Page County >> 1880 Index

History of Page County, Iowa
Des Moines: Iowa Hist. Co., 1880.

Valley Township
Transcribed by Jenny Kehm

Page: 773-774

BADGER, E. P., mill owner, section 29, P. O. Hepburn, Iowa; born in Thrumbull county, Ohio, A. D. 1842. Emigrated with his father's family in 1844 to Washington county, Iowa , where he grew up to manhood, and followed the business of farming. He was married to Lizzie Dyarmon, of the same county, in 1863. By this union they have four children living: Minnie O., John O., Clarence V., and Alva R., and one deceased, Martha J. He with his family emigrated to Atchison county, Missouri, in 1870, where he purchased land and improved a farm, and soon after erected a flouring mill, where he continued business seven years. He sold his possessions at this point, and purchased his present location, during the winter of 1877, near Hepburn, on the Nodaway river, where he has erected a fine flouring mill; supplied with a never-failing power, and is doing a flourishing business. His enterprise is highly appreciated by the surrounding community.

Page: 774

BEAVERS, SELDON, farmer, section 22, owns 240 acres, P. O. Hepburn; born November 10, 1819 , in Highland county, Ohio . His education was limited to that obtainable from the common schools. He came to Iowa in 1853, locating where he now resides. He is a man of strict integrity, of uncompromising political faith—having always voted the Democratic ticket since the existence of the party—and enjoys the highest esteem of his friends and neighbors. Has been honored with the trust of several township offices, and is now one of its trustees. Was married November 1, 1840 , to Miss Rachel W. Spargus, a native of Highland county, Ohio . They are the parents of seven children: Rhoda (wife of Samuel Rodenbaugh of Kansas ), Calvin S., Sallie (wife of H. Lovelace of Kansas ), James , Lydia M. (wife of Amos Beaver), Delilah (wife of W. Epperson ), and Mary A. (wife of Thomas Epperson).

Page: 774

CRUSE, HIRAM, farmer, section 25, P. O. Villisca; was born in Licking county, Ohio , in 1820, where he was raised. He was married to Mary McVicker, of the same county, December 10, 1841 , by which union they have had twelve children, all living: Catharine, John, Anna, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Hiram J., William, Douglas, Richard, Denis, Mary A. and Seymour. Two daughters, Elizabeth and Anna, are married and reside in Illinois . In 1844 Mr. Cruse emigrated with his family to Fulton county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm, on which he resided eight years, then sold out and emigrated to Texas, and remained two years, and finding the climate and customs of that country less congenial to his feelings, he returned to Schuyler county, Illinois, where he re-invested in a good farm, and continued his calling until 1875, when he sold his farm and emigrated to Wapella county, Iowa, where he located for two years, then sold again and purchased his present farm in this county, on which he located in the fall of 1876, and has a well improved farm on one hundred acres, a nice young orchard and native grove about the premises.

Page: 774

DODDS, REV. DAVID, P. O. Hepburn; born December 19, 1838 , in Butler county, Pennsylvania . Is a man of fine education; educated classically at Westminister College , theologically at Alleghany City and medically at Florence , New Jersey . Married to Miss Mary E. Dodds, May 2, 1871 . Immediately after his marriage he entered the ministry, in which he has remained until the present time. Mr. Dodds has served charges at Chillicothe, Ohio, New York City, Butler, Pennsylvania, East Brady and Fairview, Came to Page county in 1877, and is now located at Hepburn. He has three children living: Carrie E., Vida and Pearl .

