| page 199
 JOHN ALEX. YOUNG, Cashier of the Washington National Bank, dates his residence in Washington County from 1843, at which time he came to the county in company with his parents, a mere lad of five years. He was born in Rush county, Ind., July 29, 1838, and is the son of James N. and Sally (Eyestone) Young,s a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. The family arrived in Washington County when it was little better than a wilderness, when the settlers' cabins were few and far between, and here the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, and has since become one of its best known and most highly respected citizens. His first instruction in the mysteries of A, B, C's and a-b abs, was received from his father, and when the rude log school-house was erected, there he was sent, principally in the winter months until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the University at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he pursued his studies for three years. The next three years he spent in teaching district schools, varied with farm work.
The next important event in our subject's life was his marriage, Oct. 4, 1860, with Elizabeth A. Runyon, the daughter of M. D. and Elizabeth (Tingley) Runyon. She was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1839. In the spring of 1861 the young couple settled on a small farm in Cedar Township, with a view of making for themselves a home where peace and plenty should reign. But at this time the dark war clouds which had been for so long a time hanging over the country, burst forth, and call after call was made for men to put down the unholy Rebellion. The call must be heeded by the able-bodied men of the land, it mattered not what sacred ties should be torn asunder, nor how strong the love of the wife for the husband, the mother for the child. In august, 1862, John Ales. Young was one of a number to form a company which became Co. A, 25th Iowa Vol. Inf. Enlisting as a private, at the election for officers of the company, he was chosen Second Lieutenant, and served as such until June, 1863, when he was promoted First Lieutenant. One year afterward, in June, 1864, he was promoted Captain, and served as such till the close of the war.
Among the engagements and campaigns participated in by Capt. Young, were Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, siege and capture of Vicksburg, second battle of Jackson, Miss., Cherokee Station, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold and Resaca. In the last engagement, which was part of the Atlanta campaign, he was wounded in the temple by a spent ball, and sent first to the field hospital, and then to the general hospital at Lookout Mountain, from which place he was granted a furlough and was sent home to recuperate. Rejoining his regiment after a short stay at home, he was with it on its march to the sea, and in the grand review in Washington at the close of the war. With his regiment, he was mustered out at Washington in June, 1865, receiving his discharge a few days afterward at Davenport, Iowa.
Capt. Young then returned home, and at once settled down to the peaceful vocation of a farmer, at which he remained until 1871, when he was elected County Auditor, and removed to Washington. In 1873 he was again nominated for that office, but was beaten by a majority of sixty-two votes, while
page 200
the rest of the ticket was snowed under by 500 majority. This was the year when the Anti-Monopoly or Grange movement swept almost the entire country, and when many of the best and most capable officers were retired to private life in the interest of reform.
In the position of County Auditor, Capt. Young showed such business qualifications, that on the expiration of his term of office he was offered the position of book-keeper in the Washington National Bank, and entered upon his duties in that institution Jan. 27,1874. He was soon afterward made Assistant Cashier, and July 1, 1878, was promoted Cashier, which office he still holds, having the perfect confidence of the officers and stockholders, and of the entire community. He has twice served as Mayor of the City of Washington with satisfaction to his constituents. In politics, he is a stanch Republican. Religiously he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which body his wife is also a member. Socially, he is a member of the G.A.R. Mr. and Mrs. Young have two children: Ella A., now the wife of A. W. Hall, of Colfax, Iowa, and Harvey S., also residing in that city.
An excellent portrait of Capt. Young will be seen upon a preceeding page, which will be appreciated by every patron of the ALBUM.
CAPT. D. E. COCKLIN is a farmer and stock-raiser, living upon section 7, Marion Township. He is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne County, Dec. 15, 1835, and is a son of Samuel and Mary Cocklin, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, but who emigrated to Ohio at an early day. In 1854, the family came to Washington county, Iowa, and settled on section 8, Marion Township, where the father purchased 220 acres of land, forty of which was improved. The mother died in 1856, but the father is yet living, making his home with his son.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm and received his education in the common schools of his native State. Prior to the breaking out of the war, he taught four terms of public school. In common with every other loyal man, when the South arrayed itself against the General Government, and by force of arms determined to maintain its right to secede, young Cocklin at once determined to join with those who proposed to maintain the Union inviolate. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted as a private in Co. I, 13th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war. Soon after his enlistment he was appointed Corporal, and was made Sergeant shortly after the battle of Shiloh, in which the 13th Regiment bore such an honorable part. The record of the 13th Iowa Infantry is indeed a glorious one. Together with the 11th, 15th and 16th Iowa Regiments, they formed one of the most distinguished brigades in the Army of the Tennessee, and were once accorded the honor of saving that entire army from a terrible defeat. In the winter of 1862-63 the regiment with its brigade returned from Gen. Grant's march into Central Mississippi to La Fayette, Tenn., and on the 2d of January left for Young's Point, La., where the regiment worked hard on the celebrated Vicksburg Canal, and until the following September its duties were fatiguing. In the siege and capture of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, the 13th Regiment bore an honorable part. The autumn and most of the winter of 1863064 were spent by the 13th at Vicksburg, and there the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, though it did not take its furlough until after the march to Meridian. In the Atlanta campaign Sergt. Cocklin was in command of his company, but in such served until the close of the war. From Atlanta the regiment marched to Savannah, thence to Goldsboro, and on to Washington, where it formed a part of that vast number in the grand review at that place. The regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and discharged at Davenport, Aug. 12, 1865.
