BIOS: Polk County 1880 Crocker Township Biographies, Polk County, Iowa ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES PROJECT 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/ ************************************************************************ Permissions and Restrictions I have a copyright to these files and give permission for these files to be posted to any site that offers free access to all. Copying to any medium for the purpose of profit is strictly prohibited. This prohibition pertains to all photographs, text files, and graphics. I hope you find this information of value in your genealogy research. Marion John Rice, mjrice@dakotacom.net ___________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Polk County, Iowa Please visit the Polk County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/polk/ ____________________________________________________________________________ "The History of Polk County, Iowa" published by the Union Historical Company, Birdsall, Williams & Co. 1880. Polk Township Biographies Walnut, Bloomfield, Grant, Four Mile, Allen, Camp, Beaver, Clay, Delaware, Saylor, Valley, Webster, Jefferson, Crocker, Douglas, Franklin, Washington, Elkhart, Lincoln, Madison CROCKER TOWNSHIP ALBRECHT, JOHN-Farmer, section 25, P. O. Trent. Was born in Prussia, March 29, 1818, and in 1849 he emigrated to the United States, locating in New Jersey, where he resided until 1859. He then changed his location to this State, and settled in this county, and at once engaged in farming which he has followed to the present time. His farm is well-improved and under cultivation. Was married in 1847 to Ann Haab, also a native of Prussia. They have a family of four children: Louie, Richard, Ernest and Minnie. ALBRECHT, RICHARD-Farmer, section 25, P. O. Greenwood. Was born on the third of September, 1848, and is a native of Prussia. When only eighteen months old he was brought by his parents to the United States, and immediately located in Newark, New Jersey. There he remained eight years, and then removed to Iowa, settling at Davenport, where they remained one year. They then came to this county, and here our subject has since resided. He was married December 3, 1873, to Albertena Sente; she was born in Clayton county, this State, September 7, 1851. They have one child, Daniel (born June 13, 1877). ATKINSON, C. R.-Farmer, section 28, P. O. Saylorville. Was born January 5, 1831, in Henry county, Indiana, and was there raised. In 1855 he came to this county, since which time he has resided both in Kansas and Illinois. In 1875 he returned to this county where he has since resided. During the war he was a member of company C, Ninety-first Illinois infantry, enlisting in August, 1862, and serving until the close of the war. He was married in 1856 to Martha Jinkins, a native of Howard county, Indiana, born in 1838. Have five children living: Sarah E., Rhoda J., James, Mary and William. Have buried one child, Elias. CREE, C. F.-Proprietor of brick-yard on section 28, P. O. Saylorville. Was born August 9, 1858, in this county, and has here been raised. He was married March 23, 1878, to Miss Mattie Marriott, who was born near Mt. Pleasant, this State. They have one child, Roscoe Blaine; 988 BIOGRAPHICAL. have lost one. Mr. Cree is now (1880), engaged in the manufacture of brick at the yard formerly owned by his father, and manufacturing a superior article. The majority of the brick houses in this portion of the country were built of the brick made in this yard, besides supplying the Des Moines market with a large quantity each year. He burns on an average about four hundred thousand per year. CREE, J. M.-Farmer, section 36, P. O. Trent. Was born in Monroe county, Ohio, November 23, 1833, and when six years of age his parents removed to Washington county, that State, where he resided until he came to Iowa in April, 1855. He then located in this county. October 27, 1857, he was married to Lydia J. Howard, who departed this life January 22, 1871, leaving two children: Charles F. and Nellie M. He married again November 23, 1871, Miss Leonora, daughter of Franklin Nagle, of this township, and was born and raised in this county. They have three children: Harry C., Minnie Y. and Raymond. Mr. Cree was elected township clerk of this township in 1876, and has since been occupying that position. DIETZ, CONRAD-Farmer, section 21, P. O. Polk City. Was born in Heisen, Germany, October 9, 1816, and was there