Battle Creek Iowa

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 Enoch Jones

Enoch Jones, a well-known citizen of Battle Creek, Iowa, was a resident of Ida County since 1883, and of Iowa, since 1852. He was born in Bourbon County, Ky., March 6, 1825. He was reared and educated in Kentucky, and learned the trade of blacksmith. John Jones, his grandfather, married a native of Wales. He was a prominent hotel man of Culpeper, Va. Moving to Bourbon County, Ky., he settled on Boone Creek, and was a participant in many of the Indian wars. His son, James Jones, father of Enoch, was born in Va., and married Dicie Gregory, a native … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. A. Barrick

He was one of the representative business men of Battle Creek, Ida County, Ia., since 1881. In 1878, he married Hannah Gillmore of Jackson County, Iowa. They had two children: Roy and Archie. He is a native of Chicago, Illinois, born June 5, 1852, son of William and Elizabeth Barrick, natives of England. When A. A. was a year old, his father moved to Clinton County, Ia., and on a farm he grew to manhood. He served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith’s trade and was engaged in business on the Maquoketa road one year. He engaged in blacksmithing in Morris … Read more

World War 1 Gold Star Men of Ida County Iowa

A list of Gold Star men from Ida County Iowa. Gold Star soldiers were men who gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country, their life. This provides the name of the soldier, their home town, date of death as well as location and circumstances of it.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Rinehart

Hotel Rinehart was one of the hostelries of Battle Creek, Iowa, situated a short distance from the railroad depot. It had 14 bright, cheery, neat and comfortable rooms and was inviting to the dusty, fatigued traveler. There was a restaurant and lunch counter where the best of meals and all temperance drinks were provided. Mr. Rinehart was born in Frederick County, Maryland, February 21, 1859, son of Daniel and Margaret (Hyder) Rinehart, both natives of the same state. Joseph Rinehart joined the westward tide of emigration in 1882 and moved to Ida County, Iowa, where he entered the employ of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Lee

Henry Lee, proprietor of Summit Heights stock farm, near Battle Creek, Ida County, Iowa, was born near Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1833. He was married November 24, 1863 to Maria Fishburn, the daughter of John and Catherine Fishburn. Henry and Maria had 4 children: Harry F., Kate M., Myra M., and Thomas H. Mr. Lee’s ancestors were natives of the Emerald Isle. His father, Thomas Lee, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., June 22, 1785, died May 21, 1871. Mr. Lee’s father was a soldier in the War of 1812. His mother’s name was Mary Noble, and she … Read more

Biographical Sketch of I. V. Miller

He was the proprietor of the Rink Livery, Sale & Feed Barn, Battle Creek, Iowa. The building was 30 x 80 feet, well arranged, and equipped throughout. Mr. Miller kept a full line of carriages and buggies, with ten to sixteen good driving horses, speedy and gentle. His kind courtesy to patrons secured for him a good trade. He was born near Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin, September 24, 1858. His father, Charles Miller, was a native of Pennsylvania. His mother’s maiden name was Martha Adams, born in Tennessee, and moved to Martin County, Minnesota. I. V. Miller was the second … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Peter Morrison

Peter Morrison was reared and educated in New York where he learned the trade of a carpenter, and was engaged there in railroad contracting. In 1867 he came to Ida County, Iowa, in 1872 located in Garfield township, and in 1874 settled in Battle Creek when that place contained only a post office. He immediately began contracting and building. In 1861, in Dane County, Wisc., he enlisted in Company H, 8th Wisc. Infantry, known as Runnell’s Guards. He took part in the battles of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Antietam, Murfreesboro, Lookout Mountain, and in the Peninsular Campaign. He was twice wounded … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. C. Van Houten

C. C. Van Houten lived on a farm near Battle Creek, in Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, and was identified with the agricultural interests of this place since 1882. Mr. Van Houten was born in Clarion County, Pa., April 24, 1856. John Van Houten, his father, a native of the Keystone State, served during the Civil War as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He then resided near Cushing, Iowa. John married Miss Mary Ann Boyles, a native of Pennsylvania. They had seven children, 3 sons and 4 daughters. C. C. Van Houten was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Preston

He came to the Battle Creek, Iowa, Ida County, in 1872 to farm. He was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, June 27, 1857, son of John and Matilda (Hill) Preston. His parents are from Scotland and they reared a family of eight children with John being the 7th born. He received a good education in his native land, and clerked in a drug store for a short time at Dundee, Scotland. In 1872, when he was 15, he came to America to Ida County where he had two brothers, Andrew and James C. Here he went to school in the winter. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Gilbert S. Usher

He is a citizen of Battle Creek, Ia., Ida County, and an ex-soldier of the Civil War. He was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio on September 22, 1837. He was raised on a farm in the Territory of Iowa, Linn County. He had his school lessons in a primitive log schoolhouse of Iowa. In 1862, he answered Lincoln’s call for more men for the Civil War. In 1881 he came to Ida County and bought a tract of land in Grant Township and engaged in farming. He married Amanda Marsh in Linn County, Iowa, when he was 22 years of … Read more