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Class. 
Book 


THE 


Biographical  Record 


WEBSTER  COUNTY, 


IOWA. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


The  people  that  take  no  pride  in  the  noble  achievements  of  remote  ancestors  will  never  achieve 
anything -worthy  to  be  remembered  with  pride  by  remote  generations. — Macaulay. 


CHICAGO 

The  S.   J.   Clarke  Publishing  Company. 
1002. 


Biography  is  the  only  true    History. — Emerson. 

L  people  that  take   no    pride    in    the  noble  achievements  of  remote  ancestors 

will   nevei    achieve  anything  worthy  to  be  remembered  with 

pride  by  remote  generations. — Macaulay. 


PREFACE. 


HE  greatest  of  English  historians,  Macaulay,  and  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  writers  of  the  present  century,  has  said  :  "The  history  of  a 
country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the  lives  of  its  people."  In  con- 
formity with  this  idea,  the  Biographical  Record  has  been  prepared. 
Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and  taking  therefrom  dry  statistical 
matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our  corps  of  writers  have 
gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their  enterprise 
and  industry,  brought  this  county  to  a  rank  second  to  none  among 
those  comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.  No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelligent 
public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the  imitation 
of  coming  generations.  It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by  industry  and 
economy  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  with  limited  advantages  for  securing 
an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an  influence  extending  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who  have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of 
life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have  become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in 
every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and  records  how  that  success  has  usually 
crowned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  many,  very  many,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the 
world,  have  pursued  the  "  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content  to  have  it  said  of  them,  as  Christ 
said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "  They  nave  done  what  they  could."  It 
tells  how  many,  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood,  left  the  plow  and  the  anvil,  the 
lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "  to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was 
restored  and  peace  once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every 
woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not  be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from 
the  fact  that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which 
would  otherwise  be  inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work 
and  every  opportunity  possible  given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has 
been  written  ;  and  the  publishers  flatter  themselves  that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with 
few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  biographical  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of 
representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume  _ 
For  this  the  publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some 
refused  to  give  the  information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent. 
Occasionally  some  member  of  the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such 
opposition  the  support  of  the  interested  one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  mer. 
never  could  be  found,  though   repeated  calls  were  made  at   their  residence  or  place  of  business. 


May,   190?. 


The  S.  J-  Clarke  Publishing  Co. 


^^^^^r^v^v^^z^^i^^^v^^^v^v^ 


GENERAL    INDEX. 


Table  of  Contents, 
Introductory, 


Compendium  of  National  Biography, 
Compendium  of  Local  Biography, 


13 

223 


INDEX  TO  FART  I. 


Compendium  of  National  Biography. 


Biographical   Sketches  of  National  Celebrities. 


PAGE 

Abbott,   Lyman     144 

Adams,  Charles  Kendall 143 

Adams,  John 25 

Adams,  John  Quincy 61 

Agassiz,  Louis  J.  R 137 

Alger,  Russell  A 173 

Allison,  William  B 131 

Allston,  Washington 190 

Altgeld,  John  Peter 140 

Andrews,  Elisha  B 184 

Anthony,  Susan  B 62 

Armour,  Philip  D 62 

Arnold,  Benedict 84 

Arthur,  Chester  Allen 168 

Astor,  John  Jacob 139 

Audubon,  John  James 166 

Bailey,  James  Montgomery...  177 

Bancroft,  George 74 

Barnard,  Frederick  A.  P 179 

Barnum,   Phineas  T 41 

Barrett,  Lawrence 156 

Barton,  Clara 209 

Bayard,  Thomas  Francis 200 

Beard,  William  H 196 

Beauregard,  Pierre  G.  T 203 

Beecher,  Henry  Ward 26 

Bell,  Alexander  Graham 96 

Bennett,  James  Gordon 206 

Benton,  Thomas  Hart 53 

Bergh,  Henry 160 

Bierstadt,  Albert 197 

Billings,  Josh 166 

Blaine,  James  Gillespie 22 

Bland,  Richard  Parks 106 


PAGE 

Boone,   Daniel 36 

Booth,  Edwin 51 

Booth,  Junius  Brutus 177 

Brice,  Calvin  S 181 

Brooks,  Phillips 130 

Brown,  John   51 

Brown,  Charles  Farrar 91 

Brush,  Charles  Francis   153 

Bryan,  William  Jennings 158 

Bryant,  William  Cullen 44 

Buchanan,  Franklin 105 

Buchanan,  James  128 

Buckner,  Simon  Boliver 188 

Burdette,  Robert  J 103 

Burr, Aaron     Ill 

Butler,  Benjamin  Franklin ....  24 

Calhoun,  John  Caldwell 23 

Cameron,  James  Donald 141 

Cameron,  Simon 141 

Cammack,  Addison 197 

Campbell,  Alexander 180 

Carlisle,  John  G 133 

Carnegie,  Andrew 73 

Carpenter,  Matthew  Hale 17* 

Carson,  Christopher  (Kit).  ...  86 

Cass,  Lewis 110 

Cha=e,  Salmon  Portland 65 

Childs,  George  W   83 

Choate,  Rufus 207 

Chaflin,  Horace  Brigham 107 

Clay,  Henry   21 

Clemens,  Samuel  Langhorne. .  86 

Cleveland,   Grover 174 

Clews,  Henry 153 


PAGE. 

Clinton,  DeWitt 110 

Colfax,  Schuyler, 139 

Conklin,  Alfred 32 

Conklin,  Roscoe 32 

Cooley,  Thomas  Mclntyre...  140 

Cooper,  James  Fenimore 58 

Cooper,  Peter 37 

Copely,  John  Singleton 191 

Corbin,  Austin 205 

Corcoran,  W.  W 196 

Cornell,  Ezra 161 

Cramp,  William 189 

Crockett,  David 76 

Cullom,  Shelby  Moore  116 

Curtis,  George  William 144 

Cushman,  Charlotte 107 

Custer,  George  A 95 

Dana,  Charles  A 88 

"Danbury  News  Man" 177 

Davenport,  Fanny.. 106 

Davis,  Jefferson 24 

Debs,  Eugene  V 132 

Decatur,  Stephen 101 

Deering,  William 198 

Depew,  Chauncey   Mitchell...  209 

Dickinson,  Anna 103 

Dickinson,  Don  M 139 

Dingley,  Nelson,  Jr 215 

Donnelly,  Ignatius 161 

Douglas,  Stephen  Arnold 53 

Douglass,  Frederick 43 

Dow,  Neal 108 

Draper,  John  William 184 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS— PART  I 


PAGE 

Drexel,  Anthony  Joseph 124 

Dupont,  Henry 198 

Edison,  Thomas  Alva 55 

Edmunds,  George  F 201 

Ellsworth,  Oliver 1G8 

Emerson,  Ralph  Waldo 57 

Ericsson,  John 127 

Evarts,  William  Maxwell 89 

Farragut,  David  Glascoe 80 

Field,  Cyrus  West   173 

Field,  U'avid  Dudley 126 

Field.  Marshall 59 

Field,  Stephen  Johnson 216 

Fillmore,  Millard 113 

Foote,  Andrew  Hull 176 

Foraker,  Joseph  B 143 

Forrest,  Edwin 92 

Franklin,  Benjamin    18 

Fremont,  John  Charles 29 

Fuller,  Melville  Weston 168 

Fulton,  Robert 62 

Gage,  Lyman  J 71 

GaTlatml  Alnert 112 

Garfield,  James  A ....   163 

Garrett,  John  Work 200 

Garrison,  William  Lloyd 50 

Gates,  Horatio  ....*. 70 

Gatling,  Richard  Jordan 116 

( leorge,  Henry 203 

Gibbons,  Cardinal  James 209 

Gilmofe,  Patrick  Sarsfield 77 

Girard,  Stephen 137 

Gough,  John  B 131 

Gould,  Jay 52 

Gordon,  John  B 215 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 155 

Gray,  Asa , 88 

Gray,  Elisha 149 

Greeley,  Adolphus  W 142 

Greeley,  Horace 20 

Greene,  Nathaniel 69 

Gresham,  Walter  Quintin 183 

Hale,  Edward  Everett 79 

Hall,  Charles  Francis 167 

Hamilton,  Alexander 31 

Hamlin,  Hannibal 214 

Hampton,  Wade   192 

Hancock,  Winfield  Scott 146 

Hanna,  Marcus  Alonzo 169 

Harris,  Isham  G 214 

Harrison,  William  Henry 87 

Harrison,  Benjamin 182 

Harvard,  John 129 

Havemeyer,  John  Craig 182 

Hawthorne,  Nathaniel 135 

Hayes,  Rutherford  Birchard...  157 

Hendricks,  Thomas  Andrew. .  212 

Henry,  Joseph 105 

Henrv,  'Patrick 83 

Hill, David  Bennett 90 

Hobart,  Garrett  A 213 

Holmes,  Oliver  Wendell 206 

Hooker,  Joseph 52 

Howe,  Elias 130 

Howells,  William  Dean 104 


PAGE 

Houston,  Sam 120 

Hughes,  Archbishop  John 157 

Hughitt,  Marvin 159 

Hull,  Isaac 169 

Huntington,  Collis  Potter 94 

Ingalls,  John  James 114 

Ingersoll,  Robert  G 85 

Irving,  Washington 33 

Jackson,  Andrew 71 

Jackson,  "  Stonewall  " 67 

Jackson,  Thomas  Jonathan 67 

Jay,  John   39 

Jefferson,  Joseph   47 

Jefferson,  Thomas   34 

Johnson,  Andrew 145 

Johnson,  Eastman   202 

Johnston,  Joseph  Eccleston... .  85 

Jones,  James  K   ..    171 

Jones,  John  Paul 97 

Jones,  Samuel  Porter 115 

Kane,  Elisha  Kent 125 

Kearney,  Philip 210 

Kenton,  Simon 188 

Knox,  John  Jay 134 

Lamar,  Lucius  Q.  C 201 

Lando'n,  Melville  D 109 

Lee,  Robert  Edward 38 

Lewis,  Charles  B 193 

Lincoln,  Abraham   135 

Livermore,  Mary  Ashton 131 

Locke,  David  Ross 172 

Logan,  John  A 26 

Longfellow,  Henry  Wadsworth  37 

Longstreet,  James 56 

Lowell,  James  Russell 104 

Mackay,  John  William 148 

Madison,  lames 42 

Marshall,  John 156 

Mather,  Cotton 164 

Mather,  Increase 163 

Maxim,  Hiram  S 194 

McClellan, George  Brinton....  47 

McCormick,  Cyrus  Hall 172 

McDonough,  Com.  Thomas.. .  167 

McKinley;  William 217 

Meade,  George  Gordon 75 

Medill,  Joseph 159 

Miles,  Nelson  A 176 

Miller,  Cincinnatus  Heine 218 

Miller,  Joaquin 218 

Mills,  Roger  Quarles 211 

Monroe,  ]ames 54 

Moody,  Dwight  L 207 

Moran,  Thomas   98 

Morgan,  John  Pierpont 208 

Morgan,  John  T 216 

Morris,  Robert 165 

Morse,  Samuel  F.  B 124 

Morton,  Levi  P 142 

Morton,  Oliver  Perrv 215 

Motley,  John  Lathro'p 130 

"Nye,  Bill" 59 

Nye,  Edgar  Wilson 59 


PAGE 

O'Conor,  Charles 187 

Olney,  Richard 133 

Paine,  Thomas 147 

Palmer,  John  M 195 

Parkhurst,  Charles  Henry 160 

"Partington,  Mrs." 202 

Peabody,  George 170 

Peck,  George  W 187 

Peffer,  William  A 164 

Perkins,  Eli 109 

Perry,  Oliver  Hazard 97 

Phillips,  Wendell 30 

Pierce,  Franklin   122 

Pingree,  Hazen  S 212 

Plant,  Henry  B 192 

Poe,  Edgar  Allen 69 

Polk,  James  Knox 102 

Porter,  David  Dixon 6S 

Porter,  Noah 93 

Prentice,  George  Denison.   .  .  119 

Prescott,  William  Hickling.    ..  96 
Pullman,  George  Mortimer..  ..  121 

Quad,  M 193 

Quay   MatthewS 171 

Randolph,  Edmund 136 

Read,  Thomas  Buchanan 132 

Reed,  Thomas  Brackett 208 

Reid,  Whitelaw 149 

Roach,  John   190 

Rockefeller,  John  Davison....  195 

Root,  George  Frederick 218 

RothermeK  Peter  F 113 

Rutledge,  John 57 

Sage,  Russell 211 

Schofield,  John  McAllister 199 

Schurz,  Carl 201 

Scott,  Thomas  Alexander 204 

Sett,  Winfield 79 

Seward,  William  Henry   ....  44 

Sharon,  William 165 

Shaw,  Henry  W 166 

Sheridan,  Phillip  Henry 40 

Sherman,  Charles  R 87 

Sherman,  John   ...     ...   86 

Shillaber,  Benjamin  Penhallow  202 

Sherman,  William  Tecumseh..  30 

Smith,  Edmund  Kirby 114 

Sousa,  John  Philip 60 

Spreckels,  Claus 159 

Stanford,  Leland 101 

Stanton,  Edwin  McMasters     .  179 

Stanton,  Elizabeth  Cady     126 

Stephens,  Alexander  Hamilton  32 

Stephenson,  Adlai  Ewing...    .  141 

Stewart,  Alexander  T    58 

Stewart,  William  Morris 213 

Stowe,        Harriet        Elizabeth 

Beecher     66 

Stuart,  James  K.  B 122 

Sumner,  Charles 34 

Talmage,  Thomas  DeWitt     . .  60 

Taney,  Roger  Bror '.-       129 

Tavlor,  Zacharv 108 

Teller,  Henrv  M 127 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS— PART  I 


PAGE 

Tesla,  Nikola 193 

Thomas,  George  H 73 

Tin  ■mas,  Theodore 172 

Thurman,  Allen  G 90 

Thurston,  John  M 106 

Tilden,  Samuel  J 48 

Tillman,  Benjamin  Ryan 119 

Toombs,  Robert 205 

"Twain,  Mark" 86 

Tyler,  John   93 

Van  Buren,  Martin 78 

Vanderbilt,  Cornelius   35 

Vail, Alfred 154 

Vest,  George  Graham 214 


PAGE 

Vilas,  William  Freeman 140 

Voorhees,  Daniel  Wolsey 95 

Waite,  Morrison  Remich 125 

Wallace,  Lewis 199 

Wallack,  Lester 121 

Wallack,  John  Lester 121 

Wanamaker,  John   89 

Ward,  "Artemus  " 91 

Washburne,  Elihu  Benjamin.  .  189 

Washington,  George 17 

\\  atson,  Thomas  £ 178 

Watterson,  Henry 76 

Weaver,  James  B 123 

Webster, 'Daniel 19 


PAGE 

Webster,  Noah 49 

Weed,  Thurlow   91 

West,  Benjamin 115 

Whipple,  Henry  Benjamin.  .  .  .  161 

White,  Stephen  V 162 

Whitefield,  George 150 

Whitman,  Walt 197 

Whitney,  Eli 120 

Whitney,  William  Collins 92 

Whittier,  John  Greenleaf 67 

Willard,  Frances  E 133 

Wilson,  William  L 180 

Winchell,  Alexander 175 

Windom,  William 138 


PORTRAITS  OF  NATIONAL  CELEBRITIES. 


PAGE 

Alger,  Russell  A 16 

Allison,  William  B 99 

Anthonv,  Susan  B 63 

Armour,  Philip  D 151 

Arthur,  Chester  A   81 

Barnum,  Phineas  T 117 

Beecher,  Henry  Ward 27 

Blaine,  James  G 151 

Booth,  Edwin 63 

Bryan,  Wm.  J 63 

Bryant,  William  Cullen 185 

Buchanan,  James   81 

Buckner,  Simon  B 16 

Butler  Benjamin  F 151 

Carlisle,  John  G 151 

Chase,  Salmon  P 16 

Childs,  George  W 99 

Clay,  Henry 81 

Cleveland,  Grover 45 

Cooper,  Peter 99 

Dana,  Charles  A 151 

Depew,  Chauncey  M 117 

Douglass,  Fred 63 

Emerson,  Ralph  Waldo 27 

Evarts,  William  M 99 

Farragut,  Com.  D.  G 185 

Field,  Cyrus  W 63 


PAGE 

Field,  Marshall 117 

Franklin,  Benjamin 63 

Fremont,  Gen.  John  C 16 

Gage,  Lyman  J 151 

Garfield,  James  A 45 

Garrison,  William  Lloyd 63 

George,  Henry 117 

Gould,  Jay       99 

Grant,  Gen.  U.  S 185 

Greeley,  Horace 81 

Hampton,  Wade 16 

Hancock,  Gen.  Winfield  S. .    ..  185 

Hanna,  Mark  A   117 

Harrison,  Benjamin 81 

Hayes,  R.  B 45 

Hendricks,  Thomas  A 81 

Holmes,  Oliver  W 151 

Hooker,  Gen.  Joseph 16 

Ingersoll,  Robert  G 117 

Irving,  Washington 27 

Jackson,  Andrew 45 

Jefferson,  Thomas 45 

Johnston,  Gen.  J.  E 16 

Lee,  Gen.  Robert  E 185 

Lincoln,  Abraham 81 

Logan,  Gen.  John  A 16 

Longfellow,   Henry  W 185 


PAGE 

Longstreet,  Gen.  James 16 

Lowell,  James  Russell 27 

Mckinley,  William 45 

Morse,  S.  F.  B 185 

Philiips,  Wendell 27 

Porter,  Com.  D.  D 185 

Pullman,  George  M 117 

Quay,  M.  S 99 

Reed,  Thomas  B 151 

Sage,  Russell   117 

Scott,  Gen.  Winfield 185 

Seward,  William  H 45 

Sherman,  John 99 

Sherman,  Gen.  W.  T. 151 

Stanton,  Elizabeth  Cady 27 

Stowe,  Harriet  Beecher 27 

Sumner,  Charles 45 

Talmage,  T.  DeWitt 63 

Teller,  Henry  M 99 

Thurman,  Alien  G 81 

Tilden,  Samuel  J 117 

Van  Buren,  Martin 81 

Vanderbilt,  Commodore 99 

Webster,  Daniel 27 

Whittier,  John  G 21 

Washington,  George 45 

Watterson,  Henry 63 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Allen.   M.   II C75 

Anderson,  Abe 630 

Anderson,  A.  G 689 

Anderson,    Andrew 662 

Anderson,  E.   L 453 

Anderson,   Johan 353 

Anderson,  J.   A 610 

Anderson,   il.  F 504 

Anderson.  M.  F.,  D.  D.  S 603 

Andrew-.    M.    H 692 

Andrews.    Mary    H 614 

Arent.    Andrew 267 

Arnold.    Christopher 436 

Bailey.   M.   J 411 

Baldwin,    H.    0 528 

Bass,   .lames 575 

Bell,     Isaac 330 

Bilst'ad,   T.    S 4s4 

Plai  I  .   I'..   F 56g 

blain,  R.   W 329 

Bl nlierg,   John 660 

Brakke.  J.   P 429 

Burnett,    Cyrus 304 

Burns.    Ji  ihn 704 

Byer,  Ant.  in 499 

Cahill.    'I  homas 324 

Carpenter.    C.    C 230 

Carr.    Henry }s7 

Carver.   W.   F.,   M.  D 412 

Chinburg,  S.  I..  D.  I).  S 3-* 

Christen-on.     Carl • 605 

Qvristenson,   Rev.    I.   A 314 

Churchill.  C.  11..  M.   D 447 

Churchill,   E.   A 471 

Coffin,   L.   S ->-',!, 

1  lolburn,    E.    E 6S3 

Golby,    Charles 292 

Colby.  W.   H.   H.  &  Brother....  338 

Conklin,   J.    E 526 

Coomber,  George 440 

1  li  'i  n.  \ ,    Ji  ihn 725 

Corey,    Sila- 544 

Cram.    John 668 

Crandall,    \\\    B 553 

Crimins,    Timothy .512 

( Irouse,    \.  .1 623 

Daniels,     Ufred 580 

Daniels,   C.   X* 629 


PAGE 

Daniel-     Daniel 298 

Daniel-.    D.    D 667 

Daniels.    D.    M 546 

Daniels.    J.    E 672 

Daniels,  Sarah  E 372 

Daniels.    \Y.    W 65] 

Daniel-011.    Mr-.    Hattie 500 

Dayton,    Frank '178 

Dodge.    C     A 519 

Dolliver.   J.   P 238 

1  >onahi  ie,   Thomas 438 

Douglass.    A.    C 483 

Dowd,    F.    A -74 

Dowd,  W.  V 244 

Drake.    F.    B 430 

I  'tin.  1  imbe,  J    F 250 

Dutcher,    \Y.    H 506 

Easley,   F.   E .v* 

Erickson,  C.  E.  . .' 707 

Erickson,    Louis 342 

I  wing,    W.    S 608 

Fallon.     Henry 540 

Fallon.    John 319 

Fawkes,    Francis 462 

Fidilick.    Frank 403 

Findlay,   J.    L 708 

Flattery,     Robert 272 

Flickinger,    Christian 626 

Flower,    G.    W 39° 

Freed,   G.    \ 663 

Frosland.    L.    K 4'7 

Gabrielson,  C.   A 634 

Gabrielson,    John 665 

i.ilirul-on.    Cj.    A 564 

Gatarielson,    Victor 325 

Garmoe,    Isaac 257 

lates,   C.   L 396 

'.ill.   J.    B 38? 

Girdey,    Sherman 727 

jirdey,  Henry 516 

Inch.    \Y.    C 418 

Grabenhorst,  H.  C 7-'.? 

:  Irabenihi  ir  1.  W.  II 302 

Granger.  C.  L 318 

1  rrayson,    Benjamin 3-2 

Grebner,    Frederick 71- 

1  ,1 .  isenbaugh.  Augusl 3  '  1 

Guild.  C.  A 284 


PAGE 

'  lustafson,  G.  A 588 

Guthrie,  J.  M 731 

Hamilton.  J.  L 702 

Hannon.   Andrew 577 

Hannon,  J.   L 514 

Hannon,    Nicholas 528 

Hannan.    Robert ?J2 

Hanson,  Amund 398 

Hardine.   \V.    K 242 

Hart,  G    [>..  M.  I) 484 

Hart.   X.   H 636 

Hart.   L.   W 652 

Hastings.  L.  G 279 

Havler.  Henry 385 

Hedlund,  J.    L 696 

Heffner,  Samuel 404 

Heileman.    Charles 586 

Heitkamp,  L.  H 482 

Herrington.   S.   W 513 

Hill,   Daniel 552 

I    1!'.     J         P                2/  ) 

Houge.   A.    M 360 

Houge,  CI 568 

\ndrew 443 

Huglin.    Charles 716 

Hunter.    R.    P 464 

Hutchisi  m,  William 2-7 

IK  -.  Van 724 

tngalls.    I.    B 415 

Installs.  T.  B 416 

Intermill,    Jacob 621 

Jaques,    Theodore 636 

Johnson.   A.    B 595 

fohnson,     Andrew 

Ibhnson,    August 673 

fohnson,    Augustus 525 

Johnsi  11.  J     P   ''47 

fohnson,   Swan 625 

Jones,    Benjamin 505 

Karcher,    Phillip 308 

Keefer,    Hiram 377 

I     11    

Kinne'j .  J.   L 24X 

Knndson.    Christopher 558 

i             fi  iin.    Ir 326 

Is".  II.    Ji  hu.    Sr 296 

Kruckman,    F.    A 5& 


INDEX. 


Knsterer,  J.    F. 


PAGE 

•■   379 


Larson.  Bertel 472 

Larson,  George 325 

Larson.    P.    L 388 

Lemon.   G.   C 6"0 

Le  Valley,  S.  E 619 

Linn,    Peter 687 

Lilyard,  J.   P 

Loehr,  A.  J ' 428 

1  1  mg,    Lemuel 380 

Looby,    John 371 

Low,  E.   E 424 

Lund    R.    S 587 

Lundblad,   C.   A 715 

Lungren,  C.  1 611 

Mack.   H.  J 602 

Manchester,  W.  V 5.38 

Mapes,    Perry 343 

Marsh.    George >6o 

Marsh,  G.  W. 268 

Marsh,    Tame-- 4,; 

Marsh.    W.    T 545 

McBane,    Angus >o8 

McCarville,    T.    A 426 

McDonald.    Michael 4.30. 

McGuire.    Franklin 282 

McGuire,   W.   R ,301 

McMahon,  George '282 

Meservey,   S.    T 365 

1 .    \V.    X '30  3 

Mitchell.    \V.    L 557 

Mortimer.  R.   T 530 

Mulroney,  J.   M 359 

Munn,    William 402 

Musburger,   George .354 

Nelsi  hi.    Elias 537 

Nelson,  H.  E.,  M.  D 606 

Nelson,  J.   0 384 

Neudeck.    L.    \V '3  >o 

Nicholson,  W.  L.,  M.  D.  266 

NlXOn,    J.    A :;, 

'  lldheime,   Jonas 004 

1  Hney,  R  E.,  M    D 694 

<  »lney,  S.  B.,  M.  D 693 

<  )'Li  mglilin.    John 371 


PAGE 

Palmer,   A.   E 492 

Payne,  G.   H 337 

Payne.    F.    E 520 

Pearsons,  G.  R 480 

Peterson,  B.  E 205 

Peterson,    I).    A 671 

Petersi  in,   F.  G 401 

Peterson,    Rasmus 565 

Petersen,    Thomas 508 

Pingel.    Charles 313 

Porter.  E.   D 650 

Powers,    J.    E 291 

Prall.  A.  A.,  M.  D 695 

Pratt.    C.    S 680 

Putzke,    August 613 

Putzke,   Fred 7,30 

Quick.  Richard 470 

Rasmussen,  N.  C 728 

Redman,   fohn 594 

Reed.   O.    L 648 

Remington.   Rev.   C.   H 281 

Reynolds,   A.    S.   R 34S 

Reynolds,   C.    H 521 

Rhoades,  A   J 004 

Rhoades,   G.   F 050 

Richey,  S.   B 490 

Risk.   David 351 

Rol  fe.    E.    A 709 

I.   R 237 

Rose,  H.,   M.   D 713 

Ryan.    Rev.    Father 396 


Sanborn.    H.    W 259 

Sayli         James 491 

Scallv.    Patrick 328 

Scroll.    C.    J .'36.3 

Rchmoker,    Christian .30(1 

Schrader,    Carl 668 

Schram,   William 477 

Scleichhardt.  G.  C 4.37 

Scott,    A.    \V 703 

Sen.    F    T 721 

Sheerer.   Henry 295 

Sheldon,   O.   A 614 

Sheldon.   Ole 612 

Smith.  L.  Y 698 


PAGE 

Snyder.    ( rodfrey 714 

Solso,  C.  M.  . . 461 

Sniumcrville.    Thomas 711 

Sorber,   E.   W 478 

Southard,    Albert 042 

Sperry,    \Y.    F 616 

Spirek,  Anton 573 

Stegner,    Martin 555 

Steven-.  Charles 596 

Stine,  A.  L 366 

Stine,  J    I) 278 

Sin  niiii.Tg,    A 729 

Suer,  Bernard 632 

Swanson,  C.  A...* 674 

Tapper.    C.    M 593 

I  aj  J  ir,  Erwin 448 

Thissell,  J.  F 2S.3 

Thomas,  Z.   \Y 446 

Tomlinson,   C.    S 609 

Toohey,   James 697 

Urelius,  J.  P 


469 

Vandevender,   D.  \Y 633 

Vandevender,  J.  H 258 

Vandevender,    John ;66 

Van  Osdoll,  W.  J 327 

Vinsand,   A.   A , 691 

Waterbury,  C.  D 706 

Weaver.    W.    R 532 

Weiss.   F.   E 387 

Welch,    James 529 

Welch.   J.   W 58S 

Weller,  D.  A 307 

Widick,   Henry 444 

Widick,  W.  H. 687 

Wilkinson,  A.  A 456 

Willey,    Henry 579 

Williamson,  Ole 297 

W !.    1  Hiver 510 

Woodard,   D.   D 710 

Woodard,  Mrs.   Ella 554 

Wooddle,  E.  L 620 

Wrede,    William 657 

Yungclas,    G.    F 688 


Zuerrer,  Rev.  E 558 


L«iV9i=^ 


COMPENDIUM  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Celebrated  Americans 


rEORGE    WASHINGTON, 

[  the  first  president  of  the  Unit- 
l  ed  States,  called  the  "Father 
of  his  Country,"  was  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  characters 
in  history.  He  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1732,  in  Washing- 
ton Parish,  Westmoreland  county,  Virginia. 
His  father,  Augustine  Washington,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bcre  him  four 
children,  and  March  t,  1730,  he  married 
Mary  Ball.  Of  six  children  by  his  second 
marriage,  George  was  the  eldest. 

Little  is  known  of  the  early  years  of 
Washington,  beyond  the  fact  that  the  house 
in  which  he  was  born  was  burned  during  his 
early  childhood,  and  that  his  father  there- 
upon moved  to  another  farm,  inherited  from 
his  paternal  ancestors,  situated  in  Stafford 
county,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock, and  died  there  in  1743.  From  earliest 
childhood  George  developed  a  noble  charac- 
ter. His  education  was  somewhat  defective, 
being  confined  to  the  elementary  branches 
taught  him  by  his  mother  and  at  a  neighbor- 
ing school.  On  leaving  school  he  resided 
some  time  at   Mount   Vernon   with   his  half 


brother,  Lawrence,  who  acted  as  his  guar, 
dian.  George's  inclinations  were  for  a  sea- 
faring career,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant 
was  procured  for  him;  but  through  the  oppo- 
sition of  his  mother  the  project  was  aban- 
doned, and  at  the  ags  of  sixteen  he  was 
appointed  surveyor  to  the  immense  estates 
of  the  eccentric  Lord  Fairfax.  Three  years 
were  passed  by  Washington  in  a  rough  fron- 
tier life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards 
proved  very  esse'itial  to  him.  In  175 1, 
when  the  Virginia  militia  were  put  under 
training  with  a  view  to  active  service  against 
France,  Washington,  though  only  nineteen 
years  of  age,  was  appointed  adjutant,  with 
the  rank  of  major.  In  1752  Lawrence 
Washington  died,  leaving  his  large  property 
to  an  infant  daughter.  In  his  will  George 
was  named  one  of  the  executors  and  as  an 
eventual  heir  to  Mount  Vernon,  and  by  the 
death  of  the  infant  niece,  soon  succeeded  to 
that  estate.  In  1753  George  was  commis- 
sioned adjutant-general  of  the  Virginia 
militia,  and  performed  important  work  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  French  and  Indian 
war,  was  rapidly  promoted,  and  at  the  close  of 
that  war  we  find  him  commander-in-chief  of 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


all  the  forces  raised  in  Virginia.  A  cessation 
of  Indian  hostilities  on  the  frontier  having 
followed  the  expulsion  of  the  French  from 
the  Ohio,  he  resigned  his  commission  as 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Virginia  forces, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Williamsburg  to  take 
his  seat  in  the  Virginia  Assembly,  of  which 
he  had  been  elected  a  member. 

January  17,  1759,  Washington  married 
Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Curtis,  a  young 
and  beautiful  widow  of  great  wealth,  and 
devoted  himself  for  the  ensuing  fifteen  years 
to  the  quiet  pursuits  of  agriculture,  inter- 
rupted only  by  the  annual  attendance  in 
winter  upon  the  colonial  legislature  at 
Williamsburg,  until  summoned  by  his  coun- 
try to  enter  upon  that  other  arena  in  which 
his  fame  was  to  become  world-wide.  The 
war  for  independence  called  Washington 
into  service  again,  and  he  was  made  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces,  and 
was  the  most  gallant  and  conspicuous  figure 
in  that  bloody  struggle,  serving  until  Eng- 
land acknowledged  the  independence  of 
each  of  the  thirteen  States,  and  negotiated 
with  them  jointly,  as  separate  sovereignties. 
December  4,  1783,  the  great  commander 
took  leave  of  his  officers  in  most  affection- 
ate and  patriotic  terms,  and  went  to  An- 
napolis, Maryland,  where  the  congress  of 
the  States  was  in  session,  and  to  that  body, 
when  peace  and  order  prevailed  everywhere, 
resigned  his  commission  and  retired  to 
Mount  Vernon. 

It  was  in  1789  that  Washington  was 
called  to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  na- 
tion. The  inauguration  took  place '  April 
30,  in  the  presence  of  an  immense  multi- 
tude which  had  assembled  to  witness  the  new 
and  imposing  ceremony.  In  the  manifold  de- 
tails of  his  civil  administration  Washington 
proved  himself  fully  equal  to  the  requirements 
of  his  position.      In  1792,  at  the  second  presi- 


dential election,  Washington  was  desirous 
to  retire;  but  he  yielded  to  the  general  wish 
of  the  country,  and  was  again  chosen  presi- 
dent. At  the  third  election,  in  1796,  he 
was  again  most  urgently  entreated  to  con- 
sent to  remain  in  the  executive  chair.  This 
he  positively  refused,  and  after  March  4, 
1797,  he  again  retired  to  Mount  Vernon 
for  peace,  quiet,  and  repose. 

Of  the  call  again  made  on  this  illustrious 
chief  to  quit  his  repose  at  Mount  Ver- 
non and  take  command  of  all  the  United 
States  forces,  with  rank  of  lieutenant-gen- 
eral, when  war  was  threatened  with  France 
in  1798,  nothing  need  here  be  stated,  ex- 
cept to  note  the  fact  as  an  unmistakable 
testimonial  of  the  high  regard  in  which  he 
was  still  held  by  his  countrymen  of  all 
shades  of  political  opinion.  He  patriotic- 
ally accepted  this  trust,  but  a  treaty  of 
peace  put  a  stop  to  all  action  under  it.  He 
again  retired  to  Mount  Vernon,  where  he 
died  December  14,  1799,  in  the  sixty-eighth 
year  of  his  age.  His  remains  were  depos- 
ited in  a  family  vault  on  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac,  at  Mount  Vernon,  where  they  still 
lie  entombed. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN,  an  eminent 
American  statesman  and  scientist,  was 
born  of  poor  parentage,  January  17,  1706, 
in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  He  was  appren- 
ticed to  his  brother  James  to  learn  the  print- 
er's trade  to  prevent  his  running  away  and 
going  to  sea,  and  also  because  of  the  numer- 
ous family  his  parents  had  to  support  (there 
being  seventeen  children,  Benjamin  being 
the  fifteenth).  He  was  a  great  reader,  and 
soon  developed  a  taste  for  writing,  and  pre- 
pared a  number  of  articles  and  had  them 
published  in  the  paper  without  his  brother's 
knowledge,  and  when  the  authorship  be- 
came known  it  resulted  in  difficulty  for  tne 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


JO 


young  apprentice,  although  his  articles  had 
been  received  with  favor  by  the  public. 
James  was  afterwards  thrown  into  prison  for 
political  reasons,  and  young  Benjamin  con- 
ducted the  paper  alone  during  the  time.  In 
1823,  however,  he  determined  to  endure  his 
bonds  no  longer,  and  ran  away,  going  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  arrived  with  only 
three  pence  as  his  store  of  wealth.  With 
these  he  purchased  three  rolls,  and  ate  them 
as  he  walked  along  the  streets.  He  soon 
found  employment  as  a  journeyman  printer. 
Two  years  later  he  was  sent  to  England  by 
the  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
promised  the  public  printing,  but  did  not  get 
it.  On  his  return  to  Philadelphia  he  estab- 
lished the  "Pennsylvania  Gazette,"  and 
soon  found  himself  a  person  of  great  popu- 
larity in  the  province,  his  ability  as  a  writer, 
philosopher,  and  politician  having  reached 
the  neighboring  colonies.  He  rapidly  grew 
in  prominence,  founded  the  Philadelphia  Li- 
brary in  1S42,  and  two  years  later  the 
American  Philosophical  Society  and  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  made 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  in  London  in 
1775.  His  world-famous  investigations  in 
electricity  and  lightning  began  in  1746.  He 
became  postmaster-general  of  the  colonies 
in  1753,  having  devised  an  inter-colonial 
postal  system.  He  advocated  the  rights  of 
the  colonies  at  all  times,  and  procured  the 
repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  in  1766.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Continental  congress  of  1775, 
and  in  1776  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  being  one  of  the  commit- 
tee appointed  to  draft  that  paper.  He  rep- 
resented the  new  nation  in  the  courts  of 
Europe,  especially  at  Paris,  where  his  simple 
dignity  and  homely  wisdom  won  him  the 
admiration  of  the  court  and  the  favor  of  the 
people.  He  was  governor  of  Pennsylvania 
tour  years;  was  also  a  member  of  the  con- 


vention in  1787  that  drafted  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States. 

His  writings  upon  political  topics,  anti- 
slavery,  finance,  and  economics,  stamp  him 
as  one  of  the  greatest  statesmen  of  his  time, 
while  his  "Autobiography"  and  "Poor 
Richard's  Almanac  "  give  him  precedence  in 
the  literary  field.  In  early  life  he  was  an 
avowed  skeptic  in  religious  matters,  but 
later  in  life  his  utterances  on  this  subject 
were  less  extreme,  though  he  never  ex- 
pressed approval  of  any  sect  or  creed.  He 
died  in  Philadelphia  April  17,  1790. 


DANIEL  WEBSTER.— Of  world  wide 
reputation  for  statesmanship,  diplo- 
macy, and  oratory,  there  is  perhaps  no  more 
prominent  figure  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 
try in  the  interval  between  181  5  and  1861, 
than  Daniel  Webster.  He  was  born  at 
Salisbury  (now  Franklin),  New  Hampshire, 
January  18,  1782,  and  was  the  second  son 
of  Ebenezer  and  Abigail  (Eastman)  Webster. 
He  enjoyed  but  limited  educational  advan- 
tages in  childhood,  but  spent  a  few  months 
in  1797,  at  Phillip  Exeter  Academy.  He 
completed  his  preparation  for  college  in  the 
family  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wood,  at  Boscawen, 
and  entered  Dartmouth  College  in  the  fall 
of  1797.  He  supported  himself  most  of  the 
time  during  these  years  by  teaching  school 
and  graduated  in  1801,  having  the  credit  of 
being  the  foremost  scholar  of  his  class.  He 
entered  the  law  office  of  Hon.  Thomas  W. 
Thompson,  at  Salisbury.  In  1S02  he  con- 
tinued his  legal  studies  at  Fryeburg,  Maine, 
where  he  was  principal  of  the  academy  and 
copyist  in  .the  office  of  the  register  of 
deeds.  In  the  office  of  Christopher  Gore, 
at  Boston,  he  completed  his  studies  in 
1804—5,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the 
latter  year,  and  at  Boscawen  and  at  Ports- 
mouth soon  rose  to  eminence  in    his  profes- 


20 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


sion.  He  became  known  as  a  federalist 
but  did  not  court  political  honors;  but,  at- 
tracting attention  by  his  eloquence  in  oppos- 
ing the  war  with  England,  he  was  elected 
to  congress  in  1812.  During  the  special 
session  of  May,  181 3,  he  was  appointed  on 
the  committee  on  foreign  affairs  and  made 
his  maiden  speech  June  io,  1813.  Through- 
out this  session  (as  afterwards)  he  showed 
his  mastery  of  the  great  economic  questions 
of  the  day.  He  was  re-elected  in  18 14.  In 
1 8 16  he  removed  to  Boston  and  for  seven 
years  devoted  himself  to  his  profession, 
earning  by  his  arguments  in  the  celebrated 
"Dartmouth  College  Case"  rank  among 
the  most  distinguished  jurists  of  the  country. 
[n  1820  Mr.  Webster  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  state  convention  of  Massachusetts,  to 
revise  the  constitution.  The  same  year  he 
delivered  the  famous  discourse  on  the  "Pil- 
grim fathers,"  which  laid  the  foundation  for 
his  fame  as  an  orator.  Declining  a  nomi- 
nation for  United  States  senator,  in  1822  he 
was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  congress 
and  was  re-elected  in  1824  and  1826,  but  in 
1827  was  transferred  to  the  senate.  He 
retained  his  seat  in  the  latter  chamber  until 
1841.  During  this  time  his  voice  was  ever 
lifted  in  defence  of  the  national  life  and 
honor  and  although  politically  opposed  to 
him  he  gave  his  support  to  the  administra- 
tion of  President  Jackson  in  the  latter's  con- 
test with  nullification.  Through  all  these 
years  he  was  ever  found  upon  the  side  of 
eight  and  justice  and  his  speeches  upon  all 
the  great  questions  of  the  day  have  be- 
come household  words  in  almost  every 
family.  In  1841  Mr.  Webster  was  appointed 
secretary  of  state  by  President  Harrison 
and  was  continued  in  the  same  office  by 
President  Tyler.  While  an  incumbent  of 
this  office  he  showed  consummate  ability  as 
a  diplomat  in  the  negotiation  of  the  "  Ash- 


burton  treaty  "  of  August  9,  1849,  which 
settled  many  points  of  dispute  between  the 
United  States  and  England.  In  May,  1843, 
he  resigned  his  post  and  resumed  his  pro- 
fession, and  in  December,  1845,  took  his 
place  again  in  the  senate.  He  contributed 
in  an  unofficial  way  to  the  solution  of  the 
Oregon  question  with  Great  Britain  in  1847. 
He  was  disappointed  in  1848  in  not  receiv- 
ing the  nomination  for  the  presidency.  He 
became  secretary  of  state  under  President 
Fillmore  in  1850  and  in  dealing  with  all  the 
complicated  questions  of  the  day  showed  a 
wonderful  mastery  of  the  arts  of  diplomacy. 
Being  hurt  in  an  accident  he  retired  to  his 
home  at  Marshfield,  where  he  died  Octo- 
ber 24,  1852. 

