HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY, IOWA
FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO l909
BY Samuel Gillespie and James E. Steele
BIOGRAPHICAL
HENRY JOHNSON.
Henry Johnson is the owner of an excellent farm in Lincoln township and also considerable property in Royal, where he makes his home. He was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, October 13, 1868, and is a son of Frank and Caroline (Hanson) Johnson. The parents were natives of Denmark and, crossing the Atlantic, became residents of Wisconsin at an early period in the develop‐
ment of that state. Twenty-four years ago they removed to Iowa and have since been residents of Clay county, where for a long period the father followed farming. He is now living retired, and his wife also survives. They were the parents of seven children: Peter, who died in 1888; Henry, of this review; Emma; William B., living on the old homestead in Lincoln township; Martin, who is engaged in the hardware business in Montana; Martha, now in Chicago, Illinois; and Frank, a grain merchant at Tolley, North Dakota.
At the usual age Henry Johnson- began his education by becoming a student in the district schools of Wisconsin. His training at farm labor was not meager, for at an early age he began work in the fields and soon became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He remained on the home farm with his father until he reached the age of twenty-five years and then began farming on his own account in Lincoln township. He still owns a valuable tract of land of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 5, 7 and 8, Lincoln township. This was partially improved when it came into his possession and he continued the work of further development and progress, making it an attractive property, from which he annually derives a substantial income. He owns his residence and one adjoining in Royal, also the business block now occupied by the Wilson Drug Company, the firm of Jones & Anderson and the opera house. He is a man of resourceful business ability, who carefully formulates his plans and is determined and resolute in their execution. His business methods will bear the closest scrutiny and investigation and his well known business probity has gained for him the respect of all.
Mr. Johnson was married in 1902 to Miss Anna Sherman, a resident of Clay county, and they have many friends in Royal and this part of the state. His political views are in harmony with the principles of democracy, while fraternally he is connected with the Yeomen. Much of his life has been spent in Clay county, where he has a wide acquaintance and is favorably known.
JOHN A. KIRCHNER.
John A. Kirchner, a retired farmer, who was the first settler in Clay county and for many years identified with agricultural and other interests of Peterson township, and who has contributed largely to the general improvement and financial worth of the vicinity, was born in Germany, May 24, 1829, a son of Christian and Magdalena (Knipchen) Kirchner. His father, also a native of Germany, came to the United States in 1841. making the voyage in a sailing vessel, and upon arriving in the new world went immediately to Albany, New York, where he remained for three years and then removed to a farm located about twentv-eight miles from that city where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1856 when he came to Peterson township, this county, and here spent his remaining years. The mother was born and married in Germany, and after a long and useful life also died in Peterson township. They had a family of eleven children, namely: John A., of this record; Dorothy, deceased; Mary, widow of C. H. Brokschink, of Webster City, Iowa; Barbara, who became the wife of Michael Spinger, of
Pictures of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Kirchner
Fort Dodge, Iowa; Jacob, a miller of that place; Christian and Philip, deceased; Charlotta, widow of Dr. Butler; Magdalena, who is united in marriage with Walter French, a clothier of Sioux City, Iowa; Julia, deceased; and William, a farmer of this township.
In the common schools of his native land John A. Kirchner acquired his education and when twelve years of age left Germany with his parents for Albany, New York, where he was confirmed in the Lutheran church, remaining under the parental roof until he was nineteen years of age. He then started out in the world for himself, working out until 1852, when he went to California and located in Downieville, where he followed carpentering and mining for four years, and then returned to Peterson, this county, or rather where that town is now located. At that time there were few evidences of civilization in the vicinity and Mr. Kirchner squatted on the land which is now the site of Peterson, this being before the homestead law went into practice, and later he bought the property from the county as swamp land. Shortly after he made the purchase the railroad company laid claim to the same property, but he succeeded in buying it from the railroad corporation, though they failed to give him a bona fide deed. He was then obliged to purchase the land from the state and by appealing to the state legislature he had a special bill passed to the effect that one who had occupied land for a certain period of time could become its owner by paying two dollars and fifty cents an acre. Mr. Kirchner bought a half section in Peterson township and was the first pioneer in this part of the state. In company with him was A. S. Mead, and they started to walk from Dubuque, Iowa, crossing the river on the ice and then westward. Upon coming to Cedar Falls they were overtaken by a severe storm and thinking they had better stop over for a while, they applied at a hotel for lodging, but found it too expensive, so they decided to go on and were iust leaving the building when the proprietor told them it would not be safe to make the venture in the terrible tempest, that they had better remain until springtime inasmuch as they would be unable to cross the country against the odds of winter. Taking his advice they desisted from journeying farther until the weather had broken when they again started out to explore the surrounding county in search of desirable property and were finally directed to the Little Sioux, which they followed until they finally reached some land upon which Mr. Kirchner deemed it advisable to locate. Here he remained long enough to put a portion of this acreage into shape for cultivation and he went east to visit his family, bringing them back with him to the new country. Through their combined efforts a cabin was built, and he at once engaged in farming and he has followed this vocation more or less ever since. Mr. Kirchner's mother would often facetiously remark that they had the largest door-yard in existence, extending from Sioux City to Fort Dodge, and that her chickens did not cause any trouble with the neighbors. He engaged somewhat in other enterprises, however, having built the first sawmill in Peterson township in 1872, which he has kept running constantly since its establishment. In addition to a tract of land consisting of four-hundred and twenty acres in Clay township, Clay county, Mr. Kirchner owns two hundred and forty acres in Buena Vista county, eighty acres in Waterford township, Clay county, and five modern dwellings and one large store building in town.
Picture of Kirchner Homestead
In 1859 Mr. Kirchner was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Bicknell, by whom were born four children, namely: Ella, who became the wife of Edward Sitz, a miller of this township; Charles E., a farmer of Clay township; Rosa, wife of John Parker, of Montana; and one child who is deceased. Mrs. Kirchner having departed this life, Mr. Kirchner was again united in marriage to Rachael Williams, by whom he had four children, namely: F. W., a hardware merchant of this township; John A., who resides in Oklahoma; Clyde, a farmer of Buena Vista county; and May, a foreign missionary in Chili, South America. Politically Mr. Kirchner has voted with the republican party since its organization and probably cast the first vote polled on that ticket in Clay county. He was the first postmaster of Peterson, officiating in that capacity for fifteen years, was also township clerk of the district court and county supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Kirchner are members of the Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal churches, respectively, each being dutiful in the observance of religious obligations and faithful in attendance upon divine services with the respective congregations. Mr. Kirchner belongs to Peterson Lodge, A. F. & A. M., in which he takes a profound interest. Being a man of considerable business ability and executive judgment, he has contributed much to the general welfare of the community, being instrumental in getting the railroad through this place. During his days of activity his energy was untiring and it was through his zealous application to business and his straightforward dealing that he met with such rapid success and is now able to retire, maintaining the respect and praise of his fellow citizens and enjoying the comforts and contentment of a well spent and useful life.
JAMES R. GLOYD.
James R. Gloyd devotes his time and energies to tilling the soil, to raising stock and to the conduct of a dairy business. His life is a busy and useful one, his energies being well directed along carefully defined lines of labor. His home is on section 20, Meadow township, and he is one of the early settlers who arrived here at a period when comparatively few homes had been established within the borders of the county. In fact much of the land was still in possession of the government and Mr. Gloyd secured a homestead claim. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, constituting one of the neat and well improved farms of the locality. He was closely associated with the growth and improvement of his part of the county and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present, for he has witnessed its transformation since the spring of 1872.
Mr. Gloyd is a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Delevan, May 25, 1852. His father, Levi Gloyd, was born in Massachusetts, in which state his youthful days were spent. He was married in New York, however, to Miss Clarissa Parsons, a native of the Empire state and then living near Rochester. On removing to the middle west Mr. Gloyd took up his abode in Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1840, and began merchandising in Delevan, being one of the pioneer business men of that place. He conducted his store there for some years
and then removed to Dalton, where he carried on business for a time. Subsequently he sold out there and went to Rockford, Illinois, where he purchased a farm. He also owned a store and was associated with commercial as well as agricultural interests in that locality. In 1872 he came to Clay county and took a homestead, setting himself resolutely to the arduous task of developing, and improving a new farm. For some years he was thus busily occupied and then removed to Lawrence county, Kansas, establishing, his home near Council Grove. His life was one of intense and well-directed activity. He owned and operated twenty-four different farms in various states and his landed possessions in Clay county aggregated one thousand acres. He was seldom if ever at error in matters of business judgment and his investments were so judiciously made as to bring him a gratifying financial return.
James R. Gloyd grew to manhood in the Badger state and to the public- school system of Wisconsin is indebted for the early educational privileges he enjoyed. He afterwards attended high school in Rockford, Illinois, and in 1870 came to Iowa, settling first in Cerro Gordo county. He there followed farming for two years and also worked on railroad construction in the employ of the Milwaukee Railway Company. The year 1872 witnessed his arrival in Clay county, where he secured a homestead claim of eighty acres, that constituted the nucleus of the farm upon which he is now living. Thirty-seven years have since come and gone and the county today bears little resemblance save in its general outlines to the region in which he settled. At that time much of the land was wild prairie, covered with its native grasses, while there were no graded roads and but few evidences of an advancing civilization. The pioneers were confronted by the difficult task of making homes in a region where their nearest neighbors were sometimes miles away. Oxen were often used in breaking the prairie and the sod house was not an unusual feature of the landscape, but long since these evidences of frontier life have been replaced by conditions which show that the pioneer settlers have worked earnestly and persistently. Today the Iowa farms equal if not surpass in their improvements any to be found in other parts of the country. The soil is naturally rich and productive and the state leads all others in its corn crop and in many other ways.
On the 17th of July, 1872, the year of his arrival in the county, Mr. Gloyd was married at Clear Lake, Iowa, to Miss Josephine M. Case, a native of Chautauqua county, New York, and a daughter of J. A. Case, an own cousin of the renowned J. I. Case, of Racine, Wisconsin, who is now deceased. Mrs. Gloyd came to Iowa with her father when a young lady of sixteen years. She was educated in the schools of New York and of this state and for some years prior to her marriage successfully engaged in teaching.
Mr. and Mrs. Gloyd began their domestic life upon the farm in Clay county, on which they now reside. Mr. Gloyd first built a small house and began breaking the prairie. As the years passed he opened up a farm and the wild prairie grasses were replaced by fine crops of corn and other cereals best adapted to soil and climatic conditions here. He put out a grove and also planted an orchard and as his financial resources permitted he purchased an additional tract of forty acres. He has erected a neat and pleasant residence on his farm and recently built a silo which is one of the first in the county. He raises stock and for some
years has been engaged in the dairy business, his dairy products commanding a ready sale and high price on the market. He is also one of the stockholders, directors and the treasurer of the Cooperative Creamery Company, at Langdon, and his business interests make him a most active man.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gloyd has been born one son, Frank P., who married Miss Maud Wilson, a native of Wisconsin. They, too, have one child, James Leslie, a bright little lad of seven years. Frank P. Gloyd is now in partnership with his father in farming, stock raising and dairying.
In his political views James R. Gloyd is a republican, having given stalwart support to the party since casting his first presidential ballot for General U. S, Grant. He has since voted for every standard bearer of the party and is regarded as one of the leaders in its local ranks. He was elected and served as road supervisor here, filling the office for several years and for about twenty years altogether has been a member of the board of township trustees. He has continued in office for twelve consecutive years and has recently been elected for two years more, so that his continuous incumbency will cover at least fourteen years. In this capacity he discharges his duties with promptness and fidelity, his labors being of a practical character, beneficial to the community at large. He has also been officially identified with the schools, acting as a member and president of the school board for a number of years. He has frequently been chosen as a delegate to the state and county conventions of his party and has also served on the grand and petit juries. His wife is a member of the Christian church and is a lady of many excellent traits of character. Mr. Gloyd belongs to the Masonic lodge at Spencer, in which he has filled all of the chairs, serving two terms as master. He also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and at all times is loyal to the fraternal and beneficent spirit which imderlines these organizations. He is well known in Clay and adjacent counties as a man of tried integrity and worth and he and his family stand high in the estimation of the community. He is justly accounted one of the self-made men, for he started out in life empty- handed and has worked his way steadily upward, his diligence and industry constituting, the rounds of the ladder on which he has climbed to the plane of affluence.
A. T. KNIGHT.
A spirit of enterprise and progress actuates A. T. Knight in all that he does. He has worked diligently and persistently to develop and improve his farm, which is today a good property of one hundred and sixty acres on section 31, Meadow township. It constitutes one of the important features in the landscape and is pleasantly and conveniently located within two miles of Spencer, so that all of the advantages of city life are easily obtainable, while at the same time he enjoys the freedom and independence of country life. Although one of the more recent arrivals in the county, dating his residence here from 1902, he has become widely known and has made for himself an enviable place in the regard of his fellow townsmen. He comes from far off New England, his birth having occurred in
Vermont on the 14th of June, 1858. His father, Wilham Knight, also a native of the Green Mountain state, was there reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Harriet Cook, who was also born in Vermont. Following his marriage the father carried on farming in his native state for several years or until after three children were born unto them there. About 1861 he removed westward with his family and took up his abode in Woodford county, Illinois, where he lived for about ten years. On the expiration of that period he established his home in McLean county, Illinois, where he also followed farming for ten years and then went to Dallas county, Missouri, where he resided until his death, which occurred in January, 1907. He had survived his wife for about ten years.
A. T. Knight was but a young lad at the time of the removal from New England to the middle west and was reared in McLean county, Illinois. The common schools of that state afforded him his educational privileges and he remained with his father until he had attained his majority, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. When he started out in life on his own account he worked by the month as a farm hand and was thus employed for a few years.
On the 10th of August, 1882, Mr. Knight was married to Miss Amanda Center, who was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and was there reared. For a few years prior to her marriage she engaged in teaching school and did capable work in the schoolroom in maintaining discipline and in imparting to others the knowledge that she had acquired. Following their marriage they lived upon a rented farm for a few years and in 1892 came to Iowa, locating in Story county, near Nevada, upon a tract of land which Mr. Knight had purchased the previous year. It was an improved tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which they made their home for seven years and then sold the property, investing in a farm of two hundred acres, which was their place of residence until 1902. In that year the property was sold and they came to Clay county, where Mr. Knight purchased the farm upon which he now resides. He has used woven wire in fencing the place, has tiled the land, investing eight hundred dollars in tile, and has made a good home equipped with the accessories and conveniences of a model farm property. There is an orchard and grove upon his place, a pleasant dwelling and substantial barns and outbuildings. The latest improved machinery is used to facilitate the work of the fields and the farm equipments include a wind pump, a feed grinder and corn sheller. Mr. Knight also raises and, feeds stock, making a specialty of hogs. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator at Spencer and his business interests are carefully controlled, so that he has now reached the plane of affluence, being numbered among the substantial citizens of the community.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Knight have been born seven children: Luella, the wife of Walter Dickison, who resides in Spencer, where he is conducting a meat market; Ira, who assists in the operation of the home farm; Hattie, who is attending the Spencer high school, and Alta, at home. They also lost three children: Viola, who died in Story county at thg age of sixteen years; Jessie, who died at the age of eleven years; and Guy, who died of diphtheria at the age of five years. All the three children died within a week of the same disease. Politically Mr. Knight is a republican with considerable interest in the prohibition party, for
he is an advocate of the temperance movement. He has served as road boss and has been officially connected with the schools. From his youth he has been a member of the Christian church and his entire life has been characterized by devotion to manly purpose and honorable principles. In all of his business dealings he is straightforward and reliable and enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and good will of those who know him.
N. J. HENNINGS.
Everly numbers among its worthy and valued citizens the gentleman whose name introduces this review. For a long, period he was an active and energetic farmer of Summit township where he owned three hundred and twenty acres of land. Although he has disposed of this property his landed possessions include three hundred and twenty acres lying near Mitchell, South Dakota, Mr, Hennings was born in Holstein, Germany, October 2, 1850. When a young man he sought the opportunities and business advantages of the new world and, crossing the Atlantic, joined some friends at Davenport, Iowa. Soon afterward he began work as a farm hand in Scott county, for his financial resources were limited and he faced the necessity of providing for his own support. Later he went to Benton county where he again worked at farm labor, and his industry and economy in the course of years brought him a capital that enabled him to purchase a farm.
Mr. Hennings was living in Benton county when he was married, in 1872, to Miss Margaret Kromhke, also a native of Holstein. Following their marriage they took up their abode upon a rented farm, which Mr. Hennings cultivated for about twelve years, or until 1884. He then removed to Clay county, after having previously visited this district, and invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Summit township. On this farm he took up his abode, imbued with a determination to transform the tract into valuable property that should yield him a substantial living. He built a little home and soon wrought a change in the appearance of the place, bringing the unimproved land under cultivation and adding many modern equipments and accessories to the place. Year by year he gathered in the crops, for which he found a ready market, and as he carefully saved his earnings he was at length able to purchase an additional tract of one hundred and sixty acres. On the first quarter-section he built a good home, also two barns and all the outbuildings which were necessary to shield his grain, hay and farm implements from the storms of winter. Iowa was originally termed a treeless prairie and it was only along the streams that any natural forest growth was found. But Mr. Henning, like many of his neighbors, set out trees and today has a beautiful growth of ash, box-elder and maple. He took up the task of cultivating fruit, with the result, that he soon had a good orchard in bearing. Thus year after year he carried on his farm work with good results until 1894, when he sold one hundred and sixty acres of the home place and removed to Everly, where he purchased a residence. Two years later, not being content to remain idle, he opened a hotel which he conducted four years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of the hotel and also sold the other quarter section
of his home farm in Summit township. He then bought land in South Dakota, near Mitchell, where he now has an improved and valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres. For a number of years he has practically lived retired, his realty and other investments being sufficient to bring to him a substantial income, supplying him with all of the necessities and comforts, and some of the luxuries of life.
As the years passed several children made their appearance into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hennings, and two sons and two daughters are yet living, namely: Dr. A. J. Hennings, who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Taylor, North Dakota; O. F. Hennings, who is a bookkeeper in the First National Bank at Dickerson, North Dakota; Alma, the wife of Henry Teeson, of Everly; and Lillie, who is postmistress at Taylor, North Dakota. They also lost a son, Otto, who died in Benton county in his third year.
Mr. and Mrs. Hennings were reared in the Lutheran faith, but are not members of any church at the present time. Politically, Mr. Hennings is a stanch democrat, and in Summit township he served as road supervisor and as a member of the school board. Since taking up his abode in Everly he has been a member of the village board, was also elected township trustee and by reelection has served for nine consecutive years. In 1908 he was again reelected, so that his incumbency will continue until 1910. He has been chairman of the town board since his first election. He belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge of Everly, in which he has served as an official. His interest in all that pertains to the general welfare is that of a public-spirited citizen, who finds time and inclination to cooperate in movements for the public good. He has witnessed the entire growth and development of Everly and of the western part of Clay county. In all the relations of life he has been honorable and straightforward and his example is well worthy of emulation. Prosperous in his business connections, he proves what may be accomplished by determined and persistent labor. Starting out without capital, he has worked his way steadily upward, improving every opportunity and utilizing every chance that has led to honorable advancement.
ALEXANDER MORROW.
Alexander Morrow is a prosperous farmer of Royal, Clay county, whose successful life merits exceptional praise owing to the fact that when scarcely out of boyhood, at a time when children of his age were going from comfortable homes to acquire their education, he was practically homeless, cast out into the world with strangers and compelled to get along as best he could. But he possessed the possibilities of a successful career and little by little they evidenced themselves. He accepted any employment offered him and applied himself diligently, day by day becoming stronger for life's battles, and thus gradually bettered his condition, at the same time strengthening his self-reliance, so that finally, through industry, thrift and economy, he saved sufficient means to purchase some land, and has since prospered, until he is today one of the most successful and enterprising farmers in this county.
He was born in Canada. September 15, 1842, a son of M. and Abioail (Yew) Morrow, the father being a native of that place who came to the United States and located in Kankakee county, Illinois, where he died in May, 1852, his wife passing away there December 5, 1879. They were the parents of six children, one of whom is Alexander Morrow, our subject. He was but nine years of age when his father died, but was relegated to strangers upon the remarriage of his mother, and consequently received no education. At that tender age he was compelled to seek employment for himself, and worked at whatever he could get until he was forty-one years old, when he came to this county and eventually located in Clay township. His life thus far had been modest, and of his scant earnings he laid by the greater portion, and consequentlv upon arriving in this township he had sufficient means to purchase a small farm, upon which he worked early and late, meeting with splendid success and annually adding to his landed holdings, until he now owns three-quarters of section 21, composed of the best soil and as fine a farm upon which to produce general crops as there is in the county. His land is highly improved, with drainage, buildings, and machinery, and he possesses every convenience with which to follow farming by modern methods. Notwithstanding that his life was a busy one, he laid aside his interests for the honor of his country and served during the Civil war in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
In 1866 he wedded Odella Buckrow, to which union were born: William; Edward, an agriculturist of Clay township; Lucinda; Clara, wlio lives in Clay township; Hattie, a resident of Royal, Iowa; Walter; and Lilly. After their mother departed this life, Mr. Morrow was united in marriage to Mrs. Rosalie Trumbler, and they are the parents of: Delor, of Royal, Iowa; Pearl, of Clay township; Laura; Agnes; and Paul. Politically Wr. Morrow is loyal to the republican party and has served the township in a profitable manner as a member of the school board. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, where he meets his old army comrades. His career is a commendable one and is one of the many evidences of what patience and perseverance will do in overcoming difficulties, surmounting discouragements and achieving success. Mr. Morrow is an upright man, interested not only in the financial but also in the moral standing of the community, and has acquired the confidence and respect of his neighbors, both as a substantial farmer and a useful citizen.
