Ida County Iowa Genealogy Collections

Philo Orlando VanWagoner

Philo O. VanWagner passed away on August 4, 1919 at Ida Grove, Iowa. His affliction was pronounced muscular paralysis. Philo was born on November 17, 1849 at Oxford, Michigan, and was in his 70th year. He attended school at the Oxford Academy. At the age of twelve, he moved with his parents to the country. When he was sixteen, he began his trade as a stone mason. He was united in marriage on October 15, 1873 to Miss Etta McVean. Five children were born, three of whom survive him: Nita, at home; Philo Jr. of Ida Grove; and Mrs. Lawrence … Read more

John Wesley Somers

John Wesley Somers, one of Ida Grove’s oldest and distinguished residents, died Saturday morning, August 2, 1919, at the age of 84 years, 8 months, and 15 days. The funeral was held at the late home Monday, in charge of Rev. John T. Pierce. The interment was at the Ida Grove Cemetery. The pall bearers were Charles S. Macomber, W. J. Scott, James E. Easton, B. S. Noble, A. Sykes, and Card Kiner. Mr. Somers was born at Rockford, Surrey County, North Carolina, on November 17, 1834. While still in youth, he moved to Rockford, Illinois, where he met Sarah … Read more

Ida County Iowa Genealogy

The following pages represent a collection of genealogy data for Ida County Iowa. The sources used to compile this data were many and are listed at the bottom of this page for the researchers reference. 1884 Iowa Farmers Directory Battle Township Blane Township Corwin Township Douglas Township Galva Township Garfield Township Grant Township Griggs Township Hayes Township Logan Township Maple Township Silver Creek Township 1906 Iowa Farmers Directory Battle Township Blane Township Corwin Township Douglas Township Galva Township Garfield Township Grant Township Griggs Township Hayes Township Logan Township Maple Township Silver Creek Township 1920 Farmers Directory Battle Township Blaine Township … Read more

History of Mathew Gray Post – Grand Army of the Republic

This was organized in the fall of 1881 with 27 charter members. The final membership reached 127. It lasted until the last member, James Deal, died in 1930. The post was given its name in honor of Matthew Gray, a highly respected soldier who had died just before the organization. For many years, the Mathew Gray Post was very active and great enthusiasm was displayed in the observance of Decoration Day and the Fourth of July. Each year on those days, the Civil War Veterans would dress in their blue uniforms, one carrying a large flag and the rest a … Read more

Biography of Richard Williams

He was County Commissioner of Ida County, Iowa, was born in Schuylkill Co., Pa., in 1845. He was the youngest child of Thomas and Margaret (Watters) Williams, natives of Cornwall, England. Richard was reared and educated in Jo Daviess Co., Illinois. In October 1864, he enlisted in Battery F, First Illinois Light Artillery, for one year, or during the war. He served principally with Battery I. He took part in the battles of Nashville, followed Hood to Eastport, Ms., where he was on garrison duty. He was honorably discharged at Chicago in August, 1865. Richard now resumed farming in Illinois. … Read more

Biography of John H. Moorehead

J. H. Moorehead came to Ida County in June, 1856. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, September 21, 1808. He was a son of Thomas Moorehead who was of Scotch ancestry. He had been engaged in shipping flour down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans. In 1854, Mr. Moorehead came to Iowa City, Iowa, where he remained until 1856, when he and his family came to Ida County. He took an active part in all public affairs and assisted in the upbuilding of the county. He had been a man of business for many years and shouldered the … Read more

Biography of Harrison Hackett

Harrison Hackett, one of the early settlers of Ida County, Iowa, was born in Orange County, Vermont, May 6, 1832. He was the son of Emery and Amanda (Hines) Hackett, both natives of Vermont, with the ancestors coming to this country from England generations ago. Harrison’s brothers and sisters were: Homer, Hellen, Henry, Angeline, Louisa, Edna, Arabell, John, Harriett, Clifton, Charley, and Augusta. Four of the brothers were in the Civil War. Harrison enlisted in June 1864 in Company G, Third Minnesota Infantry, and was mustered out in the fall of 1865 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. When Harrison was 14 … Read more

Biography of Emeline J. Harris

Emeline J. Harris daughter of Samuel B. and Mary (Eastman) Harris, was born in Licking Co., Ohio; married Samuel Allison, March 2, 1852, by whom she has had eight children: Oscar H. Allison, born January 2, 1853; Anna L. Allison, born August 8, 1854; Mary E. Allison, born March 8,1857; Minerva Allison, born April 14, 1859; Laura E. Allison, born May 4, 1862; Frank E. Allison, born April 12, 1865; Eugene R. Allison, born August 18, 1868; Ida L. Allison, born July 2, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Allison removed from Ohio to Delaware County, Iowa, in April, 1852, and settled … Read more

Biography of David Warnock

In the spring of 1869, two families, David Warnock and Joseph Ferguson, were crossing Iowa to settle in Ida County. The Warnock family had originated in Ireland and had been at Dubuque Co., Farley, Iowa. They traveled the distance to Ida County from Dubuque Co. in a covered wagon, and arrived on June 10, 1869. Only 7 families resided in Ida County at that time. Soon after they arrived, they broke the sod on their land. Richard Warnock was Dave Warnock’s father, and Dave’s mother was Frances. The parents were Irish. They waited a year or two before they left … Read more

