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1900 Farmers Directory
Greenbrier Township

Francis M. Ford Trustee
Thomas Hall Trustee
Allen Morain Trustee
Henry Bacon Assessor
R.B. Williams Clerk
John Boss Constable

Benjamin B. Naylor

Was born in North Carolina in 1851, and is of English ancestry. His father, who was a Methodist minister, came to Iowa in 1872, locating for a time in Powesheik county. He came to Greene county in 1881, settling in section 17, Greenbrier township where he die din 1894. The son Benjamin was married in Powesheik county in 1875 to Mary Harris, a native of North Carolina. In 1888 his wife died, leaving the husband and two children: Charles A., 19; Eva F., 13. Mr. Naylor is a member of the M. E. church and Politically a republican.

 

Oscar Zeller

Farmer and stockraiser, was born in St. Lawrence county New York in 1847. When he was seven years of age he came with is parents to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where they lived until 1869, when he was married on the 6th day of April of that year to Alice M. Merriam, a native of Wisconsin. The same year they came to Greene county, locating in section 36, Greenbrier township, where he now owns a fine 480 acre farm. They have had six children, five of whom are living: Mary A. (Schnipp), 24; James A., 21; Nellie M., 16; Fannie I., 11; Fred. O., 5; Herbert A., born March 23, 1873; married in 1895 to Fannie B. Quayle; died March 13, 1897. In politics he is a republican, has filled various offices and is an excellent citizen.

 

Hugh McGivney

Farmer and stockman, is a native of County Cavin, Ireland, born in 1828. During his childhood his parents came to the Untied States, locating in Franklin county, N. Y., where he was married in 1860 to Kate Berry, a native of Ireland. They came to Iowa in 1869, locating near Iowa City, where they lived for a short time; thence to Dallas county, living there until 1881, when they came to Greene county, locating in section 33 where he now owns 160 acres, which he has improved until it is a valuable farm on which he made a pleasant home. They have had ten children, nine of whom are living: Patrick, Mary, Maggie, Katie, John, David, Lizzie, William, Emma. Mr. And Mrs. McGivney are members of the Roman Catholic church, and in politics he is a democrat.

 

Frank P. Boss

Farmer and stockman, is an Iowan by birth, having been born in Muscatine county in 1861 and is of Swiss ancestry. His parents came to America in 1861. He had a common school education, supplemented by a course in the Iowa Wesleyan University and the Burlington Business College. He was employed for a number of years as clerk in a number of business enterprises. In 1887 he married Anna Detereich of Powesheik county and the commenced housekeeping in Keokuk county, residing there two years. They came to Greene county in 1889, locating on his father’s farm of 120 acres in section 28, Greenbrier township, where they are now comfortably situated. They have two children: A. Elsie E., 11; F. Ellen, 9. They are members of the M. E. church, and in politics he is a republican.

 

James H. Johnson

Is an Iowa by birth, having been born in Cedar county in 1846. In 1864 he enlisted in the 46th regiment Iowa Volunteers—one hundred day men—and was honorably discharged at end of term of service and was thanked by the President for his services. In 1866 he was married in Chickasaw county to Mary E. Mitchell, and came to Highland township, Guthrie county. In 1870 they came to Greene county, locating on section 32, Greenbrier township, where they now reside. They have had nine children, five of whom are living: Martha (Mrs. Cox), 29; Sarah E. (Mrs. Chappel), 26; Rosa M. (Mrs. Chappel), 20; Louie Ivy, 14; Mary b., 11; Lawrence (adopted), 6. In politics he is a republican.