raised, following farming in summer and weaving during the winters. In August, 1842, he came to the United States, and first settled in Cambria county, Pennsylvania. He came to Iowa in 1846 for the purpose of looking up a location, and in the subsequent year settled in Polk county, on the farm on which he now resides, being one of the very first settlers in his part of the county; he has a fine farm of four hundred acres in section 22, and fifty-eight acres in section 21. He was married February 20, 1848, to Miss Susan Mill, who was born near Dayton, Ohio; have nine children living: Francis, David, Hannah, Mahala, Lyda L., Barbara, Elizabeth, George W. and Susan A. Lost one child, John F. Besides being one of the oldest settlers in his neighborhood, he is among the most highly respected citizens of the township. DIETZ, D.-Farmer, section 27, P. O. Ankeny. Was born in this county March 19, 1850, and has been raised here. His father, Conrad Deitz, being one of the first settlers of the township. He was married February 17, 1875, to Amy Bell, who was born in Hamilton county, this State in 1855. They have one child, Sarah A. (born in February, 1876). DILWORTH, CHARLES H.-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 3, P. O. Polk City. The subject of this sketch was born September 28, 1838, in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he was raised and educated. In 1857 he removed to Delaware where he resided until 1868, when he came to Iowa, Locating in this county. In 1871 he removed to Boone and was there engaged in the mercantile business for four years. At the end of that time he returned on his farm, where he has since resided. His farm consists of 387 acres of fine farming land, and besides farming he is extensively engaged in stock-raising and feeding. He was in 1871 united in marriage to Anna Moxley. They have two children: Nellie M. and Bertha M. During the war he served in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Pennsylvania infantry, enlisting August 2, 1862, and served the term for which his regiment was enlisted, nine months. He afterward served for a short time in the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania infantry, participating in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam and Chancellorsville. CROCKER TOWNSHIP. 989 FIEGENBAUM,A. H.-Farmer, section 14, P. O. Ankeny. Was born March 7, 1855, and is a native of Lake county, Indiana. His father being a Methodist minister his residence in various places was necessarily of short duration. He received his education at the Iowa Wesleyan University, where he attended school for three years. Since 1875 he has been engaged in teaching in this county, having been a resident here since 1869. He is at present (1880) living on his father's farm, near Ankeny, and besides teaching the schools of that village, superintends the work on the farm. In 1879 he was elected justice of the peace for Crocker township, being perhaps the youngest official occupying that position in the county. HARVEY, H. M.-Farmer, section 27, P. O. Saylorville. Was born in Shelby county, Indiana, January 10, 1835, where his parents continued to reside until he was fourteen years of age, when they came to this county, where he has since resided. He was married November 18, 1859, to Miss Arabelle Nagle. She was born February 4, 1842, in Belmont county,, Ohio. Her father, Franklin Nagle, was one of the pioneers of this county. They have seven children: Jasper C., Ellen, Albert R., Mary B., Lewis B., William and Charles. Have lost one, Pearl. Mr. Harvey's father was also one of the early settlers of the county, coming here in the fall of 1848. Mr. H. has frequently been elected to positions of trust in his township. HAVENS, T. W.-Farmer, section 25, P. O. Ankeny. Was born March 5, 1834, in Groveland, New York, and resided in that State until 1864, when he moved to Michigan, remaining there until 1869. He then came to Iowa, settling in Polk county. He was united in marriage to Miss Martha Hitchcock, in 1854, June 10. She is a native of New York State, and was born in 1837. They have one child living, Franklin. Lost one, Lillie. In the fall of 1877 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace. Has also held the office of township clerk, which forcibly demonstrates the esteem in which he is held by his neighbors. HEILEMAN, FRED.