they engaged in farming; in the meantime William O. was sent to school, and assisted his father on the farm until he was 22 years old, when he turned his attention to blacksmithing, but, in the course of a couple of years, was obliged to abandon the business because of poor health. He was married Jan. 17, 1850, to Caroline S., daughter of Jacob and Happy Sheets, of Kane Co., Ill; she was born July 4, 1832; they have three children-Ella M., born April 13, 1852; Joe E., born Jan. 11, 1856, and Sarah A., born Feb. 14, 1859; they lost one child, Frank E., born Dec. 21, 1850, died Dec. 13, 1863. Mr. Ramson came to Iowa and settled in Clinton Co. in 1824, where he pre-empted 160 acres of land, and lived there until April, 1868, when he came to Linn Co., and has resided here since; he was engaged in buying and selling hogs and grain for two years in Palo, Fayette Tp., in this county. In politics, he is a Republican, and was Township Trustee two years; President of the township School Board two years; School District Treasurer three years, and in Clinton Co., was Township Assessor two years, Township Trustee two years and School Director three years.

Rhodes, George M., farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Cedar Rapids.

Ribble, Nelson, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Cedar Rapids.

ROGERS, ISAAC P., farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Cedar Rapids; owns 111 acres of land, probable value $2,220; Mr. Rogers was born Jan. 28, 1835, in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and when 13 years old, moved, in 1848, with his parents to Iowa, and lived in Marion Tp., in this county, for about six months and then moved to Clinton Tp., where he resided until 1860, when he moved to Fayette Tp.; lived there until 1863, and then returned to this township, where he has since resided. He was married Jan. 1, 1857, to Emeline E., daughter of Seymour A. Usher, of Fayette Tp., in this county; she was born Oct. 9, 1835; they have three children-Ella M. and Eva M. (twins), born March 2, 1860, and Alma J., born March 21, 1864; they lost one childJesse S., born Jan. 20, 1858; while

out hunting, he was accidentally shot by the discharge of his gun, and died from the effects of the wound received, April 5, 1877. Mr. Rogers was Justice of the Peace for five years, School Fund Treasurer thirteen years, Township Trustee one term, Assessor one term, Road Supervisor two terms, and School Director four or five terms. Is independent in politics; he holds his commission as Second Lieut. of State Militia for Clinton Tp., from the Governor of Iowa; was Master of the Subordinate Grange Society of Stony Point for two years, and Lecturer of the same organization for two years. Between the ages of 15 and 27 years, he followed the business of thresher, in connection with farming. ROGERS, WILLIAM H., far., Sec. 24; P. O. Cedar Rapids; owns twenty acres of land, probable value $1,000; Mr. Rogers was born Aug. 9, 1837, in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where as a boy he went to school and farming between times, working by the month until 1854, when he came West to Linn Co., Iowa, and settled in this township; here he worked for his father (Jesse P. Rogers) for about two years and hired out by the month, when he could get employment from the farmers of the surrounding country. In 1854, the Chicago & Rock Island R. R. terminated at Iowa City, and Mr. R. traveled on foot and by wagon from that point until he reached here. He was married Oct. 24, 1861, to Mary C., daughter of William Donels, of Clinton Tp.; she was born Nov. 25, 1835, in Logan Co., Ohio; they have three children-Carrie E., born March 19, 1863; Adda J., born Dec. 23, 1868, and William P., born Sept. 4, 1874. When Mr. Rogers came here, there were but comparatively but few settlers, and Cedar Rapids contained about as many log houses as anything else, and there the farmers did all their trading. Mr. R. isa Republican and was Town Constable for three years; he is also agent for the Jilz Patent Well Auger.

Scop

COTT, WM. P., far., S. 29; P. 0. Cedar Rapids. Short, H. C., far., S. 18; P. O. Cedar Rapids.

