Individual Details

Adolphus served in Union Army during the Civil War. In 1850 he and Julia moved to Iowa where they made their home until their deaths and were buried there. Their graves are marked by nice tombstones. They had six children.
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I have retyped the following letters from a copy transcribed by Glenna J Sommer. Glenna died in 1996, the copy I have was sent to me by Gloria Gibbel, another descendant of Austin Prouty.
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THIS IS A LETTER WRITTEN TO SQUIRE ADOLPHUS PROUTY FROM A PREVIOUS NEIGHBOR IN ILLINOIS IN THE YEAR 1847. THANKS TO BETTY JEAN FAUROT HILL FOR THE COPY.

I have copied it just as it is written in the original.

Letter addressed as follows.

Randolphs grove ILLs
January 12

Mr. Adolphus Prouty
Log cabin Post office
Athens Co. Homer Township
Ohio

RANDOLPHS GROVE MCLEAN CO. ILL. JAN 4TH 1847

Respected Friends,
We rec. your half sheet in due time and was well pleased to hear from you once more, and that you are enjoying good health and prosperity. I wish you a happy New Year, and may Heavenly blessings continually be yours. Through mercy, we are all enjoying good health at this time, and good health generally prevails in this region of country. We had a remarkable warm fall, and so far a very mild winter. For the last ten days we have had a abundance of rain. I think the earth is more thoroughly filled with water than it had been before for two years past. Last night it commenced snowing a heavy soft snow, and it is now 3 Oclock PM and it is still snowing and thawing, but although it thaws, the snow is five or six inches deep, and should it turn to raining, (Which is not unlikely as the wind is from the South) and melt the snow off suddenly, it will make tremendous high waters. It has been so high for several days past that I could not run the saw mill, I commenced sawing this winter the first of December, one month sooner than I did last winter. I expect to saw a great deal this season if I can get logs in. It has been a very poor time for hauling so far this winter, but if it turns cold now and freezes hard it be a good time for the business. Tuesday morning, all well, and it has turned colder and frozen the snow. Now for sleighing. I heard a flock of wild geese going by just before I got up this morn. They make a great noise. I expect it is getting too cold for them at the Northern lakes. There is now in this region a great Mesmeriser, Magnetizet, Impostor, or something else, he had been lecturing on the subject, and pretending to magnetize in Bloomington, for some weeks, he had two or three certain ones that he always operated upon, he tried a number of others, but he could not come it. He kept a school in said town for the purpose of teaching the science or whatever it is, to others, he had a number of pupils at $2.00 each for the term of one week. I believe they were mostly lawyers, Doctors & Preachers. At night he would hold forth in the court house, and all who attended that were not his pupils had to pay 15 cents a piece for each night and there were often 200, which would be $30, too much I think for such work. It was paying to dear for the whistle. One girl he mesmerized, till she had fits, then he had to be off quick, or her brother would have killed him.
He got none of my money, for I believe it is a grand imposition on the public. What think you of it? Well, it is evening & I am again sealed at the writing table, trying think of some thing to write, I was choping wood before noon, after dinner I shot three prairie hens, and mended my (mill-uam?), so as to be ready for sawing tomorrow. We are not done gathering our corn yet but intend to finish it the first suitable weather. We have four or five hundred bushels out yet. It sells here now for 8 cts. a bus. cash in hand, and the buyer takes it from the crib. I think it is too little. We have 1000 bus. for sale, but don't like to sell at the present price. I think it will be higher before very long. Wheat is worth here in cash 35 cts. only. I have sold 200 bus. at that price, and I ahave 200 more for sale, for which I would like to have a better price. Pork sells here this winter at $1.50 per 100.lbs.meat, which is too low, it won't pay the farmer for making it. Hogs are very plenty here at present, and if there shou to be a failure of the next crop of corn, many will undoubtedly parish for the want of feed.
