Biographies: Orange Twp, Clinton County, Iowa

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Annette Lucas ClintonRoots@aol.com

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ORANGE TWP.

From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen 
(1879)

A. S. ALLISON, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Orange; Mr. Allison was born in Rockingham Co., Va., 
in 1821; came to Clinton Co. in 1850, and purchased the farm which he now owns; his parents, 
Robert and Hedeska Allison, came to Orange Township in 1851, and lived with their son A. S. till 
their deaths; his mother died March, 1859; his father, February, 1867. Mr. Allison married 
Rosannah Betz, born in Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1829; they have four children-Mrs. Josephine 
Scaggs, of Crawford Co., Iowa; Robert D. and Elmira, twins, and Elizabeth C.; have lost three 
children- twin girls, aged 1 year, and an infant. Mr. Allison has been Township Clerk and 
Assessor for many years; also member of Board of Supervisors, and Postmaster for twenty 
years.

DAVID ALLISON, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Orange; he is a brother of A. S. Allison; born in 
Rockingham Co., Va., in 1810; he came to Clinton Co. in 1852; he settled on the present farm in 
the spring of 1854; his wife was Miss Elizabeth Perry, of Virginia; they have four sons and five 
daughters-Mrs. Sarah H. Dutton, Mrs. Catherine Thomas, Mrs. Fannie Churchill, Mrs. Susan 
Davis and Mrs. Elizabeth Scaggs; the sons are Robert T., Marion L., David and George.

LEWIS ARTIS, retired farmer; P. O. Grand Mound; was born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1826. 
He married, in 1851, Mary A. Hedden, also a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Artis came to De Witt in 
1856; remained one year, then removed to Orange Township; he purchased the farm which he 
now owns, in 1866; he came to Grand Mound in 1871; kept hotel, the "Phoenix House," for five 
years; has three children-George W., Sarah L. and Celestia B.

NATHANIEL BARBER, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Grand Mound; owns 350 acres; was born near 
Syracuse, N. Y., in 1809; he removed to Pennsylvania in 1832, where he lived about five years; 
then went to Dixon, Ill., where he resided one year; he came to Clinton Co. and made a claim of 
the farm where he now lives, in 1837, where he settled the following year. He married Mary A. 
Persall, born in Chenango Co., N. Y., 1817; her parents came to Clinton Co. with Mr. Barber, in 
1838; he has five children-Mary E. White, William R., Eugene, George W. and Albert.

MARIA BLUNCK, owns farm in Sec. 13; P. O. Grand Mound; the widow of Peter Blunck; they 
came to the United States about thirty years ago. Mr. Blunck died in Scott Co., Iowa; Mrs. Blunck 
and family came to their farm about 1864; she has five children-Mrs. Louisa Wiese (Mr. Wiese is 
the present Postmaster at Grand Mound), John, Adolph, Henry and Peter; the last two sons 
reside on the place with their mother.

HIRAM BROWN, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Orange; born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1818; he 
learned the trade of tanner and currier, which business he followed till he came West in 1839; he 
was then, for some time, peddling clocks; he came to Orange Township, and settled on the farm 
which he now owns in 1841;  has resided where he now does for thirty eight years; he was Sheriff 
of Clinton Co. for the first four years after Iowa became a State; has been a member of the Board 
of Supervisors for two years is at present Justice of the Peace, and has been for many years. He 
married Miss Caroline Dawson, daughter of R. H. Dawson; have six children-Francis M., now an 
attorney of Greenfield, Adair Co.; William A., Emma, Ella, Carrie and Hattie.

HARRISON DWIRE, farmer, Sec. 22; P.O. De Witt. Mr. Dwire was born in Darke Co., Ohio, 
in 1840; his father, Daniel Dwire, came with his parents to Clinton Co. in 1854, and entered a part 
of the farm which Harrison now owns, where be resided till his death, in August, 1868; his mother 
died in 1873; his parents had twelve children, only three of whom are living-Henry, who lives in 
Linn Co.; Samuel who resides in Mills Co., Iowa, and Harrison; six sons entered the army during 
the rebellion four of whom lost their lives in the service of their country. Hezekiah enlisted in the 
2d Iowa Cav.; was killed in Mississippi in 1864; Samuel belonged to the 6th Iowa V. C.; David 
enlisted in the 8th Iowa V. I.; was killed at Spanish Fort, Ala., in April, 1865; Daniel enlisted in the 
43d Ind. V. I.; died at Memphis in 1864; Mark, also a member of an Indiana regiment, died at 
Nashville in 1864: Harrison enlisted in the 33d Ill. V. I. in, 1861, and served till the close of the 
war. He owns 280 acres of land.