THOMAS L. ROBERTS
Thomas L. Roberts is living retired in Spencer, having reached the seventy- first milestone on the journey of life. At different times he has been connected with the machinist's trade and with farming, and during the period of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and followed the old flag on southern battlefields. The success he has attained in business and the respect everywhere tendered him marks him as one of the representative citizens of Spencer, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present his history to our readers. His birth
Picture of Mr and Mrs. T.L. Roberts
occurred in South Wales, June 13, 1837, his parents being Phihp and Mary (Lewis) Roberts, also natives of Wales. Little is known concerning the ancestral history of the family. The paternal grandmother was Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, and her children were two in number ‐ a son and daughter. The maternal grandfather, Louis Lewis, was a native of Wales, in which country he spent his entire life, passing away there at an advanced age, while his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis, lived to the remarkable old age of one hundred and eleven years. Their family of three daughters and one son included Mary Lewis, who became the wife of Philip Roberts. For many years Philip Roberts followed farming in his native country, and later engaged in the hotel business there until he came to America in 1840, establishing his home in Minersville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. Subsequently he removed westward to Columbus county, Wisconsin, where he died at the age of eighty years. His wife survived him two years, and had reached the age of seventy-nine years, at the time of her demise. Both were consistent christian people, holding membership in the Baptist church, and Mr. Roberts had military experience as a member of the Welsh militia. Their family numbered six sons and six daughters, of whom the youngest three are now living: Sarah, the widow of Hugh Jones, of O'Brien county, Ohio; Mrs. Robert Roberts, of Spencer, Iowa, and Thomas L. Two uncles of the family, Richard Lewis and Rev. Morgan Howells, attained more than local distinction, the former having charge of the Welsh army during the riots in Wales, while the latter was one of the most celebrated ministers of the Calvin Methodist church of that country.
Thomas L. Roberts, the youngest of the family, was only three years of age when brought by his parents to America. He was reared to manhood at Minersville, Pennsylvania, where he acquired a public-school education, and learned the machinist's trade, with which he has been identified during the greater part of his life. In 1860 he removed to Columbus county, Wisconsin, and the following year, aroused by a spirit of patriotism, when the Union was endangered by rebellion in the south, he joined Company C of the Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front. While in the pits at Vicksburg he reenlisted and served for four years, giving valiant aid to his country during the darkest hour in her history. He was a drummer during the first three years of his service, and then reenlisted as a private, after which he was appointed to the quartermaster's department, doing much work there of a clerical nature. However he know's the experience of facing the line of battle, for he took part in the engagement of Kenesaw Mountain, Big Shanty, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, the charge on Atlanta, the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, and New Hope Church. He also went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, which proved that the strength of the Confederacy was almost exhausted.
When the war was over and victory crowned the Union army, Mr. Roberts returned to his home in Wisconsin, and for two years engaged in clerking, in a department store in Columbus. He afterward removed to Omaha, Nebraska, where he again took up the machinist's trade, and installed the first air pump on an engine that was ever put on west of the Missouri river. He worked on the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad in putting on the line shafting, and was employed by the company for fifteen years. On the expiration of that period
he made his way to Colorado in 1879,, and was employed hy the Rio Grande Railroad Company. Later, however, he returned to Iowa, where, in 1870, he had taken up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres. This he cultivated for a few years, and then returned to his trade, but he still owns the farm, which he secured through a soldier's claim, and which cost him only sixteen dollars, although it is today worth twelve thousand dollars. It is situated on section 6, Clay township, and is a well improved and valuable property. Mr. Roberts is now largely living retired, for his life of activity and enterprise has brought to him a substantial competence which now supplies him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life without recourse to further labor.
On the 6th of September, 1867, Mr. Roberts was married to Miss Mary Ann Richards, a daughter of Hugh and Anna Richards. Five children were born unto them: Adelbert Studer, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who married Julia Ann Richards and has two daughters, Patrina and May; May, the second of the family, who died at the age of three and a half years; Thomas Lynn, who was killed in a railroad wreck on the Omaha road at Windom, Minnesota, and left a wife, Mrs. Haidee (Newkirk) Roberts, and one son, Maryan; Patrina May, who died in Leadville, Colorado, at the age of eleven years; and Earl Joyful, who is living, in Spencer with his aunt, Mary Roberts. Of this family the daughter-in-law, Mrs. Haidee (Newkirk) Roberts, was a daughter of Dr. Newkirk, a surgeon of the Confederate army, who held the rank of major. The death of Mrs. Mary Ann Roberts occurred March 18, 1898, when she was fifty-two years of age. She was a devoted christian woman, holding membership in the Baptist church, and in her family was a loving wife and mother.
Mr. Roberts is well known in fraternal circles, being a prominent Mason, holding membership in Evening Shade Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M., of Spencer; Welcome Chapter, No. 44, R. A. M., of Somerville, Tennessee; Fayette Council, No. 84, R. & S. M., of Somerville; and the Valley of Memphis Consistory, S. P. R. S. He likewise belongs to Salida Lodge, No. 57, I. O. O. F., of Salida, Colorado, and Garfield Post, No. 9, G. A. R., of Leadville, Colorado. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party which stood as the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war, and has ever been the party of reform, progress and advancement. His life has been one of well directed activity and intelligent effort, resulting in the attainment of a fair measure of success, and wherever he is known he is honored, by reason of his genuine worth.
A. T. TONES.
In every town and city there are men who by the consensus of public opinion are placed in the front ranks of the enterprising citizens. To this class belongs A. T. Jones, who for fifteen years has been actively and successfully engaged in the five stock business in Everly, while previous to this time he was one of the prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of the county. There is little concerning the history of actual progress and improvement in Clay county that Mr. Jones does not know. Events which are to others matters of record are familiar to
him through actual experience, for he has lived in the county since 1867. At that time it was just being reclaimed for the purposes of civilization, for although the district had been visited by white men for many years, comparatively few permanent settlements had been made within its borders. Mr. Jones was less than a year old at the time of his arrival, his birth having occurred in Stoughton, Wisconsin, August 30, 1866. He is a son of Evan Jones, who brought the family to Iowa in 1867. Of the father further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. A. T. Jones was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life and shared with the family in all of the experiences and hardships incident to the establishment of a home amid pioneer conditions. He was reared in the county and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. When not busy with his text-books he gave his father the benefit of his services and then engaged in farming on the old homestead for four years after he had attained his majority.
Mr. Jones was married when twenty-one years of age, the wedding being celebrated in Spencer on the 14th of March, 1888, the lady of his choice being Miss Mae Harvey, who was born in Clayton county, Iowa, and reared and educated in this state. Her father, William Harvey, was one of the early settlers who came from Illinois to Iowa in pioneer times but was a native of the state of New York. For four years after his marriage Mr. Jones continued the cultivation of the old home farm and about 1892 removed to a farm north of Everly, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land that was still in its primitive condition. The breaking plow was soon at work and after the sod was turned the work of cultivation was continued until the seed was planted and in due time harvests were gathered. Mr. Jones fenced the place and separated the farm into fields of convenient size. He purchased improved machinery to carry on the work and used every means to make the property productive and valuable. As his financial resources increased he added to the farm from time to time until he became the owner of six hundred and forty acres, but afterward sold one-half of this. He built a good farm house and barn and during the ten years in which he resided on that place wrought a marked transformation in its appearance. In his feed lots and pastures were found good grades of cattle, for he raised and fed stock and later bought and shipped stock. In 1904 he rented his farm and removed to Everly, where he has since devoted his energies to buying and shipping stock, shipping on an average of one hundred carloads of live stock annually. He is today the largest buyer in the western part of Clay county. His business is capably conducted and bringing to him gratifying prosperity.
Four children have graced the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jones: Theodore, Leslie, Grace and Mamie. The family is prominent socially and the members of the household occupy an enviable position in the social circles in which they move. Mr. Jones is a valued representative of the Masonic lodge of Everly and his wife is a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and for three years he served as assessor of Waterford township. He has also been mayor of Everly for two years and gave to the town a public-spirited, businesslike and progressive
administration, working for needed reform and improvement. He has been a member of the school board and has served as a delegate to the connty conventions. While yet comparatively a young man, he has witnessed almost the entire growth and progress of the county and has been closely associated with its improvement, cooperating in many movements that have been of material benefit to the county.
JAMES E. MILLS.
There is no record which the American citizen holds in higher honor than that of the man whose strength of character, determination of purpose and indefatigable energy have enabled him to work his way upward from a humble position to one of affluence, and who throughout his business career has followed a straightforward, honorable course, that neither seeks nor requires disguise. Such has been the history of James E. Mills who, when a little lad of but ten years, began to earn his own living and has since been dependent upon his own resources. He is now well known as a grain dealer and farmer of Dickens and has gained a place among the substantial citizens of tlic county. He was born in Eaton, Carroll county, New Hampshire, November 9, 1840, his parents being John and Betsy T. (Giles) Mills, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire. The family is of English lineage, but was established in America in early colonial days, and John Mills, the grandfather of James E. Mills, was likewise born in the old Granite state. He became a ship carpenter and farmer and died in New Orleans, while on his way from Galveston, Texas. His family numbered thirteen children, including John Mills, Jr., who learned and followed the carpenter's trade, spending the greater part of his life at Eaton, New Hampshire. He also cultivated a small farm. In 1861 he proved his loyalty to his country in the hour of need, by enlisting, as a member of the Fourteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteers, serving for three years. He was wounded in the battle of Baton Rouge in 1863, and died from his injuries in 1864, when about forty-five years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Betsy T. Giles, a daughter of David Giles, also a native of New Hamphsire, where he followed the occupation of farming for many years. His wife died in that state but his last years were spent in Illinois. As stated, his daughter became the wife of John Mills, and long surviving her husband, reached the age of eighty-three years, passing away in 1891. Both were members of the Freewill Baptist Church and were earnest Christian people, who enjoyed the warm regard of those with whom they came in contact. Their family numbered four children: Mrs. Mary J. Peary, of Conway, New Hampshire; James E., of this review; Lorenzo D., also of Conway, New Hampshire; and Lozira F., who became the wife of Ephraim Brvant, but is now deceased.
James E. Mills resided in Eaton, New Hampshire, until about ten years of age and attended the public schools there. He then started out to fight life's battles and has come off conqueror in the strife. For a number of years he lived with Carl Drew at Eaton and during that time continued to attend school.
Pictures of Mr. and Mrs. J.E.Mills
until he was qualified to take up the profession of teaching, which he followed for about ten years. He afterward spent one summer as a fisherman at sea and following his return home again engaged in teaching. He also worked in a cotton factory for two years or more and then went to the south, conducting a plantation on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for A. B. Cook, for one year. He then returned to the old Granite state and in 1866 became a resident of Monmouth, Illinois, where he engaged in teaching for a year, going thence to Roscoe, Minnesota.
It was during his residence in that place that Mr. Mills was married on the 20th of September, 1868, to Miss Ellen V. Smith, a native of New York, and a daughter of William P. and Elsie J. (Andrews) Smith. Unto them was born a son, Jesse John, who was killed by the kick of a horse.
Soon after their marriage Mr. Mills drove an ox team to Iowa and located on a farm of one hundred acres in Freeman township, then Spencer township, Clay county. He cast in his lot with the frontier settlers, for this was still a frontier district, in which the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. Much of the land was still uncultivated and the towns were of little industrial or commercial importance, but a class of men were establishing their homes in the county and their labors were converting it into a most attractive place of residence. Mr. Mills continued to improve his farm for twenty years and still owns the property, the boundaries of which he has increased by the. additional purchase of eighty acres. In 1888 he went south and conducted a newspaper at Enterprise, Mississippi, for five years, but he felt that Clay county was a much more congenial place of residence, and returning, he located at Dickens, where he purchased a house and lot and has since operated a grain elevator, at the same time giving his attention to his farming interests.
Mr. Mills exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and for many years has been justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, so that his official record has won him high encomiums. He belongs to Evening Shade Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M., at Spencer, Clay Chapter, No. 112, R. A. M.; Dickens Lodge, No. 583, I. O. O. F., Spencer Encampment, I. O. O. F., while both he and his wife hold membership with the Rebekah lodge. They are people of the highest respectability, enjoying in large measure the friendship of those with whom they have been brought in contact and a life of well directed activity has gained Mr. Mills a creditable place in business circles.
L. J. HJELM.
The welfare and growth of every town or city depends upon the character of its business men. It is always the merchants and representatives of other business life who are the promoters of all plans of progress and improvement. Among the enterprising citizens of Royal is L. J. Hjelm, proprietor of a hardware and furniture store. His line also includes sewing machines, bicycles and sporting goods and in the conduct of his store he studies the tastes and demands
of the general public and as the result of his efforts to please his patrons is now- accorded a liberal and growing trade. He was born in Clinton, Iowa, October 1, 1873, and is a son of Jens and Carrie (Hagadorn) Hjelm. The father, a native of Denmark, came to the United States in 1870 and located in Clinton, Iowa, where he made his home for a time, while subsequently he removed to Cedar Falls and thence came to Clay township, where he still resides. He has devoted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits and is still busily employed at that labor. His wife was a native of Germany and they were married in Denmark. Unto them have been born eight children: L. J.; Anna, the wife of Martin Nelson, a farmer of Lincoln township, this county; Simon, who follows farming in Clay township; Marus, who is with his brother, L. T. iu the store; Hans, Mary, Nels and Martha, all yet at home.
In the public schools of Cedar Falls, Iowa, L. J. Hjelm pursued his education and remained at home until seventeen years of age, during which time he spent his vacation months in farm labor. He afterward went to Peterson, Iowa, and was subsequently employed at different times at J. F. Clagg's hardware store, Webster City, and at Spencer and Sioux Rapids. Throughout this period he was actuated by the laudable desire of one day engaging in business on his own account. In 1900 he came to Royal and saw the fulfillment of his hopes, for from his earnings he had saved sufficient capital to enable him to establish a business of his own. He owns a well appointed stock, keeps everything up-to-date and has a good business. His property interests include the building which he occupies and a residence in Royal.
In 1899 Mr. Hjelm was married to Miss Abbie Hullgaard, a resident of Lincoln township, this county, and unto them have been born four children: Nina, Beuna, Alice and Ruby, all yet at home. The parents are members of the Danish Lutheran church and highly esteemed in the community where they reside, their many good qualities having won for them the friendship and confidence of those who know them. Mr. Hjelm is a republican in his political views. His business career has been marked by that consecutive progress which follows persistent labor intelligently directed. Though he started with nothing, he has made consecutive advancement and his success is undoubtedly due in large measure to the fact that he is a first-class tinner and mechanic and able to handle any work that may arise in connection with his business. His store is attractively arranged and he carries a pleasing line of furniture, hardware and other goods and from the public receives a liberal patronage.
JAMES WALTON COOK.
James Walton Cook has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Herdland township for many years. Although he was not among the earliest settlers of the county he came here when there were still many evidences of the pioneer days, thousands of acres of wild, unbroken prairie land surrounding his residence, which is located on section 11. During the twenty-six years he has been here he has witnessed many changes wrought by the growth and development of the
country. He has seen the ox team and prairie schooner supplanted by a network of railroads and the log cabin and dugout give place to the modern home. The days of privation have long since passed and Clay county today is the home of a prosperous and contented people and where once the wild prairie stretched upon all sides are now to be seen fruitful fields and orchards and pastures. Mr. Cook has done much to bring about these improvements and this prosperity and is to be numbered among the many who have devoted their energies to making this part of the state one of the finest for farming purposes in the country.
Mr. Cook is a native of Hancock county, Illinois, born November 20, 1862. His parents were James and Margaret (Yater) Cook, natives of New Brunswick and Kentucky, respectively, but little is known about their ancestors. However, it is supposed that the founders of the Cook family came from Germany, in which country the name was known as Koch, and records show that several centuries ago two brothers emigrated to England and there established what is known as the English branch of the Cook family. From this source the ancestry of James Walton Cook is supposed to have descended. James Cook resided in Hancock county, Illinois, for about twenty years and in 1883 came to Clay county, locating on section 11, Herdland township, paying four thousand dollars for his farm. Here he spent his life in the pursuit of agriculture and stock-raising until he passed away in June, 1906, in his seventy-fifth year. His wife resides in Spencer. In the family were two children: James W. and W. C, who with his wafe, Nellie (Price) Cook, resides in Spencer.
On his father's farm James Walton Cook was reared. He acquired his education in the district school and assisted in the work of the fields until he was twenty-one years of age, when he started out in life on his own responsibility and engaged in farming for himself. He has one of the finest farms in the township, provided with all the necessary improvements and conveniences with which to carry on the work to the greatest advantage, and everything about his place is indicative of thrift and prosperity. He owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Herdland township and has an undivided interest in three hundred acres in Woodford county, Illinois, both farms being under a high state of cultivation. Aside from producing general crops, such as hay and the various kinds of grain, he also pays attention to stock-raising and ships cattle, sheep and hogs quite extensively. He is very attentive to his farm interests and has everything on hand with which to pursue agriculture by modern methods.
On January 1, 1890, Mr. Cook wedded Miss Eldora Richardson, daughter of W. R. and Nancy (Butler) Richardson, natives of Woodford county, Illinois, and Floyd county, Indiana, respectively. Her father was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Woodford county and passed his entire life on the old homestead on which his father had lived, his long and useful career having closed May 15, 1907, when he was in his seventy-first year. He survived his wife one year, her death having occurred in 1906, when she was seventy-three years old. In their family were three children: Mary, wife of H. M. St. Clair, of Kearney, Nebraska; Eldora; and Eva C, who resides in Secor, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been born three children, namely: Edna, Ada and Russell.
Politically Mr. Cook for a long time was identified with the democratic party although of late years he has been taking, the stand of an independent, reserving
his right to vote for such candidates as he deems best qualified to conserve the interests of the commonwealth, irrespective of their party ties. He has served the township in a number of useful offices, among which are assessor and trustee and for the past fifteen years he has been either judge or clerk of election. In all positions of public trust he has proven himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. Being as faithful in the performance of his religious obligations as he is in attending to his business affairs Mr. Cook, together with the members of his family, attends divine services at the Methodist church, of which they are all liberal supporters. He is also affiliated with the Court of Honor, in the affairs of which he is quite prominent.
During his life Mr. Cook has lived close to high ideals and his citizenship is such that it has inspired strength and permanence to every undertaking, in which his cooperation has been enlisted. Companionable and well informed, observing the world from a wide range, he has an abiding faith in the goodness of mankind and in the existence of opportunity for all who seek it. He is a man of noble qualities of character, of strong and resolute purpose, industrious and enterprising, and well known throughout the community for his uprightness and honesty, he merits and enjoys the respect and confidence of his neighbors and many friends.
HERBERT J. TREEBY.
Herbert J. Treeby, a well known livery man and rural mail carrier of Royal, this county, is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Plymouth county, January 4, 1876, a son of William and Elizabeth E. (Graham) Treeby. His father, a native of England, came to the United States in 1852, locating in Stark county, Illinois, but later removed to Plymouth county, near Merrill, this state, where he located claims on which he remained for several years. He then went to Lyon county but after a brief period returned to Plymouth county, where he lived until fourteen years ago when he located in this county on section 21 of Clay township, engaged in general agriculture and stock-raising until five years ago, since which time he has been living a retired life. He is a supporter of the republican party, has held several public offices in the township and is a member and a liberal supporter of the United Brethren church. He was married in Illinois to Elizabeth E. Graham, a native of Ohio, who departed this life in Plymouth county, this state, in 1905. In their family were twelve children, namely: Sarah, wife of H. W. Bristow, an agriculturist of Merrill, this state; one, not named, who died in infancy; Alvira, wife of J. P. Weeks, a lumber merchant, who resides near Cottage Grove, Oregon; Mattie B., who became the wife of Peter Leforge, an agriculturist and fruit grower whose farms lie near Lebanon, Oregon; Anna, deceased; Nora, deceased; the next born were twins, who died in infancy; W. F., an agriculturist, who resides near Willow Lake, South Dakota; Herbert J., our subject; Luella A., wife of J. W. Houghton, who is engaged in farming in Henly, North Dakota; and Maud, who passed away in her tenth year.
In the common schools of Plymouth county, Iowa, Herbert J. Treeby acquired his education and remained at home engaged in the general routine of farming until twenty-three years of age when he came to this county, operating a small plat for six years, at the expiration of which time he located in the village of Royal and established himself in the livery business which he has since been successfully conducting. Since initiating this venture he has applied himself with unremitting energy to increasing the business, and it is now one of the most prosperous enterprises in the city. He owns several first class teams, an imported Percheron horse known as "Pekin," one Winton automobile and also the building in which he conducts his business. In 1904 he established a mail route over which he has since been carrying mails, and this is not only a lucrative business to himself but also one of the most useful improvements enjoyed by the residents of the rural districts.
In 1907 Mr. Treeby was united in marriage to ]Miss Marion Erickson, a native of Royal and they have one son, Herbert Durand. Mrs. Treeby is a graduate of Toland Business College at Spencer, and before her marriage was a stenographer. She also taught school for several terms in Clay county. Mr. Treeby is a republican and, although he is not an active politician, he is always pleased with the success of his party and does all he can during elections to place their candidates in the offices sought. One of the useful services which he has rendered the township is that of school director, and in this capacity he has been serving efficiently for several years. He belongs to Royal lodge, A. F. & A. M. and also to the Yeomen, being corresponding secretary and treasurer of the latter society. For a number of years he was affiliated with the Good Templars and is faithful to his religious obligations in his attendance at the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he and his wife are members and liberal supporters. Mr. Treeby is an enterprising and energetic business man and being still a young man, the progressive spirit which he shows and which has brought him success will no doubt make him a still more influential factor in the financial affairs of the county.