Page: 775

GORDON, W. H., justice of the peace and grain dealer, P. O. Hepburn; was born in Adams county, Ohio, November 27, 1843, where he was raised, receiving a common school education and followed the occupation of farming. He emigrated to this county in the spring of 1866, where he has resided ever since. He was married in April, 1869, to Miss Lucinda Ward, of Brownsville , Nebraska , by which union they have four children, all living: Anna C., Henry W., William S. and Elma E. He has resided in Hepburn two years. Mr. Gordon has filled several township offices in his township. His grandfather participated in the war of 1812, and he, himself, entered the United States service at the beginning of the late war, by enlisting in the Thirty-ninth Ohio infantry volunteers, July 4, 1861 , where he served to the close of the war, serving both in the sixteenth and seventeenth corps of the army of the Tennessee . Participated in Sherman 's march to the sea, thence to Virginia and on to Washington where the grand review was held.

Page: 775

KELLY, WILLIAM, farmer, section 19, P. O. Hepburn; born August 23, 1849 , in Adams county, Ohio , where he grew to manhood, receiving a common school education. Came from Ohio to Page county in 1875, and has since been a continuous resident. Was married to Mrs. B. A. Robbins, originally Miss Smith, the mother of four children by her first husband: L. Lincoln, Elizabeth, Jane and Ransom. Mr. Kelly was born and bred a farmer, and has followed that occupation all his life, with what success his present fine farm attests.

Page: 775

MOFFITT, HUGH, farmer, section 24, P. O. Villisca, Iowa; was born in North Carolina, December 4, 1821, where he was raised on a farm by Quaker parents. He was married to Miss Sarah M. Crovan of the same state, by which union they have ten children, living: Elizabeth L., Isaiah Q., Thomas J., Nancy R., Sarah M., John H., George W., Minerva E. and Emma E. Deceased: Prudence E., Rebecca J., and Mary L. William R. and Isaiah D. are married, and reside in the southeast part of Kan. Elizabeth L. Dunn, a married daughter, lives in the northeast part of Kansas . The balance of the family live in Iowa . Mr. Moffitt with his family emigrated to Iowa in 1854. Located in Pottawatomie county where he resided until the spring of 1856, when he located his present farm, which is highly improved, consisting of 294 acres, with large orchard. His daughters Elizabeth and Nancy R., also sons William R., Isaiah D. and Thomas J. are married. He descended from English parentage, who were among the early colonists. J. H. Moffitt, his son, a young man of prepossessing, industrial habits, and enterprising traits of character, aids materially in the management of the home farm.

Page: 776

MITCHELL, MRS. LYDIA L., farmer, section 2, owns 100 acres of fine land, P. O. Villisca; born March 22, 1822, in Pennsylvania. Her early life was passed among the scenes and incidents common to the farmer's life. In 1838 she came with her father's family to Crawford county, Ohio . She was married on the 20 th of August, to William Leasure, a native of Ohio . He died July 15, 1845 , leaving her with a family of three children, one of whom is now living, Nancy A., wife of Benjamin Draper, Page county. She married Mr. J. B. Mitchell, a native of Vermont , on May 2, 1847 . Mr. Mitchell died June 26, 1876 , leaving her a family of six children: of these the following are living: Mary E. (wife of S. W. Baker), Rosetta J. (wife of Joseph Frist), John A., Susan R. and William.

Page: 776

MOORE, MRS. SARAH, widow of John Moore, farmer, section 9; born in Adams county, Ohio , 18__. Married to John Moore, in 1838, by whom she had the following children: Millie, Edward, Margaret, Anderson, John, Thomas, Eliza and Austin, (twins), Benjamin and Catharine. James is deceased. Mrs. Moore came to Page county with her husband—who died April 27, 1874 —in 1858. They located on their present farm in 1864. The youngest son, Benjamin, manages the farm. He is a man of more than ordinary business ability, and of sterling worth; respected and loved by all who know him.

