MAJ. CORNELIUS F. SPEARMAN Major Cornelius F. Spearman, who has passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey, has had in many respects a most interesting life record, for he is numbered among those who sought wealth in the gold-fields of California in early days and was a soldier of the Civil war, and has been identified with the pioneer interests of Iowa. He is now identified with the agricultural interests of Jackson township,  Henry county, where he owns a valuable farm of three hundred acres. His birth occurred in Morgan county, Illinois, February 3, 1831, and is a son of James D. and Cynthia (Frogg) Spearman, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, James D. Spearman, was also born in the Old North state. The parents were married in Kentucky and in 1830 removed to Alorgan county, Illinois, where James D. Spearman purchased a farm which he cultivated until 1835, when he sold that property and came to Iowa, settling near Middletown, Des Moines county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. In 1840 he again disposed of his farm and came to Center township near Pleasant Hill, Henry county, where he invested in three hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which was a small cabin, while only a few acres had been broken. It was part prairie and part timber land, and he broke the sod on the prairie and in course of time placed his fields under a high state of cultivation. His place, known as the Spearman farm, became noted for the fine horses which he raised and he also -devoted considerable attention to raising cattle, sheep and hogs. He was one of the early and progressive agriculturists of this part of the state and died upon the old homestead in the fall of 1846. His widow resided there until her death, which occurred in the fall of 1870.  Cornelius F. Spearman acquired his elementary education in the common schools and afterward attended Howe's Academy at Mount Pleasant. He made his home with his parents until the spring of 1852. when, at the age of twenty-one years, he accompanied his two brothers and a brother-in-law to California. They traveled westward across the long, hot, sandy plains and over the mountains with  an ox team, being three months on the way. At length they reached a town near Nevada City, California, where they were engaged in prospecting in mining for two and a half years. Mr. Spearman of this review became the owner of a placer mine, which he sold and then started by steamboat to return to Iowa, but the vessel struck a rock off Point Conception, on the coast of Lower California. The boat sank,  while the passengers were taken off by a mail steamer and landed at Santiago, in Lower California. Two weeks later a boat came for them and took them back to San Francisco. There ]Mr. Spearman and other passengers embarked on another steamer for Nicaragua, traveled across that country on ponies, proceeding by lake and river to Greytown, where they took steamer for New York. They then came by rail to Burlington and by stage to Mount Pleasant.  Cornelius F. Spearman remained at home for a brief period and in 1855 removed to Fairfield, Iowa, where he was engaged in the livery business for a time but on selling out there went to Mount Pleasant, where he conducted a livery business for a year. In the fall of 1857 he again sold out and returned to his father's place, devoting his energies to farming until September, 1861, when he enlisted as a member of Company D, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, which he raised. He was elected its captain and in the winter of 1863 was promoted to the rank of major.  The regiment was assigned to the Western Army and the troops proceeded to Springfield, Missouri, by way of St. Louis. They then went on to Batesville, Arkansas, and to Helena, Arkansas, where they remained for six months engaged in scout duty. Subsequently they proceeded to Vicksburg, where they were attached to the army commanded by General Sherman. After the fall of Vicksburg they went to Memphis, Tennessee, where they remained until the fall of 1869, when Major Spearman's term expired and he returned to Mount Pleasant, having served for three years as a faithful defender of the Union cause.  On again reaching Henry county. Major Spearman purchased a farm on section I, Jackson township, comprising three hundred acres of land, which was improved with a log house and barn. About one hundred and sixty acres of land had been cleared and he began its further development and cultivation. In 1868 he erected a frame residence of eight rooms and also a basement barn, fort\'-two by sixty feet. He now has the place all fenced with wire fencing, and there are two hundred and twenty acres of tillable land at the present time, from which he harvests rich crops. His business interests have been very carefully conducted and he is recognized as a man of executive force, keen discrimination and unfaltering diligence — Qualities which have resulted in gaining for him a prominent place in agricultural circles in the community.  On the 15th of November, 1860, Mr. Spearman was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Coiner, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Teter) Coiner, who were natives of Ohio. About 1850 they went to Des Moines county, settling on a farm there and a few years later they sold that property and bought a farm in Center township, Henry county, where they continued to reside until called to their final rest. In [illegible] Captain Spearman was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 17th of June, of that year, her remains being interred in the Pleasant Hill cemetery, in Center township. The children of that marriage were: Attie, who is the wife of George H. Smith and resides with her father; Paul, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Frank C, of New London, Iowa; Myrte, who died at the age of three years; May, who died at the age of seventeen years; Julia Leota, who passed away at the age of eighteen years ; and twins, who died in infancy.  Major Spearman is a member of McFarland Post, No. 20, Grand Army of the Republic, at Mount Pleasant, and thus maintains cordial relations with his old army comrades. In politics he is a stalwart republican, having always supported the party, which was the champion of the Union cause in the Civil war, and has always stood for reform and progress. He has ser\ed for two terms as county supervisor and has represented his district in the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth general assemblies of Iowa. His course as a legislator was marked by unfaltering fidelity to duty and an earnest desire to promote the welfare of the commonwealth and o\-er the record of his public career and private life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. The varied experiences which have come to him, the hardships of pioneer life on the coast, the dangers of war and the daily performance of the duties of a work-a-day existence have also served to develop in him a character that makes him one of the respected and honored citizens of his community. His days are more than the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, and his life has Ijeen one of activity and usefulness, resulting not only in the acquirement of success but also in good for his fellow men, having done much for their elevation along mental, moral and social lines and without invidious distinction he may be classed with the foremost citizens of Henry county.  ©2009 Genealogy Trails