History of
Davis County, Iowa
Des Moines: Iowa Historical Company,
1882
B
Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.
BAILEY,
ORANGE, farmer and stock-raiser, section 18, post-office Albany; one
of the first settlers of Marion township, was born March 11, 1811, in
Bradford county Pennsylvania. He was raised a farmer; when 10 years
of age, came with his father, Smith Bailey, to Muskingum county, Ohio;
and eight years later moved to Fraklin county where he lived seven years.
He received his education in the subscription schools. He came to this
county in 1845, built a log cabin and endured the many hardships a pioneer
is subject to. When he arrived with a wife and four children, $1,50
was his entire capital, and in less than a year his wife died, leaving
him the care of four small children, and a new farm to attend too. His
farm now contains 110 acres, all under cultivation. He is a member of
the United Bretheren Church, and in politics is a republican. He was
first married to Miss Lydia Wagner of Franklin county, Ohio; and they
had seven children: William S., David S., Rose Mantie, Ann, and three
deceased, Warren, Charley S., and Mary O. Was married again in January
1849, to Miss Nancy Good, daughter of Isaac Good of Muskingum county,
Ohio, and they have had thirteen children; Thomas J., Elizabeth, Rachel,
James H., Frances M., Hiram, Emma J., Austin, and five deceased, Franklin,
Ira, Peter J., and two in infancy.
Barker,
J. S.
submitted by Deborah Barker
Barker,
J. S., farmer and stock raiser, post office Bloomfield, was born Nov 7, 1854, in
Van Buren, Co, Iowa. His father was one of the pioneers of that county, where he
still lives at the age of 81. John owns a farm of 120 acres. He was married Nov
21, 1867, to Miss Artie Johnson, who died May 17, 1875, leaving two children,
Harvey M., and Archie J. He was married again Jan 21, 1879, to Miss Sarah E
Franklin. They have one child; Katie F. Mr. B is a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
Barker,
John T
submitted by Deborah Barker
Barker, John
T, was born near Mt. Zion, Iowa, Oct. 20, 1842, and died at his home in Union
township, Davis county, Iowa, Oct. 14, 1906. His boyhood days were spent in the
community where he was born. Aug. 6th, 1862, he responded to the call of his
country for volunteers and enlisted in the 19th Iowa Infantry. He participated
in the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, which the soldiers of this regiment so
well remember. He, with a great many others of his regiment, were taken
prisoners at Sterling Farm, La., and were taken to Tyler, Texas, September 29th,
1863. There they endured the hardships of prison life until they were exchanged,
July 22nd, 1864. He was also at the siege of Vicksburg, and also participated in
the taking of Spanish Fort, near Mobile, and was honorably discharged July 10th,
1865. Jan. 30th, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Kate Denning. To them
were born six sons and two daughters, the oldest daughter dying in infancy. The
rest were permitted to be at their father's deathbed and funeral. He united with
the Presbyterian Church about the time he was married and ever after lived a
Christian life. He had been greatly afflicted for the past twenty-five years
with epilepsy, but bore his suffering patiently, of late often remarking to his
friends that he would rather depart and be with Christ, which is far better. The
funeral was held at Chequest church, and burial in Rouch cemetery, Rev. McClure
of Troy.
Bassett,
W. M., farmer, section 9, postoffice Bloomfield; was born in Ripley county, Ind.,
March 29, 1851.
When he was three years old his father, William, came to Lyon county,
Iowa, where he grew to manhood on a farm and was educated in the common schools
and Cornell College.
In 1874, he went to Mercer county, Mo., and in 1878, settled on his
present farm in this county, where he owns 145 acres of well improved land, a
comfortable house surrounded with evergreens, a large barn and orchard of eight
acres, with a great variety of small fruits.
He was married April 15, 1873, to Miss Princilla H. Puffer of Linn
county, daughter of Chas. Puffer, Esqr.
They have two children: Ora B. and Frank L.
In politics Mr. B. is a greenbacker.
He is a genial man and highly thought of.
Battin,
Newton, farmer, section 15, postoffice Bloomfield; was born January, 1839, in
Cumberland county, O., where he lived for thirteen years, when his father, Ezra,
moved to Ripley county, Ind., and five years latter came to Grove township in
this county.
Mr. B. was reared a farmer and received a common school education.
When the ear broke out he enlisted, August, 1861, in Company E., Third
Iowa Cavalry, Col. Bussey commanding.
He was taken prisoner in Missouri and was taken to St. Louis, and in the
fall of 1863, was exchanged and ordered to Benton, Ark.
