Notes

Note N16670 Index

William was a physician in Eddyville, Iowa.

Notes

Note N16679 Index

Edgar was a truck farmer.

Notes

Note N16682 Index

Thanks to Chris Eschbaugh () for this story about Joseph Van Ness:

"While living in Butler County, Ohio, Joseph learned the shoemaker's trade. He was eager to secure an education and walked several miles to school during the cold winter months. Needing extra money, Joseph hired out through the summer months as a farm hand to 'Uncle Sammy' Crooks, as he was familiarly known. Joseph had a very jovial disposition and was quick to make friends of the entire household. He took great delight on teasing Sarah, the sixteen year old daughter, nicknaming her 'Puggy' because she was so fat. But she took his teasing goodnaturedly and always had an answer for his jokes and puns. Joseph and Sarah became good friends and were regular attendants at the social affairs and spelling bees held in the little rustic school house.
Joseph was quite a fiddler and his talent was in big demand for the neighborhood dances. Sarah did not approve of dancing, having been taught that it was a sin. But Joseph disregarded her protests and made the rafters ring with his fiddle and bow. One cold winter night, when returning from a dance, Joseph heard the howling of wolves coming in his direction, nearer and nearer they came. It was very dark and his trail cut through a dense stand of timber. Realizing his danger he whipped up old Charley, on whose back he always traveled, and the intelligent animal, sensing the danger responded with a dash at break neck speed. By this time both horse and rider knew they were in a perilous position and though they sped along as fast as Charley could manage they gained but little on the wolf pack. Closer and closer the pack came and even when the stable came into view it apperared that the leader of the wolves would soon be at Charley's heels. With just a few seconds to spare they galloped into the stable, Joseph flung himself off old Charley and slammed the stable door as the wolves surrounded the building. Joseph climbed the ladder into the haymow and rested there in safety until morning, which was only a few hours away.
Many times Sarah tried to convince Joseph that the hungry wolves were instruments of the devil turned loose, which, to her way of thinking, was to show him the error of his ways. Her faith was strong that someday Joseph would repent.
Sarah married Joseph and became Mrs. Sarah Van Ness before her 17th birthday. Joseph was only three years older than she. Soon after their wedding Joseph and Sarah loaded their covered wagon with the necessary household articles and bid good bye to Butler County, Ohio, as their team of oxen slowly carried them to their new home which was then known as New Discovery, Indiana.
Joseph bought a small tract of land which he cleared, he used the timber to build the log cabin which was their first home. Over the open fireplace Sarah prepared their meals. She spun flax out of which her busy fingers made their clothing, working at night over her spinning wheel by candle light.
A year after their marriage Joseph and Sarah united with the Methodist Evangelical Church. Joseph now became convinced that dancing was a sin, due perhaps to Sarah's influence, and put aside his fiddle forever. Joseph could not entirely give up his music so he learned to play the fife, and became very proficient.
In 1856, Joseph and Sarah hitched up 'Buck' and 'Jerry,' the oxen team and together with several other families, including their own son Daniel's, started overland for the pioneer state of Iowa. They settled in Wapello County, near the little town of Eddyville.
At the beginning of the Civil War the Van Ness families were living in Eddyville, at that time companies were being recruited for service in the Army. Joseph, with his fife and two sons Daniel and Samuel, who played the bass drums, were often called upon to help recruit by playing patriotic airs and leading parades.
Seven children were born to Joseph and Sarah."

Notes

Note N16701 Index

Fred was a rural mail carrier in Pierce County, Washington.

Notes

Note N16702 Index

Thanks to James G. Dahl for the information on this family. Ezra was a farmer in Pine County, Minnesota.

Notes

Note N16706 Index

George operated a retail store in the town once known as Given, in Mahaska County, Iowa. His father, Harry, laid out that town, and then opened its first store, which George took over from his father. George was also the town's Postmaster for several years.
In 1900, the older four of his and Martha's children were living together in Oskaloosa. The youngest child, Earl, was living with George and his second wife, Eva, in Liberty, Iowa.