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Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

Biographies - 1891 History of Harrison County Iowa

Page Forty Two

Dance | J DeCou | Dewell | Evans | Fisher | Gilmore | D Hardy | J Hardy | Harvey |


DANCE - Francis M. DANCE, attorney-at-law, practicing at Missouri Valley, came to the place in 1868. He was born May 5, 1838, in Grant County, Wis., near Plattville. The father of our subject was Drewry R., and the mother Amelia (SAIDE) DANCE. The father came from Plattville to Iowa in 1840 and settled near Delhi, Delaware County, where he followed farming, and there died in 1848.

Our subject is the second child in a family of three sons and one daughter. His mother, after the death of our subject's father, married John W. PENN, and by this second union there were five children born.

Our subject's early education was received at the common-schools of Delaware County, and later on he attended Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, for one year, and then went to the Epworth Seminary at Epworth, Iowa, for one year, and from there went to the Michigan University, where he took a course in law, and was admitted to the bar in Delaware County in 1867, and later was admitted to practice before the Supreme Courts. In the month of May, 1868, Mr. DANCE opened an office in Missouri Valley, since which time he has been in constant practice there, and is the oldest attorney in this place. He has served the county as Deputy Treasurer under George S. BACON, and has served as Justice of the Peace for twelve years. Was Mayor of the city four years, City Attorney two years, City Clerk for many years, and Secretary of the School Board for over ten years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Valley Lodge No. 232, A. F. & A. M., is a member of Triune Chapter No. 81, being its present High Priest. He also belongs to Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 17, of Knights Templar, at Council Bluffs. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of both the Subordinate and Encampment degrees.

Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. DANCE was united in marriage October 11, 1876 at Logan, Iowa to Miss M. E. VAN HOSEN, a native of Iowa, born near Knoxville, Iowa. She is the daughter of C. N. and Almira (CUNNINGHAM) VAN HOSEN. Both of her parents are deceased. The DANCE family are of German descent, also the VAN HOSENs trace their ancestors to Germany. The CUNNINGHAM family are Virginians.

Politically, Mr. DANCE believes in supporting the best man for the place for President of the United States, but has always voted with the Democratic party.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 672
Family Researcher: NA
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DECOU - John S. DECOU, a native of Norfolk County, Canada, was born August 17, 1851, and when two years and eight months of age accompanied his parents to Winneshiek County, Iowa, and in the spring of 1865 they removed to Harrison County, Iowa. He remained at home until the spring of 1891, with the exception of two years he farmed in Nebraska upon land which he finally sold, and purchased land on the Little Pigeon, which he traded for his present farm. He was united in marriage October 8, 1890, to Ruth P. CRAMER, who was born in Delaware County, N. Y., July 15, 1854, and remained there until 1880, when she came to Harrison County. She is the daughter of Ambrose and Lydia P. CRAMER. The father died in New York in 1862, and the mother in 1857. They were the parents of three children, Mrs. DECOU being the youngest.

Mr. DECOU is a member of the Odd Fellow's Order, entering the Lodge at Logan, March 21, 1879, and in February, 1880, took a card and helped to institute Woodbine Lodge, No. 405.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 717
Family Researcher: NA
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DEWELL - James S. DEWELL, an attorney at law at Missouri Valley, has been identified with the interest of Harrison County since the month of September, 1883. He is a native of the Hawkeye State, and was born at Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa, June 16, 1857. He is the son of Nathaniel and Winnie (MCCOMB) DEWELL.

John DEWELL came to America from France in 1766, having been born in 1743. He was engaged in the Revolutionary struggle, and after its close settled near Annapolis, Md. This person was our subject's great-great-grandfather, who laid down the burden of life about 1803. His son Benjamin was a farmer in Maryland, and in stature was six feet and a half high. Solomon DEWELL, the son of Benjamin, was a carpenter by trade, and moved to Ohio in the early part of the present century, settling in Jefferson County, and was among the early pioneers of that region. Our subject's father, Nathaniel DEWELL, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 13, 1830, and followed farming for a livelihood. He died at Clarence, Cedar County, Iowa, March 13, 1890; having moved to Indiana in 1833, and to Iowa in 1855.

