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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Cedar
County, Iowa, 1878.

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Biographies - Red Oak Township

A - M

Albert, John.

Boon, Jonathan, farmer, Section 15; Post Office Tipton.

Brown, Fred F., farmer, Section 13; Post Office Tipton.

Brown, John W., farmer, Section 2; Post Office Shiloh; born Green River, New York, March 22, 1811; lived there and in Massachusetts and Western New York, twenty-five years; learned the trade of carpenter and joiner; came with the Cooks, of Davenport, and arrived in Davenport June 26, 1836; crossed the river in an old scow; only three or four small buildings there then; lived in Rockingham about four years, and came to Cedar County in February, 1841, and located on the farm where he now lives, and has lived here since our early settlers began farming; owns 200 acres of land; held office of First Lieut. in State Militia, by appointment, and afterward was Brigade Inspector under Governor Lucas; was also Adjutant of the regiment which was called out at the time of the Iowa and Missouri trouble; has held the office of Supervisor of this county and has held all the town and school offices, and has held the office of Postmaster about twenty years,    Married Mary C. Cook, from Bingham County, New York, sister of the late E. and John Cook, of Davenport, in the Fall of 1834; they have three children--Ebenezer C., Fred F., and Charles E.; they have lost eight children.

Burrows, J. S., farmer, Section 5; Post Office Mechanicsville.

Burton, David, farmer, Section 6; Post Office Mechanicsville.

Challas, Thomas, farmer, Section 11; Post Office Shiloh.

Carl, Elzy H., farmer and stock raiser, Section 13; Post Office Tipton; born in Richland County, Ohio, September 18, 1822; lived there fourteen years, and in Indiana two years, and came by wagon to Iowa; was four weeks on the way; arrived in Linn County October, 1838, and came to Red Oak Grove in 1839; entered the land where he now lives from Government; has lived on this farm thirty-five years; he and his brother split 1,500 rails one Winter; he had nothing when he came, and now owns 600 acres of land; used to cart grain to Muscatine, Davenport and Dubuque.  Married Miss Sarah Dallas, daughter of the late Robert Dallas, an early settler, November 15, 1844; they have five children--Mary, Robert, Sarah, Flora and Gordon; lost three children.

Chappell, James, farmer, Section 10; Post Office Tipton.

Chappell, John, retired farmer; Section 15; Post Office Tipton; born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, December 25, 1805; lived there twenty-eight years and emigrated to America in 1833; lived in the State of New York and Indiana.  He and William Coutts started from Indiana on foot with their knapsacks on their backs and walked here, being fourteen days on the way, and arrived March 28. 1837.  There was only one settler here then--Washington Rigby; John Ferguson has been here and gone to Illinois for his family; Mr. Chappell, Samuel Yule and Peter Wilson kept bachelor's hall the Winter of 1837; he located very near where he now lives; made a claim and entered it from the Government.  The Indians, deer and wolves were plenty; he, John Safley and Charles Dallas went to Hendersonville, Illinois, ninety miles, to get seed wheat, with ox teams, and were gone about three weeks; the nearest Post Office was forty miles distant.  He engaged in farming; during the war he went to Davenport to enlist in the "Grey Beard Regt."  but they would not take him.  Mr. Chappell was never married, and several years since sold his farm and retired.  His sister Margaret now keeps house for him  in his pleasant cottage home, and very few of the old settlers lead a more quiet, contented, restful life; he has two brothers here, and one sister in Scotland.

Clark, Edward, Section 2; Post Office Shiloh.

Clark, Henry, farmer, Section 2; Post Office Shiloh.

Cousins, James, farmer, Section 1; Post Office Stanwood.

Dallas, Gordon, farmer, Section 1.

Dallas, William, farmer; Section 12; Post Office Tipton; born in Scotland April 21, 1821; came to America when seven years of age, and came to Cedar County, Iowa, in June, 1838, and located here at Red Oak Grove; was one of the early settlers; plenty of Indians here, only very few settlers here now who were here then; they bought claims and entered land from Government.  He went to mill at one time and was gone three weeks; has carted wheat to Muscatine, and sold it for twenty-five cents a bushel, and could not get cash or groceries; could only get dry goods in trade for it; and sold dressed pork at Dubuque for $1.50 per cwt.; owns 225 acres of land.  Married Mary Cousins from Ireland, November 15, 1855; she died November 6, 1869; they have three children--William, Henry, and Sarah Ann; they lost three children--Robert, Margaret and Nellie.

Dorcas, Andrew, Section 2; Post Office Shiloh; born in York County, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1816; lived in Pennsylvania fifteen years and in Maryland about five years; came to Richland County, Ohio, in 1835 with his parents; they were early settlers.  There was only one frame building in that section then and that was a barn; he put up fifty-six buildings while in Ohio; came to Cedar County in 1857, and located where he now lives, and built all of his improvements, and engaged in farming and stock raising; owns 550 acres of land and has sold off several hundred acres; has held school and road offices.  Married Mary M. Miller from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1838; they have five children--Elizabeth A., Martha, Samantha, Mary and Mahala; (twins) lost two sons--John W. and Amos C.;  John W. was in the army in the 35th Regiment Iowa Volunteers, Company E.; was in the siege of Vicksburg and other battles; died of disease contracted in the army.

