History of Taylor County, Iowa 1881 by Lyman Evans
(biographicals)
(transcibed by Pat O'Dell)
 
HOLT TOWNSHIP
page 707
BEEMER, JUDSON, farmer, section three, post-office Holt, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Luzerne county, May 20, 1836, and moved with his parents to Lee county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood and received a liberal education. In 1878 he traveled for six months in search of a place to locate, concluded that Taylor county suited him, and accordingly purchased his present farm. He was married March 2, 1863, to Miss Esther Mill, a native of her majesty's dominion. They have four children: Simon, Seeley, George and Elsie D. Mr. Beemer is located on a farm of 340 acres of as good land as Taylor county affords. He has it well arranged, good buildings, and a fine orchard of 600 trees. He is a good farmer and has a comfortable home.
page 708
BOSISTO, REV. REUBEN, section five, post-office Brooks, was born in Cornwall, England, October 15, 1820. He there grew to manhood and received his education. The earlier part of his life was spent in gardening. At the age of seventeen he commenced wagon making and continued in that business until 1849, when he immigrated to this country, settling in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1871. He came to Taylor county in the last named year and has since made it his home. He was reared under the influence of the Baptist Church and embraced religion at the age of twenty. Three months after, he was licensed as a local preacher. He was ordained as a minister of the gospel October 13, 1880, and at present has charge of the Sommerset Church in Adams county. He was married July 1, 1845, to Miss Mary Ann Cocking, of Easton, Cornwall, England. Of their children six are living: Joseph P., Mary, now Mrs. E.L. Cundy, John, Henrietta, now Mrs. H. Smith, Emily J. and Albert H. Three, Elizabeth, George J. and a babe, are deceased. Mr. Bosisto is located on a fine farm of 247 acres, with good buildings, orchard, etc. His grounds are adorned with a variety of shade and ornamental trees. He has served as justice of the peace eighteen years and has long taken an active part in all measures to promote the social, political, and moral interests of the county. Mrs. Bosisto and two daughters are members of the Baptist Church, and two sons and one daughter are devoted members of the M.E. Church.
CHAPPELL, WILLIAM C., farmer, section five, post-office Brooks first saw the light February 8, 1845, and when eleven years of age his parents moved to Lafayette county, Wisconsin. Subject was reared on a farm and has followed that occupation all his life. He came to Taylor county in the fall of 1871, bought wild prairie land and improved his present farm. Mr. Chappell was married November, 1871, to Miss Martha Rogers of Lafayette county, Wisconsin. Two children have blessed their union: Charles and Bertie. He owns a farm of 167 acres, good buildings, orchard, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Chappell are consistent member of the M.E. Church, and are respected for their exemplary lives.
COULTHARD, H., farmer, post-office Corning, was born in England September 15, 1834. His youth was spent in working in the lead mines and attending school. He learned the mason's trade, and in the spring of 1854 emigrated to America, settling in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, and engaged in lead mining. In 1856 he went to Worth county, Virginia, where he remained for five years; he then returned to Wisconsin and remained in that State three years after which he removed to Missouri, and in 1866 became a resident of the Sucker State. He came to Taylor county in -----. He was married in May, 1853, to Mary Hutchingson, a native of Yorkshire, (page 709) England. From this union there are eight children: Robert H., Henry D., Mary E., Joseph W., Sarah Isabelle, Margaret Ann, George T. and Lilly Jane. His farm consists of 160 acres. Mr. Crowell* is an obliging neighbor, a kind father and a worthy citizen. (* The history mistakenly says Crowell here.)
CROWELL, T.H., farmer, section ten, post-office Corning, a native of the Buckeye State, was born December 16, 1844. He remained in Trumbull county until he was twenty-one years of age; he then went to Cleveland and engaged as clerk in a store for two years; was conductor on a streetcar for two years more, then went into the lightning-rod business. In 1871 he came to Taylor county where he has since resided. Miss Delia L. Pond of Cleveland, Ohio, became Mrs. Crowell October 23, 1868. Their children are three: Charles E., Evaline B. and Harry T. Mr. Crowell has a nice little farm of eighty acres, which he has so improved as to make a conforatable home. They are members of the Christian Church.
DAVIS, T.J., farmer, section twenty-eight, post-office Holt; born in Mansfield, Ohio, December 19, 1844. While quite young his parents moved to Mercer county of that State, and in 1850 became residents of Decatur county, Iowa, and came to this county in 1858. He acquired a good education in the common schools and at home, his father having been an experienced teacher. He was married Apri 15, 1875, to Miss Mary G. Harlam, of this county formerly of Montgomery county, Indiana. They are the parents of one child, Ida Florence, born January 22, 1876. Subect has a good farm, consisting of one hundred and fifty-five acres, and is a neat farmer, having everything arranged in systematic order. He has held several township offices, and take great interest in social and political affairs.
DENNIS, W.T., farmer, section thirty-one, post-office Holt, was ushered into this life in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1821. While quite young his father moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, and there he acquired his education in the public schools. His father being a carpenter, our subject began that trade when a mere boy. In 1843 he came to the Hawkeye State, settling in Johnson county. At that time Iowa City contained only twelve log cabins. In 1852 he went to California overland, stopped for a time at Salt Lake City, saw Brigham Young and heard him expound the doctrine of Mormonism. While in California he was engaged in mining. Returned to Iowa and in August, 1862, enlisted in company G, Twenty-second Iowa, Col. Stone commanding. He participated in the battles of Raymond, Port Gibson, Jackson, Champion's Hill and Black River Bridge, and was also engaged at the siege of Vicksburg; he was discharged at that place June 9, 1863. He then returned to his (page 710) home in Johnson county, and in 1871 came to Taylor county. He was married February 27, 1855, to Miss Sarah Dungan of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Dennis departed this life the following year, and on April 21, 1857, subject received in marriage the hand of Miss Carolina G. Duff of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of seven children: C.W., educated at Ames college and engaged in the study of medicine; W.S., teacher; Anna, also a teacher; Grant, Minnie, Enna and Lyman. Mr. Dennis is located on a fine eighty acre farm with good improvements and has the reputation of being an honest, industrious and enterprising man.