HORACE  GREELEY.— As  journalist, 
author,  statesman  and  political  leader, 
there  is  none  more  widely  known  than  the 
man  whose  name  heads  this  article.  He 
was  born  in  Amherst,  New  Hampshire,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  181 1,  and  was  reared  upon  a  farm. 
At  an  early  age  he  evinced  a  remarkable 
intelligence  and  love  of  learning,  and  at 
the  age  of  ten  had  read  every  book  he  could 
borrow  for  miles  around.  About  1821  the 
family  removed  to  Westhaven,  Vermont, 
and  for  some  years  young  Greeley  assisted 
in  carrying  on  the  farm.  In  1826  he  entered 
the  office  of  a  weekly  newspaper  at  East 
Poultney,  Vermont,  where  he  remained 
about  four  years.  On  the  disc6ntinuance 
of  this  paper  he  followed  his  father's 
family  to  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
whither  they  bad  moved,  and  for  a  time 
worked  at  the  printer's  trade  in  that  neigh- 
borhood. In  1831  Horace  went  to  New 
York  City,  and  for  a  time  found  employ- 
ment as  journeyman  printer.  January, 
1833,  in  partnership  with  Francis  Story,  he 
published  the  Morning  Post,  the  first  penny 


C  OMPEXDIL  'M   OP    BIO  GRA  PHY 


■l\ 


paper  ever  printed.  This  proved  a  failure 
and  was  discontinued  after  three  weeks. 
The  business  of  job  printing  was  carried  on, 
however,  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Story  in 
July  following.  In  company  with  Jonas 
Winchester,  March  22,  1834,  Mr.  Greeley 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  New 
Yorker,  a  weekly  paper  of  a  high  character. 
For  financial  reasons,  at  the  same  time, 
Greeley  wrote  leaders  for  other  papers,  and, 
in  1838,  took  editorial  charge  of  the  Jeffer- 
sonian,  a  Whig  paper  published  at  Albany. 
In  1840,  on  the  discontinuance  of  that  sheet, 
he  devoted  his  energies  to  the  Log  Cabin,  a 
campaign  paper  in  the  interests  of  the  Whig 
party.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the  latter  paper 
was  consolidated  with  the  New  Yorker,  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Tribune,  the  first  num- 
ber of  which  was  issued  April  10,  1841.  At 
the  head  of  this  paper  Mr.  Greeley  remained 
until  the  day  of  his  death. 

In  1848  Horace  Greeley  was  elected  to 
the  national  house  of  representatives  to 
fill  a  vacancy,  and  was  a  member  of  that 
bodyuntil  March  4,  1849.  In  1851  he  went 
to  Europe  and  served  as  a  juror  at  the 
W7orld's  Fair  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  Lon- 
don. In  1855,  he  made  a  second  visit  to 
the  old  world.  In  1859  he  crossed  the 
plains  and  received  a  public  reception  at 
San  Francisco  and  Sacramento.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Republican  national  con- 
vention, at  Chicago  in  i860,  and  assisted  in 
the  nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for 
President.  The  same  year  he  was  a  presi- 
dential elector  for  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  a  delegate  to  the  Loyalist  convention 
at  Philadelphia. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1865,  Mr. 
Greeley  became  a  strong  advocate  of  uni- 
versal amnesty  and  complete  pacification, 
and  in  pursuance  of  this  consented  to  be- 
come one    of  the    bondsmen   for   Jefferson 


Davis,  who  was  imprisoned  for  treason.  In 
1867  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  New  York 
state  convention  for  the  revision  of  the 
constitution.  In  1870  he  was  defeated  for 
congress  in  the  Sixth  New  York  district. 
At  the  Liberal  convention,  which  met  in 
Cincinnati,  in  May,  1872,  on  the  fifth  ballot 
Horace  Greeley  was  nominated  for  presi- 
dent and  July  following  was  nominated  for 
the  same  office  by  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion at  Baltimore.  He  was  defeated  by  a 
large  majority.  The  large  amount  of  work 
done  by  him  during  the  campaign,  together 
with  the  loss  of  his  wife  about  the  same 
time,  undermined  his  strong  constitution, 
and  he  was  seized  with  inflammation  of  the 
brain,  and  died  November  29,   1872. 

In  addition  to  his  journalistic  work,  Mr. 
Greeley  was  the  author  of  several  meritori- 
ous works,  among  which  were:  "Hints 
toward  reform,"  "Glances  at  Europe," 
"  History  of  the  struggle  for  slavery  exten 
sion,"  "Overland  journey  to  San  Francis 
co,"  "The  American  conflict,"  and  "  Rec- 
ollections of  a  busy  life." 


HENRY  CLAY.— In  writing  of  this  em- 
inent American,  Horace  Greeley  once 
said:  "He  was  a  matchless  party  chief,  an 
admirable  orator,  a  skillful  legislator,  wield- 
ing unequaled  influence,  not  only  over  his 
friends,  but  even  over  those  of  his  political 
antagonists  who  were  subjected  to  the  magic 
of  his  conversation  and  manners.  "  A  law- 
yer, legislator,  orator,  and  statesman,  few 
men  in  history  have  wielded  greater  influ- 
ence, or  occupied  so  prominent  a  place  in 
the  hearts  of  the  generation  in  which  they 
lived. 

Henry  Clay  was  born  near  Richmond, 
in  Hanover  county,  Virginia,  April  12, 
1777,  the  son  of  a  poor  Baptist  preacher 
who  died  when    Henry  was   but   five  years 


22 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


old.  The  mother  married  again  about  ten 
years  later  and  lemoved  to  Kentucky  leav- 
ing Henry  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Richmond. 
Soon  afterward  Henry  Clay  secured  a  posi- 
tion as  copyist  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the 
high  court  of  chancery,  and  four  years  later 
entered  the  law  office  of  Robert  Brooke, 
then  attorney  general  and  later  governor  of 
his  native  state.  In  1797  Henry  Clay  was 
licensed  as  a  lawyer  and  followed  his  mother 
to  Kentucky,  opening  an  office  at  Lexington 
and  soon  built  up  a  profitable  practice. 
Soon  afterward  Kentucky,  in  separating  from 
Virginia,  called  a  state  convention  for  the 
purpose  of  framing  a  constitution,  and  Clay 
at  that  time  took  a  prominent  part,  publicly 
urging  the  adoption  of  a  clause  providing 
for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  but  in  this  he 
was  overruled,  as  he  was  fifty  years  later, 
when  in  the  height  of  his  fame  he  again  ad- 
vised the  same  course  when  the  state  con- 
stitution was  revised  in  1850.  Young  Clay 
took  a  very  active  and  conspicuous  part  in 
the  presidential  campaign  in  1S00,  favoring 
the  election  of  Jefferson;  and  in  1803  was 
chosen  to  represent  Fayette  county  in  the 
state  legislature.  In  1806  General  John 
Adair,  then  United  States  senator  from 
Kentucky,  resigned  and  Henry  Clay  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  by  the  legislature 
and  served  through  one  session  in  which  he 
at  once  assumed  a  prominent  place.  In 
1807  he  was  again  a  representative  in  the 
legislature  and  was  elected  speaker  of  the 
house.  At  this  time  originated  his  trouble 
with  Humphrey  Marshall.  Clay  proposed 
that  each  member  clothe  himself  and  family 
wholly  in  American  fabrics,  which  Marshall 
characterized  as  the  "  language  of  a  dema- 
gogue." This  led  to  a  duel  in  which  both 
parties  were  slightly  injured.  In  1809 
Henry  Clay  was  again  elected  to  fill  a  va- 
cancy in  the  United  States  senate,  and  two 


years  later  elected  representative  in  the  low- 
er house  of  congress,  being  chosen  speaker 
of  the  house.  About  this  time  warwas  de- 
clared against  Great  Britain,  and  Clay  took 
a  prominent  public  place  during  this  strug- 
gle and  was  later  one  of  the  commissioners 
sent  to  Europe  by  President  Madison  to  ne- 
gotiate peace,  returning  in  September,  181  5, 
having  been  re-elected  speaker  of  the 
house  during  his  absence,  and  was  re-elect- 
ed unanimously.  He  was  afterward  re- 
elected to  congress  and  then  became  secre- 
tary of  state  under  John  Quincy  Adams. 
In  1 83 1  he  was  again  elected  senator  from 
Kentucky  and  remained  in  the  senate  most 
of  the  time  until  his  death. 

Henry  Clay  was  three  times  a  candidate 
for  the  presidency,  and  once  very  nearly 
elected.  He  was  the  unanimous  choice  of 
the  Whig  party  in  1844  for  the  presidency, 
and  a  great  effort  was  made  to  elect  him 
but  without  success,  his  opponent,  James  K. 
Polk,  carrying  both  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York  by  a  very  slender  margin,  while  either 
of  them  alone  would  have  elected  Clay. 
Henry  Clay  died  at  Washington  June  29, 
1852. 

TAMES  GILLESPIE  BLAINE  was  one 
J  of  the  most  distinguished  of  American 
statesmen  and  legislators.  He  was  born 
January  31,  1830,  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  received  a  thorough  edu- 
cation, graduating  at  Washington  College  in 
1847.  In  early  life  he  removed  to  Maine 
and  engaged  in  newspaper  work,  becoming 
editor  of  the  Portland  '  'Advertiser. "  While 
yet  a  young  man  he  gained  distinction  as  a 
debater  and  became  a  conspicuous  figure  in 
political  and  public  affairs.  In  1862  he  was 
elected  to  congress  on  the  Republican  ticket 
in  Maine  and  was  re-elected  five  times.  In 
March,  1869,  he  was  chosen  speaker  of  the 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BI0GRAPH2'. 


23 


house  of  representatives  and  was  re-elected 
in  1S71  and  again  in  1873.  In  1876  he  was 
a  representative  in  the  lower  house  of  con- 
gress and  during  that  year  was  appointed 
United  States  senator  by  the  Governor  to 
fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Senator  Morrill,  who  had  been  appointed 
secretary  of  the  treasury.  Mr.  Blaine 
served  in  the  senate  until  March  5,  1 88 1 , 
when  President  Garfield  appointed  him  sec- 
retary of  state,  which  position  he  resigned 
in  December,  1881.  Mr.  Blaine  was  nom- 
inated for  the  presidency  by  the  Republic- 
ans, at  Chicago  in  June,  1884,  but  was  de- 
feated by  Grover  Cleveland  after  an  exciting 
and  spirited  campaign.  During  the  later 
years  of  his  life  Mr.  Blaine  devoted  most  of 
his  time  to  the  completion  of  his  work 
"Twenty  Years  in  Congress,"  which  had  a 
remarkably  large  sale  throughout  the  United 
States.  Blaine  was  a  man  of  great  mental 
ability  and  force  of  character  and  during  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  was  one  of  the  most 
noted  men  of  his  time.  He  was  the  origina- 
torof  what  is  termed  the  "  reciprocity  idea" 
in  tariff  matters,  and  outlined  the  plan  of 
carrying  it  into  practical  effect.  In  1876 
Robert  G.  Ingersoll  in  making  a  nominating 
speech  placing  Blaine's  name  as  a  candidate 
for  president  before  the  national  Republican 
convention  at  Cincinnati,  referred  to  Blaine 
as  the  "  Plumed  Knight  "  and  this  title  clung 
to  him  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His 
death  occurred  at  Washington,  January  27, 
1893-  

JOHN  CALDWELL  CALHOUN,  a  dis- 
tinguished American  statesman,  was  a 
native  of  South  Carolina,  born  in  Abbeville 
district,  March  18,  1782.  He  was  given 
the  advantages  of  a  thorough  education, 
graduating  at  Yale  College  in  1804,  and 
adopted  the  calling  of  a  lawyer.     A  Demo- 


crat politically,  at  that  time,  he  took  a  fore- 
most part  in  the  councils  of  his  party  and 
was  elected  to  congress  in  iSri,  supporting 
the  tariff  of  18 16  and  the  establishing  of 
the  United  States  Bank.  In  18 17  he  be- 
came secretary  of  war  in  President  Monroe's 
cabinet,  and  in  1824  was  elected  vice-president 
of  the  United  States,  on  the  ticket  with  John 
Quincy  Adams,  and  re-elected  in  1 828,  on  the 
ticket  with  General  Jackson.  Shortly  after 
this  Mr.  Calhoun  became  one  of  the  strongest 
advocates  of  free  trade  and  the  principle  of 
sovereignty  of  the  states  and  was  one  of 
the  originators  of  the  doctrine  that  "any 
state  could  nullify  unconstitutional  laws  of 
congress."  Meanwhile  Calhoun  had  be- 
come an  aspirant  for  the  presidency,  and 
the  fact  that  General  Jackson  advanced  the 
interests  of  his  opponent,  Van  Buren,  led 
to  a  quarrel,  and  Calhoun  resigned  the  vice- 
presidency  in  1832  and  was  elected  United 
States  senator  from  South  Carolina.  It  was 
during  the  same  year  that  a  convention  was 
held  in  South  Carolina  at  which  the  "  Nul- 
lification ordinance  "  was  adopted,  the  ob- 
ject of  which  was  to  test  the  constitution- 
ality of  the  protective  tariff  measures,  and 
to  prevent  if  possible  the  collection  of  im- 
port duties  in  that  state  which  had  been 
levied  more  for  the  purpose  of  ' '  protection  " 
than  revenue.  This  ordinance  was  to  go 
into  effect  in  February,  1833,  and  created  a 
great  deal  of  uneasiness  throughout  the 
country  as  it  was  feared  there  would  be  a 
clash  between  the  state  and  federal  authori- 
ties. It  was  in  this' serious  condition  ot 
public  affairs  that  Henry  Clay  came  forward 
with  the  the  famous  "tariff  compromise  " 
of  1833,  to  which  measure  Calhoun  and 
most  of  his  followers  gave  their  support  and 
the  crisis  was  averted.  In  1S43  Mr.  Cal- 
houn was  appointed  secretary  of  state  in 
President  Tyler's  cabinet,  and    it  was  under 


24 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRATHT. 


his  administration  that  the  treaty  concern- 
ing the  annexation  of  Texas  was  negotiated. 
In  1845  he  was  re-elected  to  the  United 
States  senate  and  continued  in  the  senate 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  March, 
j  8  50.  He  occupied  a  high  rank  as  a  scholar, 
student  and  orator,  and  it  is  conceded  that 
he  was  one  of  the  greatest  debaters  America 
has  produced.  The  famous  debate  between 
Calhoun  and  Webster,  in  1833,  is  regarded 
as  the  most  noted  for  ability  and  eloquence 
in  the  history  of  the  country. 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  BUTLER,  one 
of  America's  most  brilliant  and  pro- 
found lawyers  and  noted  public  men,  was 
a  native  of  New  England,  born  at  Deer- 
field,  New  Hampshire,  November  5,  1818. 
His  father,  Captain  John  Butler,  was  a 
prominent  man  in  his  day,  commanded  a 
company  during  the  war  of  1812,  and 
served  under  Jackson  at  New  Orleans. 
Benjamin  F.  Butler  was  given  an  excellent 
education,  graduated  at  Waterville  College, 
Maine,  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1840,  at  Lowell,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  and  gained  a  wide  reputation  for 
his  ability  at  the  bar,  acquiring  an  extensive 
practice  and  a  fortune.  Early  in  life  he 
began  taking  an  active  interest  in  military 
affairs  and  served  in  the  state  militia  through 
all  grades  from  private  to  brigadier-general. 
In  1853  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legisla- 
ture on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  Lowell, 
and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  passage  of 
legislation  in  the  interests  of  labor.  Dur- 
ing the  same  year  he  was  a  member  of  the 
constitutional  convention,  and  in  1S59  rep- 
resented his  district  in  the  Massachusetts 
senate.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out 
General  Butler  took  the  field  and  remained 
at   the  front   most  of  the  time  during  that 


bloody  struggle.  Part  of  the  time  he  had 
charge  of  Fortress  Monroe,  and  in  Febru- 
ary, 1862,  took  command  of  troops  forming 
part  of  the  expedition  against  New  Orleans, 
and  later  had  charge  of  the  department  of 
the  Gulf.  He  was  a  conspicuous  figure  dur- 
ing the  continuance  of  the  war.  After  the 
close  of  hostilities  General  Butler  resumed 
his  law  practice  in  Massachusetts  and  in 
1866  was  elected  to  congress  from  the  Es- 
sex district.  In  1882  he  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Massachusetts,  and  in  1884  was  the 
nominee  of  the  "  Greenback"  party  for 
president  of  the  United  States.  He  con- 
tinued his  legal  practice,  and  maintained  his 
place  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in 
New  England  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  January  10,  1893. 


JEFFERSON  DAVIS,  an  officer,  states- 
man and  legislator  of  prominence  in 
America,  gained  the  greater  part  of  his  fame 
from  the  fact  that  he  was  president  of  the 
southern  confederacy.  Mr.  Davis  was  born 
in  Christian  county,  Kentucky,  June  3, 
1808,  and  his  early  education  and  surround- 
ings were  such  that  his  sympathies  and  in- 
clinations were  wholly  with  the  southern 
people.  He  received  a  thorough  education, 
graduated  at  West 'Point  in  1828.  and  for  a 
number  of  years  served  in  the  army  at  west- 
ern posts  and  in  frontier  service,  first  as 
lieutenant  and  later  as  adjutant.  In  1835 
he  resigned  and  became  a  cotton  planter  in 
Warren  county,  Mississippi,  where  he  took 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  and  be- 
came a  conspicuous  figure  in  politics.  In 
1844  he  was  a  presidential  elector  from 
Mississippi  and  during  the  two  following 
years  served  as  congressman  from  his  d;s- 
trict.  He  then  became  colonel  of  a  Missis- 
sippi regiment  in  the  war  with  Mexico  ano. 
participated  in  some  of  the  most  severe  eat- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAP/IV. 


25 


ties,  being  seriously  wounded  at  Buena 
Vista.  Upon  his  return  to  private  life  he 
again  took  a  prominent  part  in  political  af- 
fairs and  represented  his  state  in  the  United 
States  senate  from  1847  to  1851.  He  then 
entered  President  Pierce's  cabinet  as  secre- 
tary of  war,  after  which  he  again  entered 
the  United  States  senate,  remaining  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  He  then  be- 
came president  of  the  southern  confederacy 
and  served  as  such  until  captured  in  May, 
1865,  at  Irwinville,  Georgia.  He  was  held 
as  prisoner  of  war  at  Fortress  Monroe,  until 
1867,  when  he  was  released  on  bail  and 
finally  set  free  in  1868.  His  death  occurred 
December  6,  1889. 

Jefferson  Davis  was  a  man  of  excellent 
abilities  and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
best  organizers  of  his  day.  He  was  a 
forceful  and  fluent  speaker  and  a  ready 
writer.  He  wrote  and  published  the  "  Rise 
and  Fall  of  the  Southern  Confederacy,"  a 
work  which  is  considered  as  authority  by 
the  southern  people. 


JOHN  ADAMS,  the  second  president  of 
the  United  States,  and  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  in  the  early  struggles  of 
his  country  for  independence,  was  born  in 
the  present  town  of  Quincy,  then  a  portion 
of  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  October  30, 
1735.  He  received  a  thorough  education, 
graduating  at  Harvard  College  in  1755, 
studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1758.  He  was  well  adapted  for  this  profes- 
sion and  after  opening  an  office  in  his  native 
town  rapidly  grew  in  prominence  and  public 
favor  and  soon  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  lawyers  of  the  country.  His  atten- 
tion was  called  to  political  affairs  by  the 
passage  of  the  Stamp  Act,  in  1765,  and  he 
drew  up  a  set  of  resolutions  on  the  subject 
which  were  very  popular.     In    1768  he  re- 


moved to  Boston  and  became  one  of  the 
most  courageous  and  prominent  advocates 
of  the  popular  cause  and  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Colonial  legislature  from 
Boston.  He  was  one  of  the  delegates  that 
represented  Massachusetts  in  the  first  Con^ 
tinental  congress,  which  met  in  September, 
1774.  In  a  letter  written  at  this  crisis  he 
uttered  the  famous  words:  "The  die  is  now 
cast;  I  have  passed  the  Rubicon.  Sink  or 
swim,  live  or  die,  survive  or  perish  with  my 
country,  is  my  unalterable  determination." 
He  was  a  prominent  figure  in  congress  and 
advocated  the  movement  for  independence 
when  a  majority  of  the  members  were  in- 
clined to  temporize  and  to  petition  the  King. 
In  May,  1776,  he  presented  a  resolution  in 
congress  that  the  colonies  should  assume 
the  duty  of  self-government,  which  was 
passed.  In  June,  of  the  same  year,  a  reso- 
lution that  the  United  States  "are,  and  of 
right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent," 
was  moved  by  Richard  H.  Lee,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Adams  and  adopted  by  a  small  majority. 
Mr.  Adams  was  a  member  of  the  committee 
of  five  appointed  June  1 1  to  prepare  a 
declaration  of  independence,  in  support  of 
which  he  made  an  eloquent  speech.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  War  in  1776  and 
in  1 778  was  sent  as  commissioner  to  France, 
but  returned  the  following  year.  In  1780 
he  went  to  Europe,  having  been  appointed 
as  minister  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace 
and  commerce  with  Great  Britain.  Con- 
jointly with  Franklin  and  Jay  he  negotiated 
a  treaty  in  1782.  He  was  employed  as  a 
minister  to  the  Court  of  St.  James  from 
1785  to  1788,  and  during  that  period  wrote 
his  famous  "  Defence  of  the  American  Con- 
stitutions." In  1789  he  became  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  and  was  re-elected 
in  1792. 

In  1796   Mr.    Adams  was  chosen  presi- 


26 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BTOGRAPHT. 


dent  of  the  United  States,  his  competitor 
being  Thomas  Jefferson,  who  became  vice- 
president.  In  1800  he  was  the  Federal 
candidate  for  president,  but  he  was  not 
cordially  supported  by  Gen.  Hamilton,  the 
favorite  leader  of  his  party,  and  was  de- 
feated by  Thomas  Jefferson. 

Mr.  Adams  then  retired  from  public  life 
to  his  large  estate  at  Quincy,  Mass.,  where 
he  died  July  4,  1826,  on  the  same  day  that 
witnessed  the  death  of  Thomas  Jefferson. 
Though  his  physical  frame  began  to  give  way 
many  years  before  his  death,  his  mental 
powers  retained  their  strength  and  vigor  to 
the  last.  In  his  ninetieth  year  he  was  glad- 
dened by  .the  elevation  of  his  son,  John 
Quincy  Adams,  to  the  presidential  office. 


HENRY  WARD  BEECHER,  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  American  preachers 
and  authors,  was  born  at  Litchfield,  Connec- 
ticut, June  24, 18 1 3.  His  father  was  Dr.  Ly- 
man Beecher,  also  an  eminent  divine.  At 
an  early  age  Henry  Ward  Beecher  had  a 
strong  predilection  for  a  sea-faring  life,  and 
it  was  practically  decided  that  he  would  fol- 
low this  inclination,  but  about  this  time,  in 
consequence  of  deep  religious  impressions 
which  he  experienced  during  a  revival,  he 
renounced  his  former  intention  and  decided 
to  enter  the  ministry.  After  having  grad- 
uated at  Amherst  College,  in  1834,  he  stud- 
ied theology  at  Lane  Seminary  under  the 
tuition  of  his  father,  who  was  then  president 
of  that  institution.  In  1847  he  became  pas- 
tor of  the  Plymouth  Congregational  church 
in  Brooklyn,  where  his  oratorical  ability  and 
original  eloquence  attracted  one  of  the  larg- 
est congregations  in  the  country.  He  con- 
tinued to  served  this  church  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  March  8,  1887.  Mr.  Beecher 
also  found  time  for  a  great  amount  of  liter- 
ary work.      For  a  number  of  years  he  was 


editor  of  the  "Independent"  and  also  the 
"Christian  Union."  He  also  produced  many 
works  which  are  widely  known.  Among  his 
principal  productions  are  "Lectures  to  Young 
Men,"  "  Star  Papers, "  "Life  of  Christ," 
"Life  Thoughts,"  "Royal  Truths"  (a 
novel),  "Norwood,"  "  Evolution  and  Rev- 
olution," and  "  Sermons  on  Evolution  and 
Religion."  Mr.  Beecher  was  also  long  a 
prominent  advocate  of  anti-slavery  princi- 
ples and  temperance  reform,  and,  at  a  later 
period,  of  the  rights  of  women. 


JOHN  A.  LOGAN,  the  illustrious  states- 
man and  general,  was  born  in  Jackson 
county,  Illinois,  February  9,  1824.  In  his 
boyhood  days  he  received  but  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  native  county. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Mexico 
he  enlisted  in  the  First  Illinois  Volunteers 
and  became  its  quartermaster.  At  the  close 
of  hostilities  he  returned  home  and  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  courts  of  Jackson  county 
in  1849.  Determining  to  supplement  his 
education  Logan  entered  the  Louisville  Uni- 
versity, from  which  he  graduated  in  1852 
and  taking  up  the  study  of  law  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  attained  popularity  and  suc- 
cess in  his  chosen  profession  and  was  elected 
to  the  legislature  in  1852,  1853,  1856  and 
1857.  He  was  prosecuting  attorney  from 
1853  to  1857.  He  was  elected  to  congress 
in  1858  to  fill  a  vacancy  and  again  in  i860. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  Logan  re- 
signed his  office  and  entered  the  army,  and 
in  September,  1861,  was  appointed  colonel 
of  the  Thirty-first  Illinois  Infantry,  which  he 
led  in  the  battles  of  Belmont  and  Fort  Don- 
elson.  In  the  latter  engagement  he  was 
wounded.  In  March,  1862,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  be  brigadier-general  and  in  the 
following  month  participated  in  the  battles 
of  pittsburg  Landing.     In  November,  1862, 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


29 


f  ji-  gallant  conduct  he  was  made  major-gen- 
ernl.  Throughout  the  Vicksburg  campaign 
he  was  in  command  of  a  division  of  the  Sev- 
enteenth Corps  and  was  distinguished  at 
I'ort  Gibson,  Champion  Kills  and  in  the 
si  ge  and  capture  cf  Vicksburg.  In  October, 
1863,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
Fifteenth  Corps,  which  he  led  with  great 
credit.  During  the  terrible  conflict  before 
Atlanta,  July  22,  1864,  on  the  death  of 
General  McPherson,  Logan,  assuming  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  led  it 
on  to  victory,  saving  the  day  by  his  energy 
and  ability.  He  was  shortly  after  succeeded 
by  General  O.  O.  Howard  and  returned  to 
the  command  of  his  corps.  He  remained 
in  command  until  the  presidential  election, 
when,  feeling  that  his  influence  was  needed 
at  home  he  returned  thither  and  there  re- 
mained until  the  arrival  of  Sherman  at  Sa- 
vannah, when  General  Logan  rejoined  his 
command.  In  May,  1865,  he  succeeded 
General  Howard  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee.  He  resigned  from  the  army 
in  August,  the  same  year,  and  in  November 
was  appointed  minister  to  Mexico,  but  de- 
clined the  honor.  He  served  in  the  lower 
house  of  the  fortieth  and  forty-first  con- 
gresses, and  was  elected  United  States  sena- 
tor from  his  native  state  in  1870,  1878  and 
1885.  He  was  nominated  for  the  vice-presi- 
dency in  1 884  on  the  ticket  with  Blaine,  but 
was  defeated.  General  Logan  was  the 
author  of  "  The  Great  Conspiracy,  its  origin 
and  history,"  published  in  1885.  He  died 
at  Washington,  December  26,  1886. 


JOHN  CHARLES  FREMONT,  the  first 
Republican  candidate  for  president,  was 
born  in  Savannah,  Georgia,  January  21, 
181 3.  He  graduated  from  Charleston  Col- 
lege (South  Carolina)  in  1830,  and  turned  his 

attention  to  civil  engineering.  He  was  shortly 
2 


afterward  employed  in  the  department  of 
government  surveys  on  the  Mississippi,  and 
constructing  maps  of  that  region.  He  was 
made  lieutenant  of  engineers,  and  laid  be- 
fore the  war  department  a  plan  for  p  ne- 
trating  the  Rocky  Mountain  regions,  which 
was  accepted,  and  in  1842  he  set  out  upon 
his  first  famous  exploring  expedition  and  ex- 
plored the  South  Pass.  He  also  planned  an 
expedition  to  Oregon  by  a  new  route  further 
south,  but  afterward  joined  his  expedition 
with  that  of  Wilkes  in  the  region  of  the 
Great  Salt  Lake.  He  made  a  later  expedi- 
tion which  penetrated  the  Sierra  Nevadas, 
and  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  river 
valleys,  making  maps  of  all  regions  explored. 
In  1845  he  conducted  the  great  expedi- 
tion which  resulted  in  the  acquisition  of 
California,  which  it  was  believed  the  Mexi- 
can government  was  about  to  dispose  of  to 
England.  Learning  that  the  Mexican  gov- 
ernor was  preparing  to  attack  the  American 
settlements  in  his  dominion,  Fremont  deter- 
mined to  forestall  him.  The  settlers  rallied 
to  his  camp,  and  in  June,  1846,  he  defeated 
the  Mexican  forces  at  Sonoma  Pass,  and  a 
month  later  completely  routed  the  governor 
and  his  entire  army.  The  Americans  at 
once  declared  their  independence  of  Mexico, 
and  Fremont  was  elected  governor  of  Cali- 
fornia. By  this  time  Commodore  Stockton 
had  reached  the  coast  with  instructions  from 
Washington  to  conquer  California.  Fre- 
mont at  once  joined  him  in  that  effort,  which 
resulted  in  the  annexation  of  California  with 
its  untold  mineral  wealth.  Later  Fremont 
became  involved  in  a  difficulty  with  fellow 
officers  which  resulted  in  a  court  martial, 
and  the  surrender  of  his  commission.  He 
declined  to  accept  reinstatement.  He  af- 
terward laid  out  a  great  road  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  to  San  Francisco,  and  became 
the  first  United  States  senator  from  Califor- 


80 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


nia,  in  1849.  In  1856  he  was  nominated 
by  the  new  Republican  party  as  its  first  can- 
didate for  president  against  Buchanan,  and 
received  114  electoral  votes,  out  of  296. 

In  1 86 1  he  was  made  major-general  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  western  department. 
He  planned  the  reclaiming  of  the  entire 
Mississippi  valley,  and  gathered  an  army  of 
thirty  thousand  men,  with  plenty  of  artil- 
lery, and  was  ready  to  move  upon  the  con- 
federate General  Price,  when  he  was  de- 
prived of  his  command.  He  was  nominated 
for  the  presidency  at  Cincinnati  in  1864,  but 
withdrew.  He  was  governor  of  Arizona  in 
1878,  holding  the  position  four  years.  He 
was  interested  in  an  engineering  enterprise 
looking  toward  a  great  southern  trans-con- 
tinental railroad,  and  in  his  later  years  also 
practiced  law  in  New  York.  He  died  July  1 3, 
1890. 

WENDELL  PHILLIPS,  the  orator  and 
abolitionist,  and  a  conspicuous  figure 
in  American  history,  was  born  November 
29,  181 1,  at  Boston,  Massachusetts.  He 
received  a  good  education  at  Harvard 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1831, 
and  then  entered  the  Cambridge  Law  School. 
After  completing  his  course  in  that  institu- 
tion, in  1833,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
in  1834,  at  Suffolk.  He  entered  the  arena 
of  life  at  the  time  when  the  forces  of  lib- 
erty and  slavery  had  already  begun  their 
struggle  that  was  to  culminate  in  the  Civil 
war.  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  by  his  clear- 
headed, courageous  declarations  of  the  anti- 
slavery  principles,  had  done  much  to  bring 
about  this  struggle.  Mr.  Phillips  was  not  a 
man  that  could  stand  aside  and  see  a  great 
struggle  being  carried  on  in  the  interest  of 
humanity  and  look  passively  on.  He  first 
attracted  attention  as  an  orator  in  1837,  at 
a  meeting  that  was  called  to  protest  against 


the  murder  of  the  Rev.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy. 
The  meeting  would  have  ended  in  a  few 
perfunctory  resolutions  had  not  Mr.  Phillip? 
by  his  manly  eloquence  taken  the  meeting 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  few  that  were  in- 
clined to  temporize  and  avoid  radical  utter- 
ances. Having  once  started  out  in  this  ca- 
reer as  an  abolitionist  Phillips  never  swerved 
from  what  he  deemed  his  duty,  and  never 
turned  back.  He  gave  up  his  legal  practice 
and  launched  himself  heart  and  soul  in  the 
movement  for  the  liberation  of  the  slaves. 
He  was  an  orator  of  very  great  ability  and 
by  his  earnest  efforts  and  eloquence  he  did 
much  in  arousing  public  sentiment  in  behalf 
of  the  anti-slavery  cause — possibly  more 
than  any  one  man  of  his  time.  After  the 
abolition  of  slavery  Mr.  Phillips  was,  if  pos- 
sible, even  busier  than  before  in  the  literary 
and  lecture  field.  Besides  temperance  and 
women's  rights,  he  lectured  often  and  wrote 
much  on  finance,  and  the  relations  of  labor 
and  capital,  and  his  utterances  on  whatever 
subject  always  bore  the  stamp  of  having 
emanated  from  a  master  mind.  Eminent 
ciitics  have  stated  that  it  might  fairly  be 
questioned  whether  there  has  ever  spoken 
in  America  an  orator  superior  to  Phillips. 
The  death  of  this  great  man  occurred  Feb- 
ruary 4,   1884. 


WILLIAM  TECUMSEH  SHERMAN 
was  one  of  the  greatest  generals  that 
the  world  has  ever  produced  and  won  im- 
mortal fame  by  that  strategic  and  famous 
"  march  to  the  sea,"  in  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion. He  was  born  February  8,  1820,  at 
Lancaster,  Ohio,  and  was  reared  in  the 
family  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing,  as  his 
father  died  when  he  was  but  nine  years  of 
age.  He  entered  West  Point  in  1836,  was 
graduated  from  the  same  in  1840,  and  ap- 
pointed  a  second   lieutenant  in   the    Third 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRA.PHT. 


31 


Artillery.  He  passed  through  the  various 
grades  of  the  service  and  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  war  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Thirteenth  Regular  Infantry.  A  full  history 
of  General  Sherman's  conspicuous  services 
would  be  to  repeat  a  history  of  the  army. 
He  commanded  a  division  at  Shiloh,  and 
was  instrumental  in  the  winning  of  that  bat- 
tle, and  was  also  present  at  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.  On  July  4,  1863,  he  was  appointed 
brigadier-general  of  the  regular  army,  and 
shared  with  Hooker  the  victory  of  Mission- 
ary Ridge.  He  was  commander  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Tennessee  from  October 
27th  until  the  appointment  of  General 
Grant  as  lieutenant-general,  by  whom  he 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Mississippi,  which  he  as- 
sumed in  March,  1864.  He  at  once  began 
organizing  the  army  and  enlarging  his  com- 
munications preparatory  to  his  march  upon 
Atlanta,  which  he  started  the  same  time  of 
ihe  beginning  of  the  Richmond  campaign  by 
Grant.  He  started  on  May  6,  and  was  op- 
posed by  Johnston,  who  had  fifty  thousand 
men,  but  by  consummate  generalship,  he 
captured  Atlanta,  on  September  2,  after 
several  months  of  hard  fighting  and  a  severe 
loss  of  men.  General  Sherman  started  on 
his  famous  march  to  the  sea  November  15, 
1864,  and  by  December  10  he  was  before 
Savannah,  which  he  took  on  December  23. 
This  campaign  is  a  monument  to  the  genius 
of  General  Sherman  as  he  only  lost  567 
men  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea.  After  rest- 
ing his  army  he  moved  northward  and  occu- 
pied the  following  places:  Columbia, 
Cheraw,  Fayetteville,  Ayersboro,  Benton- 
ville,  Goldsboro,  Raleigh,  and  April  18,  he 
accepted  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army 
on  a  basis  of  agreement  that  was  not  re- 
ceived by  the  Government  with  favor,  but 
finally  accorded  Johnston  the  same  terms  as 


Lee  was  given  by  General  Grant.  He  was 
present  at  the  grand  review  at  Washington, 
and  after  the  close  of  the  war  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  military  division  of 
the  Mississippi;  later  was  appointed  lieu- 
tenant-general, and  assigned  to  the  military 
division  of  the  Missouri.  When  General 
Grant  was  elected  president  Sherman  became 
general,  March  4,  1869,  and  succeeded  to 
the  command  of  the  army.  His  death  oc- 
curred  February    14,  1891,  at  Washington. 


ALEXANDER  HAMILTON,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  of  the  early  American 
statesmen  and  financiers,  was  born  in  Nevis, 
an  island  of  the  West  Indies,  January  11, 
1757,  his  father  being  a  Scotchman  and  his 
mother  of  Huguenot  descent.  Owing  to  the 
death  of  his  mother  and  business  reverses 
which  came  to  his  father,  young  Hamilton 
was  sent  to  his  mother's  relatives  in  Santa 
Cruz;  a  few  years  later  was  sent  to  a  gram- 
mar school  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey, 
and  in  1773  entered  what  is  now  known  as 
Columbia  College.  Even  at  that  time  he 
began  taking  an  active  part  in  public  affairs 
and  his  speeches,  pamphlets,  and  newspaper 
articles  on  political  affairs  of  the  day  at- 
tracted considerable  attention.  In  1776  he 
received  a  captain's  commission  and  served 
in  Washington's  army  with  credit,  becoming 
aide-de-camp  to  Washington  with  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel.  In  1781  he  resigned  his 
commission  because  of  a  rebuke  from  Gen- 
eral Washington.  He  next  received  com- 
mand of  a  New  York  battalion  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Yorktown.  After 
this  Hamilton  studied  law,  served  several 
terms  in  congress  and  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  at  which  the  Federal  Constitu- 
tion was  drawn  up.  His  work  connected 
with  "  The  Federalist "  at  about  this  time 
attracted   much    attention.      Mr.    Hamilton 


32 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


was  chosen  as  the  first  secretary  of  the 
United  States  treasury  and  as  such  was  the 
author  of  the  funding  system  and  founder  of 
the  United  States  Bank.  In  1798  he  was 
made  inspector-general  of  the  army  with  the 
rank  of  major-general  and  was  also  for  a 
short  time  commander-in-chief.  In  1804 
Aaron  Burr,  then  candidate  for  governor  of 
New  York,  challenged  Alexander  Hamilton 
to  fight  a  duel,  Burr  attributing  his  defeat 
to  Hamilton's  opposition,  and  Hamilton, 
though  declaring  the  code  as  a  relic  of  bar- 
barism, accepted  the  challenge.  They  met 
at  Weehawken,  New  Jersey,  July  11,  1804. 
Hamilton  declined  to  fire  at  his  adversary, 
but  at  Burr's  first  fire  was  fatally  wounded 
and  died  July  12,   1804. 


ALEXANDER  HAMILTON  STEPH- 
ENS, vice-president  of  the  southern 
confederacy,  a  former  United  States  senator 
and  governor  of  Georgia,  ranks  among  the 
great  men  of  American  history.  He  was  born 
February  11,  18 12,  near  Crawfordsville, 
Georgia.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia,  and  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1834.  In  1837  he  made  his  debut  in 
political  life  as  a  member  of  the  state  house 
of  representatives,  and  in  1841  declined  the 
nomination  for  the  same  office;  but  in  1842 
he  was  chosen  by  the  same  constituency  as 
state  senator.  Mr.  Stephens  was  one  of 
the  promoters  of  the  Western  and  Atlantic 
Railroad.  In  1843  he  was  sent  by  his  dis- 
trict to  the  national  house  of  representatives, 
which  office  he  held  for  sixteen  consec- 
utive years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
house  during  the  passing  of  the  Compromise 
Bill,  and  was  one  of  its  ablest  and  most 
active  supporters.  The  same  year  (1850) 
Mr.  Stephens  was  a  delegate  to  the  state 
convention  that  framed  the  celebrated 
"  Georgia  Platform,"  and  was  also   a  dele- 


gate to  the  convention  that  passed  the  ordi- 
nance of  secession,  though  he  bitterly  op- 
posed that  bill  by  voice  and  vote,  yet  he 
readily  acquiesced  in  their  decision  after 
it  received  the  votes  of  the  majority  of  the 
convention.  He  was  chosen  vice-president 
of  the  confederacy  without  opposition,  and 
in  1865  he  was  the  head  of  the  commis- 
sion sent  by  the  south  to  the  Hampton 
Roads  conference.  He  was  arrested  after 
the  fall  of  the  confederacy  and  was  con- 
fined in  Fort  Warren  as  a  prisoner  of  state 
but  was  released  on  his  own  parole.  Mr. 
Stephens  was  elected  to  the  forty-third, 
forty-fourth,  forty-fifth,  forty-sixth  and  for- 
ty-seventh congresses,  with  hardly  more  than 
nominal  opposition.  He  was  one  of  the 
Jeffersonian  school  of  American  politics. 
He  wrote  a  number  of  works,  principal 
among  which  are:  "Constitutional  View 
of  the  War  between  the  States,"  and  a 
"  Compendium  of  the  History  of  the  United 
States."  He  was  inaugurated  as  governor 
of  Georgia  November  4th,  1882,  but  died 
March  4,  1883,  before  the  completion  of 
his  term. 