 

George W. Jackson

Was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in 1843, and is of Irish-English extraction. When he was tow years old his parents moved to Portage county, Ohio, living there eleven years and then moved to Porter county, Indiana. He was reared a farmer and educated in the common schools. When a boy 18 years old he enlisted in the 4th Battery Indiana Light Artillery, Capt. A. K. Bush commanding, and participated in many important battles. He was wounded in the right leg at Chicamauga, and confined in hospital 6 months. Afterward he returned to the field remaining till expiration of term in 1864, when he re-enlisted and was made 2d Lieut., a position he held till close of war. In 1869 he married Alice E. Marine, a native of Indiana. They came to Iowa in 1874, settling in Dallas county, and four years later moved to Greene county locating on section 14, Greenbrier township. He now owns 840 acres of good land in this county, and is accounted one of its well-to-do farmers. They have had sixteen children, fourteen of whom are now living: Archie A., 29; Sybil E., 28; Clyde L., 26; George M., 24;’ O. P. Morton, 23; Ralph, 21; Merle, 19; Percie M., 17; Helen E., 15; Zulpha, 13; Ruby, 9; Benj. Harrison, 7; Flossie A., 2; Paul born Nov., 10, 1894; died June 27, 1899. The daughter Sybil is now Mrs. D. H. Clopton. Mr. And Mrs. Jackson are members of the M. E. Church.

 

Homer A. Zeller

Was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1862. When six years old his parents moved to Iowa, locating in Greenbrier township, where he was married in 1884 to Nettie M. Sailor, a native of Illinois, who died in 1895. In 1897 he married Mrs. Hannah Jenks, of Monmouth, Illinois. He now owns a good farm of 120 acres in Greenbrier township. His education was received in the common schools of Greene county. Mr. And Mrs. Zeller are members of the M. E. church, and politically he is a republican. There are four children bearing the Jenks name: Ina, 18; Ross, 16; Edith 14; Guy, 12.

 

Fayette Zeller

Son of James Zeller, one of the pioneers of Greene county, was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1859; is of German and Scotch descent. When he was ten years old, he moved with is parents to Iowa, where they located in section 36, Greenbrier township, where he was married in March, 1882 to Flora Fountain. His education was in the common schools, of Greene county, and his early life was spent in helping to subdue the wild prairie and make a home for himself and family. They have three children: Arthur E., 16; Bertha, 13; Myrtle, 10. Mr. And Mrs. Zeller are members of the M. E. church, and in politics he is a republican.

 

Littlebury R. Naylor

Eldest son of Samuel W. and Mehitabel Naylor, was born in Rowen county, N. C. in 1832, where the family lived until 1868, when the family came to Iowa, locating in Marshall county, where he was married in 1872 to Laura Naylor, a native of North Carolina, whose parents were among the early settlers of Greenbrier township. They came to Greene county in 1875, locating in section 9, Greenbrier township, where he purchased 80 acres of wild land which he has made in to a fine country home. They have had nine children; seven of whom are now living: Belle, 26; Clarence T., 25; Linden e., 23; Charlie A., 21; Alice R., 19; Vance, 13; Arthur, 10. Lulu B., born Nov 16, ’81, died Nov 7, ’86; Samuel E., born Feb. 8, ’84, died Feb. 7, ’86. They are members of the M. E. church and in politics, although a southerner by birth, he is a republican.

 

Alfred Bishop

Was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1834, where he was married in 1858 to Catherine Snyder, a native of the same county. In 1871 they joined the great army seeking homes in the west, locating in Dallas county, near Adel, where he rented and farmed until July 1879, when they came to Greene county, locating in section 20, Greenbrier township, where he purchased 120 acres of wild land to which he has added and now owns 280 acres of splendid land and is in good circumstances. They have had six children, four of whom are living: Fred. R., 39; James A., 37; Lillie B. (Mrs. Maloney), 34; George E., 30. In politics he is an uncompromising republican.

 

John Gavin

Is a native of the Empire State, born in Ogdensburgh, N. Y. Is of Irish ancestry, his parents coming form County Mayo, Ireland, in 1851. In 1854 they moved to Chicago lining there till 1865, when he located in Lee county, Illinois, where he was married in 1874 to Hannah Kirby, a native of Ireland. His education was in the common schools of Illinois. They came to Greene county in 1885, locating on section 21 in Greenbrier township, where he had purchased an 80-acre farm. He commenced life a poor boy, his only capital being strong hands and a willing heart. They have had fifteen children, twelve now living: Celia V., 24; Mary E., 22; Thomas F., 21; Kate A., 18; Anna E., 16; Stephen G., 13; James W., 11; William H., 9; Daisy 7; Rodney, 5; Opal H., 3; Heleste, 1. In politics he is a democrat.

