citizen.

Edwin J. Snow is a native of New York, having been born there on the 28th of February, 1831. He removed from New York to Pennsylvania, in 1835, where he remained until 1846, when he went to Williams county, Ohio. In 1864 he made his quarters at Knox county, Illinois, and there remained until 1874, when he went to Henry county. He came to Guthrie county, Iowa, in 1880, when he at last settled down on section 35, Beaver township, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. He was married in Hillsdale county, Michigan, in 1858, to Miss Ester M. Britton. They have been blessed with three children, whose names are as follows--Elnara A., Earl and Harrison. Mr. Snow is a carpenter by trade, and is engaged in that capacity at times when not farming. He is a member of Token lodge, No. 97, A. F. and A. M.

Augustus Taylor was born in Peoria county, Illinois, on the 11th of March, 1848, and is the son of Isaac and Martha G. Sydmore. He was married on the 9th of March, 1870, to Miss Eliza Hitchcock, a daughter of Nelson and Matilda (Rider) Hitchcock. They have one child--Frank E. He moved with his family to Stark county, Illinois, in 1872, and in March 1875, he moved to Beaver township, where he settled on section 31. He owns one-fourth of a section of land, all of which is under cultivation, and raises Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. He has held the position of school director and road supervisor, the latter of which he now holds. Mr. Taylor is also a member of the V. A. S. lodge of Menlo.