He re-enlisted in the spring of 1864, and came home on twenty days
furlough; then went to St. Louis and Memphis; was at Tupelo, under Gen. Sturgiss
at Guntown, in Grierson's raid, and with Gen. Wilson; went the trip with
Sherman, and was discharged at Davenport.
Coming home, he was married December 7, 1865, to Miss M. E. Modrel of
this county, who died in 1869.
He married again in the spring of 1870, to Miss Harriet Modrel, sister of
his first wife.
They have had five children: John E., Fred E., Margaret E., Nora, Jason
and Everett.
Mr. B. owns a fine farm of 240 acres in good cultivation, and is engaged
in stock-raising.
In politics he is a republican.
Baughman, Christian submitted
by Jerry Nelson
Baughman, Christian, farmer and stock-raiser, section 22; postoffice Pulaski; was born
October 31, 1825, in Wayne county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood, receiving a common
school education. He came to this county, and located where he now lives, in 1858, and has
a fine farm of 420 acres. He was married December 12, 1850, to Miss Catharine Plank, of
Wayne county, Ohio, and they had seven children; Elizabeth A., David K., Jacob S., J. J.,
Mary A., Lovina A. and William C. Mr. B. is deeply interested in fine horses, and has done
more to improve the breed of horses in the county than any other one man. His Percheron
and Norman horses are models of beauty, and unequalled for service. His wife lost her
reason in 1867, and had to be removed to the Insane hospital at Mt. Pleasant, where she
died in December, 1876. She was a lady of fine, social and family disposition, a member of
the Mennonite Church, and highly respected.
BEARD, WM., farmer, section eight, postoffice West Grove; was born October 16, 1825, in Mainard county, Ill., where he grew to manhood. His parents were Andrew and Sallie Beard. In 1849, he came to Iowa, settling in this township, and moved on his present farm in 1856, where he has since resided. He owns 130 acres of splendid land, under a high state of cultivation. He was married in October, 1844, to Miss Nancy Jane Bell, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Bell. They have been blessed with ten children: Sarah E., James H., Andrew, William, Isaac, Ellie, and four deceased. In politics Mr. B. is an independent democrat.
Boyd,
J S
submitted by Deborah Barker
Boyd, J
S; farmer, postoffice Bloomfield; was born Feb 26, 1837, in Putnam Co., IN. He came to this county in Feb 1861, He married June 30, 1861, to Mary R J
Harbert, and they have 3 children, one living; Robert, Ada, and John.
Brewer, Richard
submitted by Sue Simpson
Brewer, Richard, is the owner of a good farm of 160 acres, in
section 14; he was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1834, where
he remained until he was 17, when he went to Hamilton, Ohio. One year
later he came to Van Buren county, Iowa, and in 1854, went to California,
overland, engaged in farming and mining in California, Oregon and Idaho, until
1868, then returned to Van Buren county. In the spring of 1871 he came to
this county. He was married February 15, 1869, to Emeline F. Arnold of Van
Buren county, and has two children, Mary Ella and Mattie Mary. He has a
good house and barn, and orchard of 200 trees. In politics he is a
republican.
Brown,
John, farmer and stock-raiser, section 28, postoffice Troy; was born August 17,
1826, in Richland county, Ohio, where he grew up, assisting on the farm, and
attending the common schools. He then traveled, in Pennsylvania, in 1849, and in
1851 spent about a year visiting different parts of Iowa; returned to Ohio in
1852, and was married October 18, 1854, to Miss Unity N. Knox, also of Ohio. He
engaged in farming till 1867, when he came and located where he now lives; he
has a farm of 160 acres, 115 acres in good cultivation; he feeds most of his
crop to stock. He has a family of nine children; Mary Belle, wife of C. D.
Saunders; James L., Robert W., Alice A., Abbie D. and John K., born in Ohio, and
Emma J., William A. and Lela V., born in Iowa. They are members of the
Presbyterian Church, and are well and favorably known over this county.
Brown, S. R.
submitted by Sue Simpson
Brown, S. R., one of the pioneers of Roscoe, is the subject of
this sketch. He was born in Blunt county, East Tennessee. When quite
young his father, Samuel, who was a son of Thomas Brown, moved to Washington
county, Indiana, where Mr. Brown resided about twenty-five years. In 1852
he moved to Henry county, Iowa, and after remaining there two years, in the
spring of 1855, he came and settled on his present farm in this county.