Page: 776

OSBORN, WILLIAM, farmer, section 36, P. O. Hawleyville; born January 6, 1825 , in Morgan county, Ohio . His early life was passed on a farm, and his education received in the common schools of the state. He came first to Iowa in 1849, on a prospecting tour, carefully looking over the country from Keokuk to Oskaloosa. Finding nothing satisfactory to him, he returned to Ohio , remaining until 1852, when he again came to Iowa , with small means, which he increased at labor by the month on farms. In connection with his brother, Dr. Osborn, late of Council Bluffs , he purchased a small farm, which was improved until the fall of 1855. He then purchased the farm he at present owns. The winters of 1855-6-7-8 were spent in teaching school. Mr. Osborn has filled several township positions of trust, thus testifying to the universal esteem and high respect in which he is held. He was married March 27, 1856 , to Miss Caroline Mead, in Clarke county, Missouri . She was a native of Warren county, Pennsylvania . They have had five children, of whom three are living: Corry B., Almena and Lorena. Owns 170 acres of good land.

Page: 776-777

ORME, MRS. ELIZABETH, farmer, section 36, P. O. Hawleyville; born December 13, 1812 , in Belmont county, Ohio . There she grew to womanhood, and was educated in the common schools. Married William Orme, November 18, 1833 , who was a native of Maryland , born April 6, 1808 . In 1839 they moved to Knox county, Ohio , remaining until 1854, when they came to Iowa , and located at Oskaloosa, Mr. Orme entering the grocery business. In 1855 came to Page county, and located near where she now lives. Her husband died November 20, 1874 , leaving her with a family of eight children: Nathan, William H., Martha E., John W., and the remainder since deceased. She is still an active and very intelligent lady, caring for her farm, and conducting all its affairs.

Page: 777

ORME, NATHAN, farmer, section 36, P. O. Villisca; born in Belmont county, Ohio , June 24, 1836 . His father moved to Knox county, Ohio , when Nathan was three years of age, where he resided fifteen years. In 1851 his parents came to Oskaloosa , Iowa . Nathan remained in Iowa but one year, when he returned to Ohio , remaining eighteen months. He was married April 23, 1857 , to Miss Lucina Sharp, a native of Ohio . In the month of June in the same year he came to Page county, locating on his present farm. The ability and integrity of Mr. Orme are both witnessed by the fact that he has had several township offices of trust. He has had quite a family of children, the following living: William M., Mary E., Emma B., Louie May, Eva E. and B. N.

Page: 777

PLATTER, E. A., farmer, section 4, P. O. Villisca; born in Highland county, Ohio , May 27, 1837 . Received a more than ordinary education. Was married to John P. West, February 1, 1859 . By this union she had three children, one living: Frank B. She came with her husband to Page county in March, 1859, locating on the present farm of 324 acres. Her husband died April 26, 1865 . September 25, 1867 , she was married to Mr. A. Platter, of Ross county, Ohio , by whom she became the mother of two children, William and Sarah. This husband died February 19, 1874 . She has resided in Villisca until the spring of the present year, when she came to the farm to look after her interests there.

Page: 777-778

REED, HAMILTON, farmer, section 26, P. O. Villisca; born in Vigo county, Indiana, August 27, 1842 , where he received a common school education. Was married to Miss Isabel Johnson, of same county, October 18, 1866 . They have three children, all living: William A., Lucinda and Eva L. He emigrated to this county, and located on his present farm in April, 1866. Has a farm of 120 acres, well improved, and a thriving young orchard of 100 trees bearing. He enlisted in company F, Eighty-fifth Indiana infantry during the late war, and served three years in the department of the Cumberland . Participated in Sherman 's march to the sea, and afterward returned to Tennessee and participated in the important battles there. Was taken prisoner at Thompson's Station, near Spring Hill, and made to suffer the hospitalities of Libby Prison for 26 days. He is of English descent. His father is one of the early settlers of his county in Indiana , and is now one of its oldest living citizens. His grandfather was in the war of 1812, as well as frontier war with the Indians. His great-grandfather Reed was a member of the continental congress, while his grandfather on his mother's side participated in the great war of the Revolution.

