Biographies: Liberty Twp, Clinton County, Iowa Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Annette Lucas ClintonRoots@aol.com ************************************************************************ 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 *********************************************************************** BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF LIBERTY TWP. From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen (1879) AUGUST H. C. BOETTGER, dealer in agricultural implements, agent for C. H. & L. J. McCormick's Self-binders, Reapers, Mowers and combined machines, Toronto; born in Germany in 1842, came to America in 1869, and located in Louden; removed to Toronto in 1874 and engaged in his present business. Married Mary Bargmann in 1872; she was born in Germany; has three children -- Rosa, Charlie and Dora. Are members of the Lutheran Church. W. L. BROWN, dealer and shipper of stock, Toronto; born in Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1848; came to Iowa in 1854, with his parents, and located in Liberty Township; afterward went back to Ohio; returned to Iowa in 1859, and has been engaged in farming and stock-raising since. Married Hannah Thorn in 1872; she was born in Iowa; have two children -- Clara and George. GEO. W. COCHRAN, contractor and builder, Toronto; born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, May 28, 1843; came to Iowa in 1865; located in Louden; removed to Toronto soon after and married Kate Devill; she was born in this county; have three children- -Mary M., Elizabeth A., and Ellen C. Mr. C. enlisted in the 15th Regt. U. S. Inf., in 1861; honorably discharged in 1865; was in thirteen battles during his term. GEO. CUBBAGE, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Toronto; owns 270 acres of land, valued at $20 per acre; born in Delaware in 1821; came to Iowa in 1837; removed to his present farm in 1868. Married Betsy J. Lindsey in 1850; she was born in Ripley Co., Iowa; have six children -- Alonzo, Edwin, Clarence, Laura, Orion and Herbert. Members of the M. E. Church; Republican. JOHN DALEY, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Toronto; owns 255 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre; born in Ireland in 1829; came to America in 1854; settled on present farm in 1865. Married Margaret Carnaghan in 1862; she was also born in Ireland; have three children -- Mary, Tisey and Margaret. Members of the M. E. Church; Republican. JAMES DEVITT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20; P. O. Toronto; owns 576 acres of land, valued at $45 per acre; born in Ireland June 22, 1818; came to America in 1831, and located in Canada; settled in this county on his present farm in 1847. Married Mary Moore in 1848; she was born in Ireland; have eight children -- Eliza, Catherine S., Gilbert, Mary, Ella, James, William and John Owen. Are members of the Catholic Church. CONRAD ENDORF, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Wheatland; owns 160 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; born in Randolph Co., Ill., in 1854; came to Iowa the same year with his parents. Married Rosa Laham in 1878; she was born in this county; have one child -- Charlie. Rebublican. FRED. ENDORF, farmer, Sec 29; P. O. Wheatland; owns 120 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; born in Randolph Co., Ill., in 1854; came to Iowa with his parents in the same year. Married Alvi Klahn, in 1878; she was born in Moline, Ill.; have one child -- Herman. Republican. WM. ENDORF, farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Wheatland; owns 160 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; born in Randolph Co., Ill., Nov 10, 1848; came to Iowa in 1854 with his parents, and located on a farm now owned by Conrad Undorf. Married Mena Beckman in 1872; she was born in Germany; have four children -- Fred, Conrad, William and Mena. Republican. ABE FRITCHER, proprietor of billiard hall, Toronto; born in Montgomery Co., N. Y.; March 1, 1843; came to Iowa in 1865, and located in this township. Enlisted in Co. D, 31st Ill. V. I. in 1863; discharged in 1864; and was in all the battles that regiment participated in. JOHN HELLER, proprietor of Toronto Mills; born in Northampton Co., Penn., in 1812; came to Iowa in 1836, and located in Scott Co.; removed to this county in 1868. Married Cornelia Fulkerson