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WILLIAM MORE Esq. is a farmer residing in Crawford Township. But few men live in this county who can give a more graphic account of her early history than "Uncle Billy More," as he is familiarly known to all the old settlers of the county. He was born in Greene County, Tenn., in 1811. He is the son of James and Mary (Wilson) More. James More was born in East Tennessee, and was of Irish ancestry, and his wife was a native of Ireland. Her parents, Robert and Nancy J. Wilson, emigrated to America at an early day, settling in Virginia, and afterward moving to East Tennessee. One of their children, James, was born on shipboard while crossing the ocean. The other children—Robert, Hugh, Ephraim and Jane—were born in Greene County, Tenn., where the parents lived and died.
James and Mary (Wilson) More were the parents of James, William, Nathaniel, John, Nancy, Jane and Polly, who were also borne [born] in Greene County, Tenn. James More owned a plantation in Tennessee, and also a few slaves, whom he liberated long before the war. He was a humane master, and the act of freeing several slaves worth at that time thousands of dollars proved his sentiments fully regarding slavery. His death occurred during the progress of the war, he having reached the mature age of eighty-three. The death of his wife occurred previously, though she lived to see all but one of her children married and fairly settled in life. the first one of the family to emigrate to the West wan Jane, who married John Ferguson, who settled in this county in 1843, one mile north of the subject of our sketch, who, in 1844, came with his wife, Martha Wilkins, and their children, William M., Solomon J., Mary F., and Martha G., now deceased, and found a home in this township. Solomon Wilkins, father-in-law of our subject, came with his family at the same time. With him Missouri was the objective point, and they journeyed together until almost through Illinois, when the forks of the road which would lead one to Missouri and the other to Iowa were reached. It was left to the family whether they should come on to Iowa or leave our subject and locate in Missouri. The former plan was decided upon, and the Wilkins' thus gained a residence and became pioneers of this county. Solomon Wilkins entered a quarter section three miles north of Anisworth, where he remained during his life, as did also his wife, whose death occurred previously.
The first two years were sorry ones for the family of William More. they were prostrated with sickness, and the few neighbors they had were in the same condition. HIs total cash account upon arrival here was $7.25, supplemented by an ox-team and one horse. He raised a fair crop the first year, but sickness came, and if they had possessed means enough the family would have returned to Tennessee, but through the advice of friends they decided to remain, and in 1846, paid a few dollars upon a forty-acre tract of land and were given long time on the balance. He entered in 1847 eighty adjoining, and paid for it with the profits of his farm, which was doing remarkably well for a poor man with a family. The first house upon this farm was built in 1847, a story and a half frame dwelling, which is yet a part of his commodious farm house. All but twenty acres of the entire tract has been improved by Uncle Billy. The grand trees were planted, the fences built, and an elegant farm is the result. His first forty acres cost $200, and was purchased of Robert Ferguson, who came from Tennessee with his brother John, and died a bachelor before the war began.
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One child, Jennie, was born after Mr. More became a citizen of this county. She was the wife of Henderson Walker, to whom she bore two children, Cora and Charles; the latter with his mother is deceased. Cora is cared for by her grandparents. Their other children were all married. Wilson McDonald wedded Matilda Twinam, who bore Willie, Effie J., Mattie, Ida and Olive. The mother died when the latter was an infant, and the elder daughters have not only reared the other children, but have found time to become well educated. Great praise is due them. Solomon J. is a resident of Louisa County; he married Lizzie, daughter of Walter Maxwell, and they have one daughter, Nellie. Mary wedded Rufus Bennett, an early settler of Henry County; they are the parents of one son, Howard. (A lengthy sketch of his grandfather, Elmer Bennett, appears elsewhere.)
William More was reared a Whig, but when the Republican party was organized in this county, he was one of the first to espouse its principles, and has remained steadfast in the faith. Solomon J. was a member of Co. I, 25th Iowa Vol. Inf., during the war, and served in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. What greater honor can be given men than to say that during a long life they have lived uprightly, been of correct habits, and have reared a family who have followed in their footsteps. Fifty-seven years of a happy married life have sat lightly upon our subject and his worthy wife. When their golden wedding was celebrated, Sept. 9, 1884, all their children were present with their families, forming an unbroken family circle. This has since been broken, but the memory of the departed will ever be held sacred to the readers of this volume.
