ROGERS - David R. ROGERS, a resident of Dunlap, and one of the earliest pioneers of Harrison County, came in 1852 from West Virginia, and located at Harris Grove, where he took a pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 10, of LaGrange Township. He at once began the erection of a log house 12x14 feet. The logs in this building were hewed, and the roof was made of clapboards, while the floor was made of puncheon, and a sod chimney graced one end of the building. The first few years they were in the country, they endured many hardships. They were far from a market place; Kanesville, twenty-five miles away, being the nearest point. To provide bread for the household, Mr. ROGERS went to BUTLER's mill on the Boyer River, near where Woodbine now stands, twelve miles, where he got wheat crushed and then had to turn a bolt by hand, in order to get flour that was in anyways fit to eat. Wild game was found in great quantities, and their neighbors were few and far between. The ROGERS' lived in the little cabin referred to, through the cold winter of 1856-57, and until 1859, when they erected a more commodious residence, on the same farm. This building was a one story and a half hewed log house, with a shingle roof, while the lumber in it was cotton-wood. In 1854 our subject entered three hundred and forty acres of land on sections 10 and 11, in LaGrange Township, making him three hundred and forty acres in all. One hundred acres of this was timber land. Mr. ROGERS improved this place, and lived in the last named house until 1873, having in the meantime made the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres on section 15, upon which he subsequently built a frame house. The same was a two-story building, now occupied by Mr. FAGEN. Here Mr. ROGERS made his home until 1884, and then came to Harrison Township, purchasing a farm. In January, 1891, he removed to Dunlap, where he has retired from an active life. For long years he was an extensive farmer and raiser of horses, cattle and sheep.

Mr. ROGERS is a son of John and Elizabeth (COX) ROGERS, and was born in Greenbriar County, West Va. His parents were of Irish-German extraction, on the paternal side, and of English-French on the maternal side. His parents also came to Harrison County, the spring of 1852, and remained in the county as long as they lived, the father eying November 20, 1880, and the mother April 20, 1869. The father was a farmer and was interested with our subject for a number of years. The father was a Republican in his political choice, and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. They reared a family of seven children--James D., a resident of Harris Grove; Michael, (deceased); Catherine, widow of William HOBBS, who died in the Civil War; Elizabeth, (deceased); John M. (deceased, a soldier in the late war; David, our subject; Isabella, wife of William S. BRYANT, a resident of Omaha.

David was reared upon a farm, and educated at the public schools, and also received an academic education. He was married in December, 1855, to Henrietta ABRAMS, who was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1835, and was the daughter of Benijah and Elizabeth (CROSSUTH) ABRAMS, natives of New York and Canada. Her parents both died in Harrison County, Iowa, the father May 27, 1878, aged seventy-six years, three months and twenty-one days, and the mother August 16, 1890, aged eighty-six years, nine months and twenty-three days. They came to the county in 1854. The father was a blacksmith by trade and also followed farming.

Mr. and Mrs. ROGERS are the parents of nine children--Laura S., wife of John KNIGHT, a resident of this county; Ella B., widow of Albert B. ROGERS, who now resides at Dunlap; Adolphus L., a resident of Douglas Township; Frank H., a resident of Dunlap; Eli C., a barber, living in Know County, Neb.; Wilbur L., a resident of Denver, Col., where he follows the occupation of gripman on the cable-line; Millie A., wife of Alvah J. YARRINGTON, a resident of Dunlap; George W., a resident of Cedar County, Neb., and Homer, at home.

Our subject and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and both belong to the Mill Creek Farmers' Club, and are counted among the most worthy citizens of the county.

Mr. ROGERS is a stanch Republican, and has represented his township in nearly all its local offices, and was one of the leading promoters of the educational interest of he county, and has always labored for anything that tended to build up educational, moral, and religious institutions.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 585, 586, 587
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RUDD - James W. RUDD, of Logan, has been a resident of Harrison County since June, 1870, when he engaged in the furniture business; his trade being that of a cabinet-maker. He continued in that business until about 1881, when he sold, and engaged in farming in Union Township. He traded a house and lot and his stock of furniture for this farm. He tilled the soil, until November, 1886, and then bought the lumber and grain business belonging to T. M. C. LOGAN.

Our subject came to this county, from Amsterdam, Va., where he was born February 21, 1838. His father was William T. RUDD, a native of the Old Dominion State, born in Alexandria, County of Loudon. His mother was Lydia M. (HUTCHINGS) RUDD, born at Winchester, Va.

