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1890 Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Story County, Iowa

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County, Neb.), Alice (married William Brown, a farmer in Nebraska), Wallace (farmer, steward of the county farm of Story County). Mr. Gossard's parents were natives of Ohio. He removed with them to Indiana in 1855, and thence to Iowa in 1858. He obtained a good practical education in the public schools, and commenced life for himself as a farmer when seventeen years of age. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and followed the fortunes of his regiment until August, 1865, when he was mustered out of service. He participated in seventeen battles, among them Corinth, Iuka, Champion's Hill, Jackson, Miss., siege of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, Missionary Ridge, and many of the lights on the way to the sea with Sherman. He also took part in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. He was a member of the G. A. R. Post No. 30 at Ames. He was a member of long standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was identified with the Sunday-school work of his township for many years as superintendent and general worker. He contracted his sickness in the service of his country, and died at his home April 11, 1890. His remains are interred at Ames. This gentleman was loving as a husband, kind as a father, brave as a soldier, upright as a citizen. His memory will remain green in the hearts of his relatives and friends long after his body has returned to dust.

William Hill Grafton, M. D., is a prominent citizen and a retired physician and surgeon of Cambridge, Iowa. He was born in Baltimore, Md., March 25, 1827, and was the fourth of a family of ten children—four sons and six daughters—five of whom are now living: Samuel (a merchant by occupation, died at the age of sixty-nine years; he was married to Miss Mary David, a native of Baltimore), Edward (died at the age of nine years), Julia ( wife of T. Newton Kurtz, a son of Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, a very prominent member of the Lutheran synod of Baltimore), Mary (who died at the age of twenty years), F. D. McHenry (who was a wealthy commission merchant of Baltimore died at the age of thirty-seven years), Isabella (deceased, was the wife of Mr. Tonge, a cotton manufacturer of Bainbridge, Ga.), Martha (is the wife of John M. Frazier, of Baltimore, speaker of the House of Delegates at Annapolis, Md.), Helen (resides in Baltimore and was the wife of Joseph D. Fahnestock, deceased, an oyster packer), and Anna M. (resides in Anne Arundel County, Md., and is the wife of James H. Forbes, an agriculturist). Dr. Grafton's father, Mark Grafton, was born in Harford County, Md., September 25, 1794, and was reared to a farm life until he attained the age of seventeen years, at which time he engaged in mechanical business with his brother, but later turned his attention to the real-estate business in Baltimore. He died in 1854, at the age of sixty years, and was laid to rest in Green Mount Cemetery at Baltimore. He was an earnest and enthusiastic politician, and held several positions of trust and honor in the above mentioned city. His wife, Miss Keziah Hall, was born in Baltimore County January 2, 1800, and died in Baltimore at the age of seventy-three years. Dr. Grafton's early training was received in the select schools of Baltimore, remaining there until fifteen years of age, when he entered a drug store and there remained four years learning the profession of a practical pharmacist. At the age of nineteen years he entered the employ of Dr. Mott, and took entire control of his drug establishment, at Leesburg, Va. During this time he commenced the study of medicine under the Doctor, and afterward entered the University of

Page 333 of 460

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