BIOS: Polk County 1880 Saylor Township Biographies, Polk County, Iowa 

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I hope you find this information of value in your genealogy research.
Marion John Rice, mjrice@dakotacom.net 
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NOTE:  For more information on Polk County, Iowa 
       Please visit the Polk County, IAGenWeb page  
       at http://iagenweb.org/polk/
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"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 
 

SAYLOR TOWNSHIP.
BEEKS, T. C.-Farmer, section 14, P. O. East Des Moines. 
Was born in Fayette county, Indiana, 
July 27, 1831, and was raised there up to the time that he 
came to this State in 1870, then located 
in Warren county, and remained there for ten months, and in 
March, 1871, came to this county. 
His early manhood was spent on a farm until he was 
nineteen years of age, and in 1850 he began 
an apprenticeship at the harness and saddle-making trade, 
and followed this as his vocation until 
February, 1869. Then engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
has since been engaged in that 
business, with the exception of two years that he was in the 
grocery business at Des Moines. His 
farm consists of 120 acres. Has held the office of trustee for 
two terms and is the present clerk of 
his township. His marriage was at Brooklyn, Indiana, 
September 6, 1854, to Miss Mary E. 
Jackson, a native of Indiana. They have four sons living: 
Charles O., Horace E., Otis E. and 
Ralph W. Lost two children: Ella Virginia and Theodore L. 
 
BETTS, JEREMIAH J.-Farmer, section 1, P. O. Trent. Was 
born in Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania, July 19, 1818, and from there came to this 
county in 1856. He has made farming 
his occupation through life and now owns 225 acres, mostly 
improved. His ancestry on his 
father's side were natives of Pennsylvania; and on his 
mother's of Virginia. They were early 
settlers of Pennsylvania and he had to carry all his 
provisions from Pittsburgh, ninety miles, on 
horseback, to where they had settled among the Indians in 
1801. He was the eighth son of a 
family of twelve children, all of whom grew to maturity and 
married, excepting one daughter, 
who died. This was the first death in the family. His mother 
never paid a dollar for doctor bills, 
and at her death, which was at the age of sixty-six, she had
SAYLOR TOWNSHIP. 961
sixty-five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She 
also spun and wove the wool and 
hackled the flax that clothed the family. Mr. Betts still has the 
hackle that she used and it is now 
one hundred years old. Our subject was married in 
Pennsylvania, in 1838, to Miss Elizabeth A. 
Flanch, of Pennsylvania. They have a family of four sons 
and two daughters, living; James W., S. 
W., M. C., J. L., Mary L. and Hannah. Have lost nine 
children. The number of their grandchildren  
is thirty-five. 
 
BREWBAKER, JOHN-Farmer, section 1, P. O. Trent. Was 
born in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, December 2, 1831, and was raised there until 
twenty years of age. His father being 
a blacksmith he learned that trade, beginning it when 
fourteen years of age. He followed it as his 
entire business for sixteen years. From his native place he 
removed to Henry county, Indiana, in 
1852, and four years later came to this State, settling in this 
county in 1856. Has since resided 
here excepting three and a half years that he spent on the 
Pacific coast. Is at present one of the 
trustees of his township. Mr. B. was married in this county 
December 11, 1862, to Miss Minerva 
A. Mercer, of Greene county, Ohio. They have a family of 
eight children living: Henrietta, 
Edward E., Orris O., Jennie F., Mary E., Nellie Jay, John M. 
and James R. 
 
