of Port Gibson, Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, on the Red River Expedition under Banks; the brigade he then belonged to was transferred to the Shenandoah Valley under Sheridan; was wounded at Winchester by a musket ball through his shoulder, breaking shoulder blade; got leave of absence for sixty days, then returned to his regiment; transferred from Shenandoah Valley to Savannah, Ga., to garrison the city; was mustered out of service at Savannah. Has held the office of Capt. of Co. G, I. N. G.; afterward promoted to Major, and now is Commanding Colonel of the regiment. HOMPSON, ARAD, merchant, TH Shellsburg. Thomas, G. C., far., S. 15; P.O. Shellsburg. Thompson, J. F., laborer, Shellsburg. Thompson, J. Q., clerk, Shellsburg. Thompson, J. W., far., S. 11; P. O. Shellsburg. Thompson, L. D., far.; P. O. Shellsburg. THOMPSON, SAMUEL, farmer, stock raiser, Sec. 5; came to this county in 1853 on a visit, and came and settled in 1855; has 297 acres of land, valued at $9,000. Belongs to the M. E. Church. Married Sarah Lewis; born in Ohio, Oct. 24, 1837; Mr. S. was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 17, 1829; is the father of seven living childrenJames W., born May 6, 1858; John L., born March 7, 1860; Oscar H., born Feb. 3, 1862; Francis, born Dec. 9, 1866; Luella, born Dec. 3, 1869; Otto, born April 14, 1871; Nannie M., born. Jan. 23, 1876. Emigrated direct from Pennsylvania to this county; came in here when the country was new and thinly settled; was among the earliest settlers; Mr. Thompson was from the oil region; the old homestead was sold when they came West for $2,500; afterward, oil was struck on it, and it sold for $35,000. Tomes, M. M., blacksmith, Shellsburg. TRAMBOWER, B. F., of the firm of Parker & Trambower, dry goods and groceries, Shellsburg; was born in Bucks Co., Penn., Feb. 22, 1852; came to this county in 1868; commenced in business in 1876, and does a business of $20,000 per year, and have succeeded above their expectations; Mr. Parker's Van Kirk, Randal, drayman, Shellsburg. Viles, J. G., laborer; P. O. Shellsburg. VILES, J. G., farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Shellsburg; born in Decatur Co., Ind., Feb. 27, 1827; came to this county in 1853; has 175 acres of land, valued at $6,000. Married for his first wife Charlotte Taylor; she was born in 1828; mother of two children-Mallissa A. and Nancy E.,; for his second wife, he married Elizabeth A. Parker; she was born in Kentucky, Aug. 20, 1826; mother of one child-James A., born Oct. 9, 1860; emigrated from Indiana to Benton Co., Iowa, where he has resided since; when he first came to this county, he located on 240 acres of land, where there was nothing but the wild prairie, and has made as fine a farm as there is in this township; came here poor and had nothing but his own hands to make him a home; when he first came here, he could see but one shanty on all the prairie. VORIS, SAMUEL, retired farmer; Sec. 32; P. O. Shellsburg; born in Mason Co., Ky., March 13, 1805; came to this county in 1865; has eighty acres of land, valued at $2,400. Member of the Presbyterian Church. Married Sarah A. Pogue in 1832; she was born in Mason Co., Ky., Nov. 15, 1815; is the mother of seven living children-Mary J., born Oct. 7, 1833; Elizabeth M., Sept. 17, 1838; Harris A., March 29, 1841; S. Abbie, Feb. 9, 1843; John C., Aug. 11, 1849; Bell, Sept. 14, 1853; Samuel H., Feb. 1, 1856. Emigrated from Kentucky to Brown Co., O., when he was 4 years old; lived there forty-four years to Mercer, then came Co., Ill.; lived there twelve years, thence to this county. Mrs. Voris died Nov. 13, 1876; his son, William M., enlisted the 17th Ill. Vol. Inf., Co. F; enlisted as private; was transferred to a colored regiment as Second Lieutenant; Iwas in the battles of Fredericktown Siege, Fort Donelson and Shiloh ; he died at Meliken's Bend July 2, 1863. Voris, S. H., far., S. 32; P. O. Shellsburg. WALDEN, FREEMAN W., farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Shellsburg. Ward, William, shoemaker, Shellsburg. WHITE, ENOCH, retired farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Shellsburg; born