Biography of David Nicoll

Rev. D. Nicoll, a minister of the United Presbyterian Church & a prominent farmer in Battle Twp., Ida Co., Iowa, was born in Delaware Co., New York, Feb. 22, 1841. He was the son of Andrew & Margaret (George) Nicoll. Andrew Nicoll was born in Scotland in 1797 and was reared and married there, and in 1839 emigrated to America and located in Delaware County, New York, where the rest of his life was spent, engaged in farming pursuits. He died in 1870. Andrew and Margaret’s ten children were: Elizabeth (wife of John Beckwith, Delaware Co., N. Y.); William (married … Read more

Biography of D. P. Bullock

D. P. Bullock, a farmer of Douglas Township, Ida County, was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, July 21, 1838, a son of Daniel B. Bullock, a native of Fulton County, N.Y. His father, also named Daniel, was a soldier in the War of 1812. His mother, nee Eunice Buckley, was born in New York, a daughter of Peter Buckley, a native of Connecticut. Mr. Bullock was reared and educated in New York to the age of 15 years, when he located near Sycamore, De Kalb County, Ill., and was employed in farming until the fall of 1861. When … Read more

Biography of Alytte R. Dunn

Alytte R. Dunn, known as Ale, a farmer and stock-raiser of section 23, Logan township, Ida County, was born in Scott County, Iowa, in 1854, a son of A.R. and Margaret (Grace) Dunn, natives of Ohio and New York, respectively. When a young man the father located in Allen’s Grove, Scott Co., IA, and at that time Davenport contained only seven log houses. He was married in that county, where he was engaged in farming until 1890, and in that year the parents went to California. They still reside in that State. The grandparents of our subject, John and Eleanor … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Smith

William Smith was owner and proprietor of the Central Roller Mills, Ida Grove, Ia. He succeeded Wilkinson & Smith in the milling business, this firm having succeeded Brown & Ream. Mr. Brown was the founder of the milling plant and erected the a two-story structure building in 1883. It was a buhrstone mill having a capacity of 40 barrels. In 1887 it was changed to a roller mill by Wilkinson & Smith and its capacity increased to 60 barrels per day. Mr. Smith then erected a new engine house, removed the old slide valve and replaced it with a Reynolds-Corliss … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Crane

William Crane was born on the Isle of Man, May 16, 1841. His father, William Crane, was a soldier in the British army for 3 to 4 years, and died of cholera while in the Indias at the age of 33. His mother, Catherine (nee Faragher), was born on the Isle of Man. His brother was Thomas Crane and they lived in a sod house thatched with straw and had an earth floor. When he was 21 years old, he married Miss Margaret Bolt, born in the Isle of Man, daughter of James and Ann (Faragher) Bolt. William came to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William C. Forney

He was of Corwin Township, Ida County, Ida Grove, Iowa, and settled here in 1882. He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on October 13, 1854. His father was Michael Forney (born October 15, 1824 in Dauphin County, Pa.) who came here in 1885. His mother was Margaret Crownshield, born in Maryland. Michael and Margaret’s children were: Sarah C., wife of David O. Crum, and William C., the subject of this biography. William C. Forney received his education at Millersville Normal School, Pa., and entered the boot and shoe business. Since coming West in 1882, he engaged in farming and stock-raising. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William B. Fair

William “Billy” Fair was born in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, N. Ireland, to James and Margaret (Graham) Fair on October 29, 1833. He learned the carpenter trade from his father. When he was 40 years old, he had saved enough money to come to America. The first ship across the Irish sea ran into a fierce storm and had to turn back. It was sometime before another ship was ready to sail. After he arrived in America in 1875, he took a train to Wapello, Iowa, where his father had homesteaded land earlier. While living in Louisa County, he became lonesome. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas S. Brannan

He was an attorney-at-law in Ida Grove, Iowa, and was a resident of Ida County since 1879. He was born in Keyesville, Clinton County, New York, August 15, 1839, and reared in Canada East until 14 years of age. In July 1861, being in the state for a visit, he enlisted in Co. C., 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted in the same company and regiment in January 1864 and served until the close of the war. He was twice slightly wounded. He was a member of the G.A.R., Matthew Gray Post No. 93. He was a Past Commander. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Crane

Thomas Crane was born on the Isle of Man, March 25, 1844. His father, William Crane, was a soldier in the British army and died of cholera while in the Indias when Thomas was 18 months old. His mother, Catherine (nee Faragher), was born on the Isle of Man. His brother was William Crane and they lived in a sod house thatched with straw and had an earth floor. At the age of eleven, Thomas came with his uncle, C. Faragher, to America, landing at New Orleans after a voyage of 6 weeks and 2 days. They then went up … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Bassett

He came to Ida County in 1877 and was identified with the contracting and building interests in Ida Grove, Iowa. He located there when the town was just starting and put up many of the best buildings in the city. Thomas Bassett and his son, William H., were partners for a number of years. Thomas was born in the County of Cornwall, England, August 2, 1828, son of Thomas & Jane (Pierce) Bassett. He married Eliza A. Rouse in his native land; and in 1854, came to America. He remained in Zanesville, Ohio, until 1875 and went to Greene County, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sydney Cork

Sydney Stephan Cork was born in Hartlip County of Kent in England on July 13, 1890. He had 8 brothers and sisters but only one sister came to America. His parents were John Isaac Cork and Mary Anne Rose Cork. After he completed his 8th grade, he went to work on a farm. At the age of 22, he came to America in the spring of 1913, traveled by ship to New York, and then by train to Galva, Iowa, Ida County. The trip from England to Iowa cost $80, and he earned $28 per month from spring to fall … Read more