Johnson County >> 1883 Index

History of Johnson County, Iowa
Iowa City, Ia.: [s.n.], 1883.

B

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Mary Hitchcock.

Orville G. Babcock, farmer and postmaster, post-office, Chase; was born on the 16th day of May 1822, in Springfield , Erie County , PA. Is the son of Joab and Mary Babcock; he was raised on a farm.  In 1842 he came to Iowa and settled in Johnson county on section 32, where he now resides. May 14, 1848 , he was married to Miss Julia A. Steele of this county. To them have been born thirteen children, twelve are living: John S., Mary E., Amanda, Alice V., Milton, Orville L., Ellen, Eleanor, William H., Charles W., James G., Daniel W. Mr. Babcock owns 600 acres of land where he lives, well improved and well stocked, with seventy head of cattle, 17 horses, sixty-five hogs and over 200 sheep. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. He is a republican in politics, a member of white Marble Lodge, No 238, A. F. & A. M., holds the office of township trustee, and is the first and resent postmaster of Chase.

George T. Baker, a resident of Iowa City, and the junior member of the firm of Tanner & Baker, hardware merchants, doing business on College street. Was born July 9th 1857, in Iowa county, Iowa. He graduated from Cornell College in 1879; came to Iowa City that year. he was married march 27th, 1879, to Miss Clara J. Poole, of Ithica, N. Y. This union is blessed with two children, Ethel and Georgia. He is a member of the College Society, called the "Beta Theata Phi." This firm is composed of young men of wonderful energy, good business qualifications, and very popular with all classes. It is evident that their united efforts are being crowned with success.

James W. Bane, farmer, post-office, Iowa City; the son of Robert and Sarah Bane; was born on the 11 th day of November, 1839, in Mercer County , IL . His parents came to Iowa when he was two years of and settled in Johnson County , four miles below Iowa City , from there moved to the city and lived one year and a half; then moved to this township, where they have lived to the present time. James W. has followed farming all his life, with the exception of three years that he spent in defense of his county. On the 5 th day of August he enlisted in the 22 nd Iowa under Capt. Robinson, company I. He was engaged in the following battles: Champion Hill, Black River Bridge , assault on Vicksburg , Winchester , Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. At Vicksburg he received a slight wound on the right shoulder; he also, while charging the enemy, in jumping a ditch, fell and injured his back, from which he is troubled ever since. On the 28 th day of January he was married to Miss Nancy A.  Stewart, daughter of Robert and Anna T. Stewart. They have three children living; Mandie M., Burt S. and Earl T. He is a member of the A.F. and A. M., also of the Legion of Honor.

John K. Beranek, Iowa City; was born May 9, 1842 in Bohemia, Europe. He came to America in 1856, landed in Baltimore, MD, and came to Iowa City in October of the same year. He went to OR in 1860, and returned to Cedar Co. IA in 1866 and farmed there until 1869, when he came to Iowa City and engaged in business. He was a traveling salesman in 1877 and 1878. He married March 22, 1871, Miss Mary Vyvoda, of Iowa City. This union is blessed with three children: Premis O., Bozena B. and Libusa. He is a democrat in politics. He was elected alderman, March 5, 1877, from the third ward, and was trustee of Iowa City township in 1871, 1872, and 1873. He is now first assistant chief of the fire department. He helped organize the Protection Fire Co. and has been ten years a member of the said company. He is recognized leader among his Bohemian friends as well as enjoying the confidence of a large circle of friends.

W. F. Buck, a farmer, residing in Union township, post-office address Iowa City ; was born Aug.24, 1826, in Germany , came to America in 1844, landed in New Orleans . Settled in Johnson County , Iowa City, in April, 1844. He was a faithful soldier in the Mexican War, served in Captain Morgan's Independent Cavalry Company, the first company raised in Iowa , and he served three years and six months. He was married in 1851 to Miss Mary J. Thomas, of Union township, Johnson County Iowa. They are blessed with eight living children: Henry A., William F., Edward O., Jane, wife of Matthew Howell, Elmer S., Charles S., May and Herbert. He is a republican in politics; was a justice of the peace in Union township, and served on the school board and as assessor and trustee of Union township, and was a member of the board of supervisors of Johnson County, for one term, and served on the last board under the law that elected one member from each township; he was sent from Union township and in all of his official duties he made a record as an honest and faithful public servant.