Mr. Brown was raised a farmer and received his education in the subscription
schools of the early days. He was married June 6th, 1847, to Miss Lydia
Ann Peugh of Washington county, Indiana, formerly of Bartholomew county,
Kentucky. There were born to them four sons, Augustus Walter, Charles
Franklin, Thomas Weldon and Samuel Burr. Mr. Brown owns 240 acres of land
in a high state of cultivation, with an orchard of 250 trees. The grove
known as Round Grove, is on his farm. He is engaged in
stock-raising. Is a member of the M.E. Church and the Masonic order. He is
in politics an independent republican. His postoffice is Pulaski. Mr. Brown is well respected wherever he is known.
Jasper Brumley
submitted by Lois
G. Cossel McMillin
Brumley, Jasper;
page 669: farmer and stock raiser, post office Stiles; was born April 24,
1840, in Ohio, living there till 1863, when his parents came to Iowa and
settled in Roscoe township, this county. Here he grew up to manhood and
received a limited education, he learned to labor on the farm, where he
remained till the war broke out, when he enlisted in company A, Third Iowa
Cavalry, and went with that regiment through most of its hardest fights.
At the battle of Lagrange, Arkansas, he was dangerously wounded, the ball
passing through his right arm and entering his right side passing through
the point at the right lung, and lodging in the front part of the
abdominal cavity, near the point at the breast bone, where it still
remains, he then went to the hospital at Keokuk, but rejoined the regiment
in the fall; was sick in hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, when Forrest made
his raid into the city. He was discharged October 19, 1864, and returned
home, bringing with him a gentle reminder that he had fought and bled for
his country. He was married in 1866, to Miss M. A. Foshee; they have two
children, Zora K. and Lucinda. After his marriage he purchased his present
farm containing 132 acres, in fine cultivation. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church at Stiles.
Amon Brunk submitted
by Lois
G. Cossel McMillin
Brunk,
Amon; page 668: farmer and stock-raiser; dealer and shipper of poultry,
butter and eggs; post office Stiles, was born August 22, 1832, in Grayson
county, Kentucky; at the age of fourteen he came with his parents to this
county. Here he grew to
manhood, acquiring a limited education on the farm.
In 1856, he engaged in business at Springville where he remained
till 1858, then engaged in farming till 1863, when he engaged in the
cattle business in Missouri. The
next year he farmed, and the next engaged in business at Savannah.
In 1866 he sold to Mr. Hardy, and farmed again; in 1867, he and a
brother bought out Mr. Hardy in Stilesville, and a year later he bought
out his brother. In July
1869, he removed to Stiles, and continued business till July 1873; then
moved to Schuyler county, Missouri; built a hotel at Lancaster, and this,
with other reasons caused his failure in 1876.
Settled with his creditors and continued till 1878, when he sold
out to his father and brother, and returned to his farm, where he has
since remained. He owns 314
acres, near Stiles. He was
married May 20, 1855, to Miss Maria J. Lunsford, and they have eight
children: Wm. M., Alfred,
Benj. F., Peter, Hugh, Charles, Inez May, and Gracie, and two deceased,
Amon and Henry.
Salem Brunk submitted
by Lois
G. Cossel McMillin
Brunk,
Salem; page 669: farmer and stock-raiser, owns a nice farm of 448 acres,
in section 30; was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, November 12, 1834;
and, when twelve years old, his parents moved to this county, settling in
Perry township, and four years later to Wyacondah, and in 1862, came to
this township. Mr. B. was married to Miss Turner, a daughter of James
Turner; they had five children, J. W., Martha Jane, J. H., Ella, and
Philip, deceased, who was the oldest, dying at two years of age.
Mrs. B. died February 17, 1874, and he married again, marrying a
sister of his deceased wife. They
have two children, Bertha and Ira. Mr.
and Mrs. B. are worthy members of the Christian Church.
Brunk, W. M submitted
by Jerry Nelson
Brunk, W. M., merchant, Pulaski; was born March 23, 1857, in this county, his early
life being spent in his father’s store at Stiles, until 1873, when his parents moved
to Lancaster, Mo., where his father engaged in merchandizing; and he finished his
education in the Lancaster graded schools, going to school in the forenoon and selling
goods in the afternoon. He became a partner in the firm of Brunk & Son, at the age of
nineteen. He returned to this county, and engaged in the stock business at Stiles, in
1877, and in 1879, located in Pulaski in the store of Brunk & Son, his father and
grandfather; and became sole proprietor in 1880. He was married February 13, 1879, to Miss
Mary Stockman, a native of this county, daughter of John Stockman, of Stiles, and they
have two children, Guy and Maud. Mr. G. is a good business man, and full of push and
energy.
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