HENRY N. HAHN, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Grand Mound; was born in Holstein, Germany, in 
1829. He married Sophia P. Frahn, also of Holstein, Germany; they have eight children-Henry 
M., Mrs. Amilta Blunck, Mrs. Lisetta Tanner, Mrs. Sophia Munsen, Louisa, Louis, Julius and 
Minnie. Mr. Hahn came to the United States in 1854; went to Baltimore, Ind., and lived about six 
years; came to Clinton Co. in 1860; he lived for eight years in Sec. 6, Orange Township; he 
bought his present farm in March, 1868. Mr. Hahn has 200 acres of land; made all improvements, 
which are among the best in Orange Township; he has excellent buildings, and has on his farm 
over one mile of hedge in fine condition.

MATTHEW A. HARRINGTON, farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Orange; Mr. Harrington was born in Otsego 
Co., N. Y., in 1809; his father died when Matthew was but 2 years of age; two years later, his 
mother removed to Fayetteville, Onondaga Co.; he came in possession of the farm which his 
father owned in Otsego Co.; this farm he sold in 1832; he then purchased a farm in Erie Co.. N. 
Y., where he lived till 1836; then went to Erie, Penn., and purchased a "tavern," which he owned 
about one year; he came to Clinton Co. in May, 1837, and purchased a claim at what is now 
Walton Station, which he exchanged for his present farm; his wife was Miss Elizabeth Walrod, of 
De Witt Township; they have eight children -Richard, Mrs. Margaret Miller, Levi, Mrs. Mary 
Bowen, Hannah, Melinda, Anna and Luella; have lost two children-their eldest, Orris, and their 
sixth, Sarah. Mr. Harrington has been a resident of Orange Township forty-two years.

LUCIUS HITCHCOCK, Homeopathic physician; P. O. Grand Mound; Dr. Hitchcock was born 
in Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., Dec. 5, 1829; his parents, Z. M. and Sally Hitchcock, removed to 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1839; the Doctor came West in the summer of 1866; located at 
Camanche, Clinton Co., in 1870; he pursued the study of medicine for several years before he 
came West;  afterward, with Dr. Waggoner, of De Witt; he came to Grand Mound in January, 
1879. He married, in 1857, Esther Waggoner, a sister of Dr. Waggoner, of De Witt; born in 1831 
they have one daughter-Lucia.

JOHN HITE, farmer and carpenter; P. O. Grand Mound; born in Canada West June 15, 1821; 
his parents, John and Mary Hite, removed to York (now Toronto), Canada, about 1830; his father 
was a native of Pennsylvania; his mother was born in Canada. Mr. Hite came to Grand Mound 
Oct. 9, 1865; he worked at the trade of carpenter for some years; he built the house where he 
now lives, then the fourth dwelling-house in town; he owns a farm in Sec. 17, Orange Township. 
He married, in 1846, Phebe J. Brundage, of Canada; have one daughter-Sarah, born in 1847.

GEO. W. INGRAM, farmer; P. O. Grand Mound; born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1846; his 
parents, William and Charlotte Ingram, still reside in Madison Co. Mr. Ingram came to Clinton Co. 
in 1865; he worked at the carpenter trade at Grand Mound for one year; he also conducted the 
blacksmith business at this town for some time he was in the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & 
Texas Railroad Company for two years;  he purchased and located on his present farm in 1865. 
He married Mrs. Huldah Brown, a sister of J. R. Merrill, of Grand Mound; have three children-
William, Edison and Johnson; his wife has one child by former marriage-Harry Brown.

ROBT. JAMIESON, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Grand Mound; was born an Jefferson Co., Ohio, 
Sept. 9, 1825; with his father, Mr. David Jamieson, he removed to Burlington, Iowa, in 1849; he 
went to Scott Co.; in 1854, came to Clinton Co. and settled where he now lives; his father 
removed to Scott Co. in 1850, where he died in 1877. He married Jane Campbell, whose parents 
came to Clinton Co. from Ohio in 1855, and settled in Orange Township in what was known as 
Folk Grove; her father died January, 1871. Mrs. Campbell resides with her daughter, Mrs. 
Jamieson. Mr. Jamieson has six children-Mary A., Nancy M., William L., Robert M. C., Sadie S. 
and Mattie J.

