History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa - 1884 - Thompson Township

Guthrie County >> 1884 Index

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

Thompson Township
Transcribed by Bobbi Pohl


William Aukerman, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, was born on the 9th of April, 1826. He came to Iowa in 1875 and located in Guthrie county, where he settled on a farm. He was first married in 1849, to Jane Carlton, in Wayne county, Ohio. They have six children--Cynthia M., Neal, William, Charles, Ulysses G. and John. Mrs. Aukerman died on the 26th of March, 1879. He was married again in the fall of 1879, to Miss Martha Irvin. He has a farm of six hundred acres of land, a nice orchard, and has some fine cattle and other stock.

M. O. Brown was born in Wayne county, Illinois, on the 12th day of March, 1853, and is the son of Isaac and Lucinda (Mullen) Brown. He went to Missouri in the spring of 1857, where his father died, and in the fall of 1858 moved to Morrisburg, Jackson township, Guthrie county, Iowa, and remained in that township till the spring of 1872, when he moved to Thompson township. He was married to Miss Lucy Patterson on September 1, 1872, four children having blessed their union--Thomas, Toby, Rarrey, and Maud. In the spring of 1877 he bought the south half of the northeast quarter of section 12, township 78, range 32, of L. W. Jennings, where he now resides. He also owns ten acres of timber land. Mr. Brown is a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge, and is a strict republican in politics.

Marcus N. Chantry was born in Henry county, Iowa, on August 19, 1847. When he was about three years of age, he moved with his parents to Lee county, living there five years, when they moved to Guthrie county. He lived with his father until his death, in 1864. Marcus was married on the 1st of January, 1870, to Amanda L. Danks, a daughter of I. O. Danks, and a native of Lee county, Iowa. Their union has been blessed by five children--John, Eve, Jessie and Bessie (twins) and Chester. Mr. Chantry resides on the old homestead; and Middle river running through his farm, furnishes abundant water privilege.

Samuel B. Chantry, one of the prominent men of Thompson township, is a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was born on the 13th day of November, 1829. When seven years old, he with his father emigrated to Van Buren county, Iowa, in the year 1837. Remained there ten years, then moved to Henry county, where he began working out; earned money and entered eighty acres of land in Warren county in the year 1853, and lived there until 1859; sold his land in Warren county and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Grant township, Guthrie county, Iowa, in December, 1855; remained in Warren county until 1859, and then went to Guthrie county and remained there since. Mr. Chantry was married on the 9th of May, 1860, to Miss Sarah E. Coleman, a native of Indiana. They have seven children living--Thomas, living at home; Jennie, wife of H. W. Grieve; Allen, Nettie, Arbie, Rhoda, Robert, and Hattie, dead.

Thomas Chantry, in 1854, settled in this township [Thompson] on section 22, where he put up his humble cabin. This gentleman was a native of Lincolnshire, England, born February 27, 1795, and was the son of David and Elizabeth (Rees) Chantry. In 1816 he emigrated to this country, landing in Philadelphia, where he remained some time, but went to Chester county, Pensylvania, in 1822. In 1827 he made another migration to Lancaster county, in the same state, where he remained ten years. He then came west, settling in Henry county, Iowa, and in 1847 moved to Van Buren county. In 1854 he came here and entered his land, and following year settled upon his purchase. He was united in marrige December 12, 1822, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, to Miss Hannah, a daughter of Thomas and Esther (Dickenson) Passmore, a direct descendant of one of the most illustrious families that came to this country in 1864 [sic, should be 1684], and settled in the colony then presided over by that truly good man William Penn. This couple had ten children, whose names were--Sarah, Eliza, William A., Samuel B., Esther P., Thomas E., David L., Joseph A., Hannah M. and Marcus N. He died in November 1864, on the homestead he had laid out in the wilderness, mourned by all. He was a man of no ordinary talent or ability, educated at Ackworth school, in England. By nature gifted with an open, honest purpose, strong and rugged in his convictions, and esteemed by all with whom he came in contact for his integrity of purpose. In his younger days a great worker, he devoted his declining days to literary labor, and showed no mean ability in the world of letters. Religious subjects mostly occupied his pen, and he left, as no small legacy to his children, a large amount of valuable manuscript.