Winnie MCCOMB, the mother of our subject, the daughter of John MCCOMB, was born in Kosiusko County, Ind. The mother died March 21, 1865. Their family consisted of six children, of whom our subject was the fourth in number, five living. William DEWELL, brother of our subject, was drowned July 4, 1868, at Logan, Iowa; Hiram lives in Cedar County, Iowa on a farm; a sister, the wife of Silas SILSBY, lives in Cedar County, Iowa; Frank is a farmer in Ida County, Iowa and George lives in Woodbury County.

Our subject received his education in the common-schools of Cedar County; at the High Schools at Clarence, Iowa, and later took a regular course at the Iowa Agricultural College, graduating with the Class of '81. In 1882 he began the study of law at the State University at Iowa City, completing his course in June, 1883, shortly after which he came to Missouri Valley, where he has since practiced his chosen profession. >br<>br> Politically, Mr. DEWELL is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, believing its fundamental principles to be just and true. Since living in Missouri Valley he has been Secretary of the School Board for seven years; was Mayor of the city in 1885; City Clerk in 1884; City Attorney four years, and County Attorney for the years 1889 and 1890. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and in conclusion it may be added no man stands higher in the community than the man for whom this notice has been written.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 685, 686
Family Researcher: NA
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EVANS - Charles W. EVANS, an enterprising farmer of section 26, Washington Township, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1881, and not being possessed of an over abundance of this world's goods, but being possessed of that spirit which wins, he worked two years by the month, and in the autumn of 1882, in company with Lem CUTCHALL, purchased one hundred and twenty acres of improved land on section 26. Our subject borrowed his share of the money with which to make his first payment of $500. In the autumn of 1883, he sold his interest to his partner, and bought his present farm, which tract contained one hundred and sixty acres. Subsequently he added forty acres more, the last-named piece being on section 24.

Mr. EVANS was born in Huntington County, Pa., November 7, 1855; he remained under the paternal roof until the spring of 1881, when he came to Harrison County, Iowa. He was married in Shelby County, Iowa, February 7, 1884, to Miss Cassie A. SHIRK, by which union one child has been born--Sarah E., May 29, 1885.

Our subject's father Samuel D. EVANS, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., September 5, 1832. When a boy his parents removed to Huntington County, where he remained until 1871, then moved to Fulton County, Pa., where he spent the remainder of his days, dying January 10, 1877. The mother of our subject, Elizabeth J. (RAMSEY) EVANS, was born in Fulton County, Pa., lived there until her marriage, and still clings to that locality in her old age. Mr. and Mrs. EVANS were the parents of ten children, our subject being the second in number.

Politically our subject is identified with the Democratic party, and in religious matters he and his wife are in sympathy with the Presbyterian Church.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 683
Family Researcher: NA
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FISHER - William FISHER, a representative farmer of St. John's Township, will form the subject of this biographical notice. He is a native of Ohio and traces his ancestry only as far back as his grandfather, Philip FISHER, who is a native of Germany, emigrated to America in 1810, and while making their passage across the ocean, both he and his good wife sickened and died, and were buried at sea. They left two children, to perpetuate their name--George and Philip. The father of our subject was born in German and was quite young upon coming to this county. He was a distiller by trade, and was well up in the art of manufacturing high wines. The greater part of his life was spent on a farm in Pennsylvania. He married Sophia LESHER, a native of the Keystone State and subsequently moved to Richland County, Ohio. They reared a family of ten children, eight of whom are living: George, deceased, David, deceased, Anna Maria--Mrs. BARNES, now of Williams County Ohio; James Jacob, a resident of Ohio; Charlotte, Mrs. STEDMAN, of William County Ohio; William, of Harrison County, Iowa; Caroline--Mrs. FOUNTAIN, of Missouri Valley; Matilda, Mrs. DUROY of Michigan; Henry of Missouri Valley; Sarah, a resident of William County, Ohio.

William FISHER, of whom we write this sketch, was born in Richland County, Ohio, October 5, 1846. His earlier years passed in that country, but moved with his parents to Williams County, where he attended the common district school and assisted his father on the farm. When very young he enlisted, was examined and rejected, from the Union Army. December 19, 1863, he re-enlisted as a member of Company G., One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was on special and detached duty, sent to Baltimore, and subsequently was with a gun-boat protecting the waters of the Government on Lake Erie. He mustered out of service at Columbus July 13, 1865, returned home and spent the next few years in roaming about in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin, coming to Harrison County, Iowa, in 1870.