Page: 778

SWISHER, PETER, farmer, section 13, P. O. Villisca; born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania , April 6, 1836 , where he was raised and educated. He enlisted in the Twenty-first Pennsylvania cavalry and served six months. The regiment was then reorganized, and he re-enlisted for three years, the regiment being attached to General Sherman's cavalry command. He went into the service a private, and was promoted to regimental commissary sergeant. Participated in many of the important battles in Virginia , and was mustered out at Harrisburg , July, 1865. He was married to Miss Ann R. Kriner, of Maryland , in 1868, by which union they have four children living: Charles B., Emma Kate, Julia and Blanch. Have lost one: Florence May. He, with his family, emigrated to this county, where he now lives, in 1869. He has a well-improved farm of 120 acres; also 36 acres of timber in Taylor county. Has held the office of justice of the peace and several other offices of trust in his township.

Page: 778

VANDEVENDER, PHILLIP, farmer, section 34, P. O. Hepburn; born in Licking county, Ohio , in 1835. His father's family emigrated to the state of Indiana in 1837, and was one of the frontier settlers to the state of that state for about fourteen years. He moved to this county in 1854, where his family was grown up; and after a sojourn of twenty years, he returned to old Hoosier, leaving his son Phillip to manage the Iowa farm, who had established his capabilities by his many adventures across the Nodaway before it was bridged, in search of a life partner, whom he found, who to-day enters into the joys, as well as the adversities of his life, a genial companion. He was married to Miss Nancy C. Harris, of Page county, October 23, 1860 , by which union they have two children living: Elizabeth and Louis. Have lost three. His farm consists of 160 acres of land finely improved and well stocked, and 40 acres of timber. He suffered many of the hardships endured by the early settlers, when the wolf and the wild deer roamed at will over the prairie. His grandfathers participated in the revolutionary war.

Page: 778-779

WISE, JONATHAN, farmer, section 12, P. O. Villisca; born February 12, 1839 , in Monroe county, Ohio . In 1856, his parents moved to Jackson county, West Virginia , in the common schools of which state he received the larger part of his education. In 1861, he moved back to Monroe county, and in July of that year enlisted in company D, Twenty-seventh Illinois infantry, serving until March, 1865. He was severely wounded in the charge of Ruff's mill, and left for dead on the battle-field, but survived the wound. He participated in many of the famous battles in which his regiment was engaged. In 1868 he came to Iowa , locating in this township, where he has since continuously resided. He was married December 15,1857 , to Miss Sarah E. Rake, a native of Monroe county, Ohio . They have had five children, four of whom are living: Minnie E., William D., Ida Bell and Orlie V.

Page: 779

WEST, ALBERT P., farmer, section 3, P. O. Villisca; born November 18, 1854 , in Knox county, Illinois . He was left without a mother when eight months old. His father, shortly after the death of young West's mother, moved to Montgomery county, and placed his son in the care of his grand-parents. In 1862 he again joined his father, to come to Iowa in the same year. In March, 1875, he was married to Miss Mary A. Bumgorner, a native of Highland county, Ohio . She was educated in both common and high school, finishing her education at Tabor College , Fremont county, Iowa . By this union with Miss Bumgorner he has two children: Elizabeth and Bessie. Owns 120 acres of land.

Page: 779

WASSON, MIRIAM E., farmer, section 16, P. O. Hepburn; born in Clinton county, Ohio , in 1830. She here matured, receiving a common school education. She came to Page county with her brother, Ezra Quimby, in December, 1853, making her home with her mother near Hawleyville, until her marriage with Peter Beaver in 1855, by whom she had six children: Charles V., Sarah J., Eliza A. and Sylvia B., and two deceased. This husband died in October, 1865. On February 1, 1869 , she was married to Thomas Wasson, by whom she has three children, one of whom is living, Louis L. Mr. Wasson was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky , October 6, 1815 , when he was ten years of age went with his parents to Indiana . In 1856 he went to Livingston county, Missouri . He was first married in October, 1836, by which marriage he became the father of fifteen children.