Biographies: Berlin (Grant) Twp.: Clinton County, Iowa Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Annette Luca ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Bios: Berlin (grant) Twp., Clinton County, Iowa Copyright © 2001 by Annette Lucas. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. ********************************************************************** BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF BERLIN TWP. (Now Grant Twp.) >From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen (1879) JOHN COOK, farmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Elwood; owns 280 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; born Feb. 19, 1841, in Yorkshire, England. In the fall of 1853, emigrated with parents, David and Mary Cook, to Washington Township, of this county. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 26th I. V. I., but was discharged in the following September, for disabilities. In the spring of 1868, came to his present farm. Married Miss Emeline Gearhart, of this county, March 3, 1863; she was born June 18, 1833, in Philadelphia, Penn.; have five children -- Samuel S., Mary C., Otto W., John C. and Lydia; lost one son -- Innocence. Mr. C. is present School Treasurer of the township, which position he has filled for five years. Republican. CHARLES H. CORNISH, farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. Grand Mound; owns 80 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre; born May 28, 1822, in Oneida Co., N. Y. In the fall of 1857, emigrated to Du Page Co., Ill., and from there to this county in the fall of 1859; stopping near Lyons about five years, after which he came onto his present farm. Has been married twice; the first marriage was to Miss Adaline Clemens, in the fall of 1844; she died in 1848, leaving one son, Oscar P.; he again married Miss Helen U. Lent, Sept. 1, 1850; she was born Oct. 25, 1829, in Bradford Co., Penn.; by second marriage has five children-- Byron, Mary, Helen, Edward and Joseph. Member of the M. E. Church. Republican. A. B. CORRELL, farmer, Sec. 2; P.O. Grand Mound; son of Jacob and Catharine Correll; was born July 25, 1840, in Wayne Co., Ohio. In July, 1854, came to this county; located in this township in 1855, and to his present farm in 1864. Married Miss Alma Simpson in November, 1862; she was born in New York March 10, 1841; have five children -- Alva, Imogene, Dennis, Lena and Roger; lost one -- Albert. Mr. C. served as County Supervisor two and a half terms, also as Township Trustee. Republican. JACOB CORRELL, farmer, Sec. 1; P.O. Grand Mound; son of Abraham and Anna Correll; born Jan. 17, 1815, in Cumberland Co., Penn., where his early life was spent, his parents being deceased while he was yet in his youth. In 1836, he went to Wayne Co., Ohio, where he remained till the spring of 1854; came to Clinton Co., Iowa, stopping in Bloomfield Township till spring of 1855; came to his present farm of 240 acres, valued at $45 per acre. Married Miss Catharine Floyd, March 19, 1839; she was born Aug. 11, 1814, in Cumberland Co., Penn.; have seven children living -- Abraham B., Daniel H., Samuel, Levi, Maria, Kate and David; lost two -- Jacob and Amanda. Republican. MICHAEL DEVINE, farmer, Sec. 8; P.O. Toronto; owns 240 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; born in 1838, in County Clare, Ireland; in the fall of 1853, came with his parents to Cook Co., Ill., and the following year moved to LaSalle Co., where his father died in 1854. In 1860, went to Greene Co., Ill., and married there Miss Mary Luneene, Oct. 20, 1863; her native place was Ireland; she died Oct. 22, 1864, leaving an infant daughter, Mary, who is still living. After the death of his wife, Mr. D. came to this county and purchased part of his present farm, but worked in a rolling-mill in Chicago several years. His mother, Mary Devine, keeps house for him, and his younger brother, James Devine, aged 27, lives with him and assists in carrying on the farm. Mr. D. is a member of the Catholic Church; Greenbacker. JOSEPH KEITH, farmer, Sec. 28; P.O. Calamus; owns 440 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; son of William and Martha Keith; was born Sept. 5, 1830, in Licking Co., Ohio. In the fall of 1855, emigrated to Iowa, stopping in Olive Township till the spring of 1867, and came on to his present farm. Married Miss Mary White in October, 1851; she was born in April, 1830, in Licking Co., Ohio; have ten children -- Benjamin F., Nathan, Martha, Nancy, William, Alfred, Maggie, James, Mary