BUZZARD, P. H.-Farmer, section 26, P. O. East Des 
Moines. Was born in Armstrong county, 
Pennsylvania, February 10, 1814, and resided there until six 
years of age, when with his parents 
he moved to Wayne county, Ohio. There resided until 1833, 
when he removed to Woods county, 
same State, and lived there until 1840. His father, Frederick 
Buzzard, died while living in 
Holrnes county and the subject of this sketch then went to 
learn the carpenter and joiner's trade at 
Wooster, Wayne county. He there finished his trade and 
followed it while in Woods county. He 
moved to Ottawa, Lasalle county, Illinois, and resided there 
about eight years, when he took up 
his residence for three months in Nauvoo, Hancock county; 
then returned to Ottawa, and after a 
short time went to Racine county, Wisconsin, residing there 
for one and a half years. In the fall of 
1846 he came to this county, locating in Des Moines. About 
twenty seven years ago he moved 
where he now lives, owning twenty-seven acres of land. He 
spent one year in Utah. He opened a 
blacksmith and wagon shop and made the first plows and 
wagons in the county. Mr. Buzzard 
went by wagon to California in the spring of 1850, on 
account of ill health, was four months on 
the road, and returned by way of Central America, reaching 
here in February, 1851. Was married 
February 18, 1835, in Perrysburg, Woods county, Ohio, to 
Miss Eliza, daughter of Samuel 
Frederick, of Asyp, Columbia county, Pennsylvania. She was 
born May 18, 1819. They have 
three children living: Frederick (born June 18, 1841, and now 
in Montana Territory), William B. 
(born April 14, 1846, and now in the same place), and 
George W. (born February 19, 1854, now 
in Colorado). Lost one daughter, Rosanna (born February 
14, 1849, died in September, 1850, in 
Des Moines). 
 
CHENEY, S. F.-Farmer, section 11, P. O. Saylorville. Was 
born in Berkshire county, 
Massachusetts, September 9, 1829, and was raised there up 
to the time that he came to this State 
in 1856. He settled in this county in the spring of that year 
and has been a permanent resident 
here since. For several years he held the office of township 
trustee. His marriage was in his native 
county February 1, 1855, to Miss Fannie C. Johnson, of 
Hardwick, Massachusetts. Their family 
consists of one child
962 BIOGRAPHICAL.
living, Lida E. They have lost five: Florence L., Hattie A., 
Jennie E., Albert R. and Angie L. 
 
COY, LEVI-Farmer and stock-raiser, Saylorville. Was born 
June 14, 1836, in the town of 
Waterford, Elkhart county, Indiana, and was raised there at 
farming until about eighteen years of 
age, when he began the carpenter's trade. This he continued 
until he came to Iowa in 1856, 
locating in this county. For nine years following he engaged 
at his trade, and about 1861 began 
his present business. He owns over 107 acres of land. Has 
been school director and is the present 
township treasurer. March 11, 1858, he was married in this 
county to Miss Malinda Roush, of 
Ohio. They have two sons and one daughter living: Mary B., 
Ira and Frank. Lost one daughter, 
Ella. Mr. Coy's ancestors were all of Pennsylvania. 
 
DAILEY, J. I.-Farmer and saw mill and wood contractor, 
section 22, P. O. East Des Moines. 
Was born in Lee, now Saylor township, of this county, 
November 6. 1846, and was raised here 
on the same farm on which he still resides. His homestead 
consists of eighty-nine acres of land. 
His marriage was in this county April 1, 1874, to Alfaretta 
Estal, of Iowa. They have one son and 
two daughters: Ernest, Gracie and Bertha. During the late 
war he enlisted in company, F, 
Forty-seventh Iowa regiment, and served until the expiration 
of his term of enlistment, which was 
for 100 days. 
 
DAY, J. P.-Farmer, section 22, P. O. East Des Moines. Was 
born in Newcastle, Delaware, 
August 26, 1837, and was there raised until he came to this 
county in the spring of 1857. He has 
always followed farming as his principal occupation and now 
owns a good farm. Was married in 
this county in the fall of 1860 to Miss Minerva Dailey. They 
have three sons and three daughters 
living: Helen, Newton J., Clara, James E., Edith and George 
W. Mr. Day's father was a native of 
Delaware and his mother a native of Pennsylvania. 
 
