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JOHN WALKER NEAL, deceased, was born near the town of New Bedford, Mercer Co., Pa., on the 21st of February, 1810. He learned the trade of a cabinet-maker in Pittsburgh, Pa. In the year 1837 he landed in Burlington, Iowa, and put in a portion of that summer working as a carpenter on the building known as the old Harris House. In the same fall, with his young wife and one child, he crossed the Flint Hills, and halted not until he reached the north bank of Crooked Creek. Then, upon the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 22, just one mile south of the village of Crawfordsville, he pitched his tent, or rather, a mongrel habitation between a hut and a cave. It was made of bent poles lathed with hazel rods and covered with sod and bark. Then, and in this hovel, the first settler on the Crawfordsville prairie, with his wife and child, put in their first winter in Iowa. His neighbors were the conquered warriors of Black Hawk, the Sacs and Foxes. His venison and his poultry he took as he needed it, with his gun, from the herds of deer and flocks of prairie chickens that were grazing and feeding around him.
Mr. Walker Neal was the nucleus of this flourishing moral and intellectual settlement. He was soon followed by brothers and sisters, father and mother, and other relatives and friends. The land from which the site of the original town was taken belonged to Walker and his two brothers, Joseph and Robert. The town of Crawfordsville was surveyed about the 4th of July, 1839. Dr. Isaac Crawford, a brother-in-law of the Neals, was at that time here, looking at the country. The Neal brothers told him that if he would come here and
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build a house they would name the town for him. the proposal was accepted, and two years later Dr. Crawford moved out and built the brick house that stood on the site now occupied by the "Iowa House." This is how Crawfordsville came by its name.
Mr. Neal was not avaricious ore he might have been rich. He was always a good man, in the olden time an active anti-slavery man, always a temperance man, always a church member and a consistent Christian. He had but two sons and gave them both to his country, and they served faithfully as Union soldiers during the Civil War. Mr. Neal died May 18, 1887, in the seventy-eighth year of his age.
Of the large circle of brothers and sisters who followed Mr. W. Neal to Iowa, but two survive him: Mrs. Dr. Crawford and Mr. Robert Neal, both of whom were older than himself. Mr. Neal was married to five wives, the last of whom, with four children, the youngest about one year old, survives. He was always a kind husband and father to all. His widow, notwithstanding the great difference in their years, stood by him during his long and painful affliction, taking care of the children, and to a great extent, by her own labor furnishing the living for the family.
The above sketch was prepared by Capt. S. A. Russell, and published in the Washington Gazette.
ASHEL JEFFREY, deceased, was for many years a resident of Oregon Township, living on section 23, where his widow yet resides. He was a native of New York, born near Seneca Lake, in 1812, and was the son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Gifford) Jeffrey, both of whom were natives of New York, and of English descent. They moved to Indiana at an early day, and there subsequently died. Our subject grew to manhood in Indiana, and was there married, April 16, 1835, to Nancy Stephens, daughter of William and Jemima Stephens, who were natives of Pennsylvania, the father being of Irish and the mother of English descent. Both died in this county. She was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1815.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashel Jeffrey were the parents of seven children, of whom five are living: William R., now living in this county; Elizabeth, deceased; Francis M., now residing in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, married Lizzie Morrison, who died, leaving three children—Henry A., John and Nettie B., all of whom are living with their grandmother Jeffrey in Oregon Township; Abner A. is deceased; Jeremiah, now residing in Gage County, Neb., married Eliza Robinson, by whom he has three children living—George R., Faith and Grace; Mary J. is the wife of John F. James, of Greenfield, Adair County. They have five children—Ashel W., Elizabeth E., Faith, Essel B. and Bertha; Hiram is now living in Page County, Iowa. He married Mary B. Hampton, and they have two children living—Chester V. and Arthur A.
