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J. G. TORBET is a retired farmer residing on section 23, Oregon Township, where he is the owner of eighty acres of land. He is a native of Rockbridge County, Va., born March 8, 1819, and is a son of John and Mary (Paxton) Torbet, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and of Scotch-Irish descent. They married in Pennsylvania, where they lived till 1833, when they moved to Fayette County, Ohio, where they subsequently died. The reared a family of ten children, J. G. being the ninth.
Our subject was reared on a farm, and has generally followed the occupation of a farmer through life. At the age of fifteen years he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for several years, and then returned to the farm. He was married in Mercer County, Ill., in 1857, to Nancy Stewart, daughter of James and Jane Stewart, who were among the early settlers of Mercer County, and who there died some years ago. Mrs. Torbet was born in Union County, Ind., in 1826. they have had four children—Mary, Ella, James W. and John—all of whom are now residing at home.
Mr. Torbet grew to manhood in Ohio, and from there, when about twenty-five years of age, moved to Mercer County, Ill., where he remained until 1882, at which time he came to Washington County, and settled upon his present farm, where he built a
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fine residence at a cost of $2,000. Everything around him denotes thrift and enterprise. Starting in life poor, by hard labor, economy and good management, assisted by his amiable wife, he has acquired a nice property and a good home in which to spend the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Torbet are members of the United Presbyterian Church, and in their lives try to exemplify the teachings of our Savior. The two daughters are also members of the same Church. Both are highly respected and classed among the best citizens of Washington County.
SIDNEY COON is a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 11, Highland Township. He is a native of Washington County, born Sept. 25, 1858, and is a son of Preserved B. and Rebecca A. (Jones) Coon, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Ohio. Preserved B. Coon was born in 1817, and was married in Allen County, Ind., Feb. 10,1 846, to Rebecca A. Jones, a daughter of Jonas and Mary S. (Collins) Jones. They reared a family of ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Coon, believing it would be for their best interests, determined to leave Indiana and settle in a new country, therefore, in 1856 they packed all their household goods in a lumber wagon, and with two yoke of oxen, drove from Allen County, Ind., to Washington County, Iowa, and located upon section 11, Highland Township, where they purchased eighty acres of what was then wild prairie land. At that time there were few people living upon the prairie, the family of Mr. Coon being among the first to settle in Highland Township. On this farm Preserved Coon remained until his death, which occurred June 24, 1886. He left a widow and two children, Sidney, the subject of this sketch, and Clarissa J., of Kansas.
Preserved B. Coon was one of the most enterprising citizens of Highland Township during his residence there. Being a public-spirited man, and willing to do all that he could to advance the interests of his township, he served in nearly every township office, and was a Justice of the Peace for eighteen years. He was also a member of the Board of Supervisors of the county for two years, and was well and favorably known throughout its length and breadth. In his death the county lost one of its best citizens, the wife a kind and affectionate husband, and the children an indulgent parent. Mrs. Coon still resides upon the home farm, where she has now lived for thirty-one years. She is a woman who has attended faithfully to her duties as a wife and mother, and enjoys the esteem of all who know her.
Sidney Coon, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon his father's farm and educated in the common schools of Washington County. Since the death of his father he has had charge of the home farm, which he cultivates, and in addition, is the owner of 160 acres of land. He was married in 1879, to Miss Almira J. Richardson, a native of Gallipolis, Ohio, born in 1856, and daughter of Louis K. and Sarah Richardson. Three children have blessed their union—Joseph L., Preserved L. and Ira A. While a young man Mr. Coon is regarded as one of the most enterprising now living in Highland Township. He has held several of the minor township offices, and is at present Township Assessor. Politically he is a Democrat. The farm on which he resides is proof that he is a practical farmer. Everything is kept in good order, and the improvements are of the best.