EVAN EVANS is a farmer on section 1, Crawford Township. Many of the men who have helped to make this one of the beautiful counties in the State were born in foreign lands and matured under other forms of civil government. Our subject was born in Wales, Nov. 5, 1824, and is a son of Lewis and Catherine (Jones) Evans. They had eight children born in that country: Lewis, deceased; John; Griffith and David, deceased; Evan, Hugh, Ann and Edward, deceased. Lewis, the father of our subject, owned and cultivated a farm in Wales, upon which Evan worked until his marriage. John, David and Griffith were merchants in Wales for years, and John became independently wealthy. He wedded Jane Evans, of Flintshire, Wales. The father of our subject was a military man in his youth, and until his death, at the age of eighty-four kept his sword as a relic of previous military duty. His wife was about the same age when her death occurred.
When our subject was married to Catherine Lewis, in April, 1851, they were both young and full of enthusiasm, and had decided before their marriage to emigrate to America. They were provided with a marriage portion from both parents, and on April 23, of that year, sailed from Liverpool, England, in quest of an abiding-place in America. Landing in New York City, in about a month from the date of their sailing, they remained in New York almost two years, when, hearing of the great West, and what success was made by those who were willing to labor, our subject and his young wife emigrated to Louisa County, Iowa, purchasing a farm in that county. From their coming, a fortune smiled upon them, and after twelve years spent in farming, Mr. Evan found himself possessed of enough money to purchase a nice farm in this county, upon which they settled in 1865, and there they yet reside. their eldest daughter, Ann, was born in New York, and was wedded to Hugh Hughes, a farmer of Louisa County. The marriage was celebrated at the home of her parents, Dec. 19, 1878. She was the mother of four children—John, deceased; Catherine Ellen, S. Jennett and Evan. Catherine and Lewis were born in Louisa County. The former is the wife of Thomas Williams, and resides near Iowa City; Lewis is twenty-five years of age, and makes his home with his parents upon the farm.
Many fine improvements have been made by Mr. Evans since he came; the handsome country house was built, the grand trees that furnish such a greatful shade were planted, and the forest trees were cleared away where now are well tilled fields that bear trace of having been a woodland. The lands have been fenced and put in complete order, the
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whole showing the handiwork of an industrious and careful manager. Wales found in Evan Evans a fine representative of her people, and he has rightly earned with his worthy wife a place in the history of this county. Both are connected with the Congregational Church, the members of which are now erecting a new church where the old one stood. His success has been demonstrated by the purchase of 160 acres of valuable land in this county, and at the age of sixty-three Mr. Evans finds himself settled more comfortably than the fondest dreams of his youth ever imagined.
RESIDENCE OF E.C. NOBLE.
NOBLE, SEC. 36, MARION TOWNSHIP (pg. 342)
EDWARD C. NOBLE came to this county in the fall of 1853, and settled on section 36, Marion Township, where he bought eighty acres of unimproved land, and where he still resides, although the 80-acre farm has grown to be a magnificent farm of 392 acres, all of which is under excellent cultivation. He was born in Litchfield, Harford Co., Conn., in 1826, and is the son of Oren and Catherine (Prescott) Noble, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. The family emigrated to Franklin County, Ohio, when Edward was but three years of age. He was there reared on a farm, and remained at home until twenty years old, receiving his education in the log school-house. When twenty-two years of age he began to learn the carpenter's trade, in Blendon Township, Franklin Co., Ohio, and worked at that trade for nine years. After his three years' apprenticeship he took his boss's place and commenced contracting and building.
While still engaged as a carpenter Mr. Noble came to this county in the year stated and bought eighty acres in Marion Township, and at once commenced its improvement, breaking twenty acres at that time. He then went back to Ohio and worked at his trade for three more years, and then returned with his family to this place in 1856, and has since made this his home, going back to Ohio during dull times and working at his trade. Usually, when working at his trade he ran a gang of about ten men. He was considered one of the best contractors and builders in Franklin County, Ohio.
On the 8th hof May, 1856, Mr. Noble was married to Sarah J. Schroch, a native of Ohio, and daughter of George W. and Rachel Schroch, natives of Hampshire Co., Va. Mr. and Mrs Noble are the parents of three children, all living: Clara Belle, wife of William Riley, an attorney-at-law, residing at Sidney, Neb.; William F. now resides at Noble, and is engaged in the agricultural implement trade; Ida Luella is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Noble are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Simon-pure Republican. In 1883 the Railroad company laid our the village of Noble upon a portion of his farm. All the vacant lots in the village are now held by Mr. Noble.