WILLIAM W. CULVER.
Iowa draws its wealth from the soil. The boundless prairies of this state offer excellent opportunities to the agriculturist and the farmer who resolutely tills his fields and carefully cultivates his crops may in the course of time attain enviable success, acquiring as a result of his labors a handsome competence, that will relieve him in his later years from the necessity of arduous toil. Realizing these facts, Mr. Culver, while identified with farming interests, carefully controlled his business and through his industry, econony and perseverance won the prosperity which now classes him with the substantial citizens of Dickens. His life record began in Iowa county, Wisconsin, January 22, 1843. Back of him is a Scotch ancestry, with the typical characteristics of that nation, noted for its thrift and industry. His grandfather, John Culver, was born in the land of hills and heather and became the founder of the family in the new world. He
was a farmer by occupation and throughout his entire life gave his attention to the raising of crops. He wedded Miss Mary Sleter, and to both were allotted a ripe old age, Mr. Culver being seventy-eight when called to the home beyond, while his wife survived him but two years. They had a large family, namely: Alvah, Alanson, William, Fannie, deceased; Wilson, Melinda, Walter, John, Joshua and Alphonso.
Alvah Culver, the father of William W. Culver, was born in New York and was reared under the parental roof to the duties of the farm. He turned his attention, however, to the carpenter's trade, and thinking that the new and growing west offered better business opportunities, he made his way to Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1836. There he spent one winter and one summer, after which he removed to Helena, Wisconsin, where he resided until his death. He worked most of the time for the American Shot Company, but also became proprietor of a hotel and proved a popular host. His life span covered seventy- three years and was ended in 1885. His wife survived him for only thirty days, and died at the age of seventy-one years. They were members of the Seventh Day Adventists church. Their family numbered ten children, seven sons and three daughters: David W., who makes his home in Spring Green, Wisconsin; DeWitt C. also a resident of that place; Fannie, who died in infancy; Abigail, who became the wife of A. C. Bedell, but is now deceased; William W., of this review; Alvah, Jr., who resides in Lone Rock, Wisconsin; George W., a resident of Dickens; John F., of Lone Rock, Wisconsin; Joshua B., who is deceased; and Sophronia M., who has also departed this life.
William W. Culver lived in Iowa county, Wisconsin, until seventeen years of age, and the public schools of Helena afforded him his educational privileges and prepared him for life's practical and responsible duties. He was reared as a farm boy. working in the fields when not attending school and at times enjoying such sports as the youth of the locality indulged in. At the age of eighteen years, thrilled by the spirit of patriotism, he joined the Union army, enlisting in 1862 as a member of Company A, Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years and held the rank of corporal. In many important engagements he proved his loyalty and valor, participating in the entire siege of Vicksburg, also the siege of Fort Blakeley and Spanish hort. He was likewise in the battles of Marksville Prairie, Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, Pleasant Hill, Nashville, the second battle of Corinth and numerous skirmishes, and never faltered in the performance of his duty, whether on the firing line or the lonely picket line. He was twice wounded, in the siege of Vicksburg and again at Tupelo, but as soon as his injuries permitted he took his place again in the ranks and continued to defend the old flag until it was planted victoriously in the capital of the southern Confederacy.
When the war was over Mr. Culver gladly returned to his home and resumed the pursuits of peace in his native town, where he engaged in farming for a year. He then went into the pineries, where he spent three years, and in 1874 he came to Iowa. For a year he resided in Dickinson county and then returned to Clay county, where he has now lived continuously for a third of a century. He is, therefore, numbered among the early settlers and has been an interested witness of the changes that the years have brought, as the county has
been transformed from a frontier district into one of the leading counties of the commonwealth. Mr. Culver secured a homestead claim of eighty acres in Freeman township, about a mile and a quarter north of Dickens, and improved this property, living thereon until 1890. In the meantime he added a tract of forty acres, but eventually sold the entire farm and removed to Dickens, where he has now made his home for nineteen years. On taking up his abode in the town he turned his attention to the carpenter's trade and has been associated to a considerable extent with its building interests, although for nine and a half years he filled the office of postmaster. His administration of the duties of that office were entirely satisfactory to the general public, for he was always prompt and capable.
On the 7th of April, 1870, Mr. Culver was united in marriage to Miss Susan A. Jewell, a daughter of William and Annie (Cornelius) Jewell. She was born in Catabranca, Brazil, on the 4th of November, 1843, while her parents were natives of England. Her father was killed in the mines of Catabranca, while his wife survived him for some time and married again, her second husband being James Cox. By her first marriage there were born two children, Jane and Susan A. By the second marriage there were five children: James, Emma, Lizzie, Kate and Louisa Cox.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Culver was blessed with two daughters and a son: Maude E., who is now the wife of Anton Anderson, a station agent at Garner; Fred A., who married Belle Marchant, and is station agent at Castalia; and Mabel, who is the wife of Fred Cederholm and resides in Freeman township. Mr. and Mrs. Culver are members of the Congregational church and are earnest Christian people, whose influence is always on the side of right, progress and improvement. He votes with the republican party and is much interested in its success, giving to it loyal allegiance. He also belongs to Annett Post, G. A. R.. and thus keeps in touch with those who wore the blue uniform when he, too, was a soldier on southern battlefields. While his life has been quietly passed in some ways, it has nevertheless been fruitful of good, in that he has always been faithful to every trust reposed in him, progressive in his citizenship and reliable in his business connections.
ALFRED ANDERSON.
While one of the more recent additions to business circles in Royal, Alfred Anderson has already made for himself an enviable position in public regard and is numbered among the progressive and valued merchants of the town. He is associated with C. P. Jones in a general mercantile store which was established on the 15th of March, 1908, and which they are conducting under the firm name of Jones & Anderson.
The junior partner was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on the 12th of May, 1880, and is a son of Olaf and Lottie (Olson) Anderson. The father was also born in Stockholm and in the year 1882 he came to the United States. As he looked over the country and saw the opportunities which it offered he believed that he might wisely establish his home on this side the Atlantic and in 1884 he
brought his family to the new world, settling at Peterson, Iowa. In his native country he had learned the carpenter's trade in early life and had become a contractor and builder. After crossing the Atlantic he still continued in that field of labor for a time. His wife was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and they were married there. She still survives and is living at Royal. In their family were seven children: Elmer E., deceased; Charles W., a farmer residing in Montana; Anna, the wife of John Switzer, a butcher and stock buyer of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Lottie, who is the twin sister of Anna and the widow of Ed Colby, of Sioux Rapids; Alfred, of this review; Ellen, deceased; and Olaf, a farmer of Glendive, Montana.
Alfred Anderson was but four years of age when he came to the United States and has since been a resident of Iowa. He pursued his education in the common schools of Peterson and after leaving school started to work as a farm hand, in which manner he was employed for five years. He was always industrious and determined and his labors were therefore valuable to his employers. After five vears devoted to work in the fields he began clerking in a general store in Royal and in that way gained a good knowledge of business methods, so that experience well qualified him to engage in business on his own account when on the 15th of March, 1908, he opened a general store in Royal in partnership with C. P. Jones. They have already secured a good trade and are building up a substantial business. They are young men of well known enterprise and of resolate purpose, who carry forward to successful completion whatever they undertake.
In his political views Mr. Anderson is a democrat and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and his life is in harmony with his professions. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Yeomen. He is popular with a large circle of friends and the trading public know him as a reliable and enterprising merchant.
JOSEPH H. ALEXANDER.
Joseph H. Alexander, a veteran of the Civil war, who is now living in retirement in the village of Royal, after having for many years been prominently identified with the agricultural and stock-raising interests here, is a native of Warren county, Indiana. He was born December 16, 1843, a son of G. W. and Ruth (Little) Alexander. His father was a native of Springfield, Ohio, where he lived until he was twenty years of age, at which period of his life he went to Indiana with his mother, remaining there until 1847, during which year he located in Green county, Wisconsin. Twenty years were there passed and in 1867 he removed to Jasper county, Iowa. He afterward lived for one year in Cherokee county and thence went to O'Brien county, where he was well known as a general merchant and farmer and where he departed this life in June, 1894. In Indiana he was united in marriage to Ruth Little, who was also born in Ohio, and departed this life in Cherokee county, Iowa, in the year 1873. They were the parents of the following children: Rebecca, Fannie, Mattie, Marguerite A., Clara P., Ada R., Emma, Lincoln and Joseph H.
Picture of J.H. Alexander
In the common schools of Green county, Wisconsin, Joseph H. Alexander acquired his preliminary education and subsequently pursued a course of study in the university at Evansville, that state, upon completing which he returned home and lived with his parents until August 11, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for three years and was honorably discharged on June 29, 1865. He witnessed much hard fighting and was with his regiment in the battles at Resaca, Georgia, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and the siege of Atlanta. During his military career Mr. Alexander was on the scouting force and served in the capacity of scout throughout the Georgia campaign and until the close of the war. His duty was often arduous and dangerous, but he never faltered when the interests of his country were at stake. After receiving his discharge he returned home and in 1867 removed to the southern part of this state, while subsequently he went to O'Brien county, where for a period he followed farming, and in 1898 came to this county, where he is now retired.
In 1866 Mr. Alexander wedded Miss Annie J. Dawson, and unto them have been born eight children, namely: J. S., an agriculturist of Sully county, South Dakota; Ada, deceased; George Jesse, who is in the real-estate business at Heron Lake, Minnesota; Wilfred G., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cherokee county, this state; Effie, wife of Solomon Breffle, who is connected with an elevator at Osgood, this state; Nellie P., wife of Fred Readle, who is in the restaurant business in Miloma, Minnesota; Frank C, a solicitor for a creamery in Cherokee county, this state; and Verne, of that county. Mr. Alexander has taken considerable interest in politics, his political faith being in accord with the principles of the democratic party. He served for three years as justice of the peace in Cherokee county, Iowa, for fifteen years in the same office in O'Brien county and in this county he has been justice of the peace for the past eight years. In the office he has gained considerable distinction for his fairness and administrative ability and at all times he is loyal in citizenship. He is a comrade of Spencer Post, G. A. R., and, being a man of sterling character, he has always merited and received the confidence and respect of all with whom business, official or social relations have brought him in contact.
LESLIE M. HURD.
Leslie M. Hurd, whose activity in business has not only contributed to his individual success but has also been an active factor in the development of the county, is now conducting a general mercantile store in Everly and is also financially interested in a similar enterprise in Spencer. However, he makes his home in the former place and the town is glad to number him among its business men whose energy and enterprise are factors in its upbuilding. Mr. Hurd was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on the 13th of April, 1852, and afterward removed to Grant county, Wisconsin, with his parents, Jabez and Elizabeth (Gordon) Hurd. The father was a native of Connecticut and in that state was reared. In early manhood he was for some years a traveling salesman and in Canton, Ohio, he
married Miss Gordon, who was born and reared in that city, since famous as the home of Willlam McKinley. Following his marriage Mr. Hurd removed to Wisconsin and for a few years was engaged in business in Racine. He afterward became a factor in the business Hfe of Huntington, Indiana, where he remained for a number of years and afterward became a resident of Grant county, Wisconsin. There he was engaged in deahng in land and making loans and was a successful business man, whose sound judgment enabled him to make judicious investments and to gain a substantial profit from his labors. Subsequently he removed to Charles City, where both he and his wife died. Their family, which numbered two sons and seven daughters, all of whom arrived at years of maturity, are still living and are now heads of families. A brother of our subject, Wilson Hurd, is well known in Hawkeye, Iowa, where for twenty-seven years he has engaged in the hardware business.
The youth of L. M. Hurd was largely passed in Grant county, Wisconsin, where he was provided with good educational privileges. After attending the common schools he had the advantage of a course in higher schools and upon the home farm he was trained in the work of the fields. Lessons of industry, diligence and integrity were early impressed upon his mind and have borne fruit in later years.
On the 16th of March, 1880, in Grant county, Wisconsin, Mr. Hurd was married to Miss Ella Sprague, who was there born and remained throughout the period of her girlhood. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Buena Vista county, where they continued until 1884. Mr. Hurd bought a farm in Nokomis township near Alta, the place containing one hundred and sixty acres, to the development of which he gave his energies and attention. For four years he carried on farming there and then sold out, after which he removed to Fayette county, Iowa, and bought eighty acres, which he cultivated for six years. On the expiration of that period he once more sold and removed to Hancock county. Iowa, where he rented land for six years. He next became a resident of Pocahontas county, where he resided until 1905. Throughout his life he has largely traded in farms and bought and sold farm property and on these deals has usually realized a good profit. He has owned two farms since coming to Everly in the year 1905. Here he became a factor in commercial circles, putting in a stock of general merchandise and has since actively managed the store, while his wife acts as bookkeeper and saleslady. In the fall of 1898 he established a general mercantile store in Spencer, which is now under the management of his sons, G. L. and Jay Hurd.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hurd were born four children who are yet living. As stated, G. L. and Jay are conducting a well established general store in Spencer; Harry is in the store at Everly and Sadie completes the family. They also lost a son, Harvey, who died in infancy. The children have been provided with good educational privileges and thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. The members of the family are prominent socially and have many warm friends in the county. Mrs. Hurd, the two oldest sons and the daughter are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Hurd also attends the church and contributes to its support. His membership relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his political allegiance is given to the republican party
without desire for office. He stands as a representative of our best type of American manhood and chivalry. By perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has overthrown the obstacles which, barred his path to success and has reached the goal of prosperity, while his genuine worth, broad mind and public spirit have made him a director of public thought and action.
WILLIAM J. CROW.
No man can be said to have lived in vain whose work has in any way contributed to the world's progress. Carlyle has said, "The story of any man's life would have interest and value if truly told." There is much in the history of William J. Crow that is of interest, for he has attained world-wide fame as one of the most successful breeders of Poland China hogs. If the person who causes two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before has wrought some good in the world, then the one who has, by careful study and experiment, improved the quality and value of stock breeding animals and caused the weight and size to double, then he also has certainly accomplished something of benefit to mankind.
Mr. Crow is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth having occurred in Hopkinton, Delaware county, Iowa, October 4, 1862. He is of English and Irish lineage and is a son of J. H. and Elizabeth (Johnston) Crow, who were natives of Canada and Kentucky respectively. The former was a farmer in early life but afterward directed his attention to mining. There were five children in his family: Mamie, the wife of Oliver Byan, residing in Buena Vista county, Iowa; William J., of this review; Charles, residing in Houston, Texas; Annie, the wife of E. D. Smith, residing also in Houston, Texas; and Jesse, who lives in Idaho.
There was no vent of especial importance to vary the routine of farm life for William J. Crow in his boyhood and youth. He attended the district schools and work in the fields on the home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors incident to developing the farm. In the spring, of 1882 he arrived in Clay county and settled first about eight miles north of Peterson, on section twenty- one, Peterson township. There, for one year, he performed the arduous task of breaking the sod and then moved to Herdland township where he continued farming until the fields were brought into a rich state of fertility. For eight years Mr. Crow continued on the farm and then removed to Spencer, where he lived for two years. Again he took up agricultural, work, and then took up his abode in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. Three years later he removed to Marathon, Iowa, and after a brief stay returned to Sioux Rapids. Two more years passed and he then located upon the farm upon which he now resides, on section fourteen, Herdland township. Mr. Crow has been engaged in the stock business for many years and has been highly successful, and about a year ago he held the second highest sale in the United States. He is today considered authority on everything connected with the breeding, raising and improvement of Poland China hogs. The popularity of the "Crow Type" of hog today is enough to verify that fact. Mr. Crow started in some years ago with the plan and purpose to improve by
careful breeding the size of bone and meat producing qualities of the Poland China. He started in almost alone with that idea and every step of the road he has had to prove the correctness of his theory by producing the goods. He has sought to produce a size in as high a degree as possible and at the same time to keep the bounds of feeding qualities at the highest limit and with sufficient bone to, enable the animal to grow the largest amount of meat, also the finest quality without excessive fat. The results of his study and experiments have made possible what is known as the "Crow Type" of Poland China hogs. This type is remarkable for large growth, heavy bone and well finished, ‐ the kind that has made good in the breeding pen and feed lot, the farmer's friend, the shipper's favorite. During the past few years he has made every animal of the Poland China breed which he has raised bring an average price of forty-five dollars.
While Mr. Crow has gained a world-wide reputation by reason of his development of the "Crow Type" of Poland China hogs, he has also been very successful in the raising and sale of horses and of Plymouth chickens. During most of his residence in Sioux Rapids he was the general agent for the Kirk stock food manufactured by the National Veterinary Medicine Company, and acted as general agent for the state of Iowa. He is now the owner of one hundred and fifty acres of valuable land in Clay county and his farm is well cultivated, presenting, a most attractive appearance in its well tilled fields and substantial improvements.
On the 28th of September, 1886, Mr. Crow was married to Miss Emma Kauffold and they have five children: Vivian, born March 26, 1889; Adrian, born June 27, 1894; Minnie, born January 23, 1899; Vera, born December 11, 1904; and Jessie Marie, born August 4, 1907. In politics Mr. Crow is independent, voting for men and measures rather than party. He is a valued and popular member of Sioux Rapids Camp No. 3228, M. W. A., which he joined on its organization on the nth of September, 1895. He has held all of the important offices of the lodge and enjoys in the highest degree the confidence and good will of his brethren in the fraternity. He is a man of alert and enterprising spirit, possessing the resolute will that enables him to carry forward to completion whatever he undertakes, and at all times his methods are practical and progressive.
J. W. HARTMAN.
J. W. Hartman. proprietor of a hotel in Royal, this county, at one time a traveling salesman for a prominent Chicago firm, is well known in business circles here. Moreover, he is entitled to mention in this volume from the fact that he is a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1845, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Mottern) Hartman. His father, who was a native of the Keystone state and a well known furniture dealer there, left Pennsylvania in 1847 and located in Freeport, Illinois, where he remained until the year 1869, when he removed to Boonesboro, Boone county. Iowa, where he resided until he departed this life in 1902, his remains being interred in the cemetery at Boonesboro. He was a cabinetmaker bv trade and throughout his
Picture of the Hartman Family.
entire life was connected with the furniture business, establishing a reputation for excellent workmanship and straightforward dealing. Politically he was a democrat and being quite influential in his party he served in a number of public offices. He was highly respected for his good character and throughout his life was a consistent member of and worker in the Lutheran church. His wife, also a native of the Keystone state, departed this life in Boone county, in 1903, and was laid to rest beside her husband in Boonesboro. In the family were nine children, namely: Henry, a retired policeman of Boonesboro; Amanda, wife of Jess Shull, who is engaged in the windmill business; Helen, who departed this life in 1908; J. W.; Albert, a railroad engineer, residing in Alaska; Perry, a retired blacksmith of Boonesboro; Eliza, wife of Albert Scott, who is living in retirement in Des Moines, Iowa; Ella, deceased, who was the wife of Shepard Rickard, a well known clothier of Freeport, Illinois; and Emma, the wife of John Akeman, a potter of Des Moines. Iowa.
In the common schools of Cedarville, Illinois, J. W. Hartman acquired his preliminary education and subsequently pursued a course of study at the high school. He remained at home with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, when, in 1863, he enlisted at Freeport, Illinois, in Company B, Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years and was honorably discharged at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 18, 1866. During his military experience he participated in a number of skirmishes and battles, among which were: The Wilderness; Mobile. Alabama, where he fought continuously for seven and a half days; Blakeley, where he participated in two charges; Macon, Mississippi, from which place he went to New Orleans and then with the troops was sent up the Red river to reinforce General Banks, under whom he served in the Red river campaign. At the battle of Pine Ridge Mr. Hartman was severely wounded in the hip, which injury has since caused him much suffering.
At the termination of his military service Mr. Hartman went to Illinois and rented a farm fifteen miles from the city of Freeport, on which he remained for two years. At the termination of that time, in 1870, he came to this county, locating in Lincoln township. He operated these farms for fifteen years and then disposed of his interests and removed to section 17, Riverton township, where he actively engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising until fourteen years ago, when he retired and took up residence in the village of Spencer. In Spencer he lived for a brief period and then went to Webb, where he engaged in the hotel business for a pastime, in the meantime traveling on the road for Farr & Wheeler, a well known Chicago firm. Later he returned to Spencer, where he remained until 1907. during which year he located in Royal, where he established a hotel, of which he is still proprietor. Mr. Hartman is a man of considerable means and he pursues this occupation not that he might obtain a livelihood, but simply because the hotel business has a fascination for him and he follows it for the pleasure and recreation he derives and for the same reason as one spends his time in auto riding, or yacht cruising. While Mr. Hartman has prospered and is now numbered among the substantial citizens of the county, all days in his life have not been equally bright. In fact, he has met discouragements and difficulties, especially in the early days, when he experienced the grasshopper plague and for five seasons raised nothing on his farm, the insects taking every living thing.
However, as the years have gone by his capable management and energy have brought to him well earned and justly merited success. In addition to his other interests he now owns two good residences in Spencer, a business block and other valuable real estate.
On March 14, 1867, Mr. Hartman was united in marriage in Oneco, Illinois, to Miss Amelia Runkle, by whom he had four children, namely: John, a general merchant of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Jacob Samuel, an expressman, of Spencer; Bert, a land promoter of Milestone, Canada; and Libbie, who became the wife of Elsworth Hagarty, who has a barber shop in Spencer. Mr. Hartman's political views were in accord with the democratic party before he enlisted in the army but after he was discharged he changed his opinions and has since been loyal to the republican party. He has served the township as school director, and for the past three years has been secretary of the school board. He is a comrade of Spencer Post, G. A. R., and always finding time to devote to religious duties, he and his wife attend services at the Friends church. Mr. Hartman's record is a telling evidence of what industry and perseverance will do if reinforced by intelligence, for when he began his business career he had neither means nor influence to aid him, but he possessed absolute purpose and unfaltering courage and gradually reached his present position as one of the men of affluence in the county. In all of his dealings he has been thoroughly reliable and in matters of citizenship he is helpful and progressive, giving his aid and influence to many measures for the public good.
