Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

BUTLER - Lorenzo D BUTLER, one of the early settlers of Harrison County, and a man who, in his day, was prominently identified with the interests of the county, came to Twelve-Mile Grove in the month of February, 1851, where he purchased a claim which he sold the following spring, and purchased another on section 15, Boyer Township. He built one of the first mills in Harrison County, it being a combined grist and saw mill. It was on the site of the present (1891) Woodbine Roller Mills. In 1855 he started a general store at the mill, and his wife was post-mistress until the railroad days. Mrs. BULTER named Woodbine from her old home in England.

Mr. BUTLER was engaged in mercantile business at Woodbine, also handled lumber, and suffered great loss from fires. He was originally a Mormon, but severed his connection with that church in 1851.

He was married in Birmingham, England, in 1848, to Ann BINNALL, and they were the parents of eleven children: Mary A., Frank A., Agnes J., Thomas W., Edmond, Emma, Lorenzo D., James, Ellen E., Frederick and Albert B.

Mrs. BUTLER was born in England, October 24, 1824. Her father, Thomas BINNELL, with his family, came to America in 1848 with Mr. BUTLER and settled at Council Bluffs, where his wife died of cholera shortly after their arrival.
Source: 1891 History of Harrison County.
Butler Family Researcher: Robin Butler Daviet (robindaviet@cs.com)
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BARNUM - David E BARNUM, one of a pioneer band who found their way to Harrison County in 1854, claimed one hundred and sixty acres of land in Boyer Township, and in January, 1855, he built a frame house, which was built upon a basement, and during the hard winter of 1856-57 they occupied the basement.

Mr. BARNUM was born in Greene County, NY, June 8, 1834. He remained there until he was sixteen years of age, and then went to live with an uncle at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Five years later he came to Iowa, marrying Lovinia PALMER on September 21, 1856. As a result of this marriage union, eleven other BARNUM's came to dwell in their household: Nancy C., Albert E., Mary E., Alpha O., George W., Alma H., Quincey, Ottoe H., Otis D., Willard and Charles.

David E. BARNUM passed from earth June 14, 1890. Lovinia (PARMER) BARNUM was born in London, Canada, in 1836, and removed with her parents to Hancock County, Illinois, when she was six years of age, and from there went to Walworth County, Wisconsin, where they lived until 1854, and then came to Harrison County, being early settlers at Bigler's Grove.

Source: 1891 History of Harrison County.
Barnum Family Researcher: N/A.
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ABRAMS - George W ABRAMS, came to Harrison County in 1854. He was born in Cayuga County, NY, and moved with his parents to Wabash County, Indiana. There were four families came to Council Bluffs, and all finally settled in Harrison County -- the families of B. ABRAMS, Robert RAMSEY, Horace ABRAMS and Seymour ABRAMS.

B. ABRAMS, the father of our subject, settled in Bigler's Grove, on section 19, where he paid five hundred dollars for a claim a man held on two hundred and eighty acres. Here the father lived until 1878, when he passed from the scenes of earth.

Our subject's mother's maiden name was Elizabeth CROSSETT, born in New York in 1803. Our subject was one of a family of seven children, and while he was yet living at home he entered a piece of land in Magnolia Township, which he imporved, but never lived upon it. He was married to Miss Sarah VORE in Harris Grove in 1857, and they are the parents of five children: Amanda J., Charles M., William L., Cynthia and Clare. Mrs. ABRAMS was born in Athens County, Ohio, and came with her parents to Harrison County in 1855.

Source: 1891 History of Harrison County.
Abrams Family Researcher: N/A.
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COLLINS - Edward COLLINS, a highly respected citizen of Raglan Township, residing on section 16, became a resident of the county in the spring of 1857, when he commenced working out by day and month at farm labor.

Mr. COLLINS was born in Ireland, in 1832. He is the son of Thomas and Catherine COLLINS, who were the parents of the following children: Mary, Nancy, Edward, Owen, Peter, Catharine and Bridget. Our subject remained in Ireland until twenty years of age, and then sailed for New York. He spent seven months in New Jersey, and then went to West Virginia, where he bought a ninety-two acre timber tract, which he still (1891) owns. After five years in West Virginia he came to Harrison County. Thus far he has lived a single man.