ROSCOE  CONKLING  was  one  of  the 
most  noted  and  famous  of  American 
statesmen.  He  was  among  the  most  fin- 
ished, fluent  and  eloquent  orators  that  have 
ever  graced  the  halls  of  the  American  con- 
gress; ever  ready,  witty  and  bitter  in  de- 
bate he  was  at  once  admired  and  feared  by 
his  political  opponents  and  revered  by  his 
followers.  True  to  his  friends,  loyal  to  the 
last  degree  to  those  with  whom  his  inter- 
ests were  associated,  he  was  unsparing  to  his 
foes  and  it  is  said  "never  forgot  an  injury." 
Roscoe  Conkling  was  born  at  Albany, 
New  York,  on  the  30th  of  October,  1829, 
being  a  son  of  Alfred  Conkling.  Alfred 
Conkling  was  also   a   native  of  New  York, 


COMPENDIUM  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


33 


born  at  East  Hampton,  October  12,  1789, 
and  became  one  of  the  most  eminent  law- 
yers in  the  Empire  state;  published  several 
legal  works;  served  a  term  in  congress;  aft- 
erward as  United  States  district  judge  for 
Northern  New  York,  and  in  1852  was  min- 
ister to  Mexico.  Alfred  Conkling  died  in 
1874. 

Roscoe  Conkling,  whose  name  heads 
this  article,  at  an  early  age  took  up  the 
study  of  law  and  soon  became  successful  and 
prominent  at  the  bar.  About  1846  he  re- 
moved to  Utica  and  in  1858  was  elected 
mayor  of  that  city.  He  was  elected  repre- 
sentative in  congress  from  this  district  and 
was  re-elected  three  times.  In  1867  he  was 
elected  United  States  senator  from  the  state 
of  New  York  and  was  re-elected  in  1873 
and  1879.  In  May,  1 88 1 ,  he  resigned  on 
account  of  differences  with  the  president. 
In  March,  1882,  he  was  appointed  and  con- 
firmed as  associate  justice  of  the  United 
States  supreme  court  but  declined  to  serve. 
His  death  occurred  April  18,   1888. 


WASHINGTON  IRVING,  one  of  the 
most  eminent,  talented  and  popu- 
lar of  American  authors,  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  April  3,  1783.  His  father  was 
William  Irving,  a  merchant  and  a  native  of 
Scotland,  who  had  married  an  English  lady 
and  emigrated  to  America  some  twenty 
years  prior  to  the  birth  of  Washington. 
Two  of  the  older  sons,  William  and  Peter, 
were  partially  occupied  with  newspaper 
work  and  literary  pursuits,  and  this  fact 
naturally  inclined  Washington  to  follow 
their  example.  Washington  Irving  was  given 
the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  until  about  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  he  began  studying  law,  but  continued 
to  acquire  his  literary  training  by  diligent 
perusal  at  home  of  the  older  English  writers. 


When  nineteen  he  made  his  first  literary 
venture  by  printing  in  the  ' '  Morning  Chroni- 
cle," then  edited  by  his  brother,  Dr.  Peter 
Irving,  a  series  of  local  sketches  under  the 
nom-de-plume  of  "Jonathan  Oldstyle."  In 
1804  he  began  an  extensive  trip  through 
Europe,  returned  in  1806,  quickly  com- 
pleted his  legal  studies  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  but  never  practiced  the  profession. 
In  1807  he  began  the  amusing  serial  "Sal- 
magundi," which  had  an  immediate  suc- 
cess, and  not  only  decided  his  future 
career  but  long  determined  the  charac- 
ter of  his  writings.  In  1808,  assisted  by 
his  brother  Peter,  he  wrote  "  Knickerbock- 
er's History  of  New  York,"  and  in  1810  an 
excellent  biography  of  Campbell,  the  poet, 
After  this,  for  some  time,  Irving's  attention 
was  occupied  by  mercantile  interests,  but 
the  commercial  house  in  which  he  was  a 
partner  failed  in  18 17.  In  18 14  he  was 
editor  of  the  Philadelphia  "  Analectic  Maga- 
zine." About  1 8 1 8  appeared  his  "Sketch- 
Book,  "  over  the  nom-de-plume  of  '  'Geoffrey 
Crayon,"  which  laid  the  foundation  of  Ir- 
ving's fortune  and  permanent  fame.  This 
was  soon  followed  by  the  legends  of 
"Sleepy  Hollow,"  and  "  Rip  Van  Winkle," 
which  at  once  took  high  rank  as  literary 
productions,  and  Irving's  reputation  was 
firmly  established  in  both  the  old  and  new 
worlds.  After  this  the  path  of  Irving  was 
smooth,  and  his  subsequent  writings  ap- 
peared with  rapidity,  including  "Brace- 
bridge  Hall,"  "The  Tales  of  a  Traveler," 
"  History  of  the  Life  and  Voyages  of  Chris- 
topher Columbus,"  "The  Conquest  of 
Granada,"  "The  Alhambra,"  "Tour  on 
the  Prairies,"  "Astoria,"  "Adventures  of 
Captain  Bonneville,"  "Wolfert's  Roost," 
"  Mahomet  and  his  Successors,"  and  "Life 
of  Washington,"  besides  other  works. 

Washington  Irving  was  never  married. 


34 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY 


He  resided  during  the  closing  years  of  his 
life  at  Sunnyside  (Tarrytown)  on  the  Hud- 
son, where  he  died  November  28,  1859. 


CHARLES  SUMNER.— Boldly  outlined 
on  the  pages  of  our  history  stands  out 
the  rugged  figure  of  Charles  Sumner,  states- 
man, lawyer  and  writer.  A  man  of  unim- 
peachable integrity,  indomitable  will  and 
with  the  power  of  tireless  toil,  he  was  a  fit 
leader  in  troublous  times.  First  in  rank  as 
an  anti-slavery  leader  in  the  halls  of  con- 
gress, he  has  stamped  his  image  upon  the 
annals  of  his  time.  As  an  orator  he  took 
front  rank  and,  in  wealth  of  illustration, 
rhetoric  and  lofty  tone  his  eloquence  equals 
anything  to  be  found  in  history. 

Charles  Sumner  was  born  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  January  6,  181 1,  and  was 
the  son  of  Charles  P.  and  Relief  J.  Sumner. 
The  family  had  long  been  prominent  in  that 
state.  Charles  was  educated  at  the  Boston 
Public  Latin  School;  entered  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1826,  and  graduated  therefrom  in 
1830.  In  1 83 1  he  joined  the  Harvard  Law 
School,  then  under  charge  of  Judge  Story, 
and  gave  himself  up  to  the  study  of  law 
with  enthusiasm.  His  leisure  was  devoted 
to  contributing  to  the  American  Jurist.  Ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1834  he  was  appointed 
reporter  to  the  circuit  court  by  Judge  Story. 
He  published  several  works  about  this  time, 
and  from  1835  to  1837  and  again  in  1843 
was  lecturer  in  the  law  school.  He  had 
planned  a  lawyer's  life,  but  in  1845  he  gave 
his  attention  to  politics,  speakingand  working 
against  the  admission  of  Texas  to  the  Union 
and  subsequently  against  the  Mexican  war. 
In  1848  he  was  defeated  for  congress  on  the 
Free  Soil  ticket.  His  stand  on  the  anti- 
slavery  question  at  that  time  alienated  both 
friends  and  clients,  but  he  never  swerved 
from  his  convictions.    In  1851  he  was  elected 


to  the  United  States  senate  and  took  his 
seat  therein  December  1  of  that  year.  From 
this  time  his  life  became  the  history  of  the 
anti-slavery  cause  in  congress.  In  August, 
1852,  he  began  his  attacks  on  slavery  by  a 
masterly  argument  for  the  repeal  of  the 
fugitive  slave  law.  On  May  22,  1856,  Pres- 
ton Brooks,  nephew  of  Senator  Butler,  of 
South  Carolina,  made  an  attack  upon  Mr. 
Sumner,  at  his  desk  in  the  senate,  striking 
him  over  the  head  with. a  heavy  cane.  The 
attack  was  quite  serious  in  its  effects  and 
kept  Mr.  Sumner  absent  from  his  seat  in  the 
senate  for  about  four  years.  In  1857,  1863 
and  1869  he  was  re-elected  to  the  office  of 
senator,  passing  some  twenty-three  years  in 
that  position,  always  advocating  the  rights 
of  freedom  and  equity.  He  died  March  II, 
1874-  

THOMAS  JEFFERSON,  the  third  pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was  born 
near  Charlottesville,  Albemarle  county,  Vir- 
ginia, April  13,  1743,  and  was  the  son  of 
Peter  and  Jane  (Randolph)  Jefferson.  He 
received  the  elements  of  a  good  education, 
and  in  1760  entered  William  and  Mary  Col- 
lege. After  remaining  in  that  institution  for 
two  years  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  with 
George  Wythe,  of  Williamsburg,  Virginia, 
one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  of  his  day,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1767.  He  ob- 
tained a  large  and  profitable  practice,  which 
he  held  for  eight  years.  The  conflict  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  then 
drew  him  into  public  life,  he  having  for 
some  time  given  his  attention  to  the  study 
of  the  sources  of  law,  the  origin  of  liberty 
and  equal  rights. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  the  Virginia 
house  of  burgesses  in  1769,  and  served  in 
that  body  several  years,  a  firm  supporter  of 
liberal    measures,    and,    although    a    slave- 


coMPExnnwr  of  biography. 


35 


holder  himself,  an  opponent  of  slavery. 
With  others,  he  was  a  leader  among  the  op- 
position to  the  king.  He  took  his  place  as 
a  member  of  the  Continental  congress  June 
21,  1775,  and  after  serving  on  several  com- 
mittees was  appointed  to  draught  a  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  which  he  did,  some 
corrections  being  suggested  by  Dr.  Franklin 
and  John  Adams.  This  document  was  pre- 
sented to  congress  June  28,  1776,  and  after 
six  days'  debate  was  passed  and  was  signed. 
In  the  following  September  Mr.  Jefferson 
resumed  his  seat  in  the  Virginia  legislature, 
and  gave  much  time  to  the  adapting  of  laws 
of  that  state  to  the  new  condition  of  things. 
He  drew  up  the  law,  the  first  ever  passed  by 
a  legislature  or  adopted  by  a  government, 
which  secured  perfect  religious  freedom. 
June  1,  1779,  he  succeeded  Patrick  Henry 
as  governor  of  Virginia,  an  office  which, 
after  co-operating  with  Washington  in  de- 
fending the  country,  he  resigned  two  years 
later.  One  of  his  own  estates  was  ravaged 
by  the  British,  and  his  house  at  Monticello 
was  held  by  Tarleton  for  several  days,  and 
Jefferson  narrowly  escaped  capture.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1782,  he  accepted 
the  position  of  plenipotentiary  to  France, 
which  he  had  declined  in  1776.  Before 
leaving  he  served  a  short  time  in  congress 
at  Annapolis,  and  succeeded  in  carrying  a 
bill  for  establishing  our  present  decimal  sys- 
tem of  currency,  one  of  his  most  useful  pub- 
lic services.  He  remained  in  an  official  ca- 
pacity until  October,  1789,  and  was  a  most 
active  and  vigilant  minister.  Besides  the 
onerous  duties  of  his  office,  during  this  time, 
he  published  "Notes  on  Virginia,"  sent  to 
the  United  States  seeds,  shrubs  and  plants, 
forwarded  literary  and  scientific  news  and 
gave  useful  advice  to  some  of  the  leaders  of 
the  French  Revolution. 

Mr.  Jefferson  landed  in  Virginia  Novem- 


ber 18,  1789,  having  obtained  a  leave  of 
absence  from  his  post,  and  shortly  after  ac- 
cepted Washington's  offer  of  the  portfolio 
of  the  department  of  state  in  his  cabinet. 
He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  in 
March,  1791,  and  held  it  until  January  1, 
1794,  when  he  tendered  his  resignation. 
About  this  time  he  and  Alexander  Hamilton 
became  decided  and  aggressive  political  op- 
ponents, Jefferson  being  in  warm  sympathy 
with  the  people  in  the  French  revolution 
and  strongly  democratic  in  his  feelings, 
while  Hamilton  took  the  opposite  side.  In 
1796  Jefferson  was  elected  vice-president  of 
the  United  States.  In  1800  he  was  elected 
to  the  presidency  and  was  inaugurated 
March  4,  1801.  During  his  administration, 
which  lasted  for  eight  years,  he  having  been 
re-elected  in  1804,  he  waged  a  successful 
war  against  the  Tripolitan  pirates;  purchased 
Louisiana  of  Napoleon;  reduced  the  public 
debt,  and  was  the  originator  of  many  wise 
measures.  Declining  a  nomination  for  a 
third  term  he  returned  to  Monticello,  where 
he  died  July  4,  1826,  but  a  few  hours  before 
the  death  of  his  friend,  John  Adams. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  married  January  1, 
1772,  to  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  young, 
beautiful,  and  wealthy  widow,  who  died 
September  6,  1782,  leaving  three  children, 
three  more  having  died  previous  to  her 
demise. 

CORNELIUS  VANDERBILT, known  as 
"Commodore"  Vanderbilt,  was  the 
founder  of  what  constitutes  the  present  im- 
mense fortune  of  the  Vanderbilt  family.  He 
was  born  May  27,  1794,  at  Port  Richmond, 
Staten  Island,  Richmond  county,  New 
York,  and  we  find  him  at  sixteen  years  run- 
ning a  small  vessel  between  his  home  and 
New  York  City.  The  fortifications  of  Sta- 
ten and  Long  Islands  were  just  in  course  of 


86 


COMPENDIUM  OP   BIOGRAPHY. 


construction,  and  he  carried  the  laborers 
from  New  York  to  the  fortifications  in  his 
"  perianger,  "  as  it  was  called,  in  the  day, 
and  at  night  carried  supplies  to  the  fort  on 
the  Hudson.  Later  he  removed  to  New 
York,  where  he  added  to  his  little  fleet.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-three  he  was  free  from 
debt  and  was  worth  $9,000,  and  in  1817, 
with  a  partner  he  built  the  first  steamboat 
that  was  run  between  New  York  and  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  and  became  her 
captain  at  a  salary  of  $1,000  a  year.  The 
next  year  he  took  command  of  a  larger  and 
better  boat  and  by  1824  he  was  in  complete 
control  of  the  Gibbon's  Line,  as  it  was 
called,  which  he  had  brought  up  to  a  point 
where  it  paid  $40,000  a  year.  Commodore 
Vanderbilt  acquired  the  ferry  between  New 
York  and  Elizabethport,  New  Jersey,  on  a 
fourteen  years'  lease  and  conducted  this  on 
a  paying  basis.  He  severed  his  connections 
with  Gibbons  in  1829  and  engaged  in 
business  alone  and  for  twenty  years  he  was 
the  leading  steamboat  man  in  the  country, 
building  and  operating  steamboats  on  the 
Hudson  River,  Long  Island  Sound,  on  the 
Delaware  River  and  the  route  to  Boston, 
and  he  had  the  monopoly  of  trade  on  these 
routes.  In  1850  he  determined  to  broaden 
his  field  of  operation  and  accordingly  built 
the  steamship  Prometheus  and  sailed  for 
the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  where  he  desired  to 
make  a  personal  investigation  of  the  pros- 
pects of  the  American  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
Ship  Canal  Company,  in  which  he  had  pur- 
chased a  controlling  interest.  Commodore 
Vanderbilt  planned,  as  a  result  of  this  visit, 
a  transit  route  from  Greytown  on  the  At- 
lantic coast  to  San  Juan  del  Sud  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast,  which  was  a  saving  of  700  miles 
over  the  old  route.  In  185 1  he  placed  three 
steamers  on  the  Atlantic  side  and  four  on 
the  Pacific  side  to  accommodate  the  enor- 


mous traffic  occasioned  by  the  discovery  of 
gold  in  California.  The  following  year 
three  more  vessels  were  added  to  his  fleet 
and  a  branch  line  established  from  New 
Orleans  to  Greytown.  In  1853  the  Com- 
modore sold  out  hisNicarauguaTransit  Com- 
pany, which  had  netted  him  $[,000,000 
and  built  the  renowned  steam  yacht,  the 
"North  Star."  He  continued  in  the  ship- 
ping business  nine  years  longer  and  accu- 
mulated some  $10,000,000.  In  1861  he 
presented  to  the  government  his  magnifi- 
cent steamer  "  Vanderbilt,  "  which  had  cost 
him  $800,000  and  for  which  he  received  the 
thanks  of  congress.  In  1844  he  became 
interested  in  the  railroad  business  which  he 
followed  in  later  years  and  became  one  of 
the  greatest  railroad  magnates  of  his  time. 
He  founded  the  Vanderbilt  University  at  a 
cost  of  $1,000,000.  He  died  January  4, 
1877,  leaving  a  fortune  estimated  at  over 
$100,000,000  to  his  children. 


DANIEL  BOONE  was  one  of  the  most 
famous  of  the  many  American  scouts, 
pioneers  and  hunters  which  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  western  states  brought  into 
prominence.  Daniel  Boone  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1735,  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  while  yet  a  young  man  removed 
to  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  married. 
In  1769,  with  five  companions,  he  pene- 
trated into  the  forests  and  wilds  of  Kentucky 
— then  uninhabited  by  white  men.  He  had 
frequent  conflicts  with  the  Indians  and  was 
captured  by  them  but  escaped  and  continued 
to  hunt  in  and  explore  that  region  for  over 
a  year,  when,  in  177 1,  he  returned  to  his 
home.  In  the  summer  of  1773,  he  removed 
with  his  own  and  five  other  families  into 
what  was  then  the  wilderness  of  Kentucky, 
and  to  defend  his  colony  against  the  savages, 
he  built,  in  1775,  a  fort  at  Boonesborough, 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


Wi 


on  the  Kentucky  river.  This  fort  was  at- 
tacked by  the  Indians  several  times  in  1777, 
but  they  were  repulsed.  The  following 
year,  however,  Boone  was  surprised  and 
captured  by  them.  They  took  him  to  De- 
troit and  treated  him  with  leniency,  but  he 
soon  escaped  and  returned  to  his  fort  which 
he  defended  with  success  against  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  Indians  in  August,  1778.  His 
son,  Enoch  Boone,  was  the  first  white  male 
child  born  in  the  state  of  Kentucky.  In 
1795  Daniel  Boone  removed  with  his  family 
to  Missouri,  locating  about  forty-five  miles 
west  of  the  present  site  of  St.  Louis,  where 
he  found  fresh  fields  for  his  favorite  pursuits 
— adventure,  hunting,  and  pioneer  life.  His 
death  occurred  September  20,   1820. 


HENRY  WADSWORTH  LONGFEL- 
LOW, said  to  have  been  America's 
greatest  "poet  of  the  people,"  was  born  at 
Portland,  Maine,  February  27,  1807.  He 
entered  Bowdoin  College  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen, and  graduated  in  1825.  During  his 
college  days  he  distinguished  himself  in  mod- 
ern languages,  and  wrote  several  short 
poems,  one  of  the  best  known  of  which  was 
the  "Hymn  of  the  Moravian  Nuns."  After 
his  graduation  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
his  father,  but  the  following  year  was  offered 
the  professorship  of  modern  languages  at 
Bowdoin,  with  the  privilege  of  three  years 
study  in  Europe  to  perfect  himself  in  French, 
Spanish,  Italian  and  German.  After  the 
three  years  were  passed  he  returned  to  the 
United  States  and  entered  upon  his  profes- 
sorship in  1829.  His  first  volume  was  a 
small  essay  on  the  "Moral  and  Devotional 
Poetry  of  Spain"  in  1833.  In  1835  ne  pub- 
lished some  prose  sketches  of  travel  under 
the  title  of  "  Outre  Mer,  a  Pilgrimage  be- 
yond the  Sea."  In  1835  he  was  elected  to 
the  chair  of  modern  languages  and  literature 


at  Harvard  University  and  spent  a  year  in 
Denmark,  Sweden  and  Switzerland,  culti- 
vating a  knowledge  of  early  Scandinavian 
literature  and  entered  upon  his  professor- 
ship in  1836.  Mr.  Longfellow  published  in 
1839  "  Hyperion,  a  Romance,"  and  "Voices 
of  the  Night,  "  and  his  first  volume  of  original 
verse  comprising  the  selected  poems  of 
twenty  years  work,  procured  him  immediate 
recognition  as  a  poet.  "  Ballads  and  other 
poems"  appeared  in  1842,  the  "Spanish 
Student  "  a  drama  in  three  acts,  in  1843, 
"The  Belfry  of  Bruges  "  in  1846,  "Evan- 
geline, a  Tale  of  Acadia,"  in  1847,  which 
was  considered  his  master  piece.  In  1845 
he  published  a  large  volume  of  the  "Poets 
and  Poetry  of  Europe,"  1849  "  Kavanagh, 
a  Tale,"  ''The  Seaside  and  Fireside"  in 
1850,  "The  Golden  Legend  "  in  185 1,  "The 
Song  of  Hiawatha  "  in  1855,  "  The  Court- 
ship of  Miles  Standish  "  in  1858,  "  Tales  of 
a  Wayside  Inn  "  in  1863;  "  Flower  de  Luce'' 
in  1866;"  "New  England  Tragedies"  in 
1869;  "The  Divine  Tragedy"  in  1871; 
"Three  Books  of  Song"  in  1872;  "The 
Hanging  of  the  Crane  "  in  1874.  He  also 
published  a  masterly  translation  of  Dante 
in  1867-70  and  the  "  Morituri  Salutamus," 
a  poem  read  at  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
his  class  at  Bowdoin  College.  Prof.  Long- 
fellow resigned  his  chair  at  Harvard  Univer- 
sity in  1854,  but  continued  to  reside  at  Cam- 
bridge. Some  of  his  poetical  works  have 
been  translated  into  many  languages,  and 
their  popularity  rivals  that  of  the  best  mod- 
ern English  poetry.  He  died  March  24, 
1882,  but  has  left  an  imperishable  fame  as 
one  of  the  foremost  of  American  poets. 


PETER  COOPER  was  in  three  partic- 
ulars— as  a  capitalist  and  manufacturer, 
as  an  inventor,  and  as  a  philanthropist — 
connected  intimately  with  some  of  the  most 


38 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY 


important  and  useful  accessions  to  the  in- 
dustrial arts  of  America,  its  progress  in  in- 
vention and  the  promotion  of  educational 
and  benevolent  institutions  intended  for  the 
benefit  of  people  at  large.  He  was  born 
in  New  York  city,  February  12,  179 1.  His 
iife  was  one  of  labor  and  struggle,  as  it  was 
with  most  of  America's  successful  men.  In 
early  boyhood  he  commenced  to  help  his 
'ather  as  a  manufacturer  of  hats.  He  at- 
tended school  only  for  half  of  each  day  for 
a  single  year,  and  beyond  this  his  acquisi- 
tions were  all  his  own.  When  seventeen 
vears  old  he  was  placed  with  John  Wood- 
ward to  learn  the  trade  of  coach-making  and 
served  his  apprenticeship  so  satisfactorily 
chat  his  master  offered  to  set  him  up  in  busi- 
ness, but  this  he  declined  because  of  the 
debt  and  obligation  it  would  involve. 

The  foundation  of  Mr.  Cooper's  fortune 
was  laid  in  the  invention  of  an  improvement 
in  machines  for  shearing  cloth.  This  was 
largely  called  into  use  during  the  war  of 
18 1 2  with  England  when  all  importations 
of  cloth  from  that  country  were  stopped. 
The  machines  lost  their  value,  however,  on 
the  declaration  of  peace.  Mr.  Cooper  then 
turned  his  shop  into  the  manufacture  of 
cabinet  ware.  He  afterwards  went  into  the 
grocery  business  in  New  York  and  finally  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  glue  and  isin- 
glass which  he  carried  on  for  more  than 
fifty  years.  In  1830  he  erected  iron  works 
in  Canton,  near  Baltimore.  Subsequently 
he  erected  a  rolling  and  a  wire  mill  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  in  which  he  first  success- 
fully applied  anthracite  to  the  puddling  of 
iron.  In  these  works,  he  was  the  first  to 
roll  wrought-iron  beams  for  fire-proof  build- 
ings. These  works  grew  to  be  very  exten- 
sive, including  mines,  blast  furnaces,  etc. 
While  in  Baltimore  Mr.  Cooper  built  in 
1830,  after  his  own   designs,  the   first  loco- 


motive engine  ever  constructed  on  this  con- 
tinent and  it  was  successfully  operated  on 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad.  He  also 
took  a  great  interest  and  invested  large  cap- 
ital in  the  extension  of  the  electric  telegraph, 
also  in  the  laying  of  the  first  Atlantic  cable; 
besides  interesting  himself  largely  in  the 
New  York  state  canals.  But  the  most 
cherished  object  of  Mr.  Cooper's  life  was 
the  establishment  of  an  institution  for  the 
instruction  of  the  industrial  classes,  which 
he  carried  out  on  a  magnificent  scale  in  New 
York  city,  where  the  "Cooper  Union" 
ranks  among  the  most  important  institu- 
tions. 

In  May,  1876,  the  Independent  party 
nominated  Mr.  Cooper  for  president  of  the 
United  States,  and  at  the  election  following 
he  received  nearly  100,000  votes.  His 
death  occurred  April  4,  1883. 


GENERAL  ROBERT  EDWARD  LEE, 
one  of  the  most  conspicuous  Confeder- 
ate generals  during  the  Civil  war,  and  one 
of  the  ablest  military  commanders  of  mod- 
ern times,  was  born  at  Stratford  House, 
Westmoreland  county,  Virginia,  January  19, 
1807.  In  1825  he  entered  the  West  Point 
academy  and  was  graduated  second  in  his 
class  in  1829,  and  attached  to  the  army  as 
second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  thus  engaged  in  en- 
gineering work,  aiding  in  establishing  the 
boundary  line  between  Ohio  and  Michigan, 
and  superintended  various  river  and  harbor 
improvements,  becoming  captain  of  engi- 
neers in  1838.  He  first  saw  field  service  in 
the  Mexican  war,  and  under  General  Scott 
performed  valuable  and  efficient  service. 
In  that  brilliant  campaign  he  was  conspicu- 
ous for  professional  ability  as  well  as  gallant 
and  meritorious  conduct,  winning  in  quick 
succession  the  brevets  of  major,  lieutenant- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


39 


colonel,  and  colonel  for  his  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  Cherubusco, 
Chapultepec,  and  in  the  capture  of  the  city 
Mexico.  At  the  close  of  that  war  he  re- 
sumed his  engineering  work  in  connection 
with  defences  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  and 
from  1852  to  1855  was  superintendent  of 
the  Military  Academy,  a  position  which  he 
gave  up  to  become  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Second  Cavalry.  For  several  years  there- 
after he  served  on  the  Texas  border,  but 
happening  to  be  near  Washington  at  the 
time  of  John  Brown's  raid,  October  17  to 
2  5.  1859,  Colonel  Lee  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Federal  forces  employed  in  its 
repression.  He  soon  returned  to  his  regi- 
ment in  Texas  where  he  remained  the 
greater  part  of  i860,  and  March  16,  1861, 
became  colonel  of  his  regiment  by  regular 
promotion.  Three  weeks  later,  April  25,  he 
resigned  upon  the  secession  of  Virginia, 
went  at  once  to  Richmond  and  tendered  his 
services  to  the  governor  of  that  state,  being 
by  acclamation  appointed  commander-in- 
chief  of  its  military  and  naval  forces,  with 
the  rank  of  major-general. 

He  at  once  set  to  work  to  organize  and 
develop  the  defensive  resources  of  his  state 
and  within  a  month  directed  the  occupation 
in  force  of  Manassas  Junction.  Meanwhile 
Virginia  having  entered  the  confederacy  and 
Richmond  become  the  capitol,  Lee  became 
one  of  the  foremost  of  its  military  officers 
and  was  closely  connected  with  Jefferson 
Davis  in  planning  the  moves  of  that  tragic 
time.  Lee  participated  in  many  of  the 
hardest  fought  battles  of  the  war  among 
which  were  Fair  Oaks,  White  Lake  Swamps, 
Cold  Harbor,  and  the  Chickahominy,  Ma- 
nassas, Cedar  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville,  Malvern  Hill,  Get- 
tysburg, the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  cam- 
paign, all  the  campaigns  about  Richmond, 


Petersburg,  Five  Forks,  and  others.  Lee's 
surrender  at  Appomatox  brought  the  war  to 
a  close.  It  is  said  of  General  Lee  that  but 
few  commanders  in  history  have  been  so 
quick  to  detect  the  purposes  of  an  opponent 
or  so  quick  to  act  upon  it.  Never  surpassed, 
if  ever  equaled,  in  the  art  of  winning  the 
passionate,  personal  love  and  admiration  of 
his  troops,  he  acquired  and  held  an  influ- 
ence over  his  army  to  the  very  last,  founded 
upon  a  supreme  trust  in  his  judgment,  pre- 
science and  skill,  coupled  with  his  cool, 
stable,  equable  courage.  A  great  writer  has 
said  of  him:  "As  regards  the  proper  meas- 
ure of  General  Lee's  rank  among  the  sol- 
diers of  history,  seeing  what  he  wrought 
with  such  resources  as  he  had,  under  all  the 
disadvantages  that  ever  attended  his  oper- 
ations, it  is  impossible  to  measure  what  he 
might  have  achieved  in  campaigns  and  bat- 
tles with  resources  at  his  own  disposition 
equal  to  those  against  which  he  invariably 
contended." 

Left  at  the  close  of  the  war  without  es- 
tate or  profession,  he  accepted  the  presi- 
dency of  Washington  College  at  Lexington, 
Virginia,  where  he  died  October  12,  1870. 


JOHN  JAY,  first  chief-justice  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  New  York, 
December  12,  1745.  He  took  up  the  study 
of  law,  graduated  from  King's  College 
(Columbia  College),  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1768.  He  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  committee  of  New  York  citizens  to 
protest  against  the  enforcement  by  the 
British  government  of  the  Boston  Port  Bill, 
was  elected  to  the  Continental  congress 
which  met  in  1774,  and  was  author  of  the 
addresses  to  the  people  of  Great  Britian  and 
of  Canada  adopted  by  that  and  the  suc- 
ceeding congress.  He  was  chosen  to  the 
provincial  assembly  of    his    own  state,  and 


to 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BI0GRAP1I1'. 


resigned  from  the  Continental  congress  to 
serve  in  that  body,  wrote  most  of  its  public 
papers,  including  the  constitution  of  the  new 
state,  and  was  then  made  chief-justice.  He 
was  again  chosen  as  a  member  of  the  Con- 
tinental congress  in  1778,  and  became  presi- 
dent of  that  body.  He  was  sent  to  Spain 
as  minister  in  1780,  and  his  services  there 
resulted  in  substantial  and  moral  aid  for  the 
struggling  colonists.  Jay,  Franklin,  and 
Adams  negotiated  the  treaty  of  peace  with 
Great  Britain  in  1782,  and  Jay  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  foreign  affairs  in  1784, 
and  held  the  position  until  the  adoption  of 
the  Federal  constitution.  During  this  time 
he  had  contributed  strong  articles  to  the 
"Federalist"  in  favor  of  the  adoption  of 
the  constitution,  and  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  ratification  of  that 
instrument  by  his  state.  He  was  appointed 
by  Washington  as  first  chief-justice  of  the 
United  States  in  1789.  In  this  high  capac- 
ity the  great  interstate  and  international 
questions  that  arose  for  immediate  settle- 
ment came  before  him  for  treatment. 

In  1794,  at  a  time  when  the  people  in 
gratitude  for  the  aid  that  France  had  ex- 
tended to  us,  were  clamoring  for  the  privilege 
of  going  to  the  aid  of  that  nation  in  her 
struggle  with  Great  Britain  and  her  own  op- 
pressors, John  Jay  was  sent  to  England  as 
special  envoy  to  negotiate  a  treaty  with 
that  power.  The  instrument  known  as 
"Jay's  Treaty  "  was  the  result,  and  while 
in  many  of  its  features  it  favored  our  nation, 
yet  the  neutrality  clause  in  it  so  angered  the 
masses  that  it  was  denounced  throughout 
the  entire  country,  and  John  Jay  was  burned 
in  effigy  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The 
treaty  was  finally  ratified  by  Washington, 
and  approved,  in  August,  1795.  Having 
been  elected  governor  of  his  state  for  three 
consecutive   terms,    he    then    retired   from 


active  life,  declining  an  appointment  as 
chief-justice  of  the  supreme  court,  made  by 
John  Adams  and  confirmed  by  the  senate. 
He  died  in  New  York  in  1829. 


PHILLIP  HENRY  SHERIDAN  was 
one  of  the  greatest  American  cavalry 
generals.  He  was  born  March  6,  183 1,  at 
Somerset,  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  United  States  Military  Acad- 
emy at  West  Point,  from  which  he  graduat- 
ed and  was  assigned  to  the  First  Infantry  as 
brevet  second  lieutenant  July  1,  1853. 
After  serving  in  Texas,  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
in  Washington  and  Oregon  territories  until 
the  fall  of  1 86 1,  he  was  recalled  to  the 
states  and  assigned  to  the  army  of  south- 
west Missouri  as  chief  quartermaster  from 
the  duties  of  which  he  was  soon  relieved. 
After  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  he  was  quar- 
termaster in  the  Corinth  campaign,  and  on 
May  25  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Second  Michigan  Cavalry.  On  July  1,  in 
command  of  a  cavalry  brigade,  he  defeated 
a  superior  force  of  the  enemy  and  was  com- 
missioned brigadier-general  of  volunteers. 
General  Sheridan  was  then  transferred  to 
the  army  of  the  Ohio,  and  commanded  a 
division  in  the  battle  of  Perrysville  and  also 
did  good  service  at  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
boro,  where  he  was  commissioned  major- 
general  of  volunteers.  He  fought  with 
great  gallantry  at  Chickamauga,  after  which 
Rosecrans  was  succeeded  by  General  Grant, 
under  whom  Sheridan  fought  the  battle  of 
Chattanooga  and  won  additional  renown. 
Upon  the  promotion  of  Grant  to  lieutenant- 
general,  he  applied  for  the  transfer  of  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  to  the  east,  and  appointed 
him  chief  of  cavalry  in  the  army  of  the 
Potomac.  During  the  campaign  of  1864 
the  cavalry  covered  the  front  and  flanks  of 
the  infantry  until  May  8,  when  it  was  witft 


COMTEXDIUM   OF   BIOGRA/'/n\ 


drawn  and  General  Sheridan  started  on  a 
raid  against  the  Confederate  lines  of  com- 
munication with  Richmond  and  on  May  25 
he  rejoined  the  army,  having  destroyed  con- 
siderable of  the  confederate  stores  and  de- 
feated their  cavalry  under  General  Stuart  at 
Yellow  Tavern.  The  outer  line  of  defences 
around  Richmond  were  taken,  but  the  sec- 
ond line  was  too  strong  to  be  taken  by  as- 
sault, and  accordingly  Sheridan  crossed  the 
Chickahominy  at  Meadow  Bridge,  reaching 
James  River  May  14,  and  thence  by  White 
House  and  Hanover  Court  House  back  to 
the  army.  The  cavalry  occupied  Cold 
Harbor  May  31,  which  they  held  until  the 
arrival  of  the  infantry.  On  General  Sheri- 
dan's next  raid  he  routed  Wade  Hampton's 
cavalry,  and  August  7  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  Middle  Military  division, 
and  during  the  campaign  of  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley  he  performed  the  unheard  of 
feat  of  "  destroying  an  entire  army."  He 
was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  the  reg- 
ular army  and  for  his  victory  at  Cedar  Creek 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-gen- 
eral. General  Sheridan  started  out  Febru- 
ary 27,  1865,  with  ten  thousand  cavalry 
and  destroyed  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad 
and  the  James  River  Canal  and  joined  the 
army  again  at  Petersburg  March  27.  He 
commanded  at  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  the 
decisive  victory  which  compelled  Lee  to 
evacuate  Petersburg.  On  April  9,  Lee  tried 
to  break  through  Sheridan's  dismounted 
command  but  when  the  General  drew  aside 
his  cavalry  and  disclosed  the  deep  lines  of 
infantry  the  attempt  was  abandoned.  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  mounted  his  men  and  was  about 
to  charge  when  a  white  flag  was  flown  at  the 
head  of  Lee's  column  which  betokened  the 
surrender  of  the  army.  After  the  war  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  had  command  of  the  army  of 
the  southwest,  of  the  gulf  and   the  depart-  I 


ment  of  Missouri  until  he  was  appointed 
lieutenant-general  and  assigned  to  the  di- 
vision of  Missouri  with  headquarters  at  Chi- 
cago, and  assumed  supreme  command  of 
the  army  November  1,  1883,  which  post  he 
held  until  his  death,  August  5,   1888. 


PHINEAS  T.  BARNUM,  the  greatest 
showman  the  world  has  ever  seen,  was 
born  at  Danbury,  Connecticut,  July  5,  18 10. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  began  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  He  opened  a  re- 
tail fruit  and  confectionery  house,  including 
a  barrel  of  ale,  in  one  part  of  an  old  car- 
riage house.  He  spent  fifty  dollars  in  fitting 
up  the  store  and  the  stock  cost  him  seventy 
dollars.  Three  years  later  he  put  in  a  full 
stock,  such  as  is  generally  carried  in  a 
country  store,  and  the  same  year  he  started 
a  Democratic  newspaper,  known  as  the 
"Herald  of  Freedom."  He  soon  found 
himself  in  jail  under  a  sixty  days'  sentence 
for  libel.  During  the  winter  of  1834-5  he 
went  to  New  York  and  began  soliciting  busi- 
ness for  several  Chatham  street  houses.     In 

1835  he  embarked  in  the  show  business  at 
Niblo's  Garden,  having  purchased  the  cele- 
brated "  Joice  Heth"  for  one  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  afterward  engaged  the  celebrated 
athlete,  Sig.  Vivalia,  and  Barnum  made  his 
' '  first  appearance  on  any  stage, "  acting  as  a 
"super"  to  Sig.  Vivalia  on  his  opening 
night.  He  became  ticket  seller,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  Aaron  Turner's  circus  in 

1836  and  traveled  with  it  about  the  country. 
His  next  venture  was  the  purchase  of  a 
steamboat  on  the  Mississippi,  and  engaged 
a  theatrical  company  to  show  in  the  princi- 
pal towns  along  that  river.  In  1840  he 
opened  Vaux  Hall  Garden,  New  York,  with 
variety  performances,  and  introduced  the 
celebrated  jig  dancer,  John  Diamond,  to  the 
public.      The    next  year   he   quit   rhe   show 


42 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGPAPlir. 


business  and  settled  down  in  New  York  as 
agent  of  Sear's  Pictorial  Illustration  of  the 
Bible,  but  a  few  months  later  again  leased 
Vaux  Hall.  In  September  of  the  same  year 
he  again  left  the  business,  and  became 
' '  puff "  writer  for  the  Bowery  Amphitheater. 
In  December  he  bought  the  Scudder  Museum, 
and  a  year  later  introduced  the  celebrated 
Tom  Thumb  to  the  world,  taking  him  to 
England  in  1844,  and  remaining  there  three 
years.  He  then  returned  to  New  York,  and 
in  1849,  through  James  Hall  Wilson,  he  en- 
gaged the  "Swedish  Nightingale,"  Jenny 
Lind,  to  come  to  this  country  and  make  a 
tour  under  his  management.  He  also  had 
sent  the  Swiss  Bell  Ringers  to  America  in 
1844.  He  became  owner  of  the  Baltimore 
Museum  and  the  Lyceum  and  Museum  at 
Philadelphia.  In  1850  he  brought  a  dozen 
elephants  from  Ceylon  to  make  a  tour  of  this 
country,  and  in  1851  sent  the  "  Bateman 
Children"  to  London.  During  1S51  and 
1852  he  traveled  as  a  temperance  lecturer, 
and  became  president  of  a  bank  at  Pequon- 
nock,  Connecticut.  In  1852  he  started  a 
weekly  pictorial  paper  known  as  the  "  Illus- 
trated News."  In  1865  his  Museum  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  he  immediately  leased 
the  Winter  Garden  Theatre,  where  he  played 
his  company  until  he  opened  his  own 
Museum.  This  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1868,  and  he  then  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  George  Wood  Museum. 

After  dipping  into  politics  to  some  ex- 
tent, he  began  his  career  as  a  really  great 
showman  in  1871.  Three  years  later  he 
erected  an  immense  circular  building  in  New 
York,  in  which  he  produced  his  panoramas. 
He  has  frequently  appeared  as  a  lecturer, 
some  times  on  temperance,  and  some  times 
on  other  topics,  among  which  were  ' '  Hum- 
bugs of  the  World,"  "Struggles  and 
Triumphs,"  etc.      He  was  owner  of  the  im- 


mense menagerie  and  circus  known  as  the 
"Greatest  Show  on  Earth,"  and  his  fame 
extended  throughout  Europe  and  America. 
He  died  in  1891. 