JONES & JENSEN, merchants, Grand Mound. James C. Jones was born in Lawrence Co., 
Ill., in 1852; he removed with his mother to Wisconsin; they came to Grand Mound in 1877. Ole 
Jensen was born in Norway in 1857; his father, Jens Oleson, came to Grand Mound in 1861; he 
resides in Orange Township, engaged in farming. The firm of Jones & Jensen engaged in 
business in Grand Mound in 1877.

JOHN M. JORDAN, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Grand Mound; born in Canada East in 1838; his 
parents, Josiah H. and Catharine Jordan, removed to Michigan in 1850. Mr. Jordan enlisted, in 
1862, in Co. C, 18th Mich. V. I.;  served one year and eight months as a private; was promoted to 
1st Lieutenant; was engaged on detached duty at Nashville from the fall of 1863 till the spring of 
1864; on the death of Capt. Penoyer, he succeeded to the Captaincy of his company; he was at 
the battles of Richland Creek, Pulaski, Spring Hill, and lost an arm at the siege of Nashville; was 
discharged Oct. 4. 1865. He married Miss Sarah Knowles in 1868; her parents were early settlers 
of Clinton Co.; bought his present farm (eighty acres) in 1865; has five children-Kittie M., Louis 
E., Jessie M., Edith I. and Joanna.
	
HENRY KAHLER, merchant, firm of Henry Kahler & Bro., Grand Mound; was born in 
Holstein, Germany, in 1845; his parents, Ernest and Abel Kahler, came to America in 1855, and 
to Clinton Co. the same year; his father first located on the Wapsie; thence to Berlin Township in 
1863; they came to Grand Mound in 1875; his father died in 1877; his mother still lives at Grand 
Mound; his brother William is engaged with him in business. William was born in 1847.

ROGER KELLY, merchant, grain and stock-buyer, Grand Mound; born in Jennings Co., Ind.,  
in 1840; his parents, Alexander and Eliza Kelly, came to Clinton Co. in 1854; they settled in Olive 
Township; his father died in 1878; his mother resides in De Witt. He married, in 1865, Jane A. 
McDevitt, born in Iowa; they have two children-John W. and Maggie. Mr. Kelly engaged in the 
mercantile business, in Grand Mound, in 1868; has been buying stock and grain since 1870.

JOHN LOWRY, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. De Witt; was born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1826; he 
removed to Ohio with his parents, Louis and Maria Lowry, in 1844. Mr. Lowry came to Davenport, 
Iowa, in 1850, where he worked at his trade of miller till 1852; then came to Clinton Co. and 
entered the farm which he now owns. Mr. Lowry was one of the sufferers from the tornado of 
1860; his buildings were swept entirely away, and other property destroyed. He married Miss 
Nancy Crawford in 1855; they have seven children-Mrs. Elizabeth McLeod, Henrietta, Elmer E., 
William C., Eleanor, Thomas and Ida.

JOHN R. MERRILL, engaged in general merchandise and grain trade, Grand Mound; Mr. 
Merrill was born in London, Canada, in 1840; he came from Ohio to Grand Mound in 1861;  his 
father, who died in 1867, was the first Postmaster of Grand Mound. Mr. John H. Merrill married, in 
1873, Lizzie Downs; have had three children, two of whom died of diphtheria, in the spring of 
1879; Nannie is his only child living. Mr. Merrill is the pioneer merchant of Grand Mound, and is 
doing a fine business.

EZRA A. MILLER. farmer and carpenter, See. 16; P. O. De Witt; Mr. Miller was born in 
Geneseo, Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1836; his parents, Ezra M. and Jane Miller, removed to 
Rockford, Ill., in 1839. Mr. Miller came to Orange Township in 1861. He married, in 1857, Jane 
Palmer, born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1837. Mr. Miller enlisted August, 1862, in Co. H, 26th I. 
V. I.; he was discharged by reason of disability, Feb. 24, 1863; has seven children-Ada, Frank, 
Herman, Ernest, Ralph, Herbert and Fay; located on present farm in 1866.

