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WILLIAM SEETON, residing on section 7, Dutch Creek Township, is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 6, 1821, and is the son of John and Catharine (Stephenson) Seton, both of whom are natives of Ireland. They came to America about 1819, settling in Philadelphia, Pa., and from there moved to Ohio about 1831, and there engaged in farming until 1854, when they came to Washington County, Iowa, and settled in Dutch Creek Township, on section 4. They remained on that place until their children were all scattered, and then made their home with the subject of this sketch. The father died in July, 1870, at the age of seventy-five, and the mother in April, 1871, at the age of seventy-three. They were members of the Old-School Presbyterian Church, and were ever active in church work. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living: Martha, now the wife of William Patterson, resides in Carrollton, Ohio; William is the subject of this sketch; Mary J., the widow of Moses Harris, resides at Talleyrand, Iowa; Oliver is a Justice of the Peace and present Mayor of What Cheer, Iowa; Ann Eliza is the wife of N. H. Garret, of Coffey County, Kan.; Joseph T. is a farmer in Keokuk County, Iowa.
On the 2d of December, 1847, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Lettice Crawford, a native of Carroll County, Ohio, born May 3, 1821, and a daughter of James and Margaret (Allender) Crawford, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They have been blessed with four children: Mary A., born Sept. 27, 1848, now in charge of her father's home; Oliver G., born March 7, 1854, is engaged in the wholesale feed and provision business at El Paso, Tex.; James B., born Aug. 1, 1856, died April 5, 1857; Joseph G., born Jan. 12, 1862, resides at home. On the 4th of February, 1887, Mrs. Seeton died. She was a very devoted member of the United Presbyterian Church, always in the front in all work for God and humanity; a kind mother and a faithful wife. In the Church she is greatly missed, and in the family circle here is a vacant chair. The loved ones who yet remain are now only waiting to reunited in the land of the blest. Mr. Seeton and the family are all members of the United Presbyterian Church.
In 1854 Mr. Seeton purchased eighty acres, comprising part of the farm on which he now lives, and to which he has since added forty-five acres, giving him a fine farm of 125 acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and is otherwise well improved. Politically, he is a Democrat, and is well posted in all political questions. He has held various township offices; was Township Assessor in 1864, and has held the office of Township Trustee a number of terms. He was appointed Postmaster of Valley Post-office under Franklin Pierce. Mr. Seeton is a well-preserved man, past his threescore years. His life has been a busy one, and when called upon by the writer of this sketch, he could not resist the opportunity of taking a backward look and calling remembrance more than fifty years of busy life. He spoke of the harvest on July 6, 1836, on his fifteenth birthday, when he took his cradle and started out to cut 100 dozen bundles of wheat. This was a big task for a boy of fifteen, but he accomplished it in good time.
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Next after the cradle came the old-fashioned reaper, in which the grain was raked off by hand; then came the self-raker, and now, the self-binder. He says that he can scarcely realize the many changes that have been made, and can little imagine what the future will bring forth. Few men in Dutch Creek Township are better known, and none more highly respected than William Seeton.
GEORGE STUMP, who resides on section 33, Lime Creek Township, came to this county in 1854, and has therefore been a resident of it for a period of thirty-three years. He is a native of Montgomery County, Pa., born Jan. 12, 1822, and is a son of John and Catherine (Walters) Stump, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They emigrated to Franklin County, Ohio, in April, 1836, where they lived until their death, the former dying in October, 1842, at the age of seventy years, and the latter about 1860. They were the parents of ten children, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth. But one of the family besides himself came to Washington County, a sister, the wife of John F. Tipton, now residing in Nodaway County,Mo.
Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools. He was married, Feb. 24, 1842, to Miss S. H. Tipton, a native of Franklin County, Ohio, and daughter of Thomas Tipton, also a native of that State. To Mr. and Mrs. Stump nine children were born: Mary married Rev. S. H. Thomas, of Marysville, Iowa, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died, leaving two children; Elizabeth is the wife of A. A. Henry, a farmer residing in Ottawa County, Kan.; Rebecca is now the wife of J. M. Gardner, of Wellman; Thomas, a stock-shipper, residing in Cloud County, Kan.; John is a farmer residing in this county; William E. is also engaged in farming in this county; Catherine married Callet Sicler, of Washington, and died, leaving three children, two of whom, Georgie and Winn, reside with their Grandfather Stump, and Ray is living with Edwin Stump in Lime Creek Township; Hiram, a farmer, now resides in Washington; Gertie is residing at home. Mrs. Stump and her daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically, is a Democrat.
In August, 1862, Mr. Stump enlisted in the 19th Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the various engagements of his regiment, and was in the campaign against Marmaduke and the siege of Vicksburg. On coming to this county Mr. Stump had but thirty-seven cents, which was his cash capital, together with a team. He first entered eight acres of land on section 20, Lime Creek Township, which he soon sold, and bought eighty acres in Cedar Township, which he held for a time, sold, and purchased 110 acres on sections 32 and 33, Lime Creek Township, where he still resides. He has sold all his farm save forty acres, which is well improved. Mr. Stump is an intelligent man, one held in high esteem by his friends and neighbors, and for fifteen years has been living a retired life. From time to time he has been honored by his fellow-citizens with local offices, including those of Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and School Director.
WILLIAM COCHRAN, farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 25, Franklin Township, first became a resident of Washington County, Iowa, in 1856. He was born in Jefferson County, Ind., Feb. 4, 1824, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Lyons) Cochran, both of whom were natives of Mercer County, Ky. He was married, March 4, 1852, to Elizabeth Wallace, who was also a native of Indiana. They have one child, Alonzo W., living in Franklin Township. He was married, in 1876, to Cora E. McElroy, and has three children—Minnie A., William J. and Earl.