JAMES  MADISON,  the  fourth  president 
o(  the  United  States,  1S09-17,  was 
born  at  Port  Conway,  Prince  George  coun- 
ty, Virginia,  March  16,  175 1.  He  was  the 
son  of  a  wealthy  planter,  who  lived  on  a  fine 
estate  called  "  Montpelier,"  which  was  but 
twenty-five  miles  from  Monticello,  the  home 
of  Thomas  Jefferson.  Mr.  Madison  was  the 
eldest  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  all  of 
whom  attained  maturity.  He  received  his 
early  education  at  home  under  a  private 
tutor,  and  consecrated  himself  with  unusual 
vigor  to  study.  At  a  very  early  age  he  was 
a  proficient  scholar  in  Latin,  Greek,  French 
and  Spanish,  and  in  1769  he  entered  Prince- 
ton College,  New  Jersey.  He  graduated  in 
1 77 1,  but  remained  for  several  months  after 
his  graduation  to  pursue  a  course  of  study 
under  the  guidance  of  Dr.  Witherspoon. 
He  permanently  injured  his  health  at  this 
time  and  returned  to  Virginia  in  1772,  and 
for  two  years  he  was  immersed  in  the  study 
of  law,  and  at  the  same  time  made  extend- 
ed researches  in  theology,  general  literature, 
and  philosophical  studies.  He  then  directed 
his  full  attention  to  the  impending  struggle 
of  the  colonies  for  independence,  and  also 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  religious  con- 
troversy at  that  time  regarding  so  called 
persecution  of  other  religious  denominations 
by  the  Church  of  England.  Mr.  Madison 
was  elected  to  the  Virginia  assembly  in  1776 
and  in  November,  1777,  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  council  of  state.  He  took 
his  seat  in  the  continental  congress  in 
March,  1780.  He  was  made  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  foreign  relations,  and 
drafted  an  able   memoranda  for  the  use  of 


com r i:\ni I'M  of  biography. 


43 


the  American  ministers  to  the  French  and 
Spanish  governments,  that  established  the 
claims  of  the  republic  to  the  territories  be- 
tween the  Alleghany  Mountains  and  the 
Mississippi  River.  He  acted  as  chairman  of 
the  ways  and  means  committee  in  1783  ar|d 
as  a  member  of  the  Virginia  legislature  in 
1784-86  he  rendered  important  services  to 
the  state.  Mr.  Madison  represented  Vir- 
giana  in  the  national  constitutional  conven- 
tion at  Philadelphia  in  1787,  and  was  one  of 
the  chief  framers  of  the  constitution.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  first  four  congresses, 
1789-97,  and  gradually  became  identified 
with  the  anti-federalist  or  republican  party 
of  which  he  eventually  became  the  leader. 
He  remained  in  private  life  during  the  ad- 
ministration of  John  Adams,  and  was  secre- 
tary of  state  under  President  Jefferson.  Mr. 
Madison  administered  the  affairs  of  that 
post  with  such  great  ability  that  he  was  the 
natural  successor  of  the  chief  magistrate 
and  was  chosen  president  by  an  electoral 
vote  of  122  to  53.  He  was  inaugurated 
March  4,  1809,  at  that  critical  period  in  our 
history  when  the  feelings  of  the  people  were 
embittered  with  those  of  England,  and  his 
first  term  was  passed  in  diplomatic  quarrels, 
which  finally  resulted  in  the  declaration  of 
war,  June  18,  1812.  In  the  autumn  of  that 
year  President  Madison  was  re-elected  by  a 
vote  of  128  to  89,  and  conducted  the  war 
for  three  years  with  varying  success  and 
defeat  in  Canada,  by  glorious  victories  at 
sea,  and  by  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  that 
was  fought  after  the  treaty  of  peace  had 
been  signed  at  Ghent,  December  24,  18 14. 
During  this  war  the  national  capitol  at 
Washington  was  burned,  and  many  valuable 
papers  were  destroyed,  but  the  declaration 
of  independence  was  saved  to  the  country 
by  the  bravery  and  courage  of  Mr.  Madi- 
son's illustrious  wife.      A  commercial  treaty 


was  negotiated  with  Great  Britain  in  181  5, 
and  in  April,  1816,  a  national  bank  was  in- 
corporated by  congress.  Mr.  Madison  was 
succeeded,  March  4,  1  817,  by  James  Monroe, 
and  retired  into  private  life  on  his  estate  at 
Montpelier,    where  he  died  June  28,   1836. 


FREDERICK  DOUGLASS,  a  noted 
American  character,  was  a  protege  of 
the  great  abolitionist,  William  Lloyd  Garri- 
son, by  whom  he  was  aided  in  gaining  his 
education.  Mr.  Douglass  was  born  in  Tuck- 
ahoe  county,  Maryland,  in  February,  18 17, 
his  mother  being  a  negro  woman  and  his 
father  a  white  man.  He  was  born  in  slav- 
ery and  belonged  to  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Lloyd,  under  which  name  he  went  until  he 
ran  away  from  his  master  and  changed  it  to 
Douglass.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  was 
sent  to  Baltimore  where  he  learned  to  read 
and  write,  and  later  his  owner  allowed  him 
to  hire  out  his  own  time  for  three  dollars  a 
week  in  a  shipyard.  In  September,  1838, 
he  fled  from  Baltimore  and  made  his  way  to 
New  York,  and  from  thence  went  to  New 
Bedford,  Massachusetts.  Here  he  was  mar- 
ried and  supported  himself  and  family  by 
working  at  the  wharves  and  in  various  work- 
shops. In  the  summer  of  1841  he  attended 
an  anti-slavery  convention  at  Nantucket, 
and  made  a  speech  which  was  so  well  re- 
ceived that  he  was  offered  the  agency  of  the 
Massachusetts  Anti-slavery  Society.  In  this 
capacity  he  traveled  through  the  New  En- 
gland states,  and  about  the  same  time  he 
published  his  first  book  called  ' '  Narrative 
of  my  Experience  in  Slavery."  Mr.  Doug- 
lass went  to  England  in  1845  and  lectured 
on  slavery  to  large  and  enthusiastic  audi- 
ences in  all  the  large  towns  of  the  country, 
and  his  friends  made  up  a  purse  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  purchased  his 
freedom  in  due  form  of  law. 


44 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


Mr.  Douglass  applied  himself  to  the  de- 
livery of  lyceum  lectures  after  the  abolition 
of  slavery,  and  in  1870  he  became  the  editor 
of  the  "  New  National  Era  "  in  Washington. 
In  1 87 1  he  was  appointed  assistant  secretary 
of  the  commission  to  San  Domingo  and  on 
his  return  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  ter- 
ritorial council  for  the  District  of  Colorado 
by  President  Grant.  He  was  elected  presi- 
dential elector-at-large  for  the  state  of  New 
York  and  was  appointed  to  carry  the  elect- 
oral vote  to  Washington.  He  was  also 
United  States  marshal  for  the  District  of 
Columbia  in  1876,  and  later  was  recorder 
of  deeds  for  the  same,  from  which  position 
he  was  removed  by  President  Cleveland  in 
1886.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  visited 
England  to  inform  the  friends  that  he  had 
made  while  there,  of  the  progress  of  the 
colored  race  in  America,  and  on  his  return 
he  was  appointed  minister  to  Hayti,  by 
President  Harrison  in  1889.  His  career  as 
a  benefactor  of  his  race  was  closed  by  his 
death  in  February,   1895,  near  Washington. 


WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT.— The 
ear  for  rhythm  and  the  talent  for 
graceful  expression  are  the  gifts  of  nature, 
and  they  were  plentifully  endowed  on  the 
above  named  poet.  The  principal  charac- 
teristic of  his  poetry  is  the  thoughtfulness 
and  intellectual  process  by  which  his  ideas 
ripened  in  his  mind,  as  all  his  poems  are 
bright,  clear  and  sweet.  Mr.  Bryant  was 
born  November  3,  1794,  at  Cummington, 
Hampshire  county,  Massachusetts,  and  was 
educated  at  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated,  having  entered  it  in  18 10. 
He  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  in  181 5 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  but  after  practicing 
successfully  for  ten  years  at  Plainfield  and 
Great  Barrington,  he  removed  to  New  York 
in    1825.      The    following  year  he  became 


the  editor  of  the  "Evening  Post,"  which 
he  edited  until  his  death,  and  under  his  di- 
rection this  paper  maintained,  through  a 
long  series  of  years,  a  high  standing  by  the 
boldness  of  its  protests  against  slavery  be- 
fore the  war,  by  its  vigorous  support  of  the 
government  during  the  war,  and  by  the 
fidelity  and  ability  of  its  advocacy  of  the 
Democratic  freedom  in  trade.  Mr.  Bry- 
ant visited  Europe  in  1834,  1845,  1849  and 
1857,  and  presented  to  the  literary  world 
the  fruit  of  his  travels  in  the  series  of  "Let- 
ters of  a  Traveler,"  and  "Letters  from 
Spain  and  Other  Countries."  In  the  world 
of  literature  he  is  known  chiefly  as  a  poet, 
and  here  Mr.  Bryant's  name  is  illustrious, 
both  at  home  and  abroad.  He  contributed 
verses  to  the  "Country  Gazette  "  before  he 
was  ten  years  of  age,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  wrote  "  Thanatopsis, "  the  most  im- 
pressive and  widely  known  of  his  poems. 
The  later  outgrowth  of  his  genius  was  his 
translation  of  Homer's  "Iliad"  in  1870 
and  the  "Odyssey"  in  1871.  He  also 
made  several  speeches  and  addresses  which 
have  been  collected  in  a  comprehensive  vol- 
ume called  "  Orations  and  Addresses."  He 
was  honored  in  many  ways  by  his  fellow 
citizens,  who  delighted  to  pay  tributes  of 
respect  to  his  literary  eminence,  the  breadth 
of  his  public  spirit,  the  faithfulness  of  his 
service,'  and  the  worth  of  his  private  char- 
acter. Mr.  Bryant  died  in  New  York  City 
June  12,  1878. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  SEWARD,  the 
secretary  of  state  during  one  of  the 
most  critical  times  in  the  history  of  our 
country,  and  the  right  hand  man  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  ranks  among  the  greatest 
statesmen  America  has  produced.  Mr. 
Seward  was  born  May  16,  1S01,  at  Florida, 
Orange  county,    New  York,    and  with  such 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


17 


facilities  as  the  place  afforded  he  fitted  him- 
self for  a  college  course.  He  attended 
Union  College  at  Schenectady,  New  York, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  took  his  degree  in 
the  regular  course,  with  signs  of  promise  in 
1S20,  after  which  he  diligently  addressed 
himself  to  the  study  of  law  under  competent 
instructors,  and  started  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  1823. 

Mr.  Seward  entered  the  political  arena 
and  in  1828  we  find  him  presiding  over  a 
convention  in  New  York,  its  purpose  being 
the  nomination  of  John  Quincy  Adams  for  a 
second  term.  He  was  married  in  1824  and 
in  1830  was  elected  to  the  state  senate. 
From  1 8 38  to  1842  he  was  governor  of  the 
state  of  New  York.  Mr.  Seward's  next  im- 
portant position  was  that  of  United  States 
senator  from  New  York. 

W.  H.  Seward  was  chosen  by  President 
Lincoln  to  fill  the  important  office  of  the 
secretary  of  state,  and  by  his  firmness  and 
diplomacy  in  the  face  of  difficulties,  he  aided 
in  piloting  the  Union  through  that  period  of 
strife,  and  won  an  everlasting  fame.  This 
great  statesman  died  at  Auburn,  New  York, 
October  10,  1872,  in  the  seventy-second 
year  of  his  eventful  life. 


JOSEPH  JEFFERSON,  a  name  as  dear 
as  it  is  familiar  to  the  theater-going 
world  in  America,  suggests  first  of  all  a  fun- 
loving,  drink-ioving,  mellow  voiced,  good- 
natured  Dutchman,  and  the  name  of  "Rip 
Van  Winkle  "  suggests  the  pleasant  features 
of  Joe  Jefferson,  so  intimately  are  play  and 
player  associated  in  the  minds  of  those  who 
have  had  the  good  fortune  to  shed  tears  of 
laughter  and  sympathy  as  a  tribute  to  the 
greatness  of  his  art.  Joseph  Jefferson  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  February  20,  1829. 
His  genius  was  an   inheritance,    if   there  be 

such,     as    his    great-grandfather,     Thomas 
3 


Jefferson,  was  a  manager  and  actor  in  Eng 
land.  His  grandfather,  Joseph  Jeff 
was  the  most  popular  comedian  of  the  New 
York  stage  in  his  time,  and  his  father,  Jos- 
eph Jefferson,  the  second,  was  a  good  actor 
also,  but  the  third  Joseph  Jefferson  out- 
shone them  all. 

At  the  age  of  three  years  Joseph  Jeffer- 
son came  on  the  stage  as  the  child  in  "Pi- 
zarro,"  and  his  training  was  upon  the  stage 
from  childhood.  Later  on  he  lived  and 
acted  in  Chicago,  Mobile,  and  Texas.  After 
repeated  misfortunes  he  returned  to  New 
Orleans  from  Texas,  and  his  brother-in-law, 
Charles  Burke,  gave  him  money  to  reach 
Philadelphia,  where  he  joined  the  Burton 
theater  company.  Here  his  genius  soon  as- 
serted itself,  and  his  future  became  promis- 
ing and  brilliant.  His  engagements  through- 
out the  United  States  and  Australia  were 
generally  successful,  and  when  he  went  to 
England  in  1865  Mr.  Boucicault  consented 
to  make  some  important  changes  in  his 
dramatization  of  Irving's  story  of  Rip  Van 
Winkle,  and  Mr.  Jefferson  at  once  placed 
it  in  the  front  rank  as  a  comedy.  He  made 
a  fortune  out  of  it,  and  played  nothing  else 
for  many  years.  In  later  years,  however, 
Mr.  Jefferson  acquitted  himself  of  the  charge 
of  being  a  one-part  actor,  and  the  parts  of. 
"Bob  Acres,"  "Caleb  Plummer"  and 
"Golightly  "  all  testify  to  the  versatility  of 
his  genius. 

GEORGE  BRINTON  McCLELLAN, 
a  noted  American  general,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  December  3,  1826.  He 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  1846  from  West  Point,  and 
was  breveted  second  lieutenant  of  engineers. 
He  was  with  Scott  in  the  Mexican  war, 
taking  part  in  all  the  engagements  from 
Vera  Cruz  to  the  final  capture  of  the  Mexi- 


48 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


can  capital,  and  was  breveted  first  lieuten- 
ant and  captain  for  gallantry  displayed  on 
various  occasions.  In  1857  he  resigned  his 
commission  and  accepted  the  position  of 
chief  engineer  in  the  construction  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  became  presi- 
dent of  the  St.  Louis  &  Cincinnati  Railroad 
Company.  He  was  commissioned  major- 
general  by  the  state  of  Ohio  in  1861, 
placed  in  command  of  the  department  of 
the  Ohio,  and  organized  the  first  volunteers 
called  for  from  that  state.  In  May  he  was 
appointed  major-general  in  the  United 
States  army,  and  ordered  to  disperse  the 
confederates  overrunning  West  Virginia. 
He  accomplished  this  task  promptly,  and 
received  the  thanks  of  congress.  After  the 
first  disaster  at  Bull  Run  he  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  department  of  Wash- 
ington, and  a  few  weeks  later  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  Upon  retirement 
of  General  Scott  the  command  of  the  en- 
tire United  States  army  devolved  upon  Mc- 
Clellan,  but  he  was  relieved  of  it  within  a 
few  months.  In  March,  1862,  after  elabor- 
ate preparation,  he  moved  upon  Manassas. 
only  to  find  it  deserted  by  the  Confederate 
army,  which  had  been  withdrawn  to  im- 
pregnable defenses  prepared  nearer  Rich- 
mond. He  then  embarked  his  armies  for 
Fortress  Monroe  and  after  a  long  delay  at 
Yorktown,  began  the  disastrous  Peninsular 
campaign,  which  resulted  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  being  cooped  up  on  the  James 
River  below  Richmond.  His  forces  were 
then  called  to  the  support  of  General  Pope, 
near  Washington,  and  he  was  left  without  an 
army.  After  Pope's  defeat  McClellan  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  troops  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  capital,  and  after  a  thorough  or- 
ganization he  followed  Lee  into  Maryland 
and  the  battles  of  Antietam  and  South  Moun- 
tain   ensued.     The    delay    which    followed 


caused  general  dissatisfaction,  and  he  was  re- 
lieved of  his  command, and  retired  from  active 
service. 

In  1864  McClellan  was  nominated  for 
the  presidency  by  the  Democrats,  and  over- 
whelmingly defeated  by  Lincoln,  three 
states  only  casting  their  electoral  votes  for 
McClellan.  On  election  day  he  resigned 
his  commission  and  a  few  months  later  went 
to  Europe  where  he  spent  several  years. 
He  wrote  a  number  of  military  text- books 
and  reports.  His  death  occurred  October 
29,  1885. 

SAMUEL  J.  TILDEN.— Among  the  great 
statesmen  whose  names  adorn  the  pages 
of  American  history  may  be  found  that  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Known  as  a 
lawyer  of  highest  ability,  his  greatest  claim 
to  immortality  will  ever  lie  in  his  successful 
battle  against  the  corrupt  rings  of  his  native 
state  and  the  elevation  of  the  standard  of 
official  life. 

Samuel  J.  Tilden  was  born  in  New  Leb- 
anon, New  York,  February  9,  18 14.  He 
pursued  his  academic  studies  at  Yale  Col- 
lege and  the  University  of  New  York,  tak- 
ing the  course  of  law  at  the  latter.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1841.  His  rare 
ability  as  a  thinker  and  writer  upon  public 
topics  attracted  the  attention  of  President 
Van  Buren,  of  whose  policy  and  adminis- 
tration he  became  an  active  and  efficient 
champion.  He  made  for  himself  a  high 
place  in  his  profession  and  amassed  quite  a 
fortune  as  the  result  of  his  industry  and 
judgment.  During  the  days  of  his  greatest 
professional  labor  he  was  ever  one  of  the 
leaders  and  trusted  counsellors  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
conventions  to  revise  the  state  constitution, 
both  in  1S46  and  1867,  and  served  two 
terms  in  the  lower  branch  of  the  state  leg- 


COMl'EX niVM   OF   BIOGRAPHT, 


!'.' 


islature.  He  was  one  of  the  controlling 
spirits  in  the  overthrow  of  the  notorious 
"  Tweed  ring  "  and  the  reformation  of  the 
government  of  the  city  of  New  York.  In 
1874  he  was  elected  governor  of  the  state 
of  New  York.  While  in  this  position  he 
assailed  corruption  in  high  places,  success- 
fully battling  with  the  iniquitous  "canal 
ring  "  and  crushed  its  sway  over  all  depart- 
ments of  the  government.  Recognizing  h-is 
character  and  executive  ability  Mr.  Tilden 
was  nominated  for  president  by  the  na- 
tional Democratic  convention  in  18.76.  At 
the  election  he  received  a  much  larger  popu- 
lar vote  than  his  opponent,  and  184  uncon- 
tested electoral  votes.  There  being  some 
electoral  votes  contested,  a  commission  ap- 
pointed by  congress  decided  in  favor  of  the 
Republican  electors  and  Mr.  Hayes,  the  can- 
didate of  that  party  was  declared  elected. 
In  1880,  the  Democratic  party,  feeling  that 
Mr.  Tilden  had  been  lawfully  elected  to  the 
presidency  tendered  the  nomination  for. the 
same  office  to  Mr.  Tilden,  but  he  declined, 
retiring  from  all  public  functions,  owing  to 
failing  health.  He  died  August  4,  1886. 
By  will  he  bequeathed  several  millions  of 
dollars  toward  the  founding  of  public  libra- 
ries in  New  York  City,  Yonkers,  etc. 


NOAH  WEBSTER.— As  a  scholar,  law- 
yer, author  and  journalist,  there  is  no 
one  who  stands  on  a  higher  plane,  or  whose 
reputation  is  better  established  than  the 
honored  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch.  He  was  a  native  of  West  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  and  was  born  October  17, 
1758.  He  came  of  an  old  New  England 
family,  his  mother  being  a  descendant  of 
Governor  William  Bradford,  of  the  Ply- 
mouth colony.  After  acquiring  a  solid  edu- 
cation in  early  life  Dr.  Webster  entered 
Yale  College,  from  which   he  graduated  in 


1778.  For  a  while  he  taught  school  in 
Hartford,  at  the  same  time  studying  law. 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  17S1.  He 
taught  a  classical  school  at  Goshen,  Orange 
county,  New  York,  in  17S2-83,  and  while 
there  prepared  his  spelling  book,  grammar 
and  reader,  which  was  issued  under  the  title 
of  "A  Grammatical  Institute  of  the  English 
Language,"  in  three  parts, — so  successful  a 
work  that  up  to  1876  something  like  forty 
million  of  the  spelling  books  had  been 
sold.  In  1786  he  delivered  a  course  of  lec- 
tures on  the  English  language  in  the  seaboard 
cities  and  the  following  year  taught  an 
academy  at  Philadelphia.  From  December 
17,  1787,  until  November,  1788,  he  edited 
the  "American  Magazine, "a  periodical  that 
proved  unsuccessful.  In  1789-93  he  prac- 
ticed law  in  Hartford  having  in  the  former 
year  married  the  daughter  of  William  Green- 
leaf,  of  Boston.  He  returned  to  New  York 
and  November,  1793,  founded  a  daily  paper, 
the  "Minerva,"  to  which  was  soon  added  a 
semi-weekly  edition  under  the  name  of  the 
"  Herald."  The  former  is  still  in  existence 
under  the  name  of  the  "Commercial  Adver- 
tiser." In  this  paper,  over  the  signature  of 
' '  Curtius , "  he  published  a  lengthy  and  schol- 
arly defense  of   "  John  Jay's  treaty." 

In  1798,  Dr.  Webster  moved  to  New 
Haven  and  in  1807  commenced  the  prepar- 
ation of  his  great  work,  the  "American  Dic- 
tionary of  the  English  Language,"  which 
was  not  completed  and  published  until  1828. 
He  made  his  home  in  Amherst,  Massachu- 
setts, for  the  ten  years  succeeding  1812,  and 
was  instrumental  in  the  establishment  of 
Amherst  College,  of  which  institution  he  was 
the  first  president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
During  1824-5  he  resided  in  Europe,  pursu- 
ing his  philological  studies  in  Paris.  He 
completed  his  dictionary  from  the  libraries 
of  Cambridge  University  in   1S25,  and  de- 


50 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


voted  his  leisure  for  the  remainder  of  his 
life  to  the  revision  of  that  and  his  school 
books. 

Dr.  Webster  was  a  member  of  the  legis- 
latures of  both  Connecticut  and  Massachu- 
setts, was  judge  of  one  of  the  courts  of  the 
former  state  and  was  identified  with  nearly 
all  the  literary  and  scientific  societies  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Amherst  College.  He  died 
in  New  Haven,  May  28,   1843. 

Among  the  more  prominent  works  ema- 
nating from  the  fecund  pen  of  Dr.  Noah 
Webster  besides  those  mentioned  above  are 
the  following:  "Sketches  of  American 
Policy,"  "  Winthrop's  Journal,"  "  A  Brief 
History  of  Epidemics,"  "  Rights  of  Neutral 
Nations  in  time  of  War,"  "A  Philosophical 
and  Practical  Grammar  of  the  English  Lan- 
guage," "Dissertations  on  the  English 
Language,"  "A  Collection  of  Essays," 
"The  Revolution  in  France,"  "Political 
Progress  of  Britain,"  "Origin,  History,  and 
Connection  of  the  Languages  of  Western 
Asia  and  of  Europe,"  and  many  others. 


WfLLIAM  LLOYD  GARRISON,  the 
great  anti-slavery  pioneer  and  leader, 
was  born  in  Newburyport,  Massachusetts, 
December  12,  1804.  He  was  apprenticed 
to  the  printing  business,  and  in  1828  was  in- 
duced to  take  charge  of  the  "Journal  of  the 
Times"  at  Bennington,  Vermont.  While 
supporting  John  Quincy  Adams  for  the  presi- 
dency he  took  occasion  in  that  paper  to  give 
expression  of  his  views  on  slavery.  These 
articles  attracted  notice,  and  a  Quaker 
named  Lundy,  editor  of  the  "Genius  of 
Emancipation,"  published  in  Baltimore,  in- 
duced him  to  enter  a  partnership  with  him 
for  the  conduct  of  his  paper.  It  soon 
transpired  that  the  views  of  the  partners 
were  not  in  harmony,  Lundy  favoring  grad- 
ual  emancipation,    while    Garrison  favored 


immediate  freedom.  In  1850  Mr.  Garrison 
was  thrown  into  prison  for  libel,  not  being 
able  to  pay  a  fine  of  fifty  dollars  and  costs. 
In  his  cell  he  wrote  a  number  of  poems 
which  stirred  the  entire  north,  and  a  mer- 
chant, Mr.  Tappan,  of  New  York,  paid  his 
fine  and  liberated  him,  after  seven  weeks  of 
confinement.  He  at  once  began  a  lecture 
tour  of  the  northern  cities,  denouncing 
slavery  as  a  sin  before  God,  and  demanding 
its  immediate  abolition  in  the  name  of  re- 
ligion and  humanity.  He  opposed  the  col- 
onization scheme  of  President  Monroe  and 
other  leaders,  and  declared  the  right  of 
every  slave  to  immediate  freedom. 

In  1 83 1  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Isaac  Knapp,  and  began  the  publication  of 
the  "Liberator"  at  Boston.  The  "imme- 
diate abolition  "  idea  began  to  gather  power 
in  the  north,  while  the  south  became 
alarmed  at  the  bold  utterance  of  this  jour- 
nal. The  mayor  of  Boston  was  besoughi 
by  southern  influence  to  interfere,  and  upon 
investigation,  reported  upon  the  insignifi- 
cance, obscurity,  and  poverty  of  the  editor 
and  his  staff,  which  report  was  widely 
published  throughout  the  country.  Re- 
wards were  offered  by  the  southern  states 
for  his  arrest  and  conviction.  Later  Garri- 
son brought  from  England,  where  an  eman- 
cipation measure  had  just  been  passed, 
some  of  the  great  advocates  to  work  for  the 
cause  in  this  country.  In  1835  a  mob 
broke  into  his  office,  broke  up  a  meeting  of 
women,  dragged  Garrison  through  the  street 
with  a  rope  around  his  body,  and  his  life 
was  saved  only  by  the  interference  of  the 
police,  who  lodged  him  in  jail.  Garrison 
declined  to  sit  in  the  World's  Anti-Slaverv 
convention  at  London  in  1840,  because 
that  body  had  refused  women  representa- 
tion. He  opposed  the  formation  of  a  po- 
litical party  with  emancipation  as  its  basis. 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


51 


He  favored  a  dissolution  of  the  union,  and 
declared  the  constitution  which  bound  the 
free  states  to  the  slave  states  "  A  covenant 
with  death  and  an  agreement  with  hell." 
In  1843  he  became  president  of  the  Amer- 
ican Anti-Slavery  society,  which  position  he 
held  until  1865,  when  slavery  was  no  more. 
During  all  this  time  the  "  Liberator  "  had 
continued  to  promulgate  anti-slavery  doc- 
trines, but  in  1865  Garrison  resigned  his 
position,  and  declared  his  work  was  com- 
pleted.     He  died  May  24,   1879. 


JOHN  BROWN  ("Brown  of  Ossawato- 
mie"),  a  noted  character  in  American 
history,  wasbornatTorrington,  Connecticut, 
May  9,  1800.  In  his  childhood  he  removed 
to  Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  tanner's 
trade.  He  married  there,  and  in  1855  set- 
tled in  Kansas.  He  lived  at  the  village  of 
Ossawatomie  in  that  state,  and  there  began 
his  fight  against  slavery.  He  advocated  im- 
mediate emancipation,  and  held  that  the 
negroes  of  the  slave  states  merely  waited 
for  a  leader  in  an  insurrection  that  would  re- 
sult in  their  freedom.  He  attended  the 
convention  called  at  Chatham,  Canada,  in 
1859,  and  was  the  leading  spirit  in  organiz- 
ing a  raid  upon  the  United  States  arsenal  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  Virginia.  His  plans  were 
well  laid,  and  carried  out  in  great  secrecy. 
He  rented  a  farm  house  near  Harper's  Ferry 
in  the  summer  of  1859,  and  on  October 
1 6th  of  that  year,  with  about  twenty  follow- 
ers, he  surprised  and  captured  the  United 
States  arsenal,  with  all  its  supplies  and 
arms.  To  his  surprise,  the  negroes  did  not 
come  to  his  support,  and  the  next  day  he 
was  attacked  by  the  Virginia  state  militia, 
wounded  and  captured.  He  was  tried  in 
the  courts  of  the  state,  convicted,  and  was 
hanged  at  Charlestown,  December  2,  1859. 
The  raid  and  its   results   had  a  tremendous 


effect,  and  hastened  the  culmination  of  the 
troubles  between  the  north  and  south.  The 
south  had  the  advantage  in  discussing  this 
event,  claiming  that  the  sentiment  which 
inspired  this  act  of  violence  was  shared  by 
the  anti-slavery  element  of  the  country. 


EDWIN  BOOTH  had  no  peer  upon  the 
American  stage  during  his  long  career 
as  a  star  actor.  He  was  the  son  of  a  famous 
actor,  Junius  Brutus  Booth,  and  was  born 
in  1833  at  his  father's  home  at  Belair,  near 
Baltimore.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  made  his 
first  appearance  on  the  stage,  at  the  Boston 
Museum,  in  a  minor  part  in  "  Richard  III." 
It  was  while  playing  in  California  in  1851 
that  an  eminent  critic  called  general  atten- 
tion to  the  young  actor's  unusual  talent. 
However,  it  was  not  until  1863,  at  the  great 
Shakspearian  revival  at  the  Winter  Garden 
Theatre,  New  York,  that  the  brilliancy  ol 
his  career  began.  His  Hamlet  held  the 
boards  for  100  nights  in  succession,  and 
from  that  time  forth  Booth's  reputation  was 
established.  In  1868  he  opened  his  own 
theatre  (Booth's  Theater)  in  New  York. 
Mr.  Booth  never  succeeded  as  a  manager, 
however,  but  as  an  actor  he  was  undoubted- 
ly the  most  popular  man  on  the  American 
stage,  and  perhaps  the  most  eminent  one  in 
the  world.  In  England  he  also  won  the 
greatest  applause. 

Mr.  Booth's  work  was  confined  mostly 
to  Shakspearean  roles,  and  his  art  was 
characterized  by  intellectual  acuteness, 
fervor,  and  poetic  feeling.  His  Hamlet, 
Richard  II,  Richard  III,  and  Richelieu  gave 
play  to  his  greatest  powers.  In  1865, 
when  his  brother,  John  Wilkes  Booths 
enacted  his  great  crime,  Edwin  Booth  re- 
solved to  retire  from  the  stage,  but  waspur- 
suaded  to  reconsider  that  decision.  The 
odium  did    not  in    any  way  attach  to    the 


52 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPJIV. 


Kreat  actor,  and  his  popularity  was  not 
affected.  In  all  his  work  Mr.  Booth  clung 
closely  to  the  legitimate  and  the  traditional 
in  drama,  making  no  experiments,  and  offer- 
ing little  encouragement  to  new  dramatic 
authors.  His  death  occurred  in  New  York, 
June  7,   1894. 


JOSEPH  HOOKER,  a  noted  American 
officer,  was  born  at  Hadley,  Massachu- 
setts. November  13,  18 14.  He  graduated 
from  West  Point  Military  Academy  in  1837, 
and  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  artillery. 
He  served  in  Florida  in  the  Seminole  war, 
and  in  garrison  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
Mexican  war.  During  the  latter  he  saw 
service  as  a  staff  officer  and  was  breveted 
captain,  major  and  lieutenant-colonel  for 
gallantry  at  Monterey,  National  Bridge  and 
Chapultepec.  Resigning  his  commission  in 
1833  he  took  up  farming  in  California,  which 
he  followed  until  1861.  During  this  time 
he  acted  as  superintendent  of  military  roads 
in  Oreeon.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebel- 
lion Hooker  tendered  his  services  to  the 
government,  and.  May  17,  1861,  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general  of  volunteers.  He 
served  in  the  defence  of  Washington  and  on 
the  lower  Potomac  until  his  appointment  to 
the  command  of  a  division  in  the  Third 
Corps,  in  March,  1862.  For  gallant  con- 
duct at  the  siege  of  Yorktown  and  in  the 
battles  of  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  Fra- 
zier's  Farm  and  Malvern  Hill  he  was  made 
major-general.  At  the  head  of  his  division 
he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Manassas 
and  Chantilly.  September  6,  1862,  he  was 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  First  Corps,  and 
in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  An- 
tietam  acted  with  his  usual  gallantry,  being 
wounded  in  the  latter  engagement.  On  re- 
joining the  army  in  November  he  was  made 
brigadier-general  in  the  regular  army.      On 


General  Burnside  attaining  the  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  General  Hooker 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  center  grand 
division,  consisting  of  the  Second  and  Fifth 
Corps.  At  the  head  of  these  gallant  men 
he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, December  13,  1862.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1863,  General  Hooker  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  in 
May  following  fought  the  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsville.  At  the  time  of  the  invasion  of 
Pennsylvania,  owing  to  a  dispute  with  Gen- 
eral Halleck,  Hooker  requested  to  be  re- 
lieved of  his  command,  and  June  28  was 
succeeded  by  George  G.  Meade.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1863,  General  Hooker  was  given 
command  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
distinguished  himself  at  the  battles  of  Look- 
out Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  Ring- 
gold. In  the  Atlanta  campaign  he  saw 
almost  daily  service  and  merited  his  well- 
known  nickname  of  "  Fighting  Joe."  July 
30,  1864,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  re- 
lieved of  his  command.  He  subsequently 
was  in  command  of  several  military  depart- 
ments in  the  north,  and  in  October,  1868, 
was  retired  with  the  full  rank  of  major-gen- 
eral.     He  died  October  31,  1879. 


JAY  GOULD,  one  of  the  greatest  finan- 
ciers that  the  world  has  ever  produced, 
was  born  May  27,  1836,  at  Roxbury,  Dela- 
ware county,  New  York.  He  spent  his  early 
years  on  his  father's  farm  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  entered  Hobart  Academy,  New 
York,  and  kept  books  for  the  village  black- 
smith. He  acquired  a  taste  for  mathematics 
and  surveying  and  on  leaving  school  found 
employment  in  making  the  surveyor's  map 
of  Ulster  county.  He  surveyed  very  exten- 
sively in  the  state  and  accumulated  five  thou- 
sand dollars  as  the  fruits  of  his  labor.      He 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


m 


was  then  stricken  with  typhoid  fever  but  re- 
covered and  made  the  acquaintance  of  one 
Zadock  Pratt,  who  sent  him  into  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  state  to  locate  a  site  for  a 
tannery.  He  chose  a  fine  hemlock  grove, 
built  a  sawmill  and  blacksmith  shop  and 
was  soon  doing  a  large  lumber  business  with 
Mr.  Pratt.  Mr.  Gould  soon  secured  control 
of  the  entire  plant,  which  he  sold  out  just 
before  the  panic  of  1857  and  in  this  year  he 
became  the  largest  stockholderintheStrouds- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  bank.  Shortly  after  the 
crisis  he  bought  the  bonds  of  the  Rutland 
&  Washington  Railroad  at  ten  cents  on  the 
dollar,  and  put  all  his  money  into  railroad 
securities.  For  a  long  time  he  conducted 
this  road  which  he  consolidated  with  the 
Rensselaer  &  Saratoga  Railroad.  In  1859 
he  removed  to  New  York  and  became  a 
heavy  investor  in  Erie  Railroad  stocks,  en- 
tered that  company  and  was  president  until 
its  reorganization  in  1872.  In  December, 
1880,  Mr.  Gould  was  in  control  of  ten  thou- 
sand miles  of  railroad.  In  18S7  he  pur- 
chased the  controlling  interest  in  the  St. 
Louis  &  San  Francisco  Railroad  Co.,  and 
was  a  joint  owner  with  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
&  Santa  Fe  Railroad  Co.  of  the  western 
portion  of  the  Southern  Pacific  line.  Other 
lines  soon  came  under  his  control,  aggregat- 
ing thousand  of  miles,  and  he  soon  was  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  world's  greatest  rail- 
road magnates.  He  continued  to  hold  his 
place  as  one  of  the  master  financiers  of  the 
century  until  the  time  of  his  death  which 
occurred  December  2,  1892. 


THOMAS  HART  BENTON,  a  very 
prominent  United  States  senator  and 
statesman,  was  born  at  Hillsborough,  North 
Carolina,  March  14,  1782.  He  removed  to 
Tennessee  in  early  life,  studied  law,  and  be- 
gan   to    practice   at   Nashville  about  18 10. 


During  the  war  of  1812-1815  he  served  as 
colonel  of  a  Tennessee  regiment  under  Gen- 
eral Andrew  Jackson.  In  181 5  he  removed 
to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  in  1820  was 
chosen  United  States  senator  for  that  state. 
Having  been  re-elected  in  1826,  he  sup- 
ported President  Jackson  in  his  opposition 
to  the  United  States  bank  and  advocated  a 
gold  and  silver  currency,  thus  gaining  the 
name  of  "  Old  Bullion,"  by  which  he  was 
familiarly  known.  For  many  years  he  was 
the  most  prominent  man  in  Missouri,  and 
took  rank  among  the  greatest  statesmen  of 
his  day.  He  was  a  member  of  the  senate 
for  thirty  years  and  opposed  the  extreme 
states'  rights  policy  of  John  C.  Calhoun. 
In  1852  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives in  which  he  opposed  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  compromise.  He  was  op- 
posed by  a  powerful  party  of  States'  Rights 
Democrats  in  Missouri,  who  defeated  him  as  a 
candidate  for  governor  of  that  state  in  1856. 
Colonel  Benton  published  a  considerable 
work  in  two  volumes  in  1854-56,  entitled 
"  Thirty  Years'  View,  or  a  History  of  the 
Working  of  the  American  Government  for 
Thirty  Years,  1S20-50."  He  died  April  10, 
1858. 

STEPHEN  ARNOLD  DOUGLAS.— One 
of  the  most  prominent  figures  in  politic- 
al circles  during  the  intensely  exciting  days 
that  preceded  the  war,  and  a  leader  of  the 
Union  branch  of  the  Democratic  party  was 
the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch. 

He  was  born  at  Brandon,  Rutland  coun- 
ty, Vermont,  April  23,  1813,  of  poor  but 
respectable  parentage.  His  father,  a  prac- 
ticing physician,  died  while  our  subject  was 
but  an  infant,  and  his  mother,  with  two 
small  children  and  but  small  means,  could 
give  him  but  the  rudiments  of  an  education. 


54 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


>\t  the  age  of  fifteen  young  Douglas  engaged 
at  work  in  the  cabinet  making  business  to 
raise  funds  to  carry  him  through  college. 
After  a  few  years  of  labor  he  was  enabled  to 
pursue  an  academical  course,  first  at  Bran- 
don, and  later  at  Canandaigua,  New  York. 
tn  the  latter  place  he  remained  until  1833, 
taking  up  the  study  of  law.  Before  he  was 
twenty,  however,  his  funds  running  low,  he 
abandoned  all  further  attempts  at  educa- 
tion, determining  to  enter  at  once  the  battle 
of  life.  After  some  wanderings  through  the 
western  states  he  tooK  up  his  residence  at 
Jacksonville,  Illinois,  where,  after  teaching 
school  for  three  months,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  opened  an  office  in  1834. 
Within  a  year  from  that  time,  so  rapidly  had 
he  risen  in  his  profession,  he  was  chosen 
attorney  general  of  the  state,  and  warmly 
espoused  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
popular  orators  in  Illinois.  It  was  at  this 
time  he  gained  the  name  of  the  "Little 
Giant."  In  1835  he  resigned  the  position 
of  attorney  general  having  been  elected  to 
the  legislature.  In  1841  he  was  chosen 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Illinois  which 
he  resigned  two  years  later  to  take  a  seat  in 
congress.  It  was  during  this  period  of  his 
iife,  while  a  member  of  the  lower  house, 
that  he  established  his  reputation  and  took 
the  side  of  those  who  contended  that  con- 
gress had  no  constitutional  right  to  restrict 
the  extension  of  slavery  further  than  the 
agreement  between  the  states  made  in  1820. 
This,  in  spite  of  his  being  opposed  to  slav- 
ery, and  only  on  grounds  which  he  believed 
to  be  right,  favored  what  was  called  the 
Missouri  compromise.  In  1847  Mr.  Doug- 
las was  chosen  United  States  senator  for 
six  years,  and  greatly  distinguished  himself, 
in  1852  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office. 
During  this  latter   term,   under  his  leader- 


ship, the  "  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  "  was  car- 
ried  in  the  senate.  In  1858,  nothwith- 
standing  the  fierce  contest  made  by  his  able 
competitor  for  the  position,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, and  with  the  administration  of  Bu- 
chanan arrayed  against  him,  Mr.  Douglas 
was  re-elected  senator.  After  the  trouble 
in  the  Charleston  convention,  when  by  the 
withdrawal  of  several  state  delegates  with- 
out "a  nomination,  the  Union  Democrats, 
in  convention  at  Baltimore,  in  i860,  nomi- 
nated Mr.  Douglas  as  their  candidate  for 
presidency.  The  results  of  this  election  are 
well  known  and  the  great  events  of  1861 
coming  on,  Mr.  Douglas  was  spared  their 
full  development,  dying  at  Chicago,  Illinois, 
June  3,  1 86 1,  after  a  short  illness.  His 
last  words  to  his  children  were,  ' '  to  obey 
the  laws  and  support  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States." 