Source: 1891 History of Harrison County.
Collins Family Researcher: N/A.
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COLLINS - William H COLLINS, a resident of section 9, Raglan Township, came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1878, first locating near Woodbine, where he rented land for four years.  Our subject was born in Monroe County, WV, in September, 1856. He is the son of Edward and Elizabeth COLLINS, natives of Ireland and Virginia respectively, whose family were as follows: Mary, Peter, James, John, Sarah, William H., and Elizabeth.
He remained in the Old Dominion State until twenty-two years of age, and then came to Harrison County, Iowa.

In April, 1876, he was united in marriage with Mary A. MACENUR, daughter of Major Anson and Cynthia MACENUR, natives of Virginia, whose only child was our subject's wife.

For his second wife our subject married Sousan SOUTH, February 26, 1880, daughter of Jackson and Rebecca SOUTH, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. The SOUTH's were the parents of nine children; Francis, William, Susan, Jefferson, David Albert, Ransom, Minnie and Jane. Seven of these children are still living; all are in Iowa except Ransom, who is a resident of Nebraska.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of five children: Connie, Aug 2 1877; Thomas E., Aug 13, 1881; Cora, May 27, 1883; Minnie, Apr 14, 1885; Edith, Dec 25, 1889; Nancy May, Jul 4, 1891.

Source: 1891 History of Harrison County.
Collins Family Researcher: N/A.
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MCDONALD - William MCDONALD, was born in Ohio about 1813, of Scotch ancestry. He came West with his mother in 1854. She was a Mormon, and went to Salt Lake City, Utah, but he refused to go, and settled in Harrison County, where he lived a single man the remainer of his days. He accumulated a large property, generally valued at $50,000; he was a highly respected citizen, and stood high in point of honor, and integrity by al who knew him. After his death, which occurred in April 1886, his land was sold at auction, the proceeds going to his relatives. Thus lived and died William MCDONALD.

Source: 1891 History of Harrison County.
McDonald Family Researcher: N/A.
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RATLIFF - Matilda RATLIFF, a resident of section 36, Calhoun Township, is justly entitled to space in this connection, as she is one of the brave women who found their way to Harrison County, in the spring of 1855. She took a claim and has remained here ever since. It was not her good fortune to roll into the county on a fast flying train, and be escorted to a first-class hotel, for that was thirty-six years ago, and before a locomotive had ever crossed the Mississippi river. The conveyance which brought her here was a wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. She hired a man to drive through Jefferson County, Iowa. She lived near Calhoun, and kept house for William MCDONALD, from 1871, until his death, April 11, 1886.

Our subject was born in Greene County, Kentucky, October 31, 1813, and is the daughter of John and Prudence (HARDIN) RUTHERFORD, and when nine years of age her people moved to Morgan County, Illinois, where her father died the same year, leaving a family of nine children. After eight years, the mother married again, and moved to Hancock County, and later to Missouri, where she died. While in Hancock County our subject married John RATLIFF, and two years later moved to Jefferson County, Iowa, and twelve years later her husband died, leaving four children, two of whom are still living -- Lucy Ann and Sarah Prudence who came to Harrison County with their mother.

Her grand-daughter Emma HALL, lives with her on the farm, and assists her in keeping the place in order. Emma was born in Calhoun Township, January 27, 1869, and is the daughter of Richard and Lucy (RATLIFF) HALL, and is the fourth in a family of eight children; her parents live at Missouri Valley.
This venerable lady, now nearly eighty years of age, has lived contemporary with the greater part of history of our Republic, and has seen her share of the vicissitudes and trials, which in a providential way, seem to be sent to wean humanity from all earthly scenes.