On receiving his discharge, Capt. Cocklin again returned to his home in Washington county, and one month thereafter, on the 12th day of September, 1865, was united in marriage with Miss Hester A. Powell, the daughter of Joseph and Martha (Johnson) Powell. Two children have been born unto them, Charles J. and Samuel, both residing at home. Capt. Cocklin is now the owner of ninety-two acres of land on section 7, Marion Township,
page 201
which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. He is a self-made man, and enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him. In politics he is a Republican, and at the same time is a strong temperance man. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church at Eureka, of which body he is a Deacon.
WOODFORD MARR, a retired farmer, resides on section 20, Oregon Township. He was born near Cynthiana, Harrison co., Ky., Oct. 6, 1803, and is the son of James and Polly Marr, the former a native of Kentucky and of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter a native of Virginia. When fifteen years of age Woodford went from Kentucky to Bartholomew County, Ind., where he remained until 1842, at which time he came to this county and settled on the farm where he now lives. He was married, in 1827, to Margaret Jones, also a native of Harrison County, Ky., born in 1805. They reared a family of six children, three of whom are now living: Thomas, the oldest, resides in this county; Sophronia is the wife of George Easter, and has five children—Thomas, Edward, Ellen, William and Clara B.; Margaret is the wife of Lorestin Carll; they have three children—Clara, Lincoln B. and Margaret; Clara, the oldest, is now keeping house for her grandfather, the subject of this sketch. Margaret married Frank Osborn, of Oskaloosa; they have five children—Parker, Woodford, Maggie, Viola and Willie. Lincoln is a train dispatcher, and now residing at Clinton, Mo.
Mr. Marr, is numbered among the few pioneers who came to this county in 1842. For forty-five years he has been a citizen of Washington County. During his first year's residence in this county he lost a valuable span of horses, which left him in an almost destitute condition, being without means to purchase another, but he did not sit down, fold his hands, and bemoan his ill-luck, but with that grit characteristic of the pioneer, went immediately to work, and in time was able to replace those that were lost, and also to make such improvements upon the farm as he deemed best. He toiled early and late, from the rising to the setting of the sun, and success has crowned his efforts. To-day he is the owner of 200 acres of land, which is well-improved, and he is now enjoying the fruits of a life of industry and such economy as was necessary to acquire such a valuable property. Politically, he is a Republican.
Mrs. Marr died Aug. 21, 1886. She was a plain, unassuming woman, given to hospitality, and left a large circle of friends and acquaintances, a devoted husband, and loving children and grandchildren to mourn her loss. As already stated, Clara Carll, the grand-daughter of Mr. Marr, is his housekeeper. She deserves great credit for the noble part she has performed in taking care of her aged grandfather. She is highly respected by all who know her, and is a woman of most excellent habits.
WILLIAM H. YOUNG, a farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 23, Franklin Township, where he has 160 acres of land under a high state of cultivation. He is a native of Washington County, Iowa, born Sept. 26, 1865, and is the son of John and Mary J. (Adams) Young, the former native of Fleming County, Ky., and of Scotch-Irish descent; and the latter of Nicholas County, that State. They emigrated to this county in 1846, being among the earliest settlers of Franklin Township. The father died in February, 1883, but the mother is still living in Washington. In the death of John Young, Washington County lost one of its best and most respected citizens, the wife of a kind and affectionate husband, and the children, a loving father. Of the family of nine children of John and Mary J. Young, four are yet living: Robert S., of Fremont County, Iowa; John, of Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Sarah A., the wife of W. O. Bain; and the subject of this sketch.
William H. Young was reared upon his father's farm and educated in the common schools of Washington County. He has followed the occupation of farming all his life, with the exception of one year, when he was clerk in a bank. He was united in marriage, Dec. 11, 1883, to Miss Flora E. Winters, the daughter of Christopher and Hannah (Spence) Winters.
page 202
They have two children—Fannie and Fred W. Mr. Young is living upon the farm, a part of which was the original homestead of his father, and which is one of the best in Franklin Township. He is a practical farmer in every sense of the word, and takes a just pride in his vocation. Upon the premises is a fine dwelling, a good barn and necessary out-buildings. The raising of Short-horn Durham cattle he makes somewhat of a specialty, having at the present writing, Sept. 1887, about forty head of thoroughbreds of various ages, all of which are registered in the America Herd Book of Short-horns. Prosperous in the past, and with industrious habits, there is but little doubt that he will yet add greatly to his possessions. In politics he is Republican.
|
Visit our family of homepages and join us.