in 1833; she was born in Ohio; have five children -- Eleanor, Jacob, Lewis, Sarah and Scott; lost one son in the United States Army -- George, who was killed at the battle of Pittsburg Landing. Members of the Christian Church. Republican. H. A. JACKSON, farmer, Section 6; P. O. Toronto; owns 315 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in Steuben Co., N. Y., on the 20th of April, 1829; came to Iowa in 1853, and located in Marshalltown, and, in 1863, removed to his present farm. Married Ann McMillan in 1862; she was born in Pennsylvania; have three children -- Bayard E., Cora and Maud. WILLIAM KAMMER, farmer, Section 5; P. O. Toronto; owns eighty acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in Germany Oct. 12, 1818; came to America in 1852, and, in 1836, located in Clinton Co. Married Hannah Linney in 1858; she was born in England; have three children -- Sarah Jane, John and Elizabeth. Are members of the Congregational Church. GEORGE W. KIMBALL, station agent and telegraph operator, Toronto; born in Franklin Co., Ohio, in 1846; came to Iowa in 1864, and located in Louden; removed to Toronto in 1866; engaged in his present business in 1873. Married Minnie E. Thorn in 1868; she was born in Toronto; have two children -- Elmo G. and Jessie. REV. JAMES MURPHY, Pastor of Catholic Church, Toronto; born in Ireland Nov. 15, 1848; came to America in 1872, and located in Toronto. Mr. M. is a graduate of St. John's College, Waterford, Ireland. LUDWIC RIEDESEL, farmer, Section 32; owns 160 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; born in Germany in 1822; came to America in 1844, and located in Ohio; removed to Iowa in 1855; and located in this county; in 1868, settled on his present farm. Married Catherine Snyder in 1845; she, too, was born in Germany; have eight children--Susan, Franz, Ludwig, Phillip, Flora, George, John and Anna. Are members of the German Reformed Church; Democrat. HON. GEORGE W. THORN, dealer in general merchandise and general collecting agent, Toronto; born in England March 31, 1817; came to America in 1826 with his parents, and located in Canada, near Toronto. Mr. Thorn removed to Iowa in 1841, and located in Cedar Co., but soon after removed to the site where Toronto now stands, and engaged in the mercantile trade; he erected the mills in 1843- 44, and was manager of them until he sold to Mr. John Heller, the present owner, in 1868. Mr. Thorn has been twice married, first to Lucinda Schriver in June, 1843; she was born in Morgan Co., Ohio; they had six children -- Lovisa A., Minnie E., Hannah P., Harold C., William C. and George W. Mr. Thorn's second marriage was in 1870, to Rebecca Hall, a native of Pennsylvania. He served as Representative of his county in 1865-66. Republican. GEORGE WILLIAMS, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Lost Nation; owns 86 1/2 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in Pennsylvania in 1821; came to Iowa in 1868, and settled on present farm. Married Ann Eliza Arthur in 1870; she was born in New York; have two children -- Edward and Edith. Mr. W. has five children by a former wife -- Harriet, James A., Emily E., Nancy J. and George. Members of M. E. Church; Republican. IRA WILLEY, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Lost Nation; owns 200 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre; born in Lee Co., Ohio, June 19, 1846; came to Iowa in 1868, and settled in Clinton Co.; married Viola Beckman, in 1870; she was born in Clinton Co.; have four children--Ellie N., Aaron I., Richard C. and Fidelia A. Democrat. JOSHUA WINGET, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Toronto; owns 120 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre. Born in Pennsylvania in 1831; came to Iowa in 1866, and located on present farm; was a resident of Whiteside Co., Ill., a number of years. Married Elizabeth Paschal in 1852; she was born in Illinois; have ten children - - Alfred, Lucy A., Alvira, Leander, Levi, Ida, Silas, Charles, Rosa Belle and Artie. Members of M. E. Church. Republican. J. E. WOLFE, Sec. 13; P. O. Toronto; owns 320 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre. Born in Ireland in 1835; settled in Iowa in 1857; married Margaret Mills in 1863; she was born in Ireland; have six children -- Edmund, Anthony, Mary, Margaret, Maurice and Celia. Are members of the Roman Catholic Church.