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History of
Lucas County, Iowa B Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. BAKER, J. C., dealer in general merchandise; post-office, Lucas. Was born in Brown county, Indiana, December 29, 1843. At the age of eight years, his parents, W. W. and Eliza Baker, moved to Lucas county, where J. C. has since resided. He was engaged for a period of ten years in the mercantile trade at Chariton. Located in Lucas, May 1, 1875, and carries a stock varying from nine to twelve thousand dollars. On the 16th day of September, 1880, while out looking at some cattle, his team became frightened and ran away, breaking his right leg, which has been twice amputated, first below the knee, and lastly at the middle of the lower third. He uses a cork leg. He was married August 19, 1869, to Miss Mattie Steffy, a native of Burlington. The fruits of this union are four children: Norman F., Albert L., Lora and Jesse C., all living. Mr. Baker is a member of the orders of I. O. O. F. number sixty-four,k and A. F. & A. M. number sixty-three. BAKER, WALKER W., farmer, post-office, Chariton. Owns 550 acres of land, mostly under cultivation; also owns valuable town property in Chariton. Was born June 29, 1814. At the age of thirteen years, his parents moved to Johnson county, Indiana, where he was raised to manhood a farmer, being educated in the common schools. He was elected sheriff of Brown county, Indiana, in 1843, and re-elected in 1845. Elected treasurer in same county, in 1846; re-elected in 1849. Moved to this county in the fall of 1853,, where he has since resided. Married in Johnson county, Indiana, November 29, 1838 to Miss Eliza J. Musselman, a native of Indiana, Jennings county. They have had fifteen children, ten of whom are living: William L., Daniel M., Jesse C., Mary A., wife of M. V. B. Lovering; Milton P., Eliza, wife of L. D. Rankins; Eugene S., Virgil G.; Clara J., and Walker Wilming, Sarah M., wife of Thomas J. Allen; Eliza J., wife of H. N. Chamberlain; Louisa, twin to Eliza; Naaman D. and Flora E., deceased. Mr. B. is a member of A. F. & A. M. He was a man of very limited means when he settled in this county, and has accumulated his property entirely through his own energies. BALLARD, DAVID, farmer, section fifteen, post-office, Chariton. Among the pioneers of English township, none are better known, perhaps, than the subject of this sketch, who was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, in September, 1821. When nine years old, his parents moved to Kentucky, remaining five years. Mr. B. then went to Adams county, Illinois, then to Muscatine, Iowa. Was next in Missouri two years; then in Minnesota, and lastly in Lucas county, since 1854. Married in April, 1853, to Ellen Jacobs, of Illinois. They have eight living children: Prudence Ithema, H. A, G. D., J. A., M. E., James A., S. H., and Mary A. Mr. Ballard has a good farm of 325 acres, well improved, with good house, barn, and orchard. He is a good neighbor, and respected by all acquaintances. BEALS, A. S., Dairyman, post-office Russell. Born in Orleans county, New York, September 2, 1836, where he lived until grown, obtaining his education in the common schools. Moved to Noble county, Indiana, in 1853, and in autumn of 1863, came to his present home. Was married, January, 1858, to Miss Ella Armstrong, of Richland county, Ohio. Of this union were three children: Charles A., Harry C., and Laura C. Mrs. Beals died January, 1866. He was married again, January 1870, to Mary C. Douglas, of Orleans county, New York, by whom he has also had three children: Albert D., Laura G., and Mary H. He owns a first rate farm of 183 acres, well improved, good dwelling, barn, and orchard. Mr. Beals is a member of the Baptist Church, and a man of straight republican politics. BELL, ELKANAH submitted by Pat BELL, ELKANAH, farmer, Section Nine, Post Office, Newbern. He is one of the early settlers of Lucas County, having arrived in 1864, and has been engaged at his trade continuously since coming to the county. He is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born 06 June 1822 in Champaign County, Ohio. He lived there about thirty years engaged in farming. He received his education in the common schools. In 1853 he landed in Davis County; in 1854 he relocated his new family to Wapello County, and in 1864 he emigrated to this county, and settled on his present farm. He has a good farm of 133 acres, well improved, and admirably adapted to stock-raising and general farming. He was united in marriage in this county 01 February 1852 to Talitha Cuma Terrell. She was born March 18, 1825 in Ohio. Seven children were blessed from this union: Darias Eubanks, Susanna Etna, Sophronia Lettecia, Mary Lufrances, Sarah Luella, Annetta Ludiska, and Oscar Fitzalen. His children were educated in the common public schools of the county. Mr. Bell is a good neighbor and good citizen. BENTLEY, JOHN A. J., blacksmith, post-office, Chariton. Born February 14, 1829, in Henderson county, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood. In 1850, he went to Pettis county, Missouri; remained there about four years, and then came to Lucas county, and located in Chariton. In 1862, he enlisted in company E, Thirty-fourth Iowa infantry, but was discharged six months later for disability. When a young man, Mr. Bentley served an apprenticeship of seven and a half years as a blacksmith, which trade he has followed to the present time. In the spring of 1859, he started for Pike's Peak, got as far as Red Oak, and turned back. He is one of the early settlers of Lucas county, and has been engaged at his trade continuously since coming to the county. He was married December 24, 1857, to Annie M. Scott. They have three children: Mary Ann, John E. and Carrie May. BRANAMAN, ABRAM, farmer, section twenty, post-office, Chariton. Was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in August, 1822, where he passed the first twenty- seven years of his life, attending school, assisting on the farm, and working at the carpenter trade. In 1847, he came to Iowa, located in Jefferson county, and remained ten years. In 1857, he came to Lucas county, and has resided here since. Married March 27,185l, to Harriet Violett, of Pike county, Ohio. The fruit of this union is ten children: John M., Clay, George, Hardin, Samuel V., Grant, Henry Sherman, Clara, Elmer Q., and Stella B. Mr. B. has a good farm of 280 acres. He is a good farmer, a successful stock-raiser, and a genial gentleman. ROWNLEE,
O. F., farmer, section twenty-eight,
post-office, Chariton. Is a native of Illinois, born in Mercer county,
June, 1840, where he resided until 1869, going to school and farming.
In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 36th Illinois infantry. He took
part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River,
and Chickamauga. He was twice wounded. All honor to the soldier who
has stood at the gates of death to strike for his country. He was honorably
discharged, October, 1864. Came to Lucas county in 1869. Was married
in November, 1860, to S. J. Thompson, of Massachusetts. They have four
children: Elida O., Leeman N., Willie F., and Frank W. He has a good
farm of 230 acres, well improved, and admirably adapted to stock-raising,
in which he is largely interested. |