Mr. RUDD attended the common school of his native State, and acting the part of a wise youth, he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, the same as his father had followed before him. He was of a family of three children, and was married in 1859, to Miss Sarah C. SPRINKLE, who was born May 4, 1842, in Rockingham County, Va. Her father was John M. R. SPRINKLE, also a native of Virginia, and of German descent. The mother was Mary Jane (BARLEY) SPRINKLE, also of Rockingham County. She was of a family of ten children, and was the third in order.

Mr. and Mrs. RUDD have had their home cheered by the advent of four children: Charles William and John Wesley, (twins); Amanda Jane, now wife of James T. BARNETT, and Ada Virginia. Charles William died October 28, 1882 as the result of a gun-shot accidentally discharges while taking a gun from a load of lumber. Politically, Mr. RUDD is a supporter of the Democratic party. In religious matters, he and his family are Methodists. Our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity Chrysolite Lodge No. 420 at Logan, as well as Ancient Order of United Workmen. In his business undertakings, he has been quite successful. In April, 1891 he disposed of his grain business and now is exclusively engaged in the lumber business, as well as owning the farm above referred to.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 587
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GOODRICH - Goodwin M. GOODRICH, painter and decorator at Missouri Valley, was born in Knox County, Ohio, January 8, 1841. He is a son of Goodwin and Keziah (LLOYD) GOODRICH. His father was of English ancestry, quite a detailed genealogy of which appears in this work, in the sketch of L. N. GOODRICH.

After our subject left school he began the study of medicine and continued for four years, and in October, 1864, located at Magnolia and there remained until 1868, when he went to Missouri Valley, where he has lived ever since, with the exception of a short time in Nebraska. He was united in marriage, June 16, 1870, at Council Bluffs, to Miss Addie A. OVIATT, a native of Enosburg, Vt., who came West about 1865. Her father still lives in Vermont and is an active gentleman of eighty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. GOODRICH are the parents of two children--Frank W., born May 28, 1871; he is a graduate of the Missouri Valley High School. His brother, Louis Goodwin, was born September 29, 1877, and is at home attending school.

Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he having been quite prominently identified with the organization of that church. He and the first minister, Rev. Mr. BLODGETT, called upon John I. BLAIR, the great railroad king, and he in person granted them the lot upon which the church building was erected. He was also the first Superintendent of the Methodist Sabbath school at Missouri Valley, and was also assistant Superintendent in the Presbyterian school in the absence of Dr. COIT, this school being the first in the place. Politically, Mr. GOODRICH is a very radical Republican.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 588, 589
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ERIXON - Joseph ERIXON, a resident of section 23, Raglan Township, came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1876, and located on section 14, of the township in which he now lives. He remained there three years and then bought his present farm, which consisted of sixty-five acres of partly improved land. Here he built a story and a half house, 16x28 feet, with an addition, 12x14 feet. He also provided his place with a good barn, granary, cribs and set out an orchard of one hundred trees. His present farm comprises of one hundred and fifty-five acres, sixty acres of which is under the plow, while the remainder is in timber and pasture land.

Mr. ERIXON was born in September 1846, in that beautiful portion of Northern Europe, known as Sweden. He is a son of Erick and Catherine OLSON, natives of Sweden, who had a family of five children: Joseph, Erick, Christena, (deceased); Peter and Lewis. Three of these children live in America, as do also the father and mother. Our subject was twenty-three years of age when he came to America. From New York City he went to Eau Claire, Wis., where he remained one year employed in a sawmill. From this point with covered wagon and ox-teams he went to Baker County, Minn., took up a homestead, remained two years upon Uncle Sam's gift, and then abandoned it. We next find him in Dakota, working upon the Northern Pacific Railroad at Bismark. A year later he went to Benton, where he followed steam-boating on the Missouri River, and from there went to Yankton, near which place he worked on a farm for one year. The next season he worked on a farm by the month in Nebraska, after which we find him living in Raglan Township. He came to the county poor, and while living in Minnesota it was his ill fortune to suffer from both cold and hunger, almost beyond description. But possessing the traits of character so prominent in the people of his nationality, he has overcome every obstacle and now is in the possession of a comfortable home.

February 14, 1877, he was united in marriage to Ellen WEEKS, the daughter of Charles and Mary WEEKS, natives of Pennsylvania, who were the parents of the following children: Ellen, William, (deceased); Mary, (deceased); Susan, Elizabeth.

Mr. ERIXON was Ellen WEEKS' third husband. Her first husband's name was WELCH, who lived but a short time after their marriage. D. N. FOLETT was her second husband. They came to Council Bluffs together, and remained one winter, at a time when there was not a frame house in that place. This was in the winter of 1850-51. They then came to Harrison County and rented land one year; then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. This was while the Indians were yet sulking about this portion of Iowa.