GEORGE W. RYNO, Sr.
George W. Ryno, one of the public-spirited men of Lone Tree township, whose labors have been of material and substantial value to the community in the line of general progress, makes his home on a farm on section 27, where he owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land. He is also operating other land, in connection with his sons, and is classed with the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock raisers of the county. Here he has lived since the spring of 1883. His birth occurred in Union county, New Jersey, across the river from New York city, April 9, 1848. His father, Hugh D. Ryno, was a native of England, and in early life became a resident of New Jersey, where he was married to Miss Sarah Graves, also of English birth. She died in New Jersey in 1854, when her son George was a lad of six years.
On the home farm in the state of his nativity, George W. Ryno spent the first twenty years of his life, and there learned the tinsmith's trade, which he followed for four years. He was afforded good common school advantages, but is wholly a self-made man, being dependent upon his own labors from the early age of six years. The struggle for an existence was a hard one, but he soon became self-reliant and early learned the lessons of industrv, perseverance and integrity. Upon these qualities he has builded his success. Hoping to better his financial conditions in the middle west, when a young man of twenty years he made his way to Will county, Illinois, where he worked in a rolling mill, being first employed as fireman and later as engineer. He has neglected
no opportunity that would promote his business advancement throughout his entire life, and his success has been gained in legitimate lines of business.
In Joliet, Illinois, on the I2th of July, 1871, Mr. Ryno was united in marriage to Miss Mary Gorman, a native of Queens county, Ireland, who came to the new world when a young lady of sixteen years. Following their marriage they established their home in Joliet, where they lived for a few years, and later Mr. Ryno worked by the month as a farm hand until he could make arrangements to rent land and begin farming on his own account. For a few years he carried on general agricultural pursuits in Illinois, and in 1883 came to Iowa, locating in Clay county, where he has since lived. He first rented a farm for three years, during which time his industry and careful expenditure brought him capital sufificient to enable him to purchase the tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 27, Lone Tree township, on which he now resides. It was at that time raw, open prairie, on which he built a small frame house, while with characteristic energy he turned his attention to the development of the fields. Persistently and energetically he has continued his work year after year, until he now has a well improved property, classed with the model farms of the twentieth century. He has added to his house until he now has a large, substantial residence, which is comfortably furnished. A commodious barn and granary furnish shelter to grain and stock. He also has stock scales upon his place, and many modern equipments, while the latest improved machinery is used to facilitate the work of the fields. The place is well fenced and divided into fields of convenient size, and although the farm was a treeless prairie when it came into his possession, he now has a nice grove of maple, willow and box-elder trees. An orchard of his own planting yields its fruits in season, and the farm is in every way a well developed property. He likewise raises and feeds stock, having a large number of hogs each year. He also has carried on a dairy business for several years and furnishes supplies to the creameries. Moreover, he is interested in the North Rural Telephone Company, as one of its stockholders and directors, and is justly accounted one of the active and progressive business men of this part of the state.
As the years have gone by nine children, five sons and four daughters, have been added to the household, namely: George W., Jr., who is the owner of land in Minnesota and is engaged in farming on his own account; John E., who follows farming in South Dakota; Jary G., who is in partnership with his father in his farming and stock raising interests; William H., who is a student in Humboldt College, at Humboldt, Iowa, but is interested with his father and brother in farming and stock raising interests; Charles P., who is a student in the Everly high school; Catharine P., the wife of Andrew Griffith, a farmer of Dickinson county, Iowa; Sarah E., the wife of William H. Rose, a farmer of Riverton township, Clay county; Mary M., the wife of Victor LeClaire, a farmer of Roberts county, South Dakota; and Anna L., the wife of R. Elmer Dake, a business man of Peterson, Iowa.
In the year 1872 Mr. Ryno proudly cast his first presidential vote, supporting Horace Greeley, and since that time he has given his allegiance to the standard bearers of the democratic party. The public school system has found in him a warm friend, and he has, moreover, proved loyal in different local offices, serving
as highway commissioner, while at the present time he is acting for the ninth consecutive year as township trustee, and his incumbency will continue until 1910. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is still a communicant of the church. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he has confronted many difficulties and obstacles in his life, but through persistency of purpose and undaunted energy, he has worked his way steadily upward in a line where labor is unhampered by caste or class.
ALFRED JAMES LIVINGSTON.
From the rich farming district of Iowa there have come many men who have won success in agricultural lines and are now enjoying the fruits of their labor. To this class belong Alfred James Livingston, and as he is widely and favorably known in this part of the state, his record cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He is yet in the prime of life and his well directed energy in former years has brought to him a competence that supplies him with all the necessities and many of the comforts of living, without recourse to other labor. He was born in Council Hill, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, November 1, 1852, and is of Irish descent, his parents, William and Jane (McKnight) Livingston, having both been natives of County Monahan, Ireland. The grandfather, Alexander Livingston, spent his entire life on the Emerald Isle, and there married, and reared his family of three children, William, Henry and Margaret, all of whom came to the United States.
William Livingston was reared to the occupation of farming and when he became convinced in his own mind that he would have better advantages in the United States, he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for New York. Continuing his journey into the interior of the country, he settled first at Council Hill, Illinois, where he followed teaming for a time, and when his capital permitted, took up the occupation of farming. For a long period he resided in that state, but in the spring of 1892 came to Iowa, spending his last days in Spencer, where he passed away April 13, 1904. Had he lived a day longer he would have reached the age of ninety years. For only a year had he survived his wife, who died On the 6th of April, 1903, a devoted member of the Methodist church, to which Mr. Livingston also belonged. While in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, he held various township offices and at all times his cooperation could be counted upon to further progressive public improvement. This worthy couple were the parents of three sons and three daughters, of whom four are living, as follows: Eliza Jane, the wife of W. W. Claypool, of Spencer, Iowa; Margaret, widow of Henry Thuirer, of Summit township; Alfred J., of this review; and Mary Ann, wife of Edward Claypool, of Sioux township.
Farm work in all of its various phases early became familiar to Alfred J. Livingston, as his youthful days were passed on his father's farm in Jo Daviess county, where he soon came to understand the best times for planting his fields and the best methods of caring for his crops. His intellectual training was
received in the district schools, and when his age and experience justified, he rented his father's farm, which he cultivated for one year. In the fall of 1876 he came to Iowa, settling near Hampton, again engaging in farming, in partnership with his brother-in-law. W. W. Claypool, with whom he was thus connected for five years. In the spring of 1881 he came to Clay county, arriving on the 9th of April. His partnership with Mr. Claypool continued, and together they bought a section of land in Summit township, but the second year divided their interests, each retaining three hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Livingston bent his energies to the arduous task of developing and cultivating his farm. The land was plowed, crops were put in and as the months ran their course the harvest ripened and was gathered. His produce always found a ready sale on the market, and as he prospered in his undertakings he added to his place all of the modern equipment and accessories of a model farm of the nineteenth century. He was thus actively associated with general agricultural pursuits until March, 1907, save for a period of three years, which he spent in the machinery business in Spencer, during which time he rented his farm. He is now living retired, but he still owns his country place, which is finely improved and indicates in its splendid appearance his careful supervision and practical methods.
On the 28th of March, 1883, Mr. Livingston was married to Miss Kate B. Riley, a daughter of John and Ellen (Donlan) Riley. Their children are four in number: Audrey E., wife of Roy La Brant; Edna May, Marion Rebecca and Kennith James. Mrs. Livington belongs to the Catholic church and Mr. Livingston to the Yeomen of America. He always votes with the democracy in all matters of public moment, displaying a spirit of marked devotion to the general good. In analyzing his life record it will be seen that persistent, earnest work has constituted the foundation upon which he has builded his prosperity, and his diligence may well serve as an example for others to emulate.
D. E. BEVING.
D. E. Beving, living on section 3, Summit township, devotes his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits and stock raising. He is one of the extensive land owners of the county and deserves much credit for the position to which he has attained in business circles, as it is the result of his close application and indefatigable industry. In his home farm he now has three hundred acres, and four hundred acres in another farm in Clay county likewise contributes to his success, His holdings also include one hundred and sixty acres in Dickinson county and two hundred and forty acres in Osceola county. Thus he is numbered among the large land owners of this part of the state. He also owns a half interest in another three hundred and twenty acres in this county.
Mr. Beving was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, February 5, 1866, and came to Iowa with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ubbe Beving, in 1873, settling in Grundy county. There the subject of this review was reared to manhood.
No event of especial importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in bovhood and youth. He worked in the fields through the summer months or in fact until harvests were gathered in the late autumn, and in winter seasons he attended school, thus gaining knowledge that has prepared him for life's practical and responsible duties.
After arriving at years of maturity, D. E. Beving sought a companion and helpmate for life's journey, and while living in Grundy county was married on the 1st of November, 1888, to Miss Tena Heikens, who was born and reared in Grundy county. Following their marriage he removed to Clay county and took up their abode in Summit township, where Mr. Beving purchased the farm upon which he now resides. He first bought one hundred and thirty-eight acres of land, and with characteristic energy began to till and improve the place. The crops which he raised brought to him good financial returns and he saved his earnmgs until his careful expenditure and industry brought him sufficient capital to make further purchases. Thus from time to time he has added to his property, until he now owns seven hundred acres in Summit township in one body, while other realty holdings bring his landed possessions to an aggregate amount of twelve hundred and fifty acres. All of this is good land, and in connection with his farming, which is carefully conducted along the most modern lines of agricultural progress, he raises and feeds stock, shipping about fourteen carloads of hogs and cattle each year. His business interests are thus very extensive, and, moreover, at the present time he is manager of the Fostoria Elevator Company and also of the Telephone Company of Fostoria. In all of his business interests he shows keen discrimination and his judgment is seldom if ever at fault in placing the value upon a business situation or its possible outcome. What he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion and unfaltering integrity is numbered among his salient characteristics.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beving have been born five children, Ubbe, George, John, Anna and Harry. The family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death and all are still under the parental roof. The parents are members of the Reform church. Mr. Beving has been one of the active and progressive farmers of the county for a long period. In connection with the development of his own property he buys and deals in land, and his judicious investments and profitable sales have added materially to his property.
NATHAN T. WILCOX.
It is fitting that men in the evening of life should enjoy a season of rest. Nature seems to have intended that this should be so, for in youth he is full of energy and hope and in later years these qualities are directed by mature judgment and keen discrimination, resulting in the attainment of success. Such has been the record of Nathan T. Wilcox, whose years of activity are now crowned with an age of ease. He has lived in the county since 1880 and for many years was identified with its agricultural interests. Moreover, he is entitled to mention in this volume from the fact that he is a veteran of the Civil war.
Mr. Wilcox was born in the town of Richmond, Ontario county, New York, January 26, 1838, and is a son of Harvey G. and Zina (Straight) Wilcox, both of whom were natives of Rhode Island. The father always followed the occupation of farming and on leaving the east became a resident of Wisconsin in 1853, at which time he settled in Wheatland township, Kenosha county. Four years later he removed to Effingham county, Illinois. Mr. Wilcox afterward returned to Kenosha county, Wisconsin, where he passed away August 31, 1860, having been born September 20, 1799. His wife died October 10, 1854. She was born March 7, 1797. They were the parents of eleven children, but only three are now living. The brother of our subject is William H. Wilcox, of Webb, Iowa, and the sister, Lucy L., is the wife of E. W. Alger, of the town of Richmond, Ontario county. New York.
Nathan T. Wilcox, the youngest of the surviving members of the family, lived in Ontario county, New York, until fifteen years of age, spending that period on his father's farm and in attending the district school, where he gained the knowledge that fitted him for the early duties of life. After removing to Wisconsin with his father he began working by the month as a farm hand and also cultivated land on the shares with his father. His life has always been one of unremitting industry and enterprise until his recent removal to Spencer to enjoy here a well merited rest. In November, 1859, he returned to the state of New York, driving a team all the way, and in the year of 1861, having watched the progress of events until feeling that his duty to his country was paramount to all else, he offered his services to the government on the 20th of October and was enrolled as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Second New York Volunteer Infantry. He served for over three years and was mustered out December 24. 1864, at Savannah, Georgia, having in the meantime participated in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea. He served for nearly two years in the artillery and never faltered in the performance of any duty.
After the war Mr. Wilcox returned to New York, and in January, 1866, removed westward to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he resided until the spring of 1880. That date witnessed his arrival in Clay county, and here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Gillett's Grove township, which he improved and cultivated for thirteen years, or until January, 1893, when he rented his farm and took up his abode in Spencer in a nice home at No. 909 Prairie avenue, at the corner of East Ninth street. He still owns his farm and it returns him a substantial income. He has made good improvements upon it and throughout his entire connection with agricultural pursuits he utilized modern methods of farming and by his unremitting industry won his success. Mr. Wilcox being a carpenter and wagon-maker by trade, he was enabled to save considerable money by doing his own work in these lines.
On the 1st of March, 1869, Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Fay, who was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in the city of Cleveland, a daughter of Joseph M. and Sophronia (Brainard) Fay. Her father was born July 31, 1804, in Fulton county, New York, and was a cooper by trade. Having arrived at years of maturity, he was married on the 7th of February, 1828, to Miss Sophronia Brainard, whose birth occurred in Connecticut, May 27, 1805.
In their childhood days they had removed to Ohio and it was in that state that their marriage was celebrated. In 1841 they became residents of Wheatland, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, where the death of Mrs. Fay occurred March 14, 1885, while Mr. Fay died on the 24th of July, 1889. Mrs. Wilcox is a member of the Congregational church and a most estimable lady, whose good qualities of heart and mind have endeared her to many friends. Mr. Wilcox is a valued representative of several fraternal organizations. He belongs to Spencer Lodge, No. 247. I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the offices and is a past grand. He is likewise connected with Annett Post, G. A. R., in which he has served as commander. He is a believer in republican principles and therefore gives to the party stalwart support. For six years he served as trustee of Gillett's Grove township, but whether in office or out of it, is always loyal to the best interests of the community, manifesting the same fidelity to his country and her welfare as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields of the south. His has been a creditable record as a soldier, as a citizen and a business man, and he is now highly esteemed in Spencer, where he expects to spend his remaining days.
THOMAS GADSBY.
Thomas Gadsby is engaged in general farming in Freeman township, owning and cultivating four hundred acres of land. He has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and his place presents an attractive appearance, constituting one of the pleasing pictures in the landscape. Mr. Gadsby is now in the fifty-fifth year of his age, his birth having occurred in Yeavley, Derbyshire, England, November 18, 1854. His parents and his grandparents were also natives of that country. His grandfather, James Gadsby, followed the occupation of farming there but died in early manhood. The maternal grandfather did fancy gardening. Both he and his wife lived to old age and reared a family of three children. The parents of Thomas Gadsby were William and Emma (Johnston) Gadsby, both natives of England. The former engaged in tilling the soil. He died in England in 1888 at the age of sixty-three years and is still survived by his wife, who yet lives in that country. He was a member of the Established Church of England and his widow is also of that faith. Unto them were born five sons and five daughters, of whom four are now living: Thomas; William, who is located at Radgleywood, England; Elizabeth, the wife of William H. Hargrave, of Sioux township; and Samuel, whose home is in Yeavley, England.
Only two of the family have become residents of the United States. Thomas Gadsby, of this review, was reared in the land of his birth and in his youth he had few leisure moments. He worked at farm labor and when still but a boy worked for two years at the meager salary of four cents per day. He remained in his native country until twenty-five years of age, when he felt that he had little opportunity to secure success in business there and determined to test the truth of the favorable reports which he heard concerning business conditions in the United States. Accordingly, he sailed for America in 1880 and, making his
Picture of Thomas Gadsby.
way westward to Clay county, rented a farm of J. E. Mills, in Freeman township, south of Dickens. There he lived for six years until his industry and economy enabled him to purchase a farm for himself. He at first bought eighty acres but later sold that and invested in three eighty-acre tracts in Freeman township. He today owns four hundred acres of finely improved land and is busily employed in tilling the soil, raising the crops best suited to climatic conditions here. He keeps his fields rich and arable through the rotation of crops and has studied, too, the best time and methods of planting, and the best means of cultivating the soil. That his labors have been practical is indicated by the results which he has achieved, owning now one of the best farms of the community.
On the 14th of April, 1904, Mr. Gadsby was married to Miss Ethel Goff, a daughter of Dwight and Melissa (Brayton) Goff. There are two children of that marriage, William Maxon and Thomas Eldon. Mrs. Gadsby was born in Ruthven, Palo Alto county, Iowa, April 16, 1874. Her father was a native of Sherland, Illinois, and was a son of Orrin Dowd and Nancy (Fassett) Goff, both of whom were natives of New York. He became an early settler of Iowa, and lived upon one farm in Palo Alto county thirty-five years. He wedded Melissa Brayton, a daughter of Joseph and Permilia (Spencer) Brayton. Her father was a native of Indiana and served as a soldier in the Civil war. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Goff continued their residence in Palo Alto county, but now live in Freeman township, Clay county, and are among the respected citizens of that community. They were the parents of three sons and a daughter, Ethel, now Mrs. Gadsby; Elmer, deceased; Wilmer; and Le Grand.
Mrs. Gadsby belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and is interested in its work and loyal to its teachings. Mr. Gadsby holds membership relations in Dickens Lodge, No. 583, I. O. O. F. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen and is in harmony with the spirit of these fraternal organizations. His life has been a busy, useful and active one and his success is indicated in the fact of his ownership of one of the valuable farming properties of the county.
JOHN FELL.
John Fell, actively engaged in general farming and stock-raising, is one of the extensive land owners of the county, his possessions aggregating eight hundred acres. In the management and conduct of his property he displays excellent business ability and his enterprise, careful control and keen discernment are the factors which have gained him the substantial place which he is filling as one of the leading business men of Lone Tree township. A native of Germany, he was born in Prussia, on the 14th of February, 1858, and there remained until nine years of age when, in 1867, he crossed the Atlantic with the other members of the family. Landing on the eastern coast, they ccmtinued their journey across the country to Keokuk county, Iowa, and there John Fell was reared to manhood upon the home farm. He remained with his father, Matthew Fell, until he had attained his majority and the events of his youthful days were those which usually fall to the farm lad of the central Mississippi valley. He worked in
the fields, and in the common schools acquired his education and after he had reached manhood he determined to follow as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared. He was thereafter connected with general agricultural pursuits in Keokuk county until 1888, when he came to Clay county and first purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which constituted the nucleus of his present extensive possessions. At that time only forty acres had been broken and there were no buildings upon the place, but he resolutely set himself to the task of developing a fine farm and soon brought the remainder of the tract under a high state of cultivation. The necessary buildings were also put up and the farm work was conducted along progressive and practical lines. As he gathered good harvests, for which he found a ready sale on the market, and his financial resources were thus increased, he added to his property from time to time until he now owns over eight hundred acres of valuable farm land in Clay county. He has also erected a two-story frame residence, which forms one of the attractive features of the landscape. It is supplied with many modern conveniences and is tastefully furnished. He has also built good barns and large cattle sheds and the outbuildings show care in their neat and thrifty appearance. There was not a rod of fence on the place when he took possession but it is all now enclosed with barbed wire and is thus divided into fields of convenient size. He raises corn and other cereals and he likewise raises, feeds and fattens stock, selling on an average of one carload of cattle and one of hogs each year.
On the 1st of January, 1896, Mr. Fell was married to Miss Mary Grendler, a native of Germany, in which land she was reared. There are eight children in the family, Peter, John, Edward, Bessie, Alice, May, Clara and Susie, all of whom are yet under the parental roof, the family circle being still unbroken by the hand of death. In politics Mr. Fell is a democrat and while he votes for the men and measures of the party the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. The only official position that he has filled has been that of member of the school board for several vears, during which time he has labored effectively to promote the cause of public education. As one of the land owners and successful farmers and business men of Lone Tree township he is well known in Spencer and throughout Clay county. His life record shows what may be accomplished by a determined spirit and by unfaltering enterprise. He has carefully noted and utilized his opportunities, making each moment count and his example of unremitting industry and perseverance is one well worthy of
WILLIAM WARREN.
Comparatively few of the men who came to Clay county in the period of its pioneer development early enough to secure a homestead claim from the government are now living. William Warren, however, is among the number who have been identified with the progress and upbuilding of this portion of the state for many years. He dates his residence in Clay county since 1872 and securing a government claim, he developed from the wild prairie a good farm of
one hundred and sixty acres. He was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, April 10, 1840, a son of James Warren, who was born and reared in New York. The father married Elmira Yarrington also a native of the Empire state, and removed to the west and cast his lot in with the pioneer settlers of Stephenson county, Illinois, where he died when his son William was a little child of but three months. His wife survived him and later married again. By the first marriage there were four children, two of whom survived, the sister of Mr. Warren being Mrs. Marie Hill, who lives in Illinois.
Because of his father's early death Mr. Warren was thrown upon his own resources at a tender age. His youthful days were passed in Winnebago county, Illinois, on a farm where he received thorough training in the work of the fields, although his opportunities for obtaining mental discipline in public schools were very limited. However, he early learned the lessons concerning industry, perseverance and integrity, and these have constituted important features in his success as the years have gone by. On the 10th of November, 1861, he offered his services to the government, for the country had become involved in Civil war, and he was resolved to strike a blow in defense of the Union. He therefore joined the Fourth Battery of the Wisconsin Light Artillery and the command was assigned to the army of the Potomac under General Butler. He participated in numerous engagements, was with several reconnoitering parties and was wounded in the defense of Richmond by a piece of shell which struck him in the right leg. Being thus disabled he was forced to remain in the hospital at Philadelphia throughout the winter of 1864 and 1865, and was then honorably discharged on the 14th of April of the latter year, after which he was mustered out in that city.