JAMES  MONROE,  fifth  president  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land county,  Virginia,  April  28,  1758.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  William  and 
Mary  College,  but  two  years  later  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  having  been 
adopted,  he  left  college  and  hastened  to  New 
York  where  he  joined  Washington's  army  as 
a  military  cadet. 

At  the  battle  of  Trenton  Monroe  per- 
formed gallant  service  and  received  a  wound 
in  the  shoulder,  and  was  promoted  to  a 
captaincy.  He  acted  as  aide  to  Lord  Ster- 
ling at  the  battles  of  Brandywine,  German- 
town  and  Monmouth.  Washington  then 
sent  him  to  Virginia  to  raise  a  new  regiment 
of  which  he  was  to  be  colonel.  The  ex- 
hausted condition  of  Virginia  made  this  im  • 
possible,  but  he  received  his  commission. 
He  next  entered  the  law  office  of  Thomas 
Jefferson  to  study  law,  as  there  was  no  open- 
ing   for   him  as  an  officer  in  the  army.     In 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


55 


1782  he  was  elected  to  the  Virginia  assem- 
bly, and  the  next  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
Continental  congress.  Realizing  the  inade- 
quacy of  the  old  articles  of  confederation, 
he  advocated  the  calling  of  a  convention  to 
consider  their  revision,  and  introduced  in 
congress  a  resolution  empowering  congress 
to  regulate  trade,  lay  import  duties,  etc. 
This  resolution  was  referred  to  a  committee, 
of  which  he  was  chairman,  and  the  report 
led  to  the  Annapolis  convention,  which 
called  a  general  convention  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1787,  when  the  constitution  was 
drafted.  Mr.  Monroe  began  the  practice  of 
law  at  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  and  was 
soon  after  elected  to  the  legislature,  and  ap- 
pointed as  one  of  the  committee  to  pass 
upon  the  adoption  of  the  constitution.  He 
opposed  it,  as  giving  too  much  power  to  the 
central  government.  He  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate  in  1789,  where  he 
allied  himself  with  the  Anti-Federalists  or 
"Republicans,"  as  they  were  sometimes 
called.  Although  his  views  as  to  neutrality 
between  France  and  England  were  directly 
opposed  to  those  of  the  president,  yet  Wash- 
ington appointed  him  minister  to  France. 
His  popularity  in  France  was  so  great  that 
the  antagonism  of  England  and  her  friends 
in  this  country  brought  about  his  recall.  He 
then  became  governor  of  Virginia.  He  was 
sent  as  envoy  to  France  in  1802;  minister 
to  England  in  1803;  and  envoy  to  Spain  in 
1805.  The  next  year  he  returned  to  his 
estate  in  Virginia,  and  with  an  ample  in- 
heritance enjoyed  a  few  years  of  repose.  He 
was  again  called  to  be  governor  of  Virginia, 
and  was  then  appointed  secretary  of  state 
by  President  Madison.  The  war  with  Eng- 
land soon  resulted,  and  when  the  capital 
was  burned  by  the  British,  Mr.  Monroe  be- 
came secretary  of  war  also,  and  planned  the 
measures   for  the  defense  of  New  Orleans. 


The  treasury  being  exhausted  and  credit 
gone,  he  pledged  his  own  estate,  and  thereby 
made  possible  the  victory  of  Jackson  at  New 
Orleans. 

In  1 81 7  Mr.  Monroe  became  president 
of  the  United  States,  having  been  a  candi- 
date of  the  "Republican"  party,  which  at 
that  time  had  begun  to  be  called  the  ' '  Demo- 
cratic" party.  In  1820  he  was  re-elected, 
having  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  electoral 
votes  out  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-two. 
His  administration  is  known  as  the  "Era of 
good-feeling, "  and  party  lines  were  almost 
wiped  out.  The  slavery  question  began  to 
assume  importance  at  this  time,  and  the 
Missouri  Compromise  was  passed.  The 
famous  ' '  Monroe  Doctrine  "  originated  in  a 
great  state  paper  of  President  Monroe  upon 
the  rumored  interference  of  the  Holy  Alli- 
ance to  prevent  the  formation  of  free  repub- 
lics in  South  America.  President  Monroe 
acknowledged  their  independence,  and  pro- 
mulgated his  great  "Doctrine,"  which  has 
been  held  in  reverence  since.  Mr.  Monroe's 
death  occurred  in  New  York  on  July  4,  1831. 


THOMAS  ALVA  EDISON,  the  master 
wizard  of  electrical  science  and  whose 
name  is  synonymous  with  the  subjugation 
of  electricity  to  the  service  of  man,  was 
born  in  1847  at  Milan,  Ohio,  and  it  was  at 
Port  Huron,  Michigan,  whither  his  parents 
had  moved  in  1854,  that  his  self-education 
began — for  he  never  attended  school  for 
more  than  two  months.  He  eagerly  de- 
voured every  book  he  could  lay  his  hands  on 
and  is  said  to  have  read  through  an  encyclo- 
pedia without  missing  a  word.  At  thirteen  he 
began  his  working  life  as  a  trainboy  upon  the 
Grand  Trunk  Railway  between  Port  Huron 
and  Detroit.  Much  of  his  time  was  now 
spent  in  Detroit,  where  he  found  increased 
facilities  for  reading  at  the    public  libraries, 


56 


COMPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


He  was  not  content  to  be  a  newsboy,  so  he 
got  togetner  three  hundred  pounds  of  type 
and  started  the  issue  of  the  "  Grand  Trunk 
Herald."  It  was  only  a  small  amateur 
weekly,  printed  on  one  side,  the  impression 
being  made  from  the  type  by  hand.  Chemi- 
cal research  was  his  next  undertaking  and 
a  laboratory  was  added  to  his  movable  pub- 
lishing house,  which,  by  the  way,  was  an 
old  freight  car.  One  day,  however,  as  he 
was  experimenting  with  some  phosphorus, 
it  ignited  and  the  irate  conductor  threw  the 
young  seeker  after  the  truth,  chemicals  and 
all,  from  the  train.  His  office  and  laboratory 
were  then  removed  to  the  cellar  of  his  fa- 
ther's house.  As  he  grew  to  manhood  he 
decided  to  become  an  operator.  He  won 
his  opportunity  by  saving  the  life  of  a  child, 
whose  father  was  an  old  operator,  and  out  of 
gratitude  he  gave  Mr.  Edison  lessons  in  teleg- 
raphy. Five  months  later  he  was  compe- 
tent to  fill  a  position  in  the  railroad  office 
at  Port  Huron.  Hence  he  peregrinated  to 
Stratford,  Ontario,  and  thence  successively 
to  Adrian,  Fort  Wayne,  Indianapolis,  Cin- 
cinnati, Memphis,  Louisville  and  Boston, 
gradually  becoming  an  expert  operator  and 
gaining  experience  that  enabled  him  to 
evolve  many  ingenious  ideas  for  the  im- 
provement of  telegraphic  appliances.  At 
Memphis  he  constructed  an  automatic  re- 
peater, which  enabled  Louisville  and  New 
Orleans  to  communicate  direct,  and  received 
nothing  more  than  the  thanks  of  his  em- 
ployers. Mr.  Edison  came  to  New  York  in 
1870  in  search  of  an  opening  more  suitable 
to  his  capabilities  and  ambitions.  He  hap- 
pened to  be  in  the  office  of  the  Laws  Gold 
Reporting  Company  when  one  of  the  in- 
struments got  out  of  order,  and  even  the 
inventor  of  the  system  could  not  make  it 
work.  Edison  requested  to  be  allowed  to 
attempt  the  task,  and  in  a   few  minutes  he 


had  overcome  the  difficulty  and  secured  an 
advantageous  engagement.  For  several 
years  he  had  a  contract  with  the  Western 
Union  and  the  Gold  Stock  companies, 
whereby  he  received  a  large  salary,  besides 
a  special  price  for  all  telegraphic  improve- 
ments he  could  suggest.  Later,  as  the 
head  of  the  Edison  General  Electric  com- 
pany, with  its  numerous  subordinate  organ- 
izations and  connections  all  over  the  civil- 
ized world,  he  became  several  times  a 
millionaire.  Mr.  Edison  invented  the  pho- 
nograph and  kinetograph  which  bear  his 
name,  the  carbon  telephone,  the  tasimeter, 
and  the  duplex  and  quadruplex  systems  of 
telegraphy. 

JAMES  LONGSTREET,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  of  the  Confederate  generals 
during  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in  1820,  in 
South  Carolina,  but  was  early  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Alabama  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  received  his  early  education.  He 
graduated  at  the  United  States  military 
academy  in  1842,  entering  the  army  as 
lieutenant  and  spent  a  few  years  in  the  fron- 
tier service.  When  the  Mexican  war  broke 
out  he  was  called  to  the  front  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  principal  battles  of  that  war 
up  to  the  storming  of  Chapultepec,  where 
he  received  severe  wounds.  For  gallant 
conduct  at  Contreras,  Cherubusco,  and  Mo- 
lino  del  Rey  he  received  the  brevets  of  cap- 
tain and  major.  After  the  close  of  the 
Mexican  war  Longstreet  served  as  adjutant 
and  captain  on  frontier  service  in  Texas  un- 
til 1858  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  staff 
as  paymaster  with  rank  of  major.  In  June, 
1 86 1,  he  resigned  to  join  the  Confederacy 
and  immediately  went  to  the  front,  com- 
manding a  brigade  at  Bull  Run  the  follow- 
ing month.  Promoted  to  be  major-general 
in   1862  he  thereafter  bore   a  conspicuous 


C0MPEXD1LM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


5( 


part  and  rendered  valuable  service  to  the 
Confederate  cause.  He  participated  in 
many  of  the  most  severe  battles  of  the  Civil 
war  including  Bull  Run  (first  and  second), 
Seven  Pines,  Gaines'  Mill,  Fraziers  Farm, 
Malvern  Hill,  Antietam,  Frederickburg, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Chickamauga, 
the  Wilderness,  Petersburg  and  most  of  the 
fighting  about  Richmond. 

When  the  war  closed  General  Long- 
street  accepted  the  result,  renewed  his  alle- 
giance to  the  government,  and  thereafter 
labored  earnestly  to  obliterate  all  traces  of 
war  and  promote  an  era  of  good  feeling  be- 
tween all  sections  of  the  country.  He  took 
up  his  residence  in  New  Orleans,  and  took 
an  active  interest  and  prominent  part  in 
public  affairs,  served  as  surveyor  of  that 
port  for  several  years;  was  commissioner  of 
engineers  for  Louisiana,  served  four  years 
as  school  commissioner,  etc.  In  1875  he 
was  appointed  supervisor  of  internal  revenue 
and  settled  in  Georgia.  After  that  time  he 
served  four  years  as  United  States  minister 
to  Turkey,  and  also  for  a  number  of  years 
was  United  States  marshal  of  Georgia,  be- 
sides having  held  other  important  official 
positions. 

JOHN  RUTLEDGE,  the  second  chief- 
justice  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  1739. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  Rutledge,  who  had 
left  Ireland  for  America  about  five  years 
prior  to  the  birth  of  our  subject,  and  a 
brother  of  Edward  Rutledge,  a  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  John  Rut- 
ledge received  his  legal  education  at  the 
Temple,  London,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Charleston  and  soon  won  distinction  at 
the  bar.  He  was  elected  to  the  old  Colonial 
congress  in  1765  to  protest  against  the 
"  Stamp  Act, "  and  was  a    member  of  the 


South  Carolina  convention  of  1774,  and  of 
the  Continental  congress  of  that  and  the 
succeeding  year.  In  1776  he  was  chairman 
of  the  committee  that  draughted  the  con- 
stitution of  his  state,  and  was  president  of 
the  congress  of  that  state.  He  was  not 
pleased  with  the  state  constitution,  how- 
ever, and  resigned.  In  1779  he  was  again 
chosen  governor  of  the  state,  and  granted 
extraordinary  powers,  and  he  at  once  took 
the  field  to  repel  the  British.  He  joined 
the  army  of  General  Gates  in  1782,  and  the 
same  year  was  elected  to  congress.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention which  framed  our  present  constitu- 
tion. In  1789  he  was  appointed  an  associate 
justice  of  the  first  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States.  He  resigned  to  accept  the 
position  of  chief-justice  of  his  own  state. 
Upon  the  resignation  of  Judge  Jay,  he  was 
appointed  chief-justice  of  the  United  States 
in  1795.  The  appointment  was  never  con- 
firmed, for,  after  presiding  at  one  session, 
his  mind  became  deranged,  and  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Judge  Ellsworth.  He  died  at 
Charleston,  July  23,   1800. 


RALPH  WALDO  EMERSON  was  one 
of  the  most  noted  literary  men  of  his 
time.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, May  25,  1803.  He  had  a  minister  for 
an  ancestor,  either  on  the  paternal  or  ma- 
ternal side,  in  every  generation  for  eight 
generations  back.  His  father,  Rev.  Will- 
iam Emerson,  was  a  native  of  Concord, 
Massachusetts,  born  May  6,  1769,  graduated 
at  Harvard,  in  17S9,  became  a  Unitarian 
minister;  was  a  fine  writer  and  one  of  the 
best  orators  of  his  day;  died  in  181 1. 

Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  was  fitted  for 
college  at  the  public  schools  of  Boston,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1821,  win- 
ning about    this  time  several  prizes  for  es- 


58 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


says.  For  five  years  he  taught  school  in 
Boston;  in  1826  was  licensed  to  preach,  and 
in  1829  was  ordained  as  a  colleague  to  Rev. 
Henry  Ware  of  the  Second  Unitarian  church 
in  Boston.  In  1832  he  resigned,  making 
the  announcement  in  a  sermon  of  his  un- 
willingness longer  to  administer  the  rite  of 
Ae  Lord's  Supper,  after  which  he  spent 
about  a  year  in  Europe.  Upon  his  return 
he  began  his  career  as  a  lecturer  before  the 
Boston  Mechanics  Institute,  his  subject  be- 
ing "Water."  His  early  lectures  on  "  Italy" 
and  "Relation  of  Man  to  the  Globe"  also 
attracted  considerable  attention;  as  did  also 
his  biographical  lectures  on  Michael  Angelo, 
Milton,  Luther,  George  Fox,  and  Edmund 
Burke.  After  that  time  he  gave  many 
courses  of  lectures  in  Boston  and  became 
one  of  the  best  known  lecturers  in  America. 
But  very  few  men  have  rendered  such  con- 
tinued service  in  this  field.  He  lectured  for 
forty  successive  seasons  before  the  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  Lyceum  and  also  made  re- 
peated lecturing  tours  in  this  country  and  in 
England.  In  1835  Mr.  Emerson  took  up 
his  residence  at  Concord,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until 
his  death  which  occurred  April  27,   1882. 

Mr.  Emerson's  literary  work  covered  a 
wide  scope.  He  wrote  and  published  many 
works,  essays  and  poems,  which  rank  high 
among  the  works  of  American  literary  men. 
A  few  of  the  many  which  he  produced  are 
the  following:  "Nature;"  "The  Method 
ofNature;"  "Man  Thinking;"  "The  Dial;" 
"Essays;"  "Poems;"  "English  Traits;" 
"The  Conduct  of  Life;"  "May-Day  and 
other  Poems  "  and  "  Society  and  Solitude;" 
besides  many  others.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts 
and  Sciences,  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society,  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society 
and  other  kindred  associations. 


ALEXANDER  T.  STEWART,  one  of 
the  famous  merchant  princes  of  New 
York,  was  born  near  the  city  of  Belfast,  Ire- 
land, in  1803,  and  before  he  was  eight  years 
of  age  was  left  an  orphan  without  any  near 
relatives,  save  an  aged  grandfather.  The 
grandfather  being  a  pious  Methodist  wanted 
to  make  a  minister  of  young  Stewart,  and 
accordingly  put  him  in  a  school  with  that 
end  in  view  and  he  graduated  at  Trinity  Col- 
lege, in  Dublin.  When  scarcely  twenty 
years  of  age  he  came  to  New  York.  His 
first  employment  was  that  of  a  teacher,  but 
accident  soon  made  him  a  merchant.  En- 
tering into  business  relations  with  an  ex- 
perienced man  of  his  acquaintance  he  soon 
found  himself  with  the  rent  of  a  store  on 
his  hands  and  alone  in  a  new  enterprise. 
Mr.  Stewart's  business  grew  rapidly  in  all 
directions,  but  its  founder  had  executive 
ability  sufficient  for  any  and  all  emergencies, 
and  in  time  his  house  became  one  of  the 
greatest  mercantile  establishments  of  mod- 
ern times,  and  the  name  of  Stewart  famous. 
Mr.  Stewart's  death  occurred  April  10, 
1876.  

JAMES  FENIMORE  COOPER.  —  In 
speaking  of  this  noted  American  nov- 
elist, William  Cullen  Bryant  said:  "  He 
wrote  for  mankind  at  large,  hence  it  is  that 
he  has  earned  a  fame  wider  than  any  Amer- 
ican author  of  modern  times.  The  crea- 
tions of  his  genius  shall  survive  through 
centuries  to  come,  and  only  perish  with  our 
language."  Another  eminent  writer  (Pres- 
cott)  said  of  Cooper:  "  In  his  productions 
every  American  must  take  an  honest  pride; 
for  surely  no  one  has  succeeded  like  Cooper 
in  the  portraiture  of  American  character,  or 
has  given  such  glowing  and  eminently  truth- 
ful pictures  of  American  scenery." 

James  Fenimore  Cooper  was  born  Sep- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


59 


tember  15,  1789,  at  Burlington,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  was  a  son  of  Judge  William  Cooper. 
About  a  year  after  the  birth  of  our  subject 
the  family  removed  to  Otsego  county,  New 
York,  and  founded  the  town  called  "  Coop- 
erstown. "  James  Fenimore  Cooper  spent 
his  childhood  there  and  in  1802  entered 
Yale  College,  and  four  years  later  became  a 
midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy.  In 
181 1  he  was  married,  quit  the  seafaring  life, 
and  began  devoting  more  or  less  time  to  lit- 
erary pursuits.  His  first  work  was  "Pre- 
caution," a  novel  published  in  1S19,  and 
three  years  later  he  produced  "The  Spy,  a 
Tale  of  Neutral  Ground,"  which  met  with 
great  favor  and  was  a  universal  success. 
This  was  followed  by  many  other  works, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  follow- 
ing: ' '  The  Pioneers, "  ' '  The  Pilot, "  ' '  Last 
of  the  Mohicans,"  "The  Prairie,"  "The 
Red  Rover,"  "The  Manikins,"  "Home- 
ward Bound,"  "Home  as  Found,"  "History 
of  the  United  States  Navy,"  "The  Path- 
finder," "Wing  and  Wing,"  "Afloat  and 
Ashore,"  "The  Chain-Bearer,"  "Oak- 
Openings,"  etc.  J.  Fenimore  Cooper  died 
at  Cooperstown,  New  York,  September  14, 
1851. 

MARSHALL  FIELD,  one  of  the  mer- 
chant princes  of  America,  ranks  among 
the  most  successful  business  men  of  the  cen- 
tury. He  was  born  in  1835  at  Conway, 
Massachusetts.  He  spent  his  early  life  on 
a  farm  and  secured  a  fair  education  in  the 
common  schools,  supplementing  this  with  a 
course  at  the  Conway  Academy.  His 
natural  bent  ran  in  the  channels  of  commer- 
cial life,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was 
given  a  position  in  a  store  at  Pittsfie'.d, 
Massachusetts.  Mr.  Field  remained  there 
four  years  and  removed  to  Chicago  in  1856. 
He  began  his  career  in  Chicago  as   a   clerk 


in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  house  of  Cooley, 
Wadsworth  &  Company,  which  later  be- 
came Cooley,  Farwell  &  Company,  and  still 
later  John  V.  Farwell  &  Company.  He 
remained  with  them  four  years  and  exhibit- 
ed marked  ability,  in  recognition  of  which 
he  was  given  a  partnership.  In  1865  Mr. 
Field  and  L.  Z.  Leiter,  who  was  also  a 
member  of  the  firm,  withdrew  and  formed 
the  firm  of  Field,  Palmer  &  Leiter,  the 
third  partner  being  Potter  Palmer,  and  they 
continued  in  business  until  1867,  when  Mr. 
Palmer  retired  and  the  firm  became  Field, 
Leiter  &  Company.  They  ran  under  the 
latter  name  until  1SS1,  when  Mr.  Leiter  re- 
tired and  the  house  has  since  continued  un- 
der the  name  of  Marshall  Field  &  Company. 
The  phenomenal  success  accredited  to  the 
house  is  largely  due  to  the  marked  ability 
of  Mr.  Field,  the  house  had  become  one  of 
the  foremost  in  the  west,  with  an  annual 
sale  of  $8,000,000  in  1870.  The  total  loss 
of  the  firm  during  the  Chicago  fire  was 
$3,500,000  of  which  $2,500,000  was  re- 
covered through  the  insurance  companies. 
It  rapidly  recovered  from  the  effects  of  this 
and  to-day  the  annual  sales  amount  to  over 
$40,000,000.  Mr.  Field's  real  estate  hold- 
ings amounted  to  $10,000,000.  He  was 
one  of  the  heaviest  subscribers  to  the  Bap- 
tist University  fund  although  he  is  a  Presby- 
terian, and  gave  $1,000,000  for  the  endow- 
ment of  the  Field  Columbian  Museum — 
one  of  the  greatest  institutions  of  the  kind 
in  the  world. 

EDGAR  WILSON  NYE,  who  won  an  im- 
mense popularity  under  the  pen  name 
of  "  Bill  Nye,"  was  one  of  the  most  eccen- 
tric humorists  of  his  day.  He  was  born  Au- 
gust 25,  1850,  at  Shirley,  Piscataqua  coun- 
ty, Maine,  "at  a  very  early  age  "  as  he  ex- 
presses it.      He  took  an  academic  course  in 


60 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


River  Falls,  Wisconsin,  from  whence,  after 
his  graduation,  he  removed  to  Wyoming 
Territory.  He  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1876.  He  began  when 
quite  young  to  contribute  humorous  sketches 
to  the  newspapers,  became  connected  with 
various  western  journals  and  achieved  a 
brilliant  success  as  a  humorist.  Mr.  Nye 
settled  later  in  New  York  City  where  he 
devoted  his  time  to  writing  funny  articles  for 
the  big  newspaper  syndicates.  He  wrote  for 
publication  in  book  form  the  following : 
"Bill  Nye  and  the  Boomerang,"  "The 
Forty  Liars,"  "Baled  Hay,"  "Bill  Nye's 
Blossom  Rock,"  "Remarks,"  etc.  His 
death  occurred  February  21,  1896,  at  Ashe- 
ville,  North  Carolina. 


THOMAS  DE  WITT  TALMAGE,  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  American  preach- 
ers, was  born  January  7,  1832,  and  was  the 
youngest  of  twelve  children.  He  made  his 
preliminary  studies  at  the  grammar  school 
in  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  joined  the  church  and  entered 
the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  and 
graduated  in  May,  1853.  The  exercises 
were  held  in  Niblo's  Garden  and  his  speech 
aroused  the  audience  to  a  high  pitch  of  en- 
thusiasm. At  the  close  o-f  his  college  duties 
he  imagined  himself  interested  in  the  law 
and  for  three  years  studied  law.  Dr.  Tal- 
mage  then  perceived  his  mistake  and  pre- 
pared himself  for  the  ministry  at  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  Just 
after  his  ordination  the  young  minister  re- 
ceived two  calls,  one  from  Piermont,  New 
York,  and  the  other  from  Belleville,  New 
Jersey.  Dr.  Talmage  accepted  the  latter 
and  for  three  years  filled  that  charge,  when 
he  was  called  to  Syracuse,  New  York.  Here 
it    was   that   his   sermons   first   drew  large 


crowds  of  people  to  his  church,  and  from 
thence  dates  his  popularity.  Afterward  he 
became  the  pastor  of  the  Second  Reformed 
Dutch  church,  of  Philadelphia,  remaining 
seven  years,  during  which  period  he  first 
entered  upon  the  lecture  platform  and  laid 
the  foundation  for  his  future  reputation.  At 
the  end  of  this  time  he  received  three  calls, 
one  from  Chicago,  one  from  San  Francisco, 
and  one  from  the  Central  Presbyterian 
church  of  Brooklyn,  which  latter  at  that 
time  consisted  of  only  nineteen  members 
with  a  congregation  of  about  thirty-five. 
This  church  offered  him  a  salary  of  seven 
thousand  dollars  and  he  accepted  the  call. 
He  soon  induced  the  trustees  to  sell  the  old 
church  and  build  a  new  one.  They  did  so 
and  erected  the  Brooklyn  Tabernacle,  but 
it  burned  down  shortly  after  it  was  finished. 
By  prompt  sympathy  and  general  liberality 
a  new  church  was  built  and  formally  opened 
in  February,  1874.  It  contained  seats  for 
four  thousand,  six  hundred  and  fifty,  but  if 
necessary  seven  thousand  could  be  accom- 
modated. In  October,  1878,  his  salary  was 
raised  from  seven  thousand  dollars  to  twelve 
thousand  dollars,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1889 
the  second  tabernacle  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
A  third  tabernacle  was  built  and  it  was  for- 
mally dedicated  on  Easter  Sunday,  1891. 


JOHN  PHILIP  SOUSA,  conceded  as 
being  one  of  the  greatest  band  leaders 
in  the  world,  won  his  fame  while  leader  of 
the  United  States  Marine  Band  at  Washing- 
ton, District  of  Columbia.  He  was  not 
originally  a  band  player  but  was  a  violinist, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  conduc- 
tor of  an  opera  company,  a  profession  which 
he  followed  for  several  years,  until  he  was 
offered  the  leadership  of  the  Marine  Band 
at  Washington.  The  proposition  was  re- 
pugnant to  him  at  first  but  he  accepted  the 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


61 


offer  and  then  ensued  ten  years  of  brilliant 
success  with  that  organization.  When  he 
first  took  the  Marine  Band  he  began  to 
gather  the  national  airs  of  all  the  nations 
that  have  representatives  in  Washington, 
and  compiled  a  comprehensive  volume  in- 
cluding nearly  all  the  national  songs  of  the 
different  nations.  He  composed  a  number 
of  marches,  waltzes  and  two-steps,  promi- 
nent among  which  are  the  "Washington 
Post,"  "Directorate,"  "King  Cotton," 
"High  School  Cadets,"  "Belle  of  Chica- 
go," "Liberty  Bell  March,"  "Manhattan 
Beach,"  "On  Parade  March,"  "Thunderer 
March,"  "Gladiator  March,"  "  El  Capitan 
March,"  etc.  He  became  a  very  extensive 
composer  of  this  class  of  music. 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  sixth  president 
of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Braintree,  Massachusetts,  July  II,  1767, 
the  son  of  John  Adams.  At  the  age  of 
eleven  he  was  sent  to  school  at  Paris,  and 
two  years  later  to  Leyden,  where  he  entered 
that  great  university.  He  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  1785,  and  graduated  from 
Harvard  in  1788.  He  then  studied  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1791.  His 
practice  brought  no  income  the  first  two 
years,  but  he  won  distinction  in  literary 
fields,  and  was  appointed  minister  to  The 
Hague  in  1794.  He  married  in  1797,  and 
went  as  minister  to  Berlin  the  same  year, 
serving  until  1801,  when  Jefferson  became 
president.  He  was  elected  to  the  senate  in 
1803  by  the  Federalists,  but  was  condemned 
by  that  party  for  advocating  the  Embargo 
Act  and  other  Anti-Federalist  measures.  He 
was  appointed  as  professor  of  rhetoric  at 
Harvard  in  1805,  and  in  1809  was  sent  as 
minister  to  Russia.  He  assisted  in  negotiat- 
ing the  treaty  of  peace  with  England  in 
1 8 14,  and  became  minister  to  that  power 


the  next  year.  He  served  during  Monroe's 
administration  two  terms  as  secretary  of 
state,  during  which  time  party  lines  were 
obliterated,  and  in  1824  four  candidates  for 
president  appeared,  all  of  whom  were  iden- 
tified to  some  extent  with  the  new  "  Demo- 
cratic" party.  Mr.  Adams  received  84  elec- 
toral votes,  Jackson  99,  Crawford  41,  and 
Clay  37.  As  no  candidate  had  a  majority 
of  all  votes,  the  election  went  to  the  house 
of  representatives,  which  elected  Mr.  Adams. 
As  Clay  had  thrown  his  influence  to  Mr. 
Adams,  Clay  became  secretary  of  state,  and 
this  caused  bitter  feeling  on  the  part  of  the 
Jackson  Democrats,  who  were  joined  by 
Mr.  Crawford  and  his  following,  and  op- 
posed every  measure  of  the  administration. 
In  the  election  of  1828  Jackson  was  elected 
over  Mr.  Adams  by  a  great  majority. 

Mr.  Adams  entered  the  lower  house  of 
congress  in  1830,  elected  from  the  district 
in  which  he  was  born  and  continued  to  rep- 
resent it  for  seventeen  years.  He  was 
known  as  "  the  old  man  eloquent,"  and  his 
work  in  congress  was  independent  of  party. 
He  opposed  slavery  extension  and  insisted 
upon  presenting  to  congress,  one  at  a  time, 
the  hundreds  of  petitions  against  the  slave 
power.  One  of  these  petitions,  presented  in 
1842,  was  signed  by  forty-five  citizens  of 
Massachusetts,  and  prayed  congress  for  a 
peaceful  dissolution  of  the  Union.  His 
enemies  seized  upon  this  as  an  opportunity 
to  crush  their  powerful  foe,  and  in  a  caucus 
meeting  determined  upon  his  expulsion  from 
congress.  Finding  they  would  not  be  able 
to  command  enough  votes  for  this,  they  de- 
cided upon  a  course  that  would  bring  equal 
disgrace.  They  formulated  a  resolution  to 
the  effect  that  while  he  merited  expulsion, 
the  house  would,  in  great  mercy,  substitute 
its  severest  censure.  When  it  was  read  in  the 
house  the  old  man,  then  in  his  seventy-fifth 


62 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


yen  ,  arose  and  denial K led  tliat   the  first  para- 

graph  n[  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
be  read  as  his  del. use.  It  embraced  the 
famous  sentence,  "  that  whenevei  any  form 
of  governmanl  becomes  destructive  to  those 

ends,    it    IS   tile   right   ol  Hie   people    td   alter  nr 

abolish  it,  and  to  institute  new  government, 

etc  .,   BtO  "      Alter  eleven  days  nf  hard  fight" 

ing  his  opponents  were  defeated.  On  Fefcru 

.11  \     '  i  ,    iS.pX,   he  rose  to  address  the  speaker 

on  the  *  Oregon  question,  when  he  suddenly 
fell  from   a  stroke   of  paralysis,     lie  died 

soon    after   in    the   rotunda    of   the  e.apitol, 

where  he  had  been  conveyed  l>v  his  col- 
|i  agues 

SUSAN   B.  ANTHONY  was  one  of  the 
in":. t  I. ii a  women  of  Amei ica.     She 

was  bora  at  South  Adams,  Massachusetts, 
February  15,  1X20,  the  daughter  of  a 
Quaker.  She  received  a  good  education 
and  became  a  school  teai  her,  following  that 
profession  for  fifteen  years  in  New  York. 
r<  ginning  with  about  1852  she  became  the 
active  leadei  ol  the  woman's  rights  move 
nient  and  won  a  wide  reputation  for  her 
zeal  and  ability.  She  also  distinguished 
herself   for   her  zeal    and  eloquence  in  the 

temperance  and  anti-slavery  causes,  and 
became  a  conspicuous  figure  during  the  wai , 
After  the  close  of  the  war  she  gave  most  of 
her  labors  to  the  cause  of  woman's  suffrage. 

PHILIP  I).  ARMOUR,  one  of  the  most 
1  onspii  nous  figures  in  the  mercantile 
history  of  America,  was  born  May  10,  1832, 
•  mi  a  In  in  at  Stockbridge,  Madison  county, 

New  York,  and  received  his  early  edu(  a  In  mi 

in  the  common  schools  of  that  county.    He 

was    apprenticed    to    a    lancer    and    winked 

fa  it  lil  11 1 1\  and  well,  being  verj  ambitious  and 
desiring  to  start  out  for  himself.  At  tin- 
age  of  twenty  he  secured  a  release  from  his 


indentures  and  set  out  overland  for  the 
gold  fields  of  California.  After  a  great 
deal  of  hard  work  he  accumulated  a  little 
money  and  then  came  east  and  settled 
in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  He  went  into 
the  grain  receiving  and  warehouse  busi- 
ness and  was  fairly  successful,  and  later  on 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  I'lankin- 
ton  in  the  pork  packing  line,  the  style  of  the 
linn  being  Plankinton  &  Armour.  Mr.  Ar- 
mour made  his  first  great  "deal"  in  selling 
pork  "short"  on  the  New  York  market  in 
the  anticipation  of  the  fall  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, and  Mr.  Armour  is  said  to  have  made 
through  this  deal  a  million  dollars.  Ilothen 
established  packing  houses  in  Chicago  and 
Kansas  City,  and  in  1X75  he  removed  to 
<  hicago.  I  le  increased  his  business  by  add- 
ing to  it  the  shipment  of  dressed  beef  to 
the  European  markets,  and  many  other  lines 
of  trade  and  manufacturing,  and  it  rapidly 
assumed  vast  proportions,  employing  an 
army  of  men  in  different  lines  of  the  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Armour  successfully  conducted  a 
great  many  speculative  deals  in  pork  and 
grain  of  immense  proportions  and  also  erected 
many  lar^e  warehouses  for  the  storage  of 
grain.  He  became  one  of  the  representative 
business  men  of  Chicago,  where  he  became 
closely  identified  with  all  enterprises  of  a 
public  nature,  hut  his  fame  as  a  great  husi- 
ness  man  extended  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 
He  founded  the  "Armour  Institute  "  at  Chi- 
cago and  also  contributed  largely  to  benevo- 
lent and  charitable  institutions. 


ROBERT  FULTON.— Although    Fulton 
is  best   known   as   the    inventor  of  the 
first  successful  steamboat,  yet  his  claims  to 

dist  Miction  di  1  m  'I    rest    alone    upon  licit,   for 

he  was   an   inventor   along  other   lines,  a 

paintei    and    an    author.      lie   was    horn   at 
Little   Britain,  Lancaster  county,  Pcnnsyl 


COMPENDIUM    Of    BIOGRArilV. 


65 


vania,  in  1765,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  removed  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  there  and  in  New  York  en- 
gaged in  miniature  painting  with  success 
both  from  a  pecuniary  and  artistic  point  of 
view.  With  the  results  of  his  labors  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  for  the  support  of  his  mother. 
He  went  to  London  and  studied  under  the 
great  painter,  Benjamin  West,  and  all 
through  life  retained  his  fondness  for  art 
and  gave  evidence  of  much  ability  in  that 
line.  While  in  England  he  was  brought  in 
contact  with  the  Duke  of  Bridgewater,  the 
father  of  the  English  canal  system;  Lord 
Stanhope,  an  eminent  mechanician,  and 
James  Watt,  the  inventor  of  the  steam  en- 
gine. Their  influence  turned  his  mind  to  its 
true  field  of  labor,  that  of  mechanical  in- 
vention. Machines  for  flax  spinning, 
marble  sawing,  rope  making,  and  for  remov- 
ing earth  from  excavations,  are  among  his 
earliest  ventures.  His  "Treatise  on  the 
Improvement  of  Canal  Navigation,"  issued 
in  1796,  and  a  series  of  essays  on  canals 
were  soon  followed  by  an  English  patent 
for  canal  improvements.  In  1797  he  went 
to  Paris,  where  he  resided  until  1806,  and 
there  invented  a  submarine  torpedo  boat  for 
maritime  defense,  but  which  was  rejected 
by  the  governments  of  France,  England  and 
the  United  States.  In  1 803  he  offered  to  con- 
struct for  the  Emperor  Napoleon  a  steam- 
boat that  would  assist  in  carrying  out  the 
plan  of  invading  Great  Britain  then  medi- 
tated by  that  great  captain.  In  pursuance 
he  constructed  his  first  steamboat  on  the 
Seine,  but  it  did  not  prove  a  full  success 
and  the  idea  was  abandoned  by  the  French 
government.  By  the  aid  of  Livingston, 
then  United  States  minister  to  France, 
Fulton  purchased,  in  1806,  an  engine  which 
he  brought  to  this  country.  After  studying 
the  defects  of  his  own  and  other  attempts  in 


this  line  he  built  and  launched  in  1807  the 
Clermont,  the  first  successful  steamboat 
This  craft  only  attained  a  speed  of  five 
miles  an  hour  while  going  up  North  river. 
His  first  patent  not  fully  covering  his  in- 
vention, Fulton  was  engaged  in  many  law 
suits  for  infringement.  He  constructed 
many  steamboats,  ferryboats,  etc.,  among 
these  being  the  United  States  steamer 
"  Fulton  the  First,"  built  in  18 14,  the  first 
war  steamer  ever  built.  This  craft  never 
attained  any  great  speed  owing  to  some  de- 
fects in  construction  and  accidentally  blew 
up  in  1829.  Fulton  died  in  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 21,    l8  I  5. 


SALMON  PORTLAND  CHASE,  sixth 
chief-justice  of  the  United  States,  and 
one  of  the  most  eminent  of  American  jurists, 
was  born  in  Cornish,  New  Hampshire,  Jan- 
uary 13,  1808.  At  the  age  of  nine  he  was 
left  in  poverty  by  the  death  of  his  father, 
but  means  were  found  to  educate  him.  He 
was  sent  to  his  uncle,  a  bishop,  who  con- 
ducted an  academy  near  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  here  young  Chase  worked  on  the  farm 
and  attended  school.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  returned  to  his  native  state  and  entered 
Dartmouth  College,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1 826.  He  then  went  to  Washington, 
and  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  study- 
ing law  under  the  instruction  of  William 
Wirt.  He  was  licensed  to  practice  in  1829, 
and  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  had  a 
hard  struggle  for  several  years  following. 
He  had  in  the  meantime  prepared  notes  on 
the  statutes  of  Ohio,  which,  when  published, 
brought  him  into  prominence  locally.  He 
was  soon  after  appointed  solicitor  of  the 
United  States  Bank.  In  1837  he  appeared 
as  counsel  for  a  fugitive  slave  woman,  Ma- 
tilda, and  sought  by  all  the  powers  of  hih 
learning  and  eloquence  to  prevent  her  owner 


m 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


from  reclaiming  her.  He  acted  in  many 
other  cases,  and  devolved  the  trite  expres- 
sion, "Slavery  is  sectional,  freedom  is  na- 
tional." He  was  employed  to  defend  Van 
Zandt  before  the  supreme  court  of  the  United 
States  in  1846,  which  was  one  of  the  most 
noted  cases  connected  with  the  great  strug- 
gle against  slavery.  By  this  time  Mr.  Chase 
had  become  the  recognized  leader  of  that 
element  known  as  "  free-soilers."  He  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate  in  1849, 
and  was  chosen  governor  of  Ohio  in  1855 
and  re-elected  in  1857.  He  was  chosen  to 
the  United  States  senate  from  Ohio  in  1861, 
but  was  made  secretary  of  the  treasury  by 
Lincoln  and  accepted.  He  inaugurated  a 
financial  system  to  replenish  the  exhausted 
treasury  and  meet  the  demands  of  the  great- 
est war  in  history  and  at  the  same  time  to 
revive  the  industries  of  the  country.  One 
of  the  measures  which  afterward  called  for 
his  judicial  attention  was  the  issuance  of 
currency  notes  which  were  made  a  legal 
tender  in  payment  of  debts.  When  this 
question  came  before  him  as  chief-justice 
of  the  United  States  he  reversed  his  former 
action  and  declared  the  measure  unconstitu- 
tional. The  national  banking  system,  by 
which  all  notes  issued  were  to  be  based  on 
funded  government  bonds  of  equal  or  greater 
amounts,  had  its  direct  origin  with  Mr.  Chase. 
Mr.  Chase  resigned  the  treasury  port- 
folio in  1864,  and  was  appointed  the  same 
year  as  chief-justice  of  the  United  States 
supreme  court.  The  great  questions  that 
came  up  before  him  at  this  crisis  in  the  life 
of  the  nation  were  no  less  than  those  which 
confronted  the  first  chief-justice  at  the  for- 
mation of  our  government.  Reconstruction, 
private,  state  and  national  interests,  the 
constitutionality  of  the  acts  of  congress 
passed  in  times  of  great  excitement,  the 
construction  and  interpretation  to  be  placed 


upon  the  several  amendments  to  the  national 
constitution, — these  were  among  the  vital 
questions  requiring  prompt  decision.  He 
received  a  paralytic  stroke  in  1870,  which 
impaired  his  health,  thcugh  his  mental 
powers  were  not  affected.  He  continued  to 
preside  at  the  opening  terms  for  two  years 
following  and  died  May  7,  1873. 