He was united in marriage March 3, 1872, to Angeline HANES, daughter of Andrew and Susan (MILLER) HANES, who were natives of Ohio. By this union seven children were born, six of whom still survive: Maud, born January 6, 1873; Albert J., born April 10, 1874, died February 2, 1880; Arthur Edwin, born February 23, 1876; Stella May, born November 14, 1878; Ella Sophia February 13, 1883; Phillip Claude, born April 23, 1885; and Charles Henry, born December 25, 1887.

Mr. and Mrs. FISHER are members f the Methodist Episcopal Church at Missouri Valley. Mr. FISHER belongs to Post No. 59, Grand Army of the Republic at Missouri Valley.

Politically, he is identified with the Republican party, having voted for Abraham Lincoln for President.

When our subject came to Harrison County, he first located on section 19, of St. John's Township, but sold out, rented one season and in 1872, purchased forty acres which is a part of his present place on section 20, where he has made valuable improvements including a good residence, and may outbuildings. He had added to his original land until he now owns one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred being under cultivation, while the remainder is in pasture and hay land.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 697, 698
Family Researcher: NA
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GILMORE - Arthur J. GILMORE, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors and a farmer of section 28, LaGrange Township, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1869, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land on section 32, LaGrange Township, and then returned to Dubuque, to his family and there remained until June, 1870, when he moved to his farm and commenced to improve it. He built a frame house 14x16 feet, one story and a half high, and remained there until March 1871, when he sold out and rented a farm in Pottawattamie county, and the following fall bought the farm he now lives upon. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres, eighty acres of which was on section 28, and the remainder in 33. He built a frame house one story and a half, 14x22 feet, in which he lived until 1866, and then built his present residence. He now has another farm of one hundred and twenty acres, in sections 20 and 29. This farm is fenced in three forty-acre lots. Forty acres of bottom land are under the plow, and the remainder in pasture land and meadow.

He was born in the County of Tyrone Ireland, November 12, 1834, and in the spring of 1836, he came with his parents to America. They located in Lancaster City, Pa., but in 1849 came to Dubuque, Iowa, and moved over the line into Jackson County. Arthur being the only son, he remained at home after he had grown to be a man, he and his father working together. They sold their farm and in the autumn of 1863, bought a farm in Dubuque County, consisting of two hundred and eighteen acres. The mother died in 1867, and they sold out and moved into Dubuque, where they engaged in the grain business for two years, during which time the father again married and he and our subject divided their property.

Mr. GILMORE was united in marriage in Jackson County, Iowa, July 15, 1858, to Miss Sarah F. MCKENNA, by which union, nine children were born--John J., Arthur C., Thomas M., Mary P., twins, who died in infancy, Catharine E., Sarah L. E., and James J.

Sarah F. (MCKENNA) GILMORE was born in Canada in 1834, and when a girl came with her parents to Jackson County, Iowa, where she remained until the date of her marriage. She died in Harrison County, July 10, 1890. Her parents were both born in Ireland. Her father's name was Thomas MCKENNA, and her mother's maiden name was Catherine KELLEY. Her father died in Jackson County, Iowa, in 1876, and her mother in Anamosa, Iowa, 1882.

John GILMORE, the father of our subject, was born in Ireland in 1802, and came to America in the spring of 1836, and died in Dubuque, Iowa, October 1874. The mother of our subject, Catharine (MULGREW) GILMORE, was a native of the Emerald Isle, born 1805 in Tyrone County, and did in Dubuque County, Iowa, September 1866. They were the parents of four children--three daughters and one son, our subject being the second child.

Politically, Mr. GILMORE is identified with the Democratic party, and has been Chairman of the Board of supervisors for seven years. He was elected to the office of Township Clerk, also that of Assessor, for a number of years each. In the fall of 1883, was appointed to the office of County Supervisor from the third district of Harrison County, and has been elected three times, his time expiring January, 1892. Was re-elected the fall of 1891 with a majority of two hundred and four. He has ever guarded the best interests of Harrison County and its taxpayers.

Mr. and Mrs. GILMORE, together with their family, are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Of our subject's family it may be said that John is living in Idaho; Arthur C., is married and lives in Sioux City; Thomas M., is married and lives in Waterloo, Iowa, while the other four are at home. Arthur C., learned telegraphy at Shenandoah, Page County, Iowa. Thomas M., attended the High School at Missouri Valley, two years and then went to Ames' Agricultural College, for about eight months, and then went to Bailey's Commercial College at Dubuque, one year, graduating with the class of '8t, and is now in business at Waterloo.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 691, 692
Family Researcher: NA
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HARDY - Drusus N. HARDY, a farmer residing on section 14, of Calhoun Township, was born in Harrison County, February 8, 1856. He is the youngest son of James and Minerva (TOMLINSON) HARDY, hence his history runs parallel to and is identical with that of the county. His father came to the county in 1852, a year before it was organized. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born April 19, 1813, and when twenty years old started West.

