History and Genealogy of O'Brien County Iowa
Pioneer Women of O'Brien County, Iowa Mrs. Waterman (Hannah) This is just an outline of the life of a very noble type of woman, Mrs. Waterman. The mother of eleven children, living so many years in the most primitive way, was the kind of friend to the hundreds of people who made the Waterman cabin a stopping place for a short or longer time. Mrs. Waterman is in good health at the beginning of this year 1914 and is always a welcome guest in every house in Sutherland and vicinity. There were few settlers in Waterman township, outside of O'Brien, the Watermans were on the banks of the Little Sioux. The Watermans, when they came to O'Brien county in July, 1856, brought with them a little daughter, nine months old, Emily, who in later years married Al McClaren, of Sioux City. She was the first white child to come into the county to live. In May, 1857, Anna was born, the first white child born in the county. Soon after a son was born to Charles Stephenson, the first white boy born in the county. The other children born to these first settlers were, a son born in January, 1859; another son born in June, 1860, but lived only a week; Orrin, born in 1861, died in 1871; Julia Etta, born in June, 1864, married H. W. Gleason and died in 1892, leaving a son; Alta G. Waterman, born in 1866. married J. A. Mahar, and they have several children: Grant Waterman, born in October, 1869, died in 1870; Floy E. Waterman, born in 1872, married in 1899 to F. W. Conrad, and they have two sons; Belle Waterman, born March 11, 1876, died in 1899; Blanch Waterman, twin sister of Belle, married H. W. Gleason in 1894, who has since died. Note: Hannah was married to Hannibal House Waterman. [Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties, Iowa, Volume 1, 1914] Submitted by Cathy Danielson Mrs. Adam Towberman Another remarkable pioneer woman was Mrs. Adam Towberman. Mr. Towberman had three sons by a former wife, and Mrs. Towberman had five children by a former husband, who died in the Civil War. Then there were four children by the new family, making twelve children in the family. She was always a quiet, self-possessed woman and a true mother to each of these twelve. [Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties, Iowa, Volume 1, 1914] Submitted by Cathy Danielson Mrs. Jennie Baldwin Another woman who did a great work in the early days in the county was Mrs. William E. Baldwin, or better known as Mrs. Jennie Baldwin. She was one of the first teachers after the new settlers came in. There are many men and women who owe much to Mrs. Baldwin for her interest in their education. She was a bright, witty woman, and she and her husband were our most frequent guests. [Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties, Iowa, Volume 1, 1914] Submitted by Cathy Danielson Mrs. Julius C. Doling Another family who were among our best friends were Mr. and Mrs. Julius C. Doling (the former once county treasurer), with their family of eight children. Mrs. Doling was a devoted wife and mother. There were many others, but these were those who came most often at our place. [Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties, Iowa, Volume 1, 1914] Submitted by Cathy Danielson
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