|
|
|
|
| |||||
 
| J. Gorman–W. S. Grafft | ||||||||
|
John Gorman
Born 1819 | ||||||||
|
JOHN GORMAN, farmer, 8ec. 11; P.O. Hale Village; born in Sligo Co., Ireland in 1819; came to America in 1847, and remained one year in Pennsylvania, when he enlisted in the U. S. Regular Army, and stationed at Watervliet Arsenal, N.Y., two years and nine months; received his discharge and paid with a land warrant. Went to Illinois and worked in the vicinity of Chicago for eight years; then took a seven-mile contract on the Air Line Railroad in 1857; then bought eighty acres, and settled in Hale Township of Jones Co., and now owns 275 acres, on which he has made all the improvements, and has a beautiful place. Owns a half-interest in the stone quarry known as Horton's. In politics, Democrat; in religion, Catholic. His wife, Mary Roony, born in Sligo City, Ireland, came to America when young, and married in West Troy, N.Y.; had twelve children, nine living-John, George, Michael, Elecia, Daniel, Kate, Celia, Maggie, Thomas; Thomas died at the age of 3 years; two not named died in infancy.
From History of Jones County, Iowa, 1879, Chicago: Western Historical Publishing Company, 1879, p. 640, and submitted by Mary Kay Kuhfittig |
| ||||||||
|
Dr. Thomas C. Gorman
Born August 4, 1874 | ||||||||
|
Prominent among the representatives of professional interests in Jones county is Dr. Thomas C. Gorman, successfully practicing as a physician and surgeon in Anamosa. He holds to high ideals in his chosen life work and his careful preparation has made him well qualified for the onerous duties which devolve upon him in professional connections. He was born in Hale, Jones county, on the 4th of August, 1874, and is a son of John and Mary (Rooney) Gorman, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The year 1847 witnessed their arrival in America and in Troy, New York, their marriage was celebrated. Soon afterward they removed to Chicago, Illinois, where they remained for about five years and later came to this state.
Dr. Gorman has spent his entire life in Iowa, pursuing his education in his youthful days in the schools of Dubuque. Later he determined upon the practice of medicine as his life work and to this end was matriculated in the Rush Medical College of Chicago in 1893. He pursued the regular four years course and was graduated in 1897. He spent the succeeding year and a half at St. Elizabeth Hospital, thus putting to the practical test his theoretical training and qualifying for the onerous duties of a private practice in the broad and varied experience for hospital work. On leaving that institution he came to Anamosa in 1908, opened his office here and has since successfully practiced, being regarded as one of the leading physicians and surgeons in this part of the state. He is also acting as surgeon for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway at this point. He is very careful in the diagnosis of his cases and his judgment seldom if ever is at fault in determining the outcome of disease. He performs all professional duties with a sense of conscientious obligation that has won him the confidence and support of the general public and the regard of his professional brethren. In addition to his practice he owns a city dwelling, three farms, two farms of three hundred and forty acres in Fairview township and another tract of four hundred and eighty acres of land in Texas. He is a stockholder and director in the Niles & Waters Bank, a director of the public library and also a director in the Anamosa Fair Association, and in the control and management of these interests he displays the qualities of an enterprising and progressive business man as well as the salient features of a successful medical practitioner. On the 15th of October, 1902, Dr. Gorman was married to Miss Nellie E. Gavin, a daughter of Malachi and Mary Ellen Gavin, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Dr. and Mrs. Gorman now have two sons, Thomas Gavin and Edward Carroll. In his fraternal relations Dr. Gorman is connected with Mount Carmel lodge of the Knights of Columbus at Cedar Rapids and with the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 167, at Anamosa. He is also a member of the Catholic church and his political allegiance is given to the democracy. He is a man fearless in the defense of whatever he believes to be right and his position is never an equivocal one. In matters of public concern he manifests discriminating and intelligent citizenship, laboring earnestly and effectively for the welfare of the community, while in social life his genial qualities have won for him warm friendships and kindly regard. From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 128. | ||||||||
|
David W. Grafft
Born March 21, 1825 | ||||||||
|
DAVID W. GRAFFT, farmer, Jackson Twp., Sec. 33; P.O. Olin; born March 21, 1825, in Butler Co., Ohio; in 1846, he came to Jones Co., Iowa; he owns 500 acres of land. Married Christina Byerly March 31, 1848; she was born March 8, 1827, in Fairfield Co., Ohio; have nine children—William S., John H., Mary C., James, Martha Ann, David, Della Jane, Francis M. and Elizabeth. Has been Constable, Justice of the Peace, and has held all the township offices. Democrat.
From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 608. | |||||||||
|
G. W. Grafft
Born 1829 | ||||||||
|
G. W. GRAFFT, farmer, Rome Twp., Sec. 28; P.O. Olin; born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1829, and came to Iowa in 1844 with his father; took a claim and has made all the improvements-a fine house, 28x36; barn, 32x37; deals in fine stock; has been Road Supervisor. In politics, Democrat; in religion, liberal. His wife, Mary Seely, was born in New York in 1835; came to Iowa in 1837; married in 1850, and their children are J. R., Mary A. (now Mrs. Porter), Sarah E., Eunice, Martha, Dollie, George E. and Caroline (died in infancy).
