Biographies: Waterford 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 WATERFORD TWP. From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen (1879) JOHN ADAMS, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Charlotte; was born in the city of New York in 1836; he came to Clinton Co. and settled in Waterford Township in 1853. Ho enlisted, in August, 1861, in Co. A, 9th I. V. I.; was mustered into the service at Dubuque Feb. 4,1861; was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, at the siege of Vicksburg; was captured and remained a prisoner a short time ; was at Ringgold, Dallas, Lookout Mountain, in the Atlanta campaign, in Sherman's march to the sea, and through the Carolinas to Richmond; he enlisted as private, and was mustered out as Corporal July 18, 1865 ; he returned to Clinton Co and, in November, 1865, he married Miss Kate, daughter of Conrad and Amanda Garner, early settlers of Clinton, now residents of Louisa Co.; they have four children -- Carroll, Maude, Mary and John. Mr. Adams' farm consists of 170 acres. He is a charter member of the A. O. U. W., of Charlotte. Republican. URIAH ADAMS, farmer, P. O. Charlotte; born in Tioga Co., Penn., May 6, 1853; came to this county with his parents in the autumn of the same year, and settled in this township. Mr. Adams married, in Lyons, Miss Jane Patterson Sept. 6, 1876; they have one child-Mary Ann. Mr. A. owns an old-settled farm of 160 acres of land, situated near Charlotte. Republican. His father, an old settler of this township, died in 1872; his mother is still living. OLIVER P. AIKMAN, retired farmer, Charlotte; was born in Columbia Co., Penn., May 3, 1814; he removed with his parents to London District, Canada; in 1838, he came to Iowa and settled at Lyons, in this county, where he married, Sept. 26, 1848, Miss Elizabeth Albright, a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of Emanuel Albright, a pioneer settler of Iowa. In 1856, they removed to Charlotte, and have been residents there since; they have two children- Thomas Benton and Lizzie M. In the early history of Lyons, Mr. Albright held various offices; he was Justice of the Peace in that city a number of years, and was one of the organizers of the first school in that city ; he was also elected Justice of the Peace in Charlotte several terms; was School Treasurer and Trustee at Lyons several years, and has always taken a deep interest in educational affairs. Himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church. They own 100 acres of land. He is a Democrat. A. J. ALBRIGHT, stock-dealer, Charlotte; was born near Richfield, Penn., Feb. 9, 1837; he removed with his parents, Emanuel and Catharine Albright, nee Watts, to Ohio and settled near Lisbon, where his mother died. In 1849, he accompanied his father to Clinton Co. , they settled near Lyons. In January, 1859, he married, at Charlotte, Miss Tabitha D. Louderbaugh, a native of Clay Co., Ind.; she came to Jackson Co. with her parents, Miles and Barsheba Louderbaugh, in 1845; thence to this county in 1851. Mr. Albright was a member of the Board of Supervisors two years; he is also Justice of the Peace, an office he has held eight consecutive years. He was engaged in the mercantile business over fifteen years. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Albright owns 160 acres of land in the vicinity of Charlotte, and deals extensively in stock. Democrat. J. M. BLAKELY, depot and express agent, also grain and stock dealer, Riggs Station ; was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1851;, came to Iowa with his parents in 1853. Married Miss Agnes Sims, in Jackson, her native county, in 1874; they have one child-Charles U. Mr. Blakely is a Democrat. Owns 160 acres of of land in Shelby Co, and 100 acres in Jackson Co. Mr. Blakely engaged in the grain and stock business at Riggs Station in November, 1878, where he has an extensive and constantly-increasing trade. Mr. Blakely's father, David Blakely, a native of Adams Co., Penn., married in Cumberland Co., Ohio, Miss Rebecca Marlow, who was born in Maryland, they came to Jackson Co. in 1853; he held various important offices of trust, until his death in 1877 ; his wife still resides in Jackson Co. A. T. CARNEY, merchant, Charlotte; born in Ashland Co., Ohio, Jan. 7, 1843, where he received a liberal education. He served in the 12th Ohio Battery; was enrolled April, 1861; participated in every battle his command was in; was wounded at Fredericksburg; honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in 1865, and came to Clinton, this county, the