Dorcas, Cyrus, farmer, Section 12; Post Office Tipton.

Dorcas, Ira, farmer, Section 3; Post Office Shiloh.

Dorcas, Jesse, farmer, Section 19; Post Office Tipton.

Dorcas, John, farmer, Section 12; Post Office Tipton.

Dorcas, Josiah, farmer, Section 2; Post Office Tipton.

Escher, Jake, farmer, Section 24; Post Office Tipton.

Fowlie, Arthur, farmer, Section 14; Post Office Tipton.

Ferguson, John, farmer and stock raiser; Section 13; Post Office Tipton; born in the Highlands of Scotland October 31, 1804, and emigrated to America in 1831; lived in New York State three years, then went to Indiana; in company with John Safley and Charles Dallas, he started to Iowa with ox teams, and crossed the Mississippi River at Rockingham, about September 10, 1836; after reaching the grove about two miles below Moscow, they stopped for the Winter; all were taken sick but him and his wife; he cut hay for their cattle and the prairie fires burned it all; they crossed over to Illinois, and were fortunate enough to get a log house near Hendersonville to stay in during the Winter; in January, he came again to Iowa, following the trail, and after stopping once or twice, came to Red Oak and located three claims, and on his way back for his family paid twenty-five cents each to have his claims recorded; Washington Rigby was the only settler here then; in April, 1837, in company with Safley and Dallas, he came and located on his claim; he was the first foreigner that made a beginning for a home in this county, over 41 years ago; he brought the first grist that came from a mill in Cedar County; the next grist was ground, or cracked, in a mill made by him, Chas.  Dallas and Wm. Coutts.  He owns 440 acres of land. and has held the office of Supervisor two years; also held town and school offices.  His first wife was Isabella Starak, from Scotland; she died in 1847, leaving one son and three daughters; he married Jeannette Fairchild, from Scotland, in 1848; they have three sons and five daughters; his son Hugh was in the army, in the 9th Iowa Cavalry, was taken prisoner at Andersonville, and in prison six months.

Filloon, F. M., Section 5; Post Office Mechanicsville; born in Richland County, Ohio, March 3, 1846; lived in Ohio thirty years, and was engaged on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad many years; was in the army, in the 6th Ohio Cavalry, Company M; was in the battles of Antietam, Wilderness, Bottom Bridge, Weldon Railroad and others; at the battle of Weldon Railroad, ninety-six went into the fight, and all killed and wounded but thirteen; was in nine battles.

Fenley, James.

Gambel, Thomas, laborer, Section 14; Post Office Tipton.

Galbraith, George, farmer, Section 8; Post Office Tipton; born in the north of Ireland, November 6, 1822; came to this country about 1847, and came to Muscatine, Iowa, and came to Cedar County, and located where he now lives; entered government land and engaged in farming, and is one of the early settlers; owns 170 acres of land; has been Road Supervisor.  Married Janette Grieve, from the State of New York, March 24, 1859; they have four children--Richard D., Mary E., Samuel L. and Nettie May; lost one daughter in infancy.

Goodrich, John, deceased; farmer; Section 11; Post Office Shiloh; born in Suffolk County, England, August 1, 1795, and emigrated to America in 1832; lived in Connecticut, then went to Indiana; in 1837, he went to Waukesha, Wisconsin, and worked by the month, and not getting his money, he started for Iowa with his gun, carpet bag and $20 in money, and arrived in Cedar County, at the Grove, in November, 1838; he husked corn for Chas. Dallas; during the winter, he split 3,000 rails; he was one of the old settlers, and a member of the Old Settler's Association of Red Oak Grove; he began farming in 1839.    Married Miss D. Richards February 19, 1845; she was from Cornish, New Hampshire, and came to this county in 1843; he died February 2, 1877, leaving four children; also, an estate of 267 acres of land; names of children--Ezra, Tamer, Annie and Sarah; they lost four children--Simon, Mary, John and Lydia.  Ezra was in the army in the 24th Regiment. Iowa Infantry, Company B, and was wounded in the battle of Opequan Creek, September 19, 1864.

Graham, John, farmer, Section 15.

Herring, Albert, farmer, Section 8; Post Office Mechanicsville.

Hardacre, Jacob, farmer, Section 20; Post Office Tipton; born in Loudoun County, Virginia, December 12, 1822; moved to Ohio in boyhood, then went to Indiana and lived there until 1841; came by team to Cedar County and settled in Cass Township; there were Indians here then; engaged in farming; in 1852, crossed the plains to California, and returned in 1853; though he commenced with very little, he now owns 1,000 acres of land in this county and several hundred acres elsewhere.  married Lucy Moffit, from Ireland, in 1859; she came to this county in 1840.

