Davis County >> 1882 Index

History of Davis County, Iowa
Des Moines: Iowa Historical Company, 1882

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Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

Adams, Samuel T., pioneer-farmer and stock-raiser, section 27; was born in Prince George county, Md., where he lived until he arrrived at the age of manhood, receiving a limited education in the common schools and growing up on the farm. In 1837, he came to Bartholomew county, Ind., and in the spring of 1845, came to this county. In the spring of 1864, he moved to Madison county, and two years latter came back, and in 1870, went back to Madison county but soon after returned to this county, where he has since resided. His farm contains 450 acres, of which 335 are under cultivation, the balance is woodland and pasture, which he devotes to stock. He was married December 26, 1836, to Miss Sarah Ann Bivin, a native of Maryland. They have had six children: Geo. H., Lewis F., Saml. T., Mary e., John Q. and Wm. N. (deceased). Geo. F. and Saml. T. are farmers living in the neighborhood. Mary E. is the wife of Jos. Williamson, living in Dallas county, and Lewis F. is living with his parents to comfort them in their old age.

Adkins, K. B. submitted by Sue Simpson

Adkins, K. B., was prominent among the early pioneers; born at Milton, Sussex county, Del., October 18, 1820, son of Bagwell and Julia Ann Adkins of Delaware.  Mr. A. was raised there and received his education at the the subscription schools.  When he was eighteen, he became apprentice to Hiram Brown of Philadelphia, to learn the carpenter's trade.  His wages were twenty four dollars a year, buying his own clothes; he remained two years, then worked five years at the  business near home, and  in 1845, came to Milton, Van Buren county, he himself entering the land upon which that town stands.  Two years later he moved to Prairie township, and three years later came to his present home, entering 360 acres of land in section 24.  He was married December 22, 1840 to Miss Naomi Lank, daughter of Jas. and Nancy Lank, of Sussex county, Del.  They have had twelve children, ten living; Jas. B., Peter L., Josiah H., Wm. H., Alfred A., Jno. W., Mary Jane, David C., Chas. F., Geo. W., (Julia Ann and Benj. F., deceased).  Mr. A. has a well improved farm, and has given 400 acres to his children.  He is engaged in stock-raising, feeding and dairying.  Mr. A. is a member of the M.E. Church and of Masonic Lodge No. 50.  In politics he is a democrat.

AKERS, B. C., Esq., Justice of the peace, Troy; was born November 17, 1812, in Barron county, Ky.; at the age of nine years, he moved with his  parents to Tennessee, where he was reared and educated; waking three miles to attend a very indifferent subscription school.  In his youth he followed flatboating on the Cumberland, Ohio and Mississippi rivers; and was in New Orleans in 1833, during the cholera epidemic.  He was married August 27, 1835, to Miss Martha Etheridge, a native of Tennessee, and they have had five children:  Amanda J., deceased March, 1880, wife of John H. Miller;  Martha M., wife of S. B. Siddons;  James C.,  Sarah E., wife of John E. Conner; and Mary E., deceased, when three years old.  In 1840, Mr. A. came to Iowa, and lived in Van Buren county twenty-two years, enduring all the privations of a pioneer life.  He came to this county and located in Troy, in 1862, since which time he has been one of the county’s best citizens.  He has been justice of the peace or constable for a great many years, and has been many years a member of the Baptist Church.  His son, J. C., served three years during the war in company H, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry.

Allen, James H. submitted by Jerry Nelson

Allen, James H., farmer and stock-raiser, section 6, postoffice Pulaski; was born in Union township, this county, May 13, 1843. His father, John A. Allen, being among the first settlers of the county. Mr. A. spent his youth assisting on the farm and attending the pioneer schools. He enlisted in May, 1861, in the Second Iowa Infantry, but being under age was rejected, and in October, 1862, with the same result; tried again April19, 1864, was accepted and joined company I, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry; was in the battles of Kenesaw Mt., Nickajack, Peach Tree Creek, Ball’s Knob, etc.; was wounded near Atlanta, July 22, with a fragment of shell, but soon reported again for duty; being at the fall of Atlanta, with Sherman to the sea, at Orangeburg, Columbia, etc., was in the grand review at Washington. He was married April 8, 1863, to Miss Mary F. Elrod, a native of Indiana, daughter of Rev. John Elrod, late chaplain of Thirteenth Iowa Infantry. They have two children living, Lizzie A. and Maud M. and four deceased, Elmer, Clara, Veda and Willie. Mr. Allen owns a fine farm of 215 acres.