same year. In 1868, he married Miss Frances Goodnow, of Lyons; they have four children-Edward D., Carrie, Florence E. and William G. In 1871, he had charge of the laying of the Midland Railroad, from Lyons to Delmar. In 1874, he went to Phoenix, N. Y., and took charge of an oil-can factory, until 1875, when he returned to this county and sold goods at auction in this State and Illinois. In 1877, he engaged in his present business of general merchant at Charlotte, where he has an extensive trade. He is a Republican and a member of the A. O. U. W. JOHN H. COSTELLO, Sr., farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Charlotte; was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1814. In 1832, he emigrated to Ottawa, Canada, where he married, in 1840, Miss Margaret Burnett. She was also a native of County Tipperary, Ireland; was born in 1815, and emigrated to Ottawa, Canada, in 1838. In 1852, Mr. Costello and family emigrated from Ottawa to where they now reside. He has, by his own exertion and honest effort, accumulated a large and valuable property. He owns 535 acres of land, 520 in one body, where he resides; the rest in Jackson County. His home farm is well improved, and possesses many natural advantages. Mr. Costello and family are members of the Catholic Church. His living children are-Thomas, who is married, and lives in Shelby Co., Iowa; Ellen, now Mrs. William O'Grady, of Bloomfield Township; Mary, married to Simon O'Grady, of Bloomfield Township; John is married and lives in this township; William; Michael; Margaret, now Mrs. William McGonegle, of Bloomfield Township. Deceased are Mathew and Annie. Mathew was Mr. Costello's oldest son. He was born in Ottawa, Canada, Sept. 7,1847; resided with his parents until the breaking-out of the war, when he enlisted in Co. A, 26th Regiment I. V. I.; was a gallant soldier. He was killed at the battle of Arkansas Post, while bearing the flag of his country in front of his company, during a fierce charge. Mr. Costello has been elected to various local offices. During his residence in Canada, he was a member of a militia company, and was elected Sergeant in 1842-43. He was one of the organizers and prime-movers in building the Church of the Immaculate Conception, this township. N. J. ENGLER, hardware merchant, Charlotte; was born in Prussia in November, 1847. His parents, Mathias and Joanna Engler, came to this country in 1852. His father died, June 10, 1852, at Sycamore, N. Y; The family removed to Joliet, Ill.. where his mother died December 2 of the same year. He learned the tinner's trade at Joliet, and worked at the business in various places until the fall of 1874, when he came to Charlotte and engaged in his present business. He married, Jan. 2, 1877, Miss Mary E., daughter of George and Mary Drey, early settlers of Washington Township. Mrs. N. J. Engler was born in the same township, Oct. 11, 1854. They have two children -- George M. and Edward J. Mr. Engler and wife are members of the Catholic Church; Democrat. CHARLES GILMORE, Charlotte; born in this county in 1852. He is one of the proprietors of the Charlotte flour-mill, which was established by his father in 1856. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also a member of the A. O. U. W. His father, Albert Gilmore, was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1813. When 8 years of age, removed with his parents to Starke Co., Ohio; remained until 1834, when he went to Illinois. In 1848, he married, in Hardin Co., Ill., Miss Charlotte Demaris. They removed to Iowa in 1852, and he built and ran the first flour-mill in Charlotte or vicinity ; was also the first Postmaster ; he died in 1877. Mrs. Gilmore is still a resident there. Their children are-Jane A. (now Mrs. Louis Shull), Esther A. (now Mrs. Lucius Winney), William, Charles (whose name appears at the head of this sketch. Charles Gilmore has had charge of the Charlotte Mills over three years and has a large custom. JOHN R. HAMREN, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Charlotte; a native of Stockholm, Sweden; born in 1821. At the age of 15, entered upon a seafaring life, which he followed for twenty-five years, during that time visiting China, Europe, West Indies, and all the principal ports in the world. He occupied the position of second mate a number of years. He entered the United States Navy in 1861, served one year and was honorably discharged. He then came to this county, and married, in this township, Miss Ann Cavanaugh. They have three children-John, Josephine and Charles. Mr. H. is a Republican, and