We have some 70 head of all sorts and sizes, and we have corn plenty to keep them well, if our crop shou to miss. We don't sell or pork at present price. We kill a few at a time and make all in to lard but the hams and shoulders, which we salt down and we have all the spare ribs, sausage meat etc. for family use which will pay, for butchering. We killed four some weeks ago from which we got 300 lbs. of lard, which at 5 cts. a lb. would be 15 dollars, 3 or 4 dollars more than I could have got for the hogs on foot, and the hams and shoulders are worth something. When our canal is completed, which will be sometime in the present year, we shall get better prices for our produce and a ready market
Wednesday morning, 5 o'clock. All well, thro mercy. It looks like we should have more snow soon. I have been trying to sell part of my land, (70 acres including the house where Lee Daniel lived when you was out here wit 10 acres of timber near the sawmill) but have not yet affected a sale. I hold it at 600 dollars, cheap enough, but I am tired of keeping land to rent, and would rather have no more than we can cultivate well ourselves. The boys Otto and Wm. Are going to school, and Eli is in another district teaching. Cassandra and Emma help Mom do the housework, and sew and knot. (They are both pretty). I have like to forgot to tell you Sarah Elizabeth is married, (but perhaps you have heard of it before now, for I wrote to brother Otto since). She was married to a young man named Franklin Thompson, he owns a farm a mile and a half from us, on which they live, I think religion here is nearly lost sight of by most professions, both Preachers and people, and it is all or mostly so, occasioned by the love of the world. One has quit preaching and is engaged in making whiskey. (I fear he will instrumental in ruining more souls, than he has ever been instrumental in saving) another had to much of this world goods to attent to, that he said he had to quit preaching and did so. He was engaged in the mercantile business. How true our Saviors words, "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon".
Thursday Morn. 10 Oclock. We had a real snow storm yesterday. It commenced about 10 Oclock and continued all day and part of the night with a strong gale from the N.E. and it is too cold today to work outdoors with any degree of comfort. I don't see a drop fall from the eves although the sun shines brightly. It is as much as I want to do to make fire and sit by it and read and write.
We have not yet gave up the idea of paying you a visit next summer, if we are blessed with good health and can raise the necessary funds for expences, money seems to be hard to get at present. But perhaps times will grow better, if peace is made with Mexico and this disgraceful Polk war comes to a end. For it certainly is dishonorable to us as a nation, professing to be enlightened, or even civilized. I don't know whether you are one of the liberty party or not, but I trust you are, if so, do you take any Anti slavery papers and what one if any, I am very tenacious of Liberty, and go in for equal and exact justice to all men with out regard to color. I have been taking the Cincinnati Herald and Philanthropist for more than a year past. I like it well. It's former Editor Dr. Bailey has removed to Washington City to edit a newspaper they called the National Era, to be devoted to the Anti slavery cause. I have subscribed to it. I expect it to be quite a interesting paper. We have a goodly number of Liberty men in Bloomingtom and vicinity. The good cause is gaining ground here. Slow and sure. W. F.
Do I understand that it is 3 little girls in the family besides Martha if so I think you are getting along pretty fast in the feminine line. But the more the merrier it is said. Girls are dearer here that are old enough to marry. Indeed there is but 3 or 4 in this visinity. Young men more numerous.
If you have any marriageable to spare in your vicinity send them this way and they will find husbands no doubt, for marrying has been all the go here for some time past. It would be agreeable to me indeed if I could see you all once more and have the pleasure of conversing face to face. Remember me in love to dear little Martha and accept for yourselves the sincere esteem and well wishes of
A. Prouty and family Yours (& c?) A & Wm. French

P.S. Please write again soon for I don't get quite as many letters from my friends as I wouto like to get.