FOOTE, W. D.-Teacher, Saylorville. Was born in Canada, 
January F 22, 1837, but was raised in 
Vermont. There he remained until he reached his majority 
and obtained his education in 
Middlebury .College, graduating from there at the age of 
eighteen years. During the following 
four years he studied law at Rutland, Vermont, with Foote & 
Hodges, and for a while practiced at 
Whitehall, New York. October 31, 1862, he enlisted in 
company B, Ninth New York cavalry, 
and was with his regiment until the fight at Gettysburg, when, 
on the second day (July 2), he was 
captured, kept for about nine months and returned to his 
regiment. Served until the close of the 
war, returned to New York and taught school two terms and 
afterward came to this State, and 
since that time has followed, teaching, having taught at his 
present location twenty-nine terms, 
twenty-seven of them consecutively. Has been justice of the 
peace four years. Was married in Des 
Moines July 16, 1872, to Miss Mary Leggett, of Ohio. They 
have three daughters living: Emily 
N., Clara and Vinnie E. His ancestors were natives of the 
New England States from the landing 
of the Mayflower. 
 
GREER. WILLIAM N.-Fruit-grower, section 25, P. O. East 
Des Moines. Was born in Allegheny 
county, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1824, and at the age of 
seventeen years moved with his parents to 
Dearborn county, Indiana, living there until 1853, when he 
moved to Scott county, this State. He 
had previously entered his farm in 1850, and resided there 
until 1869, when he came to this 
county and has since resided,
SAYLOR TOWNSHIP. 963
here. Owns ten acres of land all in fruit and in good 
condition. During the war he raised company 
C, Second Iowa cavalry, in Scott county, and went into camp 
as captain of his company August 
9, 1863. During the winter of 1861-2 be resigned, on account 
of disability. Mr. Greer was 
married February 15, 1854, to Miss Margaret H. Espey, who 
was born in Ohio county, Indiana, 
June 23, 1829. They have one son living, John L. Lost one, 
William H. They have also an 
adopted daughter, Clara K. 
 
HARRIS, N. J.-Of the firm of Harris Bros., proprietors of Des 
Moines Nursery and Fruit Groves, 
P. 0. East Des Moines. Was born in Clay county, Indiana, in 
1841, and was raised there until 
1851, when he came to this State with his parents, settling in 
Boone county. In 1853 he came to 
this county. For ten years previous to engaging in his 
present calling he taught school. His early 
education was in the schools of this county, which he 
supplemented with a three years course at 
the Mt. Pleasant University. Was married in this county in 
1872, to Miss Martha J. Hendricks, a 
native of Iowa. They have a family of three children living- 
Martha May, Jasper Carey and 
Margaret S. 
 
HERRICK, OSCAR D.-Farmer, section 10, P. 0. Saylorville. 
Is a native of Penobscot county, 
Maine, and was born on the 24th day of April, 1841. When 
seven years of age he removed with 
his parents to Illinois and resided there until the outbreak of 
the war. On the 30th of September, 
1861, he enlisted in company K, Ninth Illinois cavalry, and 
served the term of his enlistment, 
which was for three years. After the war he came to this 
State, settling in Poweshiek county, and 
then came to this county in 1871. He was married in Bureau 
county, Illinois, October 11, 1865, to 
Miss Hannah P. Hazard, a native of Peoria, Illinois. She died 
January 24, 1880, leaving six 
children: Luie Priscilla, George Ellsworth, Mary Otis, Edward 
Burt, Richard Franklin and Harriet 
Priscilla. 
 
JONES, SAMUEL-Farmer, section 23, P. O. East Des 
Moines. Was born in Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1813, and when fifteen 
years of age moved to Ohio; then from 
there came to this county in 1848, and has since resided 
here, most of the time on his present 
homestead. Has always followed farming as an occupation 
and now owns a good farm. He was 
married in Ohio on the 28th of February, 1844, at which time 
Miss Eunice Powers became his 
wife. She was born March 10, 1826, and died in 1863, 
leaving nine children: Albert M. (born 
November 20, 1844 , Sarah E. (born December 12, 1846), 
Mary E. (born April 28, 1848), Calvin 
(born December 23, 1851), Alfred (born July 9, 1854), Emma 
R. (born March 24, 1857), and 
Samuel (born February 28, 1863). Two are deceased: 
Hannah E. (born May 23, 1856, died April 
20, 1877), and Margaret (born November 18, 1860, died 
August 13, 1870). 
 