in Carroll Co., Ohio, Sept. 7, 1821; has 120 acres of land, valued at $4,800; came to this county in the Fall of 1849; held the office of Constable; belongs to the M. E. Church. For his first wife he married Eva Rice, who is the mother of two children-John, born Sept. 6, 1842; Lizzie, born Feb. 12, 1847. For his second wife, Adeline Shipman, born in York State Jan. 9, 1828; she has had three children-Hattie, born Oct. 19, 1856; Alice, Dec. 22, 1860; Lucy, March 29, 1863. Mrs. White married for her first husband Wm. Waller; she had three children by him-William, Ella and Fannie. When Mr. White came to this county Cedar Rapids was a very small place. He had a son in the Union Army. White, John A., laborer, Shellsburg. WHITE, JOHN J., retired farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Shellsburg; born in West Virginia Aug. 31, 1797; came to this county in 1849; has 270 acres of land, valued at $10,000. Married Sarah Deitz; she was born in Erie Co., Penn., Aug., 1800; is the mother of thirteen children, four deceasedEnoch, William, Mary, Rachel, John, Isaac, Hannah, Harriet and Debias. Emigrated from Virginia when he was a boy; came to Pennsylvania; lived there sixteen years; from there went to Ohio; lived there thirty-one years, then came to this county; when he first came here there were only three families in Vinton; there was not a house in Shellsburg; came here before the organization of the county. Mr. W. is probably the oldest settler living in the county; when he came here he was a poor man, and by hard work has made a fine home and a good property. White, Robert, clerk, Shellsburg. WHITE, WM. J., farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Shellsburg; born in Carroll Co., Ohio, April 20, 1824; came to this county in 1849; has 232 acres of land, valued at $7,000. Married Elizabeth McDole; she was born May 4, 1826; is the mother of one child-Abraham, born Sept. 20, 1848. Mr. W. died March 28, 1849. For his second wife he married Sarah Ann Elson, born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, Dec. 2, 1831; is the mother of three children-Willis B., born Jan. 1, 1855; Archibald, June 15, 1856; Lucy A., Aug. 16, 1860; emigrated from Ohio to Van Buren Co., Iowa, in the Spring of 1849; stayed there until the Fall and then came to this county; entered 200 acres of land and has made himself a good farm; was at an election when there were only three precincts in the county and only polled nine votes. Mr. White was amongst the earliest settlers of the county. Wilcox, Warren M., jeweler, Shellsburg. Wilson, J. Q., laborer; P. O. Shellsburg. Wilson, W. R., far., S. 34; P. O. Shellsburg. WORRALL, C. D., farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Shellsburg; was born in Linn Co., Iowa, June 1, 1848; has ninety acres of land, valued at $3,000. Republican. Held the office of School Director. Married Margaret E. Youel; she was born in Montgomery Co., Ind., Aug. 29, 1849; mother of three children-William Y., born Aug. 9, 1871; Harry E., born March 30, 1874; James W., born July 21, 1875. His father emigrated to Cedar Rapids when there was only one store, they being among the earliest settlers of Linn Co. The subject of this sketch was the first white male child who was born in Cedar Rapids; has lived in Linn and Benton Counties ever since. Wyant, Emory, clerk, Shellsburg. OUNG, JOHN L., far., Sec. 2; P. YOUNG, JOHN, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 7; P. O. Shellsburg; born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 31, 1838; came to this county in 1856; has 640 acres land, valued at $22,400. Married Christiana Webb Aug. 9, 1858; mother of three children living-Mary, born Dec. 21, 1859; Dempster, born Dec. 8, 1868; Minnie, born Nov. 14, 1870. Emigrated to La Porte Co., Ind., when he was 3 years old; lived there eighteen years, thence to this county, where he has resided since; Mr. Young's principal business is stock; keeps on hand 115 head of steers and turus off that number yearly; in 1877, turned off $5,000 worth of cattle; has on hand 200 head of hogs, his average number of hogs