and Joseph. Has served as first Director of his School District. Democrat. RUDOLPH HIERSCHE, farmer, Sec 4.; P.O. Elwood; owns 320 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre; son of Wenzel and Mary A. Hiersche; born April 1, 1834, in Austria. In the spring of 1854, emigrated with his parents to the United States, and located in Berlin Township, Clinton Co., the following fall. Married Miss Zaida F. Barton May 4, 1859; she was born in Warren Co., N. Y., June 9, 1840; have five children -- Franklin, Hattie, Frederick, George and Charles. Mr. Hiersche enlisted July 28, 1862, in Co. B, 26th I. V. I.; participated in all the battles in which the regiment was engaged except Lookout Mountain; was discharged at Clinton in June, 1865. Has served as Assessor and Trustee of the township. Republican. RICHARD HUGHES, farmer, Sec. 3; P.O. Elwood; son of Michael and Mary Hughes; born July 12, 1827, in County Kildare, Ireland. In the spring of 1849, emigrated with his parents to the United States, stopping in Northampton Co., Penn. In the fall of 1851, came to Cleveland, Ohio, and remained in that vicinity till the spring of 1853, when he came to LaSalle Co., Ill. In the spring of 1854, came to Clinton Co., Iowa, entering a part of his present farm from Government, to which he has added until he now has 473 acres, valued at $40 per acre. Married Miss Esther O'Brien April 18, 1851; she was born in County Kildare, Ireland, in the year 1826; they have nine children -- Michael, Richard, Ann, Catharine, Ellen, Patrick, Thomas, William and James; lost one daughter -- Mary. Mr. H. has served as Trustee of the township several years. Member of Catholic Church; Democrat. G. R. NOWELS, farmer, Sec. 23; P.O. Grand Mound; owns eighty acres of land in this county and 160 acres in Guthrie Co.; son of David and Elizabeth Nowels; born Sept. 2, 1828, in Indiana. In 1829, went with parents to Holmes Co., Ohio, where he remained till the spring of 1851, when he came to Scott Co., Iowa; the following December came to Clinton Co., locating in Berlin Township. Married Miss Emily Weaver, Sept. 14, 1849; she was born Dec. 22, 1830, in Ohio; have thirteen children -- Loretta, Sarah E., Martha, David C., Aaron W., James E., Charles, Stephen S., Mary, John, Emma, Effie and Ira; lost one -- Ida. Mr. N. was engaged in the mercantile business at Grand Mound, of this county, two and one half years; has also served as Justice of the Peace for his township several years, and is at present acting as such. Member of the Christian Church; Republican. GEORGE W. PEEK, farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Grand Mound; son of Harmonias Peek; born Jan. 11, 1836, in Saratoga Co., N. Y. Married Miss Mary Jack, of same county, Feb. 28, 1857; she was born May 2, 1835. In March, 1857, came to Sabula, Jackson Co., and from there in February, 1862, to his present farm, which contains 400 acres, valued at $35 per acre. Have six children -- Samuel H., Minnie M., Clara I., George A., James A. and Delia E.; lost two -- Alice and Agnes. Mr. P. has served his township as Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, etc. Member M. E. Church; Republican. JOHN SMITH, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Welton; owns 300 acres of land valued at $40 per acre; son of David and Rebecca Smith; born Nov. 30, 1829, in Lincolnshire, England; in the fall of 1852, he emigrated to the United States, stopping in Jackson Co., Iowa, a short time, after which he went to Whiteside Co., Ill, and engaged in railroading, ditching, etc., which he continued to follow to different States and through the Southern States up to spring of 1863; came and purchased a part of his present farm. Married Miss Mary E. Martin March 20, 1866; she was born May 18, 1842, in Huntingdon Co., Penn.; have five children -- Albert L., born April 25, 1868; John W., Jan. 25, 1870; Willard N., June 7, 1872; Elizabeth L., Nov. 1, 1874, and Robert W., Nov. 1, 1878. Republican. WILLIAM TORPEY, farmer, Sec. 8; P.O. Elwood; owns 240 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre; son of Michael and Mary (McCarty) Torpey; was born in 1835, in Peterboro, Canada West; in March, 1866, came to Clinton Co., locating on his present farm. Married Miss Elizabeth Fahey in August, 1857; she was born in 1838, in Canada; have nine children -- Michael, Mary A., Ellen, James, Hannah, Elizabeth, Agnes, Bridget and William J. Mr. T. is present Township Collector and Assessor, also Secretary of School Board. Members Catholic Church. Liberal Democrat.