From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 647.
| |||||||||
|
John Henry Grafft
Born September 3, 1853 | ||||||||
|
John Henry Grafft, a hard working farmer of simple tastes, a born agriculturist and a good citizen, is one of the native-born sons of Jones county, Iowa, having come into the world one mile north of his present home in Jackson township, September 3, 1853. He has spent his life in that township and makes his home on his well improved farm of three hundred and eighty acres, which he has secured through his own individual efforts. He is a son of David W. and Christine (Byerly) Grafft, natives of Ohio, who came to Iowa in the '40s. Their married life was spent in Jackson township, where David Grafft entered land, eventually becoming the owner of about seven hundred acres. Nine children came to them, as follows: William S., who lives at Central City, Iowa; John Henry; Mary Katherine, who married Frank Blayney, of Jackson township; Martha Ann, who married Louis Porter, of Cherokee county, Iowa; James Albert, who lives in California; David Edward, who lives in Lyon county, Iowa; Della Jane, who married Robert McMurn, of Cherokee county; Frank, who lives in Rome township; and Elizabeth Ellen, who married William Lust, of Cherokee county.
John Henry Grafft has one of the best farms in Jackson township and has made his own improvements. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and, recognizing the value of blooded stock, makes a specialty of high grade Durham cattle. He has inaugurated many new methods of farming and has his three hundred and eighty acres under a high state of cultivation. This farm lies on sections 28 and 29, Jackson township, with the exception of eight acres in Rome township. In 1874, Mr. Grafft married Amanda Jane Gilmore, who was born in Rome township, July 4, 1858, a daughter of George and Amanda Gilmore, natives of Ohio, who were married in Iowa. Both died in Jones county. Mr. and Mrs. Grafft have had a family of seven children, as follows: William Edward, who lives in Rome township; Essa May, who is the wife of Howard Miller, of Anamosa; Francis Delbert, who was killed at the a-e of thirty by a horse; Stacy Clyde, who lives in South Dakota; Bertha Pearl, who married Raleigh Shoop, of Rome township; and Clarence Ray and Jessie, who are at home. The Grafft family are widely known and much respected. Nearly all bearing the name are connected with agricultural pursuits. And as the farmers of Iowa and other western states are fast becoming the most important citizens, being in comfortable circumstances and interested in advancing their communities. John Henry Grafft is a democrat in political faith and Supports the candidates of his party with steadfast fidelity.
History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p 375.
| |||||||||
|
William S. Grafft
Born October 28, 1850 | ||||||||
|
After many years devoted to agricultural pursuits, William S. Grafft is now living retired in Central City, Iowa. Throughout life he has been identified with the interests of this state and has done much toward its development and improvement, especially along agricultural lines. He was born in Jones county, five miles from the village of Olin, on the 28th of October, 1850, his parents being David W. and Christina (Byerly) Grafft, both of whom were natives of Ohio, though they were not married until after their removal to Iowa. At an early day our subject's paternal grandfather became a resident of Jones county, establishing his home near Olin, and after a short time later, in 1846, was joined by his son D. W. Grafft, who continued his residence here until called to the world beyond, May 11, 1903, at the age of seventy-eight years. Throughout his life he followed farming but also devoted considerable attention to the blacksmith's trade. It was on the 30th of March, 1843, that he was united in marriage to Miss Christina Byerly, a daughter of Francis Byerly, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, March 8, 1826, and died in Jones county, Iowa, January 16, 1899, having come to this state in 1846. From girlhood, Mrs. Grafft was an earnest and consistent member of the United Brethren church. She was the mother of nine children: William S., of this review; John H., who is living on the old home farm in Jones county; Mary Catherine, the wife of Lewis Porter, of Cherokee, Iowa; James Albert, a resident of Clovis, California; David Edward, of Rock Rapids, Iowa; Della Jane, the wife of Robert McMurren, of Cherokee, Iowa; Francis Marion, a farmer of Jones county; and Elizabeth Elba, the wife of William Lusk of Jones county.
The common schools of his native county afforded W. S. Grafft his educational privileges and he remained at home until he attained his majority, giving his father the benefit of his services in carrying on the home farm. On leaving the parental roof he worked as a farm hand for a time and then operated his father's farm for three years, at the end of which time he purchased land north of Central City, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies for three years. He then purchased one hundred and sixty-eight acres, which he still owns and was engaged in the cultivation and improvement of that place for several years but now makes his home in Central City, having retired from active life. Besides this farm, which he still owns, he has other property in Marion, Iowa. He was a progressive and up=to-date farmer and the success which he achieved was well merited. Mr. Grafft was married March 3, 1880, to Miss Alice Kratzer, who was born in Davis, Illinois, a daughter of Samuel and Malinda (Drake) Kratzer. Her father was a native of Ohio, his birth place being near Cincinatti, but at an early day he removed to the Prairie state. His family consisted of ten children, namely: Lewis R., who resides near Walker, Iowa; S. N., living near Central City; Mary Ellen, the wife of John Allemang, who is living retired in Kansas City; Martha Ann, whose home is near Center Point; Lucy Jane, deceased; David William, a farmer of Center Point; Alice, the wife of our subject; Sarah Malissa, the wife of Henry Barr, whose home is near Edgewood, Iowa; Emma Lavina, the wife of Charles Dilley, of Maryville, Missouri; and Hanna Maria, also living near Maryville, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Grafft have been born five children, as follows: Earl Gray, a mechanic of Waterloo, Iowa; Edna Blanch, the wife of George Masterhan, a farmer of Marion county; Flossie May, attending school in Cedar Falls; Mary Ida, deceased; and Stacy Fenton, who is also attending school. The democratic party finds in Mr. Grafft a staunch supporter of its principles but he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. Both he and his wife are members of the Mystic Toilers and she is also identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, which he, too, attends. During their residence in Central City they have made many warm friends and throughout the country they are both widely and favorably known.
From The History of Linn County, Iowa, p. 589, Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company, 1911.
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
![[Art Department]](../shared/adlogo.gif){kind=small}
