evidence of his intelligence and integrity, is kept by his township most of the time, in some official capacity.

LARKIN, ELI, farmer, section twenty-four, post-office, Oakley. Born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, September 11, 1828; there he grew to manhood, spending his youth in agricultural pursuits, and attending the common district schools. Soon after reaching his majority, he moved to Harrison county, Ohio, where he remained three years, then located in Bureau county, Illinois. In 1868 he moved to Linn county, Missouri, where he remained until coming to his present home, in 1871. He was married, in 1855, to Miss Mary Howard, a native of Harrison county, Ohio. This union has brought to them seven children: Sidney (deceased), Julia, Martha (deceased), Emma, James, Ida, and Olive. Mr. L. is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has served frequently as a township official, and now holds the position of trustee. He owns as a reward of labor, a neat farm of 120 acres, in a good state of cultivation, conveniences to make home happy.

LONEY, JACKSON, farmer and stock-raiser, section seventeen, postoffice, Oakley. Is a native of Knox county, Ohio, born April 15, 1834, and was there raised and educated. In April 29, 1865, he came to Lucas county and located where he still resides. Was married in June, 1858, to Miss Rebecca Myers, of Ohio. By this union they have had four children: Lowell E., deceased, Richard, Sarah J., deceased, and Rebecca A. Was married a second time, February 14, 1866, to Miss E. Wheelter, of Ohio. By her he had six children: Jacob W., Thomas J., Ella T., George J., William H., and Amanda M. The two last are deceased. Mr. Loney was again married March 14, 1879, to Miss M. J. Jenkins, of Indiana. By her he has one daughter: S. Z. When Mr. Loney came to Iowa he had but seventy-five cents. He has now two farms, aggregating 210 acres of good land, and necessary improvements. The results of his industry and

economy.

MUSSELMAN, D. E., farmer; post-office, Oakley. Was born in Johnson county, Indiana, November 4, 1834. In 1853, he came to McDonough county, Illinois, and next year to this county, and located on his present place in 1874. He went to Idaho in 1862 and engaged in mining for one year and returned then to this county. August 31, 1856, he married Miss E. Grimes, of Indiana. They have been blessed with ten children: Millard, Mary M., Sarah T., Eliza, Clara, John W., Charles, Henry F., Rosa and Jennie R. They are members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. M. has a good farm of eighty acres, and is an intelligent farmer and a man of integrity.

NOBLE, GEORGE W., farmer and stock-raiser; post-office, Oakley. Born May 25, 1818, in Somerset county, Maine; there grew to manhood. When a young man moved to Richland county, Ohio; spent his

youth in farming till nineteen years of age, when he engaged in clerking and buying stock and wood for various firms till he had means sufficient, when he engaged in business for himself. In 1850, he opened a store in Pulaskiville, Ohio, which he operated for several years, then began farming. In 1854, he moved to Mercer county, Illinois, and the following year came to Iowa, locating in Chariton and engaged as a commission mer.chant. He sold out and returned to Illinois, but soon came back to Iowa, and finally located where he now lives. He was married in 1851, to Miss Eliza Sirpless, of Ohio; they have eight children: Albin C., Orbon F., Zelphia M., Jane, Cornelius, Bointon, Clarence A. and Ida V. He is a member of I. O. O. F. He owns a model farm of eighty acres, neatly improved with good house, barn and fine orchard.

ROBERTSON, JOHN M., farmer, section twenty-eight, post-office, Chariton. Born March 14, 1817, in Washington county, Indiana. There he grew to manhood, working on the farm, and received a limited education in the common schools. He was first married in 1846, to Miss Matilda Wade, a native of Ohio. Six children were born to them: William F., Martha J., Matthew, John Andrew (deceased), Merida, and Charley. He was married a second time, in 1874, to Miss Mary Bishop. The fruit of this union is three children: Eva M., Manda M., and William B. He owns a farm of 160 acres where he lives, and 800 acres in Tennessee. He has a very ancient history, which bears the date of 1674, published at London, and is presumably the oldest book in this county. RUBLE, GREENBURY, farmer, section nine, post-office, Lacona. Born July 31, 1833, in Warren county, Indiana. In 1851, came to Iowa with his people, who located in this vicinity. They were among the very first settlers of the township. He spent his boyhood in farming, and at the age of twenty-three, began working at the carpenter trade, which he has since followed, in connection with farming. He was married in 1863, to Miss Nancy J. Rodgers, of Ohio. They have five children living: Mary E., Alta E., Laura B., George O., and Manda. Three are deceased. He was enrolled October 31, 1864, in company C, 4th Iowa infantry, and was discharged in June, following. He owns a farm of 143 acres, which he is steadily bringing under cultivation. Mrs. Ruble died May 5, 1876.