Our subject was married May 28, 1879, to Flora C. OVIATT, a native of Illinois, born July 25, 1858, and the daughter of William and Albina (TUPPER) OVIATT, and was the youngest child of a family of four children. The family came to Harrison County when she was five years of age, and the father died in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. HARDY have had their marriage union sealed and made more sacred by the birth of five children: Bertha A., Kate M., Edna M., Ray D. and Mary J.

Politically, our subject is identified with the Democratic party. From his boyhood days, to the present time, the eye of our subject has indeed witnessed a great transformation in Harrison County, and the West in general.

James K. HARDY, brother of our subject was born in LaGrange County, Ia., March 27, 1846, and accompanied his parents to Harrison County, when he was three years of age. He was married March 30, 1869, to Minnie L. OVIATT, by whom four children have been born: Mabel M., born January 27, 1870; Bertha A., January 17, 1872, died March 21, 1879; Berta, June 7, 1880, died April 30, 18812; and Susie J., May 19, 1883.

Our subject remained at home, attending his father's mill until after he was married, having his present home on section 15, ready to move into. In the autumn of 1878, our subject, with his family, went to Furnas County, Neb., where they took a homestead, and remained three years, when he sold his improvements, and came back to Iowa and moved into the hotel at Magnolia, which had belonged to his wife's mother. After two years of hotel life, he sold and went to Eureka Springs, Ark., and there built a hotel, which he conducted five years, and then moved to Tennessee, and worked in a sawmill, where he was quite successful financially. After nine months he returned to Eureka, spent the winter, and in March 1889, started for Colorado, arriving at Canyon City, and was there but a few days, and retraced his steps to Greenwood County, Kan., where he conducted a restaurant at Madison until the fall, of this year, when he came back to Harrison County. All of this traveling has been done by team on account of his health.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 699, 700
Family Researcher: NA
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HARDY - Jerome B. HARDY, a farmer living on section 14, of Jefferson Township, was born in Magnolia, Harrison County, Iowa, June 11, 1853. He remained at home with his parents until March 1874, when he rented a farm in Calhoun Township, for one year, then rented two years in Magnolia Township, and from there moved back to Calhoun Township, where he lived four years, and then bought the farm he now occupies, which, at the time, consisted of sixty acres of improved land. His farm house is 16x32 feet, with an ell sixteen feet square; the whole being two stories high. He has a good barn 20x45 feet, with sixteen foot posts.

Our subject's education was received in the High School at Magnolia, and March 24, 1874, he was married to Miss Mary MERCHANT, to whom four children have been born--Charles R., Bert W., Stella I., and Joseph R.

Mary (MERCHANT) HARDY, wife of our subject, was born in Magnolia Township August 27, 1852. She remained with her parents in Magnolia Township until the date of her marriage. Both she and her husband are members of the Baptist Church at Logan.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 693
Family Researcher: NA
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HARVEY - Addison L. HARVEY (Portrait), banker and real-estate dealer, at Logan, Iowa, is perhaps as well as known as any man in Harrison County, where he has been actively engaged in business since the spring of 1857.

He is a descendant of Thomas HARVEY of the old Green Mountain State, Vermont, who had a family of six, as follows: Spencer, Nathan, Thomas, Johnson, Delia and Freelove. The parents of these children came to Vermont at an early date and went through the laborious tasks of "clearing up" a farm from among the stones and forests of that rock-ribbed commonwealth.