FOLLOWING IS 2 LETTERS WRITTEN TO SQUIRE ADOLPHUS PROUTY IN 1848. THE LETTERS ARE WRITTEN ON 1 PIECE OF PAPER, BUT IS FOLDED IN 4 PARTS SO IT ACTUALLY WAS 4 LETTERS IN 1. MY THANKS TO DARLENE MORROW COOK FOR LETTING ME COPY THESE.
I HAVE WRITTEN THEM JUST AS THEY ARE, HOWEVER PART IS MISSING OR TOO BLURRED AND ON THOSE SPOTS I HAVE WRITTEN IN WHAT I COULD. THE ADDRESS IS WRITTEN RIGHT ON THE SHEET OF PAPER AND SEALED SO THERE IS NO ENVELOPE.


January the 30 1848 Handcock Co. Ohio

Dear Brother and sister, I will inform you that we are all well at this time and hope these few lines may find you and family in (?) full enjoyment of the same blessing. we receved your letter with pleasure. it tends to prolong the enjoyment of antisapation of your becoming a neighbor wich I sencerly hope will take place soon as will be convienient. Thair has ben quite (missing) for land this winter and the prospect is we will get several new neighbors in the coming yer and we all hope you will be wone of them. I have not had andy chance to find out anything about the quarter that you want sence you went home. I have not sold buel farm yet but I have had two offers for it. One was $800, $300 down with balance in yearly payments and the other offer is $1000 cash down and as quick as I can get returns from Mr. (G.G.?) Buell I will close the trade. The first bids is from Carol County Ohio and the other is from Delaware County. I have not cleared any yet this winter for we have been very busy in the shop blacksmithing and fixing old guns. Father has traped some this winter and ketched 2 minks, 2 blue jays, 1 owl and 4 hawks.
Samuel R P kild 2 ders one afternoon (stutting Jame?) Hansfield kild a big nothing and I hunted 1 day and half and I kild one turkey and that one (missing) and quite the (missing) (missing) (missing) tis hard work for me any how and mak nothing and that I believe is worse than reading novels wicked & bad enough amusements for old batchelors and old Maids. Mother and Louisa wants to rite so I think I might as bring my part of the letter to a close for the present by subscribing my self as your frend.
This to Adolphus and July Prouty. Job Phillips


Jan. 31st
Dear children, I will inform you that we are well to day. We received your letter with pleasure. I was glad to lern that you arrived at home safe and well. We heard that you liked to get drowned. That in crossing a stream the water ran over the wagon box. I am sorry to lern that you have lost so much property by fire and frost but we must expect loses by accident. I am also sorry to lern you are likely to have trouble with the law. Better by half of to lose your property by fire and frost than by law. I wish you to keep as clear of human (missing) as possible for they (missing) (missing) and try to be governed by Divine laws. It seems you (missing) loss what to do or which way to go. I hope you will make up your mind and let us know for I am anxous to know. You know which way I want to go but I have learned by expeariance that I can't always have my wish but Ihope you will come this way. Louisa and Job has wrote all the news and I have nothing to write about. Only that Louisa and I have got our old Leghorn bonnets made over so they are nearly as hansome as new ones and Louisa has got a veil to and so you see we are getting quite proud but don't let that discourage you about coming out hear for when you get into this rich country you can be proud too and I will help you all I can. Now I want you should begin to write a letter to us as soon as you get this so you can get it done and sent it on in two or three months for I wait to hear from you often. Tell Uncle Sylvanus that his boys was well a few days ago. The cavs run briskly all the time . Give my love to Jeffreys folks and you (missing) (missing) tell them to write to us. I have received no letters from them since you was hear. give Fathers and my respects to Mr. and Mrs. Tryon and Mr. and Mrs. Mathews and all ther familys. well now, I will tell you what we are all adoing, father is roasting a pole cat (missing) Job and Samuel (missing) (missing) (Har?) making. Louisa is looking over some dried apples, the little ones are at play. the two Big boys are at school and hear I am scribbling. That's enough.
Write soon. good by for this time. Dianthy Prouty

THIS AT THE END OF DIANTHA'S PART OF THE LETTER

I am done looking over apples and now I am going to milk a heifer that had a calf last night L.A.P.