The subject of this sketch came to Washington County in 1841, and settled on a farm in the southern part of Oregon Township, which he rented for three years, then took a claim on Government land, Mrs. Jeffrey saving the money she received from boarders until she had enough to pay for the forty acres. Erecting their cabin on this first purchase, they at once proceeded to improve the same. To the original forty they added by subsequent purchase until they had a fine farm of 200 acres at the time of his death, all of which was under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Jeffrey died March 4, 1887. For thirty years previous to his death he was a respected member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his death the county lost one of her best citizens, the wife a loving and affectionate husband, the children a kind and indulgent father, and the Church a useful member. Mrs. Jeffrey yet resides upon the home farm. She is a well-preserved woman, physically and mentally. At the first school meeting held in their neighborhood Mrs. Jeffrey and two other ladies voted in order to fill the required number necessary to form a school district. As an illustration of what may be done by one who has a will to do, it may be mentioned that Mrs. Jeffrey learned to read and write after she was fifty-five years of age.
For almost a half a century Mrs. Jeffrey has been
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a citizen of Washington County, and in that time endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life, and is now reaping the fruits of a life of toil. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which body all her children are also members, each of them uniting when about thirteen years of age. After years of toil she and her husband secured the erection of a house of worship in the neighborhood in which they resided. regularly upon each Sabbath she was in the habit of attending the holy place that she might engage in the worship of her Maker. A few years since the house was moved to Ainsworth, and on account of advancing years she is unable to attend as often as she desires, much to her sorrow, for to her there is no place so sacred, as the house of God.
JAMES TAYLOR, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 7, Dutch Creek Township. He was born Oct. 4, 1811, in Beaver County, Pa., and is the son of Thomas and Agnes (McClelland) Taylor, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. The family moved to Ohio when James was a small boy, and there he grew to manhood. Until about eighteen years of age he was afflicted with inflammatory rheumatism, and was therefore unable to do hard work. His education was obtained in the district schools of Ohio. In 1829 he commenced to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade, and served as an apprentice for three years. He then worked as a journeyman in different places, and on the 12th of December, 1833, was united in marriage with Miss Sarah McCart, a daughter of Jesse and Mary (Tombleson) McCart. They were natives of Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. James Taylor are parents of seven children: Mary L., now the wife of Smith Snodgrass, residing in Kansas; S. W. is a merchant in Logan, Kan.; Edwin M. is a farmer in St. Cloud County, Kan.; Agnes A. is the wife of Andrew McCampbell, a farmer in Keokuk County, Iowa; James B. resides at home and has charge of the home farm; Alexander is deceased; William J. resides in Montana. In May, 1856, Mr. Taylor left Richland County, Ohio, with his family, and came to Washington County, and for four years rented a farm on Skunk River, in Dutch Creek Township. In 1860 he purchased forty acres of his present farm, to which he has added from time to time until he is now the owner of 240 acres of fine land under a high state of cultivation, and otherwise greatly improved.
On the 12th of March, 1883, Mrs. Taylor was called to her final rest. She was born March 12, 1817, and died March 12, 1883. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having united with that body when she was quite young. She was a devoted member of the Church, one who delighted in the service of the Lord's house, and in her death the Church lost one of its most useful members, the husband a loving wife, and the children an indulgent parent. Mr. Smith is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When he came to this county, in 1856, he was hardly possessed of a dollar, but by the sweat of his brow he has been enabled to accumulate a nice property, and has lived to see his children all well provided for in this life. Mr. Taylor is a charitable and kind neighbor, and the result of his life's work is proof of the fact that honesty and industry will receive their reward.
J. B. ORRIS resides upon section 25, Oregon Township, where he owns 156 acres of land, and is engaged in general farming and stock-rasing. He was born in Perry County, Pa., June 23, 1830, and is the son of George and Sarah (Shull) Orris, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools of his native State. On reaching his majority, in 1851, he turned his face westward, crossed the Father of Waters, and settled in Louisa County, Iowa, where he remained until 1865, and then removed to his present place of residence.
Mr. Orris was married, in Washington County, this State, in 1856, to Mary J. Hulick, a native of this county, born in 1838. Ten children have blessed this union, of whom eight are now living: John D.; Henry T., who married Nellie Willey; Sarah, the wife of William Pearce; William, a
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prominent school teacher; Samuel K.; Jeremiah H., Cyrus and Alden B. Mrs. Orris died in 1871. He was the second time married, in 1875, to Emily Mills, who was born in Fulton County, Ill. By this marriage there is one child, Lucy. On coming to Iowa Mr. Orris was in very limited circumstances, and that which he now owns has been accumulated by hard work and close attention to business. He and his wife are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a Class-Leader ever since coming to Washington County. As a citizen he is ever ready to do his duty, and has given much of his time to advance the interests of his township, serving in various township offices. By his friends and neighbors he is held in high esteem. He is a kind and indulgent husband and father.