SISAM, ANDREW A., farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Cedar Rapids; owns 220 acres land, probable value $8,800; he was born July 23, 1830, at Columbia, N. Y., and moved with his parents (Henry and Elizabeth Sisam) to Schenectady Co., where he lived four years; moved thence to Albany Co., where he attended school and assisted his father on the farm until he was about 20 years old; from this time until he went to Minnesota in 1863, he was engaged in farming for himself; while in Minnesota, from 1863 to 1865, he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, and in the Fall of the latter year returned to Albany Co., N. Y., and was married Dec. 12, 1865, to Anna, daughter of Peter and Eliza Coon, of Albany Co.; Mrs. Sisam was born June 19, 1841; they have four children-Laura E., born Oct. 25, 1866; Lillia A., Jan. 29, 1870; Harry E., July 14, 1874, and Mabel V., Nov. 27, 1877; in the Spring of 1866, he came west to Linn Co., Iowa, and finally settled in Clinton Tp., on the place where he now resides, and was Township Trustee two terms, Justice of the Peace four years, and is now School Treasurer of the independent school district of Kline and serving his third term as such. He is Independent, in politics. Mrs. Sisam is a member of the Presbyterian Church. SMITH, ADELBERT H., far., Sec. 26; P. O. Cedar Rapids; owns 130 acres, probable value $6,150; he was born Jan. 23, 1842, in West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y., and was sent to school at an early age, continuing his studies until he was fourteen years old; in 1856 he came to Iowa and settled in this township, and early in 1861 he enlisted in the 24th I. V. I, but because of his being a minor his father refused to sign the documents which the Government required in such cases before receiving minors into the service; however, he afterward enlisted, May 14, 1864, to serve 100 days, and at the expiration o his term of service was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, and shortly afterward received a certificate of thanks from the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Smith was married Jan. 8, 1873, to Hattie, daugh

ter of E. R. Earl, of Monroe Co., N.Y., now resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; she was born Nov. 29, 1855; they have one child-Porter A., born March 4, 1875; they lost one child-Alice E., born Oct. 23, 1873, died June 24, 1876. Mr. S. is a member of the M. E. Church, of which denomination Mrs. Smith is also a member.

Sisam, H., far., S. 9; P. O. Cedar Rapids. Smith, B. P., far., S. 33; P. O. Cedar Rapids.

SMITH, HENRY E., farmer, S. 36; P. O. Cedar Rapids; owns eighty acres of land, probable value $6,000; he was born June 15, 1838, in Ontario Co., N. Y., where he attended school until he was 18 years old; in 1856 he came with his parents (Daniel M. and Lucinda Smith) to Cedar Rapids, and in the Spring of that year went to work on his father's farm in Clinton Tp., to aid in improving it. He was married Nov. 14, 1864, to Adella, daughter of Ery R. and Sophia Earl, of Monroe Co... N. Y.; she was born Jan. 21, 4840; they have three children-Freddie A., born Jan. 21, 1866; Arola F., Nov. 22, 1868, and Clayton D., March 20, 1872. In 1866 he went back to Monroe Co., N. Y. and lived there two years; in 1868 he returned to Clinton Tp. and purchased the farm where he now resides. He is a Republican in politics, and is now serving his fourth term as Township Assessor; he was School Director of the Independent School District of Edgewood for three years, and was President of the School Board during that time; he is also one of the Directors of the West Side Mutual Insurance Association, organized in December, 1873, for the protection of farmers against losses by fire and lightning.

Smith, S.G., far., S. 23; P.O. Cedar Rapids. Spaight, A., far., S. 8; P. O. Cedar Rapids. Spencer, C. H., far., S. 26; P. O. Cedar Rapids.

Spicer, C. R., far., Sec. 22; P. O. Cedar Rapids.