Our subject and his wife have one child, David, born January 9, 1878. Both he and his wife are members of the Latter Day Saints Church.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 589, 590
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CHAMPNEY - Harvey H. CHAMPNEY, located on section 35, in Raglan Township, in the month of April, 1867, purchasing a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, the same having some improvements, including a dilapidated frame house, in which he lived until January, 1868, and then moved to Magnolia, where he has lived ever since. He built a new house on his farm, rented it twelve years, and in August, 1880, sold it, at which time it consisted of two hundred and forty acres. Since that time he has lived a retired life. He has held numerous local offices, and been Township Trustee two terms, being elected in the fall of 1886, serving two years at the same time was elected Justice of the Peace and served four years, and was appointed to this office again in the spring of 1891; has acted as Constable or Deputy Sheriff for several years since he came to Magnolia.

Our subject was born in Oswego County, N. Y., March 9, 1817, and remained there with his parents until the spring of 1838, and the following summer worked out by the month, and attended school in the winter, attending the academy at Mexico, that county, from which institution he graduated in the spring of 1840. He had taught one term of school before he graduated. After leaving school he farmed and taught until the spring of 1842, when he formed a partnership with his father-in-law (S. ERSKINE) in the manufacture of furniture at Holmesville, Oswego County, N. Y., and continued in this until 1852, when he went to California in the mining region, near Sonora, where he worked for eighteen months, and then returned to Oswego County, N. Y., bought a tract of land and went to farming. He remained at that until the time of his coming to Harrison County, Iowa.

He was married in Oswego County, N. Y., October 8, 1840, to Miss Phebe ERSKINE, by whom two children were born--Caroline A., January 2, 1842, and Adelaide A., December 29, 1843. Caroline A. died in Magnolia January 18, 1880. Adelaide A. married Delos R. FRARY, and now lives in Mapleton, Monona County, Iowa.

Phebe (ERSKINE) CHAMPNEY was born in Otsego County, N. Y., August 9, 1817, and when twelve years of age her parents moved to Oswego County, N. Y., where she remained until the date of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. CHAMPNEY are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he having united in 1833, and his wife in 1842.

Hira CHAMPNEY, father of our subject was born in Massachusetts March 30, 1786, and when six years of age his parents moved to Oneida County, N. Y., where he lived until he was a man grown, and then moved to Oswego County, where he remained until his death, December 12, 1853.

He was married in Oneida County, December 28, 1806, to Miss Bedy A HIMAN, who was born in Rhode Island January 17, 1786, and moved with her parents to Oneida County. She died in Oswego County March 9, 1817. They were the parents of five children, our subject being the youngest. For his second wife our subject's father married Miss Eunice WARNER and by this union eight children were born.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 590, 591
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REED - James W. REED, an extensive farmer and stock-grower of Jefferson Township, residing in Logan, will form the subject of the subjoined notice.

Agriculture is as old as the human race. All nations, kindred and tribes have subsisted upon the products (directly or indirectly) of the earth. Again, agriculture and stock-raising are so closely connected that the success of the one depends upon the success of the other. The cereals and vegetables, together with the meats furnished by the "cattle on the thousand hills," make u the general diet of mankind, and they who are engaged in the production of these life-sustaining substances are indeed benefactors to their race, and hold an honorable position among their fellow-men.

To be an intelligent farmer, with all that this term implies, means much. It is a profession by itself, and can only be excelled in through years of careful training and experiences, sometimes not so pleasing.

It is said that Daniel WEBSTER was never more happy than when arrayed in the garb of his rural costume, feeding his herd of cattle, upon a New England hillside, by his own hands.

To fully understand what our subject has gone through with in life, in order to become the thorough farmer that we now find him, it may be well to review his earlier career, commencing at his birth, which occurred in the old Buckeye State --Ashtabula County, Ohio, September 21, 1825.

His father was William REED, a native of Massachusetts, born December 30, 1794. He was a farmer of the good old Yankee stripe, and early inculcated the principles of thoroughness into our subject's mind which have enabled him to succeed in life. Not being able to carry out the broad-minded views of agriculture he entertained in the New England States, our subject's father removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1812, where he died December 23, 1867, and was buried Christmas day, after a long and well-spent life. His wife, the mother of our subject, was Maria (ADAMS) REED, the daughter of Colonel ADAMS, who was a native of the Bay State, and died when our subject was eight years old, and when she was but thirty-three years of age.

