Search Hint: Search for surnames by using the "Find" command usually found under the "Edit" menu or by the keyboard command "Ctrl+F" on most PC's. Use "Ctrl+G" to find next instance of same name. Names in some cases are not in alphabetical order. Others my be found in the body of the bio rather than as the subject.

Baker, Hiram, shoemaker, Bentonsport.

Bailey, James, F., far., Sec. 26; P.O. Bentonsport; owns 252 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre. Born Aug. 23, 1825, in Belmont Co., Ohio; parents moved to Morgan Co. in 1835; from there to this county in the spring of 1850; lived in Bonaparte till the fall of 1851, then went to California via New Orleans; from there to the Isthmus by steamer; from there to San Francisco in a sailing-vessel; came near perishing for want of food and water, being out seventy-seven days; while there, was engaged in mining, and on the public works; returned in 1855, and married Celestine Davidson July 25, 1855; she was born April 10, 1835; in Illinois; came on to his present farm in January, 1855; have one daughter--Ella, married to H. T. Shepherd Nov. 12, 1872. Mr. Bailey served in the Mexican war in Co. H, 3d Ohio Inf.; was in the service about one year. Member of the M. E. Church; Republican.

Barber, Alonzo, painter, Bentonsport.

Barker, James C., farmer, farmer, Sec. 9; P.O. Mt. Zion; owns 157 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; son of John and Elizabeth Barker; born in this county July 12, 1844; his father died the following October; his mother subsequently married a man of the name of Robinson, and died Jan. 29, 1874. Mr. Barker married Miss Jane Agnew May 7, 1873; she was born March 17, 1848, in county of Antrim, Ireland; have three children--Elizabeth J., Robert J. and Mary A. Members of the Presbyterian Church; Republican.

Barker, J., far., Sec. 4; P.O. Mt. Zion.

Barr, Jas., railroad engineer, Bentonsport.

Boenstler, Daniel, farmer, Sec. 12; P.O. Pierceville.

Bragg, W. N., paper-maker, Bentonsport.

Brooks, L. A., carpenter, Bentonsport.

Brown, Noah G., station agent on the K. & D. M. R. R.; P.O. Bentonsport; son of James A. and Rachel Brown; was born Jan. 1, 1836, in Westmoreland Co., Penn.; came with parents to this county in April, 1840; stopped on a farm two miles south of Vernon; after two years, came to Bentonsport, where his father commenced building Bentonsport Mills; worked in the mills till 1859, then went to California via overland route with an ox-team; followed the milling business at Ione City in Amador Co. till 1865, when he returned to this county; following the milling business here and two years at Oskaloosa; took charge of the railroad office in 1870. Married Lutitia Freeman Feb. 5, 1857; she was born June 7, 1832, in Ohio; have three children--Cora, Harriet and Elbert; lost one--James A. His father died Nov. 21, 1865. Members of the Presbyterian Church; Republican.

Burton, J. W., far., S. 34; P.O. Bentonsport.

Carter, C. A., butcher, Bentonsport.

Carter, Heziah, Bentonsport.

Carter, R. S., dealer in rags, Bentonsport.

Carter, R. F., coal-miner, Bentonsport.

Cochenour, H., farmer; P.O. Bentonsport.

Colton, E., farmer and cloth-dresser, S. 36; P.O. Bentonsport.

Corns, Ira M., millwright and farmer; P.O. Bentonsport.

Cowles, C. W., M. D., retired physician, Bentonsport; was born March 10, 1808, in Hampshire Co., Mass.; at the age of 17, he started out for himself; came to Lexington, Ky., where he taught school about one year; taught two years at Elizabethtown, then returned to Massachusetts and finished his studies at Amherst College; graduated in August, 1831; he afterward entered Berkshire Medical College; graduated in the winter of 1835 and 1836; the following spring, came to Crawfordsville, Ind.; practiced medicine there till he came to Bentonsport, in this county, in the spring of 1838, he being the first physician so far west. Dr. Cowles has followed his profession ever since till within the last three years; also dealt some in real estate, and was a partner with a Mr. Seth Richards about six years; owned a store at Chariton, Lucas Co., several years. Married Miss Martha Howe in July, 1846; she was born Feb. 26, 1825, in Massachusetts; have three children living--George H., Hester W. and Sarah I.; lost one--Arad. George H. is engaged in the banking business at Osceola, Clark Co., Iowa. Members of the Congregational Church; Republican.

Dings, C., far.; P.O. Bentonsport.

Drumm, C., painter, Bentonsport.

Dunn, A., far. and minister, Bentonsport.