DEMCY WELCH, one of the largest, most highly respected, and enterprising farmers of Washington County, resides upon section 19, Washington Township. He was born near Cumberland, in what is now West Virginia, on the 28th of February, 1824, and is the son of Benjamin and Julia (Rawlings) Welch, who were natives of Virginia, where they married, and in 1856 came to this county. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living: Sarah N., the widow of Peter Miller, now residing in Washington, this State; Sylvester, now a resident of Kansas; Demcy, the subject of this sketch; Mary A., the widow of Hiram Smith, now residing in Missouri; Virginia C., now the wife of Henry Smith, of Kansas; William C., deceased; Benjamin D., now a resident of Page County, Iowa; America, now the wife of Andrew Bailey, of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Welch are deceased. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and in politics he was an old-line Whig.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Virginia, and was educated in the log cabin school-house, which was conducted upon the subscription plan. He was married in Alleghany County, Md., Dec. 12, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth Wilson, a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Wilson, who were the parents of nine children, five of whom are living: Abraham, residing on the old homestead; Elizabeth, Jonathan; Susan, the wife of David Davis, and Rachel. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and both died in Maryland. In 1857 Mr. Welch came with his family to Iowa, first settling in Keokuk County, but soon after came to the place where they now reside. They are the parents of two children: Julia A. R., now the wife of John Rhemel, residing in this county, and Eucebes F. H., who married Miss Mary B. Trackman; she died in January, 1885, leaving one son, Wade W.
When Mr. Welch came to Washington County, in 1857, he was in limited circumstances, but by hard work and economy he has acquired a nice property, and is the owner of 188 acres of fine land south of the city of Washington, which is valued at $50 per acre. The place is well improved in every respect, having a comfortable dwelling-house, good barn, and other necessary out-buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Welch are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Washington, and no couple enjoy the respect and confidence of their fellow-citizens in a higher degree.
JOHN ROWAN is a farmer in Oregon Township, who was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., May 9, 1804. He comes of that sturdy stock which peopled the North of Ireland, both of his parents being natives of County Tyrone. Their names were John and Letitia (Porterfield) Rowan. After their marriage the young couple sought a home in the New World, emigrating to America about 1790, and settling in the county where their only son John was born, and where they resided until their death. Nine children were the result of this union, all now deceased except the subject of this sketch.
In his youth John Rowan learned the trade of a carpenter, but his life-long occupation has been that of a farmer, which he has followed both in the East and West. He has been twice married; first in Allegheny County, Pa., in 1828, to Nancy Wilson
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who died in 1830, leaving one child, William. Mr. Rowan's second marriage occurred in Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1838, his wife being Sarah, daughter of William and Jane (Huey) McLauglin. She was born in 1813. The children of this marriage are: John, a resident of Burlington, Iowa; Joseph, living in Oregon Township, this county; Thomas, in Colorado; Theodore, in Ainsworth, Iowa; Nancy J., the wife of Archie Eure, of Washington County; Robert, of the same county, and Melvin, who is in the livery business at Ainsworth.
Mr. Rowan first came West in 1855, in which year he located in Louisa County, Iowa, removing the following year to Washington County. He and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church, and are highly respected in the community where they have so long resided. Politically Mr. Rowan is a supporter of the Republican party.