3RD PART OF LETTER

Well job has wrote all the news he can think of and so I will write some, he wrote about our health and so I will mention about our neighbors. Mr. Lockard died the 2nd of Jan., after a long spell of sickness, I believe that is all the deaths and I know of no one being sick since you was here. Mrs. Mc Long has got (?). now for the increase of our population, there has been about 30 young children born within (9?) months, that we are aquainted with, Sam Mansfields''s wife beat all the rest of the women for she has 2 at a time. She has a pair of girls abourt 10 years of age and the 16 of this month she had a pair of boys. Mother and myself is going up to see them so good bye untill we come back. Well, we have got back and now I have got to write by candle light. I will inform you that (Zipporah?) Lillibrige is married to Charles M (Kees?) They never spoke to each other only 3 weeks before they were married. Some think she had done well. James Scotts and Mary Jane Armstrong was married last Thursday. (Zipporahs?) husbands brother married a girl by the name of Rachel Prouty from Vermont and she says she believes that we are related. If they did not live so far of I would like to see her. Father says that Mr. (Deles?) carried 3 sheep skins to (?eaur??dd) to be taned. One for a saddle cover and 2 for aprons and you may have them if you will get them, well, Julia & I finished Julia's dress a few days ago and my cap. I have had so much weaving to do that I can't not get time to do it before. I have wove 13 yards and got one more peace to weave but it had been so cold long back I have not put it in. We have had a great deal of sewing to do. We have it most done. I have got me 2 new Dresses, one is (???pe?epe) cost 4 ½ Dol. The other is calico and a pleasant sort. Cost 1 dollar and 75 cents. Well, I must stop for Daniel wants to write, you must write soon. We received a letter from Austin about the same time you did but I believe we mentioned it in our last, no more
Louisa A.P.


(?) I am agoing to school this winter. I am reading and writing and seiphering spelling. I wish (?) would hury and Sell your place and come out here.
David A. Phillips

David C. Phillips was here on Crissmas from Uniom County. He got thair on the 17 October and on the 12 day of November his wife died and left him with 7 children.

THIS IS THE 4TH SIDE OF THE LETTER.

January the last day in the evening and it vary cold and freezing vary fast but the 2 last weeks was vary beautiful march wether with pleasant wether but we are shure to have Febuary and March in good earnest. We have had no snow of any amount this winter and no slaying. not enough to haul fire wood. I hope thair won't be more work to do in the shop for I want to get to
Signature is missing but was written by Job Phillips

THE ABOVE LETTER WAS ADDRESSED TO MR. ADOLPHUS PROUTY
CALVARY POSTOFFICE ATHENS COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO
PLESENT DALE
( UNREADABLE)


THE FOLLOWING IS ANOTHER LETTER WRITTEN TO SQUIRE ADOLPHUS PROUTY. MY THANKS TO DARLENTE MORROW COOK FOR LETTING ME COPY IT.


April the 22 1848 Deleware T.P. Hancock
Ohio

Dear Brother and Sister,

I will try to (indele?) a few lines to you and let you know how the world goes here. We are all reasonable well at this time and I hope we are duly thankful to the author of all good. Wee receved your of the last of March with pleasure and due resignation and hope if circumstances cant be bent so that wa can be neighbors in this world I hope wee all will enjoy an indestruable bonds of friendship in the next. I had feasted quite freely o the enjoyments of anticipation of your social converse which I think is strengthened and matured by a free exchange of thought and so it concerns my self it is my greatest Earthly beliefs. I believe there is an agreement that each one of us here is to personate themselves in this letter and in 4 parts each one will be short. I hope you will answer this before you go on your visit to the west and come and see us before you move but I hope and pray you may settle in the vicinity of this neighborhood. I will let you know something about our market. Wheat is from (missing) to $1.00 per bushel. Corn 25 cent, Oats 20 cents, potatoes 50 cents per bushel, Pork salted $5.00 per C wt. Cut beef none here, fish from $3 to $5 per (?). fair well my the God of love bless you in every angle of the journey of life. To A.P. J.P.
Job Phillips

*C Wt is 100 lbs.
(A.P J.P was Adolphus Prouty and Julia Prouty. Job Phillips was married to Louisa Ann Prouty, who was the sister to Adolphus and Austin Prouty.)