Returning to his home in Winnebago county Mr. Warren spent several months in recuperating his lost health. He was married there on the 25th of February, 1866, to Miss Amanda Chamberlain, a native of Vermont, who spent her early girlhood in New England and at the age of nine years became a resident of Winnebago county, Illinois. She is a sister of Harry Chamberlain, of Spencer. Following his marriage Mr. Warren engaged in farming until the fall of 1882 and then removed to Clay county, Iowa, securing a homestead claim of eighty acres in Clay township. Good health and willing hands largely constituted his capital. He did not fear earnest and persistent work, however, and broke his eighty acres, making some improvements upon it, including the building of a small house. Later he bought eighty acres more and continued the work of development along modern lines, replacing his early dwelling with a commodious and substantial house, while barns and outbuildings were also put up and the farm thus became a model property of the twentieth century. The fields were carefully tilled and from time to time he secured the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate his work. As the years passed the sale of his crops added materially to his income and he is now numbered among the men of affluence in the county. He continued in active farm work until 1904, when he removed to Everly and purchased a residence and thirteen lots. He has since built a good barn on one of these lots, for he always keeps a carriage and horses, and is now comfortably situated in life, his income being sufficient to supply him with all of the necessities and many of the luxuries that make life worth living.
As the years have passed seven children have been added to the Warren household: Nora, now the wife of Lyman French, a resident farmer of Lone Tree township; Florence, the wife of William French, who is living in Clay township; Clara, the wife of Charles Stone, a resident of Dickens; Bettie, the wife of William Edwards, also living in Dickens; Arthur, who is married and now owns and cultivates the old home place; William R., who follows farming in Clay township; and Nellie, the wife of Norman Doolittle of Everly.
When age conferred upon him the right of franchise William Warren proudly cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1868. Each nominee at the head of the party since that time has received his loyal support and he has ever kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and gives his cooperation to many movements for the public good. In Clay township he served on the school board for a number of years, was also assessor for three consecutive terms, was school treasurer for eleven years and postmaster at Yankee Postoffice for seventeen years. He likewise served as justice of the peace, being appointed to fill a vacancy, and has acted as delegate to numerous county conventions, his opinions carrying weight in local councils of his party. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Warren is a member of the Grand Army post at Peterson. In days of peace he has been as loyal to his country as he was in times of war, when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields. While his life has been quietly passed, his life record, never the less, contains lessons of value, for it shows what can be accomplished by determined and persistent spirit and honorable dealing. He now occupies a position among the prosperous citizens of Clay county and the most envious cannot grudge him his success, so worthily has it been won.
GEORGE H. PARKER.
George H. Parker owns and cultivates a large farm in Herdland township, and by constant application has surrounded himself with an enviable degree of prosperity. He was born in Manchester township, Boone county. Illinois, July 20, 1862. Little is known of the grandparents of the subject of this review, aside from the fact that his paternal grandparents were Isaac and Mary Jane (Poor) Parker, and his maternal grandfather was Isaac Stockwell, both sides of the house having been natives of England, while an uncle, John Parker, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His ancestors are said to have been remarkable for their longevity. Edward and Elizabeth (Stockwell) Parker, the parents of George H. Parker, were natives of New Hampshire and Canada, respectively, and settled in Boone county, Illinois, in the early '40s. There his father engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1852, when becoming inspired by the news of wealth gleaned in the California gold fields he made the journey across the plains with an ox-team to that state, where for three years he successfully engaged in mining. At the expiration of that period he returned to Boone county with a neat little fortune and there remained until his death, which occurred in September, 1899, when he was in his seventy-sixth year, while his wife still resides on the old
Pictures of Mr. and Mrs. G.H. Parker.
homestead. To them were born the following children: William, who passed away in his ninth year; Byron L., a resident of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Ellen, who entered into rest in her twcnty-first year; Maria. who lives in Beloit, Wisconsin; Charles H., a resident of Okoboji Lake, Iowa; George H.; Perry, who lives in Boone county, Illinois; Ed, on the old homestead with his mother.
George H. Parker acquired his knowledge of agriculture on the home farm and obtained his education during his boyhood days in the district schools. When in his nineteenth year he left home to enter the business world and for about three years in various localities he hired out as a farm hand by the month. Presently he returned to Boone county, Illinois, locating near Belvidere, where he remained until 1886, when he came to this state and entered land. He now owns one of the finest and most highly improved farms in Herdland township, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, all of which is under cultivation. It is provided with an attractive home, large barns and outbuildings and at the same time is excellently situated for farming purposes so that his premises are among the most desirable in the county. Aside from general agriculture he also engages in stock feeding, making this a remunerative department of his business and, giving undivided attention to the enterprise, he enjoys the reputation of being one of the most progressive farmers in the vicinity.
In April, 1891, Mr. Parker wedded Miss Caroline McKenzie, a daughter of Ennis and Sarah (Nickelson) McKenzie, natives of Canada, who settled in McLean county, Illinois, at an early date, afterward removing to Sac county, Iowa, where they remained for several years, finally locating in Sioux Rapids about 1880. There the father died in 1904, in his seventy-sixth year, while his wife passed away in March, 1908, in her sixty-third year. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker have been born four children: Lillian E., whose birth occurred January 31, 1892; Ellen P., born November 2, 1894; George E., born August 8, 1902; and Gladys M., whose birth occurred September 20, 1904. Two of the children attend the Central school at Webb, Iowa. Mr. Parker belongs to Enterprise Lodge, No. 332, A. F. & A. M., at Sioux Rapids, and is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a republican, believing firmly in the policies set forth in the principles of the party, and he is always a loyal supporter of its candidates. Locally he is interested in the betterment of the community and for a number of years rendered the township excellent service as a trustee and a member of the school board. He is a man of many sterling traits of character, reliable in business, progressive in citizenship and at all times trustworthy and reliable.
T. L. BAILEY.
T. L. Bailey, now living retired, is numbered among the veterans of the Civil war and for a long time was actively and successfully engaged in business, the energy which he displayed therein bringing to him the success that now enables him to rest from further labor save for the supervision of his investments. He was born in Waitfield, Vermont, June 24, 1848, and is a representative of an old New England family, his parents being Andrew C. and Aresina (Bailey)
Bailey. The father was born in Belin, Vermont, in which state he always resided, devoting his attention to general farming. His death occurred in 1898. The family, probably, springs from English ancestry. The mother, also a native of the Green Mountain state, died there in 1863, T. L. Bailey being their only child. After the death of his first wife the father married again, his second union being with Mrs. Emma Eddy, and unto them were born four children; Ida, the wife of E. O. Macintosh, of Vermont; Susie, the wife of Elmer Scott; May, the wife of Arthur Bailey; and Myrtle, the wife of Edgar McNichol. All are residents of Vermont.
In the graded schools of Montpelier, Vermont, T. L. Bailey acquired his education. He remained at home until sixteen years of age and then enlisted as a member of Company E, of the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, on the 14th of August, 1864. Although but a boy in years, he did valiant duty and was honorably discharged in June, 1865, the war having been brought to a close. He had participated in the three days fight at Petersburg, in the battle of Hatchers Run and Welden Raid, and had followed Lee to Poplar Grove, in a six days running fight. In the ten months of his service he saw active duty, becoming familiar with all of the experiences meted out to the soldier. On his return from the war he again took up his abode at Montpelier, where he remained a short time, and then removed to Rutland, Vermont, where, for four years, he acted as salesman in the store of Mr. W. H. B. Owens. The opportunities of the west, however, attracted him and, believing that he would have a better chance to improve his financial condition beyond the Mississippi, he made his way to Clay county and secured as a homestead claim the northeast corner of section 22, Clay township, in 1870. Upon the farm which he there developed he remained thirty years. During that period he brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and made many substantial improvements and he still owns that land. Year after year he carefully tilled the soil and his farming operations brought him creditable success. In 1901 he removed to Royal and as indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, he felt that he could not be content to have no business pursuit, so devoted three years to clerking in a store. Since that time he has lived retired, in the enjoyment of well-earned rest. In addition to the home place he owns eighty acres of land on section 13, Clay township, and his wife has some property in the town, including a store building. Starting out empty-handed, Mr. Bailey has accumulated a comfortable competence. He deserves much credit for what he has done. He has witnessed many changes since coming to the county, which was a pioneer district at the time of his arrival. He had made the journey westward with two other farmers and together they owned but the one team of horses, their financial resources being too limited to enable each to own a team.
It was in 1868 that Mr. Bailey was married to Miss Julia A. Smith, who was born in Roxbury, Yermont, in 1849. She was a daughter of Alvin and Susan (Lewis) Smith. Her father is now living in Barre, Vermont, while the mother died in January, 1854. In their family were six children, Emery L., Gilbert O., Sanford S., Amelia, Mrs. Bailey and Edwin F. After losing his first wife Mr. Smith was again married, the second union being with Miss Vienna Williams, whom he wedded in 1861. They had one son, Alvin J., now of Massachusetts.
The Smith family came of Welsh and English ancestry. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born two children. Ozias T., born in February, 1873, is now a member of the firm of Bailey Brothers & Albers, dealers in implements at Royal. George L., born in November, 1878, is also a member of the firm. The elder son married Miss Laura L. Thomas and has two children, Wendell L., born in 1900, and Blanch L., in 1903. George L. Bailey wedded Miss Marie Albers, of Royal.
In his political views Mr. Bailey has long been a stalwart democrat and, though he has not been a politician in the sense of office seeking, he is very loyal to the best interests of the community and has served as both secretary and treasurer of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. He belongs to Peterson Post of the G. A. R., in which he has passed through all of the chairs, and he has likewise filled the various offices in the Odd Fellows Lodge at Royal. Both he and his wife are connected with Rebekah Lodge and Mrs. Bailey belongs also to the Woman's Relief Corps, of Peterson. They frequently attend the Willow Creek Methodist Episcopal church and have assisted in building several churches. Well known in this county, where they have resided from pioneer times, they well deserve representation in this volume, for their social qualities have made them many friends, while the business record of Mr. Bailey is most creditable and enviable.
CHRIS PETERSEN,
Chris Petersen, living on a farm on section 27, Lone Tree township, has a place of one hundred and sixty acres which presents a neat and attractive appearance. In his life he has manifested many of the sterling characteristics of his Germany ancestry and his record is another proof of the fact that the sons of Germany have usually been recognized as valued citizens wherever they have cast in their lot in America, employing its advantages and its opportunities for their own welfare and the good of the community at large.
Mr. Petersen was born in Schleswig, Germany, February 13, 1871. His father, Julius Petersen, was also a native of that province and there passed his youthful days and married. He became well known as a business man of the locality and also held various official positions of honor anl trust. He is now post- master at Hattstedt, which position he has filled for many years, although he has reached the age of seventy-two.
Chris Petersen spent his youthful days under the parental roof and was afforded good educational privileges, being instructed in both the German and English languages. He came to the new world in 1887 when a youth of sixteen years, sailing from Hamburg to New York. He did not tarry in the east, however, but made his way direct to Iowa and settled in Jones county, where he had relatives living. It was this that influenced him to become a resident of the Hawkeye state. For a year he worked as a farm hand in Jones county and in 1890 came to Clay county, where he was again employed at farm labor for a year. On the expiration of that period he took charge of the Everly creamery, which he capably
and successfully controlled for six years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase a farm. He then invested in one hundred and sixty acres in Clay township and removed to this farm, which he cultivated for two years. In 1902 he bought his present place of residence on section 27, Lone Tree township. Here he has one hundred and sixty acres of land, constituting a neat and well improved place. In all of his farm work he is energetic and diligent, overcoming all difficulties and obstacles by his perseverance and determination. The improvements which he has placed upon his farm are of a modern character. He has fenced his land and divided it into fields of convenient size and promoted its arability through the judicious use of tiling. He has a good barn upon the place, has built a corn crib, a granary and hog house. The farm is today neat and well improved and he annually gathers considerable fruit from an orchard he had planted. He also has a nice grove upon the place and with his farming raises, feeds and fattens stock, shipping about two carloads of fat hogs and cattle each year.
While living in Everly Mr. Petersen was married, on Thanksgiving day of 1895, to Miss Martha Brugman. a native of Iowa, who was born in Davenport but was of German parentage. They now have four children: Helen, Alice, Julius and Florence. In politics Mr. Petersen is recognized as one of the leading supporters of the democracy in this locality and his fellow townsmen, appreciating his genuine personal worth, have several times called him to office. He was elected and served as township clerk for one year, after which he resigned. He was next elected assessor and, being continued in the office through successive elections, has been the incumbent for nine successive years, being again chosen in the fall of 1908 for a few years' term. He believes thoroughly in good schools and competent teachers and is now serving as secretary of the school board. Both he and his wife are consistent and faithful members of the German Lutheran church, in which Mr. Petersen is acting as a trustee. He belongs also to Everly lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has filled all of its chairs and is a past grand. He is likewise a member of the Modern Woodmen camp. He has no occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world. In fact he has always regarded it as one of the wisest steps he ever made, for in this country, where labor and ambition are not hampered bv caste or class, he has worked his way steadily upward, winning success and at the same time gaining the good will of manv friends in the communitv where he makes his home.
W. J. BEEKS.
The ranks of Civil war veterans are fast being decimated. Year bv year many respond to the last roll call, and it is fitting that while some of the boys in blue survive they should be honored by their fellow townsmen for the service which they rendered to the country during the darkest hour in all its history. Mr. Beeks is among those who for three years or more did active duty on southern battlefields, and in days of peace he has been equally loyal to his
country and is now numbered among the public-spirited citizens of Everly. At the present time he is living retired, but for many years was a progressive farmer of Dickinson county and is numbered among the oldest settlers of the state, dating his residence here from 1840. Iowa had not yet been admitted to the Union when he took up his abode within its borders. He had been born on the frontier, in Dearborn county, Ohio, on the Indiana line, June 28, 1824. His father, Samuel Beeks, was a native of Virginia and, following his removal to the Buckeye state, was there married to Elizabeth Lambden, who was likewise born in the Old Dominion. Mr. Beeks was a miller and millwright by trade. He became a factor in the pioneer development and progress of western Ohio and eastern Indiana and in 1840 again took up his abode on the frontier by becoming a resident of Linn county, Iowa. He worked at his trade in Cedar Rapids and other towns and continued his residence in this state until he passed away in Dubuque county.
W. J. Beeks was reared in Linn county and in his youthful days learned the carpenter's and millwright's trades. He also engaged in farming for four or five years in Jones county, and it was in that county, in October, 1847, that he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Jane Robinson, a native of Virginia. About 1840 he had gone to Dickinson county, where he had secured a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres. Following his marriage he gave considerable attention to the development of his farm.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Beeks put aside all business and personal considerations and offered his aid to the government, enlisting at Anamosa in June, 1862, as a member of Company K, Sixth Iowa Cavalry. The regiment was assigned to duty in the west among the Indians, and out on the plains he participated in many skirmishes, continuing in the service for three years and eight months. He had a horse killed from under him and at that time sustained injuries from which he never recovered. At the close of the war he was mustered out and was honorably discharged at Davenport late in the year 1865.
Following his military experience Mr. Beeks was connected with various industrial pursuits. He followed carpentry and other business interests in different places, and in Dickinson county he homesteaded and opened up a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Upon the place he built a good house, barn and sheds and also divided his farm into fields of convenient size by well kept fences. He likewise planted a grove and cultivated an orchard, and altogether made a nice place of his property. Year after year he capably and successfully tilled the soil, until 1906, when he rented his farm and removed to Everly, where he purchased a home and has since lived retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.
In 1908 Mr. Beeks was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in Everly in December of that year. They had traveled life's journey together for more than sixty years, their mutual love and confidence increasing as time passed on. They were the parents of the following three sons and three daughters: Christopher, who is a stone mason and lives in North Dakota; John T., a farmer of Dickinson county; Charles R., a carpenter and farmer, who is connected with building interests in Everly and who was married here in August, 1890, to Miss Ida Schulz, a native of Germany, who came to the
new world when a maiden of nine summers and by her marriage has one son, George H. Beeks, who is now a young man; Elizabeth, the wife of J. B. Grapes, of Delaware county, Iowa; Nancy J., the wife of Nelson Frederickson, of North Dakota; and Levina, wife of James Gilmore, of Killum, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Beeks were also called upon to mourn the loss of three of their children. Their first-born, a daughter, Mary Jane, died at the age of seven years, while William J. passed away at the age of six months. Katie died in Jones county, Iowa, at the age of nineteen years.
Mr. Beeks gives his political fealty to the democracy and two of his sons are supporters of the same party while his son Charles is a republican. There are few residents of Iowa who have so long resided within the state; for throughout sixty-nine years Mr. Beeks has made his home within its borders and has been an active and helpful factor in improving and developing a number of counties. His life has been at all times honorable and well spent and he now receives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded to one of his years, whose leading characteristics have been the sterling qualities of upright manhood. His memory goes back to the time when in certain sections of the state there were many log cabins, while in other regions sod houses were to be seen. The most far-sighted could not have dreamed of the changes which were to occur and were to make this one of the leading states of the Union, with advantages in some directions superior to those of any other district. In his youthful days the homes were lighted by candles and heated by fireplaces and the winds swept over the prairies unbroken by forest or buildings. Rich in its natural resources, the state has responded readily to the labors of its people, especially in agricultural lines and Mr. Beeks has lived to see every section of the state settled by a contented and prosperous people.
H. L. CHATTERTON.
H. L. Chatterton, who for many years has been a practicing veterinary surgeon and is numbered among the substantial farmers and representative citizens of Peterson township, is a native of Beekmantown, New York, where he was born August 8, 1861, a son of William H. and Hilah S. (Edsell) Chatterton, his father having been a native of Vermont and located in New York state about the year 1838 and in 1868 removed to Jones county, Iowa, near Onslow, where he pursued agriculture until he departed this life January 8, 1894. He served the township a number of years as constable and collector and for thirteen consecutive years in early life he engaged in lumbering. His mother was also a native of Vermont, her birth having occurred in Addison, August 10, 1823. Previous to this union both she and her husband had been united in marriage, he having wedded Marietta Foote, in Middlebury, Vermont, this state; and Benjamin, who passed away September 22, 1869. On July 26, 1842, she was united in marriage to Joseph Humphrey, to which union were born: Alice Paulina, deceased wife of H. P. Chatterton, who served in Company H, One Hundred and
Twentieth New York Volunteer Infantry; and Josephine, who was united in marriage to L. J. Richards June 23, 1870, and lives in Western Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Chatterton were married in 1854, to which union were born: A. S., a physician at Peterson; R. W., whose birth occurred September 27, 1863, and lives near Onslow, Jones county, Iowa; and H. L. One child died in infancy.
H. L. Chatterton acquired his preliminary education in the public schools and subsequently pursued a course of study in the Iowa State College at Ames, during the years 1884 and 1886 inclusive, and was graduated from the veterinary department. He at once entered the practice of his profession, which he followed two years at Anamosa and one and a half years at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with Dr. J. C. Milnes, and in 1890 came to Peterson. Giving up the exclusive practice of veterinary surgery in 1896 he devoted his attention to farming, and owns the southwest quarter of section 23 and one-half of the northwest quarter of section 26, in this township, which farms he has under a high state of cultivation and supplied with all modern improvements, having a comfortable residence, commodious barns, outbuildings and machinery, together with every convenience requisite to pursue the occupation by progressive methods. Here he produces large quantities of hay and general grain crops and at the same time devotes some attention to stock-raising, in which he is greatly aided by his knowledge of veterinary surgery.
On June 25, 1896, he married Miss May Harmon, a native of Waldo, Wisconsin, and a daughter of D. B. and Josephine (Maclntire) Harmon, who went to O'Brien county in 1869, where he still resides. The wife died in 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Charleton were born the following children: Josephine, who is ten years of age; Harley H., whose birth occurred July 18, 1902; and Hilah May, born April 28, 1905. Mr. Chatterton gives his political support to the republican party, and together with his wife are members of the Congregational church, in which he is an active worker. He is a man of remarkable intelligence, well- versed in everything, pertaining to his profession as a veterinary surgeon and is familiar with every department of farming. His success in life is due to his own exertions since he has attained his present reputation as a physician and his prosperity as a business man through his own resources. Mr. Chatterton is widely known throughout the county as a representative citizen and courts the confidence and respect of the entire community.
JOHN LORENZEN.
John Lorenzen is one of the prosperous farmers and business men of Clay county. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lone Tree township, constituting a neat and well improved farm, but now rents this property, while at present he is engaged in the agricultural implement business in Everly. He is also one of the directors of the First National Bank and his connection with commercial and financial interests secures him classification with the leading and representative citizens of the community. Since March, 1894, he has made
his home in Clay county, arriving here when thirty-six years of age. He was born in Holstein, Germany, February 25, 1858, and his youthful days were passed there to the age of seventeen years, while in the schools of his native country he acquired a fair education in the German tongue. He is mostly self-educated in English, however. It was in 1875 that he crossed the Atlantic to the new world and made his way to Clinton county, Iowa, where he was employed at farm labor. Later he removed to Jackson county, where he again worked as a farm hand and thus through diligence and industry made his start in the business world.