JAMES STRAIN, a farmer and stock-raiser on section 9, Oregon Township, is a native of Mercer County, Pa., born Oct. 22, 1827, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Strain, who were natives of Ireland, and settled in Pennsylvania at an early day. He was reared on a farm, and as a tiller of the soil has continued thus far through life. The educational advantages received by him were very limited. In 1852 he was united in marriage, in La Porte County, Ind., with Ann Hodson, a daughter of William and Ann (Lister) Hodson, who were natives of England, but who emigrated to this country at an early day. Soon after his marriage he came with his young wife to Washington County,
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Iowa, where he entered eighty acres of land on section 9, Oregon Township, to which he has since added eighty acres, making him a fine farm of a quarter section of most excellent land. This he has well improved, and is now one of the best in the township, with a good dwelling-house, barn, and all necessary out-buildings for properly carrying on a general farm, together with stock-raising. When he located here the land was an unbroken prairie.
Mr. and Mrs. Strain are the parents of eight children: Emmett married Lizzie Marr, and they have two children—Willie and Pearl; Lizzie, now the wife of Charles Raymond, of Nebraska, has two children—Willie and Alfred; William married Bell Fitzgerald; Jennie is now the wife of William Chatfield, of Nebraska; John, Florence, Alice and James are at home. In politics Mr. Strain is a Republican. Mrs. Strain is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
James Strain, like many others of the most prominent citizens of Washington County, commenced life a poor man, inheriting no property, the fine farm and other property which he now enjoys being obtained by his own labor, assisted by that of his wife. To acquire what he now has often required rigid economy and self-denial; but now, as old age comes on, he has no need to worry, and can take life in an easy manner, knowing that all is well.
SMITH and ROBERT T. GUTHRIEare engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 5, Highland Township, where they jointly own 120 acres of fine land, all under a high state of cultivation. They are the sons of Robert J. and Mary Guthrie, who emigrated to America with their parents when children, and settled in New York, and there both departed this life some years ago. The former parent was a native of Ireland and the latter of Scotland. Smith Guthrie, the elder of the two brothers, was born in Livingston County, N.Y., in 1835, while Robert J. was born in the same county May 3, 1846. Both grew to manhood on a farm in Livingston County, N.Y., and were educated in the common schools of their native county. Farming has been their life-long work.
In 1867 the brothers came to Washington County, and settled in Jackson Township, where they remained three years. They then purchased their present farm in Highland Township, which they have since improved until it is now one of the best in the township. In addition to general farming, they have been engaged some years in breeding fine stock. They have at present three fine Clydesdale horses, one bay eight years old, weigh 1,500 pounds, and sixteen hands high; one black weighing 1,600 pounds, and a black roadster, with white face. Much credit is due to these brothers for the improvement of horses in Washington County. They are classed among the best citizens of the county, and as such are well entitled to representation in this work.
Smith Guthrie is yet unmarried. Robert J. Guthrie was married in this county, in 1883, to Mildred Donaldson, a native of Washington County, born in 1857. Two children have been born to them—Charlotte and David D. Politically, the brothers are Republican.
J. M. STEWART, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 19, Oregon Township, where he owns 240 acres of land, under a high state or cultivation. He was born in Beaver County, Pa., Feb. 5, 1818, and is the son of Archibald and Sarah (Robinson) Stewart, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Irish and the latter of German and Irish descent. They lived in Pennsylvania until 1835, at which time they moved to Indiana, where they remained until 1857, and then came west to Louisa County, Iowa, where the former died in 1859, aged seventy-five, and the latter in 1864, at the age of seventy-six. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom lived to be adults, and seven of whom are still living.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and has followed that occupation thus far through life. He was married in Dearborn County, Ind., Nov. 20, 1838, to Susanna Mason, daughter of
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Daniel and Mary Mason, both of whom were of German descent. She was born April 15, 1919. They have had ten children, nine of whom are living: Sarah is the wife of Thomas Marr, and the mother of three children—William, Jesse and Mary; Archibald married Nancy Pratt, who died, leaving one child, Della, who lives with her grandparents; Amos married Armeda Stickly, and has five children—Seymour, George, Charles, Fannie and Lula; Martin resides at home; John married Nola Owen, by whom he has had four children—Guy, Frank, Blanchard, and Percy; Mary, now the wife of Amos Poland, has two children—Bettie and Belle; Frank married Clara Walker, and has one child living, Clarence; James married Della Colthurst, and has one child, Mary; Belle, the wife of William Trotter, has three children—Lettie, Leonard and James. Mrs. Stewart's parents died in Indiana.
