Jasper County >> 1894 Index
Grundy County
Marshall County

Portrait and Biographical Records of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1894.

H

Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

Amos A. Hall owns a fertile farm in Timber Creek Township, Marshall County. He is one of the enterprising agriculturists of this vicinity and is a public-spirited man, who takes great interest in everything pertaining to the general welfare. His farm comprises eighty acres, which is all under cultivation. He also owns another piece of five acres. The place is mostly devoted to raising fruit, principally strawberries and small fruits. Mr. Hall ships large quantities of these products to the city markets every year. His farm is admirably adapted for raising fruit, and he receives a good income from this source alone. In 1876 Mr. Hall erected a fine residence, which is well built, with a model cellar and all modern equipments. This house is one of the best in the township and was put up at a cost of nearly $7,800. The substantial barns on the farm cost $2,500.

James Hall, the great-great-grandfather of the gentleman of whom we write, was born only four miles from London. His son, whose Christian name was also James, had a son Amos, from whom our subject is descended. He was born in Charleston, S.C., and during the War of the Revolution, particularly in the battle of Cowpens, supplied the soldiers with provisions. The son of this man was Samuel Hall, our subject's father. He was also born in South Carolina, and when arriving at man's estate emigrated to Ohio, where he married Miss Fanny Alexander, whose birthplace was in Kentucky. Her father, Amos Alexander, had removed to the Buckeye State at an early day, settling in Miami County. After the marriage of Samuel Hall he removed to Darke County, Ohio, where he died in 1837. He was a devoted member of the Christian Church, as was also his wife, whose father was a minister of that denomination. Mrs. Hall became the mother of nine children, all of whom lived to mature years, but at the present time only three survive. The mother was called to her final rest in 1861.

The subject of this brief sketch was born February 22, 1822, in Miami County, Ohio. He was reared on his father's farm and received only limited school privileges. When only fourteen years old he started out to make his own living, and carried on the homestead for some years after his father's death. In 1842 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, a native of Ohio, who died in 1854. Our subject then wedded Mrs. Susanna Jones, whose birthplace was in Darke County, Ohio. She was called from this life three years after their marriage.

In 1860 Mr. Hall removed to Iowa and settled on his present farm in the fall. He has made nearly all the improvements on the place, which is now justly considered very valuable. In 1864 Mr. Hall and Miss Amelia Hall were united in wedlock. The lady was born in the Empire State and is a daughter of Dr. John and Sylvia (Kibbe) Hall, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. Doctor Hall removed to Wyoming County, Pa., where he lived for three years, thence proceeding to Wisconsin. In 1859 he settled in Marshall County, where he engaged in the practice of his profession for some years. He afterward removed to the northern part of the state, and in December, 1871, was frozen to death on the plains. His widow is now living in Kansas City, Mo. She is a member of the Baptist denomination, while her husband was a Universalist in faith. The wife of our subject is one of seven living children, and was born March 27, 1844, in Wyoming County, Pa., where she received a good education.

Six children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hall, namely: Louis E., Thaddeus L., who married Miss Holesapple, of Rock Island, and is now living in Marshalltown; Elma E., wife of Oscar Royer, of Hampton, Iowa; Cladius C., who married Miss Mamie Smith, of Clinton, Iowa, and is now a resident of Davenport; and Perry and Perley, twins.

During the war, Mr. Hall was one of the home guards. His brother Samuel was a member of Company F, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteers, and participated in the siege of Vicksburg; he was sent home sick and died here in 1863. While a resident of Ohio, Mr. Hall held a number of local offices, and though before the war he was a Whig, he has been a Republican since the organization of that party, taking great interest in the same. In educational matters he is active, and has been a Director of the School Board and also President of that body. He gave his children a good education, and the three eldest sons are expert electricians. Mrs. Hall holds membership with the First Baptist Church, is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society, and is a worker in the various departments of the church machinery. Our subject is a Christian man, of moral and upright life. He and his family are wifely and favorably known in this locality, and deserve in the fullest measure the respect of all.

William Hartman, who devotes his energies to agricultural pursuits, making his home on section 33, Melrose Township, Grundy County, claims Ohio as the state of his nativity.  He was born in Sandusky County, February 29, 1838, of the union of Samuel and Mary (Baker) Hartman.  The father was a native of Snyder County, Pa., and was a farmer by occupation.  In 1834 he left the Keystone State, emigrating to Ohio.  His father, Philip Hartman, also came and entered eleven eighty-acre tracts of land in Sandusky County.  He had eleven children, and gave to each one a tract.  He also entered six hundred and forty acres for himself, and there he made his home until his death.  The family were pioneers of that community.