owns sixty acres of land. HANS HANSEN, farmer. Sec. 16; P. O. Charlotte; was born in Duchy Schleswig, Jan. 19, 1852; emigrated to this country with his parents, LorenZ and Annie Hansen, in 1866, and settled in Deep Creek Township, in this county, where they remained four years before coming to this township. Mr. H. married, in this county, in 1877, Miss Mary Luckstedt. They have one child-Lorenz. Mr. Hansen is a Democrat, and owns 120 acres of land. His sister Augusta married Peter Wrim, and lives in Hamilton Co., Iowa. His brother Thomas married Rica Kolce, and lives in Sac Co. Has an unmarried brother (Martin) who resides in this township. W. D. HANRAHAN, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Charlotte; was born in Ottawa City, Canada. in 1840; in 1859, removed with his parents, Daniel and Jane Hanrahan, to this county, and settled in Deep Creek Township; remained until the spring of 1865, when they removed to this township, June 25, 1865. Mr. W. D. Hanrahan married, in DeWitt, Miss Harriet Bedford, daughter of Hiram and Catherine Bedford, who came from Canada and were early settlers of Elk River Township, where they resided until 1865, when they removed to Hamilton Co., Iowa, where Mr. Bedford died the following year; Mrs. Bedford returned to this county, and is now the wife of George Forrest, of Elk River Township. Mr. Hanrahan was elected Assessor of Waterford Township in 1869, which office he has been elected to, consecutively, since, he has also been elected Collector of Taxes two terms, and Township Clerk four years. Himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. H. is a Democrat.. He owns a well-located and improved farm, on which he resides. D. H. HUNTOON, Postmaster, station and express agent, grain and stock dealer, also proprietor of general merchandise store, Brown's Station; Mr. Huntoon was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1847; in 1848, his parents, Cyrus and Emma Huntoon, nee Harrington, emigrated to Iowa, and settled in Bellevue, Jackson Co., where they still reside. D. H. received a liberal education at the schools of Bellevue, where most of his youth was spent. In 1872, he married, in Jones Co., Iowa, Miss A. M. Polder, of Jackson Co.; they have one child, Leroy C. ; their oldest, Emma, died when two years of age. In 1873, Mr. Huntoon engaged in the grain and stock trade, at Brown's Station; in 1877, he opened a large general store, and, by his close attention to business, he has secured an extensive and constantly-increasing trade. In February, 1878, he was appointed Postmaster. He is a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. Societies. Acts with the Democratic party. W. H. JUNGER, Postmaster and dealer in hardware, Charlotte; was born in Prussia, in 1842; he served two years in the Prussian army; emigrated to the United States in 1866; came to Clinton Co. in 1870, remained a short time, and then went to St. Louis; returned again to Clinton Co., and engaged in the hardware business at Charlotte, in 1876. In February, 1877, he married Martha, daughter of John and Frederica Stuedimann, pioneer settlers of Center Grove Township; they have one child -- Otto. Mr. J. was elected Postmaster in December, 1878; he also deals quite extensively in hardware, stoves, tinware, etc. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church; Republican. MILES LAUDERBAUGR, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Charlotte; a resident of Iowa for nearly forty years; was born at Shippingport, Ky., in 1812. He married, in 1831, in Clay Co., Ind., Miss Barsheba Case, also a native of Kentucky; they emigrated to Iowa in 1842, and settled near Fairfield, Jefferson Co., where they remained until the spring of 1846, when they removed to Jackson Co.; in 1852, they came to this county and settled where they now live, in 1856, his wife died, leaving several children; those now living are Harriet (now Mrs. Amasa Gilmore), Sarah E. (now Mrs. William Marshall), Margaret (now Mrs. E. Milo), Tabitha (now Mrs. A. J. Albright), Hezekiah, Hannah (now Mrs. C. Dennis) and William H. In 1862, he married his present wife, Miss Emily Holland; her children are Matilda A., Elmer L., Martha E., Eli, Minnie, Menzo, Jennie M. and Eddie. Mr. Lauderbaugh was a Whig; on the decline of that party, joined the Republicans; he has held various local offices, and has always taken an active interest in the development of the religions and educational interests of the county. He owns over two hundred acres of land, upon which he has every variety of fruit-trees grown in this part