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ALEXANDER H. YOUNG, residing on section 34, Cedar Township, is a native of Rush County, Ind., born in 1834. He is the son of Alexander and Nancy (Smith) Young [should be Mary Davis Young]. (See sketch of Alexander Young.) Young Alexander came with his parents to Iowa, and was educated in the common schools of this county. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. C, 19th Iowa Vol. Inf., and was mustered into the service August 15, serving three years with the rank of Sergeant. He was with the regiment in various engagements, including the siege of Vicksburg. At the close of the war the regiment was ordered to Davenport, Iowa, where it arrived July 26, and was discharged Aug. 2, 1865. Robert H., the brother of Alexander, was also a member of this regiment, enlisting in 1864, and serving until the close of the war. He returned home after receiving his discharge at Davenport.
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The subject of this sketch again commenced farming, and has since been engaged in that vocation. In addition to general farming, he is making quite a specialty of stock-raising. The home farm consists of 165 acres, in addition to which he owns 135 acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. On the place is a good dwelling-house erected at a cost of $1,600, together with a good barn and necessary out-buildings. Politically, Mr. Young is a Republican, and for several years was Clerk of Cedar Township. He is a man who enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him.
JOSEPH SCRANTON, farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 36, Franklin Township, has been a resident of Washington County since 1844. He is a native of Dearborn County, Ind., and came with his parents to this county, and settled in Marion Township, living with them a short time and then purchasing a farm of 138 acres on section 18 of the same township, to which he added by subsequent purchase forty acres of timber. In 1851 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Taylor, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Harvey and Ellen Taylor. By this union there were four children: Rachel, born in 1854, died Sept. 17, 1865; Ann and Ellen, twins, died in infancy; Martin, born June 27, 1856. Mrs. Scranton died Jan. 8, 1860, at the age of twenty-seven years and two months. Mr. Scranton was again married, Sept. 22, 1860, to Mary Jane Bradford, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Eli and Mary Ann (Wright) Bradford, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Massachusetts. By this union there are four children: Eli, now living on the old homestead in Marion Township, was born Aug. 19, 1861; Jessie, born Jan. 4, 1866; Lizzie, Feb. 10, 1872, and Olive May, May 29, 1877, reside at home.
In 1884 Mr. Scranton deeded the home farm to his son Eli, and purchased his present farm in Franklin Township, which consists of 160 acres of splendid farming land, all of which is under cultivation, and on which the improvements are first class. Mrs. Scranton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Scranton is a Democrat.
Mr. Scranton came to Washington County two years before Iowa was admitted as a State. At that time the county of Washington did not have a population of 2,000. The settlements were few and far between; few improvements had been made, and Burlington was the nearest market of any consequence. No railroad had penetrated west of Chicago, and it was not till eleven years after his settlement that the iron horse found its way into the State of Iowa. To-day he can take the cars at Washington, and by rail visit every county seat in the State. The State is not only well supplied with railroads, but the telegraph and telephone wires reach in every direction. The improvements made in farming are as wonderful as those in any other department. The cradle and sickle have long since been displaced; to-day the self-binding harvester is a necessity upon every farm. The old wooden mould-board plow is a thing of the past; it would not be recognized by the present generation, which is only content with the best cultivators that can be made. When the present is compared with the past, one can scarcely realize the changes that have been made. While none would be willing to exchange the present for the past, yet the old pioneer cannot but recall with pleasure the scenes of long ago.