-Farmer, section 25, P. O. Ankeny. Was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, May 31, 1834, and in 1850 emigrated to the United States, first settling in New York City, where he engaged in clerking. He remained there nine years and from there went to Rhode Island, where he remained for six years, and then enlisted in the war of the rebellion, serving three years in company E, Second Rhode Island infantry. From that State he came West, locating in Wisconsin, and from there came to Iowa, settling in Des Moines, residing there for nine years. Most of that time he was engaged in the restaurant and grocery business. In 1876 he removed on the farm where he now resides. He was married in 1860, September 20, to Caroline Huttenlocher. She was born in Wurtemburg, December 16, 1832. They have five children living: Carry L., Hattie E., Anna M., Frederick C. and William H. Have lost three: Mary, Emma and Lilly. JONES, RICHARD R.-Farmer, section 19, P. O. Polk City. The subject of this sketch is of Welsh descent, having been born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, December 18, 1823. He emigrated to the United States in 1844, first settling in Racine, Wisconsin, where he remained for four years. He then removed to Chicago, Illinois, and re-sided there twenty-four years, during thirteen of which he was engaged in working at his trade of carpenter, for one firm. In 1875 he removed to Iowa, settling in this county. In 1859 he married Miss Elizabeth Pierce. She died in 1866, leaving two children: Margaret H. and John 990 BIOGRAPHICAL. P. He was again married in 1868, to Mrs. Ruth Morris. She has one child by a former marriage, Benjamin J. Mr. Jones has a farm of 283. acres, a portion of which is timber and the remainder river bottom land. KENNEDY, JOHN N.-Farmer, section 36, P. O. Ankeny. This gentleman is a native of Clermont county, Ohio, where he was born February 23, 1817. His parents removed to Indiana when he was very young, and there he was raised, making it his home until he came to Iowa. In 1854 he came to this county, and was one of the first settlers on the prairie portion of Crocker township. Soon after arriving here, he proceeded to set out an orchard, notwithstanding the many discouragements he met with from those who pretended that orchards in Iowa would only grow close to timber. Time has shown that he knew what he was doing, and he now has, and has had for years, one of the best orchards in this portion of the county. September 23,1846, he was married to Eliza Noble. She was also born in Clermont county, Ohio, January 20, 1826. They have two children: J. W. and Elizabeth F. (now Mrs. A. M. Austin). Have lost two: Maria J. and Maggie. Since residing in the county, he has ever taken an active part in everything that tends to make a county prosperous, such as schools, church organizations, etc. LANE, RICHARD-Farmer, section 17, P. O. Saylorville. Was born March 9, 1810, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, where he, was raised. He came from Muskingum county, Ohio,. to Polk county, Iowa, in 1855, and has since resided here. Owns a farm of 176 acres, nearly all of which is under cultivation. He was united in marriage in October, 1839, to Susan Blunt, a native of Ohio. They have nine children living: Melina (now Mrs. Frank Richart), James W., Jesse, Hettie (now Mrs. H. Taylor), Thompson, Hezekiah, John H., Mary (now Mrs. Henry Thompson) and Arabella (now Mrs. S. McClain). Have lost three: Augusta, Martha and Louisa. For a man of his age, Mr. Lane is remarkably well preserved, although he has done, in his day, much laborious work. MARRIOTT, H. -Farmer, section 33, P. O. Saylorville. Was born November 28, 1833, in Licking county, Ohio, where he was raised, and in 1855 be came to Iowa, locating in Linn county. There he resided until the spring of 1856, when he removed to Missouri, remaining for four years, when he returned to this State and settled in Henry county. He made that county his home until 1870, when he came to this county. He married Miss Elizabeth A. Rice, September 28, 1855. She died in 1876, leaving three children: W. H., Martha P. (now Mrs. Chas. Cree) and Charles T. He was married again November 1, 1877, to Eunice Larason, a native of Knox county, Ohio. Mr. Marriott is one of the many prosperous. farmers of his township, having a fine farm of 225 acres, all of which is in a good state of cultivation. MARTS, Mrs. ALMIRA-Farmer, section 17, P. O. Polk City. Was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, March 18, 1838, and came with her parents to Iowa in 1852, her maiden name being Breighler. Her husband, Mr. D. C. Marts was one of the first settlers of this county, settling here in 1848. She was married to him June 30, 1867, and he died December 1, 1879, leaving six children by a former marriage: J. C., Lenora, Sophrona, William, James and Laura. By his last marriage he had four children: Loran, Brenton C., Bertha A. and David A. His first wife, Susannah E. Breighler, is a sister of our sketch, to her, he was married November 27,. 