Well, Job has wrote his part of the letter and I must write some but I hardly know what to write for I have been a writing a journal ever since the 20th of Feb. and I have wrote every thing I could think of in that, but I do not know as your ever will get it if you are agoing so far of I am afraid we will not correspond by letter or journal as often as we have done but the will of the Lord be done and every one please them selves as far as they can. I was in some hopes of you getting in this neighborhood so that Father and Mother would be with you some of the time if they chose to do so but if you go to Illonois or Iowa they cannot be with both. They will either have to go with you or stay with us, they can do which they please, mother feels very bad about you and I hope you write something to satisfy her. I hope you will do as your would wish to be done by. I do not know what else to write without I tell you same thing that I already wrote in my journal. We had quite a snow storm the 18th of this month. I am afraid that and the frost together has killed the peaches and plumbs for they were in full bloom, we have had bad luck with our sheep this spring. We have lost 5 and 5 lambs and the dogs got after them last knight and I do not know how many they would have killed if I not heard them, they chased them out of the pasture I to the woods and I hollood at the dogs til Job dressed and he went after them and got them. I ran over to Mrs. Gilloons. There was none hurt, Mother Phillips wants you to let her know if you know anything about Rufus when you write, which I hope will be soon. I must close for Mother will want to write a good Deal and they are all a bed but her and I. This from your affectionate sister,
Louisa

FOLLOWING THIS WAS A LETTER TO ADOLPHUS PROUTY FROM HIS FATHER, SQUIRE ASOLPHUS PROUTY. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DECIPHER IT YET.

Munday (?) 4th.

Dear children, we received your letter sorry to lern that you have altered your mind concerning coming hear to live. I hope it is all for the best it is not altogether unexpected to me but still I could not help but hope but now I expect I may give up all hope. You have not informed us whether you calculate to take father and me with you or not If no we stay her wit job. I want you should let us know whether you calculate to come and see us and bring our property to us or whether we must go after it. I want you should let us know who is going with you to the west. (missing) makes a visit and how long before you expect to move. I hope and pray you may have good luck and prosper and never meat with as many disappointments as I have. I am sorry you are troubled with that complaint again. I thought it was cured. I think it can be if you can rest long enough and Dr. for it. We do not think you are lazy or (spleeny?) or simple but I think you had better buy you a farm and if you can't get a living by trading you canb rent your farm and make something that way. I want you should try and go see Austin while you are at the weat if you posably can. I do not know as you can make out all that Father wrote. He wrote that he had boarded Chestnut enough to pay for all the (cale?) he ever had of him. I can't write all he wrote. If you can't make it out let us know it. Well I must stop and let Daniel write. All my thoughts is about you so I can't write about anything els. Write as soon as you receive this. We have been informed that you have sold your place. May we all behave our selves in this world so we shall not be a shamed to meet in heaven.

Dianthy Prouty


Wel Daniel has gone with his father up to Patterson after a half barel of fish which they get for blacksmith work and so I will finish filling up this sheet. Mother and I went to Mrs. (Locan?) yesterday avisiting and we started to take a walk down to the river but it began to rain and so we turned about and came back and went to the house on other way so Mother could climb a hill once more and it is a pretty steep high one too. Mother and I is agoing to town tomorrow with Job so she can get her a pair of eyes for she burned up hers. (missing) mentioned about your finding a linen shirt in your trunk when you got home (in one of your letter) it belongs to father and we hunted the house over and over and wondered it had been taken of from the close line, you want to know why we did not seal that leter, we did not know but what it was sealed so it must have been carlesness. You wrote a verse on tobacco and I will write one also.

Tobacco is an evil weed ------ ----------- ------
From the devil sprang the seed _____ ______ ______
It robs the pocket and burns the cheeks
And makes a chimney of the nose

Well I believe I have wrote most all I can think of this time and as much (pusale) out for my pen is a very poor one and I have not patience to write slow and well as I could if I tried. You must write us soon as you receive this. L.A.P.