William Creighton, a son of John and Margaret (Marshall) Creighton, was born on the 11th of February, 1817, in Ohio county, West Virginia. When William was about seventeen years of age he went to Ohio county, West Virginia. When William was about seventeen years of age he went to Ohio, where he remained about thirty-four years. He then came to Iowa, settling in Jasper county, where he remained but a short time, when he came to Polk county. In 1878 he came to Guthrie county, where he located on section 8, Thompson township, where he and two sons own and operate a large farm and engage in stock-raising. He was married in 1837, in Guernsey county, Ohio, to Miss Jane Lanning. They have eight children, whose names are as follows--John B., Alexander A., Martha L., Sarah J., Milton G., James George, Louisa C. and Clara R. Mr. Creighton was justice of the peace in Delaware township, Polk county, and holds the same position in Thompson township, this being his fourth year. He voted the whig ticket from 1838 to the birth of the republican party, and has voted with that party ever since. He was and is opposed to woman suffrage, the prohibition law, and is a strong advocate of liberty, under the declaration of independence "that all men are free"--not the majority. His father fought for liberty in the revolutionary war, and two of his sons fought against the rebellion, one of whom lost his life, and the other went with Sherman to the sea.

Hiram Johnson, still a resident of this township [Thompson], came here with his parents in 1853. Hiram Johnson came to Guthrie county in 1854. [sic] He was born in Adams county, Illinois, on the 18th of October, 1845, and in 1853 he removed to Hancock county with his parents, and the next year came to Guthrie county. He was married in July, 1865, to Miss Mark K. McMullen, and by whom he has had four children--Joseph R., Mary K., Alice M. and Edgar A. Mr. Johnson enlisted in 1864 in company C, 46th Iowa infantry, and was mustered out at Davenport. Mr. J. is one of the early settlers of Guthrie county, and is an esteemed and honorable man.

Stephen Johnson

On New Year's day, January 1, 1853, Stephen Johnson, the first settler in what is now Thompson township, came to this locality, and entering a claim to the northwest quarter of southwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 34. He came to this place from Brown county, Illinois, and at once put him up a log cabin, sixteen feet square, near his present residence, in which he lived until 1865, when he built the neat frame cottage he now lives in. Here he broke the first ground opened for cultivation in the township, in the spring of 1853. About twenty acres he planted with corn, which yielded him a return of forty bushels to the acre. Although Mr. Johnson was a farmer, yet he was also a mighty hunter in early days. In 1855 he killed upward of ninety-five deer, besides bear and other game, from which he realized $250, besides keeping his family in meat. He saw some buffalo here, but never had the good fortune to kill any. Stephen Johnson is a native of New York, having been born in Monroe county May 21, 1818, his parents being Joseph and Sarah (Hayes) Johnson, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Stephen's grandfather was of English extraction and his grandmother of Irish. His early life was spent on a farm in Monroe county, New York--until seven years of age--when his parents moved to La Ville, Ohio, where they lived for six years. His father was a millwright and built the first mill in La Ville, where he followed that business. His parents removed from there going to Adams county, Illinois. In 1844 Stephen went to Lafayette county, Missouri, where he farmed, having married, May 23, 1843, Miss Mary A. Hess, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Jacob Hess, who was of German descent. They had three children, who are now dead. They now have one child--Hiram. From Missouri he again returned to Illinois, where he remained till 1852, when he started west, but stopped at Hamilton, Illinois, opposite Keokuk, Iowa, where he engaged in breaking prairie. In the spring of 1853 he came to his present home. Among the hunter's stories he tells is one in which, while going to Pearson's mill, he saw a puma, or Rocky mountain lion, near the head of the North river. The animal had been doing considerable damage, and was poisoned about the time he saw it and was not seen afterwards. When asked by his neighbors why he did not kill it, he replied that he had no gun with him, or else its hide would have been in his possession. The animals, justly dreaded by all on account of their fierceness and activity, being allied to the cat tribe, are singularly rare in this part of the country, fortunately for the settlers.