HARRIET  ELIZABETH  BEECHER 
STOWE,  a  celebrated  American  writ- 
er, was  born  June  14,  1812,  at  Litchfield, 
Connecticut.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Lyman 
Beecher  and  a  sister  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher, 
two  noted  divines;  was  carefully  educated, 
and  taught  school  for  several  years  at  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut.  In  1832  Miss  Beecher 
married  Professor  Stowe,  then  of  Lane  Semi- 
nary, Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  afterwards  at 
Bowdoin  College  and  Andover  Seminary. 
Mrs.  Stowe  published  in  1849  "The  May- 
flower, or  sketches  of  the  descendants  of  the 
Pilgrims,"  and  in  1851  commenced  in  the 
' '  National  Era  "  of  Washington,  a  serial  story 
which  was  published  separately  in  1852  under 
the  title  of  "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin."  This 
book  attained  almost  unparalleled  success 
both  at  home  and  abroad,  and  within  ten  years 
it  had  been  translated  in  almost  every  lan- 
guage of  the  civilized  world.  Mrs.  Stowe  pub- 
lished in  1853  a  "Key  to  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin" 
in  which  the  data  that  she  used  was  published 
and  its  truthfulness  was  corroborated.  In 
1853  she  accompanied  her  husband  and 
brother  to  Europe,  and  on  her  return  pub- 
lished "Sunny  Memories  of  Foreign  Lands" 
in  1854.  Mrs.  Stowe  was  for  some  time 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  ' '  Atlantic  Monthly  " 
and  the  "  Hearth  and  Home,"  for  which 
she  had  written  a  number  of  articles. 
Among  these,  also  published  separately,  are 
"  Dred,  a  tale  of  the  Great  Dismal  Swamp  " 
(later  published  under  the  title  of   "Nina 


COMPEXDICM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


67 


Gordon");  "The  Minister's  Wooing;"  "The 
Pearl  of  Orr's  Island;"  "Agnes  of  Sorrento;" 
"Oldtovvn  Folks;"  "My  Wife  and  I;"  "Bible 
Heroines,"  and  "A  Dog's  Mission."  Mrs. 
Stowe's  death  occurred  July  I,  1896,  at 
Hartford,  Connecticut. 


THOMAS  JONATHAN  JACKSON,  bet- 
ter known  as  "Stonewall"  Jackson, 
was  one  of  the  most  noted  of  the  Confeder- 
ate generals  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  a 
soldier  by  nature,  an  incomparable  lieuten- 
ant, sure  to  execute  any  operation  entrusted 
to  him  with  marvellous  precision,  judgment 
and  courage,  and  all  his  individual  cam- 
paigns and  combats  bore  the  stamp  of  a 
masterly  capacity  for  war.  He  was  born 
January  21,  1824,  at  Clarksburg,  Harrison 
county,  West  Virginia.  He  was  early  in 
life  imbued  with  the  desire  to  be  a  soldier 
and  it  is  said  walked  from  the  mountains  of 
Virginia  to  Washington,  secured  the  aid  of 
his  congressman,  and  was  appointed  cadet 
at  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 

1846.  Attached  to  the  army  as  brevet  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  the  First  Artillery,  his  first 
service  was  as  a  subaltern  with  Magruder's 
battery  of  light  artillery  in  the  Mexican  war. 
He  participated  at  the  reduction  of  Vera 
Cruz,  and  was  noticed  for  gallantry  in  the 
battles  of  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  Moline 
del  Rey,  Chapultepec,  and  the  capture  of 
the  city  of  Mexico,  receiving  the  brevets  of 
captain  for  conduct  at  Contreras  and  Cher- 
ubusco  and  of  major  at  Chapultepec.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  been  advanced  by 
regular  promotion    to  be   first  lieutenant  in 

1847.  In  1852,  the  war  having  closed,  he 
resigned  and  became  professor  of  natural 
and  experimental  philosophy  and  artillery 
instructor  at  the  Virginia  State  Military 
Institute  at  Lexington,  Virginia,  where  he 


remained  until  Virginia  declared  for  seces- 
sion, he  becoming  chiefly  noted  for  intense 
religious  sentiment  coupled  with  personal 
eccentricities.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  he  was  made  colonel  and  placed  in 
command  of  a  force  sent  to  sieze  Harper's 
Ferry,  which  he  accomplished  May  3,  1861. 
Relieved  by  General  J.  E.  Johnston,  May 
23,  he  took  command  of  the  brigade  ol 
Valley  Virginians,  whom  he  moulded  into 
that  brave  corps,  baptized  at  the  first 
Manassas,  and  ever  after  famous  as  the 
"  Stonewall  Brigade."  After  this  "Stone- 
wall "  Jackson  was  made  a  major-general, 
in  1 861,  and  participated  until  his  death  in 
all  the  famous  campaigns  about  Richmond 
and  in  Virginia,  and  was  a  conspicuous  fig- 
ure in  the  memorable  battles  of  that  time. 
May  2,  1863,  at  Chancellorsville,  he  was 
wounded  severely  by  his  own  troops,  two 
balls  shattering  his  left  arm  and  another 
passing  through  the  palm  of  his  right  hand. 
The  left  arm  was  amputated,  but  pneumonia 
intervened,  and,  weakened  by  the  great  loss 
of  blood,  he  died  May  10,  1863.  The  more 
his  operations  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  in 
1862  are  studied  the  more  striking  must  the 
merits  of  this  great  soldier  appear. 


JOHN  GREENLEAF  WHITTIER.— 
J  Near  to  the  heart  of  the  people  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race  will  ever  lie  the  verses  of 
this,  the  "Quaker  Poet."  The  author  of 
"Barclay  of  Ury,"  "Maud  Muller"  and 
"Barbara  Frietchie,"  always  pure,  fervid 
and  direct,  will  be  remembered  when  many 
a  more  ambitious  writer  has  been  forgotten. 
John  G.  Whitticr  was  born  at  Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts,  December  7,  1807.  of 
Quaker  parentage.  He  had  but  a  common- 
school  education  and  passed  his  boyhood 
days  upon  a  farm.  In  early  life  he  learned 
the  trade    of    shoemaker.      At   the   age   of 


63 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAniT. 


eighteen  he  began  to  write  verses  for  the 
Haverhill  "  Gazette."  He  spent  two  years 
after  that  at  the  Haverhill  academy,  after 
which,  in  1829,  he  became  editor  of  the 
"American  Manufacturer,"  at  Boston.  In 
1830  he  succeeded  George  D.  Prentice  as 
editor  of  the  "New  England  Weekly  Re- 
view," but  the  following  year  returned  to 
Haverhill  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1832 
and  in  1836  he  edited  the  "Gazette."  In 
1835  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature, serving  two  years.  In  1 S36  he  became 
secretary  of  the  Anti-slavery  Society  of  Phil- 
adelphia. In  1838  and  1839  he  edited  the 
"  Pennsylvania  Freeman,"  but  in  the  latter 
year  the  office  was  sacked  and  burned  by  a 
mob.  In  1840  Whittier  settled  at  Ames- 
bury,  Massachusetts.  In  1847  he  became 
corresponding  editor  of  the  "  National  Era," 
an  anti-slavery  paper  published  at  Washing- 
ton, and  contributed  to  its  columns  many  of 
his  anti-slavery  and  other  favorite  lyrics. 
Mr.  Whittier  lived  for  many  years  in  retire- 
ment of  Quaker  simplicity,  publishing  several 
volumes  of  poetry  which  have  raised  him  to 
a  high  place  among  American  authors  and 
brought  to  him  the  love  and  admiration  of 
his  countrymen.  In  the  electoral  colleges 
of  i860  and  1864  Whittier  was  a  member. 
Much  of  his  time  after  1S76  was  spent  at 
Oak  Knoll,  Danvers,  Massachusetts,  but 
still  retained  his  residence  at  Amesbury. 
He  never  married.  His  death  occurred  Sep- 
tember 7,  1892. 

The  more  prominent  prose  writings  of 
John  G.  Whittier  are  as  follows:  "Legends 
of  New  England,"  "Justice  and  Expediency, 
or  Slavery  Considered  with  a  View  to  Its  Abo- 
lition," "  The  Stranger  in  Lowell,"  "Super- 
naturalism  in  New  England,"  "  Leaves  from 
Margaret  Smith's  Journal,"  "Old  Portraits 
and  Modern  Sketches"  and  "  Literary 
Sketches." 


DAVID  DIXON  PORTER,  illustrious  as 
admiral  of  the  United  States  navy,  and 
famous  as  one  of  the  most  able  naval  offi- 
cers of  America,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
June  8,  18 14.  His  father  was  also  a  naval 
officer  of  distinction,  who  left  the  service  of 
the  United  States  to  become  commander  of 
the  naval  forces  of  Mexico  during  the  war 
between  that  country  and  Spain,  and 
through  this  fact  David  Dixon  Porter  was 
appointed  a  midshipman  in  the  Mexican 
navy.  Two  years  later  David  D.  Porter 
joined  the  United  States  navy  as  midship- 
man, rose  in  rank  and  eighteen  years  later 
as  a  lieutenant  he  is  found  actively  engaged 
in  all  the  operations  of  our  navy  along  the 
east  coast  of  Mexico.  When  the  Civil  war 
broke  out  Porter,  then  a  commander,  was 
dispatched  in  the  Powhattan  to  the  relief  of 
Fort  Pickens,  Florida.  This  duty  accom- 
plished, he  fitted  out  a  mortar  flotilla  for 
the  reduction  of  the  forts  guarding  the  ap- 
proaches to  New  Orleans,  which  it  was  con- 
sidered of  vital  importance  for  the  govern- 
ment to  get  possession  of.  After  the  fall  of 
New  Orleans  the  mortar  flotilla  was  actively 
engaged  at  Vicksburg,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1862  Porter  was  made  a  rear-admiral  and 
placed  in  command  of  all  the  naval  forces 
on  the  western  rivers  above  New  Orleans. 
The  ability  of  the  man  was  now  con- 
spicuously manifested,  not  only  in  the  bat- 
tles in  which  he  was  engaged,  but  also  in 
the  creation  of  a  formidable  fleet  out  of 
river  steamboats,  which  he  covered  with 
such  plating  as  they  would  bear.  In  1864 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Atlantic  coast  to 
command  the  naval  forces  destined  to  oper- 
ate against  the  defences  of  Wilmington, 
North  Carolina,  and  on  Jan.  15,  1865,  the 
fall  of  Fort  Fisher  was  hailed  by  the  country 
as  a  glorious  termination  of  his  arduous  war 
service.      In  1866  he  was  made  vice-admiral 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY 


6* 


and  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Naval 
Academy.  On  the  death  of  Farragut,  in 
1870,  he  succeeded  that  able  man  as  ad- 
miral of  the  navy.  His  death  occurred  at 
Washington,  February  13,  1891. 


NATHANIEL  GREENE  was  one  of  the 
best  known  of  the  distinguished  gen- 
erals who  led  the  Continental  soldiery 
against  the  hosts  of  Great  Britain  during 
the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  the  son 
of  Quaker  parents,  and  was  born  at  War- 
wick, Rhode  Island,  May  27,  1742.  In 
youth  he  acquired  a  good  education,  chiefly 
by  his  own  efforts,  as  he  was  a  tireless 
reader.  In  1770  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  Assembly  of  his  native  state.  The 
news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  stirred 
his  blood,  and  he  offered  his  services  to 
the  government  of  the  colonies,  receiving 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general  and  the  com- 
mand of  the  troops  from  Rhode  Island. 
He  led  them  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge, 
and  for  thus  violating  the  tenets  of  their 
faith,  he  was  cast  out  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers.  He  soon  won  the  es- 
teem of  General  Washington.     In  August, 

1776,  Congress  promoted  Greene  to  the 
rank  of  major-general,  and  in  the  battles  of 
Trenton  and  Princeton  he  led  a  division. 
At  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  September  1 1, 

1777,  he  greatly  distinguished  himself,  pro- 
tecting the  retreat  of  the  Continentals  by 
his  firm  stand.  At  the  battle  of  German- 
town,  October  4,  the  same  year,  he  com- 
manded the  left  wing  of  the  army  with 
credit.  In  March,  1778,  he  reluctantly  ac- 
cepted the  office  of  quartermaster-general, 
but  only  with  the  understanding  that  his 
rank  in  the  army  would  not  be  affected  and 
that  in  action  he  should  retain  his  command. 
On  the  bloody  field  of  Monmouth,  June  28, 

1778,  he  commanded  the  right  wing,  as  he 


did  at  the  battle  of  Tiverton  Heights.  He 
was  in  command  of  the  army  in  1780,  dur- 
ing the  absence  of  Washington,  and  was 
president  of  the  court-martial  that  tried  and 
condemned  Major  Andre.  After  General 
Gates' defeat  at  Camden,  North  Carolina,  in 
the  summer  of  1780,  General  Greene  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  southern  army. 
He  sent  out  a  force  under  General  Morgan 
who  defeated  General  Tarleton  at  Cowpens, 
January  17,  178 1 .  On  joining  his  lieuten- 
ant, in  February,  he  found  himself  out  num- 
bered by  the  British  and  retreated  in  good 
order  to  Virginia,  but  being  reinforced  re- 
turned to  North  Carolina  where  he  fought 
the  battle  of  Guilford,  and  a  few  days  later 
compelled  the  retreat  of  Lord  Cornwallis. 
The  British  were  followed  by  Greene  part 
of  the  way,  when  the  American  army 
marched  into  South  Carolina.  After  vary- 
ing success  he  fought  the  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  September  8,  1781.  For  the  latter 
battle  and  its  glorious  consequences,  which 
virtually  closed  the  war  in  the  Carolinas, 
Greene  received  a  medal  from  Congress  and 
many  valuable  grants  of  land  from  the 
colonies  of  North  and  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia.  On  the  return  of  peace,  after  a 
year  spent  in  Rhode  Island,  General  Greene 
took  up  his  residence  on  his  estate  near 
Savannah,  Georgia,  where  he  died  June  19, 
1786.  

EDGAR  ALLEN  POE.— Among  the 
many  great  literary  men  whom  this 
country  has  produced,  there  is  perhaps  no 
name  more  widely  known  than  that  of  Ed- 
gar Allen  Poe.  He  was  born  at  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  February  19,  1809.  His 
parents  were  David  and  Elizabeth  (Arnold) 
Poe,  both  actors,  the  mother  said  to  have 
been  the  natural  daughter  of  Benedict  Ar- 
nold.    The  parents  died  while   Edgar  was 


To 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY, 


still  a  child  and  he  was  adopted  by  John 
Allen,  a  wealthy  and  influential  resident  of 
Richmond,  Virginia.  Edgar  was  sent  to 
school  at  Stoke,  Newington,  England, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  thirteen 
years  old;  was  prepared  for  college  by  pri- 
vate tutors,  and  in  1 826  entered  the  Virginia 
University  at  Charlottesville.  He  made 
rapid  progress  in  his  studies,  and  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  scholarship,  but  was  ex- 
pelled within  a  year  for  gambling,  after 
which  for  several  years  he  resided  with  his 
benefactor  at  Richmond.  He  then  went  to 
Baltimore,  and  in  1829  published  a  71 -page 
pamphlet  called  "Al  Aaraaf,  Tamerlane 
and  Minor  Poems,"  which,  however,  at- 
tracted no  attention  and  contained  nothing 
of  particular  merit.  In  1830  he  was  ad- 
mitted as  a  cadet  at  West  Point,  but  was 
expelled  about  a  year  later  for  irregulari- 
ties. Returning  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Allen 
he  remained  for  some  time,  and  finally 
quarrelled  with  his  benefactor  and  enlisted 
as  a  private  soldier  in  the  U.  S.  army,  but 
remained  only  a  short  time.  Soon  after 
this,  in  1833,  Poe  won  several  prizes  for 
literary  work,  and  as  a  result  secured  the 
position  of  editor  of  trhe  "Southern  Liter- 
ary Messenger,"  at  Richmond,  Virginia. 
Here  he  married  his  cousin,  Virginia 
Clemm,  who  clung  to  him  with  fond  devo- 
tion through  all  the  many  trials  that  came 
to  them  until  her  death  in  January,  1848. 
Poe  remained  with  the  "Messenger"  for 
several  years,  writing  meanwhile  many 
tales,  reviews,  essays  and  poems.  He  aft- 
erward earned  a  precarious  living  by  his 
pen  in  New  York  for  a  time;  in  1839  be- 
came editor  of  "Burton's  Gentleman's 
Magazine"  ;  in  1840  to  1842  was  editor  of 
"  Graham's  Magazine,"  and  drifted  around 
from  one  place  to  another,  returning  to 
New    York    in    1844.       In    1845    his    best 


known  production,  "The  Raven,"  appeared 
in  the  "Whig  Review,"  and  gained  him  a 
reputation  which  is  now  almost  world-wide. 
He  then  acted  as  editor  and  contributor  on 
various  magazines  and  periodicals  until  the 
death  of  his  faithful  wife  in  1848.  In  the 
summer  of  1849  he  was  engaged  to  be  mar- 
ried to  a  lady  of  fortune  in  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia, and  the  day  set  for  the  wedding. 
He  started  for  New  York  to  make  prepara- 
tions for  the  event,  but,  it  is  said,  began 
drinking,  was  attacked  with  dilirium  tre- 
mens in  Baltimore  and  was  removed  to  a 
hospital,  where  he  died,  October  7,  1849. 
The  works  of  Edgar  Allen  Poe  have  beer, 
repeatedly  published  since  his  death,  both 
in  Europe  and  America,  and  have  attained 
an  immense  popularity. 


HORATIO  GATES,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent figures  in  the  American  war  for 
Independence,  was  not  a  native  of  the  col- 
onies but  was  born  in  England  in  1728.  In 
early  life  he  entered  the  British  army  and 
attained  the  rank  of  major.  At  the  capture 
of  Martinico  he  was  aide  to  General  Monk- 
ton  and  after  the  peace  of  Aix  la  Chapelle, 
in  1748,  he  was  among  the  first  troops  that 
landed  at  Halifax.  He  was  with  Braddock 
at  his  defeat  in  1755,  and  was  there  severe- 
ly wounded.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
French  and  Indian  war  Gates  purchased  an 
estate  in  Virginia,  and,  resigning  from  the 
British  army,  settled  down  to  life  as  a 
planter.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
colonies  and  was  made  adjutant-general  of 
the  Continental  forces  with  the  rank  o\ 
brigadier-general.  He  accompanied  Wash- 
ington when  he  assumed  the  command  ol 
the  army.  In  June,  1776,  he  was  appoint- 
ed to  the  command  of  the  army  of  Canada, 
but  was  superseded  in  May  of  the  following 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


year  by  General  Schuyler.  In  August, 
1777,  however,  the  command  of  that  army 
was  restored  to  General  Gates  and  Septem- 
ber 19  he  fought  the  battle  of  Bemis 
Heights.  October  7,  the  same  year,  he 
won  the  battle  of  Stillwater,  or  Saratoga, 
and  October  17  received  the  surrender  of 
General  Burgoyne  and  his  army,  the  pivotal 
point  of  the  war.  This  gave  him  a  brilliant 
reputation.  June  13,  1780,  General  Gates 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
southern  military  division,  and  August  16  of 
that  year  suffered  defeat  at  the  hands  of 
Lord  Cornwallis,  at  Camden,  North  Car- 
olina. In  December  following  he  was 
superseded  in  the  command  by  General 
Nathaniel  Greene. 

On  the  signing  of  the  peace  treaty  Gen- 
eral Gates  retired  to  his  plantation  in 
Berkeley  county,  Virginia,  where  he  lived 
until  1790,  when,  emancipating  all  his 
slaves,  he  removed  to  New  York  City,  where 
'  he  resided  until  his  death,  April   10,  1806. 


LYMAN  J.  GAGE.— When  President  Mc- 
Kinley  selected  Lyman  J.  Gage  as  sec- 
retary of  the  treasury  he  chose  one  of  the 
most  eminent  financiers  of  the  century.  Mr. 
Gage  was  born  June  28,  1836,  at  De  Ruy- 
ter,  Madison  county,  New  York,  and  was  of 
English  descent.  He  went  to  Rome,  New 
York,  with  his  parents  when  he  was  ten 
years  old,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  Rome  Academy.  Mr.  Gage  gradu- 
ated from  the  same,  and  his  first  position 
was  that  of  a  clerk  in  the  post  office.  When 
he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  he  was  detailed 
as  mail  agent  on  the  Rome  &  Watertown 
R.  R.  until  the  postmaster-general  appointed 
regular  agents  for  the  route.  In  1854,  when 
he  was  in  his  eighteenth  year,  he  entered 
the  Oneida  Central  Bank  at  Rome  as  a 
junior  clerk  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred  dol- 


lars per  year.  Being  unable  at  the  end  of 
one  year  and  a  half's  service  to  obtain  an 
increase  in  salary  he  determined  to  seek  a 
wider  field  of  labor.  Mr.  Gage  set  out  in 
the  fall  of  1855  and  arrived  in  Chicago, 
Illinois,  on  October  3,  and  soon  obtained  a 
situation  in  Nathan  Cobb's  lumber  yard  and 
planing  mill.  He  remained  there  three  years 
as  a  bookkeeper,  teamster,  etc.,  and  left  on 
account  of  change  in  the  management.  But 
not  being  able  to  find  anything  else  to  do  he 
accepted  the  position  of  night  watchman  in 
the  place  for  a  period  of  six  weeks.  He 
then  became  a  bookkeeper  for  the  Mer- 
chants Saving,  Loan  and  Trust  Company  at 
a  salary  of  five  hundred  dollars  per  year. 
He  rapidly  advanced  in  the  service  of  this 
company  and  in  1868  he  was  made  cashier. 
Mr.  Gage  was  next  offered  the  position  of 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  and  ac- 
cepted the  offer.  He  became  the  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Chicago  Jan- 
uary 24,  1 89 1,  and  in  1897  he  was  appointed 
secretary  of  the  treasury.  His  ability  as  a 
financier  and  the  prominent  part  he  took  in 
the  discussion  of  financial  affairs  while  presi- 
dent of  the  great  Chicago  bank  gave  him  a 
national  reputation. 


ANDREW  JACKSON,  the  seventh  pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was  born 
at  the  Waxhaw  settlement,  Union  county, 
North  Carolina,  March  15,  1767.  His 
parents  were  Scotch-Irish,  natives  of  Carr- 
ickfergus,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1665 
and  settled  on  Twelve-Mile  creek,  a  trib- 
utary of  the  Catawba.  His  father,  who 
was  a  poor  farm  laborer,  died  shortly  be- 
fore Andrew's  birth,  when  the  mother  re- 
moved to  Waxhaw,  where  some  relatives 
lived.  Andrew's  education  was  very  limited, 
he  showing  no  aptitude  for  study.  In  1780 
when  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  and    his 


n 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


brother  Robert  volunteered  to  serve  in  the 
American  partisan  troops  under  General 
Sumter,  and  witnessed  the  defeat  at  Hang- 
ing Rock.  The  following  year  the  boys 
were  both  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy 
and  endured  brutal  treatment  from  the 
British  officers  while  confined  at  Camden. 
They  both  took  the  small  pox,  when  the 
mother  procured  their  exchange  but  Robert 
died  shortly  after.  The  mother  died  in 
Charleston  of  ship  fever,  the  same  year. 

Young  Jackson,  now  in  destitute  cir- 
cumstances, worked  for  about  six  months  in 
a  saddler*s  shop,  and  then  turned  school 
master,  although  but  little  fitted  for  the 
position.  He  now  began  to  think  of  a  pro- 
fession and  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina, 
entered  upon  the  study  of  law,  but  from  all 
accounts  gave  but  little  attention  to  his 
books,  being  one  of  the  most  roistering, 
rollicking  fellows  in  that  town,  indulging  in 
many  of  the  vices  of  his  time.  In  1786  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  in  1788  re- 
moved to  Nashville,  then  in  North  Carolina, 
with  the  appointment  of  public  prosecutor, 
then  an  office  of  little  honor  or  emolument, 
but  requiring  much  nerve,  for  which  young 
Jackson  was  already  noted.  Two  years 
later,  when  Tennessee  became  a  territory 
he  was  appointed  by  Washington  to  the 
position  of  United  States  attorney  for  that 
district.  In  1791  he  married  Mrs.  Rachel 
Robards,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  John  Don- 
elson,  who  was  supposed  at  the  time  to 
have  been  divorced  from  her  former  hus- 
band that  year  by  act  of  legislature  of  Vir- 
ginia, but  two  years  later,  on  finding  that 
this  divorce  was  not  legal,  and  a  new  bill  of 
separation  being  granted  by  the  courts  of 
Kentucky,  they  were  remarried  in  1793. 
This  was  used  as  a  handle  by  his  oppo- 
nents in  the  political  campaign  afterwards. 
Jackson  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  as  United 


States  attorney  and  obtained  much  influence. 
He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1796,  when  Tennessee 
became  a  state  and  was  its  first  represent- 
ative in  congress.  In  1797  he  was  chosen 
United  States  senator,  but  resigned  the  fol- 
lowing year  to  accept  a  seat  on  the  supreme 
court  of  Tennessee  which  he  held  until 
1804.  He  was  elected  major-general  of 
the  militia  of  that  state  in  1801.  In  1804, 
being  unsuccessful  in  obtaining  the  govern- 
orship of  Louisiana,  the  new  territory,  he 
retired  from  public  life  to  the  Hermitage, 
his  plantation.  On  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  with  Great  Britain  in  1812  he  tendered 
his  services  to  the  government  and  went  to 
New  Orleans  with  the  Tennessee  troops  in 
January,  181 3.  In  March  of  that  year  he 
was  ordered  to  disband  his  troops,  but  later 
marched  against  the  Cherokee  Indians,  de- 
feating them  at  Talladega,  Emuckfaw 
and  Tallapoosa.  Having  now  a  national 
reputation,  he  was  appointed  major-general 
in  the  United  States  army  and  was  sent 
against  the  British  in  Florida.  He  con- 
ducted the  defence  of  Mobile  and  seized 
Pensacola.  He  then  went  with  his  troops 
to  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  where  he  gained 
the  famous  victory  of  January  8,  1815.  In 
18x7-18  he  conducted  a  war  against  the 
Seminoles,  and  in  1821  was  made  governor 
of  the  new  territory  of  Florida.  In  1823 
he  was  elected  United  States  senator,  but 
in  1 824  was  the  contestant  with  J.  Q.  Adams 
for  the  presidency.  Four  years  later  he 
was  elected  president,  and  served  two  terms. 
In  1832  he  took  vigorous  action  against  the 
nullifiers  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  next 
year  removed  the  public  money  from  the 
United  States  bank.  During  his  second 
term  the  national  debt  was  extinguished.  At 
the  close  of  his  administration  he  retired  to 
the  Hermitage,  where  he  died  June  8,  1845. 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


78 


ANDREW  CARNEGIE,  the  largest  manu- 
facturer of  pig-iron,  steel  rails  and 
coke  in  the  world,  well  deserves  a  place 
among  America's  celebrated  men.  He  was 
born  November  25,  1835,  at  Dunfermline, 
Scotland,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
with  his  father  in  1845,  settling  in  Pittsburg. 
Two  years  later  Mr.  Carnegie  began  his 
business  career  by  attending  a  small  station- 
ary engine.  This  work  did  not  suit  him  and 
he  became  a  telegraph  messenger  with  the 
Atlantic  and  Ohio  Co.,  and  later  he  became 
an  operator,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  read 
telegraphic  signals  by  sound.  Mr.  Carnegie 
was  afterward  sent  to  the  Pittsburg  office 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co.,  as  clerk 
to  the  superintendent  and  manager  of  the 
telegraph  lines.  While  in  this  position  he 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Woodruff,  the 
inventor  of  the  sleeping-car.  Mr.  Carnegie 
immediately  became  interested  and  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  company  for  its  con- 
struction after  the  railroad  had  adopted  it, 
and  the  success  of  this  venture  gave  him  the 
nucleus  of  his  wealth.  He  was  promoted 
to  the  superintendency  of  the  Pittsburg 
division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and 
about  this  time  was  one  of  the  syndicate 
that  purchased  the  Storey  farm  on  Oil  Creek 
which  cost  forty  thousand  dollars  and  in  one 
year  it  yielded  over  one  million  dollars  in 
cash  dividends.  Mr.  Carnegie  later  was  as- 
sociated with  others  in  establishing  a  rolling- 
mill,  and  from  this  has  grown  the  most  ex- 
tensive and  complete  system  of  iron  and 
steel  industries  ever  controlled  by  one  indi- 
vidual, embracing  the  Edgar  Thomson 
Steel  Works;  Pittsburg  Bessemer  Steel 
Works;  Lucy  Furnaces;  Union  Iron  Mills; 
Union  Mill;  Keystone  Bridge  Works;  Hart- 
man.  Steel  Works;  Frick  Coke  Co.;  Scotia 
Ore  Mines.  Besides  directing  his  immense 
iron  industries  he  owned  eighteen  English 


newspapers  which  he  ran  in  the  interest  o: 
the  Radicals.  He  has  also  devoted  large 
sums  of  money  to  benevolent  and  educational 
purposes.  In  1879  he  erected  commodious 
swimming  baths  for  the  people  of  Dunferm- 
line, Scotland,  and  in  the  following  year 
gave  forty  thousand  dollars  for  a  free  library. 
Mr.  Carnegie  gave  fifty  thousand  dollars  to 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  in  1884 
to  found  what  is  now  called  "Carnegie  Lab- 
oratory," and  in  1885  gave  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars  to  Pittsburg  for  a  public 
library.  He  also  gave  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  for  a  music  hall  and  library 
in  Allegheny  City  in  1886,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  Edinburgh,  Scot- 
land, for  a  free  library.  He  also  established 
free  libraries  at  Braddock,  Pennsylvania, 
and  other  places  for  the  benefit  of  his  em- 
ployes. He  also  published  the  following 
works,  "An  American  Four-in-hand  in 
Britain;"  "Round  the  World;"  "Trium- 
phant Democracy;  or  Fifty  Years'  March  of 
the  Republic." 


GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  the  "  Rock  of 
Chickamauga,"  one  of  the  best  known 
commanders  during  the  late  Civil  war,  was 
born  in  Southampton  county,  Virginia,  July 
31,  1 8 16,  his  parents  being  of  Welsh  and 
French  origin  respectively.  In  1836  young 
Thomas  was  appointed  a  cadet  at  the  Mili- 
tary Academy,  at  West  Point,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1840,  and  was  promoted  to 
the  office  of  second  lieutenant  in  the  Third 
Artillery.  Shortly  after,  with  his  company, 
he  went  to  Florida,  where  he  served  for  two 
years  against  the  Seminole  Indians.  In 
1 84 1  he  was  brevetted  first  lieutenant  for 
gallant  conduct.  He  remained  in  garrison 
in  the  south  and  southwest  until  1845,  at 
which  date  with  the  regiment  he  joined  the 
army  under  General  Taylor,  and  participat- 


74 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


ed  yz  +he  defense  of  Fort  Brown,  the  storm- 
ing of  Monterey  and  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista.  After  the  latter  event  he  remained 
in  garrison,  now  brevetted  major,  until  the 
close  of  the  Mexican  war.  After  a  year 
spent  in  Florida,  Captain  Thomas  was  or- 
dered to  West  Point,  where  he  served  as  in- 
structor until  1854.  He  then  was  trans- 
ferred to  California.  In  May,  1855,  Thom- 
as was  appointed  major  of  the  Second  Cav- 
alry, with  whom  he  spent  five  years  in  Texas. 
Although  a  southern  man,  and  surrounded 
by  brother  officers  who  all  were  afterwards 
tn  the  Confederate  service,  Major  Thomas 
never  swerved  from  his  allegiance  to  the 
government.  A.  S.  Johnston  was  the  col- 
onel of  the  regiment,  R.  E.  Lee  the  lieuten- 
ant-colonel, and  W.  J.  Hardee,  senior  ma- 
jor, while  among  the  younger  officers  were 
Hood,  Fitz  Hugh  Lee,  Van  Dorn  and  Kirby 
Smith.  When  these  officers  left  the  regi- 
ment to  take  up  arms  for  the  Confederate 
cause  he  remained  with  it,  and  April  17th, 
1 86 1,  crossed  the  Potomac  into  his  native 
state,  at  its  head.  After  taking  an  active  part 
in  the  opening  scenes  of  the  war  on  the  Poto- 
mac and  Shenandoah,  in  August,  1861,  he 
was  promoted  to  be  brigadier-general  and 
transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
January  19-20,  1862,  Thomas  defeated 
Crittenden  at  Mill  Springs,  and  this  brought 
him  into  notice  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  fame.  He  continued  in  command  of  his 
division  until  September  20,  1862,  except 
during  the  Corinth  campaign  when  he  com- 
manded the  right  wing  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  He  was  in  command  of  the 
latter  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  also,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1862. 

On  the  division  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland into  corps,  January  9,  1863,  Gen- 
eral Thomas  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Fourteenth,  and  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 


amauga,  after  the  retreat  of  Rosecrans; 
firmly  held  his  own  against  the  hosts  of  Gen- 
eral Bragg.  A  history  of  his  services  from 
that  on  would  be  a  history  of  the  war  in  the 
southwest.  On  September  27,  1864,  Gen- 
eral Thomas  was  given  command  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  after  organizing  his  army,  de- 
feated General  Hood  in  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, December  15  and  16,  1864.  Much 
complaint  was  made  before  this  on  account 
of  what  they  termed  Thomas'  slowness,  and 
he  was  about  to  be  superseded  because  he 
would  not  strike  until  he  got  ready,  but 
when  the  blow  was  struck  General  Grant 
was  the  first  to  place  on  record  this  vindica- 
tion of  Thomas'  judgment.  He  received  a 
vote  of  thanks  from  Congress,  and  from  the 
legislature  of  Tennessee  a  gold  medal.  Af- 
ter the  close  of  the  war  General  Thomas 
had  command  of  several  of  the  military  di- 
visions, and  died  at  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia, March  28,  1870. 


GEORGE  BANCROFT,  one  of  the  most 
eminent  American  historians,  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  born  at  Worcester, 
October  3,  1800,  and  a  son  of  Aaron 
Bancroft,  D.  D.  The  father,  Aaron  Ban- 
croft, was  born  at  Reading,  Massachusetts, 
November  10,  1755.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1778,  became  a  minister,  and  for 
half  a  century  was  rated  as  one  of  the  ablest 
preachers  in  New  England.  He  was  also  a 
prolific  writer  and  published  a  number  of 
works  among  which  was  "  Life  of  George 
Washington."  Aaron  Bancroft  died  August 
19,  1839. 

The  subject  of  our  present  biography, 
George  Bancroft,  graduated  at  Harvard  in 
1817,  and  the  following  year  entered  the 
University  of  Gottingen,  where  he  studied 
history  and  philology  under  the  most  emi- 
nent teachers,  and  in  1820  received  the  de- 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


75 


gree  of  doctor  of  philosophy  at  Gottingen. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  published  a  volume 
of  poems,  and  later  a  translation  of  Heeren's 
"  Reflections  on  the  Politics  of  Ancient 
Greece."  In  1834  he  produced  the  first 
volume  of  his  "  History  of  the  United 
States,"  this  being  followed  by  other  vol- 
umes at  different  intervals  later.  This  was 
bis  greatest  work  and  ranks  as  the  highest 
authority,  taking  its  place  among  the  great- 
est of  American  productions. 

George  Bancroft  was  appointed  secretary 
of  the  navy  by  President  Polk  in  1845,  but 
resigned  in  1846  and  became  minister  pleni- 
potentiary to  England.  In  1849  he  retired 
from  public  life  and  took  up  his  residence  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  In  1867  he  was  ap- 
pointed United  States  minister  to  the  court  of 
Berlin  and  negotiated  thetreatyby  which  Ger- 
mans coming  to  the  United  States  were  re- 
leased from  their  allegiance  to  the  govern- 
ment of  their  native  land.  In  1871  he  was 
minister  plenipotentiary  to  the  German  em- 
pire and  served  until  1874.  The  death  of 
George  Bancroft  occurred  January  17,  1891. 


GEORGE  GORDON  MEADE,  a  fa- 
mous Union  general,  was  born  at 
Cadiz,  Spain,  December  30,  1815,  his  father 
being  United  States  naval  agent  at  that 
port.  After  receiving  a  good  education  he 
entered  the  West  Point  Military  Academy 
in  1 83 1.  From  here  he  was  graduated 
June  30,  1835,  and  received  the  rank  of 
second  lieutenant  of  artillery.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  Seminole  war,  but  resigned 
from  the  army  in  October,  1836.  He  en- 
tered upon  the  profession  of  civil  engineer, 
which  he  followed  for  several  years,  part  of 
the  time  in  the  service  of  the  government  in 
making  surveys  of  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river.  His  report  and  results  of  some 
experiments    made  by  him   in  this    service 


gained  Meade  much  credit.  He  also  was 
employed  in  surveying  the  boundary  line  of 
Texas  and  the  northeastern  boundary  line 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
In  1842  he  was  reappointed  in  the  army  to 
the  position  of  second  lieutenant  of  engineers. 
During  the  Mexican  war  he  served  with  dis- 
tinction on  the  staff  of  General  Taylor  in 
the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma 
and  the  storming  of  Monterey.  He  received 
his  brevet  of  first  lieutenant  for  the  latter 
action.  In  1 8  5 1  he  was  made  full  first 
lieutenant  in  his  corps;  a  captain  in  1856, 
and  major  soon  after.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  with  Mexico  he  was  employed  in  light- 
house construction  and  in  geodetic  surveys 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  in 
which  he  gained  great  reputation.  In 
August,  1 861 ,  he  was  made  brigadier-general 
of  volunteers  and  placed  in  command  of  the 
second  brigade  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves, 
a  division  of  the  First  Corps  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  In  the  campaign  of  1862, 
under  McClellan,  Meade  took  an  active 
part,  being  present  at  the  battles  of  Mechan- 
icsville,  Gaines'  Mill  and  Glendale,  in  the 
latter  of  which  he  was  severely  wounded. 
On  rejoining  his  command  he  was  given  a 
division  and  distinguished  himself  at  its  head 
in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antie- 
tam.  During  the  latter,  on  the  wounding 
of  General  Hooker,  Meade  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  corps  and  was  himself 
slightly  wounded.  For  services  he  was 
promoted,  November,  1862,  to  the  rank 
of  major-general  of  volunteers.  On  the 
recovery  of  General  Hooker  General  Meade 
returned  to  his  division  and  in  December, 
1862,  at  Fredericksburg,  led  an  attack 
which  penetrated  Lee's  right  line  and  swept 
to  his  rear.  Being  outnumbered  and  un- 
supported, he  finally  was  driven  back.  The 
same    month    Meade    was    assigned  to  the 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


command  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  in  May,  1863,  his  sagacity  and 
ability  so  struck  General  Hooker  that  when 
the  latter  asked  to  be  relieved  of  the  com- 
mand, in  June  of  the  same  year,  he  nomi- 
nated Meade  as  his  successor.  June  28, 
1863,  President  Lincoln  commissioned  Gen- 
eral Meade  commander-in-chief  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  then  scattered  and  moving 
hastily  through  Pennsylvania  to  the  great 
and  decisive  battlefield  at  Gettysburg,  at 
which  he  was  in  full  command.  With  the 
victory  on  those  July  days  the  name  of 
Meade  will  ever  be  associated.  From  that 
time  until  the  close  of  the  war  he  com- 
manded the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In 
1864  General  Grant,  being  placed  at  the 
head  of  all  the  armies,  took  up  his  quarters 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  From  that 
time  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Appo- 
matox  Meade's  ability  shone  conspicuously, 
and  his  tact  in  the  delicate  position  in  lead- 
ing his  army  under  the  eye  of  his  superior 
officer  commanded  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  General  Grant.  For  services  Meade  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general,  and 
on  the  close  of  hostilities,  in  July,  1865, 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  military 
division  of  the  Atlantic,  with  headquarters 
at  Philadelphia.  This  post  he  held,  with 
the  exception  of  a  short  period  on  detached 
duty  in  Georgia,  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  November  6,  1872. 


DAVID  CROCKETT  was  a  noted  hunter 
and  scout,  and  also  one  of  the  earliest 
of  American  humorists.  He  was  born  Au- 
gust 17,  1786,  in  Tennessee,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  of  his  locality, 
serving  as  representative  in  congress  from 
1827  until  1 83 1.  He  attracted  consider- 
able notice  while  a  member  of  congress  and 
was  closely  associated   with  General  Jack- 


son, of  whom  he  was  a  personal  friend.  He 
went  to  Texas  and  enlisted  in  the  Texan 
army  at  the  time  of  the  revolt  of  Texas 
against  Mexico  and  gained  a  wide  reputa- 
tion as  a  scout.  He  was  one  of  the  famous 
one  hundred  and  forty  men  under  Colonel 
W.  B.  Travis  who  were  besieged  in  Fort 
Alamo,  near  San  Antonio,  Texas,  by  Gen- 
eral Santa  Anna  with  some  five  thousand 
Mexicans  on  February  23,  1836.  The  fort 
was  defended  for  ten  days,  frequent  assaults 
being  repelled  with  great  slaughter,  over 
one  thousand  Mexicans  being  killed  or 
wounded,  while  not  a  man  in  the  fort  was 
injured.  Finally,  on  March  6,  three  as- 
saults were  made,  and  in  the  hand-to-hand 
fight  that  followed  the  last,  the  Texans  were 
wofully  outnumbered  and  overpowered. 
They  fought  desperately  with  clubbed  mus- 
kets till  only  six  were  left  alive,  including 
W.  B.  Travis,  David  Crockett  and  James 
Bowie.  These  surrendered  under  promise 
of  protection;  but  when  they  were  brought 
before  Santa  Anna  he  ordered  them  all  to 
be  cut  to  pieces. 