(L.A.P. stands for Louisa Ann Phillips who was a sister to Squire Adolphus Prouty to whom the letter was written)

Adolphus and his brother Austin were early settlers of Story Co., Iowa, Adophus arriving before 1853 and Austin following in 1854.
The names that are now remembered as among those who were then active members of the Indian Creek settlements, and who still live in the county, are Adolphus Prouty, (who was a prominent candidate for County Judge), W. K. Wood, John Brouhard, Thos. C. Davis, J. R. Wood, Judiah Ray, Nathan Webb, Milburn Ellison, Thomas Fitzgerald, Thomas Monahan, W. W. Utterback, Samuel McDaniel, George Dye, John P. Pool, Ephriam Bowen, the Hands, the Aldermans, the Vincents, and the sons of J. P. Robinson (Allen, 39).
Adolphus was elected the Story County Drainage Commissioner in August 1853


Maxwell was laid out as a town, December, 1881.
Among the first settlers I will name some of them:—Jeremiah Corey, Mr. J. Corey, Sr., T. C. Davis, W. K. Wood, Jesse R. Wood, Chris C. Wood, John G. Wood, Milton Arnold. Judiah Ray, Jacob Ray, Wm. Alderman, Hezekiah Alderman, Mark D. Sheldon, X. A. Welton, G. M. Maxwell, Daniel Maxwell, N. Webb, Thomas Hall, Thomas Dunlap, Henry Phillips, Wm. Brodie, Mr. — John, Hiram Vincent, Ephraim Bowen, W. Y. Smith, Joseph Brubaker, Henry Funk, Dr. Spring, — Grubb, D. F. Shope, John W. Dawson, Geo. N. Kirkman, Jas. Sellers, Z. Lamb, Alex. McConnell, Pearson, N. P. Hall, — Olinger, Peter Gordey, John S. Wood, Elisha Alderman, Mr. Neal and Adolphus Prouty (Allen, 275).

• 

Birth	10 Oct 1815	Devol's Dam near Marrietta, Union Township, Washington, Ohio, United States
Marriage	28 Sep 1837	Athens, Ohio, United States - Julia Ann Alderman
Census (family)	1840	Homer Township, Athens, Ohio, United States - Julia Ann Alderman
Census (family)	22 Oct 1850	Village, Van Buren Co., Iowa, - Julia Ann Alderman
Property	1 May 1855	Story, Iowa, United States
Census (family)	1856	Nevada Township, Story, Iowa, United States - Julia Ann Alderman
Census (family)	1860	Nevada Township, Story, Iowa, United States - Julia Ann Alderman
Military	Bet 19 Aug 1862 and 25 Jun 1865	K Company, 32nd Infantry, Iowa - American Civil War
Census (family)	1870	Nevada Township, Story, Iowa, United States - Julia Ann Alderman
Death	9 Aug 1877	Iowa Center, Story, Iowa, United States
Burial		Woodland Cemetery, Iowa Center, Story, Iowa, United States

Spouse	Julia Ann Alderman (1819 - 1889)
Child	Martha French Prouty (1841 - 1855)
Child	Mariah Diantha Prouty (1844 - 1912)
Child	Lucy Julia Prouty (1846 - 1902)
Child	James C. Franklin Prouty (1849 - 1922)
Child	Isaac Milton "Milton" Prouty (1852 - 1921)
Child	Sarah Frances Prouty (1855 - 1935)
Child	Julia Vilady Prouty (1859 - 1942)

Father	Squire Adolphus Prouty (1777 - 1854)
Mother	Cynthia Dianthy "Diantha" Howe (1781 - 1862)
Sibling	Living
Sibling	Rachel Prouty (1802 - 1872)
Sibling	Louisa Ann Prouty (1813 - 1887)
Sibling	Richard Austin Prouty (1820 - 1903)

Notes