JOHN S. REEVES, senior member of the firm of Reeves & Son, general auctioneers of Washington, was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, Oct. 10, 1826. Thomas Reeves, his father, was born in Fleming County, Ky., in 1776, and at an early day emigrated to Ohio,where he became acquainted with, and married Miss Mary Hoskinson, a native of Maryland, born in Cumberland County, in 1794. they had five children, of which number John S. is the only one now living. Previous to this time, Thomas Reeves had been married and had a family of twelve children, none of whom are now living. In 1841 he came with his family to Washington County, Iowa, an old man of sixty-six years, took up a claim in what is now Marion Township, improved a farm, and died April 30, 1846. Mrs. Reeves preceded him to the unknown world just ten days, dying on the 20th of April. she was a sincere Christian woman, whom to know was to love. She was well educated, refined in her manners, and in her life was such a woman as none could fail to respect. Her kindness of heart was proverbial.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon his father's farm, and learned to read and write from his mother, but has a vivid recollection of the old pioneer school-house where he attended school a few months in the winter. In May, 1841, he came to Washington County with his parents, and here has since continued to reside. After helping to make a farm from its natural state, on the 26th of May, 1846, he was married to Miss Lucy A. Kenton, a daughter of Benjamin Kenton, of Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio. She was born in September, 1832. By this union there are three children: Thomas J., a farmer residing in this county, married Mattie Risk, by whom he has two children—Gertrude and Bessie; Charles S., the junior of the firm of Reeves & Son, married Miss Sarah Edwards, and they have one child—Maud; Georgia is now the wife of Alvin Wagoner, of this county, and they have one child, John R.
Soon after attaining his majority, Mr. Reeves was elected Constable of his township, and served one term and part of another. While filling his second term, some of his friends got into a little trouble, and desired his help, so he resigned his office, took up their case, and secured their acquital before a Justice of the Peace. He was subsequently elected Justice of the Peace in Marion Township and served four years. He then moved into Brighton Township, was there elected a Justice of the Peace and served two years. In 1858, he received the appointment of Deputy Sheriff under H. Wallingford, and moved to the county seat. As deputy, he did nearly all of the work of the office. In 1860, he again resumed farming in Marion Township, remained a few years, was again appointed Deputy Sheriff under A. Bunker, and the second time moved to Washington. As Deputy Sheriff he had many public sales to make, which gave him quite a reputation as an auctioneer, so that on the expiration of his term under Mr. Bunker, he adopted auctioneering as a business, and for twenty-four years has been engaged in it. As an auctioneer, he has but few equals, and his son Charles is also acknowledged as one of the best in the country. They have calls not only from all parts of Washington County, but the adjoining counties, and even in Nebraska. In 1845 Mr. Reeves carried the mail from Iowa City to Montrose. He was then but nineteen years of age.
Mr. Reeves became a Mason in 1863. In politics, he was originally a Democrat, and when the party became divided, followed the fortunes of Stephen A. Douglas, the "little Giant" of the West, and in 1860 cast his vote for Douglas for the Presidency. In 1864, he supported Lincoln for the second term, since which time he has continued to act with the Republican party. As a citizen, Mr. Reeves is highly respected by all, is of a very social nature, well informed on all current events, and can express himself in a fluent manner upon every subject. For th past twenty years he has kept a perfect diary of events, which will be invaluable t some future historian.
WILLIAM ROWND,Esq., farmer, section 1, Jackson Township, was born in Maryland in 1822. He is the son of Joshua and Hannah (Shockly) Rownd, both of whom were natives of that State, he of English, and she of Irish descent. The grandfather of our subject, William Rownd, Sr., was a sea captain, and for many years sailed between Philadelphia and the East Indies. His last trip was made while the Revolutionary War was in progress, and the Delaware River was soon afterward in possession of the British. He was ship-wrecked during this cruise upon the Indian Ocean, and was mourned as dead for five years by his family, but he was saved providentially, and finally made his way home. The family resided in Worcester County, Md., on a farm near Capes Henlopen and May, and his remaining years were passed
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upon the farm among his children. He was a slave-owner, and his children either emancipated or disposed of them previous to the war.
To William Rownd, Sr., and his wife, were born then children—John, Edward, James and Jacob, all died in Worcester County; William married and removed to Louisiana, where he died; Joshua, the father of our subject, married Hannah Shockly, removed to Ripley County, Ind., in 1836, and resided there until his death, Dec. 6, 1875, aged eighty-nine years and three months; Jenkins married Leah Savage, and moved to Ripley County, Ind., where he died. Benjamin wedded Drusilla Hosier, and became a resident of Miami County, Ind., where he died; Elizabeth married Eleazer Johnson, and Mary wedded Mr. Bevans, and both families removed to Ohio.