Eaton, W., laborer, Bentonsport.

Edmondson, H. B., far., Sec. 26; P.O. Bentonsport.

Fulton, A., teamster, Bentonsport.

Fulton, H., railroad engineer, Bentonsport.

Fulton, W. S., railroad section-hand, Bentonsport.

Gaddis, W., far., Sec. 12; P.O. Pierceville.

Gast, J. D., retir'd far.; P.O. Pierceville.

Greyson, W., carpenter, Bentonsport.

Greef, C. E., ferryman, Bentonsport.

Greef, J., merchant, Bentonsport.

Hart, W., blacksmith, Bentonsport.

Hancock, Frederick, P.O. Bentonsport; Justice of the Peace and Notary Public; born Dec. 13, 1815, in Luzerne Co., Penn.; at the age of 12, he went to Philadelphia; came to Van Buren County in the fall of 1838; took his claim about four miles north of Bentonsport; commenced the mercantile business in Bentonsport, in 1848, and continued till the spring of 1864. Was appointed Captain and Quartermaster in the Military Department of the Southwest; received his discharge in 1866; returned home engaged in the lumber business until 1875. Was married to Ann P. Collins, of Delaware, in September, 1837; she died in January, 1864; was again married to Martha Brown, May 1, 1873; she was born Sept. 23, 1840, in Pennsylvania; have four children living--Fanny, married to Andrew Alexander; lives at Watsonville, Cal.; Sally, married to E. A. Robinson, is living in Boston, Mass.; Mary, married to J. S. Keck, of this county, and Frederick who is in Kansas; lost two; his son, Paul, enlisted in Co. H, of the 7th Missouri Cavalry; was discharged in October, 1864, and died on the cars, at Keokuk, while on his way home; and Mattie died Oct. 4, 1878, at her sister's in California. Mr. Hancock represented his county in the Legislature, in 1844-45. Member of the Congregational Church; Republican.

Harwood, T., far., Sec. 3; P.O. Utica.

Heinz, C., tailor, Bentonsport.

Hooper, Chas., far., S. 12; P.O. Pierceville.

Hooper, S., far., Sec. 12; P.O. Pierceville.

Johnston, S. B., far., Sec. 1; P.O. Utica.

Jack, George W., dealer in general merchandise, drugs, etc. Bentonsport; born Nov. 2, 1834, in Morgan Co., Ohio; came to this county in 1856, and settled in Vernon, where he engaged in stone-cutting and selling paper for the mills; came to Bentonsport in the spring of 1861; in 1867, he opened his present business. Married Elizabeth Hart Feb. 24, 1859; she was born July 31, 1838, near Dayton, Ohio; have seven children--Delbert A., John W., Edward, George L., Clara, Chester C. and Albert; lost one--Ella L. Has held the offices of Mayor and City Treasurer, and member of the School Board. Member of the M. E. Church; Republican.

Keck, P. R., far., Sec. 34; P.O. Bentonsport.

Kisling, S., far., S. 3; P.O. Mt. Zion.

McCracken, I., stone-mason and farmer, Bentonsport.

McCune, Alexander S., farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Pierceville; owns about 1,000 acres, valued at $50 per acre; born Oct. 6, 1817, in Cumberland Co., Penn.; came to Van Buren Co., in April, 1857, and settled in Harrisburg Tp.; engaged in mercantile business in Pierceville in 1866, but did not move his family till 1869; continued in the business till 1873; is, at present, Justice of the Peace, an office which he has held ten or twelve years. Married Mary A. Walker, daughter of Benjamin Walker, Nov. 25, 1857; she was born Oct. 25, 1829, in Cincinnati, Ohio; have three children--Eleanor S., Hester F. and Minnie B. Demo-Greenback.

McCutcheon, Robert, far., Sec. 15; P.O. Bentonsport.

McSurley, James H., Sec. 9; P.O. Mt. Zion.

McSurley, Miles, far., Sec. 9; P.O. Mt. Zion; owns 180 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born Feb. 1, 1809, in Mason Co., Ky. His father, James McSurley, moved to Adams Co., Ohio, fall of 1809, where he died in 1840; his mother, Maria, died in 1833; he went to Scioto Co. in 1830; was married there to Catharine McCan Jan. 24, 1833; she was born in same county, Nov. 28, 1816; moved to Fulton Co., Ill., fall of 1836; the following spring to Van Buren Co.; made his claim about three miles west of his present farm; moved his family out in the spring of 1838; he is among the early settlers of this county, and, by his own industry and economy, has acquired a handsome property. Has seven children living--Mary J., William, Anderson, Hannah, James, Kate and John M.; lost two--Benjamin and Margaret. Anderson and Benjamin were in Co. G. of the 3d Iowa Cavalry; while there, Benjamin died Aug. 26, 1862; his son James yet single, remains at home; and owns 120 acres of land; his other three sons are in California. Republican.