On coming to his county, Mr. Cochran settled near Crawfodsville, Crawford Township, where he lived one year, and then moved to South English, where he engaged in milling six years. He then sold out and returned to Washington County, settling on his present farm on section 25, Franklin Township. All the improvements made upon the
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place are by him. In addition to a good, comfortable dwelling-house, he has a fine barn erected at a cost of $2,000, together with such out-buildings as are necessary in conducting a general farm. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are members of the Baptist Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and has held several local offices, including that of Township Assessor, while a resident of Keokuk County, and Justice of the Peace. Mr. Cochran's father died Aug. 20, 1874, aged seventy-four years, and his mother Aug. 16, 1880, aged seventy-eight years. They were members of the United Presbyterian Church.
For a period of thirty-one years, with the exception of the time spent in South English, Mr. Cochran has been a resident of Washington County, and has been going in and out among the people. His manner of life is well known, and no words of the biographer will add to the just merits of the man. All know him to respect him.
CHARLES CORETTE, residing on section 35, Cedar Township, is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native Hawkeye, born in Washington County in 1855, and is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Tonder) Corette, natives of France, who settled in Washington County in 1853. For a number of years his father was engaged in the grocery trade in Washington, in which business he accumulated a fine property. Of his family there are four children living: Joseph, now residing in Grinnell, Kan., engaged in general merchandising; Charles is the subject of this sketch; Edward is now residing in Newton, Kan., and is Cashier of the National Bank in that place; Mary resides with her mother in Washington. The father died some years ago.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in the city of Washington, Iowa, and was educated in its public schools. On the 19th of April, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Vincent, also a native of this county, and daughter of John and Jane (McCulley) Vincent, who were numbered among the early settlers of Washington County. While crossing the railroad track near Keota, Iowa, in October, 1876, both were killed by a passing locomotive. The father was eighty years old and the mother sixty-seven. They were members of the United Presbyterian Church, and were well known and highly respected citizens of the county.
Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Corette settled in West Chester, where he engaged in the mercantile business for two years. While a citizen of Franklin Township he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served two years, resigning his office on his removal from the township. In 1884 Mr. Corette settled upon his present farm, which consists of 100 acres of fine land, well improved in every respect. HIs present residence, which is T shaped, is 16x28, and 16x30 feet. It was erected in 1885 at a cost of $1,600. The other improvements on the place are of a most substantial kind, including a good barn and other out-buildings. He is regarded as one of the most enterprising farmers of Cedar Township, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
Politically, Mr. Corette is a Republican, and a Prohibitionist from principle. Although a young man, he has been honored by his fellow-townsmen with the election to several of the township offices, and is at present Chairman of the School Board. On his place is a fish pond covering about half an acre of ground, which he is arranging to have well stocked with carp. Mr. and Mrs. Corette are members of the First United Presbyterian Church, of Washington.
T. E. BROWN is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 31, Clay Township. He was born May 7, 1833, in Knox County, Ohio, and is the son of Thomas and Nancy (Markley) Brown, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom five are now living: James, a farmer; Sarah; Joseph, also a farmer; Nancy, who married Mr. Whitson, a farmer, and the subject of this sketch. All, with the exception of our subject, are living in Keokuk, Iowa. The family moved from Ohio in the fall of 1848, and settled on a farm in Keokuk County, Iowa, where the
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father entered 340 acres and then purchased 100 more. To each of his three sons he deeded 160 acres of land, and also 100 acres to his son-in-law, John Roberts, and at the time of his death had one of the finest farms in Keokuk County. he died in 1855, and the mother in 1859. She was a member of the Baptist Church. They were kind and indulgent parents, and did all they could for their children. Thomas Brown was a man of great energy, a lover of home, and a friend of education. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm and received his education in the common schools. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred March 8, 1855, to Miss Susannah Moffett, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Robert and Asenath (Powell) Moffett. She was born Dec. 1,1834. Her father and mother were members of the Christian Church. Immediately after their marriage Mr. Brown commenced farming for himself, and continued in that occupation until his enlistment in 1862, in the 40th Iowa Infantry. He was with the regiment during its entire service and was always ready for duty, participating in every engagement. He was mustered out at Ft. Gibson and discharged at Davenport, Iowa. On receiving his discharge, he returned to his home in Keokuk County and resumed the occupation of a farmer. He there remained until the spring of 1880, when he sold 105 acres in that county, and purchased 174 acres in Clay Township, Washington County. He now owns 180 acres in Washington and Keokuk Counties.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had nine children: The first-born died in infancy; E. A., born Aug. 25, 1857, married Josephine Nelson, a native of Tennessee, and now resides in Jefferson County, Iowa; Mary E., born Sept. 26, 1859, is the wife of F. S. McPherson, a farmer in Loup County, Neb.; Elzora, born April 12, 1863, is the wife of Albert Woodford, a farmer in Clay Township; Cora, born Aug. 28, 1866; Robert E., Feb. 17, 1869; William D., Aug. 18, 1871; Sylvia J., Feb. 3, 1874; Emily M., Nov. 23, 1876. All the children have had good school advantages, the three eldest being well settled in life, the others yet remaining at home. While Mr. Brown is not numbered among the early settlers of Washington County, he yet was a pioneer of the adjoining county of Keokuk, and is well and favorably known to many of the citizens of this county, especially to those residing in the southwestern part. He is a man of great energy and force of character, one on whom you can rely, and in his chosen occupation of a farmer has been quite successful. With the exception of what was first given him by his father, that which he has is the result of his own industry, assisted by her who has been truly to him a helpmeet.
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