In October, 1853, Mr. Stewart came with his family to Washington County, Iowa, and located upon his present farm, which was then wild Government land. This farm he improved and continued to cultivate until 1862, when he enlisted in Co. A, 25th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Jackson, the siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign, the battle of Lookout Mountain, with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and in many minor engagements. He was mustered out at Washington, D.C., June 6, 1865. Two of his sons also enlisted in the army, Archibald in Co. D, 9th Iowa Vol. Cav., serving nearly three years, and Amos in the 4th Iowa Cavalry, serving nearly two years. During the absence of her husband and sons, who were engaged in fighting for the Union, Mrs. Stewart and the younger children, carried on the farm in a most successful manner. For this she deserves great praise; but to such as her we are indebted for the restoration of the Union, they not only being willing to make the sacrifices necessary, but willing to take upon themselves as great burdens as were borne by the soldiers in the field. When the final record is written, it will be said of her as of one of old, "She hath done what she could."
As was common to the early settlers of this county, Mr. Stewart came here in limited circumstances, and as stated, entered land from the Government, which he purchased at the Government price per acre. This land has been improved to such an extent that the farm is now considered one of the best in Oregon Township. On the premises is a fine residence, good out-buildings, and everything betokens thrift and enterprise. For thirty-four years Mr. Stewart has been a resident of Washington County. In the changes that have been made he has borne his part honorably and well, and as old age comes on, he can safely leave the hard work to others while enjoying the fruits of a life of industry. In politics, he is a Republican; religiously, a Baptist. During his entire life he has steered cleat of courts, never having had a lawsuit.
REV. FRANCIS EUGENE GRUNERT, pastor of the Moravian Congregation, at Grace HIll, was born at Salem, N.C., Jan. 31, 1859. HIs father, the Rev. Maximilian Eugene Grunert, was born at Nisky, Germany, Feb. 26, 1823. He was educated in the Paedagogium and Theological Seminary of the German Province, and served as a teacher in its schools, and after he came to America, at Salem, N.C. On April 21, 1851, he was ordained a Deacon of the United Brethren (Moravian) Church, by the late Bishop Herman, and took charge of the congregation at Bethany, N.C. there he labored for six years, and was then, in 1857, appointed Assistant Principal of the Salem Female Academy, a boarding-school for young ladies. In 1866 he was constituted its Principal, and in 1874, a member of the Southern Provincial Board, and his connection with the Academy continued for twenty years. In 1877 he resigned, and was called to the pastorate of the Church at Emanus, Pa. There he labored for only two years, having, in 1879, been appointed resident Professor in the Theological Seminary at Bethlehem, Pa. This responsible position he filled until 1886, when he resigned and retired to Nazareth, Pa., where he died very suddenly, of apoplexy, on the evening of Jun3, 4, 1887. On the 13th of May, 1856, he was ordained a Presbyter by the late Bishop Jacobsen. His active service as a minister of the Church embraced thirty-five years,
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and was joyfully and zealously rendered to the glory of God and the good of his fellowmen. He was a genial companion, a ripe scholar, an excellent preacher and an humble child of God. His sermons, whether in English or German, always commanded attention. They were full of Christ and of Christian experience. There are, in the South and North, many ready to testify that he helped them forward on the way of life, that he cheered their hearts with sweet promises eloquently set forth, that when listening to him they were borne, as on a gently rippling current, nearer and nearer to the Savior. "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Our subject's mother, Emma F. Pfohl, daughter of the Rev. L. T. Pfohl, of Salem, N.C., was born May 23, 1839, and died Oct. 24, 1862 She was a consistent Christian, and brought up her children in the fear of the Lord, two of whom are in the service of the Church, Mrs. L. G. Smyth, wife of the Rev. C. S. Smyth, a Moravian missionary on the Island of Jamaica, West Indies, and the subject of this sketch. The other two children are serving the Lord in the sphere of life to which He has called them, the older son in Salem, N.C., and the younger daughter in Nazareth, Pa.