McVity, John, shoemaker, Bentonsport.

McVity, Thomas, shoemaker, Bentonsport.

Mason, George H., Bentonsport, proprietor of Ashland House; son of Lewis J. and Nancy Mason (nee Winslow) of Chenango Co., N. Y.; he was born in Cattaraugus Co., Feb. 18, 1842; came with his friends to this county in 1857; his father bought an hotel, and the following year traded for the one now occupied by George H.; his father died in September, 1868, and mother in May, 1875. Married Rebecca Williamson May 1, 1861; she was born July 18, 1842, in Oxford Co., Maine. Went to Keosauqua Co. and run the Russell House during the years 1865 and 1866; he then returned to Bentonsport, and, in 1876, moved to Des Moines, where he was foreman in Mason & Co.'s wholesale tinware manufactory; returned and took charge of the Ashland House. Have four children--Harry C., Mary F., Nellie and Wm. E.; have five brothers and two sisters living, six dead--Frank and Edward R., attorneys, are of the firm of Mason Bros., Des Moines, Edward being Clerk of the U. S. Court, and Wm. E. is practicing law in Chicago; Linn W. is in Pennsylvania; and James L. is in Memphis, Tenn.

Moore, George L.; P.O. Bentonsport; dealer in dry goods and general merchandise; son of Robert and Elizabeth Moore; born April 4, 1826, in Dearborn Co., Ind.; came with his parents to this county in the spring of 1837, and settled in Harrisburg Tp.; went to California in the spring of 1850, followed mining and dealing in stock; returned in the spring of 1854; the same year, engaged in the mercantile business at Leon, Decatur Co., which he continued till 1857, when he returned to Bentonsport and engaged in his present business. He owns a farm of 107 acres adjoining the town; is one of the leading business men of Bentonsport. Married Hannah A. Brown, Aug. 29, 1854, of Bentonsport; has seven children living--Georgia A., Seth R., Mary L., Rachel E., Sarah C., Robert P. and James B.; lost three--Johnson, Benjamin and James A. Georgia A. was married to O. S. Hurd, Sept. 13, 1877; is living at Atchison, Kan. Father died in 1861, and mother in 1859. Member of Presbyterian Church.

Morris, Samuel M., farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Bentonsport; owns 352 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; son of Henry and Jane Morris; born Jan. 14, 1827, in Harlan Co., Ky.; came with parents to this county in June, 1838; settled in Cedar Tp., where his father died Feb. 18, 1871, and mother the 24th of same month. Mr. Morris was married to Charlotte A. Robbins May 21, 1854; she was born April 7, 1834, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. Have four children living--Edmund, John Q., Livingston and William W.; lost one--Henry. Republican.

Montgomery, Jos., proprietor of Bentonsport Mills, Bentonsport; born Nov. 14, 1826, in Washington Co., Penn.; came with parents to this county in 1842; settled in Washington Tp.; commenced to learn the trade of miller in Pennsylvania; worked in the mill at Bentonsport several years prior to 1852; then went to California; was there several years engaged in farming, brickmaking, house-building and teaming; returned in 1859, and went to work in the mill again, of which he is now half-owner with Joseph Scott, having recently purchased it. Married Mary A. Miles Jan. 4, 1849; she was born in Kentucky in 1832; have one son--John C., born Feb. 19, 1851. Members of Presbyterian Church; Republican.

Montgomery and Scott, millers, Bentonsport.

Morrill, B. F., retired far., Bentonsport.

Newlon, C. E., carp., Bentonsport.

Nelson, John W., far, S. 4; P.O. Mt. Zion; owns 500 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; son of William and Elizabeth Nelson; born Sept. 25, 1832, in Wayne Co., Ohio; parents moved to Richland Co., in 1836; to this county in the fall of 1845; his mother died Oct. 17, 1857, and father Sept. 24, 1860; Mr. Nelson has two brothers and one sister living; five have died. He was married to Eliza Boner, of this county, Jan. 12, 1860; she was born Nov. 27, 1838, in Sangamon Co., Ill.; have six children living--Minnie, Marietta, Ethel N., Nellie M., Edna M. and John E. Republican.

Nichols, Seba; P.O. Pierceville.