1851, and she died May 4, 1865. The estate consists of a farm of 160 CROCKER TOWNSHIP. 991 acres, all under cultivation and having on it one of the best farm houses in the township. MILLER, GEORGE J.-Farmer, section 4, P. O. Polk City. Was born in Baden, Germany, February 22,1843 and resided there until he came to the United States in 1857. He first settled in Pennsylvania, remaining there for some two years and then came West and located in McDonough county, Illinois; from there he came to this county and remained until 1864 when he went to Montana, residing in that Territory until 1871. He then returned to Polk county. May 18, 1871, he was married to Caroline C. Brobeil, a native of Pennsylvania. They have four children: John W., Minnie E., George P. and Dore K. Mr. Miller is the owner of 300 acres of land in good cultivation. He is extensively engaged in stock-raising and feeding. NAGLE, FRANKLIN-Farmer, section 23, P. O. Saylorville. As one of the early pioneers of Iowa, this subject is deserving of more than a passing notice. He was born in Belmont county, Ohio, September 17, 1804, and resided in his native place until he came to Iowa, locating in Van Buren county, in 1842. There he resided until 1846, when he came to Polk county, and has resided on his present farm ever since. He took an active part in the early development of the county and has ever been looked upon as one of Polk county's most prominent and influential farmers and since residing in his township has held various offices of trust. In an early day be held the office of justice of the peace, and many are the couples who have been united by him in the holy bonds of matrimony. For his age, he is a man remarkably well-preserved, looking and acting younger than many men do at forty-five, which shows that his has been a well-spent life. His home, like those of most all the early settlers is ever a hospitable one, presided over by a very estimable and much-beloved mother and wife. He was married October 31, 1826, to Rebecca Jackson. She was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1806. They have nine children living: Thaddeus W., Thomas M., Adeline (now Mrs. Thomas Saylor), Webster, Josephine (now Mrs. Joseph Tiara), Elizabeth (now Mrs. Samuel Geddes), Arabelle (now Mrs. Henry Harvey), Lucina (now Mrs.- Hayden Gregg) and Leonora (now Mrs. John M. Cree). Have lost three. Mr. N. has a fine farm of 280 acres, well improved and in a good state of, cultivation. PARMENTER, EDWARD-Farmer, section 22, P. O. Saylorville. Was born June 2, 1832, in Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, and when six years of age removed with his parents to Ohio, settling in Athens county, and was there raised. In 1855 he came to this county and located in Des Moines; where he followed his trade (blacksmithing) for some seven years and then moved upon his present farm. He owns 352 acres in his home farm and also 120 acres on sections 27 and 28. He has held various offices of trust since residing in this township. He married Anna E. Poter, of Guthrie county, August 20, 1862. They have seven children living Ella J., Sabert E., Flora E., John D., Vinnie A., Walter E. and Eda M.. Have lost two: Joseph L. and an infant. SCHAAL, J. A.-Carpenter, section 7, P. O. Polk City. Was born February 17, 1832, in Wurtemberg, Germany, where he resided until seventeen years of age. He then emigrated to the United States, settling in Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1856. He then came to Polk county, and since living in the county, has been actively en- 992 BIOGRAPHICAL. gaged in working at the carpenter's trade, having had the contracts for the majority of the fine farm houses and barns in the township. He has held various offices of trust which conclusively shows the esteem in which he is held by the citizens of his community. January 14, 1858, be married Miriam Lichty,. a native of Ohio. They have nine children: John W., Mary S., A. P., Ricka, Elizabeth, Francis