 

John S. Lawrence

A pioneer in Greenbrier township, was born in Lancaster, Pa., in 1829; is of Scotch-German descent. In 1850 he went to Ohio, remaining one year, when he came to Iowa and was married in 1855, to Margaret Killian, a native of Indiana. They came to Greene county in 1865, locating on section 10, in Greenbrier township, where he entered 160 acres direct land from the Government, upon which he has never allowed any kind of a lien to be placed. Mrs. Lawrence died in 1876, leaving a husband and six children: Sarah (Mrs. Mangus), 36; John L., 33; Florence, (Mrs. Shafer), 31; Ida, (Mrs. Black) 28; Ralph, 22; Mary (Mrs. Brady) born in 1861 and died in 1883. In politics he is a staunch republican.

 

George H. Smith

Is of Scotch ancestry, his parents coming to this country from Canada. He was born in New York in 1845, and during his infancy his parents moved to Ogle county, Illinois, remaining till 1855, when they came to Iowa, locating in Allamakee county, where they lived until 1862, then moved to Blackhawk county, where he was married in 1867 to Lura Miner, a native of Wisconsin. They located in Greenbrier township in section 32, where he bought an 80-acre farm, adding 93 acres of wild land in section 4 in 1881, to which he has added, so that he now owns 400 acres of valuable land and a pleasant farm home. They came here with limited means, but are now comfortably situated. They have had eight children; seven now living: Walter H., 29; Alice E., 23; Albert L., 20; Orley O., 18; Ralph G., 15; Leslie E., 13; Elsie M., 7. Sophronia A., born January 11, 1873; died March 9, 1875. Politically Mr. Smith is a democrat.

 

Francis Marion Ford

Son of Elihu Ford one of the early settlers of Keokuk county was born in that county in 1846, and is of Scotch-German descent. He was married in 1870 to Belinda A. Nelson, a native of Ohio. They came to this county in 1875, locating in section 17, Greenbrier township, where he had purchased 80 acres of wild land to which he has added so that he now owns 160 acres which he has transformed into a splendid farm home. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living: Edith L., (Mrs. Prescott) 27; Stella A., 24; Charles E., 21; Sylvia C., 16; Hattie V., 13; Winnie I. F., 11; Mamie E. V., 6. Wm. H. born Feb 7, 1871, died June 18, 1871; Etta I., born Dec. 18, 1880, died Feb., 1881. They are members of the Church of Christ, and in politics he is a republican and is one of the township trustees, a position he has held twelve years.

 

Edward Prescott

Was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, in 1844; is of Scotch-English descent. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. E, 74th Illinois Infantry, and was in the Army of the Cumberland. Was wounded in the right lung at the battle of Mission Ridge and was sent home on a furlough, returning to the field in the fall of 1864. He was honorably discharged at close of the war and returned to his Illinois home where he was married in 1870 to Elizabeth L. Bentley, a native of Illinois. They came to Iowa in 1872 locating in Guthrie county, where they resided until 1882, when they located on section 20, Greenbrier township, where he had purchased 160 acres of wild land which now is a very comfortable farm home. They have had eleven children; nine now living: George J., 28; John B., 25; Elmer W., 25; Lucy M. (Mrs. Leach), 21; Ruth Al, 19; Orville E., 15; Grace L., 12; Ross V., 9; Beulah Gail, 3. Alice, born Dec. 20, 1876, died in infancy; Albert, born April 4, 1886, died in August of same year. In politics Mr. Prescott is a republican. His parents, William and Margaret (Hickey) Prescott were among the most highly-respected pioneers of Winnebago county, Illinois.


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