STEWART, SAMUEL, farmer and stock-raiser, section twentyseven, post-office Oakley. Born September 4, 1814, in Plymouth county, Massachusetts. At a very early period of his existence, he moved with his parents to Licking county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, receiving a common school education. He also attended Howe & Mills' Academy, where he received a liberal education. When fourteen years of age he began the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until sixteen, then commenced house and sign painting. At eighteen he hired as driver on the canal, that being the only work for which he could obtain money, as

all other employments were being paid in barter and trade. He began teaching school when quite young, and continued therein for some time. We next find him engaged as a clerk, and by close application to business became owner of an establishment. Began business at Hebron, Ohio, in 1857, and in 1864 came to Iowa and purchased his present farm, and also opened a general merchandise store in Chariton, to which he afterward added a tailoring establishment. He conducted business successfully until recently, when he sold out. He owns three farms, containing in all 530 acres. His homestead is well improved. Was married April, 1838, to Miss Helen S. Owens, of Fairfield, Ohio. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are living: T. M., S. F. and J. H. Mr. Stewart was married a second time, February 11, 1859, to Mrs. Lydia Berry, formerly Miss Moyer. She was also a native of Ohio. From this union five children have been born: C. E., M. J., E. B., W. H. and H. L. Mrs. Stewart was formerly married to J. H. Berry, by whom she was the mother of one child, J. S. Berry. Mr. Stewart is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and also of the Masonic order. Has served as member of the board of county supervisors, also as captain of a militia company. His two oldest sons were in the army.

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SYDEBOTHAM, J. H., farmer, section thirty-five, post-office Oakley. Born February 15, 1824, near Winchester, Frederick county, Virginia. When but an infant his parents went to Baltimore county, Maryland, and when he had reached his seventh year they again moved, locating in Perry county, Ohio. Here he grew to manhood, spending his youth in farm labor. When young he received a limited education. As his father was poor and disabled he remained at home until twenty-four years of age, when he began farming, which he has since followed. In 1848 he taught his first school for eleven dollars per month. He has been teaching in Ohio and Illinois, and has taught ten terms where he now resides. In 1857 he moved to McDonough county, Illinois, and came to Iowa in 1869. He was married February 17, 1848, to Miss Sarah Fowler, of Perry county, Ohio. This union brought them five children, four of which are living: George T., Charles P., Mattie J., and Mary E. Mrs. S. died January 10, 1874. He was married a second time March 29, 1878, to Mrs. Francis Dillinan, originally Miss Hendrickson. She was born in Indiana, and first married to Mr. Dillinan, by whom she was the mother of seven children: Harriet, Ella, Susan, Laura, George W., Simon P., and Henry C. The oldest is deceased. Mr. S. is an active member of the M. E. Church, and has been closely identified with the interests of that denomination. He has served as a township officer in many different capacities, and is township clerk at the present time. He now owns 160 acres of good farming land, mostly improved, with a comfortable house and thrifty orchard.

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.

ALEXANDER, JAMES, nurseryman, post-office, Chariton. He is a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was born June 29, 1846. His early youth was passed in farming and attending the rural schools. In 1856 he came with his parents to Iowa, locating in this county. In 1872, he came to his present residence, and engaged largely in the nursery business, which has proved a success in all respects. Was married December 25, 1868, to Miss Alsia J. Cubberson, of Muskingum county, Ohio. Eight children were born to them: William, Maggie, Ralph, Harry, Lewis, John and an infant. He enlisted, May, 1864, in company K, 46th Iowa infantry, and served five months. He has served creditably as justice of the peace and assessor. He owns the Hillside nursery,

which is one of the best.