The father of Edward Noble was one of the first settlers of Franklin County, Ohio, and there had a farm cleared out of the heavy timber. As soon as physically able, Edward and his next younger brother were required to do most of the farm work, from time to time clearing away some of the heavy timber, and thus adding to the farm much tillable land. HIs father was a shoemaker by trade, and by disease had been crippled, thus making it absolutely necessary that others should do the hard farm work. There were in the family nine children, four of whom are now living: Edward, the subject of this sketch; John, living in Werterville, Ohio, near the old home, is a saddler by trade; Luther resides in the same place; Ora is the widow of William Wiley. The father died in 1844, at the age of forty-four. After his death Edward had to look after the family, and was the principal support for some years. His mother died in 1874, aged seventy-five. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Edward Noble is a self-made man, all the property that he now owns being the result of his own labors, having no means to begin life. He has been industrious and economical in his expenditures, and by close attention to business has accumulated a fine property. His farm is regarded as one of the finest and best improved in Washington County. On the place is a handsome two-story dwelling house erected at the cost of $2,000 in addition to his own work, besides which there are three good barns, one of which was erected at a cost of $2,800, and is in size 40x66 feet. Another barn is
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33x42, and another 22x50. The tool and carriage house is 24x32 feet. He also has a granary 35x36 feet. In addition to his general farming, for twenty-two years Mr. Noble was engaged in buying and shipping stock. He now turns his attention to the raising of fine stock, in which business he is quite successful. There are few farmers who are more practical than Mr. Noble. He is a man well read in the current literature of the day, and in general news always keeps well posted. A view of Mr. Noble's handsome residence is shown in this connection.
JOHN KEATING, one of the early settlers of Washington County, is a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 14, Washington Township. He is a native of County Down, Ireland, born Sept. 7, 1835. When sixteen years old he came to this country and located in Herkimer County, N.Y., where he engaged in farming. He subsequently removed to Kalamzoo, Mich., and in 1858 came to Washington County, Iowa, where he was employed on a farm.
In September, 1861, Mr. Keating enlisted in Co. F, 11th Iowa Vol. Inf. The regiment received its first baptism of fire at the battle of Shiloh, where, with the 15th and 16th Iowa, it formed a third brigade of the 6th Division of the 17th Army Corps. In this battle Mr. Keating was wounded in the hand, but remained with his company. The second battle in which the regiment participated was at Corinth. The winter of 1862-63 was spent in operating in front of Vicksburg, Millikin's Bend, Providence, Bayou Tensas and Macon, till the close of the Vicksburg campaign in July, 1863. In August, 1863, it was sent with the expedition to Monroe, La., and in October, to Jackson, Miss., where they had an engagement with Joe Johnston, driving him from the field. Returning to Vicksburg, they went into camp, where they remained until the following winter, when they were sent on the Meridian raid under Gen. Sherman. In March, 1864, most of the regiment was veteranized, receiving a furlough and coming home. Returning to the front he joined Gen. Sherman's army in Georgia, and marched with him to the sea, and thence to Bentonville, N.C., which was the last engagement in which the regiment participated. It was present at the surrender of Johnston and while lying in camp near Durham Station, it first heard of the assassination of President Lincoln. After the surrender of Johnston the regiment continued on its way to Washington, D.C., where it formed part of the grand review, and was subsequently mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and discharged at Davenport, Iowa.
Returning to Washington County, Mr. Keating purchased forty acres of land on section 14, Washington Township, to which he has since made additions, and has now 146 acres of fine land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and valued at $45 per acre. Mr. Keating was married, in 1863, to Miss Isabella Kennedy, who was also a native of Ireland. By this union there are four sons and four daughters—Margaret J., Mary A., Alice, Walter F., John E., Jenny, Charles H. and Howard. In politics, Mr. Keating is a Republican. In educational matters he has always taken a deep interest. The family attend the Baptist Church. For his services in the war of the Rebellion, and for the injuries received therein, Mr. Keating receives the munificent sum of $2 per month. Coming to this country a poor man, like thousands of others, by hard work and good management he has secured enough of this world's goods to render him comfortable for life.
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