Guthrie County >> 1884 IndexHistory of
Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa
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Baker Township William W. Bailey was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in January, 1834, being the son of Levi and Abigail Bailey. In the fall of 1866 William came to Guthrie county, and settled on section 23 [Baker township], where he bought fifty acres of land, and since then has added one hundred and ninety-five acres to his farm, eighty acres of which is on section 14. He keeps a dairy and ships most of his butter to Chicago. He has a fine stock of Jerseys and shorthorns, and has the only full-blooded Durham cow in the township. In 1862 he enlisted in Company G., 106th New York regiment, and served until the close of the war in that regiment. He was in the battle of the Wilderness and at Fisher's Hill. He was wounded at Cedar Creek in October, 1864. Mr. Bailey was married in New York in 1857, to Miss Ruth Chittenden, a native of Vermont. They have seven children--Eugene L., Edith L., Amos H., Sabin L., Edward E., William W. and Nellie G. William Bailey has been known as chairman of the county board for two years, was township treasurer eight years, and justice of the peace for two years. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. David W. Cotes came to Guthrie county in 1868, and settled in Guthrie Center, where he remained some five months, when he moved on his father's farm of five hundred and ninety-eight acres in Baker township, and had the management of his father's stock and farm, until his death in November, 1881. After his father's death David moved on his own farm, and turned his attention to the rearing of improved stock. His father, J. P. Cotes, was a native of Jefferson county, New York, and in 1868 he came to Guthrie county, where under the careful management of his son, David, he followed general farming and stock-raising. David owns seven hundred and ninety acres of fine land, and is engaged in breeding fine horses, cattle and hogs. Benjamin Delaney, one of our old settlers in Guthrie county, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1825. He lived at his old home until he was fourteen or fifteen years of age, when his parents moved to Lycoming county, Pennsulvania, where he worked in a shop one year, the balance of the time farming. He then learned shoemaking, which trade he worked at three years. In the winter of 1847 he taught school, and one year later he emigrated to Stephenson county, Illinois; followed teaming until 1856, when he came to Guthrie Center, and made the first settlement near that place. He settled upon a piece of land known as Dayton and Smith's farm, on South Coon, and soon after, he moved to Valley township, and there remained for two years. He then bought a farm in Baker township, of eighty acres, which he has improved. He was married in 1854, to Miss Louisa May, who died in June, 1857, leaving one child--Mary L. E., to mourn her loss. Mr. Delaney was again married to Miss Melinda Simmons, by whom he has had two children--Erwin L, and Alma S. Mr. Delaney is a member of the Free Methodist church, and has held the position of road supervisor for a number of years. Luther Edson came to this country in 1870, and settled on H. Wheeler's farm on section 25, and about six years later, bought the Cooper estate on section 34 [Baker township], where he raised stock and engaged in general farming. He was born in Blackford county, Indiana, January 26, 1838, and is the son of Thomas H. Edson. In 1849 he moved to Porter county, where he remained until 1870. He was married July 19, 1861, in Indiana, to Miss Minerva A. Wheeler, a daughter of H. Wheeler. They have been blessed with six children--Warren F., Sumner S., Abigail S., Mary A., George W., and John C. He has held the office of supervisor and director. William A. Erving is a native of Greene county, Ohio, being born there February, 1836. He moved with his parents to Jay county, Indiana, and there located some eighteen years, when they came to Guthrie county, settling in Linn Grove. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of improved land on section 13 in Baker township, where he has an orchard and a good-sized grove. William remained at home with his parents until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted in Company C, 4th Iowa infantry. He participated in the engagements at Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, and Atlanta, and in Sherman's march to the sea. He was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, in August, 1865, and being disabled, he now draws a small pension. He was married in August, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth La Van, a daughter of Benjamin and Lucy (Hess) La Van. They have two children living--John Logan and James F. Mr. Erving is now president of the board of school directors, and has held some other township offices. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Israel Levan is a native of Centre county, Pennsylvania, being born there in January, 1838, and is the son of Benjamin and Lucy (Hess) Levan. In 1841, he moved with his parents to Illinois, where they remained until the spring of 1856, when they came to Guthrie county, settling on section 1 [Baker township], where his father made brick,and worked the land. Israel remained on a farm until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, 29th Iowa infantry, and was mustered out at the close of the war, in 1865. He was in the siege of Mobile, and in the battles of Helena and Saline. After the close of the war he came home and located on a farm east of Guthrie Center, until 1881, when he went to California, on account of his wife's poor health. Six months passed and he again returned home, and now resides on the farm of L. P. Hammond, but owns a piece of land in Seeley township. Mr. Levan was married in August, 1868, to Miss Margaret E. Girken, a native of Germany. Three children have blessed their union--Lucy, John F. and Ernest B. This most estimable gentleman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In August, 1884, Mr. Levan was so unfortunate as to lose his wife from injuries received by a fall from a buggy. F. H. Moor, the proprietor of the creamery, is a native of Vermont, having been born in Windsor county, January 12, 1848, his parents being Hiram B. and Abigail (Franklin) Moor. He remained on the farm on which he was born until 1876, when he removed to Guthrie county, and rented land until 1880, when he purchased two hundred and eighty-five acres [Baker township] of Wheeler and Franklin, on which he built a nice new house and a creamery. He was married in Windsor county, Vermont, May 11, 1869, to Miss Nancy E. Blanchard, a daughter of Ransom and Betty (Morgan) Moor (sic). They have six children--Victoria E., Mark H., Pearl I., Frank P., Clyde A. and Ethel. Mr. M. received his education in the common, high and select schools of Windsor county, Vermont. In politics he is a republican. Adoniram J. Newton, the subject of this sketch, is a native of LaSalle county, Illinois. He was born October 26, 1845, and is the son of Eder B. and Eveline (Seeley) Newton. His early life was spent on a farm in LaSalle county, where he remained till 1853, when he with his parents removed to Guthrie county, Iowa, first settling at Morrisburg, where they stayed one year; then removed to section 1, Baker township. He remained here two years; his father removing to Guthrie Center, Ad had an opportunity of attending school. He obtained a common-school education. In 1862 he commenced carrying the mails, his father having a route at this time, continuing in this business until 1864, when he married Sarah R. Motz, July 30, a native of Pennsylvania, but at the time a resident of this county. Five children have blessed this union--Clara E., Charles A., Louisa E., Mary S. and Esther I., all living but Louisa. After his marriage he lived in the village two years; then commenced an improvement on a farm a short distance east of town. He sold this place and bought ninety-five acres of his father on section 1, Baker ownship in 1879. He now owns two hundred and ten acres of fine land, all under cultivation. Mr. Newton has occupied the positions of justice of the peace, school director, etc. In politices (sic) he is a greenbacker. A spring of natural mineral water has been discovered upon the farm of Ezra Porter, near the south line of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 13 [Baker township], which is pronounced to have fine medicinal qualities. It is only neccessary for its presriptive character to become known for it to become famous. Ezra Porter, on whose farm was discovered the mineral spring, is a native of Noble county, Ohio, having been born there September 11, 1852, his aprents being William and Elizabeth (James) Porter. In 1858 Ezra's parents removed to Scott county, Iowa, where they remained about two years, then coming to Guthrie county, where they rented a farm for ten years, when they bought one hundred and twenty acres on section 13, in Baker township, to which forty acres has since been added. Ezra remained with his parents up to the time of their death, his father dying May 20, 1883, and his mother August 14 of the same year. He was married, November 13, 1883, to Miss Elizabeth J. Steadman, a daughter of Henry Steadman, of Ohio. He owns eighty acres of the old farm, on which he lives, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. William Porter, his father, was a man of good habits, an intelligent citizen and respected by all who knew him. Gustavus E. Price was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, December 21st, 1836, and is the son of Andrew B. and Abigail Price. His father practiced medicines until Gustavus was about nine years of age, when they moved to Porter county, Indiana, when Gustavus went to Johnson county with the intention of studying medicines, but his father not wishing him to become a physician, he left school and returned to the farm. He was married in 1857, to Amanda E. Ferguson, a native of Ohio. They have five children living--Andrew B., Sarah A., Eli G., John G. and Willie D. In 1859 he and his wife started for Guthrie county, where he stayed one year, and then made a trip to Pike's peak in search of gold, but returned in a few months to Porter county, Indiana, where they remained until 1864, when they again returned to Guthrie Center, and purchased one hundred and ten acres of land on section 11 [Baker township] of Thomas Seeley. He has greatly improved his farm, and in 1867, cut timber and built a house, and now has one of the best places in Baker township. Mr. Price has held many township offices, and is now justice of the peace. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. George Robinson, a farmer and stock-raiser in Baker township, was born in England, September 23, 1831. In 1853 he came to this country settling in New York, where he remained some sixteen years, when he came to Guthrie county and bought sixty-one acres of land on section 24, in Baker township. He has kept on buying land, a little at a time, which he has cultivated, until he owns one hundred and ninety-two and a half acres of land, all under cultivation. In 1873 he made a visit to his native land, but after a few months he returned to his present location. Mr. Robinson was married in Cortland, New York, to Miss Ann Sill, a native of England, and who was born in 1829. They have four children--Joseph, now in Colorado; Mary J., William and Amelia. George has been secretary of the school board for number of years, and has been township clerk and assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are members of the Episcopal church. George Shebal is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and was born in February, 1831. His father was a shoemaker, and in 1836 the family came to America, settling in Ohio, where the father worked at his trade. George remained at home with his parents until he was twenty years of age, when he went to Cincinnati, and there learned the tailor's trade, and worked at that about six years. The confinement was too much for his health, and he then learned harness-making, and going to Noble county, he worked there for some years. He came to Iowa, and after going from one county to another, he settled down in Guthrie county in 1874, and here purchased a farm of forty acres of Mr. Kesler, on section 22 [Baker township], and afterward purchased eighty acres on section 21, and also owns five acres of timber on section 26. He was married in Noble county, Ohio, in 1861, to Miss Phoebe Rogers, who died in February 1872, leaving one child--Thomas J. In November of the same year he was married to Esther Headlee, by whom he has one child--Mary A. Mr. Shebal has been supervisor one year, and has held the position of director some years. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In the spring of 1855, William Sheeder left his home among the hills of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and came West in search of a home in the then wild west. He came as far as Guthrie county, and found the land to his liking, and on the 17th of June of that year, took up a claim on the east half of section 5, where he has remained ever since. He has since purchased many acres until he is probably the largest land-owner in the country. William Sheeder, the only son of Frederick, Jr. and Elizabeth (Shuler) Sheeder, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, Chester county, September 19, 1825. His parents both died when he was young, and he went to live with his grandfather Sheeder, on his farm, where he remained until he was sixteen years old, obtaining a common-school education. He then began the blacksmith trade, which he worked at five years. At this time he purchased a piece of land in Chester county, on which he continued to live eight years. His ambition would not allow him to live on this small farm, and he concluded to go West. He came directly to Des Moines, and obtaining plats of a district surrounding his present location, he came to what is now Seeley township, and not finding as much wood and water as he desired, came to his present location on section 5 [Baker township]. Taking at first the east one-half of this section in the spring of 1855, in the spring of 1856 forty acres more on the section eight, and to-day he owns three thousand, one hundred and thirty-two acres of land in the county. In Baker township two thousand and thirty-two, Seeley four hundred and eighty, Union one hundred and twenty, and Bear Grove four hundred and fifty six. The successful career of Mr. Sheeder is due to his never paying much interest and keeping out of debt, and for the past twelve years has been engaged in buying and raising stock for the great markets, making his shipments himself. At first living in a small log-house built by himself and covered with shingles of his own manufacture, he now lives in a nice brick house two stories high, worth about $3,000, with good corn barns, etc., surrounding it. His wife was Miss Mary Keely, a daughter of Henry and Marry (Miller) Keely, and the date of his marriage was March 23, 1848. They have nine living children--Silas, John, Eli, James, George, Anna, Domicilla, Joseph and Wilmer. The first born are natives of Pennsylvania, the others born in Iowa. Mr. Sheeder is township trustee of Baker and has been assessor of Bear Grove township, of which this was then a part. Thomas A. Shroyer, a prominent citizen of Baker township, resides on section 11. He was born in Noble county, Ohio, in June, 1844, and is the son of David and Susan (Foreacre) Shroyer. In 1868 he moved to Guernsey county, where he remained about two years, when he removed to Noble county for the second time. He again returned to Gurensey, and remaining a short time, he came to Guthrie county, buying eighty acres of land of the railroad company, which is now nearly improved. He was married in Noble county, Ohio, in January, 1864, to Miss Mary L. Anderson, a native of Guernsey county, Ohio. They have nine children living--John S., David W., Susan M., James H., Rebecca J., Thomas S., Charles K., Mary B., and Sarah L. Mr. Shroyer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. S. S. Wheeler was born in Sherburne, Vermont, in 1814. From thence moved to Plymouth, where he married Mary Tracy, July 23, 1837, his occupation there being merchandising. In 1852, he moved to Indiana, where he raised stock until 1865, when he came to [Baker township] Iowa, where he has been a stock-raiser and general farmer. He has reared two children--Stella L. Wheeler and Minerva A. Edson. He died on 1st of February, 1883. |