Parker, Marlow, coal-digger, Bentonsport.

Patten, B. M., far.; P. O. Bentonsport.

Payne, B., far., S. 10; P.O. Mt. Zion.

Pender, Henry, far., P.O. Mt. Zion.

Perkins, A., far., S. 1; P.O. Mt. Zion.

Quaintance, Wm., plasterer, Bentonsport.

Ralston, J. H., physician, Bentonsport.

Rehkopf, A. C., cabinet-maker, Bentonsport.

Row, O., far., S. 13; P.O. Pierceville.

Sanford, John D., retired, Bentonsport.

Schriever, L., blacksmith, Bentonsport.

Scott, Jos. W., proprietor, with Joseph Montgomery, of Bentonsport Mills, Bentonsport; born Oct. 1, 1840, in Columbiana Co., Ohio; came with his parents to Lee Co., Iowa, in 1846; in 1847, to this county; settled in Vernon, and commenced learning the trade of miller, in 1850, in the Vernon Mills. Enlisted, Aug. 7, 1861, in Co. A, of the Black Hawk Cavalry; was transferred to 7th Mo. Cav.; was in the battles of Lone Jack, Prairie Grove, Van Buren, Duvall's Bluffs, Little Rock, Pine Bluffs and Saline; discharged in October, 1864. Returned, and again engaged in the milling business; in 1869, went to Knoxville, Marion Co., Iowa; in 1877, to Creston, Union Co., returning to Vernon in 1878; and, in September, purchased, with his partner, the Bentonsport Mills. Married Amelia G. Barnett Feb. 28, 1865; she was born Sept. 14, 1846, in Ohio; have four children living--Cynthie C., Grant C., Cora and Roy; lost one--Amos S. H. Republican.

Shepherd, F. O., far, Sec. 22; P.O. Bentonsport.

Shepherd, Henry T., far., Sec. 27; P.O. Bentonsport.

Shepherd, N., far., Sec. 27; P.O. Bentonsport.

Smart, James, far., Sec. 2; P.O. Utica; owns 174 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born Dec. 7, 1803, at Barren Co., Ky.; parents moved into Robinson Co., Tenn., in 1805; to Morgan Co., Ill, in 1823. He was married there to Tabitha Carter March 17, 1825; she was born March 13, 1807, in Nelson Co., Ky. Came to this county in October, 1835; made his claim at the mouth of Copperas Creek; cleared off nine acres the following spring, put it in corn, the next fall sold his claim and moved on his present farm; Mr. Smart is one of the oldest pioneers of Van Buren Co., having been here forty-five years, and will soon pass to that "undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns." He has seven children living--Jackson, Greensberry, William, Jahanon, Mary, Martha and Melinda; lost three--Silas, Eliza and James. Member Protestant Methodist Church; Democrat.

Stevens, A. N., retired far., Bentonsport.

Stewart, J. F., farmer, Bentonsport.

Stewart, R., miller, Bentonsport.

Strunk, H. C., farmer, Bentonsport.

Syfert, Benjamin, far., Sec. 16; P.O. Mt. Zion.

Tussey, M. L., Bentonsport.

Vance, A., far., S. 1; P.O. Utica.

Walsh, L., lab., Bentonsport.

Walker, Benjamin, far., Sec. 24; P.O. Bentonsport; owns 320 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born Nov. 4, 1802, in Butler Co., Ohio; served an apprenticeship at bricklaying and followed the business at Cincinnati, Ohio, about thirteen years; returned to Butler Co., in 1833; engaged in farming till the fall of 1850, when he came to this county and settled on his present farm. Married Hester A. Reese Jan. 1, 1829; she was born April 9, 1808, in Virginia; died March 7, 1834; has two children--Mary A., married to Alexander S. McClune Nov. 25, 1857; and Frances E., married to Allen W. Stevens Oct. 20, 1858; the latter resides with Mr. Walker. Democrat.

Ward, W. W., far., Sec. 36; P.O. Bentonsport.

Warner, H., far., S. 13; P.O. Pierceville.

Warner, S., far., S. 13; P.O. Pierceville.

Weaver, Geo., far., S. 36; P.O. Bentonsport.

Wood, C., mail-carrier, Bentonsport.

Work, J., far., S. 4; P.O. Mt. Zion.

1878 Biographies of Bonaparte Township, Van Buren County, Iowa
transcribed by Rich Lowe. E-mail - richlowe@web-iowa.com

1878 Township Index | Van Buren County, IAGenWeb

Van Buren County 1878 Biography Index created and maintained by richlowe@web-iowa.com
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