Alexander Kirkpatrick

On the 22d of June, 1829, Alexander Kirkpatrick was born in Ireland, and is the son of Francis and Jane (Falkner) Kirkpatrick, also natives of Ireland. His father died in Illinois in April, 1870, while his mother died in 1855. Alexander came to America in 1850, stopping in Philadephia, where he remained five years. He then came to Indiana, and after remaining there six months, he went to Livingston, Illinois, where he remained for fourteen years. In 1870 he came to Iowa, first settling in Grant township, Guthrie county, afterwards purchasing three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 19, Thompson township. He has sold about $4,500 worth of stock, and has over two hundred head of hogs, some fine horses and valuable cattle. He has a nice orchard, a white ash grove and other farm inhabitants. Mr. Kirkpatrick was mrried in April, 1855, in Philadelphia, to Miss Sarah Williams. They have six children living--James F., John W., Matthew H., Mary J., Samuel R. and Alexander. There are two dead, Charlie and George. Mr. Kirkpatrick's brother James was wounded in the army, and afterward died at the hospital.

John B. Mains, farmer and fine-stock breeder, and one of Thompson township's prominent men, was born in Parks county, Indiana, April 4, 1841, and is the son of Henry and Alice (Moore) Mains. When ten years of age he came with his parents to Guthrie county, Iowa, settling in Beaver township. He was married November 28, 1861, to Miss Hannah Scott, a daughter of John Scott, of England. At the time of her marriage the lady was a resident of Hardin county, Iowa. She was born in Yorkshire, England, April 2, 1846. They had two children--John H. and George E., but both died when young. The first land he owned was sixty-seven acres, which he bought of his father, but by push and hard work he is now the possessor of seven hungred and seventy-seven and one-half acres of land in Beaver and Thompson townships. Mr. Mains makes fine stock-raising and stock-breeding a specialty. He has some fine Percheron-Norman horses, and has eighty-five stock horses, most of them at least half-bloods. He also has thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, having over one hundred head of them. He has two Percheron-Norman stallions bred by the authority of the government of France, by government approved horses, named Lucullus and Daniel, and as three-year-olds weighing respectfully, 720 pounds and 1,650 pounds. He also has another full-blooded Percheron, weighing 1,750 pounds, and has two seven-eighths Percheron, and one English coach. Mr. Mains' land is principally fenced, and has a number of fine buildings on it, among which is a barn which cost $10,000, being the largest barn in the county--24x150 feet, two stories, twenty foot posts, which is also finished in fine style. His farm is known as the "Guthrie county breeding farm." Without doubt he is the most extensive fine-stock breeder in this part of the country and is meeting with the success his enterprise deserves. He has never attended a state fair without taking the first premiums on his horses. He commenced breeding in 1879, and the business is to be made more extensive in the future. His farm is one of the best improved in the county, $20,000 being invested in buildings. Five hundred and fifty acres of his land is in a splendid state of cultivation.

Jesse C. Mains, a native of Indiana, was born in Parke county October 25, 1842, his parents being Henry and Alice (Moore) Mains. In 1851 his parents came to Iowa, stopping one season in La Crosse county, when they came to Guthrie county, locating in Beaver township in 1852, where his father still resides. Jesse remained at home until his marriage, which occurred in 1865, to Miss Sarah E. Smith, who was a native of Indiana, but at the time of the marriage was a resident of Harrison county, Iowa. He at first bought forty acres of land on section 25 [Thompson township], where he removed, but has added to it till he now has two hundred and eighty-five acres, two hundred of which is under cultivation. Six children have blessed their union--William H., Mary F., James, Martha, Nettie E., and Emma E. He is engaged in mixed farming, and in politics ia a democrat.

Thomas Minner resides in Thompson township, owning one hundred and twenty acres of good land, mostly under cultivation, and has planted a young orchard. He was born in Ireland, on the 19th of December, 1827. He is the son of Thomas and Margaret (Jones) Minner, also natives of Ireland. He came to America in April, 1873, and settled in Guthrie county, Iowa, the following year. He was married in 1854 to Miss Margaret McDermott. They have five children to bless their union--Margaret, Bridget T., Mary K., Patrick B. and Thomas.