After the marriage of Joshua, he remained in Maryland until all but three of his children were born. They were fourteen in number, three dying in infancy; Sally became the wife of William Jersnan; Elijah wedded Ruth Lester; Martha, the wife of William Bratton; James married Sarah King; Robert, husband of Matilda Moreland, came to this county in 1854, and remained several years, and is now a resident of Red Cloud, Neb.; Ann married Aaron Wilson; Hannah is the wife of Elam Wilson, brother of the former; Lucretia married Nathaniel Bratton, a brother of William Bratton; Radcliffe and Charles both died unmarried. All the sons were farmers, and the daughters wedded to farmers. Three of the brothers of Joshua Rownd were educated for the ministry, but only James lived to fill the sacred desk.
The marriage of our subject to Miss Lurana Nicherson was celebrated in Ripley County, Ind., Nov. 25, 1847. She was the daughter of Abijah and Abigail (Dolboff) Nicherson. Her father was a native of Rutland, Bennington County, Vt., and her mother of Buckingham County, N.H. They were married in Chautauqua County, N.Y., and emigrated to Ripley County, Ind., in December, 1818. Mr. Nicherson settled in the woods in that county, upon a farm which he hewed out of virgin forest, where all of his children were born. He had been a lumberman for several years after going to Indiana, purchasing lumber, and rafting it from New York down the Alleghany and Ohio Rivers to Cincinnati and other points below. This was continued for a number of years, before he removed with his family to Washington County, Iowa. George, Eliza, Lorena and Polly were their children. The eldest born died unmarried in Indiana; Eliza became the wife of Rev. J. C. Harbin, and Polly wedded Rev. W. A. Watson. The last name came with her husband to this county in 1854.
Our subject, in company with his father-in-law, came to this county in 1855, and Eliza with her husband, in 1859. rev. Watson had charge of what is now called "Lone Tree" Congregation, but Rev. Harbin never engaged in the ministry after coming to this county. He is now a resident of Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, and Rev. Watson, of Dighton, Lane Co., Kan. The land upon which Squire Rownd now lives was entered by Abijah Nicherson in 1853, and Mr. Rownd entered the northwest quarter of section 12, and eight acres on section 1. The death of Mrs. Nicherson occurred in February, 1856, and Mr. Rownd and his wife made their home with Mrs. Rownd's father. Together they began the improvements of their farms, upon which not a shrub had grown, and their beautiful groves were planted by them, and after so short time it seems impossible to believe that such a change could appear. When the lands were entered in 1853, there was not a house to be seen from the commanding elevation, where the farm residence now stands, and no neighbor was nearer than two miles. Now a more picturesque and fertile country cannot be conceived of. Then, the long grass waved in the breeze, and the odor of wild flowers filled the air; to-day, elegant farms and fine houses and a wealth of crops are to be seen, Mr. Nicherson built a small house frame house which stood fronting the modern farm house erected by our subject. The sod was broken by ox-teams, and several acres were ready to plant when the family arrived in 1855. Mr. Nicherson remained with his daughter, Mrs. Rownd, until his death, in July, 1882, having reached the advanced age of ninety-two.
Seven children have graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rownd: Adelaide, the wife of M. D. Yard; Franklin L., husband of Florence Cooper; Anna,
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the wife of J. A. McCoy; William N., husband of Anne E. Kay; Maria J. and Alice are unmarried, and reside beneath paternal roof; Washington J., the second son, died when nine years of age; Franklin L. is a graduate of the Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., Class of 1874, and is a resident physician of Dighton, Lane Co., Kan.; wiliam was graduated by Dennison University, Granville, Ohio, completed his theological education at Rochester, N.Y., in 1885, and is now pastor of the Baptist Church at Albany, N.Y. The children have all a thorough business education, and the family library is replete with choice literature, one of the largest in the township. Squire Rownd has filled numerous official positions in his township, one of which was Justice of the Peace. The family rank high in social circles, and are deserving of more than this brief biography.
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