While living in Jackson county Mr. Lorenzen was married on the 19th of January, 1883, to Miss Minnie Butzloff. a native of Germany, who was, however, reared in Jackson county, Iowa. Following their marriage Mr. Lorenzen purchased a farm in Jackson county, being associated with his brother. Nis Lorenzen, in the ownership and conduct of a farm of seven hundred and seventeen acres. They carried on business together in a most successful manner for eleven years, at the end of which time John Lorenzen sold out and removed to Clay county. He arrived here in 1894 and has since lived in this county, where he has made for himself a creditable reputation as an enterprising, progressive business man. He first purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Lone Tree township, which he cultivated for a time and then sold and bought the southeast quarter of section 28. This he at once began to improve, added to and remodeled the dwelling and put up good buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He also fenced the place, tiled the land and there he engaged in general agricultural jnirsuits until 1908, when he rented his farm and removed to Everly. Here he purchased stock in an implement business, to which he has since given his attention. He was also one of the first stockholders and organizers of the First National Bank and has been a director from its beginning. His business judgment is sound and reliable and his enterprise unfaltering. Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzen have an attractive home in Everly, where he rented a commodious residence, built in modern style of architecture. It is most tastefully and comfortably furnished and, moreover, is the abode of culture and warm-hearted hospitality. Mr. Lorenzen is a stanch republican in politics but has never been an office seeker. He and his wife were reared in the German Lutheran church, in which they still hold membership. They are well known in Spencer and the western part of the county and Mr. Lorenzen occupies a commendable position in business circles, having fully demonstrated his worth and his progressiveness.
A. B. KINYON.
A. B. Kinyon, a retired farmer of Peterson township, this county, who now resides in the village of Peterson and is one of the original frontiersmen of the early days, whose grandfather served in the war of 1812, is a native of Elery, Chautauqua county, New York, where his birth occurred October 28, 1838, and a son of Amasa and Caroline (Collins) Kinyon, his father having been a native of the Empire state, where he was reared, and who about the year 1846 located
Pictures of Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Kinyon
in Shiawassee county, Michigan, where he followed agricultural pursuits until he departed this life in 1853. His mother, also a native of New York state, was there united in marriage and departed this life in the state of Michigan in 1852. In the family were seven children, namely: Shenanda, widow of Edward Bradley; Caroline, widow of Albert Faust; Oliver, an agriculturist of Winthrow, Minnesota; Polly, widow of Harmon Miller; A. B.; Miles, an agriculturist of Bottineau county, North Dakota; and William, who resides in the state of Washington.
In an old log schoolhouse in his native county A. B. Kinyon acquired his education and remained at home until he was fifteen years of age, at which period of life he started out in the world for himself and in the year 1856 went to Stillwater, Minnesota, where he secured employment for awhile, thence to Wisconsin, where he spent something over a year in hunting big game, and after he had satisfied himself sufficiently with the sportsman's life he returned to Stillwater, where he spent two years in farming, at the termination of which time he went back to Wisconsin, where he worked for four years and then started westward from St. Paul, Minnesota, in company with one hundred and fifty-six men, their destination being Montana, but while enroute, when within nine miles of Little Missouri, they were attacked by the Indians, and so fierce was the hostility of the savages that he and his companions, in order to obtain safety, were forced to construct a fort behind which to secure refuge, which they named Fort Diltz, and for three days they carried on a hot conflict with the Indians. The fight and siege continued twenty days and on the last day they were happily reinforced by eight companies of United States regulars, with whom they retraced their steps and went to Fort Rice, North Dakota, thence to Sioux City, Iowa, and finally reached Omaha, Nebraska, where they remained until January of the year 1865, during which year they left that place for Denver, Colorado. Here they were pressed into service by the government to assist in putting up telegraph poles thrown down by the Indians, and then reaching Denver April 14, 1865, Mr. Kinyon entered the service of an ox-train company and drove five yoke of cattle to Virginia City. When the train was five and one-half miles on its way he, in company with five others, organized and engaged in mining thene until 1868, when Mr. Kinyon returned by steamer from Fort Benton to Omaha, thence on to Chicago, then to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to St. Paul, back to Chicago, to Elkhart, Indiana, once more back to Chicago, and from there to Neenah, Wisconsin, where he was united in marriage in the spring of 1869, during which year he came to this county, leaving his wife behind, and took up a claim of eighty acres in section 4, of this township, and after having cleared fifteen acres, which he put into a fit state for cultivation, he secured employment on the railroad and followed this occupation until the fall of 1869, when he returned to Wisconsin to get his wife. On the trip back to this county all the bridges were down on the Des Moines river and it became necessary for Mr. Kinyon to take apart his wagon and transport the parts across the river in a boat, the horses swimming the stream with him and his wife. Mr. Kinyon, with pride, points to the fact that he has swum nearly every river between here and Virginia City, Montana, and he has in the early days been so far in the depths of the wild west as to have been separated
from human beings for a period of three weeks at a stretch, and also to have been compelled on many occasions to go for days without food, and particularly without salt, a great necessity. The couple finally safely arrived here and Mr. Kinyon engaged in farming until the year 1890, when he went to the state of Washington and for two years was in the lumber business there, at the expiration of which time he returned to this county and settled down on his farm in Peterson township, and during his active farming career he engaged in producing hay and the various grains and paid considerable attention to stock raising, in which for many years he did quite a shipping business. He owns four hundred and sixty- two acres of land in this county, a section near Oakes, North Dakota, and also four valuable lots and an elegant residence in the village of Peterson. He removed to his town residence six years ago and has since been enjoying the fruits of his many years of industry and adventure.
On January 6, 1869, Mr. Kinyon was united in marriage with Miss Emma Potter, a native of New York, by whom he has had one child, Lulu, who became the wife of Edwin Tibbetts, an agriculturist of this township, and who has three children, namely, Bert, Dell and Leona. In politics Mr. Kinyon has always been loyal to the republican party and cast his first vote, in 1860, for Abraham Lincoln, and during his life, having been deeply interested in public matters, has held a number of public offices, among which being that of township trustee, clerk, and assessor. He has also served five years as central committeeman. Among the fraternal organizations with which Mr. Kinyon is affiliated are the Free Masons and Eastern Star, his wife being also a member of the latter. He is a man who has always exerted a wide influence, not only in agriculture but also in financial circles, and is president of the Farmers Elevator Company, of Peterson, of which he was one of the organizers. He is a man whose career has been inspired by laudable ambition and whose enterprise and aggressiveness have stood him well in the battle of life, won him the prosperity which he enjoys today, and placed him in the foremost rank as a representative citizen of the community.
RUDOLPH MOELLER.
The attractiveness of Iowa as a place of residence is indicated in the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders, believing that her advantages and opportunities are equal if not superior to those to be secured in other parts of the country. Mr. Moeller was born in this state, the place of his nativity being in Scott county and the date of his birth September 8, 1860. His father, Henry Moeller, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and spent his youthful days in that country and came as a young man of nineteen years to the new world, landing at New Orleans. For a time he remained in Louisiana, working on plantations there, but eventually he started northward and located in Scott county, Iowa. It was in that county that he married Miss Sophia Moeller, also a native of Mecklenburg, Germany. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Scott county, where the husband continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits for many years, or until 1887, when he sold his property
there and removed to Clay county, taking up his abode on a farm on section 18, Lone Tree township. This was an improved property of one hundred and sixty acres. Later he bought other land, from time to time adding to his holdings, until they aggregated fourteen hundred acres comprised in several farms. Thus with the passing of the years he became one of the wealthy agriculturists of the county and his success was attributable entirely to his own labors, his sound judgment, his judicious investments and his unabating energy. In all of his business dealings he was thoroughly reliable, never taking, advantage of the necessities of another in any trade transaction. He died here about 1897, while his wife survived him and passed away in 1901, Clay county thus losing two of its representative and valued citizens.
Rudolph Moeller was reared upon the old home farm in Scott county and in order to obtain an education attended the common schools, wherein he mastered the branches of learning that usually constitute the public-school curriculum. During the periods of vacation he was employed at farm labor on the old homestead and after he had completed his education worked with his father until his marriage, which was celebrated in Clay county. In order to have a home of his own he then rented his father's farm of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he lived for a few years as a renter, after which he purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres that was largely undeveloped and unimproved. Resolutely he set himself to the arduous task of developing a new farm, breaking the sod, harrowing the fields and planting the seed which in due course of time brought forth abundant harvests. Substantial improvements have been made as the years have passed, including the erection of a pleasant residence, two good barns and commodious sheds and other outbuildings, so that stock and grain are amply protected from inclement weather. He has built many rods of fence, has set out a grove and adorned the lawn with evergreen and other ornamental trees. An orchard of his own planting is now in bearing and all of the features of a model farm property are here to be seen, while an air of neatness and thrift pervades the entire place. Mr. Moeller bought eighty acres adjoining his original tract and he and his brother also own one hundred and sixty acres in another farm. His business interests likewise include stock in the Moneta Bank and in the Farmers Elevator at Moneta. Up to his retirement he engaged in raising and feeding stock, making a specialty of fine hogs. His success placed him among the leading agriculturists and stock-raisers of Lone Tree township.
Mr. Moeller was married in Clay county to Miss Emma Brogeman, who was born in Scott county and was reared and educated there. They began their domestic life upon the farm and early in 1909 retired to Everly, where they live in one of the many fine homes of that pretty village. Unto them have been born three children: Carl, who is now a student in the Cedar Rapids Business College; Ella, who has been well educated and is now a teacher in the old home school; and Walter, a lad of eleven years, attending school. They also lost one son, Albert, who died in his second year.
In his political views Mr. Moeller is a democrat, somewhat active and influential in the local ranks of the party. He has served as road boss several years, being again and again elected to the office. He has now filled the position ten consecutive years and was reelected in the fall of 1908. He has also been town-
ship clerk and in matters of citizenship is progressive and public spirited. He and bis wife were reared in the Lutheran faith and attend the Everly German Lutheran church. Mr. Moeller is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp and also of the Yeomen lodge at Moneta. A resident of the county for more than twenty-two years, he is widely known within its borders and the substantial qualities which he has displayed in his citizenship and in his business relations have gained him a high place in the regard and good will of his fellow townsmen.
CHARLES S. ROGERS.
Charles S. Rogers, one of the younger men who is finding his fortune in the soil of Lincoln township, this county, and who is doing an extensive agricultural and stock-raising business, at the same time being affiliated with a number of other lucrative enterprises in the county, is a native of Peoria county, Illinois, where his birth occurred February 11, 1870. a son of William Henry and Jenette Ellen (Wakefield) Rogers. His grandfather met death by drowning in the Mississippi river while on his way from New York to Peoria, Illinois. His father was a native of New York state, who came west in the year 1846, locating in Peoria county when a lad of but nine years of age where he remained actively engaged in the pursuit of agriculture until last year when he retired from the active duties of the farm and removed to Dunlap, Illinois. Here he is enjoying both the leisure and comfort he deserves after his long years of business activity. He was a man of considerable importance in the county, well known as a representative of the republican party and for twenty years served as school director and for eighteen years as township commissioner. Aside from being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in the affairs of which he has always taken a deep interest and to which he is a large contributor. His mother was a native of Peoria county, Illinois, where she was united in marriage. She passed away in the year 1888 and her remains were interred near Dunlap, Illinois. She gave birth to ten children, namely: Clarence and Elliott, deceased; Logan A., an agriculturist of Lincoln, Nebraska; Charles S.; Leslie J., deceased; Wilson N.; William J.; John L.; Mina E. and Elmer B., all of whom reside at home.
The common schools of his native land afforded Charles S. Rogers his preliminary education and subsequently he completed a course of study in the Metropolitan Business College, of Chicago. Illnois, from which he was graduated in 1890, and immediately became engaged as a bookkeeper in that city in which capacity he served for one year. At the termination of that time he began farming in Peoria county, Illinois, where he rented land on which he remained for twelve years. At the expiration of ten years he purchased one hundred and forty acres there, which he later disposed of, and in 1902, coming to this county he bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 25 and has since resided here, actively engaged in the pursuit of agriculture and stock-raising. The old residence which stood on the premises he remodeled and now has an elegant ten room dwelling, and in addition a new barn toegether with all the necessary out-
Picture of Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Rogers
buildings and other conveniences requisite to pursue farming by modern methods, his farm being thoroughly drained and cross fenced with woven wire. While he takes some interest in stock-raising, keeping on hand only graded specimens, yet he devotes most of his attention to producing general crops and from year to year harvests the finest quality of hay and the various grains. Aside from his farming interests he is connected with the hardware enterprise in Greenville, is a stockholder in the Rossie Savings Bank and also in the Farmers Creamery Association, of which he was secretary for four years. Moreover, he was one among those instrumental in consolidating, the five local telephone companies and was elected secretary of the new consolidation. He is also affiliated with the Clay County Insurance Association and the Bankers Life Insurance Company of Des Moines. He gives his political support to the republican party and has served efficiently as a school director, having also been president of the school board for two years. Among the fraternal organizations with which he is affiliated are the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Greenville, Iowa, and the Modern Woodmen of America at Greenville, Iowa. Mr. Rogers is one of the most aggressive citizens of the community in which he is held in high respect and is a stanch agitator of public improvements, among other services which he has rendered the township being that of securing the present rural free delivery service.
WILLIAM KIRCHNER.
William Kirchner, who in an influential way has for many years been identified with the farming interests of Peterson township, and whose enterprise has contributed much toward the financial betterment of the community, was born in Albany, county, New York, December 31, 1851, a son of Christian and Magdalena (Knipcher) Kirchner, his father a native of Germany who, in December of the year 1841, came to this country on a sailing vessel and located in Albany, New York, where he remained three years, at the expiration of which time he removed to a farm about twenty-eight miles from that city, where he pursued farming until 1856, and then removed to that part of Clay county, Iowa, occupied by the present site of Peterson, where he spent the remainder of his life. The mother, also a native of Germany, where she was united in marriage, after a long and beneficial life passed away here, where she was laid to rest. They reared the following family: Dorothy, deceased; J. A., who was the first settler in Clay county and a review of whom is to be found elsewhere in this volume; Mary, widow of C. H. Brockschink, of Webster City, Iowa; Barbara, wife of Michael Springer, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Jacob, a miller of that place; Christian, deceased; Phillip, deceased; Charlotta, widow of Dr. Butler; Laney, wife of Walter French, a clothier in Sioux City, Iowa; Julia, deceased; and William.
William Kirchner removed with his parents when four years of age from Albany, New York, to Peterson township, this county, where his father built the first house, which was a log cabin, and since the first schoolhouse was built
in the year 1861, when William Kirchner was ten years of age, it is evident that he had few advantages in an educational line, as he had opportunity at that age of spending but two or three years under instruction. He lived on the land now the present site of Peterson, assisting his father in agricultural work until the year 1888, when he purchased for himself a quarter of section 34, which he improved with a comfortable residence, barns and outbuildings, and on which he has since lived and carried on general farming and stock feeding and breeding. His venture proved lucrative from the start, and by producing bountiful harvests from year to year he has been able to add to his land holdings from time to time, until at present he possesses two hundred acres in sections 34 and 35; a quarter section in section 32 in Herdland township, this county; two hundred acres in section 13, Lone Tree township, this county; one hundred and sixty acres in section 20, Peterson township; and a half section in McCook county, South Dakota. All this land is in a high state of cultivation and the several farms are well kept and provided with all the requisites for carrying on the occupation of husbandry successfully. In addition to his enlarged land interests Mr. Kirchner has also found time to launch out into the commercial world and become influentially affiliated with other enterprises, and at present is a considerable stockholder in the First National Bank of Peterson, of which he is president.
In 1880 Mr. Kirchner was united in marriage to Miss Clara Teresa Atkinson, a resident of Clay county, and the couple are parents of the following children: P. M., who resides on section 20, this township; Blanche, Avery W., George C, Charlotta, and Kenneth W., all of whom are at home with their parents. Politically, Mr. Kirchner is loyal to the republican party. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, the Masonic fraternity, and the Eastern Star. He is a man whose industry, honesty and success have made him influential in the affairs of the township, and being possessed of noble traits of character and a man who takes a deep interest in the general welfare of the community, he commands the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens and is accounted one of the substantial financial factors of the county.
C. H. ZISHKA.
Germany has furnished a number of worthy citizens to Clay county and their enterprise and progressive spirit have constituted features in the county's upbuilding and development. Among this number is Carl H. Zishka, now living on section 16, Summit township. He follows general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, also feeds stock to a considerable extent and that he has prospered as the years have gone by is indicated in the fact that he now owns four hundred and eighty acres of fine farming land. He has lived in the county since 1881, arriving here when a young man of nineteen years. His birth occurred in Germany September 4, 1862, and he came to the new world with his father, Godfrey Zishka, who first located in Illinois. The same year, however, he came to Iowa, settling in Franklin county in 1874. Locating on a farm he continued to
make his home there for seven years, and in 1881 removed to Summit township,, Clay county, where land was purchased and the development of a farm was begun.
Carl H. Zishka was at that time a young man of nineteen years and his strength and energies were employed in tilling the soil and developing the property. He broke and fenced one hundred and thirteen acres of land, carrying forward the work of improvement until the place became very valuable. He remained with his father until twenty-five years of age and then made arrangements for having a home of his own.
It was in Summit township in 1887 that Mr. Zishka wedded Miss Minnie Schuneman, a sister of G. H. Schuneman, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Following their marriage the young couple located on a farm adjoining his father's property, Mr. Zishka purchasing eighty acres which he cultivated and developed. As the years passed he continued the work of improvement and his industry was seen in the well-tilled fields that brought forth abundant crops. In 1889 he purchased the farm upon which he now resides on section 16, Summit township, beginning here with one hundred and sixty acres. Later by trade he extended the boundaries of his farm and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of rich land. The soil is very arable and responds readily to cultivation. That practical farming methods are employed is indicated in the rich harvests which are annually gathered for he secures extensive crops of corn and other cereals. In improving his property he has erected a large two-story residence built in modern style of architecture and supplied with modern conveniences. There are also two big barns upon the place, while cribs and granaries furnish shelter for the grain and houses have been built for hogs. He uses woven and barbed wire fences to enclose his fields and he has a feed grinder which is operated by a gasolene (sic) engine, in order to grind feed for the stock. He keeps stock of good grades, having now sixteen head of Aberdeen Angus cattle, with a pure-blooded, thorough-bred male at the head of the herd. In addition to raising fine stock he fattens from one to two carloads of cattle and from one hundred to one hundred and fifty head of hogs annually and his live-stock interests constitute an important feature in his success. In connection with his brothers, Frank and Dan, he owned and operated a steam thresher twenty-seven seasons, threshing for people all over this part of the county and in adjoining counties. Carl H. Zishka is likewise a stockholder in the Fostoria Farmer's Elevator and the Cooperative Creamery there. He is a director in both enterprises and also of the Telephone Company.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Zishka has been blessed with two sons and six daughters, Gustav H., Carl, Lena, Annie, Minnie, Mary, Edna, and Richie. They also lost a son, Otto, at the age of four years.
In his political views Mr. Zishka is a democrat where national issues are involved, but casts an independent local ballot. He is now serving as township trustee of Summit township, has been identified with the schools for several years in an official capacity, and at the present time is acting as one of the school directors. He is a member of the Lutheran church and his life has been well spent, his religious principles constituting a moving force in all that he does. Great changes have occurred since he arrived in this county, where he has now
lived for a period of twenty-seven years. He has witnessed the entire growth of Spencer, has helped improve three fine farms in the county and demonstrated in his life the value of integrity and industry, for he started in empty-handed and has won his prosperity through intense and well-directed energy.
EARL BRONSON.
Earl Bronson, editor and publisher of the Spencer Herald, was born at Manchester, Iowa, February 23, 1869, a son of Charles E. and Jennie E. (Sheldon) Bronson, natives of New York and Ohio, respectively. The former was a son of Clark M. and Abigail (Cornish) Bronson. The grandfather, also a native of the Empire state, conducted business as merchant tailor there. Both he and his wife lived to an advanced age, his death occurring when he was more than seventy years of age, while his wife was in the eighties. They were the parents of two sons and a daughter, who reached years of maturity, Charles E., Clark Henry, of Chicago, and Nellie E., the wife of Frank E. Merriam. Comparatively little is known concerning the maternal grandparents of Earl Bronson, save that the grandfather was a farmer and trader, and lived to an advanced age, as did his wife. They reared a large family.
Charles E. Bronson, well known as a practitioner of the Iowa bar, became an early settler of Manchester, Delaware county, this state, where he has been engaged in law practice for more than forty years, and is still active in the work of the courts. Moreover he has gained distinction in democratic circles as a leader of the party, for one term represented his district in the state senate. Both he and his wife are of the Universalist faith. Their family numbered five children: Earl; Wirt, of Spencer; Lee, who is located at Craik, Canada; Byron, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Henry, a resident of Manchester, Iowa.
Reared in his native town, Earl Bronson attended the public schools, passing through successive grades until he became a high school student. However, in the meantime, when eleven years of age, he began learning the printer's trade, which he has followed almost continuously since. He was in the railroad postal service for a time, under President Cleveland's first administration, and in July, 1891, came to Spencer where he and his brother, Wirt, established the Spencer Herald, bringing forth the first issue of the paper in August. They were thus associated in business until 1902, when Earl Bronson purchased his brother's interest, and has since been sole proprietor of the Herald, which is one of the leading country papers of the state. It is democratic in its political sympathy, and is devoted to the dissemination of local and general news. The plant is splendidly equipped, and in connection with the publication of the newspaper Mr. Bronson also conducts a general job printing business, which is now proving a profitable source of income.
On the 25th of January, 1888, was celebrated the marriage of Earl Bronson to Miss Minnie M. May, a daughter of John W. and Marinda (Colvin) May. They have but one child, Zoa May. Mrs. Bronson was born in Manchester, November 22, 1868, and is a representative of one of the old families of the
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY 421
state. Her paternal grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer
by occupation. He was drafted for service in the Revolutionary war, but just
at the time of the close of hostilities, so did not take any active participation in
that struggle. However, he rendered active aid to his country in the War of 1812.