Anderson, Wm. W. submitted by Sue Simpson

Anderson, Wm. W., lives on section 5, in Roscoe township, postoffice Pulaski; was one of the pioneers of Roscoe.  He is a native of Cumberland county, Va., born June 6, 1828.  When quite young his father emigrated to Pike county, O., where Mr. A. lived until 1856.  He was reared a farmer and educated in the subscription schools of early days; moved to Iowa and settled in Roscoe township, Davis county, where he has since resided.  He was married November 25, 1852, to Miss Susan M. Bristol, of Pike county, O.  They have five children:  Reuben W., now ex-county superintendent; Mary E., now Mrs. A.J. Pinnell; Catherine M., now Mrs. H.C. Powers; Wm. M. and Florence S.  Mr. A. has a farm of 358 acres, a nice residence surrounded with ornamental trees, also a fine orchard of 150 trees.  He is now engage in stock-raising.  Mr. and Mrs. A. are members of the M.E. Church, and are foremost in any effort to raise the morals of the community.

Andrews, R. D., one of the earliest settlers in Wyacondah township, was born in Franklin  county, Indiana, September 1, 1836.  When about a year old, his parents  moved to Bartholomew county, Indiana, where he lived until he was  fourteen years old, when he came to Iowa, settling in this township.  He  was brought up a farmer, and acquired a common school education.  He  enlisted, November 15, 1861, in the Twenty-First Missouri Volunteers,  was in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Fort Blakely and  Nashville; was discharged at Mobile, Ala., April 15, 1865, and returned  home.  While in the army he became first lieutenant.  He was married,  March 9, 1856, to Miss Julia Ann Spurgeon, formerly of Washington  county.  They have had twelve children, ten living:  Mary A.,  Elizabeth  A.,  Calvin N.,  Samantha J.,  Maria A.,  Isaac M.,  Charles E.,   Leonard W.,  Cindella Belle and Mauda A.,  and two deceased, Elsie and  an infant.  Mr. A. is located on a good farm of 180 acres, with brick  residence, good barn and orchard, and plenty of ornamental trees.  He is  a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, an din politics he is a  republican.  His postoffice is Bloomfield.  

Armstrong, Isaac submitted by Jerry Nelson

Armstrong, Isaac, farmer and stock-raiser, section 6, postoffice Pulaski; was born July 6, 1808, in Salem county, New Jersey, and at the age of ten, he came with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio; then to a farm in Warren county, Ohio, where he spent thirty-six years of his life. He became a resident of this county in 1856, locating where he now lives. The homestead consists of 125 acres. He also owns a good farm of 110 acres in Union township. He was married in Ohio, in March 1832, to Miss Louisa Peacock. They have had nine children, James, Samuel R., John P., Benjamin S., Adelaide, wife of Joseph Merrill; Elizabeth, wife of August Brown; Clara, wife of James Smith; Maggie and David. Mrs. A. died September 25, 1871, highly respected by every one. She was a member of the Free Will Baptist Church, many years, and her people were Quakers, of New Jersey. Mr. A. was one of the first school directors in his district, and takes great interest in education. His son, Benjamin, served in the army during the war.

Atterberry, R. E., proprietor of the Savannah wagon and blacksmith shop is a native of Davis county, born December 8, 1847. His father, Stephen Atterberry, being one of the early pioneers of the county. He was raised a farmer, and got his education in the common schools. He learned the trade of gunsmithing with J. W. Anthony, one of the best gunsmiths in Iowa, and in 1876 commenced to work at blacksmithing in this township, and has continued at it most of the time since. He was married, June 20, 1866, to Miss Polly Ann Davis, daughter of Martin Davis of this county. They are the parents of four children, Perlina Jane, Thomas B., Mary Olive and Jessie Ellis. Mr. A. has the ruputation of being one of the best workmen in the county, and an expert in repairing machinery. He has a large amount of custom work and repairing to do at all times. He has a good residence adjoining his shop. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and in politics is a democrat.

Augspurger, Henry submitted by Jerry Nelson