Shortly after the death of our subject's mother, and when he was yet a small boy, he went to live with his uncle, James M. ADAMS, of Andover, Ohio, and there remained until about thirteen years old, working and attending the district schools common to that State. Upon leaving his uncle, he engaged at farm labor during the summer time and attended school through the winter, thereby acquiring an education sufficient to enable him to teach school himself. He also attended school at Kingsville Academy four or five terms, and was at Alleghany College one year. Farm life having a peculiar charm for him he commenced for himself in 1848, and September 18, 1850, he was united in marriage to Martha A. HARDY, a native of Ohio, born January 21, 1826. Her father was John HARDY, a native of Pennsylvania, who lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years, dying in July, 1880. Her mother was Esther (CHAPIN) HARDY, a native of Massachusetts, who died in her sixty-fourth year, on March 5, 1858.

After our subject's marriage he purchased about eighty acres of land, and to this kept adding until he had three hundred and sixty acres, and a timber lot of eighty acres, upon which was located a sawmill, and for about five years he operated this in connection with his farm work.

He then built a steam sawmill on the south part of his farm, at a point called Monroe Centre, marketing his lumber at Buffalo, principally.

He was also very extensively engaged in dairying and stock-raising, employing from eight to twenty men. In these business relations he was quite successful; even this far in his life he had had quite an experience. The highest price of wages he had ever received, either at farming or teaching, was fourteen dollars per month. Upon the death of his father he fell heir to the old homestead, valued at about $6,000, and consisting of two hundred and ten acres, upon which there was some indebtedness. He cleared this up and disposed of the place in 1884.

He came to Harrison County in November, 1877, and purchased land on section 8, of Jefferson Township, to which he added the same season, which made in all seven hundred and forty acres, which he sold in 1880. He did a large stock business in this place, feeding from two to three hundred head of cattle and four hundred head of hogs.

His landed estate in Harrison County now amounts to fifteen hundred acres of choice improved land, which embraces some of the most fertile soil of the Boyer Valley. His son, Roland, H., is on one of the farms containing five hundred and fifty acres, which he runs in company with his father, while the remainder are rented.

At this writing, August, 1891, he has on hand three hundred head of cattle. He generally feeds the years around, buying, feeding and shipping all the time.

Mr. and Mrs. REED are the parents of two children--Roland H., born June 23, 1851, and May, born May 25, 1858.

Politically, Mr. REED is independent in his beliefs.

In religious matters, his wife is a member of the Congregational Church.

The history of our subject's life should be a study for the youth into whose hands this book may fall, giving a record, as it does, of how success at farm life has been achieved by one of New England's sons who was left an orphan boy at the age of eight years.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 591, 592
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HOAR - Christ S. HOAR, an enterprising groceryman doing business at Missouri Valley, came to this place in June, 1878, and being one of the representative business men of the county most naturally finds a place in this connection, for all history is made of the individual lives of men.

Our subject was born June 15, 1851, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Jonathan and Christina (SEABER) HOAR. The mother was from Germany and came to this country when quite young. The father was an Englishman, but born in Pennsylvania, in 1804, and died in 1860 and was buried in Mifflin County. The mother died in Missouri Valley, Iowa, in 1885, aged seventy-nine years. The father was a blacksmith by trade, and he and his good wife were the parents of fourteen children, and the mother had three children by an earlier marriage. The father had also been married the second time and reared five children, by that marriage, making him the father of nineteen children.

Our subject, C. S., was the youngest of the fourteen above named. Of the total number of twenty-two children there are only eight living at this tie, and only four of the family to which our subject belonged. His education was received in the common schools of Pennsylvania, and afterward learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for fifteen years. He worked at this for five or six years after coming to Missouri Valley, and January 8, 1884, he embarked in the grocer business, continuing until January 1, 1886, when Mathias T. WESTON purchased an interest in the business and Mr. HOAR continued the business under the name of C. S. HOAR & Co.

Our subject was married October 4, 1883, to Annie NOY, a native of Pennsylvania whose parents came to Iowa soon after the war and are both deceased. They were residents of Benton County. Mr. and Mrs. HOAR are the parents of two children--Sarah who died in infancy, and Grace, born in 1887.

Politically, Mr. HOAR is a Republican, deep dyed, and to the back bone. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Valley Lodge No. 232, at Missouri Valley, and also to Triune Chapter No. 81. As a business man and a good citizen there are none more highly respected than our subject.

Source: 1891 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 592, 593
Family Researcher: NA To Page Index--- To Bio Index

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