DUNKIN R. H., farmer, stock-raiser and feeder, post-office Holt. Subject was born in Morgan connty, Indiana, February 17,1831. His early early years were spent on a farm, engaged with the plow and hoe. Was educated in the subscription schools of his native connty. In the fall of 1856 he removed to Ringgold county, in this State, remained about three years, and came to Taylor county in 1859. Shortly after his arrival he purchased a tract of land, thirty acres of which had been broken, and at once commenced improving it for his future home. Mr. D. has been twice married; first to Miss Susan McCartney, of Louisville, Kentucky, in March, 1852. Of their children seven are living, John H., Benjamin F., Abram L., Ulysses S. G., Mattie Nora, Lorenzo Dow and Rufus. Seven are deceased. December 29, 1872, Mrs. Dnnkin passed away to join her loved ones who had gone before her. Subject was again married, this time to Amanda Everson, of Champaign county, Illinois. They are the parents of five children; three, Charley, Mary and Freddy K.,are living. Mr. Dnnkin is located on an excellent farm five hundred and sixty acres: mostly in cultivation, and is largely engaged in growing and feeding stock. His sales for 1880 amounted to nearly three thousand dollars. He is an energetic, industrious farmer, of good business qualifications, and is closely identified with the interests of Taylor county. (transcribed by Sandi Pope)

N.E. EELLS., farmer, section nineteen; post-office Holt, born in Columbiana county, Ohio; July 6, 1839. When four years of age his parents moved to Johnson county, Iowa.. There the subject of this sketch experienced the hardships of pioneer life, as he assisted his parents in making a home on the bleak prairies of Iowa in the days of its early settlement. He enlisted August 6, 1862, in the Twenty-second Iowa, company G, and served until the close of the war. Took part in the battles of Fort Gibson, Champion’s Hill, Black River and Jackson, also in the siege of Vicksburg. He had his clothes torn by bullets and was wounded at Cedar Creek.Was discharged at Savannah, Georgia, July 25, 1865 (page 711) and returned to Johnson county. He came to this county in 1878. Was married May 1, 1875 to Miss Harriet Huss of Johnson county. They have five children; H. M., Effie L., H.E., Lunie O., and John L. He is the fortunate possessor of a fine farm of two hundred acres, excellent improvements and yard adorned with shade and ornamental trees. Mr. and Mrs. Eells are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. (transcribed by Sandi Pope)
 
ESTLE; W. B., farmer and stock-dealer, section twenty-six, post-office Holt, is a native of the Hawkeye state, born in Muscatine county January 14, 1845. ‘ Was reared in that county and educated in her common schools. In the spring of 1875 he came to Taylor county and has since made it his home. October 21, 1875, Miss Kate Richardson, of Keokuk county, became, his wife. She is a lady of estimable qualities and makes theirs a happy home. Mr. E. is located on a fine farm containing 290 acres, has an elegant residence and other improvements to correspond. Holt township has in the person of our subject an excellent citizen. (transcribed by Sandi Pope)