Biography - Addison N. Boggs
Addison N. Boggs, residing on section 35, Union Township, was born in
Nicholas County, West Virginia, July 6, 1849, the youngest son of Elliott &
Eleanor Boggs. His father was born in Gallia County, Ohio, and his mother in
Greenbrier County, West Virginia. They were the parents of six children -
Mrs. Lovina Carter and Mrs. Sarah Fuller, living in Illinois; Mrs. Elizabeth
Murnahan, in Mitchell County, Kansas; William, living in Red Willow County,
Nebraska; James was killed by bushwhackers in West Virginia, and Addison N,
our subject, who was the fifth child. Our subject lived in his native State
till thirteen years old. Then at the breaking out of the late war, his
father, who was a staunch Union man, was persecuted beyond endurance and
finally imprisoned by bushwhackers. After being confined at Staunton for two
months he was released, but before reaching his home he was again arrested,
the only charge brought against him being that of loyalty to the Union.
After his second arrest he made his escape by night.
A violent storm favored his flight and saved him from a pursuit which meant
death, and on reaching the Union lines he received the protection of Colonel
now General Cook. The spring of 1862 found the family united in Gallia
County, Ohio, where they resided three years, removing thence to Abingdon,
Knox County, Illinois. Late in the fall of 1875, the parents came to
Ringgold County, Iowa, and made their home on section 35, Union township,
where the father died in September 1882, aged seventy-one years. The mother
now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Fuller, in Stark county, Illinois.
Addison N. Boggs, whose name heads this sketch was united in marriage in
Marion County, Iowa in October 1871, to Miss Mary Johnston, who was born in
Knox County, Illinois, July 1, 1851, a daughter of J. R. Johnston, and to
this union have been born three children - James, Ella, and Roscoe C.
After residing in Knox County, Illinois, ten years, Mr. Boggs, in 1873 ,
came to Iowa, and first located in Marion County where he resided one year,
and in April 1874 came to Ringgold County, where he lived in Monroe Township
over a year, owning a farm in that township on sections 1 and 12. From there
he went to Clarke County, Iowa, living there one season, and in December,
1875, returned to Ringgold County and settled on his farm in Union Township
where he has since followed agricultural pursuits. His farm contains 160
acres of well-improved land under a high state of cultivation, with good
residence and fine farm buildings.
Mr. Boggs and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In
politics he is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, belonging to Topaz Lodge, No 438 at Kellerton.
Contributed by Todd Walter, extracted from the 1887 Biographical & Historical Record of Ringgold & Union Counties, Iowa.
