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ALEXANDER YOUNG, deceased, was born in Fleming County, Ky., and was the son of James and Nancy (Smith) Young. In 1829 he moved to Rush County, Ind., where he lived ten years, engaged in farming. In the fall of 1839 he moved to Louisa County, Iowa, and there remained until the spring of 1840, when he came to Washington County, where he bought a claim of 160 acres in Cedar Township. When this land came into market, he entered the same, to which he made additions, owning at one time 440 acres on section 34, Cedar Township.
In 1815 Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Mary Davis, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of John Davis. Eight children were born to them: Nancy, the wife of Isaac N. Smith, of Oregon; Martha, the wife of Daniel Jayne, of Washington; John D., a carpenter by trade, now residing in California; James, Robert H., and Aleck H., now living on the home place; Mary M., the wife of John Jayne, of Franklin Township. Mr. Young was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He died June 18, 1868. Mrs. Young died in 1877, aged eighty-four. Politically, Mr. Young was a Whig, and later a Republican. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served his county faithfully.
WILLIAM H. LIVINGSTON, Justice of the Peace and notary public at Ainsworth, Iowa, is a native of Washington County, N.Y., born Jan. 6, 1822, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Williet) Livingston, the former of Scotch-Irish and the latter of German descent. They came to Marion County, Iowa, in 1856, and there died. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm and has followed the business of farming thus far through life. He was married in Morrow, then Knox County, Ohio, in 1847, to Catherine Bain, the daughter of John and Nancy Bain. She was born in New York in 1814. Her father was of Scotch and High-Dutch and her mother of Scotch and Low-Dutch descent.
Mr. and Mrs. Livingston have had three children, two of whom are living: Thomas married Ettie Breed, and has one child, Minnie E.; Sarah married William Benson, and has one child, Nellie; the deceased is William J. In 1853 Mr. Livingston came with his family to Washington County, Iowa, and settled near where he still resides, in Oregon Township. He has therefore been a resident of this county for a period of thirty-four years. In 1856 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served four years. He declined longer to hold the office,
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but in 1877 was again elected, and has continued to serve till the present time. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He is now the owner of thirty acres of land adjoining the village, and owns a nice residence and lot in Ainsworth.
For more than a third of a century Mr. Livingston has been a respected citizen of Washington County, and in that time has witnessed the great changes that have been made, and in the development of the country has contributed his part. Few men enjoy the confidence and esteem of their fellow-citizens in a higher degree.
JAMES N. YOUNG, one of the pioneers of 1843, was born in Fleming County, Ky., Feb. 7, 1816. When a small boy, his parents removed to Rush County, Ind., where he grew a liberal education. Here he was united in marriage with Sally Eyestone, an estimable lady, by whom there were born two sons, John Alexander and Haney. A sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. The latter enlisted on the outbreak of the war in the 8th Iowa Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Shiloh. Mrs. Young died in the fall of 1841. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was highly respected by all who knew her. In 1843 Mr. Young was again united in marriage, the lady of his choice being Martha J. Coons, a native of Indiana.
In the spring of the latter year, and shortly after the marriage took place, the family moved to Washington County, Iowa, coming through with teams, and being about four weeks in making the trip. On coming to this county, Mr. Young made claim to 200 acres of prairie, and sixty-seven of timber in Cedar Township. He settled upon the prairie land which was about two miles from the timber, and built one of the first hewed-log houses in the township, on which was laid a puncheon floor. This, however was soon replaced with a floor from sawed lumber. The pioneer cabin of Father Young was the home of all who chose to accept its hospitality, and before the erection of school-houses and churches, was where the pioneers met for religious worship.
In his religious views, Mr. Young was a firm believer in the Methodist Episcopal doctrines, and for many years was a local preacher of that denomination. In politics he was known in the early days as an anti-slavery Whig, and in 1855 was elected by that party a member of the Lower House of the General Assembly, representing the district comprising Washington and Louisa Counties. On the organization of the Republican party, in 1856, he was one of the first to espouse its principles, and has never ceased to affiliate with and advocate the measures adopted by the party. In 1872, through financial reverses, he lost all his property, and although nearing his threescore years, he emigrated to Kansas, with the hope, in that new country, to retrieve his fallen fortunes. Locating near Howard, Elk County, he made a new home, on which he lived for some years, but is now living a retired life in Howard. Among the early settlers in Washington County, few were better known or more universally esteemed than James N. Young. A conscientious Christian man, he went forward in the discharge of every duty devolving upon him in a way to merit the good-will of all, practicing in an eminent degree the principles of the Golden Rule.
WESLEY C. RUNYON is a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 16, Cedar Township. He came to this county in 1855, and first settled on section 29, where he lived two years. He is a native of Jefferson Cunty, Ohio, born in 1830, and the son of Micajah and Elizabeth (Argo) Runyon, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Ohio. He was reared on a farm, and remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, alternating his time between working on a farm and attending the public school. On reaching his majority he commenced teaching school, and taught for two years. He then entered Jefferson college, in Harrison County, Ohio, which he attended on term, being compelled to abandon his studies on account of having his shoulder broken by being thrown from a horse. Returning to his
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home after his recover he attended a select school for six months. He then engaged again in teaching, in which occupation he continued in his native State for two years. He then came to Iowa, and settled in Grand View, Louisa County, where he taught for four years in the public schools, and then came to Washington County, as already stated, in 1855. During the time he was in Louisa County, and during his vacations he clerked in stores, acting as book-keeper, and also clerked for a time in the post-office.