Samuel Hartman afterwards added to this land, becoming the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, all of which he cleared and improved himself, devoting his time and attention to farm work until his death, which occurred in 1885, at the age of seventy years.  His wife passed away in 1852.  They were the parents of six children, four of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, while three are still living:  Henry, who is in the wholesale coal business in Denver, Colo.; Martin and William.  The parents were both members of the United Brethren Church.

Our subject was reared to the age of eighteen in Ohio, and then removed to Lee County, Ill., where he made his home until his enlistment for the late war.  When President Lincoln issued his call for three hundred thousand volunteers, he donned the blue, August 31, 1861, and was in the service for three years and ten months.  He became Duty Sergeant of Company G, Tenth Illinois Infantry, and was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant.  He participated in the battles of Island No. 10, New Madrid, Fts. Pillow, Donelson and Henry, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Nashville, Vicksburg, Iuka, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Stone River, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Knoxville, Dalton, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Kingston, Rome, Dallas, Marietta, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, Atlanta, the march to the sea, Savannah, Four Oaks, Goldsboro, Bentonville, Petersburgh and Richmond.  He was always with his regiment in the thickest of the fight, and whenever duty called was found at the front.

When the war was over, Mr. Hartman returned to Lee County, Ill., where he farmed for three years, when, in April, 1867, he made a trip to Grundy County, and the following year removed his family here.  He was married in February, 1863, to Miss Martha, daughter of Daniel Morris, a native of Virginia and a millwright by trade.  The lady was born in West Virginia, and died in 1870.  In 1871 Mr. Hartman married Zelena, daughter of James Dunn.  By his first marriage he had five children: Clinton, a farmer of Steamboat Rock, Iowa; William, who is located in Hardin County, Iowa; Lyman Ross, who is living in Hardin County; Nannie and Stella.  The children of the second marriage are Bertha, Myrtie, Cora and Agnes.

In April, 1867, Mr. Hartman built a house upon his farm, and that season he broke seventy-five acres of land.  He now owns two hundred and forty acres of valuable farming land, which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation.  In connection with general farming and stock-raising he had a large creamery on the place, which he carried on from 1882 until 1890.  He built up a high reputation along that line and did a good business.  the Melrose Stock Farm, as it is called, is one of the best in the county, being a valuable and desirable property.  Socially, Mr. Hartman is connected with Union Lodge No. 310, A. F. & A. M.; Ionic Chapter, Lodge 100, R. A. M.; and the Grand Army of the Republic.  In politics he is a stalwart Republican.  His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he contributes liberally to its support.  An honorable and upright life has won him high regard, and he has won the confidence and good-will of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. 

THOMAS HEALY, one of the representative farmers of Palo Alto Township, residing on section 18, is a son of Erin, for he was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, December 15, 1849. His parents, Patrick and Winnefred (Hanley) Healy, were also natives of the Emerald Isle. In that country, our subject received a common-school education. At the age of sixteen, he accompanied his parents on their emigration to America. The family bade adieu to their old home in 1866, and crossed the broad Atlantic upon an ocean steamer which sailed from Queenstown, Ireland, and after a voyage of fourteen days dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. The family came at once to Iowa, and finally settled permanently in Jasper County. Here the father spent his remaining days, his death occurring on the 14th of March, 1892. The following children yet survive: Johanna, wife of Patrick Stanton, a resident of Keokuk County, Iowa; Thomas, whose name heads this record; and John, who is living in Sherman Township, Jasper County.

Thomas Healy completed his school life by one term's attendance after his arrival in this country. He has always kept well informed on general topics of the day and is recognized as one of the intelligent and respected citizens of the community. His earlier years were spent mostly in railroading and in coal mining, and it was not until 1889 that he gave his entire attention to farm work, which he has since successfully followed.

On the 11th of October, 1874, our subject wedded Mary O'Leary, who was born in Iowa City, Iowa, September 6, 1856, and is a daughter of Cornelius and Margaret (Walch) O'Leary. Her parents were natives of Ireland. When their daughter was a little maiden of eight years they came to Jasper County, and her girlhood days were principally spent in Newton, where her mother yet resides. Her father is now deceased, having been called to the home beyond on the 24th of March, 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Healy have been born three children, a daughter and two sons: Catherine, Patrick and John, who are still under the parental roof.

The parents hold membership in the Roman Catholic Church, and our subject is a supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a self-made man in the truest and best sense of the word, and from an humble position has worked his way upward to one of affluence. He started out in life for himself empty-handed, but is now the owner of a fine farm comprising four hundred acres of rich and productive land, which is now highly cultivated and improved with all the accessories and conveniences of a model farm. One glance at this well kept place indicates to the passerby the thrift and enterprise and the careful supervision of the owner, who well deserves to be classed among the substantial and leading agriculturists of the county.