In early infancy, the subject of our sketch was dedicated to the Lord in holy baptism, and in his fifteenth year made profession of his faith in Christ, solemnly receiving his baptismal convenant in the rite of confirmation, and sealing it in the Lord's Supper, on Thursday of the Passion Week, in 1873. In August, 1875, he entered the Moravian College and Theological Seminary at Bethlehem, Pa., having received his early education in the parochial school at Salem, N.C. June 1, 1880, he was graduated wit the degree of Bachelor of divinity, and in September, the same year, entered as teacher in Nazareth Hall, a boarding-school for boys, at Nazareth, Pa., and continued in the same institution until 1884, when he was appointed to the pastorate of the Moravian Church at Grace Hill, Iowa. On Aug. 24, 1884, he was ordained a Deacon of the Church by the late Bishop H. A. Shultz, and on the 31st of the same month, preached his introductory sermon at his new charge, where he has labored faithfully till the present time. Having received an appointment to the English Congregation at West Salem, Ill., he expects to remove there. On Aug. 26, 1884, he was married to Miss Gertrude C. Smyth, daughter of William C. and Addie M. (Supplee) Smyth, of Philadelphia, Pa. They have one son, James Ernest Grunert, born Oct. 4, 1886, a bright little boy, the joy of his parents.
WILLIAM H. HARDY, deceased, was born in Monmouth County, N.J., Sept. 2, 1834, and was the son of James and Rebecca (Brower) Hardy. The paternal ancestors were German, and the maternal of English origin, the latter descending from the famous Annecke Jans family. By trade William Hardy was a carpenter, and his first visit West was made about 1854, going first to Chicago, where he worked at his trade, then to Aurora, Ill., from which place he returned to New Jersey and was married to Adelia Curtis. In 1856, he brought his young wife to Iowa, and located on a farm purchased near the Johnson County line, upon which he resided during the lifetime of his wife Adelia. She was the mother of two daughters and one son: Eureka, now the wife of William Moffard, who is connected with the railroad company, and a resident of Jersey City; Alice V. was three years of age when her mother died, and has been reared by her maternal grandmother, a resident of Manasquan, N.J.; Wallace L., a resident of Iowa City, is by trade a machinist, and an honor to his father.
William Hardy was a finished workman, and although living on a farm, continued his business during his lifetime. Not only a contractor and builder, he was also a cabinet-maker, and many pieces of furniture adorn the home of his widow left as momentoes of his skill. His first wife died in 1865, and Jan. 14 1869, his marriage to Mrs. Eliza C. (Rose) Hunt was celebrated. She was the widow of N. P. Hunt, who in one of the overland trips made by our subject accompanied him to California. Mr. Hunt wedded Eliza C. Rose after his return, Aug. 31, 1865, and survived only six weeks. He was a native of Fairhaven, Vt., and was
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a noted teacher in this county prior to his death. He was an active worker in the temperance cause, and while in California became a member of Michigan City California Division of the Sons of Temperance, and Mrs. Hunt received a kind letter of condolence from the order after his death occurred. One son, Alva B., graced the second marriage of our subject, now a young man full of promise, who resides with his mother and manages a nice farm left as patrimony of her father. William H. Hardy was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was mourned not only them but by the entire community. His death occurred Feb. 12, 1887. He was in his fifty-third year and prior to his last illness was in perfect health. In a few days his decline became marked, and as the bright sun sinks from a cloudless sky, so passed away the spirit of a man that all loved and respected.
Mrs. Eliza C. Hardy is the daughter of Alva B. and Margaret A. (Stewart) Rose, who were among the earliest settlers of Washington County, which was then part of a Territory. They were married in Perry County, Ohio, near Zanesville, in which place their daughters, Eliza C. and Hannah E. were born. Baltimore Md., was the birthplace of Margaret A. Stewart, whose parents residents of Washington, D.C., in an early day. Her mother died and was buried in the capital city when Margaret was seven years old. She was sixteen when the death of her father occurred. While on a visit to relatives in Ohio she met Alva B. Rose, to whom later she was married. She had three brothers and one sister: Columbus and John, twins; Eliza C. and George F. John came to Iowa with Mr. Rose in 1840; the latter entered 320 acres and John Stewart 200, the tracts adjoining each other. Mrs. Hardy's town residence now stands on a part of the latter tract. The eastern part of Riverside is a pat of the original entry of Alva Rose, who with John Stewart attended the first land sale in Iowa, held at Farifield, Jefferson County, in the fall of 1841, and made purchases of their claims. John Stewart came to this county rich, but returned a few years later to Baltimore, Md., comparatively bankrupt, but is to-day a wealthy resident of that city. When the Rose family settled in this county, there were but a few small houses in Washington, and nothing but an Indian trail leading from that place to the spot selected for their home. He had purchased of William Duvall for $500 in gold the claim which was entered later, upon which was a double-log cabin, and forty acres broken; these were th inducements leading to its purchase. Duvall was a bachelor, and raised a large number of hogs, which for shelter were provided with holes dug in the hillsides fronting English River. The hogs were frequently smothered to death, and the wolves held high carnival over their carcasses. Mrs. Hardy distinctly remembers seeing large number sitting around the pits after having satisfied their hunger. Mr. Rose procured traps and caught many of them, the county, for their scalps, paying his taxes and aiding him largely in gaining a livelihood in those early days.