Herring, William, farmer, Section 8.

Huber, E. M., farmer, Section 14; Post Office Tipton.

Jackson, Richard, farmer, Section 5; Post Office Mechanicsville.

Little, S. H., Post Office Tipton.

Laing, William, farmer, Section 15; Post Office Tipton; born in Scotland October 1823, and emigrated to America in 1853; came to Iowa the same year and located in Scott County and lived there ten years, and came to Cedar County in 1863; engaged in farming and stock raising; owns 150 acres of land.  Married Mary Wilson from Scotland; they have seven children--Margaret, Jane, William, George, John, James and Allan; lost three children.

Lamley, John, farmer, Section 5; Post Office Mechanicsville; born in Ray County, Missouri, November 3, 1847; went to Ohio with his parents in infancy, and lived there until he was 16 years old; came to Cedar County and Mechanicsville in 1863; went to Kansas in 1870 and then to Ohio, and returned here and engaged in farming; owns a farm of eighty acres; has held office of Town Clerk and is now School Director.    Married Miss Mary Jane Paton, from this county, October 5, 1867; they have three children--Agnes, William L. and Leroy; his father was in the army--3d Ohio Cavalry, Company E, Veteran; in service four years; was Regimental Wagon Master.

Mason, Wm., minister, Section 11; Post Office Shiloh.

Maxwell, Robert, farmer and stock raiser, Section 18; Post Office Mechanicsville; born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1828; went to Ohio at an early age; when 10 years old, his father died and the care of the family devolved upon him; worked by the month, saved $250, then bought sheep and engaged in the stock business; came to Davenport in 1855; began butchering and then went to dealing in stock extensively all over the State; has bought as high as 2,200 head of hogs at one time; bought the farm where he now lives, in 1866, and engaged in farming and stock raising; owns 325 acres of land.  Married Elizabeth J. Burge, from Greene County, Pennsylvania, in September, 1860; they have six children--Mary J., Stella, Theda, Minnie, Bessie and baby; they lost one son and one daughter.

McAfee, Samuel, farmer, Section 5; Post Office Mechanicsville; born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1843, and came to this county when 10 years of age, with his parents, and has lived here twenty-four years; engaged in farming and stock raising; owns 170 acres of land; has been Road Supervisor.  Married Miss Lydia A. Davis, from near Trenton, New Jersey, in September, 1868; they have four children--Daniel, James, Francis and baby; lost one son.

McLun, Wm., farmer, Section 12; Post Office Tipton.

Marshall, Thos., Post Office Tipton.

Moffett, Charles C., farmer, Section 9.

Moffit, Frank, farmer and stock raiser, Section 17; Post Office Mechanicsville; born in Ireland July, 1824, and came to America in June, 1840; started West just after election day, with parents, four brothers and two sisters; the boat they came on carried the news of the election of President Harrison to all the towns on the river to Muscatine; they located at Mason's Grove; has lived in this county ever since, except two years spent in California; is engaged in farming and stock raising; is one of the largest hog raisers in this county; owns 770 acres of land.  Married Arabella McAffee, from Pennsylvania, January 11, 1855; they have seven children--Margaret J., Lizzie, Mollie, Eva, Andrew, William and Carrie; have lost two children.

Moffett, G., farmer, Section 9; Post Office Mechanicsville.

Moffett, Horace C., farmer, Section 9.

Moffett, J. S. farmer, Section 9; Post Office Tipton.

Moffett, John M., deceased, born in Kentucky August 2, 1804; went to Miami County, Ohio when 10 years of age, and among the early settlers in that section of the country; married Sarah Stephenson, from Ohio, November 17, 1836; they came by team to this State in November, 1852; located for several months in Linn County, and came to Cedar County in February, 1853, and engaged in farming and stock raising; the first blooded cattle ever came this county he brought from Ohio, and he was extensively engaged in raising, buying and shipping stock; has driven hogs to Rock Island and shipped them East from there, and has driven cattle to Chicago from here; he was well known all over this part of the State as "Uncle Johnnie."  He died October 11, 1876, leaving eight children and a large estate--over 600 acres land; George J., James S., Samuel C., Welford W., Horace C., Charles C., Kittie and Laura A.; lost two children.  Mrs. Moffett still lives on the home place with her four sons and two daughters; her husband's father and brother were taken prisoners by the Indians in Virginia, and were held captives; one of them three years and six months and the other five years, until after the battle of Piqua on the Miami River, when they were released.

Moffett, W. W., farmer, Section 9; Post Office Tipton.

Moon, R., farmer, Section 12; Post Office Tipton.

Murry, A., farmer, Section 8; Post Office Mechanicsville.

Murry, W., farmer, Section 8; Post Office Mechanicsville.

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