On coming to this county Mr. Runyon purchased forty acres of umimproved land on section 16, Cedar Township, which he at once commenced to improve, working upon his farm in the summer and teaching during the three following winters. In 1861 he moved to his farm and there remained until 1865, when he sold that land and bought 101 acres of land on section 4, Cedar Township, where he continued to reside until the fall of 1874, having in the meantime acquired a farm of 132 acres. This he sold and purchased eight acres where he now resides, to which he has added by subsequent purchase until he now owns 248 acres of fine, well-improved land.
Our subject was married, in 1855, to Miss Emily Hood, a native of Decatur County, Ind., and the daughter of Adam and Margaret (Hayden) Hood, who were natives of Kentucky. Two children have blest their union: William S. resides at home; Charles Albert is a graduate of the Keokuk Medical College, and in engaged in the practice of medicine in Fulton County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Runyon are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a Republican and a Prohibitionist. He has been honored by his fellow-townsmen with several local offices, including those of Assessor and Township Clerk. In addition to general farming Mr. Runyon has been engaged somewhat extensively in stock-raising. Since coming to Washington County prosperity has attended him, and he is now comfortably settled on one of the best farms in Cedar Township, the improvements on which are of the better class. His parents came to Washington County in 1860, where both died, the father at the age of eighty years, and the mother at the age of seventy-five years. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
F. W. HARDING, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 10, Oregon Township, where he owns 120 acres of fine land, which is well improved. He is one of ten children of Lewis G. and Mary (Brannon) Harding, who were natives of Ohio, the former being of Scotch-English and the latter of English descent. Of their children nine are yet living, three residing in this county. The family came to this county in 1861, where the parents died some years ago.
F. W. Harding was born in Morgan County, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1835. He was reared on a farm and has followed that occupation through life. He was married in Muskingum County, Ohio, Dec. 31, 1857, to Harriet Dye, the daughter of William and Peggy Dye. She was born in Ohio in 1836. they have had eight children, seven now living—Alta, elmer, John D., Laura, Emma, Edward and Mary. The deceased one was named Cora E. Of the living ones, Alta married James Dawson, by whom she has two children—Wood and Marion; Laura married Hugh Newell; they have two children—Lillie B. and an infant. Emma married Harry Caple, and has one child, Emma B. The others are all at home. Mrs. Harding's parents were natives of Virginia, but of German descent; both died in Muskingum County, Ohio.
Mr. Harding commenced life with but little means but possessed with a will to do, and strong arms. He has toiled on, assisted by his good wife, until he is now the possessor of one of the best farms in Oregon Township. On the premises is a good dwelling-house erected in 1870, at a cost of $1,000; a good barn and all necessary out-buildings. A look at the place will convince one that its owner knows how to run a farm. In addition to general farming he is engaged to a considerable extent in raising stock, which he himself ships to the Chicago market.
Politically Mr. Harding is a Republican, while he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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While not so long a resident of Washington County as many others, he yet has resided here long enough to entitle him to membership in the Old Settlers' Society, and in the meetings of that body takes considerable interest, and at the present time is one of the Executive Committee. Socially he is a member of the Odd Fellows, and as a citizen is respected by all.
B. R. SANDS is a retired farmer, residing in Ainsworth. He is a native of Washington county, E. Tenn., born Oct. 25, 1810, and is the son of Joseph and Anna (Harrison) Sands, the former a native of Virginia, of English descent, and the latter a native of North Carolina, of Scotch-Irish descent. both died in Monroe County, Tenn.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and in his youth learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked for many years. His chances for acquiring an education were limited to the subscription schools of his time. In 1835 he married Rosanna Henderson, who was born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1812, and the daughter of John and Margaret Henderson. By this union there were six children, five of whom are living; J. W., now residing in this township; Margaret A., the wife of J. F. R. Leonard, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Joseph P., of Hamilton County, Iowa, who married Eliza Van Winkle, and has six children—Ervin, Gracie, Bessie, Benjamin, Alice and Samuel; Nancy J. is the wife of C.C. Stone, of Nebraska; they have one child, Cora, who married Trueman Brown, and has two children. S. A. married Elizabeth M. Henderon, and J. N. married Catherine Henderson.
In 1851 Mr. Sands came with his family to Washington County, Iowa, and purchased 160 acres of wild land in Oregon Township, erecting a cabin 16x20, in which the family lived till 1863, when he built a neat frame house. On th 2d of June, 1887, Mrs. Sands died. She had been a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church since 1853, and left a large circle of friends to mourn their loss. Mr. Sands is a member of the Baptist Church, and has been connected with it for many years. Mrs. Sands was a model Christian woman; though modest and retiring in spirit, she was very active and earnest in that which she regarded as the Lord's work. In her life she exhibited the proofs of ever existing grace, and was greatly loved by all who knew her. She had done her life's work faithfully, and was ready and willing to go at the Master's call. Among her last words were: "I want nothing but Jesus." Her last request was that her body might be quietly conveyed from her home to its last resting-place, which was in keeping with her modest spirit.
A resident of this county for thirty-six years, Mr. Sands has witnessed the many changes that have been made, and has done much to convert a wild country into its present prosperous state. In the time that he has lived in Washington County he has held several local offices, and has discharged every duty devolving upon him in a faithful manner. He is now living a retired life in Ainsworth, where he is highly respected by all, and enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life.
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