yearly; sold, in 1877, over $1,500 worth; Mr. Young has a fine residence and a beautiful farm of a section, and is one of the solid farmers of the county. Young, J. G., far., S. 2; P. O. Shellsburg. YOUNG, THOMAS, farmer, stock raiser and shipper, Sec. 25; P. 0. Shellsburg; born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 1822; came to this county in 1854; has 1,300 acres of land, valued at $45,000. Married Charlotte Hutchins in 1857; she was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., May 3, 1840; mother of eight childrenJohn, born April 8, 1859; Eleanor, born Oct. 12, 1860; Charlie, born Sept.2 2, 1862; Frank, born July 17, 1865; Edward, Aug. 22, 1867; Orvil, born April 8, 1869; Katie, born Aug. 18, 1871; Thomas, Jr., born Feb. 20, 1874. Emigrated from New York to Indiana, and lived there fourteen years; then came to this county; Mr. Young is the king stock man of the county; has on hand 254 head of cattle; sold in 1877, 300 head, which brought him the snug little sum of $12,000; keeps on an average twenty-four head of horses; Mr. Young is amongst the wealthiest men in the county. EDEN TOWNSHIP. BRAHAM, A., farmer, Sec. 26; Ake, D. C., far., Sec. 1; P. O. Vinton. Allhiet, M., far., Sec. 33; P. O. Vinton. Anderson, H. J., far., S. 24; P. O. Vinton. APPLETON, GEORGE, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 3; P. O. Vinton; born in England Dec., 1836; came to this country in 1853, and came to this county in 1874; has 340 acres of land, valued at $10,000. Politics, Republican. Married Flora I. Henry; she was born in Ohio March 6, 1839; mother of three children-Ora M., born Aug. 3, 1863; Jennie, born June 9, 1868; Frank, born April 8, 1875. Emigrated from England, when he was about 18 years old to Canada; lived there one year; thence came to Clinton Co., Iowa, and lived there twenty-two years; thence to Benton Co., where he has resided since; when he came to this country, he had not a dollar, but by industry and economy, has made himself a comfortable home, and is one of the solid farmers of the township. Was in the Clinton militia of Iowa. Mr. A. handles fine stock; he paid $150 for a yearling, of Prof. Knapp, of Vinton. BA AIRD, F. M., far., Sec. 34; P. O. BELLER, DAVID, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Vinton; was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Jan. 13, 1834; came to this county in 1856; has 360 acres of land, valued at $11,000. Belongs to the M. E. Church. Married Rachel C. Barton; she was born in Knox Co., Ill., Feb. 17, 1841; mother of four living children -Archie M., Egbert A., Ocea B. and Marshall. Emigrated from Ohio to Peoria Co., Ill., in 1850; lived there seven years; then went to Benton Co., where he has since resided; came here among the early settlers a poor man, with $90 in his pocket; came when the prairies were wild, and has seen them developed into the most beautiful farming counties in the State; he is one of the enterprising farmers. Beller, Wm., far., S. 19; P. O. Vinton. BENNETT, SYLVESTER, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Vinton; came in the Spring of 1866; has 268 acres of land, valued at $8,000; born in Richfield, Conn., Feb. 29, 1832. Politics, Republican; belongs to the M. E. Church. Married Hattie A. Wilson; she was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., June 2, 1848. Emigrated from Conneticut when he was 5 years old to Maumee Co., Ohio; lived there a short time; went to Washtenaw Co., Mich., and remained a short time; thence to Wayne Co., where he lived twenty-seven years, then to Benton Co. Enlisted in the 21st Mich. V. I., Co. K; was at the battle of Nashville; was cut off by Hood from Sherman's army; went by way of Washington to North Carolina, where he joined Sherman; also at battle of Bentonville, at the surrender of Johnston; also at the grand review at Washington; was mustered out at Detroit, Mich. Has a good prairie farm and comfortable home; he lives on what is called the Mound, the highest point in the county; can see into five different counties. BLOCHER, H. S., farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Vinton; was born