SPENCER, THEODORE,

farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Cedar Rapids; owns eighty acres land, probable value $2,000; he was born July 22, 1835, in Orleans Co., N. Y., and at a very early

age moved with his parents (Hiram | and Lucinda Spencer) to Cuyahoga Co., Ohio; when about nine years old he went to De Kalb Co., Ill., where he attended school and assisted his father on the farm until he was 18 years old; he is a carpenter by trade and followed that occupation for five or six years. He was married Oct. 3, 1858, to Cordelia A., daughter of Dyer and Emeline Eaton, of De Kalb Co., Ill.; she was born Dec. 12, 1837; they have four children -Hiram H., born July 6, 1860; Adelaide T., March 14, 1862; Willie, July 28, 1867, and Dyer, June 11, 1869. Mr. Spencer is a Republican, and during the war

now serving his sixth year; was School Treasurer three years and Road Supervisor for eight or ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Stark and family are members of the Catholic Church.

Stark, N., far., S. 30; P. O. Cedar Rapids. Stillson, Luther, far., Sec. 32; P. O. Ce

dar Rapids.

enlisted in Sept., 1862, in Co. K, 75th Ill. V. I., and was engaged in the battle of Perryville, Ky., where he was severely wounded on the 8th of Oct., 1862, and by reason of disability was honorably discharged in December of that year and returned to his home in Illinois. He came to Linn Co., Iowa, in the Fall of 1863, and lived in Clinton Tp. until he went to California, in 1870; in 1872, he returned to this township, and has resided here since. STARK, ANDREW, farmer, Sec.

19; P. O. Cedar Rapids; owns 360 acres, probable value $12,600; he was born May 6, 1834, in Bavaria, Germany. and attended school between the ages of 5 and 14 years; in 1848, he emigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City in May of that year, and after a short stay there came West, via Chicago, to Naperville, Du Page Co., Ill., where he lived for seven years, assisting his father (Matthew Stark) on the farm. He was married July 4, 1855, to Mary A., daughter of Henry and Mary Catherine Wieneke, of Prussia, Germany; Mrs. Stark was born Jan. 23, 1833; they have ten children-John H., born Sept. 13, 1857; Ida C., April 30, 1859; George M., Feb. 6, 1861; Mary J., April 24, 1863; Emma T., Feb. 1, 1865; Franciska, Oct. 9, 1866; Elizabeth, Nov. 6, 1868; Henry C., June 1, 1870; Philominia, June 18, 1872, and Matilda, Sept. 20, 1874; they lost one child-Mary A., born March 3, 1856, died Nov. 22, 1859. He is a Democrat, and is School Director,

Thurston, Simon, far., S. 23; P. O. Cedar Rapids.

TORDOFF, JAMES, farmer, Sec.

19; P. O. Cedar Rapids; owns 120 acres land, probable value $4,200; he was born May 24, 1817, in Yorkshire, England, and attended school from the time he was 7 years until he was 13 years old, when he was indentured as an apprentice to the woolen trade for eight years; when 21 years old, he became engaged at his trade as a master manufacturer, and continued in that way until he came to the United States, arriving in New York City in March, 1851; he immediately went to Massachusetts and engaged in the cutlery business, which he followed for three years; in 1854, came to Iowa, and arrived in Cedar Rapids in March of that year, and after resting there for a few days came to Clinton Tp., where he has since continued to reside; of the farm that he now owns, he has generously donated onehalf acre for a school house, as long as it is used for school purposes; so much does Mr. T. appreciate the importance of education, that when there was no school house in the "Silver Creek" district he and his good wife gratuitously provided a part of their own dwelling for school room, rather than see the little ones grow up in ignorance, and now "Silver Creek is one of, if not the richest school district in the township. Mr. T. was twice married-his first wife was Hannah Mortimer, whom he married Jan. 19, 1839; she died Oct. 22, 1853; there were seven children by this