Both he and his wife reached old age and reared a large family, including John
W. May, who was born in Pennsylvania and became one of the pioneer residents
of Delaware county, Iowa. In early manhood he wedded Marinda Colvin, a
daughter of James A. Colvin, a New York farmer, who removed to Iowa in
pioneer times. He reached an advanced age, but his wife died in early
womanhood. They had a family of four children, including Mrs. May, who was
also a native of the Empire state. Coming to the west, John W. May purchased
government land and began the development of a new farm. Attracted by the
discovery of gold in California, he made an overland trip to the Pacific coast in
1850, and returned to New York by way of the isthmus route. Unto him and
his wife were born two children, who reached adult age. Dr. John A. May, of
Manchester, Iowa, and Mrs. Bronson.
In his political views Mr. Bronson is a stalwart democrat, and served as
postmaster of Spencer for four years during President Cleveland's second
administration. His paternal relations connect him with the Evening Shade
Lodge No. 312, A. F. & A. M., the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeomen,
Homesteaders, and the Court of Honor. He is interested in all that pertains to
general progress and cooperates in many movements for the good of the
community, being at all times a public-spirited and progressive citizen as well
as a successful business man in his representation of the journalistic interests
of the county.
In a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit
Fred Kirkpatrick has gained more than local distinction, practicing at the bar as
a member of the law firm of Buck & Kirkpatrick, of Spencer. He has recently
completed a five years' service in the office of county attorney, in which position
he proved most loyal to the interests entrusted to his care. He is regarded as a
forceful advocate, whose knowledge of the law is comprehensive and exact and
his application of legal principles is at all times accurate. A native of Minnesota,
he was born near Faribault, Rice county, December 22, 1867, and is a son of
Douglas and Cordelia (Davis) Kirkpatrick, the former a native of Pennsylvania
and the latter of Illinois. Both the Kirkpatrick and Davis families have been
represented in America through several generations. The Kirkpatricks are of
Scottish lineage, while in the Davis family there are strong German and Welsh
strains. The great-grandfather of Fred Kirkpatrick was born in the highlands
of Scotland but came to America during his minority and was married here, his
wife being a native of the United States. Baldwin Kirkpatrick, the grandfather
of Fred Kirkpatrick, was born in Ohio and devoted his life to the occupations of
blacksmithing, milling and farming. He lived at different times in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas, his death occurring near the
town of Mankato, in Jewell county, Kansas, May 22, 1876, when he was sixty-
eight years of age. He wedded Meribah Condit, who was born in Pennsylvania,
and her parents were likewise natives of this country. She was eighty-four years
of age at the time of her death. Unto Baldwin and Meribah (Condit)
Kirkpatrick were born the following named children: Samuel, who was born
in Pennsylvania and is a carpenter now residing in Minnesota; Douglas; Addie,
now a physician of Billings, Montana; Mrs. Amanda Ballard, who died at Spencer,
Iowa, in 1890; Thomas S., who was formerly a school teacher and is now a
lawyer of Billings, Montana; Milo and Piatt, who are farmers of Mankato,
Kansas. The maternal grandfather of Fred Kirkpatrick was a native of
Pennsylvania and devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits. Removing
westward to Minnesota, he settled in Rice county, where he died when well
advanced in years, while his wife passed away when about ninety years of age.
They had a family of fourteen children.
Douglas Kirkpatrick, born in the Keystone state, removed at an early age
to Wisconsin, and at the age of ten years became a resident of Waucoma, Iowa,
where he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for sixteen years.
Later he engaged in railroad contracting for twenty years and subsequently he
devoted his energies to mining in Colorado until 1904, when he returned to
Spencer, Iowa, but after two years removed to Wadena county, Minnesota,
where he is now conducting a lumbering business. He was twenty-two years
of age when he wedded Miss Cordelia E. Davis on the 17th of January, 1864.
She was born near Chicago, Illinois, and was a daughter of Sylvester Davis. Her
father was born in this country but was of Welsh descent, he followed the
occupation of farming and spent his last days in Minnesota. His wife, who was
a representative of an old New England family, died near Redwood Falls,
Minnesota, in the '90s. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Douglas
Kirkpatrick removed to Rice county, Minnesota, and after four years became
residents of Jackson county, that state, where they lived for two years. In 1871
they established their home in Spencer, where they remained until the death of
Mrs. Kirkpatrick in August, 1902. She was at that time fifty-five years of age
and was a consistent Christian woman, holding membership in the Baptist
church. By her marriage she became the mother of five children, two sons and
three daughters: Fred, of Spencer; Ettie, who died at the age of five years;
Nellie, now the wife of L. G. Cullen, of Chicago, Illinois; Minnie E., deceased,
who was the wife of Charles E. Dick, of Mankato, Kansas; and Charles, of
Seattle, Washington.
Fred Kirkpatrick, who has been a resident of Spencer since the age of four
years, except for a brief period spent in college and in railroad contracting with
his father, completed his course in the public schools at Spencer and then entered
the normal school at Dixon, Illinois. After two terms spent in study there he
entered Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, Iowa, where he completed his course
by graduation in the class of 1892. During his junior year in college he was
president of the State Oratorical Association. In the senior year he reached the
highest rank in the battalion—that of major—and his name, with that of two
others, was submitted to the war department, that they might be called upon for
military service in case of an emergency. In the acquirement of his education he
displayed the strong and forceful element of his character, for he worked his
way through college, clerking, acting as book agent and also making out the
tax lists for the county auditor in 1885, 1886 and 1887. Following his return
from railroad work he clerked for Horace Smith about three years. When his
college days were over he took up the study of law in the office of Parker,
Richardson & Buck, and was admitted to the bar on the 17th of January, 1894.
In May of that year he purchased the interest of Mr. Parker and the firm became
Richardson, Buck & Kirkpatrick and when, in 1898, Mr. Richardson sold his
interest, the present firm of Buck & Kirkpatrick was assumed. This is a strong
law firm, generally retained either for the prosecution or defense in almost every
important case tried in the courts of this district. In 1894 he was elected to the
office of city attorney and by re-election was continued in the position for eight
years, retiring in 1902 to take the office of county attorney, to which he had been
elected. Mr. Kirkpatrick's success in a professional way affords the best
evidence of his capabilities. He is a strong advocate with a jury and concise
in his appeals before the court. His pleas have been characterized by a terse
and decisive logic and a lucid presentation rather than by flights of oratory, and
his power is the greater before court or jury from the fact that it is recognized
that his aim is ever to secure justice and not to enshroud the cause in a
sentimental garb of illusion which will thwart the principles of right and equity
involved.
On the 20th of June, 1894, Mr. Kirkpatrick wedded Katherine Elizabeth
Bair, a daughter of Albert and Mary E. Bair. She was born at Legrand,
Marshall county, Iowa, December 27, 1872. Her parents were natives of
Pennsylvania, the former born in Lancaster, November 16, 1836, while his
parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Bowman) Bair, were also natives of Lancaster.
Jacob Bair came of German ancestry, while his wife represented an old American
family. They had three sons and a daughter, who are yet living: John H., a
merchant; Daniel W., a banker, and Mrs. Kate Ryan, all of Lancaster, Pennsylvania;
and Henry C. Bair, a capitalist, of Pittsburg. There were four sons in
this family, John H., Daniel W. Henry C. and David Bair, who were soldiers of
the Civil war. It was of this family that Albert Bair was a member. Born in
Pennsylvania, he spent much of his early life at Lancaster and in 1865 came
west to Monmouth, Illinois. There he was married on the 23d of July, 1867, to
Miss Mary Harvey, who was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1848. Her
brothers and sister were: S. B., Amos and Archibald Harvey, all farmers of
Carroll county, Iowa; J. A. Harvey, an attorney of Montour, Iowa; and Mrs.
Carrie Kelly, of Parnell, Nebraska. The parents of these children were William
A. and Susan Harvey, the former born in York county, Pennsylvania, August
15, 1823, and the latter in Baltimore, Maryland, June 26, 1824. William A.
Harvey followed the occupations of carpentering and farming and died August
30, 1896. His widow still survives and is now living at Dedham, Iowa. It was
in the year 1866 that Albert Bair removed to Davenport, Iowa, and there he
engaged in the produce commission business. In 1871 he became a resident of
Legrand, Marshall county, Iowa, and for a number of years was engaged in the
creamery business in Marshalltown, in 1886 he removed to Belle Plaine, Iowa,
where he continued in the same line of business until the failure of his heath.
He died at Belle Plaine, September 1, 1907. Unto him and his wife were born
Ihe following named: Ida, who was born October 7, 1868, and is living with her
mother at Belle Plaine, Iowa; Charles Morgan, who was born November 1, 1870,
and is a railroad engineer living at Clinton, Iowa; Katherine Elizabeth, who was
born December 27, 1872, and is the wife of Fred Kirkpatrick; and Susie, who
was born March 20, 1874, and died at Mount Vernon, Iowa, February 17, 1900.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick have been born two daughters, Ruth and
Florence. The parents are prominent socially in Spencer, and are faithful
members of the Congregational church. In addition to his home property, which
is one of the attractive residences of Spencer, Mr. Kirkpatrick has an interest in
a farm of two hundred acres in Clay county, an interest in five hundred and
forty-seven acres in Chippewa county, Iowa, and owns one hundred and sixty
acres of land in Lake county, Minnesota. He has thus made judicious investment
of his financial resources and his property interests return to him a good income.
Fraternally Mr. Kirkpatrick is connected with Harmony Lodge, No. 188, K. P.,
Evening Shade Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M., Estherville Lodge, No. 528,
B. P. O. E., and the Modern Woodmen of America. He has always voted with
the republican party and is one of its stalwart supporters in Clay county. The
only offices which he has filled, however, have been in the direct path of his
profession. He served as city attorney from 1894 to 1902 and then became
county attorney, which position he has filled for five years with marked ability
and impartiality. He is justly accounted one of the able lawyers and valued
citizens of Spencer.
Christian P. Christensen, successfully engaged in merchandising in Royal,
possesses a spirit of determination and of unfaltering diligence characteristic
of the nationality of which he is a representative. He was born in Denmark,
February 14, 1868, and is a son of Hans and Caren Christensen, who spent their
entire lives in Denmark. The father was a rope maker and died in the year 1881,
while his wife survived only until 1882. There were four children in the family:
Dorothea, the wife of Peter Hensen, living in Denmark; Maren, the wife of
Hans Peterson, also of the same country; Mary, the wife of Lars J. Peterson, of
Cedar Falls, Iowa; and Christian P., of this review.
The last named acquired a common school education in the schools of Denmark
and at the age of fourteen years started out to make his own living by
working as a farm hand. He was thus employed until twenty vears of age and
in the meantime, in 1884. he came to the United States, thinking to have better
business opportunities in the new world. He was employed at farm labor in Clay
county until 1887, after which he worked as a section hand on the railroad until
1890. He then established a dray line, which he conducted until 1895, when he
secured a clerkship in a store in Peterson, where he remained until 1900. In that
year he came to Royal, where he has since resided, and here he established a
Picture of Mr. AND Mrs. C. P. Christensen.
general mercantile store, which he yet continues, carrying a large and well
selected line of goods. The steps in his progressive career are easily discernible
and it is clearly seen that his own worth and enterprise have constituted the basis
of his success.
In 1887 Mr. Christensen was married to Miss Anna Hyllested, the wedding
being celebrated in Clay county. They have three children, Carrie, Arthur H. and
Marie N., all at home. In his political views Mr. Christensen has been a republican
since becoming a naturalized American citizen. While living in Peterson
he served as marshal four years and for eight years was street commissioner and
likewise a member of the town council three years. Since his removal to Royal
he has been justice of the peace one term and in this position, as in the others
that he has filled, he has discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity, his
course reflecting credit upon himself and proving entirely satisfactory to his
constituents. Both he and his wife are members of the Danish Lutheran church and
he is well known in fraternal circles. He became a member of Welcome Lodge,
No. 536, A. F. & A. M., but has since demitted to Sunset Lodge at Royal, of
which he is now the senior warden. He likewise belongs to Clay Chapter, No.
112, R. A. M., of Spencer, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the
Modern Woodmen of America at Royal. Coming to the new world in early manhood,
he has felt that the country fully justified his expectations and in this land,
where labor is unhampered by caste or class, he has steadily advanced and as a
result of his persistent energy and unabating industry has gained a place among
the substantial business men of his adopted country, while personally he enjoys
the warm friendship of the majority of those who know him.
Almost thirty-seven years have come and gone since Lawrence Whalen
arrived in Clay county. Already some hardy pioneers had settled here and the
land was rapidly being taken up by those who wished to make homes for
themselves and were willing to meet the hardships and privations of frontier life
in so doing. Mr. Whalen was ambitious to own property and, arriving in Clay
county in 1872, he secured a homestead claim of forty acres and a tree claim
of eighty acres. He also bought an additional tract of forty acres and now has
an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres which bears little resemblance
to the tract which came into his possession more than a third of a century ago.
Then the land was covered with the wild prairie grasses and starred with
millions of wild flowers in the spring months. Today there are seen waving
fields of grain and annually good crops of corn and other cereals are harvested.
All this represents much hard work but his persistent labor has at length been
crowned with success.
Mr. Whalen was born in Ireland, February 22, 1843, and was brought to
the new world by his father in 1849, the family home being established in La
Salle county, Illinois, where the father passed away about 1852. The family
later removed to Livingston county, Illinois, in 1856 or 1857 and there purchased
land. Three brothers, of our subject are yet living in Illinois: Edward, Thomas
and Michael, all of whom reside in Livingston county near Pontiac. A sister,
Mrs. Bridget Foley, a widow, is yet a resident of the same locality, while another
widowed sister, Mrs. Margaret Hines, is living in Spencer.
Lawrence Whalen was reared on the home farm in Livingston county,
Illinois, where he remained until eighteen or nineteen years of age, during
which time he assisted largely in developing the farm and caring for the crops.
On leaving home he went to Lee county, Illinois, where he worked as a farm
hand and in 1860 he and his brother, Edward Whalen, came to Iowa, but
Edward returned to Illinois. Lawrence Whalen went as far west as Denison,
Iowa, and through Cherokee and other counties in search of a favorable location.
He was pleased with Clay county and its future prospects and in 1872 located
here. Much of the land was still in possession of the government and the work
of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. He knew that it would
mean much difficult labor to develop a farm from the unbroken prairie but he
resolutely set himself to the task and secured a forty-acre homestead claim. On
this he built a stable and at once began to till the soil. Subsequently he purchased
an adjoining tract of forty acres and also entered a tree claim of eighty acres.
Thus he came into possession of his present valuable farming property, now
comprising one hundred and sixty acres of rich land on section 28, Summit township.
Here as the years have gone by the work of improvement has been carried
forward. He has since built a good house with fair outbuildings and he has
also planted a grove. A little cottonwood tree which he set out is now over
two feet in diameter. He has also planted some fruit trees and has made other
substantial improvements on the place.
Politically Mr. Whalen is a democrat, voting first in 1872 for Horace
Greeley and in 1876 for Samuel J. Tilden. He is now independent in politics
and was here elected and served as road boss, but has never given much attention
to office holding, preferring to concentrate his energies on his business affairs.
He was a contractor on the Milwaukee Railroad, west of Spencer, and also on
the west of Sioux River when the line was being built through the state. He
also had a contract for county grading and has done much work outside of his
farming interests. In 1904, because of ill health, he sold most of his stock and
now rents nearly one hundred acres of his farm land, while the balance is
meadow and pasture land.
Wendell Williams Cornwall, who for eighteen years has practiced law at the
Spencer bar and is now state supreme court reporter, was born in Albion, Dane
county, Wisconsin, February 10, 1857. The family is of English lineage, although
represented in New York at an early day. The grandfather of our subject there
followed the occupation of farming and lived to an advanced age, while his wife
survived him for some time. Their son, Amos Russell Cornwall, also a native of
the Empire state, completed his education by a college course and then began
teaching at De Ruyter, New York. Subsequently he became principal of the
Albion Academy at Albion, Wisconsin, where he remained for thirty years. He
also was occasionally seen on the lecture platform and frequently preached in
the Baptist church. He removed to Wisconsin in 1857 and became one of the
forceful factors in the development of educational interests in that state. He
married Barbara Williams, also a native of New York and a daughter of Thomas
Williams, who was of Welsh descent and followed the occupation of farming as
a life work. He died in Alfred, New York, when nearly ninety years of age. His
children were Thomas, James, Alvin, Lucinda, Harriet, Barbara and Frank. His
daughter Barbara, who became Mrs. Cornwall, died in Alfred, New York, in 1859,
after which Mr. Cornwall chose for his second wife Miss Lodema Green. She
lived for a number of years and died without children. Mr. Cornwall afterward
wedded Amanda Luce and two daughters were born unto them: Mrs. Nell Appleford
and Mrs. Grace Sanderson, both of Aberdeen, South Dakota. The father
died in 1893 at the age of sixty-three years and was buried at Aberdeen. His
third wife passed away about 1900.
Wendell W. Cornwall, the only child of the father's first marriage, following
his mother's death lived in New York with his maternal grandfather until
thirteen years of age. He then made his way westward to Wisconsin, where his
father was located and resided at Albion till he completed his education in 1881.
He was graduated from the Albion Academy in 1879 and from the law department
of the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1881. The same year, on a certificate
from that institution, he was admitted to practice in the state and federal
courts and opened a law office in Huron, South Dakota, where he remained until
the spring of 1884. He then removed to Leola, McPherson county. South Dakota,
where he practiced until May, 1891, when he came to Spencer, where he has since
been an active follower of his chosen profession. He has been accorded a liberal
clientage and has displayed force and originality in his presentation of his cause,
while at the same time he has shown the close connection between his case and
legal principles. In 1902 he was elected supreme court reporter of Iowa and is
still filling that position.
On the 28th of September, 1885, Mr. Cornwall established an attractive home
through his marriage to Miss Marian Wilson, a daughter of Thomas and Marian
(Wier) Wilson. Mrs. Cornwall was born in Maryland, while her parents were
natives of Glasgow, Scotland. By her marriage she has become the mother of
five children: Barbara M., attending Grinnell College; Wilson W., a student in
the state university of Iowa City; R. Morgan, Ruth and Dean T., who are attending
the public schools of Spencer. The parents attend the Congregational church
and are well known socially, the hospitality of the best homes of the city being
cordially extended them. Mr. Cornwall belongs to Spencer Lodge, No. 247, I. O.
O. F., to the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks.
Politically he is an earnest republican and while residing in McPherson county,
South Dakota, was elected and served as county judge. He has also been city
attorney of Spencer for two years and while filling that office he was elected to the
twenty-fifth general assembly and re-elected to the twenty-sixth general assembly,
which included the extra session of 1897, called for a general revision of the laws
of Iowa. He was a most prominent member of that body, serving as chairman
of the judiciary committee and was one of five members elected by the general
assembly to superintend the annotation and publication of the revised code of Iowa
of 1897. He has a wide acquaintance among the distinguished men of the state,
with whom his ability and public service classes him, his record having been a
credit and honor to the county which he represented in the law-making body of
the commonwealth.
Watkins James, who is largely identified with the agricultural and stock-
raising interests of Royal, this county, is among the number who do not need to
have recourse to history in order to gain a knowledge of the hardships and
adventures of the early settlers, as these arc among, his own experiences, for he
located in a crude and uncultivated country requiring all his energy, perseverance
and patience to convert the prairie into the excellent and highly improved farm
which he now owns. A native of Virginia, he was born September 18, 1848, a
son of Walter and Susannah (Alt) James. His father, also a native of that
state, came to Iowa about the year 1851 and located in Jones county, where he
tilled the soil until he departed this life. His father having passed away when
Walter James was a youth, the support of the family fell upon his shoulders, he
was compelled to seek steady employment, and became driver on a canal boat.
It is recorded that his brother was farming at Harper's Ferry when John Brown
made his famous raid at that place. In politics Mr. James was a pronounced
democrat and was always loyal to his party both by his vote and his influence.
He continued farming from the time he settled in Jones county and met with such
high measure of success as to enable him to become one of the most substantial
agriculturists in the township. His wife, also a native of Virginia, where they
were married, departed this life in Jones county in 1861. They were the parents
of: John William, a retired farmer of Jones county, Iowa; Martha, widow of
George Banks, of Hoges Store, Giles county, Virginia; Margueritte, widow of
Phillip Allsbury, who resides in Jones county, Iowa; Walter, who operates a farm
in that county; Susannah, who with her husband, John D. Rhode, also resides on
a farm in Jones county, where they are living in retirement; G. W., another
farmer of that county; Daniel, deceased, formerly of Arizona; Benjamin F., a
Jones county farmer; and Watkins, our subject. Four children died in infancy.
Upon acquiring his education in the district schools of Jones countv, Watkins
James remained under the parental roof, helping on his father's farm until
he was eighteen years of age, when he began to "work out" by the month in
Jones county and finally came to Clay township, Clay county, and took up eighty
acres of land on section 10, where he still resides. When he procured the land
it was in a raw state, never having been tilled, but in course of time he improved
the entire acreage, provided the farm with a dwelling house, barn and outbuildings,
and has since been reaping bountiful harvests as a result of his persevering
efforts. In addition to this tract of land he owns one hundred and sixty acres on
section 15, which he cultivates in connection with his other farm raising large
Picture of James Family
quantities of the best hay and grain, and he also devotes some attention to stock
raising. It was no easy task to convert the barren prairie land into fruitful fields,
and Mr. James will long remember his experiences connected therewith, particularly
that of having his first crop entirely destroyed by grasshoppers. He deeply
felt this loss, but was not discouraged and from year to year his bountiful harvests
made reparation to him, gradually placing him in prosperous circumstances.