of Iowa. B. J. MONAHAN, of the firm of Monahan Bros., dealers in agricultural implements, Charlotte; is a native of Canada; was born near Ottawa, Nov. 5, 1844; he removed with his parents to this county in 1855; they settled near Charlotte; in 1869, he engaged in the mercantile business, in Charlotte, and, in 1870, he and his brother entered into their present business. Mr. Monahan married, in 1873, Miss Mary Goodall, of Bloomfield Township; she was born in Canada, in 1849; they have four children-Arthur, Bartholomew, Martha and John. Himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church; he is a Republican. The Monahan Bros.' agricultural warehouse is a building 42x50 feet, two stories in height, where they do an extensive business, keeping all the superior makes of farm machinery and a full line of repairs; they are essentially business men, with a thorough knowledge of details; they are constantly enlarging their business to meet the growing demands of the public; they have amassed much valuable property, and rank among the first business men of Clinton Co. CHARLES M. NEAL, horse-shoeing and blacksmith shop, Rigg's Station ; born in Penobscot Co., Me., in 1855; he came to Iowa with his parents, Andrew J. and A. Celestia Neal, who settled near Preston, and now reside at Miles, Jackson Co. Mr. N. learned the blacksmith trade at Sabula and at Miles; came to Riggs' Station June 16, 1879, and opened his present shop, where he is doing a good business. HENRY NURRE, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Brown's Station; he was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1814; emigrated to America in 1836 ; arrived in Baltimore in June; went from there to Chambersburg, Penn., Pittsburgh and Cincinnati; he came to Clinton Co., Iowa, in 1840, and has been a resident of Waterford Township the greater part of the time since. He was a member of the County Board of Supervisors five years, and was elected Chairman of that body in 1878; he is Justice of the Peace, which office he has held fourteen consecutive years; he has also held various township and school offices. Mr. Nurre has been married three times; he married Mary Fehring in 1844, in Cincinnati, Ohio; she died Aug. 24, 1855. Second wife was Anna A. Aldehirt a native of Germany ; she died in 1860. Present wife, Elizabeth Finke; she had three children by a former marriage-John, Mary (now Mrs. Joseph G. Nurre) and Elizabeth. Mr. Nurre's children are Joseph G. and Katharine (now Mrs. John Reiff). Mr. Nurre and wife are members of the Catholic Church ; he is a Democrat. He owns 440 acres of land, and is one of the first farmers in Waterford Township. REV. JOHN J. O'FARRELL, Pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Charlotte, was born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1846; he received a theological education at All-Hallow's College, Dublin, where he was ordained June 24, 1874; his first pastoral charge was St. Theresa's Church, Jackson Co.; was transferred to his present charge in November, 1877. JOHN PREFFER, farmer P. O. Charlotte; was born in Elgin Co., Canada, Oct. 30, 1838, where he married, in 1854, Miss Sarah Bascom, she was born near Toronto, Canada, in 1855; they emigrated to Iowa and settled in Charlotte; they have two children-Ellen Jane (now the wife of Theodore Klitzky, of Sac Co., Iowa) and Seth. Mr. Preffer was the original owner of the land on which Charlotte now stands. He laid out the greater portion of the town, and has taken an active part in every enterprise that tended to advance the business, educational and other interests of the town. He has represented Waterford Township on the County Board of Supervisors in its early history; he has also been elected to various other offices, in all of which he has given general satisfaction. Mr. Preffer owns a large amount of city property in Charlotte, also owns 460 acres of land in Sac Co., Iowa, one and a half miles from Storm Lake. He was a charter member and the first M. W. of Lodge 102 A. O. U. W. Acts with the Republican party. M. F. QUIGLEY. farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Charlotte; was born in Ottawa, Canada, April 25, 1849; in 1850, his parents, John and Bridget Quigley, emigrated to Buffalo, N. y., thence to Cattaraugus; removed to Clinton Co. in 1853. July 20, 1876, M. F. Quigley married, in this county, Miss V. A. Conwell; she was born in Kenosha, Wis., and removed to Charlotte with her parents, John and Winifred Conwell, in 1870. Mr. Quigley and wife are members of the Catholic Church. He owns 170 acres of land, desirably