Biographical History of Pottawattmie Co., IA

lexander Vallier of Hazel Dell Township, is a native of Loborough Township, London District, Upper Canada, and was born June 26, 1807, the son of Alexander and Mary (Marion) Vallier, natives of France. When young they came to Upper Canada, where they were married, lived and died. The father was a manufacturer of potash. They had a family of seven children, of whom our subject was the eldest. He and his brother Lewis are the only ones surviving. Mr. Vallier was reared in his native country until he was seventeen years of age, when he came to New York, where he spent some five years, and where he received his naturalization papers. He then visited Canada, where he spent three years, and then came to Ohio, where he spent five years, engaged in farming. He afterward removed to Pike County, Illinois, where he was engaged five years, in farming. He then moved to Decatur County, Iowa, where he also spent five years. He moved a man from that county to Florence, Nebraska. In 1849 he was on the Nishnabotna, and while there attended an Indian war dance, when, not being acquainted with their customs, he feared every moment that his scalp would be taken. They had just killed seven Omaha Indians.

In the spring of 1851 he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, which he has since made his home. When he first came to this county he farmed one year on the Little Mosquite, in Garner Township, and then removed to Hazel Dell Township, where he also engaged in farming one year. Mr. Vallier then removed to his present farm on section 28, Hazel Dell Township, where he entered forty acres, and erected a log house, 14 x 16 feet, where he lived for several years. He then built a good frame house, 30 x 34 feet, which was afterward destroyed by fire, and he built his present home 18 x 24 feet. He has added to his first purchase of land until he now possesses 300 acres, the most of which is in sections 27 and 28, and nearly all under good cultivation. He has always devoted himself to farming and stock-raising, and in constructing his buildings he has assisted in the carpenter work. His home and surroundings denote thrift and prosperity. He struggled through the early days of Potttwattamie County with the other pioneers, and withstood the storms and hardships and is now reaping his reward. He has always labored hard for the best interests of this county, and in its social and moral welfare, and has by his honesty and integrity won a large circle of friends. He was instrumental in organizing the first district school in Hazel Dell Township, and has always been a lover of law and order. He is a stanch Republican, having wheeled into line from the old Whig party. He at one time, with R. Bortan, cast the only Republican vote in the township. He has represented his township as School Director.

Mr. Vallier was married in October, 1830, to Mary Draper, who was born in 1810, in Earnestans, Canada, and died in Pottawattamie County, May 20, 1886. They had a family of eight children, namely: Jane, wife of Virgil Mefford, residing in Harrison County, Iowa. They have a family of five children; Thomas, a resident of Hazel Dell Township, who has a family of five children; Hannah, wife of Alex. Ellison, residing in Harrison County: they have a family of seven children; Ruth, wife of Gus Fillmore, also residing in Harrison County, and have a family of eight children; Emily, wife of James Robinson, residing in Monona County, Iowa; they have a family of eight children; Rozilla, wife of Amasa Bybee, residing in Rock Township: they have a family of nine children; Daniel, a resident of Harrison County, and has a family of four children; and Lewis, residing in Pottawattamie County, and they have a family of two children. Mr. Vallier again married, for his present wife, March 15, 1887, Mrs. Maggie Wootton, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, May 29, 1848, the daughter of George W. and Mary (Hayes) Martin, natives of England; they are both deceased. The mother died in 1848, and the father in 1860. They had a family of four children: Hannah M., Maggie, Isabelle and Joseph. Maggie was reared in St. Louis, Missouri, and was first married to Henry Roberts. They had one child, Thomas Roberts, a resident of Hazel Dell Township. She was again married to John Wootton, and they have three children, namely: Anna, Emma and Harry.

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This page last updated: Friday, 01-Jan-1999 09:03:19 MST.