Mr. Rose was a poor man, and all his money was expended in securing his land. Remote from his native State, papers or books were a luxury dreamed of but scarcely realized. An almanac cost twenty-five cents, letter postage was also twenty-five cents, and letter frequently remained in the office for a time before the amount could be raised to pay for them. Mr. Rose and his family removed from Ohio to Washington County in wagons drawn by oxen, and when coming to their new home, Mr. rose hitched his only horse in front. While crossing English River on the ice, it gave way, and the wife and children were carried one by one to the bank, after which the ice was broken and the team safely carried across. The Musquaqua Indians were plentiful, and came in crowds to the cabin, demanding corn bread and honey (of which they had an abundance), and would remain until their requests were granted. They were great beggars, and in fact, asked for almost everything in sight. The first year the Rose family lived at Washington, near which place Mr. rose raised a crop. This had t be conveyed to his farm, and one morning as his oxen were yoked to the wagon to start for a load, an Indian rode up and dismounted just as Mr. Rose was bidding his wife and children good-bye. His wife begged him to remain,which he did, and that evening they were forced to feed fifty gaily painted Indians who were out on a raid. But no harm came to this family. Perhaps no
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lady in the county is as conversant with incidents of early days as is Mrs. Hardy, who many times was held in the laps of the Indian squaws who often came to the cabin.
After spending two years in the Iowa log cabin, Mr. Rose built a frame house, 16x30, which at that time was the best house and the only frame one in the county. He lived a long lifetime upon his original entry, became a wealthy man, and died April 15, 1879, regretted by all who knew him. His widow is a resident of Boone, Iowa, and enjoys the best of health at the ripe age of seventy-one years. She became the mother of nine children, the two already mentioned, and Columbus J., Joseph R., John A., Ella M., Euphrates A., deceased, Eusebius M. and Hannah. Columbus wedded Mary Buckwalter; Joseph is the husband of Mary A. Druf; John A. wedded Lizzie Fish; Ella M. is the wife of John Maurer; Eusebius wedded Susannah Whittington; Hannah married Dr. J. M. Glasgow, and is now deceased. Only Mrs. Hardy of the entire family now resides in Washington County.
EDMUND LONG is a farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 35, Oregon Township, where he is the owner of 146 acres of as fine land as can be found in Washington County. He is a native of Maryland, born Jan. 10, 1821, and is a son of Phillip and Catherine (Valentine) Long. His mother dying when he was an infant, he never knew a mother's care. He was reared on a farm, and only enjoyed the educational advantages of the common schools. while but of tender years, he was required to assist in the cultivation of his father's farm, and all his life has been a hard-working man, and followed the life of a farmer.
He was married in Cumberland, Alleghany Co., Md., in 1842, to Lydia M. Lease, a native of Virginia, born in 1824. They have become the parents of the following children: Nimrod, married to Martha Kirk; John; Lydia, the wife of Jerry Carl; William; Mary, the wife of Si Sewell; Julia, the wife of Addison Sewell; Thomas and Emma. Mrs. Long is a member of the United Brethren Church.
Mr. Long came to this county in 1845, and is therefore numbered among those who were truly pioneers. He has been an eye witness of the great changes that have been made, and has faithfully borne his part in all that has been accomplished. In Oregon Township he is well known and is universally respected. In his life he endeavors to be guided by the principles of the Golden Rule, and it is said of him that his word is as good as his bond. Would that there were more like him, for the world would be much better, the people happier, and peace and good-will abound.
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