LEWIS, WILLIAM-Farmer, section 1, P. O. Trent. Was born 
in Butler county, Ohio, April 17, 
1817, and in 1824 moved with his parents to Shelby county, 
Indiana. In 1838 he went to New 
Orleans and, from there came to this county in 1848. The 
year following he came again, and also 
in 1850, but did not permanently settle with his family until 
the fall of 1853. He brought the first 
load of wheat to Des Moines and had to haul it back. In 1857 
he planted the first corn with a 
planter, and an ox team, in the county. Has been clerk of 
Camp township and also justice of the 
peace for four years, and was clerk when that officer was 
secretary of the school board. He was 
married in Shelby county, Indiana, in March, 1846, to Miss 
Elizabeth Haskins, a native of 
Kentucky but raised in Indi-
964 BIOGRAPHICAL.
ana. They have seven children: Lucinda, Isabel, Thomas A., 
Elsie, Lottie and Mary. Two sons are 
dead. 
 
McCLELLAND, NAT.-Farmer and stock-raiser, section 16, 
P. O. East Des Moines. Was born in 
Cecil county, Maryland, May 14, 1841, and was raised there 
until 1850. He then came to this 
State with his parents, who first settled in Des Moines, and in 
1859 came to his present location, 
engaging in farming and stock-raising, which he has made 
his occupation since. His farm now 
consists of 210 acres of well-improved land. His marriage 
was in this county, January 31, 1867, 
to Miss Wealthy Clark, who was born in New York State and 
was raised there until she came to 
this State with her parents about the year 1860. By this 
union they have two sons and one 
daughter: Albert, Gideon and Sarah. Lost one daughter, 
Mary E. His father .was a native of 
Maryland and his mother of England, but she came to this 
country when a child. 
 
McLEAN, JOHN-Steward of the county poor-farm; section 
12, P. O. East Des Moines. Was born 
in the northern part of Ireland, near Belfast, and was-raised 
there until nearly of age, when he 
emigrated to the United States and settled near Cleveland, 
Ohio. He resided in that State up to the 
time he came to this county, in 1869, when he settled in 
Madison township and engaged in 
farming, which has always been his occupation. He lost his 
father when he was twelve years of 
age, and from that time fought his own way in the world. He 
is now the owner of 132-1/2 acres 
of land. In 1877 he took charge of the poor-farm and has 
since been its steward. Has been 
township trustee and for four years was treasurer of the 
township before it was organized into 
independent districts. Has been twice married. First, in 
Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1845, to Miss 
Isabella McBride, a native of Ireland, who died in 1862, 
leaving seven children: Anie J. (wife of 
Thomas L. Dyer, of Polk City), William J., James N., George 
W., Mary L., S., and Robert H. 
Married the second time, in the same county, in 1865, to 
Mary Robertson, a native of 
Connecticut, raised in Ohio. Have four children: Elizabeth 
M., Arthur, H. G. and Ida. 
 
SAYLOR, JOHN B.-Deceased. Was born in Franklin county, 
Indiana, April 11, 1807, and there 
was raised until fifteen years of age, his time being divided 
between working at the mason's trade 
and farming. His father being a mason, he naturally worked 
at that business more or less. He 
removed to Indianapolis and there married, in 1826, to a lady 
by the name of Margaret S. Poage, 
who died in about two and one-half years, leaving one child, 
who has since died. His second 
marriage was near Logansport, Indiana, March 18, 1824, to 
Mrs. Mary Saylor, whose maiden 
name was Howard. She had one son by a former marriage 
who is now living in this county, 
Thomas J.  Mr. Saylor came to this State, May 28, 1838, 
locating in Van Buren county. In April, 
1859, he went to the mountains on a prospecting tour and 
returned that same fall. He died at 
Vicksburg, July 26, 1863, leaving seven children : Austin W., 
Avis C., W. A. and George S. 
living, and three deceased: James A., John Q. A. and Alvin 
H. 
 
SAYLOR, THOMAS J. -Farmer, section.11, P. O. 
Saylorville. Is the son of John B. Saylor, 
deceased, and was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 24th 
of March, 1831.  June 6, 1837, he 
came with his parents to this State, locating in Van Buren 
county, where his father took a claim. 
For one year he settled in Wapello county, and then went 
back to the old place, remaining till he 
came to this county in February, 1845. He came here for his 
father with cattle to fill a contract 
with the government, and