D., Caroline, Charles D. and, Ernest A. He has a farm of 181 acres, all under fence, the same being well-improved. He has one of the finest farm houses in the township, built by himself. SIMONS, JESSE-Farmer, section 10, P. O. Polk City. Was born January 29, 1846, in Miami county, Indiana, and when he was fourteen years of age his parents removed to this State, locating in Madison county, where he resided for four years. He then came to this county, and has since made it his home, following farming. In 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Acheff. By this union they have two children: Charles L. and William O. Mr. Simons has two children by a former marriage. Frank E. and John A. TIARA, JOSEPH-Farmer, section 33, P. O. Saylorville. The subject of this sketch is of Southern birth, having been born in Fayette county, Alabama, September 8, 1826, where he was raised. He entered the regular army in 1848, and served five years, as second sergeant, in company E, Sixth infantry. He came to this county in 1855, and has resided herein since that time. He was united in marriage in 1852, to Josephine Nagle, and from this union they have twelve children: Martha R., Mary M., Joseph, Kate, Alice, William, Nellie, Gertrude, Daisy, Olive, George and John B. Mr. Tiara has a farm of 272 acres, a considerable portion of which is fine river bottom land. Has held various township offices since residing in the county. VICE, W. R.-Farmer, section 26, P. O. Ankeny. Was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, May 1, 1840, and came with an uncle to Iowa, locating in this county, when about six years of age. He has since resided here, and on the 27th of October, 1860, was married to Rachel Harvey, a native of Indiana. They have one son living: John S. (born August 17, 1862). Lost one child: Elizabeth. The farm on which he resides, contains 106 acres of fine farming land, well-improved. He also owns a farm of eighty acres in section 25. He is recognized as being one of the thrifty and prosperous farmers of his township. WANE, ROBERT A.-Farmer, section 20, P. O. Saylorville. Was born in Baltimore, Maryland, July 10, 1826, and when eleven years of age, removed to Harrison county, Ohio, where he resided until he came West, in 1854: He first settled in Boone county, this State, and remained there two years, then moving to Dallas county. Eight years later, he took up his residence in Madison county, and remained there one year, and n 1862 he came to this county, opening up a new farm eight miles west of Des Moines, and in 1875, he removed on the farm where he now resides, owning 216 acres of land, in a good state of cultivation. He was married in 1850, to Mary A. Speer, a native of Maryland. They have five children living: John A., Louisa (now Mrs. George Jordan), George W., Elizabeth and Ella. Lost one: Florence. Mr. Wayne is one of Crocker township's thriving farmers, and is highly esteemed by the citizens of his community. DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP. 993 WILSON, JACOB-Farmer, section 16, P. O. Saylorville. The subject of this sketch is a native of the South, having been born in Kentucky, December 22, 1805. He was there raised, and married in 1827, his wife's name being Miss Frances Hart. He removed from his native State, to Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1831, and resided there until 1851, when he came to this county. He was married again in 1864, his second wife's name being Mary Harley. They have one child, Jacob E. Mr. Wilson has eight children by his former marriage: Mary (now Mrs. Ezekiel Crist), Rebecca A. (now Mrs. John Inlan), John, James H., Marion, Nancy J. (now Mrs. James Lane), Richard T. and Susan F. (now Mrs. H. Stapp)., He entered his present farm in 1851, and has since resided upon the same. YOUNG, JOHN-Farmer, section 16, P. O. Polk City. Was born April, 23, 1835, in Butler county, Ohio, and in 1854, his parents came to Iowa, settling in Saylor township, this county. During the fall of 1858, he married Matilda Shellhart. They have six children living: Sarah A., Mary E., Eliza J., George 13., William W. and John L. Have lost one, Martha E. His father was one of the early settlers of the county, and died in Missouri, in 1872. Mrs. Young's father was also one of the early settlers in Polk county, and is now deceased, dying August 16, 1872. Mr. Young has a fine piece of land containing 120 acres, the same being in a good state of cultivation.