In 1870 he wedded Miss Mary Fisher, a resident of Jones county, and they
are the parents of the following children: Angie, who is the widow of W. A.
French, resides with her parents, and she has one daughter, Ruth; Francis;
Oscar, an agriculturist of Clay county; Walter; and Gladys. Politically Mr.
James supports the republican party and in the township has successfully served as
school director, road supervisor and trustee. He and his wife attend divine
services at the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a man who through enterprise
and honesty has acquired an excellent reputation in the community.
Within the environments in which his activities are centered, in Garfield
township, Louis Frederick Wesche is commended for his industry and good
judgment and respected for his uprightness and integrity. Years of application,
in which sometimes circumstances were anything but encouraging, have made
him the owner of many broad acres of fine farming lands in Clay and other
counties in the northwest. Much of this land is under cultivation and he has added
such general improvements as have been suggested by a conservative
advancement.
Mr. Wesche is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Dubuque
county, April 18, 1859, his parents being Henry and Elizabeth (Sherrer) Wesche,
both of whom were natives of Germany. They were married in Maryland and
settled first in Dyersville, Iowa, in 1852. The father was a shoemaker by trade
and followed that vocation for several years in Dyersville, after which he became
interested in farming near Earlville, Iowa, and there devoted his attention to
general agricultural pursuits for a number of years. He has been retired about
twenty years and now he and his wife, at the ages of eighty-seven and sixty-seven
years, respectively, are spending the evening of their days happily in Earlville.
Louis F. Wesche was twenty years of age when he first started out in business
on his own account. He had taken every advantage possible of his school
privileges while at home and his first venture was at teaching school in Sac
county, Iowa, where he continued for a year. He then attended school at Dixon,
Illinois, for a time, after which he resumed the profession of teaching, becoming
connected with the educational interests of Clay county. He soon became interested
in farming, however, and first became a landowner in 1886, when in company with
his brother, Birdie Wesche, they purchased a tract of land in Garfield
township. Additions to this first purchase have been made from time to time
until they now own over twenty-six hundred acres of rich farming land in Iowa
and Dakota, being among the most extensive property owners of the county. The
brothers have been in partnership for over twenty-four years and during that
time there has never been even the suggestion of any settlement between them,
each being perfectly satisfied with the long partnership and his undivided
interests. Whenever there has been an opportunity for advantageous investment in
land they have taken advantage of it and have become known as most successful
farmers and landowners. Their purchases have been made in different parts of
the northwest, the prices ranging from four to forty dollars per acre, and none of
this is today valued at less than seventy-five dollars per acre and is advancing in
price from year to year. Birdie owns four hundred and eighty acres of valuable
farm property in Wisconsin and in connection with his brother owns over twenty-
three hundred acres in Clay county.
On the 26th of November, 1906, Mr. Wesche was married to Miss Abbie
Ross, a daughter of the Rev. Waher and Lucy J. (Loomis) Ross, natives of
England and New York respectively. The father, a Baptist preacher through the
greater part of his life, is now on the retired list and well advanced in years.
Mrs. Wesche is one of five children: Milton J., who married Lily Wilson and
resides in Arlington, South Dakota; Carrie W., who became the wife of Dr. L H.
Orcatt and makes her home at Northfield, Minnesota; Mrs. Wesche; George E.,
who wedded Lily Watt and resides at Storm Lake, Iowa; and W. E., who married
Miss Margaret Royal and resides at Arlington, South Dakota.
In his political views Mr. Wesche was a stalwart republican for many years
but has recently given his support to the prohibition party and is an earnest
advocate of its principles. He has done efficient work in citizenship, being, at all times
public-spirited and progressive, while as a business man he has gained for himself
a notable place, because of his keen discernment, his unremitting energy and his
untiring industry. His place in the business world of Clay county is today a
prominent one and his record should serve to encourage and inspire others,
showing as it does what may be accomplished by honorable and continuous effort.
Olaf Hofstad is numbered among the worthy citizens that Norway has
furnished to Clay county and he now makes his home on section 4, Summit
township. A spirit of progress characterizes all his work and his unflagging
industry has constituted the basis of his success. He has become known as one
of the most prosperous agriculturists and stock-raisers of the township, where he
owns a valuable farm of three hundred and fifty-five acres. It is lacking in none
of the equipments of a model farm property but on the contrarv shows all of the
accessories and conveniences known to agricultural life at the present day.
Mr. Hofstad was born in Norway, January 24, 1864, a son of Mathias
Hofstad, now deceased, and a brother of Matthew Hofstad, of whom mention is
made elsewhere in this volume. He spent the first four years of his life in the
land of his nativity and was a little lad of seven summers when he arrived with
his parents in Clay county, having in the meantime lived in Chicago three years.
On the farm which his father secured and developed he spent his youthful days
and assisted in the arduous task of cultivating and improving a new farm, at the
same time sharing in all of the hardships and trials incident to the establishment
of a home upon the frontier. He was busily occupied with farm work on his
father's place up to the time of his marriage. That important event in his life
occurred on the farm on which he now resides, the wedding being celebrated the
25th of April, 1885, when Miss Lettie Berg became his wife. She was born in
Norway but was reared and educated in this county. Following their marriage
the young couple took up their abode on the Berg homestead. Her father had
secured eighty acres of land on coming to the county in 1871. Mr. Hofstad has
since purchased a half section on section 4, Summit township, and now has a farm
of three hundred and fifty-five acres. He has made substantial improvements
here, has added to and remodeled the dwelling, has also extended the barn, has
built corn-cribs and sheds, has fenced and tiled the land, and fields and meadows
indicate his careful supervision and progressive spirit. He has also set out an
orchard and thus has good fruit. The fields are carefully tilled in producing the
cereals which can be best raised in this locality and he also raises and feeds stock,
being an excellent judge of the value of farm animals. He was likewise one of
the promoters of the Farmers' Elevator at Fostoria and acted as its manager for
two years, while he is still one of its stockholders. He was likewise manager of
the Fostoria Creamery for three years and owns stock in the telephone company.
His life has been an intensely busy one and its usefulness and worth no man
questions.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hofstad have been born seven children: Oscar M.,
George L., Louis O., Carl V., Harold B., Louise L. and Elsie C. The parents
are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which Mr. Hofstad is serving
as a trustee. He is in thorough sympathy with republican principles and has
always given stalwart allegiance to the party since the right of franchise was
first conferred upon him. He is now serving for the second term as township
trustee. A man of broad business experience, his labors have not only proven an
element in his own progress and prosperity but have also constituted a feature in
the development of Summit township. Wherever known he is held in high
esteem and is most warinly regarded where he is best known.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
The enterprising little town of Royal finds in the representative business
interests Eugene Benthall, proprietor of the West End drug store. Strong
purpose and indefatigable energy, by the help of good lawyers in dodging the grand
jury, have constituted the basis upon which he has builded his success, and though
he is yet a young man he occupies a creditable place in commercial circles.
My parents were John M. and Elizabeth D. (Wilson) Benthall, whom I first
met when quite small, on December 7th, 1871, at Quasqueton, Buchanan county,
Iowa.
My father did not think I would pay to raise, but by feeding me elephant's
milk through a goose quill I managed to pull through and thrive.
My father was born at Princeton, Massachusetts, and mother in Genesee
county, New York, and is still living, keeping house for her son over the store.
Benthall's have always made it a rule to marry late in life and pan out small
potatoes and few in a hill.
I was the elder of two children: My sister, Mary E., born February 3, 1877,
died on the 10th day of June, 1900.
I began my education in the Quasqueton school, but quituated before half
through to save the teacher from nervous procrastination. The rest of my education
I obtained in the school of experience, which is absolutely compulsory education,
and have learned enough to know I know but little yet.
I date my residence in Clay county from August 15, 1892, and entered the
employ of George B. Bender, a druggist of Spencer. That I was capable, faithful
and energetic is indicated by my five years' service at Spencer, when I was
promoted to run his branch store at Dickens on the 1st day of December, 1897, to
August, 1900. During the winter of 1900-01 the West End drug store building
at Royal was constructed; on April (fool) 1st, I opened for business with a well
selected line of goods which I have kept up.
In politics I am a socialist. If I should change to republican I should expect
an ofifice the same as other office seekers have done. I belong to the I. O. O. F.
and Rebekah Degree. Those who don't know me say "I may not be crazy but I
don't talk just right." I have always tried to be reliable in business, hoping it will
carry me forward on the high road to success. If any of my friends don't find
me to their liking I didn't find them to my liking and I probably found them first.
I have always tried to be a booster and public-spirited, and have taken an
interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, especially the
baseball association.
After you read the above and it produces the colliwobbles or palpitation of
the imagination you can get a cure at the West End drug store.
Frank N. Wood, whose life has been one of continuous activity, has been
accorded due recognition of his labor and is today numbered among the substantial
citizens of Clay county. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of this
part of the state and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to
any movement calculated to benefit this section or advance its wonderful development.
A native of New York, Mr. Wood was born in Saratoga Springs, in 1872.
His father, C. A. Wood, was a native of Saratoga county and there remained
through the period of his minority. He was married in that county to Miss
Lucinda O. Briggs, also a native of the Empire state. After living for some years
in the east he removed westward to Minnesota in 1872 and became one of the
first settlers of Jackson county, where he secured a homestead claim and opened
up a farm, transforming the raw prairie into rich fields from which he annually
gathered good harvests. He reared his family there and became recognized as
one of the influential, worthy and valued citizens of the community, so that his
fellow townsmen called him to public office. He was elected and served as
sheriff for three or four terms and was ever prompt and fearless in the discharge
of his duties. Later he was postmaster at Heron Lake for eight years and is now
living retired there.
Frank N. Wood, brought to the middle west in his infancy, was reared in
Minnesota and pursued his education in the schools of Heron Lake. Arriving
at years of maturity he engaged in the grain business there and was thus identified
with the commercial interests of the town for twelve years. At length, however,
he severed his connection with the business interests of Heron Lake and came
to Everly, where he purchased an interest in an elevator and engaged in the grain
business for three years. On the reorganization of the Everly Bank he was made
cashier and has so continued to the present time, the success of the institution being
largely attributable to his enterprise, business discernment and thorough knowledge
of the banking business. He is also the owner of nearly a section of land
in Washington and Minnesota, and from his property derives a substantial annual
income. In business affairs he is always seeking out new methods which will
prove of substantial benefit to the interests which are under his care and in Everly
he is known as a courteous and obliging bank official, while at the same time he
carefully looks after the interests of his employers.
On the 14th of November, 1901, in Bigelow, Minnesota, Mr. Wood was
united in marriage to Miss Mina Wyatt, a native of Sioux county, Iowa, who was
reared, however, in Minnesota, and is a graduate of Carleton College at Northfield,
that state. She is a lady of culture and refineiuent as well as of liberal educational
training, and is prominent in social circles in Everly. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wood
has been born one child, Wilma. The parents attend the Methodist Episcopal
church and contribute to its support. Mr. Wood gives his political allegiance
to the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him
the right of franchise. He served in Clay county as township committeeman for
one year and is now a member of the town council. He has also been a delegate
to county conventions and his opinions carry weight in the local councils of the
party. He is likewise prominent in the Masonic lodge at Everly, in which he
has held office and he belongs also to the Modern Woodmen camp. Closely
identified with the growth and development of Everly as one of its successful
business men and financiers, he has the confidence and esteem of the entire
community and stands high in both business and social circles.
James Johnson, owner of a neat and carefully cultivated farm on section 18,
Lone Tree township, his home being not far from the village of Moneta, has
been a witness of the growth and development of the county for thirty-six years,
as his residence in this part of the state dates from 1873. He was born in Denmark,
March 1, 1848, and remained a resident of his native land until after he
had attained his majority. His educational opportunities were very limited, but
reading, experience and observation have made him a well informed man since
he attained his majority. He came to the new world as a young man of twenty
years, sailing from Liverpool to Portland, Maine. He did not tarry in New
England, however, but made his way directly westward to Brandon, Wisconsin.
He was unaccompanied by friend or relative and he brought no capital with
him into the new world save his self-reliant spirit and commendable ambition. It
was imperative that he obtain immediate employment and he went to work on a
farm, where he remained through the summer, while in the winter seasons he
was employed in the pineries. Subsequently he removed to the lumber regions of
Michigan, settling at Ludington, where he worked in a sawmill one season.
He then returned to Wisconsin and felt that his business prospects justified
him in establishing a home of his own.
It was in the Beaver state, in the spring of 1872, that Mr. Johnson was
married to Miss Anna Anderson, a native of Denmark, who came to the new
world with her parents. In 1873 the young couple removed westward to Clay
county, Iowa, which was then a frontier district, in which comparatively few
settlements had been made, while many evidences of frontier life were here to
be seen. Mr. Johnson first purchased eighty acres of land and the pioneer home
was a little sod house in which they lived for eight years. It contained little
beyond the necessities of life, but Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were willing to undergo
hardships and privations, for eventually they might gain prosperity. With
characteristic energy Mr. Johnson gave his attention to the arduous task of breaking
the sod and bringing the fields into a state of rich fertility. It meant much hard
labor but he did not falter and as prosperity attended him in the course of time he
was able to purchase an additional tract of eighty acres adjoining the first
purchase. This he also improved and still later he bought one hundred and sixty
acres on section 20, Lone Tree township. On the home farm he set out a grove
and also planted an orchard. Through the work of such men as Mr. Johnson
this district of the county no longer deserves its appellation of Lone Tree
township, for on almost every farm are now seen many fine trees, representing
every kind of forest growth native to the state. Mr. Johnson has made many
improvements on his place in other ways, including the erection of a large and
attractive residence. He has also put up a big barn and cattle shed and now has
a neat place on which none of the accessories of a model farm property is
lacking.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born three sons and two daughters:
Andrew W., who is married and cultivates his father's second farm; Henry,
who resides in Roberts county, South Dakota, on a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres which his father owns there; Martin, who is the owner of six hundred
and forty acres of land which he homesteaded in Nebraska; Minnie, the wife of
M. R. Proctor, of Los Angeles, California, and Hannah, who is in Nebraska
with her brother and also owns six hundred and forty acres adjoining his land.
The parents are members of the Seventh Day Adventist church and Mr.
Johnson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is conversant
with the leading issues of the day. He has served as road supervisor and also
as a member of the village board and is a man of strict integrity and worth, who
has the confidence and regard of the entire community. As one of the early
settlers of the county he justly deserves mention in this volume, for he has done
an important work in advancing its present development, especially along
agricultural lines.
O. B. Scott, early recognizing the fact that no obscure secret constitutes the
key to success but that prosperity has its foundation in persistent, honorable and
intelligently directed labor, has worked his way upward until he is now well
known as a prominent representative of banking interests in Clay county. He
was born near Ruthven, Iowa, May 25, 1872, a son of Horace and Sarah
(Moore) Scott. The father was a native of the state of New York and about
the time of the close of the Civil war, in 1865, he removed westward to
Wisconsin, locating near Waukau, where he resided for about six years. In the
fall of 1871 he came to Iowa and settled at Ruthven, where he resided
until his death, his remains being interred in the cemetery there. His
political allegiance was given to the republican party, while his religious faith
was indicated in his membership in the Baptist church. His wife was also a
native of the Empire state and they were married in New York. She, too, died
in Iowa, passing away in Ruthven in March, 1883. They were the parents of
seven children: Emily, now deceased; Nettie, the wife of George Hamm, a
lumber dealer residing at Feeley, Minnesota; Matilda, the wife of Charles Harris,
who is engaged in farming at Ruthven, Iowa; Horace E, who died in October,
1895; Ida M., the wife of W. L. Miller, a hardware merchant of Julesburg,
Colorado; W. B., who is engaged in the express and transfer business at
Oakland, California; and O. B., of this review.
In taking up the personal history of O. B. Scott we present to our readers
the life record of one who is widely and favorably known, for he has made a
good record as a business man and as a citizen. He pursued his early education
in the country school and continued his studies in the Ruthven high school, from
which he was in due course of time graduated. He then engaged in teaching
in the country schools of Clay county from 1889 until 1894 and proved a capable
teacher, maintaining discipline and imparting clearly and readily to others the
knowledge which he had acquired. In the latter year he was appointed deputy
postmaster at Peterson and served until 1895, when he left that position to
become assistant cashier of the First National Bank at that place. There he
remained for five years, gaining comprehensive knowledge of the banking
business, so that broad experience well qualified him for the duties of his present
position, when he was made cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank at Royal. He
is also a stockholder in the bank here and is the owner of some valuable and
desirable real estate in the town.
Mr. Scott is also well known in fraternal circles and is a faithful
representative of various organizations. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at
Royal, in which he has served as master, and he also belongs to Clay chapter.
R. A. M. at Spencer. He is likewise connected with the Eastern Star at
Peterson and he belongs to Royal Lodge, I. O. O. F., to the Rebekah Lodge at
Royal and to the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 7038, at that place. He also
belongs to the Bankers' Association and is popular in these different
organizations.
In 1895 Mr. Scott was married to Miss Elizabeth Roberts, daughter of
Hugh R. and Rachel (Jones) Roberts. Mr. Roberts was born in Wales, in
1829, and came to the United States in 1857, while his wife, also a native of
Wales, was born in 1840, and came to this country one year earlier than her
husband. They were married in February, 1859, moving to Clay county, Iowa,
in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are now residing in Lincoln township, this
county, and have just celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their married life
together.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott are both well known in this county and have an
extensive circle of warm friends. Mr. Scott's enterprise and industry have
carried him into important relations with business affairs and he has won for
himself a most creditable reputation by his enterprise and reliability in every
connection in which he has been found.
John Cheevers, a retired agriculturist of Douglas township, this county, and
a veteran of the Ciivl war, who was distinguished for his bravery at the battle of
Missionary Ridge, is a native of Wexford county, Ireland, where his birth
occurred February 26, 1832, a son of Peter and Bettie (Carten) Cheevers, both
of whom were natives of the Emerald isle, where they spent their entire lives.
Peter Cheevers was twice married, by his first wife, who was a Miss Kerwin,
having had three children, Patrick, William and Nicholas, all deceased, and by his
second wife five children, John, Simon, Michael, Jane, living in Brooklyn, New
York, and Margaret, living in Ireland in the house where our subject was born.
In the national schools of his native land John Cheevers acquired his education
and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age,
at which period of his life he came to the new world, landing in Quebec, Canada,
where he remained for a few weeks, and then repaired to Rochester, New York.
At that place he worked in a livery stable for a period of three years. At the
expiration of that time, in 1856, he went to Chicago, where he worked for a
transportation company, remaining in that position for a period of five years,
after which he began farming in La Salle county, Illinois.
It was while pursuing his occupation there that the Civil war broke out and
Mr. Cheevers, being among the first to respond to the call for recruits, enlisted
for three years' service as a member of Company C, Eighty-eighth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry. During his military career he participated in some of the most
hotly fought battles of the war, namely: Perrysville, Kentucky; Stone River,
Tennessee; Chickamauga, Georgia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Rocky Face Ridge,
Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Lovejoy Station, Georgia; Spring Hill, Georgia;
Picture of Four generation of the Cheevers Family.
Picture of John Cheevers.
Franklin; and Nashville. At the time of his enlistment in Chicago in 1862 Mr.
Cheevers was chosen color sergeant and carried the flag throughout his entire
service. At the battle of Missionary Ridge he was in the centre charge and for
forty minutes held the flag within twenty yards of the breastworks of the enemy.
While he was in that position four bullets pierced his hat, while sixteen were shot
through the flag. Determined to carry the colors into the lines of the enemy he
made a rush toward the breastworks, succeeded in reaching them and planted the
flag firmly in the ground and retreated within his own line without being seriously
wounded, whereupon he became known throughout the ranks as the "hero of
Missionary Ridge." Benjamin F. Taylor, in describing this battle in his Memoirs,
writes: "It is not for me to say who got there first, for so many are looking for
the honors, but one thing I can say, I saw John Cheevers there." It is doubtful
whether any other man carried the flag for three years and brought it home
without having received serious wounds.
After the war Mr. Cheevers returned to La Salle county, Illinois, where he
remained until the year 1871, and then removed to Iroquois county, that state,
locating at Fountain Creek, where he remained until 1882, when he repaired to
this county and purchased railroad land, which he cultivated until his retirement
from active life. He owns one hundred and sixty acres on sections 25 and 26,
Douglas township, and has made all the improvements upon the property, which,
since his occupation, has been kept under a high state of cultivation and is now
under the management of his son.
On January 14, 1856, Mr. Cheevers wedded Miss Mary Ryan and to their
union were born eight children, namely: Elizabeth, at home; Jennie, who became
the wife of William Sweely, of Clay county, South Dakota; Mary, the wife of
William H. Leonard, an interior decorator of Chicago, Illinois; Nellie, who
wedded Michael Fisher, an agriculturist of Clay county, South Dakota; Catherine, the
wife of E. D. Flangan, a stock buyer of Heron Lake, Minnesota; Emma, who
became the wife of Patrick O'Connor, the couple residing on a farm near Rock
Valley, Lyon county, this state; Margaret, the wife of J. N. Dumas, of Wilder,
Minnesota; and William, who is operating his father's farm.
In politics Mr. Cheevers is a republican, has been trustee of the township
for a number of years, and is now serving as treasurer of the school board. He
is a member of the Roman Catholic church and his noble qualities of character
and upright life have always given him high standing, in the community.
FRED KIRKPATRICK.
CHRISTIAN P. CHRISTENSEN.
LAWRENCE WHALEN.
WENDELL WILLIAMS CORNWALL.
WATKINS JAMES.
LOUIS FREDERICK WESCHE.
OLAF HOFSTAD.
EUGENE BENTHALL.
FRANK N. WOOD.
JAMES JOHNSON.
O. B. SCOTT.
JOHN CHEEVERS.