JONATHAN WILKINS is the owner of 160 acres of land on section 9, Oregon Township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was born in East Tennessee, Dec. 30, 1828, and is the son of Solomon and Martha Wilkins, the former a native of North Carolina, and of English descent, and the latter of Virginia and of German descent. They were married in North Carolina, Dec. 16, 1812. In 1818 they left that State and went to East Tennessee, where they remained until 1844, at which time they moved to this county and settled in Oregon Township. Solomon Wilkins was born Aug. 22, 1792, and died in Oregon Township, May 12, 1872. Martha Wilkins was born Aug. 3, 1793, and died Sept. 21, 1869. They reared a family of seven children, six of whom are living, three residing in this county: They were Elisha, now a resident of this county; Martha, the wife of William H. Moore, of this county; Catherine E., now residing in Kansas; Charles T., who is living in Missouri; Nancy, the wife of P. P. Morgan, of Oregon; and Jonathan. The deceased was Louisa, the wife of H. C. Morgan.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He came to this county in company with his parents in 1844, and assisted his father in the improvement of his farm. On the 4th of September, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Stephens, a native of Preble County, Ohio born Aug. 8, 1821. There were three children born of this union: Martha J. married Andrew Richey, and died leaving two children—Sarah and Nancy E.; Solomon J. married Julia Wood, and has one child, Eugene; Hiram N. married Ella Taylor, by whom he had one child, Howard, now deceased. Mrs. Wilkins died July 18, 1880, and on the 28th of January, 1885, Mr. Wilkins contracted a second marriage, choosing as a companion Mary E. Corl, daughter of William and Elizabeth Corl. She was born in Pennsylvania, May 18, 1847; they have one child, Minnie E. Mr. Wilkins is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mrs. Wilkins of the United Presbyterian. Politically he is a Republican.
When Mr. Wilkins settled upon his present farm it was in a wild state; now the improvements are of a better class, there being on the farm a good dwelling-house, good barns, and such out-buildings as are necessary in carying [carrying] on general farming. All that he has was made by his own labor.
L. K. RICHARDSON is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 35, Highland Township. He is a native of Gallia County, Ohio, born in 1828, and is the son of Elisha and Polly (Summers) Richardson, who resided for many years in Ohio, then came West, the former dying of cholera in Missouri.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon his father's farm, and has followed farming as an occupation thus far through life. He grew to manhood in Ohio, and in 1848, was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Love, a daughter of Robert and Rosa L. (Willmore) Love, who is also a native of Ohio, born in 1828. Six children have been born to them: Martha A. is now the wife of E. Y. Love; they have one child, Maude. William R. married Eva Warner, by whom he has four children—Lewis, Rosa, Robert and Earl; Almira is now the wife of
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Sidney Coon, and is the mother of three children—Joseph L., Preserved L., and Ira A.; Elizabeth is the wife of James Maguire; they have four children—Charles, Jesse, James M. and Pearl. Joseph and Lindley H. are at home.
In 1857 Mr. Richardson came to Iowa and settled in Muscatine County, where where remained until 1868, when he moved with his family to Washington County and settled in Highland Township. Since coming to Iowa he has been quite successful in life, and although he has been a most industrious man, he ascribes much of his success to the noble part taken by his good wife, who has also toiled early and late, been economical in all things and wise in her counsel. She certainly deserves all the praise that may be bestowed upon her in this respect. No persons in Highland Township are more respected than Mr. and Mrs. Richardson. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.
SAMUEL R. PALMER, deceased, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1811. When a young man he emigrated to America and located in Washington County, Pa., where he became acquainted with and married Miss Margaret Munce, a native of Washington County, Pa., born in 1812. In early life our subject learned the trade of a wagon-maker, which he followed for some years. In 1842, the family emigrated to Carroll County, Ohio, where Mr. Palmer followed the occupation of farming until his removal to Washington County, Iowa, in 1856. On coming to Washington County, he resumed farming, locating near the city of Washington.
In politics, in early life, Mr. Palmer was what was known as a Free-soiler, and on the organization of the Republican party he became identified with it, and advocated its principles until his death. Few men were better posted than Samuel R. Palmer. He was a great reader, and very positive in his convictions. When once his mind was made up it was difficult to change him. While very positive in his own convictions, he was yet very considerate of the rights of others. Religiously, he was identified with the United Presbyterian Church, and for man years was a Ruling Elder in the Second United Presbyterian Church of Washington, Iowa. In the support of the Gospel, he was always ready to contribute of his means, and according to his ability, probably did as much as any member of the body with which he was connected. Mrs. Palmer is also a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and like her husband, has ever taken great interest in the success of the cause. Mr. Palmer died at his home near Washington in September, 1885. Mrs. Palmer is still living in Washington.
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