in Bradford Co., Penn., April 5, 1847; came to this county in the Fall of 1868; has 120 acres of land, valued at $4,000. Politics, Republican. Held the offices of Town Clerk and Assessor. Member of the Presbyterian Church. Married Polly Gamble; she was born in Carroll Co., Ill., Oct. 20, 1847; mother of two children-Estella May, born Jan. 7, 1870; Burton H., born July 10, 1876. Left Pennsylvania with his parents, when he was 2 years old, and came to Lee Co., Ill., where he lived about nineteen years; thence to Benton Co.; came here, and made himself and family a good home by his own exertions. BOGLE, V., farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Vinton; was born in Giles Co., Va., Oct. 28, 1826; came to this county in 1852, in the Spring; has 220 acres of land, valued at $8,800. Politics, Republican. Held the office of Justice of the Peace. Belongs to the U. B. Church. Married Malinda Searls; born in Canada May 28, 1834; mother of one child-Orson; was born July 19, 1860. DIRECTORY OF BENTON COUNTY: Emigrated from Virginia when he was men. Bonesteel, N. D., farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Bowers, H. S., far., S. 36; P. O. Vinton. HAFFIN, DAVID, farmer, Sec. 8; CHA Call, Jas., far., Sec. 16; P. O. Vinton. CHENOWETH, I. N., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 2; P. O. Vinton; born in Vermilion Co., Ind., March 15, 1827; came to this county in the Fall of 1853; has 160 acres of land, valued at $6,400. Held the offices of Supervisor and County Treasurer. Married Rebecca A. Hunsicker in 1850; born in 1828; mother of six living children. Mr. C. has a beautiful orchard of 2,500 of the choicest fruit, with which he spends most of his time; was the second settler who came into Eden Township, Mr. V. Bogle being first; was at the first election held in the town; held at J. M. Inman's. Mr. Bogle and Mr. Chenoweth were the first two persons who wintered in the township. Chenoweth, J. W., far., Sec. 2; P. O. CRANSTON, JAS. A., far., Sec. 36; P. O. Shellsburg; born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, May 14, 1823; has 225 acres of land, valued at $6,750; came to this State in 1854, and came to this county in 1873; belongs to the United Presbyterian Church. Married Caroline F. Brown in 1853; she was born in Vermont Feb. 28, 1828; mother of four children-Cullen J., born Jan. 17, 1862; James O., Nov. 29, 1864; Mary J. E., May 14, 1869, and Caroline E., Sept 7, 1863. Emigrated from Ohio to Linn Co., Iowa, in 1854; remained there over Winter; thence to Clinton Co., where he lived about eighteen years; then came to this county. While he was in Clinton Co., he was engaged in the mercantile business, dry goods and groceries; afterward, went into the grain and agricultural implements business. CRAWFORD, HENRY, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Vinton; born in Elkhart Co., Ind., Oct. 25, 1832; came to this county in the Fall of 1854; has 150 acres land, valued at $4,500. Held the offices of Town Clerk and Town Trustee. Married Susan Shaffer; she was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., July 27, 1833; mother of three children— Arthur, born June 9, 1865; Alice, May 9, 1867, and Nora, Oct. 7, 1871. Emigrated from Indiana with two yoke of cattle; was twenty days on the road; were about fifteen inhabitants in Eden Tp.; when he came to this county there were only one blacksmith shop and a few CRAWFORD, JAMES F., small buildings in Vinton. and stock raiser, Sec. 12. P. O. Shellsburg; was born in Elkhart, Ind., Oct. 24, 1834; came to this couuty in March, 1856; has 220 acres of land, valued at $8,800. Held the office of Justice of the Peace, etc.; is one of the Directors of the Eden Fire Insurance Co. of Benton Co. Married Margaret Spurgeon; she was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1838; mother of nine children, eight of whom are living-Hannah L., born Oct. 18, 1859; George, Aug. 3, 1861; Edwin S., June 19, 1865; Clara M., Oct. 28, 1867; Charles W., Sept. 25, 1869; Elmer F., Nov. 2, 1872; Estella M., Nov. 17, 1874, and Mattie, Oct. 16, 1877; Albert, born Sept. 3, 1863, died far. |