Source: 1891 History of Harrison County.
Ratliff Family Researcher: N/A.
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FOUTS, Noel, living on Section 24, of Harrison Twp, is a native of Putnam County, Ind., born May 18, 1826. He is the son of Noel and Jane (Wright) Fouts, who were from North Carolina and among the early settlers of Indiana. When our subject was 23 he, in the company with the family, came to Shelby County, Iowa, where the parents both died. They were the parents of twelve children: Abner, Reuben, Delilah, Rachel, Andrew and Mary (all deceased); Nancy, wife of Ed Sandy (Shelby Co); Martha, deceased; Sarah, widowed; Noel, our subject; Cynthia and Eli, deceased.

Our subject received his eduction in Indiana, and bought a claim in Elk Grove, Harrison County, Iowa, in 1850. which he farmed one year, then sold and moved to Galland's Grove, Shelby Co., where he bought 320 acres. He remained in that county until 1879, and then returned to Harrison Co., where he had a farm of 80 acres. He now possesses 245 acres here, along with 80 acres in Shelby Co.

Noel was united in marriage in November, 1848, to Martha Simpson, and they have a family of 9 children -- Cynthia, widow of R T Laird; Mary, wife of W J Benjamin, of Harrison Co.; Sarah, wife of Luther McCord of Shelby Co.; William T, of Harrison Twp; Martha E, wife of Walter Smithers of Shelby Co.; Nancy, wife of E D McCord of Shelby Co.; George B of Dunlap; James W of Harrison Twp; and Edith, at home.

Source: 1891 History of Harrison County Iowa.
Fouts Family Researcher: Colleen Lovan [Updated email address needed! jlovan@uky.campus.mci.net no longer valid].
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HOLETON, Jonathan, a resident of section 8, in Boyer Township, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, November 4, 1850, and when he was one year old, his parents removed to Illinois, and remained there until 1852, then went to Iowa City, Iowa, at that time the Capitol of the State. But three years later they removed to Harrison County, arriving in Boyer Township in the autumn of 1855.

Our subject remained at home until 1870, when he bought a farm on section 8, which was wild land, upon which he built a log house 14x15 feet, to which he added a frame 10x16 feet in 1876, and another addition in 1884; this building served until 1888, when he built a house 16x30 feet, in one part, and 14x16 feet in another part, and an addition 10x20 feet, the main building being two stories high. He erected a barn in 1886, 16x32 feet. He has added to his original farm, which consisted of forty acres, until he now has a half-section, and ten acres of timber.

Our subject was married November 24, 1870, to Miss Isabel THOMPSON, who was born in Boyer Township, April 13, 1853, and remained with her parents until the time of her marriage. By this marriage nine children were born: Thomas, born in 1871, Grace E. in 1873, Mahlon in 1874, Agnes in 1876, Olive in 1878, Charles W. in 1880, Jonathan R. in 1882, Hannah E. in 1884, and Harry H. in 1890. Of the children, Thomas died August 26, 1871, and Mahlon passed on January 11, 1876.   Politically our subject adheres to the principals of the Republican party, and in his religious convictions he is in sympathy with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Source: 1891 History of Harrison County Iowa.
Holton Family Researcher: N/A.
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KINNE, Martin KINNE came to Harrison County in the spring of 1870, and settled on his present(1891) farm on section 17, of Douglas Township. It was wild land at the time, there being no improvements but a small house. The farm now(1891) consists of 160 acres of well-tilled land. Martin was born in Windham County, Conn., November 4, 1818. He spent his early years as most youths did at that time in the Free-Stone State, helping his parents and attending the common-schools.

He married Miss Sarah THOMPSON, January 1, 1844. They are the parents of nine children -- Charles E., Emma C., Hannah E., Elizabeth A., William E., Ella A., an infant, Albert M., Sarah A. Of these children Hannah E., Elizabeth and Albert are deceased.

After Mr. and Mrs. KINNE were married they removed to a farm where they remained until they came to Harrison County, Iowa.
Mrs. KINNE was born in New London County, Conn., February 19, 1823, and removed to Windham County, where she remained until the time of her marriage. She died in Douglas Township, Harrison County, November 28, 1890.   Politically Mr. KINNE is identified with the Democratic party and in religious matters he is a believer in Christianity.

Source: 1891 History of Harrison County Iowa.
Kinne Family Researcher: JZUDY@aol.com.
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