HENRY  WATTERSON,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  in  the  history  of 
American  journalism,  was  born  at  Wash- 
ington, District  of  Columbia,  February  16, 
1840.  His  boyhood  days  were  mostly  spent 
in  the  city  of  his  birth,  where  his  father, 
Harvey  M.  Watterson,  was  editor  of  the 
"Union,"  a  well  known  journal. 

Owing  to  a  weakness  of  the  eyes,  which 
interfered  with  a  systematic  course  of  study, 
young  Watterson  was  educated  almost  en- 
tirely at  home.  A  successful  college  career 
was  out  of  the  question,  but  he  acquired  a 
good  knowledge  of  music,  literature  and  art 
from  private  tutors,  but  the  most  valuable 
part  of  the  training  he  received  was  by  as- 
sociating with  his  father  and  the  throng  ot 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAI'I/y. 


77 


public  men  whom  he  met  in  Washington 
in  the  stirring  days  immediately  preceding 
the  Civil  war.  He  began  his  journalistic 
career  at  an  early  age  as  dramatic  and 
musical  critic,  and  in  1858,  became  editor 
of  the  "Democratic  Review"  and  at  the 
same  time  contributed  to  the  "States," 
a  journal  of  liberal  opinions  published  in 
Washington.  In  this  he  remained  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  the 
"States,"  opposing  the  administration,  was 
suppressed,  and  young  Watterson  removed 
to  Tennessee.  He  next  appears  as  editor 
of  the  Nashville  "Republican  Banner,"  the 
most  influential  paper  in  the  state  at  that 
time.  After  the  occupation  of  Nashville  by 
the  Federal  troops,  Watterson  served  as  a 
volunteer  staff  officer  in  the  Confederate 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  with  the 
exception  of  a  year  spent  in  editing  the 
Chattanooga  "Rebel."  On  the  close  of 
the  war  he  returned  to  Nashville  and  re- 
sumed his  connection  with  the  "Banner." 
After  a  trip  to  Europe  he  assumed  control 
of  the  Louisville  "Journal,"  which  he  soon 
combined  with  the  "Courier"  and  the 
"Democrat"  of  that  place,  founding  the 
well-known  "Courier-Journal,"  the  first 
number  of  which  appeared  November  8, 
1868.  Mr.  Watterson  also  represented  his 
district  in  congress  for  several  years. 


PATRICK  SARSFIELD  GILMORE, 
one  of  the  most  successful  and  widely 
known  bandmasters  and  musicians  of  the 
last  half  century  in  America,  was  born  in 
Ballygar,  Ireland,  on  Christmas  day,  1829. 
He  attended  a  public  school  until  appren- 
ticed to  a  wholesale  merchant  at  Athlone, 
of  the  brass  band  of  which  town  he  soon 
became  a  member.  His  passion  for  music 
conflicting  with  the  duties  of  a  mercantile 
life,  his  position  as  clerk  was  exchanged  for 


that  of  musical  instructor  to  the  young  sons 
of  his  employer.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
sailed  for  America  and  two  days  after  his 
arrival  in  Boston  was  put  in  charge  of  the 
band  instrument  department  of  a  prominent 
music  house.  In  the  interests  of  the  pub- 
lications of  this  house  he  organized  a  minstrel 
company  known  as  "  Ord way's  Eolians," 
with  which  he  first  achieved  success  as  a 
cornet  soloist.  Later  on  he  was  called  the 
best  E-flat  cornetist  in  the  United  States. 
He  became  leader,  successively,  of  the  Suf- 
folk, Boston  Brigade  and  Salem  bands. 
During  his  connection  with  the  latter  he 
inaugurated  the  famous  Fourth  of  July  con- 
certs on  Boston  Common,  since  adopted  as 
a  regular  programme  for  the  celebration  of 
Independence  Day.  In  1858  Mr.  Gilmore 
founded  the  organization  famous  thereafter 
as  Gilmore's  Band.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  this  band  was  attached  to  the 
Twenty-Fourth  .Massachusetts  Infantry. 
Later,  when  the  economical  policy  of  dis- 
pensing with  music  had  proved  a  mistake, 
Gilmore  was  entrusted  with  the  re-organiza- 
tion of  state  military  bands,  and  upon  his 
arrival  at  New  Orleans  with  his  own  band 
was  made  bandmaster-general  by  General 
Banks.  On  the  inauguration  of  Governor 
Hahn,  later  on,  in  Lafayette  square,  New 
Orleans,  ten  thousand  children,  mostly  of 
Confederate  parents,  rose  to  the  baton  of 
Gilmore  and,  accompanied  by  six  hundred 
instruments,  thirty-six  guns  and  the  united 
fire  of  three  regiments  of  infantry,  sang  the 
Star-Spangled  Banner,  America  and  other 
patriotic  Union  airs.  In  June,  1867,  Mr. 
Gilmore  conceived  a  national  musical  festi- 
val, which  was  denounced  as  a  chimerical 
undertaking,  but  he  succeeded  and  June  15. 
1869,  stepped  upon  the  stage  of  the  Boston 
Colosseum,  a  vast  structure  erected  for  the 
occasion,  and  in  the  presence  of  over  fifty 


78 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


thousand  people  lifted  his  baton  over  an 
orchestra  of  one  thousand  and  a  chorus  of 
ten  thousand.  On  the  17th  of  June,  1872, 
he  opened  a  still  greater  festival  in  Boston, 
when,  in  addition  to  an  orchestra  of  two 
thousand  and  a  chorus  of  twenty  thousand, 
were  present  the  Band  of  the  Grenadier 
Guards,  of  London,  of  the  Garde  Repub- 
licans, of  Paris,  of  Kaiser  Franz,  of  Berlin, 
and  one  from  Dublin,  Ireland,  together  with 
Johann  Strauss,  Franz  Abt  and-many  other 
soloists,  vocal  and  instrumental.  Gilmore's 
death  occurred  September  24,  1892. 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN  was  the  eighth 
president  of  the  United  States,  1837 
to  1 84 1.  He  was  of  Dutch  extraction,  and 
his  ancestors  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  He  was 
born  December  5,  1782,  at  Kinderhook, 
New  York.  Mr.  Van  Buren  took  up  the 
study  of  law  at  the  age  of  fourteen  and  took 
an  active  part  in  political  matters  before  he 
had  attained  his  majority.  He  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  in  1803  at  his  native 
town,  and  in  1809  he  removed  to  Hudson, 
Columbia  county,  New  York,  where  he 
spent  seven  years  gaining  strength  and  wis- 
dom from  his  contentions  at  the  bar  with 
some  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  profession. 
Mr.  Van  Buren  was  elected  to  the  state 
senate,  and  from  181 5  until  18 19  he  was  at- 
torney-general of  the  state.  He  was  re- 
elected to  the  senate  in  18 16,  and  in  18 18 
he  was  one  of  the  famous  clique  of  politi- 
cians known  as  the  "Albany  regency." 
Mr.  Van  Buren  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention for  the  revision  of  the  state  consti- 
tution, in  1 82 1.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate  and 
served  his  term  in  a  manner  that  caused  his 
re-election  to  that  body  in  1827,  but  re- 
signed the  following  year    as  he  had  been 


elected  governor  of  New  York.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  appointed  by  President  Jackson  as 
secretary  of  state  in  March,  1829,  but  resigned 
in  1 83 1,  and  during  the  recess  of  congress 
he  was  appointed  minister  to  England. 
The  senate,  however,  when  it  convened  in 
December  refused  to  ratify  the  appointment. 
In  May,  1832,  he  was  nominated  by  the 
Democrats  as  their  candidate  for  vice-presi- 
dent on  the  ticket  with  Andrew  Jackson, 
and  he  was  elected  in  the  following  Novem- 
ber. He  received  the  nomination  to  suc- 
ceed President  Jackson  in  1-836,  as  the 
Democratic  candidate,  and  in  the  electoral 
college  he  received  one  hundred  and  seventy 
votes  out  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-three, 
and  was  inaugurated  March  4,  1837.  His 
administration  was  begun  at  a  time  of  great 
business  depression, and  unparalled  financial 
distress,  which  caused  the  suspension  of 
specie  payments  by  the  banks.  Nearly 
every  bank  in  the  country  was  forced  to 
suspend  specie  payment,  and  no  less  than 
two  hundred  and  fifty-four  business  houses 
failed  in  New  York  in  one  week.  The 
President  urged  the  adoption  of  the  inde- 
pendent treasury  idea,  which  passed  through 
the  senate  twice  but  each  time  it  was  de- 
feated in  the  house.  However  the  measure 
ultimately  became  a  law  near  the  close  of 
President  Van  Buren's  term  of  office.  An- 
other important  measure  that  was  passed 
was  the  pre-emption  law  that  gave  the  act- 
ual settlers  preference  in  the  purchase  of 
public  lands.  The  question  of  slavery  had 
begun  to  assume  great  preponderance  dur- 
ing this  administration,  and  a  great  conflict 
was  tided  over  by  the  passage  of  a  resolu- 
tion that  prohibited  petitions  or  papers  that 
in  any  way  related  to  slavery  to  be  acted 
upon.  In  the  Democratic  convention  of 
1840  President  Van  Buren  secured  the 
nomination  for    re-election    on    that    ticket 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPIir. 


79 


without  opposition,  but  in  the  election  he 
only  received  the  votes  of  seven  states,  his 
opponent,  W.  H.  Harrison,  being  elected 
president.  In  1S48  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
the  candidate  of  the  "  Free-Soilers,"  but 
was  unsuccessful.  After  this  he  retired 
from  public  life  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  on  his  estate  at  Kinderhook,  where 
he  died  July  24,  1862. 


W INFIELD  SCOTT,  a  distinguished 
American  general,  was  born  June  13, 
1786,  near  Petersburg,  Dinwiddie  county, 
Virginia,  and  was  educated  at  the  William 
and  Mary  College.  He  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1808  he  accepted 
an  appointment  as  captain  of  light  artillery, 
and  was  ordered  to  New  Orleans.     In  June, 

1 812,  he  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  on  application  was  sent  to  the 
frontier,  and  reported  to  General  Smyth, 
near  Buffalo.  He  was  made  adjutant-gen- 
eral with  the  rank  of  a    colonel,  in  March, 

1 8 1 3,  and  the  same  month  attained  the  colo- 
nelcy of  his  regiment.  He  participated  in 
the  principal  battles  of  the  war  and  was 
wounded  many  times,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  voted  a  gold  medal  by  con- 
gress for  his  services.  He  was  a  writer  of 
considerable  merit  on  military  topics,  and 
he  gave  to  the  military  science,  "General 
Regulations  of  the  Army  "  and  "  System  of 
Infantry  and  Rifle  Practice."  He  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
and  at  the  beginning  of  the  Mexican  war  he 
was  appointed  to  take  the  command  of  the 
army.  Gen.  Scott  immediately  assembled 
his  troops  at  Lobos  Island  from  which  he 
moved  by  transports  to  Vera  Cruz,  which 
he  took  March  29,  1847,  and  rapidly  "fol- 
lowed up  his  first  success.  He  fought  the 
battles  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  Jalapa,  both  of 
which    he   won,  and    proceeded    to   Pueblo 


where  he  was  preceded  by  Worth's  division 
which  had  taken  the  town  and  waited  for  the 
coming  of  Scott.  The  army  was  forced  to 
wait  here  for  supplies,  and  August  7th, 
General  Scott  started  on  his  victorious 
march  to  the  city  of  Mexico  with  ten  thou- 
sand, seven  hundred  and  thirty-eight  men. 
The  battles  of  Contreras,  Cherubusco  and 
San  Antonio  were  fought  August  19-20, 
and  on  the  24th  an  armistice  was  agreed 
upon,  but  as  the  commissioners  could  not 
agree  on  the  terms  of  settlement,  the  fight- 
ing was  renewed  at  Molino  Del  Rey,  and 
the  Heights  of  Chapultepec  were  carried 
by  the  victorious  army  of  General  Scott. 
He  gave  the  enemy  no  respite,  however, 
and  vigorously  followed  up  his  advantages. 
On  September  14,  he  entered  the  City  of 
Mexico  and  dictated  the  terms  of  surrender 
in  the  very  heart  of  the  Mexican  Republic. 
General  Scott  was  offered  the  presidency  of 
the  Mexican  Republic,  but  declined.  Con- 
gress extended  him  a  vote  of  thanks  and 
ordered  a  gold  medal  be  struck  in  honor  of 
his  generalship  and  bravery.  He  was  can- 
didate for  the  presidency  on  the  Whig  plat 
form  but  was  defeated.  He  was  honored  by 
having  the  title  of  lieutenant-general  con- 
ferred upon  him  in  1 8  5  5 .  At  the  beginning  of 
the  Civil  war  he  was  too  infirm  to  take  charge 
of  the  army,  but  did  signal  service  in  be- 
half of  the  government.  He  retired  from 
the  service  November  1,  1861,  and  in  1864 
he  published  his  "Autobiography."  Gen- 
eral Scott  died  at  West  Point,  May  29,  1 866 


EDWARD  EVERETT  HALE  for  many 
years  occupied  a  high  place  among  the 
most  honored  of  America's  citizens.  As 
a  preacher  he  ranks  among  the  foremost 
in  the  New  England  states,  but  to  the  gen 
eral  public  he  is  best  known  through  his 
writings.      Born  in  Boston,    Mass.,  April  3, 


90 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


1822,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  most 
prominent  New  England  families,  he  enjoyed 
in  his  youth  many  of  the  advantages  denied 
the  majority  of  boys.  He  received  his  pre- 
paratory schooling  at  the  Boston  Latin 
School,  after  which  he  finished  his  studies  at 
Harvard  where  he  was  graduated  with  high 
honors  in  1839.  Having  studied  theology 
at  home,  Mr.  Hale  embraced  the  ministry 
and  in  1846  became  pastor  of  a  Unitarian 
church  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  a  post 
which  he  occupied  about  ten  years.  He 
then,  in  1856,  became  pastor  of  the  South 
Congregational  church  in  Boston,  over  which 
he  presided  many  years. 

Mr.  Hale  also  found  time  to  write  a 
great  many  literary  works  of  a  high  class. 
Among  many  other  well-known  productions 
5f  his  are  "  The  Rosary,"  "  Margaret  Per- 
cival  in  America,"  "Sketches  of  Christian 
iistory,"  "Kansas  and  Nebraska,"  "Let- 
ters on  Irish  Emigration,"  "  Ninety  Days' 
Worth  of  Europe,"  "  If,  Yes,  and  Perhaps," 
"Ingham  Papers,"  "Reformation,"  "Level 
Best  and  Other  Stories, "  ' '  Ups  and  Downs, " 
"Christmas  Eve  and  Christmas  Day,"  "  In 
His  Name,"  "Our  New  Crusade,"  "Work- 
ingmen's  Homes,"  "  Boys'  Heroes,"  etc., 
etc.,  besides  many  others  which  might  be 
mentioned.  One  of  his  works,  "In  His 
Name,"  has  earned  itself  enduring  fame  by 
the  good  deeds  it  has  called  forth.  The 
numerous  associations  known  as  '  'The  King's 
Daughters,"  which  has  accomplished  much 
good,  owe  their  existence  to  the  story  men- 
tioned. 

DAVID  GLASCOE  FARRAGUT  stands 
pre-eminent  as  one  of  the  greatest  na- 
val officers  of  the  world.  He  was  born  at 
Campbell's  Station,  East  Tennessee,  July 
5,  1 801,  and  entered  the  navy  of  the  United 
States  as  a  midshipman.     He  had  the  good 


fortune  to  serve  under  Captain  David  Por- 
ter, who  commanded  the  "  Essex,"  and  by 
whom  he  was  taught  the  ideas  of  devotion 
to  duty  from  which  he  never  swerved  dur- 
ing all  his  career.  In  1823  Mr.  Farragut 
took  part  in  a  severe  fight,  the  result  of 
which  was  the  suppression  of  piracy  in  the 
West  Indies.  He  then  entered  upon  the 
regular  duties  of  his  profession  which  was 
only  broken  into  by  a  year's  residence  with 
Charles  Folsom,  our  consul  at  Tunis,  who 
was  afterwards  a  distinguished  professor  at 
Harvard.  Mr.  Farragut  was  one  of  the  best 
linguists  in  the  navy.  He  had  risen  through 
the  different  grades  of  the  service  until  the 
war  of  1861-65  found  him  a  captain  resid- 
ing at  Norfolk,  Virginia.  He  removed  with 
his  family  to  Hastings,  on  the  Hudson,  and 
hastened  to  offer  his  services  to  the  Federal 
government,  and  as  the  capture  of  New 
Orleans  had  been  resolved  upon,  Farragut 
was  chosen  to  command  the  expedition. 
His  force  consisted  of  the  West  Gulf  block- 
ading squadron  and  Porter's  mortar  flotilla. 
In  January,  1862,  he  hoisted  his  pennant  at 
the  mizzen  peak  of  the  "Hartford"  at 
Hampton  roads,  set  sail  from  thence  on  the 
3rd  of  February  and  reached  Ship  Island  on 
the  20th  of  the  same  month.  A  council  of 
war  was  held  on  the  20th  of  April,  in  which 
it  was  decided  that  whatever  was  to  be  done 
must  be  done  quickly.  The  signal  was  made 
from  the  flagship  and  accordingly  the  fleet 
weighed  anchor  at  1:55  on  the  morning  of 
April  24th,  and  at  3:30  the  whole  force  was 
under  way.  The  history  of  this  brilliant  strug- 
gle is  well  known,  and  the  glory  ofit  made  Far- 
ragut a  hero  and  also  made  him  rear  admir- 
al. In  the  summer  of  1 862  he  ran  the  batteries 
at  Vicksburg,  and  on  March  14,  1863,  he 
passed  through  the  fearful  and  destructive 
fire  from  Port  Hudson,  and  opened  up  com- 
munication  with    Flag-officer  Porter,   who 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


N 


had  control  of  the  upper  Mississippi.  On 
May  24th  he  commenced  active  operations 
against  that  fort  in  conjunction  with  the  army 
and  it  fell  on  July  9th.  Mr.  Farragut  filled 
the  measure  of  his  fame  on  the  5th  of  Au- 
gust, 1864,  by  his  great  victory,  the  capture 
of  Mobile  Bay  and  the  destruction  of  the 
Confederate  fleet,  including  the  formidable 
ram  Tennessee.  For  this  victory  the  rank 
of  admiral  was  given  to  Mr.  Farragut.  He 
died  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  Au- 
gust 4,  1870. 

GEORGE  W.  CHILDS,  a  philanthropist 
whose  remarkable  personality  stood 
for  the  best  and  highest  type  of  American 
citizenship,  and  whose  whole  life  was  an 
object  lesson  in  noble  living,  was  born  in 
1829  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  of  humble 
parents,  and  spent  his  early  life  in  unremit- 
ting toil.  He  was  a  self-made  man  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word,  and  gained  his 
great  wealth  by  his  own  efforts.  He  was  a 
man  of  very  great  influence,  and  this,  in 
conjunction  with  his  wealth,  would  have 
been,  in  the  hands  of  other  men,  a  means  of 
getting  them  political  preferment,  but  Mr. 
Childs  steadily  declined  any  suggestions  that 
would  bring  him  to  figure  prominently  in 
public  affairs.  He  did  not  choose  to  found 
a  financial  dynasty,  but  devoted  all  his 
powers  to  the  helping  of  others,  with  the 
most  enlightened  beneficence  and  broadest 
sympathy.  Mr.  Childs  once  remarked  that 
his  greatest  pleasure  in  life  was  in  doing 
good  to  others.  He  always  despised  mean- 
ness, and  one  of  his  objects  of  life  was  to 
prove  that  a  man  could  be  liberal  and  suc- 
cessful at  the  same  time.  Upon  these  lines 
Mr.  Childs  made  a  name  for  himself  as  the 
director  of  one  of  the  representative  news- 
papers of  America,  "The  Philadelphia  Pub- 
lic Ledger,"  which  was  owned  jointly  by 
5 


himself  and  the  Drexel  estate,  and  which  he 
edited  for  thirty  years.  He  acquired  con- 
trol of  the  paper  at  a  time  when  it  was  be- 
ing published  at  a  heavy  loss,  set  it  upon  a 
firm  basis  of  prosperity,  and  he  made  it 
more  than  a  money-making  machine — he 
made  it  respected  as  an  exponent  of  the 
best  side  of  journalism,  and  it  stands  as  a 
monument  to  his  sound  judgment  and  up- 
right business  principles.  Mr.  Childs'  char- 
itable repute  brought  him  many  applications 
for  assistance,  and  he  never  refused  to  help 
any  one  that  was  deserving  of  aid;  and  not 
only  did  he  help  those  who  asked,  but  he 
would  by  careful  inquiry  find  those  who 
needed  aid  but  were  too  proud  to  solicit  it. 
He  was  a  considerable  employer  of  labor 
and  his  liberality  was  almost  unparalleled. 
The  death  of  this  great  and  good  man  oc- 
curred February  3d,   1894. 


PATRICK"  HENRY  won  his  way  to  un- 
dying fame  in  the  annals  of  the  early 
history  of  the  United  States  by  introducing 
into  the  house  of  burgesses  his  famous  reso- 
lution against  the  Stamp  Act,  which  he  car- 
ried through,  after  a  stormy  debate,  by  a 
majority  of  one.  At  this  time  he  exclaimed 
"  Caesar  had  his  Brutus,  Charles  I  his  Cromr 
well  and  George  III "  (here  he  was  inter- 
rupted by  cries  of  "  treason  ")  "  may  profit 
by  their  example.  If  this  be  treason  make 
the  most  of  it." 

Patrick  Henry  was  born  at  Studley, 
Hanover  county,  Virginia,  May  29,  1736, 
and  was  a  son  of  Colonel  John  Henry,  a 
magistrate  and  school  teacher  of  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  and  a  nephew  of  Robertson,  the 
historian.  He  received  his  education  from 
his  father,  and  was  married  at  the  age  of 
eighteen.  He  was  twice  bankrupted  before 
he  had  reached  his  twenty-fourth  year,  when 
after  six  weeks  of  study  he  was  admitted  to 


84 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


the  bar.  He  worked  for  three  years  with- 
out a  case  and  finally  was  applauded  for  his 
plea  for  the  people's  rights  and  gained  im- 
mense popularity.  After  his  famous  Stamp 
Act  resolution  he  was  the  leader  of  the  pa- 
triots in  Virginia.  In  1769  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  the  general  courts  and  speed- 
ily won  a  fortune  by  his  distinguished  ability 
as  a  speaker.  He  was  the  first  speaker  of 
the  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia  in 
1774.  He  was  for  a  time  a  colonel  of 
militiain  1775,  and  from  1776  to  1779  and 
1 78 1  to  1786  he  was  governor  of  Virginia. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  retired  from  pub- 
lic life  and  was  tendered  and  declined  a 
number  of  important  political  offices,  and  in 
March,  1789,  he  was  elected  state  senator 
but  did  not  take  his  seat  on  account  of  his 
death  which  occurred  at  Red  Hill,  Charlotte 
county,  Virginia,  June  6,   1799. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD,  an  American 
general  and  traitor  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  is  one  of  the  noted  characters  in 
American  history.  He  was  born  in  Nor- 
wich, Connecticut,  January  3,  1740.  He 
ran  away  and  enlisted  in  the  army  when 
young,  but  deserted  in  a  short  time.  He 
then  became  a  merchant  at  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  but  failed.  In  1775  he  was 
commissioned  colonel  in  the  Massachusetts 
militia,  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  was 
placed  in  command  of  one  thousand  men 
for  the  invasion  of  Canada.  He  marched 
his  army  through  the  forests  of  Maine  and 
joined  General  Montgomery  before  Quebec. 
Their  combined  forces  attacked  that  city  on 
December  31,  1775,  and  Montgomery  was 
killed,  and  Arnold,  severely  wounded,  was 
compelled  to  retreat  and  endure  a  rigorous 
winter  a  few  miles  from  the  city,  where  they 
were  at  the  mercy  of  the  Canadian  troops 
had  they  cared  to  attack  them.      On  his  re- 


turn he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  brigadier- 
general.  He  was  given  command  of  a  small 
flotilla  on  Lake  Champlain,  with  which  he 
encountered  an  immense  force,  and  though 
defeated,  performed  many  deeds  of  valor. 
He  resented  the  action  of  congress  in  pro- 
moting a  number  of  his  fellow  officers  and 
neglecting  himself.  In  1777  he  was  made 
major-general,  and  under  General  Gates  at 
Bemis  Heights  fought  valiantly.  For  some 
reason  General  Gates  found  fault  with  his 
conduct  and  ordered  him  under  arrest,  and 
he  was  kept  in  his  tent  until  the  battle  of 
Stillwater  was  waxing  hot,  when  Arnold 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  to  the  front  of 
his  old  troop,  gave  command  to  charge,  and 
rode  like  a  mad  man  into  the  thickest  of 
the  fight  and  was  not  overtaken  by  Gates' 
courier  until  he  had  routed  the  enemy  and 
fell  wounded.  Upon  his  recovery  he  was 
made  general,  and  was  placed  in  command 
at  Philadelphia.  Here  he  married,  and  his 
acts  of  rapacity  soon  resulted  in  a  court- 
martial.  He  was  sentenced  to  be  repri- 
manded by  the  commander-in-chief,  and 
though  Washington  performed  this  duty 
with  utmost  delicacy  and  consideration,  it 
was  never  forgiven.  Arnold  obtained  com- 
mand at  West  Point,  the  most  important 
post  held  by  the  Americans,  in  1780,  and 
immediately  offered  to  surrender  it  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  British  commander  at  New 
York.  Major  Andre  was  sent  to  arrange 
details  with  Arnold,  but  on  his  return  trip 
to  New  York  he  was  captured  by  Americans, 
the  plot  was  detected,  and  Andre  suffered 
the  death  penalty  as  a  spy.  Arnold  es- 
caped, and  was  paid  about  $40,000  by  the 
British  for  his  treason  and  was  made  briga- 
dier-general. He  afterward  commanded  an 
expedition  that  plundered  a  portion  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  another  th-at  burned  New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut,  and  captured  Fort  Trum- 


C OMPENDIUM   OF   BIO G R.  M'llV. 


85 


bull,  the  commandant  of  which  Arnold  mur- 
dered with  the  sword  he  had  just  surren- 
dered. He  passed  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
in  England,  universally  despised,  and  died 
in  London  June  14,  1801. 


ROBERT  G.  INGERSOLL,  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  orators  that  America  has 
produced,  also  a  lawyer  of  considerable 
merit,  won  most  of  his  fame  as  a  lecturer. 
Mr.  Ingersoll  was  born  August  24,  1833, 
at  Dryden,  Gates  county,  New  York,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
He  went  west  at  the  age  of  twelve,  and  for 
a  short  time  he  attended  an  academy  in 
Tennessee,  and  also  taught  school  in  that 
state.  He  began  the  practice  of  law  in  the 
southern  part  of  Illinois  in  1854.  Colonel 
Ingersoll's  principal  fame  was  made  in 
the  lecture  room  by  his  lectures  in  which  he 
ridiculed  religious  faith  and  creeds  and  criti- 
cised the  Bible  and  the  Christian  religion. 
He  was  the  orator  of  the  day  in  the  Decora- 
tion Day  celebration  in  the  city  of  New  York 
in  1882  and  his  oration  was  widely  com- 
mended. He  first  attracted  political  notice 
in  the  convention  at  Cincinnati  in  1876  by 
his  brilliant  eulogy  on  James  G.  Blaine.  He 
practiced  law  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  but  later  located  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  He  published  the  follow- 
ing: "The  Gods  and  other  Lectures;"  "The 
Ghosts;"  "Some  Mistakes  of  Moses;" 
"What  Shall  I  Do  To  Be  Saved;"  "  Inter- 
views on  Talmage  and  Presbyterian  Cate- 
chism;" The  "North  American  Review 
Controversy;"  "Prose  Poems;"  "  A  Vision 
of  War;"   etc. 


JOSEPH  ECCLESTON  JOHNSTON, 
<j  a  noted  general  in  the  Confederate  army, 
was  born  in  Prince  Edward  county,  Virginia, 
in  1807.      He  graduated   from  West  Point 


and  entered  the  army  in  1829.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  his  chief  service  was  garrison 
duty.  He  saw  active  service,  however,  in 
the  Seminole  war  in  Florida,  part  of  the 
time  as  a  staff  officer  of  General  Scott.  He 
resigned  his  commission  in  1837,  but  re- 
turned to  the  army  a  year  later,  and  was 
brevetted  captain  for  gallant  services  in 
Florida.  He  was  made  first  lieutenant  of 
topographical  engineers,  and  was  engaged 
in  river  and  harbor  improvements  and  also 
in  the  survey  of  the  Texas  boundary  and 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  United 
States  until  the  beginning  of  the  war 
with  Mexico.  He  was  at  the  siege  of  Vera 
Cruz,  and  at  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  was 
wounded  while  reconnoitering  the  enemy's 
position,  after  which  he  was  brevetted  major 
and  colonel.  He  was  in  all  the  battles  about 
the  city  of  Mexico,  and  was  again  wounded 
in  the  final  assault  upon  that  city.  After 
the  Mexican  war  closed  he  returned  to  duty 
as  captain  of  topographical  engineers,  but 
in  1855  he  was  made  lieutenant-colonel  of 
cavalry  and  did  frontier  duty,  and  was  ap- 
pointed inspector-general  of  the  expedition 
to  Utah.  In  i860  he  was  appointed  quar- 
termaster-general with  rank  of  brigadier- 
general.  At  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  in 
1 86 1  he  resigned  his  commission  and  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  major-general  of 
the  Confederate  army.  He  held  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  later  fought  General  Patterson 
about  Winchester.  At  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run  he  declined  command  in  favor  of  Beau- 
regard, and  acted  under  that  general's  direc- 
tions. He  commanded  the  Confederates  in 
the  famous  Peninsular  campaign,  and  was 
severely  wounded  at  Fair  Oaks  and  was 
succeeded  in  command  by  General  Lee. 
Upon  his  recovery  he  was  made  lieutenant- 
general  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
southwestern   department.       He    attempted 


86 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


to  raise  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  was 
finally  defeated  at  Jackson,  Mississippi. 
Having  been  made  a  general  he  succeeded 
General  Bragg  in  command  of  the  army  of 
Tennessee  and  was  ordered  to  check  General 
Sherman's  advance  upon  Atlanta.  Not 
daring  to  risk  a  battle  with  the  overwhelm- 
ing forces  of  Sherman,  he  slowly  retreated 
toward  Atlanta,  and  was  relieved  of  com- 
mand by  Fresident  Davis  and  succeeded  by 
General  Hood.  Hood  utterly  destroyed  his 
own  army  by  three  furious  attacks  upon 
Sherman.  Johnston  was  restored  to  com- 
mand in  the  Carolinas,  and  again  faced 
Sherman,  but  was  defeated  in  several  en- 
gagements and  continued  a  slow  retreat 
toward  Richmond.  Hearing  of  Lee's  sur- 
render, he  communicated  with  General 
Sherman,  and  finally  surrendered  his  army 
at  Durham,  North  Carolina,  April  26,  1865. 
General  Johnston  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  forty-sixth  congress  and  was  ap- 
pointed United  States  railroad  commis- 
sioner in  1885.      His  death  occurred  March 

21,    I  89 1. 

SAMUEL  LANGHORNE  CLEMENS, 
known  throughout  the  civilized  world 
as  "Mark  Twain,"  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  greatest  humorists  America  has  pro- 
duced. He  was  born  in  Monroe  county, 
Missouri,  November  30,  1835.  Hespenthis 
boyhood  days  in  his  native  state  and  many 
of  his  earlier  experiences  are  related  in  vari- 
ous forms  in  his  later  writings.  One  of  his 
early  acquaintances,  Capt.  Isaiah  Sellers, 
at  an  early  day  furnished  river  news  for  the 
New  Orleans  "  Picayune,"  using  the  nom- 
dc- plume  of  "Mark  Twain."  Sellers  died 
in  1863  and  Clemens  took  up  his  nom-de- 
plume  and  made  it  famous  throughout  the 
world  by  his  literary  work.  In  1862  Mr. 
Clemens  became  a  journalist   at   Virginia, 


Nevada,  and  afterward  followed  the  same  pro- 
fession at  San  Francisco  and  Buffalo,  New 
York.  He  accumulated  a  fortune  from  the 
sale  of  his  many  publications,  but  in  later 
years  engaged  in  business  enterprises,  partic- 
ularly the  manufacture  of  a  typesetting  ma- 
chine, which  dissipated  his  fortune  and  re- 
duced him  almost  to  poverty ,  but  with  resolute 
heart  he  at  once  again  took  up  his  pen  and 
engaged  in  literary  work  in  the  effort  to 
regain  his  lost  ground.  Among  the  best 
known  of  his  works  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing: ' '  The  Jumping  Frog, "  ' '  Tom  Saw- 
yer," "  Roughingit,"  "  Innocents  Abroad," 
"Huckleberry  Finn,"  "Gilded  Age," 
"Prince  and  Pauper,"  "Million  Pound 
Bank  Note,"  "A  Yankee  in  King  Arthur's 
Court,"  etc. 

CHRISTOPHER  CARSON,  better 
known  as  "Kit  Carson;"  was  an  Amer- 
ican trapper  and  scout  who  gained  a  wide 
reputation  for  his  frontier  work.  He  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  born  December  24th, 
1809.  He  grew  to  manhood  there,  devel- 
oping a  natural  inclination  for  adventure  in 
the  pioneer  experiences  in  his  native  state. 
When  yet  a  young  man  he  became  quite 
well  known  on  the  frontier.  He  served  as 
a  guide  to  Gen.  Fremont  in  his  Rocky 
Mountain  explorations  and  enlisted  in  the 
army.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  United 
States  service  in  both  the  Mexican  war  and 
the  great  Civil  war,  and  in  the  latter  received 
a  brevet  of  brigadier-general  for  meritorious 
service.  His  death  occurred  May  23, 
1868.  

JOHN  SHERMAN.— Statesman,  politi- 
cian, cabinet  officer  and  senator,  the  name 
of  the  gentleman  who  heads  this  sketch  is  al- 
most a  household  word  throughout  this 
country.      Identified  with  some  of  the  most 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


87 


important  measures  adopted  by  our  Govern- 
ment since  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  he  may 
well  be  called  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his 
day. 

John  Sherman  was  born  at  Lancaster, 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  May  ioth,  1823, 
the  son  of  Charles  R.  Sherman,  an  emi- 
nent lawyer  and  judge  of  the  supreme  court 
of  Ohio  and  who  died  in  1829.  The  subject 
of  this  article  received  an  academic  educa- 
tion and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1844. 
In  the  Whig  conventions  of  1844  and  1848 
he  sat  as  a  delegate.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  National  house  of  representatives, 
from  1855  to  1 86 1.  In  i860  he  was  re- 
elected to  the  same  position  but  was  chosen 
United  States  senator  before  he  took  his 
seat  in  the  lower  house.  He  was  re-elected 
senator  in  1866  and  1872  and  was  long 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  finance  and 
on  agriculture.  He  took  a  prominent  part 
in  debates  on  finance  and  on  the  conduct  of 
the  war,  and  was  one  of  the  authors  of  the 
reconstruction  measures  in  1866  and  1867, 
and  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treas- 
ury March  7th,   1877. 

Mr.  Sherman  was  re-elected  United  States 
senator  from  Ohio  January  1 8th,  1881,  and 
again  in  1886  and  1892,  during  which  time 
he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent leaders  of  the  Republican  party,  both 
in  the  senate  and  in  the  country.  He  was 
several  times  the  favorite  of  his  state  for  the 
nomination  for  president. 

On  the  formation  of  his  cabinet  in  March, 
1897,  President  McKinley  tendered  the  posi- 
tion of  secretary  of  state  to  Mr.  Sherman, 
which  was  accepted. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON,  ninth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Charles  county,  Virginia,  February 
9,    1773,    the  son   of    Governor    Benjamin 


Harrison.  He  took  a  course  in  Hampden- 
Sidney  College  with  a  view  to  the  practice 
of  medicine,  and  then  went  to  Philadelphia 
to  study  under  Dr.  Rush,  but  in  1791  he 
entered  the  army,  and  obtained  the  commis- 
sion of  ensign,  was  soon  promoted  to  the 
lieutenancy,  and  was  with  General  Wayne 
in  his  war  against  the  Indians.  For  his 
valuable  service  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  captain  and  given  command  of  Fort 
Washington,  now  Cincinnati.  He  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  the  Northwest  Territory 
in  1797,  and  in  1799  became  its  representa- 
tive in  congress.  In  1801  he  was  appointed 
governor  of  Indiana  Territory,  and  held  the 
position  for  twelve  years,  during  which  time 
he  negotiated  important  treaties  with  the  In- 
dians, causing  them  to  relinquish  millions  of 
acres  of  land,  and  also  won  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe  in  181 1.  He  succeeded  in 
obtaining  a  change  in  the  law  which  did  not 
permit  purchase  of  public  lands  in  less  tracts 
than  four  thousand  acres,  reducing  the  limit 
to  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He 
became  major-general  of  Kentucky  militia 
and  brigadier-general  in  the  United  States 
army  in  18 12,  and  won  great  renown  in 
the  defense  of  Fort  Meigs,  and  his  victory 
over  the  British  and  Indians  under  Proctor 
and  Tecumseh  at  the  Thames  river,  October 
5.  1813. 

In  1 8 16  General  Harrison  was  elected  to 
congress  from  Ohio,  and  during  the  canvass 
was  accused  of  corrupt  methods  in  regard  tc 
the  commissariat  of  the  army.  He  demanded 
an  investigation  after  the  election  and  was 
exonerated.  In  18 19  he  was  elected  to 
the  Ohio  state  senate,  and  in  1824  he  gave 
his  vote  as  a  presidential  elector  to  Henry 
Clay.  He  became  a  member  of  the  United 
States  senate  the  same  year.  During  the 
last  year  of  Adams'  administration  he  was 
sent  as  minister  to  Colombia,    but  was  re- 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


called  by  President  Jackson  the  following 
year.  He  then  retired  to  his  estate  at  North 
Bend,  Ohio, a  few  miles  below  Cincinnati.  In 
1836  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  presidency, 
but  as  there  were  three  other  candidates 
the  votes  were  divided,  he  receiving  seventy- 
three  electoral  votes,  a  majority  going  to 
Mr.  Van  Buren,  the  Democratic  candidate. 
Four  years  later  General  Harrison  was  again 
nominated  by  the  Whigs,  and  elected  by  a 
tremendous  majority.  The  campaign  was 
noted  for  its  novel  features,  many  of  which 
have  found  a  permanent  place  in  subsequent 
campaigns.  Those  peculiar  to  that  cam- 
paign, however,  were  the  "  log-cabin"  and 
"  hard  cider"  watchwords,  which  produced 
great  enthusiasm  among  his  followers.  One 
month  after  his  inauguration  he  died  from 
an  attack  of  pleurisy,  April  4,   1841. 


CHARLES  A.  DANA,  the  well-known 
and  widely-read  journalist  of  New  York 
City,  a  native  of  Hinsdale,  New  Hampshire, 
was  born  August  8,  18 19.  He  received 
the  elements  of  a  good  education  in  his 
youth  and  studied  for  two  years  at  Harvard 
University.  Owing  to  some  disease  of  the 
eyes  he  was  unable  to  complete  his  course 
and  graduate,  but  was  granted  the  degree  of 
A.  M.  notwithstanding.  For  some  time  he 
was  editor  of  the  "  Harbinger,"  and  was  a 
regular  contributor  to  the  Boston  "  Chrono- 
type."  In  1847  he  became  connected  with 
the  New  York  ' '  Tribune, "  and  continued  on 
the  staff  of  that  journal  until  1858.  In  the 
latter  year  he  edited  and  compiled  "The 
Household  Book  of  Poetry,"  and  later,  in 
connection  with  George  Ripley,  edited  the 
"New  American  Cyclopaedia." 

Mr.  Dana,  on  severing  his  connection 
with  the  ' '  Tribune  "  in  1 867,  became  editor 
of  the  New  York  "Sun,"  a  paper  with 
which  he  was  identified  for  many  years,  and 


which  he  made  one  of  the  leaders  of  thought 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States. 
He  wielded  a  forceful  pen  and  fearlessly 
attacked  whatever  was  corrupt  and  unworthy 
in  politics,  state  or  national.  The  same 
year,  1867,  Mr.  Dana  organized  the  New 
York  "  Sun  "  Company. 

During  the  troublous  days  of  the  war, 
when  the  fate  of  the  Nation  depended  upon 
the  armies  in  the  field,  Mr.  Dana  accepted 
the  arduous  and  responsible  position  of 
assistant  secretary  of  war,  and  held  the 
position  during  the  greater  part  of  1863 
and  1864.      He  died  October  17,  1897. 