H.	P. MILLER, druggist, Grand Mound; was born in Conesville, Schoharie Co., N. Y., Dec. 
13, 1840; his parents, John E. and S. A. Miller, settled in Orange Township in 1845; his father 
died in the fall of 1846. Mr. Miller enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, in the 26th I. V. I., as private; promoted to 
Corporal; served until close of war; during the last part of his service, was flag bearer under Gen. 
Stone; was at the battles of Vicksburg, Ringgold, Resaca and Atlanta; was with Sherman in the 
march to the sea, and took part in the battle of Bentonville. He married, Nov. 5, 1869, Isabelle M. 
Twogood; they have one child-Perry Bismark. Mr. Miller established the drug business in Grand 
Mound in March, 1868.

WALTER ORDWAY, farmer, Sec. 14; owns 163 acres; P. O. De Witt; was born in Lewis Co., 
N. Y., in 1832. He married Miss Louisa Spaulding, born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1832. Mr. 
Ordway went to Illinois in 1852, and came to Clinton Co. in March, 1853; they have six daughters 
and one son-Mrs. Mary Calkin, resides in Nebraska; William, who married Miss Alice Fuller, 
resides in Orange Township; Mrs. Ellen E. Vosh and Mrs. Rosella B. Artis, also residents of 
Orange Township; Julia R., Emma M. and Eva B.

THOMAS OLIVER, farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Grand Mound; born in England in 1823; came to the 
United States in 1847; he lived for several years in Sussex Co., N. J.; he came to Clinton Co. in 
1855; purchased his farm in the fall of 1864, where he located in March, 1866. he married Emma 
Evans, of County Hereford, England; born in 1826; they have six children-John, Lizzie, Mary, 
Edwin, Charlotte and Bessie. Mr. Oliver devotes much attention to the short-horn breed of cattle; 
has now a fine herd of about thirty of this noted breed of cattle.

GEORGE WOURMS PASCAL has his very own page as he wrote quite an interesting, and long, 
autobiography.

WILLIAM B. SMITH, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. De Witt; was born in Rockingham Co., Va., in 
1816. Married Miss Catherine Knopp. Came to Clinton Co. and settled on present farm in the 
spring of 1851;  he has two sons-Abraham and Anderson; his youngest son, Isaac, was killed by 
the walls of the house falling in during the tornado of 1860.

B. T. STUART, Justice of the Peace, Grand Mound; was born in Montgomery Co., Mo., in 
1842; his parents, Simpson and Mary Stuart, removed from Missouri to Illinois in 1847; his father 
died in 1856; his mother in 1878. Mr. Stuart enlisted in 1861, in the 9th III. V. C.; he served in that 
regiment three years, and in the 134th for six months; was First Sergeant of a company in both 
regiments; was discharged October, 1865; was in the Peninsula campaign, and wounded at Mal-
vern Hill;  was at the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg; wounded at 
Brandeth's Station, in 1863. After the war, he resided in Henry Co., Ill., till 1869, then came to 
Clinton Co. and engaged in farming until 1874, when he moved to Grand Mound;  he was station 
agent for three years. Elected Justice of the Peace in 1878. He was married, in 1867, to Lucy 
Kent, of Henry Co.; they have three children-William, Laura and Charles.

PERRY TWOGOOD, farmer and grain buyer; P. O. Grand Mound; was born in Madison Co., 
N. Y., in 1817. He married Josephine F. Cranson, also of Madison Co., N. Y. He came to Lyons in 
1854; settled permanently in Clinton Co. in 1860;  for some time employed in farming in Olive 
Township; came to Grand Mound in 1864, and engaged in the grain trade, which he has since 
followed, except two years, which he spent in California, where he went in 1876, returning in 
1878. He has three children-Isabelle, Daniel P. and Niles B.

JAMES WEEKS, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Grand Mound; was born in Connecticut in 1818; his wife 
was Miss Phebe A. Smith, also a native of Connecticut; they removed to Grant Co., Wis., in 1853, 
and came to present location in 1863;  they have three children-Rufus J., resides in Texas; 
Julia, lives with her brother Rufus, and Fred. W. Mr. Weeks' farm contains 280 acres; he makes a 
specialty of sheep raising, having now on his farm a flock of 500.