John W. Oddy was born in England on the 7th of June, 1856. He is the son of Joseph and Mary (Scott) Oddy; his father, a native of England, was drowned in the South Coon, near Dale City in July, 1866. John moved with his parents to Guthrie county in 1856, and after his father's death he was taken by his uncle, John P. Maine, with whom he lived until 1879, when he went to Audubon county, and there remained about four years, when he came to his present location in Thompson township, Guthrie county. He bought his farm of Charles Beason, and has one hundred and ninety acres of as good land as can be found in the county. It is all improved with the exception of forty acres; has two nice orchards and a large grove. He has some fine stock, and intends soon to make stock-raising a specialty. Mr. Oddy was united in marriage on the 22d of February, 1882, to Miss Luella Speer. They have been blessed with one child--Maud B.

William Seeley was born on the 29th of January, 1842, in Missouri. He came to Iowa in 1873, and settled on section 17, Thompson township, Guthrie county. He was united in marriage in 1866 to Miss Mary Webb, of Missouri. They have been blessed with three children--Ada B., Thomas E. and Harrison L. Mr. Seeley owns eighty acres of land, and an orchard of one acre. Six years ago his farm was a vast prairie, but now he has it all under cultivation. He enlisted in the service of the United States in Company E., 3d Missouri cavalry. He served for two years, and during that time was engaged in the engagements at Helena, shiloh, Red River, and in the battle of Wilson Creek. Mr. Seeley is a member of the G. A. R., and is a member of the Baptist church. He became blind in the army by a piece of artillery striking him in the eye, but by careful nursing has regained his sight.

James F. Thompson was born in Indiana, on April 21, 1854, and is the son of John and Synthia J. (Coward) Thompson, natives of North Carolina. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1855, and settled in Thompson township. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he purchased eighty acres of land, which he rented until 1882, when he was married to Miss Jennie Sawderson, and in the fall of the same year moved to his present location. They have one child--Eva. His entire farm is fenced and improved and has an orchard of about an acre. His farm is nicely situated, and owing to his care and work has made it one of the best farms in the township.

J. P. Thompson, one of the most prominent figures in the history of this township, located upon section 35 [Thompson township], taking up one hundred and twenty acres. He now lives upon the east part of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 34, and is the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land. His pioneer cabin was an humble log affair, built of black oak poles, covered with shakes, and but 14x16 feet in size; but now he occupies a beautiful cottage, and is surrounded with all the conveniences and luxuries of country life. J. P. Thompson was born in Chatham county, North Carolina, December 8, 1825. He is the son of James Thompson and Polly (Mann) Thompson. His early life, until his twenty-seventh year, he spent on a farm in his native county. At that time he removed to Marion county; stayed until 1854, when he came to Guthrie county, and was married October 16, 1836, to Miss Polly Davis. By this union there were two children--John T., who is married and lives in Thompson township; Polly Ann, who died at her grandfather's home in 1862. Mrs. Polly Thompson died October 19, 1850, in North Carolina, and July 19, 1852, Mr. Thompson was married to Lydia B. Arledge, a native of Randolph county, North Carolina. Seven sons bless this union--Jesse C., George W., James B., Henry M., Samuel P., Isaac S., and Albert A., all living in the county and all having taught school with the exception of Henry.

Robert Walters is a native of Monroe county, Ohio, and was born on the 6th of March 1835, and is the son of Andrew and Esther (Hart) Walters. In 1856 he went to California, where he remained about two years, and then went to Pike's Peak. He then returned to Ohio, and after a short time came to Guthrie county, where he bought eighty-five acres of land of James Rigley on section 25 [Thompson]. He now owns two hundred and seventy-one acres of land under cultivation, Mr. Walters was united in marriage in September, 1862, to Miss Emily Sailor, a native of Noble county, Ohio. They have five children--St. Clair, Hettie, Minnie, Robert L. and Mary.