BADGER, MRS. MARGARET, section thirty-two, post-office Chariton. She was born July 17, 1817, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. At the age of seventeen, her parents moved to Monroe county, where she was married January, 1834, to Mr. Ebenezer Badger. He was a native of Ohio, born November 12, 1811. There he grew to manhood, a farmer. At the age of maturity he moved to Indiana, and in 1852 came to Iowa, being one of the first settlers of Lucas county. They reared a family of eleven children: Ephraim, John W., Mary, Samuel, Edward, Francis Marion, Martha Jane, Isaac N., William A., Margaret A., and Phoebe, and had also one deceased in infancy. Their three eldest sons served in the army; John losing his life in the battle of Shiloh. Mrs. Badger owns an improved farm of one hundred acres, which is now operated by her sons, Isaac and William, who are industrious young men of high standing.

BAKER, WALKER W., farmer, post-office, Chariton. Owns 550 acres of land, mostly under cultivation; also owns valuable town property in Chariton. Was born June 29, 1814. At the At the age of thirteen years, his parents moved to Johnson county, Indiana, where he was raised to manhood a farmer, being educated in the common schools. He was elected sheriff of Brown county, Indiana, in 1843, and re-elected in 1845. Elected treasurer in same county, in 1846; re-elected in 1849. Moved to this county in the fall of 1853, where he has since resided. Married in John

son county, Indiana, November 29, 1838, to Miss Eliza J. Musselman, a native of Indiana, Jennings county. They have had fifteen children, ten of whom are living: William L., Daniel M., Jesse C., Mary A., wife of M. V. B. Lovering; Milton P., Eliza, wife of L. D. Rankins; Eugene S., Virgil G.; Clara J., and Walker Wilming, Sarah M., wife of Thomas J. Allen; Eliza J., wife of H. N. Chamberlain; Louisa, twin to Eliza; Naaman D. and Flora E., deceased. Mr. B. is a member of A. F. & A. M.

He was a man of very limited means when he settled in this county, and has accumulated his property entirely through his own energies.

ELLIS, L. W., farmer, section twenty-six. Born May 29, 1827, in Brighton county, Kentucky. His boyhood was passed in working at the cooper trade with his father until reaching his sixteenth year, when he left home, and found employment on the flat-boats of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He followed this till twenty-four, then went to Vermillion county, Indiana, and engaged in farming. In 1850 he went to Sullivan county, Missouri, and two years later, came to Iowa, locating in Mahaska county, where he engaged in milling and mercantile business. In 1872 he went to Solano county, California; in 1874 he returned to Mahaska county; in 1876 he again went to California; in 1878 he went to Lake county, Oregon, and the following year, came to his present home. He was married, October 13, 1851, to Miss Minerva Belger, of Vermillion county, Indiana. They are the parents of nine children, but seven of whom are living: Mary A., Rhoderick W., Josiah M., Jasper N., William A., Mary A., and Charles L.; two are deceased, Olive J. and Manda M. Mr. Ellis has held various offices of trust, and while in California held the position of police judge. He owns a neat farm of forty acres, where he lives, and is also in possession of 106 acres of land, in Benton township.

HOLMES, JOHN A., farmer, section one, post-office, Chariton. Born in Sweden, December 14, 1844; was reared and educated in the land of his nativity. Came to Lucas county, Iowa, in the spring of 1868, where he has since resided. Was married to Mary J. Holmes (also from Sweden) May 19, 1870. They have four children: Andrew, Fritchof, Alfred and Victorine. Mr. Holmes is located on a good farm of 320 acres, well improved. Is engaged in stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes are worthy members of the Lutheran Church; are kind neighbors, and good citizens.

LOVERING, M. V. B., farmer, section eighteen, post-office, Chariton. Born May 24, 1834, in Hillsboro county, New Hampshire, where he grew to manhood. He received the advantages of both common and graded schools. When seventeen years of age he learned the trade of shoemaking which he followed two years, then engaged as a clerk, and afterwards as school teacher. In 1856, he came to Clinton county, Iowa, but soon returned. In 1860, he again came to Iowa, locating in Mitchell county, where he engaged in mercantile business. In 1864, he went to Montana, and engaged in mining; 1868, returned to Iowa; 1873, went to California, but returned the same year. He was married October 8, 1868, to Miss Mary Baker, who was born in Indiana; they are the parents of five children: Florence L., Mary E., Guy A., Myrtle B. and Stella E. He owns a farm of 240 acres in a fine state of cultivation and well improved.