located and well improved. A. J. RIGGS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Rigg's Station; was born in Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 21, 1832; in 1837, emigrated with his parents, John and Alma Riggs, to this county and settled in Bloomfield Township, then a wild prairie, with scarcely a white inhabitant; in 1856, he went to Moritzious (now Monticello), Minn., where he obtained a charter, and established the first ferry across the Mississippi at that point; April 26, 1861, he was elected President of the Moritzious Town Site Company, a position which he filled to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of that place. On the 13th of March, 1864, Mr. Riggs married, in Maquoketa, Iowa, Miss Eliza E., daughter of Rev. Richard Mulholland, a minister of the M. E. Church, and an eminently good man in all the relations of life; she was born in Geauga Co., Ohio, March 15, 1844; their children are-James E., Ellsworth and Lindus Larell. In 1865, Mr. Riggs moved to Waterford Township and settled where he now resides; in 1871, the railroad station was laid out on his farm, and named for him; it has a large local trade, and is a good shipping point; Mr. Riggs owns a finely-improved farm, and is largely engaged in raising and shipping stock. E. C. HOWELL, attorney at law. Charlotte; was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Jan. 11, 1852; was educated in Lawrenceville Academy, N. Y.; in 1870, he came to Iowa, where he followed teaching until the spring of 1874, when he began the study of law in the office of Corning & Grohe, where he remained nearly two years was admitted to the bar in September, 1876; since has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Charlotte. He is a Republican, and is Chairman of their Central Committee in Waterford Township; is also Treasurer of the A. O. U. W. Jan. 29, 1879, Mr. Rowell married, in Charlotte, Miss Mattie M. Gilmore. He represents the following fire insurance companies: Hawkeye, of Des Moines, Iowa; Phoenix and Hartford, of Hartford, Conn.; all leading insurance companies of the country. MILTON G. SLOAN, M. D., Charlotte; was born in Lyons, Iowa, in 1848; he received his education at the public schools at Lyons and Western Union College, Fulton, Ill; in 1870, he began the study of medicine in Wapello; in 1871, he entered the Rush Medical Institute at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1873; he located in Delmar the same year, and engaged in the practice of his profession at that place until January, 1876, when he moved to Charlotte; he is a member of the State Medical Society, and is Vice President of the Clinton County Medical Society; he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and was elected representative to the Grand Lodge of that society, which convened at Des Moines in 1878. In 1875, Dr. Sloan married, in Delmar, Miss Clara L. Twiss; they have two children -- Franklin T. and Hattie Lois. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is Sabbath-School Superintendent and President of the Board of Church Trustees. Dr. Sloan has a large and lucrative practice. CORNELIUS SPAIN, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Charlotte; was born near Montreal, Canada, in 1840; came to this county with his parents, Cornelius and Margaret Spain, and settled in this township. In 1875, Mr. Spain married Miss Margaret, daughter of Alexander and Jane Stuart, early settlers of this township; they have one child-Mary Jane; in 1875, Mr. Spain was elected a member of the Board of Township Trustees, an office he has held up to this time, being Chairman of the Board at present; has also filled various local offices; in all public enterprises, he has taken an active part. Himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church. Owns 152 acres of land, well improved; Democrat. His father died in 1871; his mother is still living in this township. F. W. WANGLER; P.O. Brown's Station; was born in Baden, Germany, in 1847; in early life, he entered Freiburg College, Baden, from which he graduated in 1867; immigrated to America in the same year, and engaged in teaching at Charles Mound, Dubuque Co., Iowa, where he remained until 1869, when he went to Lyons, this county, where he taught until 1870; then came to Waterford Township, and has since followed his profession in the vicinity of Brown's Station. Mr. Wangler married in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1870, Miss Annie Mayer; they have one child-Mary. Mr. W. and wife are members of the Catholic Church; Democrat.