marriage, three of whom are dead; the names of those living are George, born Nov. 27, 1839; Ellen, Sept. 12, 1841; Sarah, May 13, 1851, and Hannah, Oct. 11, 1853; the names of the dead are William, born Oct. 9, 1844, died March 4, 1846; Martha, born Oct. 29, 1848, died March, 1871, and one child who died in infancy. Mr. T. was married Oct. 15, 1857, to his present wife, at Shelbourne Falls, Mass.; she was Mrs. Emeline Langton, and was born Nov. 4, 1822, at Windham, Vt.; they have three children-Henry, born Oct. 15, 1858; Albert, May 24, 1860, and Emma, Sept. 12, 1862. Mr. T. is Independent in politics, and is a School Director, having filled that position for as many as ten years; he was President of Clinton Tp. for one term, Town Constable seven or eight years and Road Supervison for seven or eight terms. He was the first settler in the section in which he lives, and there was but one man in the school district before him. Tufts, Z., far., S. 28; P. O. Cedar Rapids.

US10; P. O. Cedar Rapids; owns

TSHER, DYER, farmer, Sec.

220 acres, probable value $11,000; he was born March 22, 1814, in Genesee Co., N. Y.; at an early age he moved with his parents (Aaron and Sarah Usher) to Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where they engaged in farming, and were assisted by their son Dyer until he was 21 years old; in 1835, he stated West, via the lakes, to Toledo and up the Maumee River on foot to Ft. Defiance, down the Wabash River to the Pottawatomie Reservation, presided over at that time by Chief Godfroy; thence to Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., Ind., where Harrison fought and conquered the Indians; the bullet marks were plain to be seen on the trees of the battle ground; traveled thence over country through Urbana and Bloomington, Ill., to Canton, Ill., oftentimes an entire day before seeing a house; from Canton he walked to Knoxville, thence to Hendersonville, which at that time was the terminus of any regularly traveled road within fifty miles of the Mississippi River; rested at this point a few days, then went to Drury's Landing, on the Mississippi, where he spent the Winter of 1835-36 in that vicinity,

chopping wood, etc.; in the Spring of 1836, he crossed over to Iowa to a point about ten miles north of Muscatine, known at present as Fairport, and lived there until the Spring of 1839; in the Fall of 1836, he had been trapping with a man named Sammis, on Turkey River and on the East Fork of Cedar River, when one night they were fired at by a band of about seventy-five or eighty Indians; they returned the fire and escaped in a canoe, which lay close at hand; on the 8th of April, 1837, a party of ten persons were crossing the Mississippi with eleven head of cattle, on a ferry boat, and the boat sunk when about three-fourths of a mile from the Iowa shore; through the exertions of Mr. U., three of the party, named Chambers, sons of Wm. Chambers, were saved; three others-cousins of Chambers, and sons of James Chamberswere drowned; the cattle got on an island and were rescued next day by Mr. Usher and others. Mr. Usher was engaged in the wood business, and had for a partner James Davis, the first Sheriff of Muscatine Co., whom he helped to elect in 1836; also helped to elect the first Legislature that convened in Burlington, in the Winter of 1836-'37; in 1837, he assisted in the first government survey of Township 77 N., Range 1 W. of the 5th principal Meridian; also attended the first sales of Iowa lands in Burlington, and secured lands in Muscatine in 1838; he ran a ferry boat across the Mississippi at Fairport from June, 1837, until the Spring of 1839; between the years 1836 and 1842, he crossed the State of Iowa, following an Indian trail to Omaha, and as late as 1842 did not meet a single house, except a small trading house at Eddyville, on the Des Moines River, and on the journey to and fro has hunted, killed game and trapped on nearly every stream; in 1839, he came to Linn Co., and entered a claim in Rapids Tp. and settled on it in the Spring of 1840, and lived there until 1845; he says at that time Cedar Rapids was a den of horse thieves; from 1845 to 1852, he lived in Monroe and Rapids Tps., and in the latter year came to Clinton Tp., where he made five or six farms, and finally settled on the