Nathan, the father of our subject, was born in Vermont in 1802, and in his early life, made a livelihood by farming, wool carding, coloring and dressing cloths, afterward operated a hotel in connection with farming in the town of Smithfield, Madison County, N. Y., on the old turnpike road, between Syracuse and Utica. This was before the days of railroads through that section, and he continued in the hotel business until after the advent of these iron highways, which virtually destroyed the profit of his business, which he abandoned, devoting his attention to farming, following that until 1854, at which time he came West to Jasper County, Iowa, where he resided several years and afterward came to Harrison County and died in 1864 in Magnolia, at the home of his son, the subject of this sketch. His wife, Auril T. LYMAN, was a native of Connecticut, and the third of a family of eleven children. Her parents were Jesse and Theodora A. (DEWEY) LYMAN, and the following were their children: Joseph A., Samuel P., Auril T., Mary, Sarah, Charles G., Jane E., Abigal, Wells T., Thomas A. E., and Hubert H. Our subject's mother came to live with her son, A. L., in 1861, and died at his home in Logan in 1885.

Speaking more particularly of our subject, it should be said that when he was seventeen years of age he taught school in Madison County, N. Y., and for three years thereafter was engaged in clerking, after which he went to Rockland County, N. Y., where he engaged himself in a railroad office for three years, at the town of Piermont, then the terminus of the New York & Erie Railroad. After serving three years in the service of the railroad company he was impressed with the idea that the Hawkeye State afforded a broader and better field for a young man, with business qualifications, than did the Eastern States, so in 1856 he started for Iowa, with Newton, Jasper County, as his objective point, where he engaged in merchandising. In the spring of 1857, in company with William ARTHUR, he came to Harrison County, ARTHUR locating in the old town of St. John, in the sawmill business, and afterward bought the E. J. ELLIS farm in the Soldier Valley, Jackson Township, Harrison County, where he has since resided, while Mr. HARVEY cast his lot with the good old pioneers of Magnolia, where, in company with Truman W. WOODRUFF, he started a general store. It will be remembered that this was just at the time of the great financial panic of 1857-8, but through shrew business management they were enabled to pull through and pay their debts, after which they had nothing left, and consequently in the fall of 1859 went out of business. Mr. HARVEY then commenced transcribing records for Harrison County, which work he followed most of the time until January 25, 1860, when he was appointed Treasurer and Recorder of Harrison County, at the hands of County Judge D. E. BRAINARD, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. BONER, who was elected in the fall of 1859. Proving himself efficient in the roll of a county officer, he was elected in the fall of 1860 to the same office and was re-elected two succeeding terms. It should be stated in this connection that the campaign previous to his election was a hotly contested one, that Mr. HARVEY received only one majority, the county being largely Democratic.

After leaving the Treasurer's office he opened a real-estate office at Magnolia, and was son in possession of a lucrative land business in which he is engaged at the present time in Logan.

September 1, 1867, he, in company with J. C. MILLIMAN, established the Harrison County Bank, which they operated until April 1, 1878, at which time A. W. FORD bought Mr. MILLIMAN's interest, since which time the institution has been operated under the firm name of HARVEY & FORD.

Our subject was married December 4, 1860, to Margaret Anna MILLER, of Piermont, Rockland County, N. Y. She was born in 1835. The issue of this marriage was seven children, all of whom are living, except the first-born, named Theodora A. Those now living are: Charles a., Margaret A., George H., Harry L., Robert W., and Frank F., all of whom are at home, except Charles a., who married Fannie BARNHART, now residing at Logan, and Margaret A., who married Sears MCHENRY, banker at Denison, Iowa. Politically, Mr. HARVEY is identified with the Republican party, which is greatly indebted to him for the many well-fought political battle-fields in which he has been a prominent factor. He has been Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee. His first vote for President was cast for Gen. John C. FREMONT. While he does not aspire to become a party leader, yet his capabilities have become felt and seen, through many a heated campaign in Harrison County, and who has his work all done before election day rolls round, and who was never known to work a poll on election day. At this time he is a firm advocate of the "Australian ballot system." He is a member of Chrysolite Lodge, No. 420, of the Masonic order at Logan, and is also a member of Logan Lodge No. 355, I. O. O. F.

Having been an energetic business man for a long term of years, beginning when Harrison County had but a small population, and keeping pace with the progress of the county, our subject has made a large circle of acquaintances, both in his own and surrounding counties, and is well and favorably known throughout the State of Iowa. Being a good observer of daily events, as well as a great reader, he is well informed as to all that has transpired since his boyhood days in the old Empire State.

It matters not when one meets Mr. HARVEY, whether it be in his business relations, by the side of his desk, in a public convention, when political favors are asked, midst the turmoil of business life, or within his own home-circle, in which he takes great delight, he always impresses one with the thought of one characteristic, that of a natural-born, true gentleman.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 713, 714, 715
Family Researcher: NA
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