ASA  GRAY  was  recognized  throughout  the 
scientific  world  as  one  of  the  ablest 
and  most  eminent  of  botanists.  He  was 
born  at  Paris,  Oneida  county,  New  York, 
November  18,  1810.  He  received  his  medi- 
cal degree  at  the  Fairfield  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons,  in  Herkimer  county, 
New  York,  and  studied  botany  with  the  late 
Professor  Torrey,  of  New  York.  He  was 
appointed  botanist  to  the  Wilkes  expedition 
in  1834,  but  declined  the  offer  and  became 
professor  of  natural  history  in  Harvard  Uni- 
versity in  1842.  He  retired  from  the  active 
duties  of  this  post  in  1873,  and  in  1874  he 
was  the  regent  of  the  Smithsonian  Institu- 
tion at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia. 
Dr.  Gray  wrote  several  books  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  many  sciences  of  which  he  was 
master.  In  1836  he  published  his  "Ele- 
ments of  Botany,"  "  Manual  of  Botany"  in 
1848;  the  unfinished  "Flora  of  North 
America,"  by  himself  and  Dr.  Torrey,  the 
publication  of  which  commenced  in  1838. 
There  is  another  of  his  unfinished  works 
called  "Genera  Boreali-Americana, "  pub- 
lished in  1848,  and  the  "Botany  of  the 
United  States  Pacific  Exploring  Expedition 
in  1854."     He  wrote  many  elaborate  papers 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


on  the  botany  of  the  west  and  southwest 
that  were  published  in  the  Smithsonian  Con- 
tributions, Memoirs,  etc.,  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  of  which  in- 
stitution he  was  president  for  ten  years. 
He  was  also  the  author  of  many  of  the 
government  reports.  "  How  Plants  Grow," 
"  Lessons  in  Botany,"  "  Structural  and  Sys- 
tematic Botany,"  are  also  works  from  his 
ready  pen. 

Dr.  Gray  published  in  1861  his  "Free 
Examination  of  Darwin's  Treatise  "  and  his 
"  Darwiniana,"  in  1876.  Mr.  Gray  was 
elected  July  29,  1878,  to  a  membership  in 
the  Institute  of  France,  Academy  of  Sciences. 
His  death  occurred  at  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, January  30,   1889. 


WILLIAM  MAXWELL  EVARTS  was 
one  of  the  greatest  leaders  of  the 
American  bar.  He  was  born  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  February  6,  18 18,  and  grad- 
uated from  Yale  College  in  1837.  He  took 
up  the  study  of  law,  which  he  practiced  in 
the  city  of  New  York  and  won  great  renown 
as  an  orator  and  advocate.  He  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party,  which  he  joined 
soon  after  its  organization.  He  was  the 
leading  counsel  employed  for  the  defense  of 
President  Johnson  in  his  trial  for  impeach- 
ment before  the  senate  in  April  and  May  of 
1868. 

In  July,  1868,  Mr.  Evarts  was  appointed 
attorney-general  of  the  United  States,  and 
served  until  March  4,  1869.  He  was  one 
of  the  three  lawyers  who  were  selected  by 
President  Grant  in  1 871  to  defend  the  inter- 
ests of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  be- 
fore the  tribunal  of  arbitration  which  met 
at  Geneva  in  Switzerland  to  settle  the  con- 
troversy over  the  "  Alabama  Claims." 

He  was  one  of  the  most  eloquent  advo- 
cates in  the  United  States,  and  many  of  his 


public  addresses  have  been  preserved  and 
published.  He  was  appointed  secretary  of 
state  March  7,  1877,  by  President  Hayes, 
and  served  during  the  Hayes  administration. 
He  was  elected  senator  from  the  state  of 
New  York  January  21,  1885,  and  at  once 
took  rank  among  the  ablest  statesmen  in 
Congress,  and  the  prominent  part  he  took 
in  the  discussion  of  public  questions  gave 
him  a  national  reputation. 


JOHN  WANAMAKER.— The  life  of  this 
<J  great  merchant  demonstrates  the  fact 
that  the  great  secret  of  rising  from  the  ranks 
is,  to-day,  as  in  the  past  ages,  not  so  much  the 
ability  to  make  money,  as  to  save  it,  or  in 
other  words,  the  ability  to  live  well  within 
one's  income.  Mr.  Wanamaker  was  born  in 
Philadelphia  in  1838.  He  started  out  in 
life  working  in  a  brickyard  for  a  mere  pit- 
tance, and  left  that  position  to  work  in  a 
book  store  as  a  clerk,  where  he  earned 
the  sum  of  $5.00  per  month,  and  later  on 
was  in  the  employ  of  a  clothier  where  he 
received  twenty-five  cents  a  week  more. 
He  was  only  fifteen  years  of  age  at  that 
time,  but  was  a  "  money-getter  "  by  instinct, 
and  laid  by  a  small  sum  for  a  possible  rainy 
day.  By  strict  attention  to  business,  com- 
bined with  natural  ability,  he  was  promoted 
many  times,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  he 
had  saved  $2,000.  After  several  months 
vacation  in  the  south,  he  returned  to  Phila- 
delphia and  became  a  master  brick  mason, 
but  this  was  too  tiresome  to  the  young  man, 
and  he  opened  up  the  "  Oak  Hall  "  clothing 
store  in  April,  1861,  at  Philadelphia.  The 
capital  of  the  firm  was  rather  limited,  but 
finally,  after  many  discouragements,  they 
laid  the  foundations  of  one  of  the  largest 
business  houses  in  the  world.  The  estab- 
lishment covers  at  the  present  writing  some 
fourteen  acres  of  floor  space,  and  furnishes 


90 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


employment  for  five  thousand  persons.  Mr. 
Wanamaker  was  also  a  great  church  worker, 
and  built  a  church  that  cost  him  $60,000, 
and  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  had  a  membership  of  over 
three  thousand  children.  He  steadily  re- 
fused to  run  for  mayor  or  congress  and  the 
only  public  office  that  he  ever  held  was  that 
of  postmaster-general,  under  the  Harrison 
administration,  and  here  he  exhibited  his 
extraordinary  aptitude  for  comprehending 
the  details  of  public  business. 


DAVID  BENNETT  HILL,  a  Demo- 
cratic politician  who  gained  a  na- 
tional reputation,  was  born  August  29, 
1843,  at  Havana,  New  York.  He  was 
educated  at  the  academy  of  his  native  town, 
and  removed  to  Elmira,  New  York,  in  1862, 
where  he  studied  law.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1864,  in  which  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed city  attorney.  Mr.  Hill  soon  gained 
a  considerable  practice,  becoming  prominent 
in  his  profession.  He  developed  a  taste  for 
politics  in  which  he  began  to  take  an  active 
part  in  the  different  campaigns  and  became 
the  recognized  leader  of  the  local  Democ- 
racy. In  1870  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  assembly  and  was  re-elected  in  1872. 
While  a  member  of  this  assembly  he  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  after- 
ward governor  of  the  state,  who  appointed 
Mr.  Hill,  W.  M.  Evarts  and  Judge  Hand 
as  a  committee  to  provide  a  uniform  charter 
for  the  different  cities  of  the  state.  The 
pressure  of  professional  engagements  com- 
pelled him  to  decline  to  serve.  In  1877 
Mr.  Hill  was  made  chairman  of  the  Demo- 
cratic state  convention  at  Albany,  his  elec- 
tion being  due  to  the  Tilden  wing  of  the 
party,  ana  he  held  the  same  position  again 
in  1 88 1.  He  served  one  term  as  alderman 
in  Eimira,  at  the  expiration  of  which  term, 


in  1882,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Elmira, 
and  in  September  of  the  same  year  was 
nominated  for  lieutenant-governor  on  the 
Democratic  state  ticket.  He  was  success- 
ful in  the  campaign  and  two  years  later, 
when  Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  to  the 
presidency,  Mr.  Hill  succeeded  to  the  gov- 
ernorship for  the  unexpired  term.  In  1885 
he  was  elected  governor  for  a  full  term  of 
three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  he  was  re- 
elected, his  term  expiring  in  1891,  in  which 
year  he  was  elected  United  States  senator. 
In  the  senate  he  became  a  conspicuous 
figure  and  gained  a  national  reputation. 


ALLEN  G.  THURMAN.  — "  The  noblest 
Roman  of  them  all "  was  the  title  by 
which  Mr.  Thurman  was  called  by  his  com- 
patriots of  the  Democracy.  He  was  the 
greatest  leader  of  the  Democratic  party  in 
his  day  and  held  the  esteem  of  all  the 
people,  regardless  of  their  political  creeds. 
Mr.  Thurman  was  born  November  13,  18 13, 
at  Lynchburg,  Virginia,  where  he  remained 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  six  years, 
when  he  moved  to  Ohio.  He  received  an 
academic  education  and  after  graduating, 
took  up  the  study  of  law,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1835,  and  achieved  a  brilliant 
success  in  that  line.  In  political  life  he  was 
very  successful,  and  his  first  office  was  that 
of  representative  of  the  state  of  Ohio  in  the 
twenty-ninth  congress.  He  was  elected 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio  in  1851, 
and  was  chief  justice  of  the  same  from  1854 
to  1856.  In  1867  he  was  the  choice  of  the 
Democratic  party  of  his  state  for  governor, 
and  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate 
in  1869  to  succeed  Benjamin  F.  Wade, 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position  in 
1874.  He  was  a  prominent  figure  in  the 
senate,  until  the  expiration  of  his  service  i.i 
1 88 1.      Mr.  Thurman  was  also    one  of  the 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


91 


principal  presidental  possibilities  in  the 
Democratic  convention  held  at  St.  Louis  in 
1876.  In  18S8  he  was  the  Democratic 
nominee  for  vice-president  on  the  ticket 
with  Grover  Cleveland,  but  was  defeated. 
Allen  Granberry  Thurman  died  December 
12,   1895,  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 


CHARLES  FARRAR  BROWNE,  better 
known  as  "  Artemus  Ward,"  was  born 
April  26,  1834,  in  the  village  of  Waterford, 
Maine.  He  was  thirteen  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  about  a  year 
later  he  was  apprenticed  to  John  M.  Rix, 
who  published  the  "Coos  County  Dem- 
ocrat "  at  Lancaster,  New  Hampshire.  Mr. 
Browne  remained  with  him  one  year,  when, 
hearing  that  his  brother  Cyrus  was  starting 
a  paper  at  Norway,  Maine,  he  left  Mr.  Rix 
and  determined  to  get  work  on  the  new 
paper.  He  worked  for  his  brother  until  the 
failure  of  the  newspaper,  and  then  went  to 
Augusta,  Maine,  where  he  remained  a  few 
weeks  and  then  removed  to  Skowhegan, 
and  secured  a  position  on  the  "Clarion." 
But  either  the  climate  or  the  work  was  not 
satisfactory  to  him,  for  one  night  he  silently 
left  the  town  and  astonished  his  good  mother 
by  appearing  unexpectedly  at  home.  Mr. 
Browne  then  received  some  letters  of  recom- 
mendation to  Messrs.  Snow  and  Wilder,  of 
Boston,  at  whose  office  Mrs.  Partington's 
(B.  P.  Shillaber)  ' '  Carpet  Bag  "  was  printed, 
and  he  was  engaged  and  remained  there  for 
three  years.  He  then  traveled  westward  in 
search  of  employment  and  got  as  far  as  Tif- 
fin, Ohio,  where  he  found  employment  in  the 
office  of  the  "Advertiser,"  and  remained 
there  some  months  when  he  proceeded  to 
Toledo,  Ohio,  where  he  became  one  of  the 
staff  of  the  "Commercial,"  which  position 
he  held  until  1857.  Mr.  Browne  next  went 
lit  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and   became  the  local 


editor  of  the  "Plain  Dealer,"  and  it  was  in 
the  columns  of  this  paper  that  he  published 
his  first  articles  and  signed  them  "  Artemus 
Ward."  In  i860  he  went  to"  New  York  and 
became  the  editor  of  "  Vanity  Fair,"  but 
the  idea  of  lecturing  here  seized  him,  and  he 
was  fully  determined  to  make  the  trial. 
Mr.  Browne  brought  out  his  lecture,  "Babes 
in  the  Woods"  at  Clinton  Hall,  December 
23,  1 86 1,  and  in  1862  he  published  his  first 
book  entitled,  "  Artemus  Ward;  His  Book. " 
He  attained  great  fame  as  a  lecturer  and  his 
lectures  were  not  confined  to  America,  for 
he  went  to  England  in  1866,  and  became 
exceedingly  popular,  both  as  a  lecturer  and 
a  contributor  to  "Punch."  Mr.  Browne 
lectured  for  the  last  time  January  23,  1867. 
He  died  in  Southampton,  England,  March 
6,' 1867.  ______ 

THURLOW  WEED,  a  noted  journalist 
and  politician,  was  born  in  Cairo,  New 
York,  November  15,  1797.  He  learned  the 
printer's  trade  at  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
and  worked  at  this  calling  for  several  years 
in  various  villages  in  centra!  New  York.  He 
served  as  quartermaster-sergeant  during  the 
war  of  18 1 2.  In  18 18  he  established  the 
"Agriculturist,"  at  Norwich,  New  York, 
and  became  editor  of  the  "Anti-Masonic 
Enquirer,"  at  Rochester,  in  1826.  In  the 
same  year  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
and  re-elected  in  1830,  when  he  located  in 
Albany,  New  York,  and  there  started  the 
"  Evening  Journal,"  and  conducted  it  in  op- 
position to  the  Jackson  administration  and 
the  nullification  doctrines  of  Calhoun.  He 
became  an  adroit  party  manager,  and  was 
instrumental  in  promoting  the  nomination; 
of  Harrison,  Taylor  and  Scott  for  the  pres- 
idency. In  1856  and  in  i860  he  threw  his 
support  to  W.  H.  Seward,  but  when  defeat- 
ed in  his  object,  he  gave  cordial  support  to 


92 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


Fremont  and  Lincoln.  Mr.  Lincoln  pre- 
vailed upon  him  to  visit  the  various  capitals 
of  Europe,  where  he  proved  a  valuable  aid 
tc  the  administration  in  moulding  the  opin- 
ions of  the  statesmen  of  that  continent 
favorable  to  the  cause  of  the  Union. 

Mr.  Weed's  connection  with  the  ' '  Even- 
ing Journal  "  was  severed  in  1862,  when  he 
settled  in  New  York,  and  for  a  time  edited 
the  "Commercial  Advertiser."  In  1868  he 
retired  from  active  life.  His  "  Letters  from 
Europe  and  the  West  Indies,"  published  in 
1 866,  together  with  some  interesting  "Rem- 
iniscences,"  published  in  the  "Atlantic 
Monthly,"  in  1870,  an  autobiography,  and 
portions  of  an  extensive  correspondence  will 
be  of  great  value  to  writers  of  the  political 
history  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Weed 
died  in  New  York,  November  22,  1882. 


WILLIAM  COLLINS  WHITNEY, 
one  of  the  prominent  Democratic 
politicians  of  the  country  and  ex-secretary  of 
the  navy,  was  born  July  5th,  1841,  at  Con- 
way, Massachusetts,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation at  Williston  Seminary,  East  Hamp- 
ton, Massachusetts,  Later  he  attended 
Yale  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1863, 
and  entered  the  Harvard  Law  School,  which 
he  left  in  1864.  Beginning  practice  in  New 
York  city,  he  soon  gained  a  reputation  as 
an  able  lawyer.  He  made  his  first  appear- 
ance in  public  affairs  in  1871,  when  he  was 
active  in  organizing  a  young  men's  Demo- 
cratic club.  In  1872  he  was  the  recognized 
leader  of  the  county  Democracy  and  in  1875 
was  appointed  corporation  counsel  for  the 
city  of  New  York.  He  resigned  the  office, 
1882,  to  attend  to  personal  interests  and  on 
March  5,  1885,  he  was  appointed  secretary 
of  the  navy  by  President  Cleveland.  Under 
his  administration  the  navy  of  the  United 
States  rapidly  rose  in  rank  among  the  navies 


of  the  world.  When  he  retired  from  office 
in  1889,  the  vessels  of  the  United  States 
navy  designed  and  contracted  for  by  him 
were  five  double-turreted  monitors,  twc 
new  armor-clads,  the  dynamite  cruiser  "Ve- 
suvius," and  five  unarmored  steel  and  iron 
cruisers. 

Mr.  Whitney  was  the  leader  of  the 
Cleveland  forces  in  the  national  Democratic 
convention   of   1892. 


EDWIN  FORREST,  the  first  and  great- 
est American  tragedian,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia  in  1806.  His  father  was  a 
tradesman,  and  some  accounts  state  that  he 
had  marked  out  a  mercantile  career  for  his 
son,  Edwin,  while  others  claim  that  he  had 
intended  him  for  the  ministry.  His  wonder- 
ful memory,  his  powers  of  mimicry  and  his 
strong  musical  voice,  however,  attracted  at- 
tention before  he  was  eleven  years  old,  and 
at  that  age  he  made  his  first  appearance  on 
the  stage.  The  costume  in  which  he  appeared 
was  so  ridiculous  that  he  left  the  stage  in  a 
fit  of  anger  amid  a  roar  of  laughter  from 
the  audience.  This  did  not  discourage  him, 
however,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  after 
some  preliminary  training  in  elocution,  he 
appeared  again,  this  time  as  Young  Norvel, 
and  gave  indications  of  future  greatness. 
Up  to  1826  he  played  entirely  with  strolling 
companies  through  the  south  and  west,  but 
at  that  time  he  obtained  an  engagement  at 
the  Bowery  Theater  in  New  York.  From 
that  time  his  fortune  was  made.  His  man- 
ager paid  him  $40  per  night,  and  it  is  stated 
that  he  loaned  Forrest  to  other  houses  from 
time  to  time  at  $200  per  night.  His  great 
successes  were  Virginius,  Damon,  Othello, 
Coriolanus,  William  Tell,  Spartacus  and 
Lear.  He  made  his  first  appearance  in 
London  in  1836,  and  his  success  was  un- 
questioned from  the  start.      In  1845,  on  his 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


93 


second  appearance  in  London,  he  became 
involved  in  a  bitter  rivalry  with  the  great 
English  actor,  Macready,  who  had  visited 
America  two  years  before.  The  result  was 
that  Forrest  was  hissed  from  the  stage,  and 
it  was  charged  that  Macready  had  instigated 
the  plot.  Forrest's  resentment  was  so  bitter 
that  he  himself  openly  hissed  Macready 
from  his  box  a  few  nights  later.  In  1848 
Macready  again  visited  America  at  a  time 
when  American  admiration  and  enthusiasm 
for  Forrest  had  reached  its  height.  Macready 
undertook  to  play  at  Astor  Place  Opera 
House  in  May,  1849,  but  was  hooted  off  the 
stage.  A  few  nights  later  Macready  made  a 
second  attempt  to  play  at  the  same  house, 
this  time  under  police  protection.  The  house 
was  filled  with  Macready 's  friends,  but  the  vio- 
olence  of  the  mob  outside  stopped  the  play, 
and  the  actor  barely  escaped  with  his  life. 
Upon  reading  the  riot  act  the  police  and 
troops  were  assaulted  with  stones.  The 
troops  replied,  first  with  blank  cartridges, 
and  then  a  volley  of  lead  dispersed  the 
mob,  leaving  thirty  men  dead  or  seriously 
wounded. 

After  this  incident  Forrest's  popularity 
waned,  until  in  1855  he  retired  from  the 
stage.  He  re-appeared  in  i860,  however, 
and  probably  the  most  remunerative  period 
of  his  life  was  between  that  date  and  the 
close  of  the  Civil  war.  His  last  appearance 
on  the  stage  was  at  the  Globe  Theatre, 
Boston,  in  Richelieu,  in  April,  1872,  his 
death   occurring  December  12  of  that  year. 


NOAH  PORTER,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was 
one  of  the  most  noted  educators,  au- 
thors and  scientific  writers  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  born  December  14,  181 1, 
at  Farmington,  Connecticut,  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  183 1,  and  was  master  of 
Hopkins  Grammar  School  at  New  Haven  in 


l83!-33-  During  1833-35  he  was  a  tutor 
at  Yale,  and  at  the  same  time  was  pursuing 
his  theological  studies,  and  became  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  church  at  New  Mil- 
ford,  Connecticut,  in  April,  1836.  Dr. 
Porter  removed  to  Springfield,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1843,  and  was  chosen  professor  of 
metaphysics  and  moral  philosophy  at  Yale 
in  1846.  He  spent  a  year  in  Germany  in 
the  study  of  modern  metaphysics  in  1 853— 
54,  and  in  1871  he  was  elected  president  of 
Yale  College.  He  resigned  the  presidency 
in  1885,  but  still  remained  professor  of  met- 
aphysics and  moral  philosophy.  He  was 
the  author  of  a  number  of  works,  among 
which  are  the  following:  "  Historical  Es- 
say," written  in  commemorationof the  200th 
aniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  town  of 
Farmington;  "  Educational  System  of  the 
Jesuits  Compared;"  "The  Human  Intel- 
lect," with  an  introduction  upon  psychology 
and  the  soul;  "  Books  and  Reading;" 
"American  Colleges  and  the  American  Pub- 
lic;" "  Elementsof  Intellectual  Philosophy;" 
"  The  Science  of  Nature  versus  the  Science 
of  Man;"  "Science  and  Sentiment;"  "Ele- 
ments of  Moral  Science."  Dr.  Porter  was 
the  principal  editor  of  the  revised  edition  of 
Webster's  Dictionary  in  1864,  and  con- 
tributed largely  to  religious  reviews  and 
periodicals.  Dr.  Porter's  death  occurred 
March  4,  1892,  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 


JOHN  TYLER,  tenth  president  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  Charles  City 
county,  Virginia,  March  29,  1790,  and  was 
the  son  of  Judge  John  Tyler,  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  men  of  his  day. 

When  but  twelve  years  of  age  young 
John  Tyler  entered  William  and  Mary  Col- 
lege, graduating  from  there  in  1806.  He 
took  up  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1809,  when  but  nineteen  years 


94 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPHY, 


of  age.  On  attaining  his  majority  in  1811 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state  legis- 
lature, and  fcfr  five  years  held  that  position 
by  the  almost  unanimous  vote  of  his  county. 
He  was  elected  to  congress  in  18 16,  and 
served  in  that  body  for  four  years,  after 
which  for  two  years  he  represented  his  dis- 
trict again  in  the  legislature  of  the  state. 
While  in  congress,  he  opposed  the  United 
States  bank,  the  protective  policy  and  in- 
ternal improvements  by  the  United  States 
government.  1825  saw  Mr.  Tyler  governor 
of  Virginia,  but  in  1827  he  was  chosen 
member  of  the  United  States  senate,  and 
held  that  office  for  nine  years.  He  therein 
opposed  the  administration  of  Adams  and 
the  tariff  bill  of  1828,  sympathized  with  the 
milliners  of  South  Carolina  and  was  the 
only  senator  who  voted  against  the  Force 
bill  for  the  suppression  of  that  state's  insip- 
ient  rebellion.  He  resigned  his  position  as 
senator  on  account  of  a  disagreement  with 
the  legislature  of  his  state  in  relation  to  his 
censuring  President  Jackson.  He  retired  to 
Williamsburg,  Virginia,  but  being  regarded 
as  a  martyr  by  the  Whigs,  whom,  hereto- 
fore, he  had  always  opposed,  was  supported 
by  many  of  that  party  for  the  vice-presi- 
dency in  1836.  He  sat  in  the  Virginia  leg- 
islature as  a  Whig  in  1839-40,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  of  that  party  in 
1859.  This  national  convention  nominated 
him  for  the  second  place  on  the  ticket  with 
General  William  H.  H.  Harrison,  and  he 
was  elected  vice-president  in  November, 
1840.  President  Harrison  dying  one  month 
after  his  inauguration,  he  was  succeeded  by 
John  Tyler.  He  retained  the  cabinet  chosen 
by  his  predecessor,  and  for  a  time  moved  in 
harmony  with  the  Whig  party.  He  finally 
instructed  the  secretary  of  the  treasury, 
Thomas  Ewing,  to  submit  to  congress  a  bill 
for  the  incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the 


United  States,  which  was  passed  by  con- 
gress, but  vetoed  by  the  president  on  ac- 
count of  some  amendments  he  considered 
unconstitutional.  For  this  and  other  meas- 
ures he  was  accused  of  treachery  to  his 
party,  and  deserted  by  his  whole  cabinet, 
except  Daniel  Webs'  er.  Things  grew  worse 
until  he  was  abandoned  by  the  Whig  party 
formally,  when  Mr.  Webster  resigned.  He 
was  nominated  at  Baltimore,  in  May,  1844, 
at  the  Democratic  convention,  as  their  pres- 
idential candidate,  but  withdrew  from  the 
canvass,  as  he  saw  he  had  not  succeed- 
ed in  gaining  the  confidence  of  his  old 
party.  He  then  retired  from  politics  until 
February,  1861,  when  he  was  made  presi- 
dent of  the  abortive  peace  congress,  which 
met  in  Washington.  He  shortly  after  re- 
nounced his  allegiance  to  the  United  States 
and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Confeder- 
ate congress.  He  died  at  Richmond,  Janu- 
ary 17,  1862. 

Mr.  Tyler  married,  in  181 3,  Miss  Letitia 
Christian,  who  died  in  1842  at  Washington. 
June  26,  1844,  he  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage, with  Miss  Julia  Gardner,  of  New  York. 


COLLIS  POTTER  HUNTINGTON, 
one  of  the  great  men  of  his  time  and 
who  has  left  his  impress  upon  the  history  of 
our  national  development,  was  born  October 
22,  1 82 1,  at  Harwinton,  Connecticut. 
He  received  a  common-school  education 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  his  spirit  of  get- 
ting along  in  the  world  mastered  his  educa- 
tional propensities  and  his  father's  objec- 
tions and  he  left  school.  He  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  the  early  days  and  had  opportunities 
which  he  handled  masterfully.  Others  had 
the  same  opportunities  but  they  did  not  have 
his  brains  nor  his  energy,  and  it  was  he  who 
overcame  obstacles  and  reaped  the  reward 
of    his  genius.      Transcontinental    railways 


COMPEXDir.U   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


95 


were  inevitable,  but  the  realization  of  this 
masterful  achievement  would  have  been  de- 
layed to  a  much  later  day  if  there  had  been 
no  Huntington.  He  associated  himself  with 
Messrs.  Mark  Hopkins,  Leland  Stanford, 
and  Charles  Crocker,  and  they  furnished  the 
money  necessary  for  a  survey  across  the 
Sierra  Nevadas,  secured  a  charter  for  the 
road,  and  raised,  with  the  government's  aid, 
money  enough  to  construct  and  equip  that 
railway,  which  at  the  time  of  its  completion 
was  a  marvel  of  engineering  and  one  of  the 
wonders  of  the  world.  Mr.  Huntington  be- 
came president  of  the  Southern  Pacific  rail- 
road, vice-president  of  the  Central  Pacific; 
trustee  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Telegraph 
Company,  and  a  director  of  the  Occidental 
and  Oriental  Steamship  Company,  besides" 
being  identified  with  many  other  business 
enterprises  of  vast  importance. 


GEORGE  A.  CUSTER,  a  famous  In- 
dian fighter,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1840. 
He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1861,  an- 
served  in  the  Civil  war;  was  at  Bull  Run  id 
1861,  and  was  in  the  Peninsular  campaign, 
being  one  of  General  McClellan's  aides-de, 
camp.  He  fought  in  the  battles  of  South 
Mountain  and  Antietam  in  1863,  and  was 
with  General  Stoneman  on  his  famous 
cavalry  raid.  He  was  engaged  in  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  and  was  there  made  brevet- 
major.  In  1863  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers.  General  Custer  was 
in  many  skirmishes  in  central  Virginia  in 
1863-64,  and  was  present  at  the  following 
battles  of  the  Richmond  campaign:  Wil- 
derness,Todd's  Tavern,  Yellow  Tavern,  where 
he  wasbrevetted  lieutenant-colonel ;  Meadow 
Bridge,  Haw's  Shop,  Cold  Harbor,  Trevil- 
lian  Station.  In  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
j  864-65  he  was  brevetted  colonel  at  Opequan 
Creek,  and  at   Cedar  Creek  he   was    made 


brevet  major-general  for  gallant  conduct 
during  the  engagement.  General  Custer 
was  in  command  of  a  cavalry  division  in  the 
pursuit  of  Lee's  army  in  1865,  and  fought 
at  Dinwiddie  Court  House,  Five  Forks, 
where  he  was  made  brevet  brigadier-general ; 
Sailors  Creek  and  Appomattox,  where  he 
gained  additional  honors  and  was  made 
brevet  major-general,  and  was  given  the 
command  of  the  cavalry  in  the  military 
division  of  the  southwest  and  Gulf,  in  1865. 
After  the  establishment  of  peace  he  went 
west  on  frontier  duty  and  performed  gallant 
and  valuable  service  in  the  troubles  with  the 
Indians.  He  was  killed  in  the  massacre  on 
the  Little  Big  Horn  river,  South  Dakota, 
June  25,  1876. 


DANIEL  WOLSEY  VOORHEES,  cel- 
brated  as  ' '  The  Tall  Sycamore  of  the 
Wabash,"  was  born  September  26,  1827, 
in  Butler  county,  Ohio.  When  he  was  two 
months  old  his  parents  removed  to  Fount- 
ain county,  Indiana.  He  grew  to  manhood 
on  a  farm,  engaged  in  all  the  arduous  work 
pertaining  to  rural  life.  In  1845  he  entered 
the  Indiana  Asbury  University,  now  the  De 
Pauw,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1849. 
He  took  up  the  study  of  law  at  Crawfords- 
ville,  and  in  1851  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Covington,  Fountain  county, 
Indiana.  He  became  a  law  partner  of 
United  States  Senator  Hannegan,  of  Indi- 
ana, in  1852,  and  in  1856  he  was  an  unsuc- 
cessful candidate  for  congress.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana.  He  was  United  States 
district  attorney  for  Indiana  from  1857  until 
1 86 1,  and  he  had  during  this  period  been 
elected  to  congress,  in  i860.  Mr.  Voorhees 
was  re-elected  to  congress  in  1862  and  1864, 
but  he  was  unsuccessful  in  the  election  of 
1866.     However,  he  was  returned  to  con- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


gress  in  1868,  where  he  remained  until  1874, 
having  been  re-elected  twice.  In  1877  he 
was  appointed  United  States  senator  from 
Indiana  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  0.  P.  Norton,  and  at  the  end  of  the  term 
was  elected  for  the  ensuing  term,  being  re- 
elected in  1885  and  in  1891  to  the  same  of- 
fice. He  served  with  distinction  on  many 
of  the  committees,  and  took  a  very  prom- 
inent part  in  the  discussion  of  all  the  im- 
portant legislation  of  his  time.  His  death 
occurred  in  August,   189  . 


ALEXANDER  GRAHAM  BELL,  fa- 
mous as  one  of  the  inventors  of  the  tele- 
phone, was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland, 
March  3rd,  1847.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  high  school  and  later  he 
attended  the  university,  and  was  specially 
trained  to  follow  his  grandfather's  profes- 
sion, that  of  removing  impediments  of 
speech.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1872,  and  introduced  into  this  country 
his  father's  invention  of  visible  speech  in  the 
institutions  for  deaf-mutes.  Later  he  was 
appointed  professor  of  vocal  physiology  in 
the  Boston  University.  He  worked  for 
many  years  during  his  leisure  hours  on  his 
telephonic  discovery,  and  finally  perfected 
it  and  exhibited  it  publicly,  before  it  had 
reached  the  high  state  of  perfection  to  which 
he  brought  it.  His  first  exhibition  of  it  was 
at  the  Centennial  Exhibition  that  was  held 
in  Philadelphia  in  1876.  Its  success  is  now 
established  throughout  the  civilized  world. 
In  1882  Prof.  Bell  received  a  diploma  and 
the  decoration  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  from 
the  Academy  of  Sciences  of  France. 


WILLIAM  HICKLING  PRESCOTT, 
the  justly  celebrated  historian  and 
author,  was  a  native  of  Salem,  Massachu- 
setts, and  was  born  May  4,  1796.      He  was 


the  son  of  Judge  William  Prescott  and  the 
grandson  of  the  hero  of  Bunker  Hill,  Colonel 
William  Prescott. 

Our  subject  in  1808  removed  with  the 
family  to  Boston,  in  the  schools  of  which 
city  he  received  his  early  education.  He 
entered  Harvard  College  as  a  sophomore  in 
181 1,  having  been  prepared  at  the  private 
classical  college  of  Rev.  Dr.  J.  S.  J.  Gardi- 
jner.  The  following  year  he  received  an  in- 
ury  in  his  left  eye  which  made  study 
through  life  a  matter  of  difficulty.  He 
graduated  in  18 14  with  high  honors  in  the 
classics  and  belle  lettres.  He  spent  several 
months  on  the  Azores  Islands,  and  later 
visited  England,  France  and  Italy,  return- 
ing home  in  18 17.  In  June,  1818,  he 
founded  a  social  and  literary  club  at  Boston 
for  which  he  edited  "The  Club  Room,"  a 
periodical  doomed  to  but  a  short  life.  May 
4,  1820,  he  married  Miss  Susan  Amory. 
He  devoted  several  years  after  that  event  to 
a  thorough  study  of  ancient  and  modern 
history  and  literature.  As  the  fruits  of  his 
labors  he  published  Several  well  written 
essays  upon  French  and  Italian  poetry  and 
romance  in  the  "  North  American  Review." 
January  19,  1826,  he  decided  to  take  up  his 
first  great  historical  work,  the  "  History  of 
the  Reign  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella."  To 
this  he  gave  the  labor  of  ten  years,  publish- 
ing the  same  December  25,  1837.  Although 
placed  at  the  head  of  all  American  authors, 
so  diffident  was  Prescott  of  his  literary  merit 
that  although  he  had  four  copies  of  this 
work  printed  for  his  own  convenience,  he 
hesitated  a  long  time  before  giving  it  to  the 
public,  and  it  was  only  by  the  solicitation  of 
friends,  especially  of  that  talented  Spanish 
scholar,  George  Ticknor,  that  he  was  in- 
duced to  do  so.  Soon  the  volumes  were 
translated  into  French,  Italian,  Dutch  and 
German,    and    the    work    was    recognized 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


97 


throughout  the  world  as  one  of  the  most 
meritorious  of  historical  compositions.  In 
1843  he  published  the  "Conquest  of  Mexi- 
co," and  in  1847  the  "Conquest  of  Peru." 
Two  years  later  there  came  from  his  pen  a 
volume  of  "  Biographical  and  Critical  Mis- 
cellanies." Going  abroad  in  the  summer  of 
1850,  he  was  received  with  great  distinction 
in  the  literary  circles  of  London,  Edinburgh, 
Paris,  Antwerp  and  Brussels.  Oxford  Uni- 
versity conferred  the  degree  of  D.  C.  L. 
upon  him.  In  1855  he  issued  two  volumes 
of  his  "History  of  the  Reign  of  Philip  the 
Second,"  and  a  third  in  1858.  In  the 
meantime  he  edited  Robertson's  "Charles 
the  Fifth,"  adding  a  history  of  the  life  of 
that  monarch  after  his  abdication.  Death 
cut  short  his  work  on  the  remaining  volumes 
of  "  Philip  the  Second,"  coming  to  him  at 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  May  28,  1859. 


OLIVER  HAZARD  PERRY,  a  noted 
American  commodore,  was  born  in 
South  Kingston,  Rhode  Island,  August  23, 
1785.  He  saw  his  first  service  as  a  mid- 
shipman in  the  United  States  navy  in  April, 
1799.  He  cruised  with  his  father,  Captain 
Christopher  Raymond  Perry,  in  the  West  In- 
dies for  about  two  years.  In  1804  he  was 
in  the  war  against  Tripoli,  and  was  made 
lieutenant  in  1 807.  At  the  opening  of  hostili- 
ties with  Great  Britain  in  1812  he  was  given 
command  of  a  fleet  of  gunboats  on  the  At- 
lantic coast.  At  his  request  he  was  trans- 
ferred, a  year  later,  to  Lake  Ontario,  where 
he  served  under  Commodore  Chauncey,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  attack  on  Fort 
George.  He  was  ordered  to  fit  out  a  squad- 
ron on  Lake  Erie,  which  he  did,  building 
most  of  his  vessels  from  the  forests  along 
the  shore,  and  by  the  summer  of  181  3  he  had 
a  fleet  of  nine  vessels  at  Presque  Isle,  now 
Erie,    Pennsylvania       September    10th    he 


attacked  and  captured  the  British  fleet  near 
Put-in-Bay,  thus  clearing  the  lake  of  hostile 
ships.  His  famous  dispatch  is  part  of  his 
fame,  "  We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  they 
are  ours."  He  co-operated  with  Gen.  Har- 
rison, and  the  success  of  the  campaign  in 
the  northwest  was  largely  due  to  his  victory. 
The  next  year  he  was  transferred  to  the  Po- 
tomac, and  assisted  in  the  defense  of  Balti- 
more. After  the  war  he  was  in  constant 
service  with  the  various  squadrons  in  cruising 
in  all  parts  of  the  world.  He  died  of  yellow 
fever  on  the  Island  of  Trinidad,  August  23, 
1 8 19.  His  remains  were  conveyed  to  New- 
port, and  buried  there,  and  an  imposing 
obelisk  was  erected  to  his  memory  by  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island.  A  bronze  statue 
was  also  erected  in  his  honor,  the  unveiling 
taking  place  in  1885. 


JOHN  PAUL  JONES,  though  a  native 
of  Scotland,  was  one  of  America's  most 
noted  fighters  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  was  born  July  6,  1747.  His  father  was 
a  gardener,  but  the  young  man  soon  be- 
came interested  in  a  seafaring  life  and  at 
the  age  of  twelve  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
sea  captain  engaged  in  the  American  trade. 
His  first  voyage  landed  him  in  Virginia, 
where  he  had  a  brother  who  had  settled 
there  several  years  prior.  The  failure  of 
the  captain  released  young  Jones  from  his 
apprenticeship  bonds,  and  he  was  engaged 
as  third  mate  of  a  vessel  engaged  in  the 
slave  trade.  He  abandoned  this  trade  after 
a  few  years,  from  his  own  sense  of  disgrace. 
He  took  passage  from  Jamaica  for  Scotland 
in  1768,  and  on  the  voyage  both  the  captain 
and  the  mate  died  and  he  was  compelled  to 
take  command  of  the  vessel  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  voyage.  He  soon  after 
became  master  of  the  vessel.  He  returned 
to  Virginia  about  1773  to  settle  up  the  estate 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


of  his  brother,  and  at  this  time  added  the 
name  "Jones,"  having  previously  been 
known  as  John  Paul.  He  settled  down  in 
Virginia,  but  when  the  war  broke  out  in 
1775  ne  offered  his  services  to  congress  and 
was  appointed  senior  lieutenant  of  the  flag- 
ship "Alfred,"  on  which  he  hoisted  the 
American  flag  with  his  own  hands,  the  first 
vessel  that  had  ever  carried  a  flag  of  the 
new  nation.  He  was  afterward  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  "Alfred,"  and  later 
of  the  "Providence,"  in  each  of  which  ves- 
sels he  did  good  service,  as  also  in  the 
"  Ranger,"  to  the  command  of  which  he 
was  later  appointed.  The  fight  that  made 
him  famous,  however,  was  that  in  which  he 
captured  the  "  Serapis,"  off  the  coast  of 
Scotland.  He  was  then  in  command  of  the 
"Bon  Homme  Richard,"  which  had  been 
fitted  out  for  him  by  the  French  government 
and  named  by  Jones  in  honor  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,  or  "  Good  Man  Richard,"  Frank- 
lin being  author  of  the  publication  known 
as  "  Poor  Richard's  Almanac."  The  fight 
between  the  "  Richard"  and  the  "Serapis" 
lasted  three  hours,  all  of  which  time  the 
vessels  were  at  close  range,  and  most  of  the 
time  in  actual  contact.  Jones'  vessel  was 
on  fire  several  times,  and  early  in  the  en- 
gagement two  of  his  guns  bursted,  rendering 
the  battery  useless.  Also  an  envious  officer 
of  the  Alliance,  one  of  Jones'  own  fleet, 
opened  fire  upon  the  "  Richard  "  at  a  crit- 
ical time,  completely  disabling  the  vessel. 
Jones  continued  the  fight,  in  spite  of  coun- 
sels to  surrender,  and  after  dark  the  "  Ser- 
apis "struck  her  colors,  and  was  hastily 
boarded  by  Jones  and  his  crew,  while  the 
"Richard"  sank,  bows  first,  after  the 
wounded  had  been  taken  on  board  the 
"Serapis."  Most  of  the  other  vessels  of 
the  fleet  of  which  the  "  Serapis"  was  con- 
voy, surrendered,  and  were  taken  with  the 


"Serapis"  to  France,  where  Jones  was 
received  with  greatest  honors,  and  the  king 
presented  him  with  an  elegant  sword  and 
the  cross  of  the  Order  of  Military  Merit. 
Congress  gave  him  a  vote  of  thanks  and 
made  him  commander  of  a  new  ship,  the 
"America,"  but  the  vessel  was  afterward 
given  to  France  and  Jones  never  saw  active 
sea  service  again.  He  came  to  America  again, 
in  1787,  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
voted  a  gold  medal  by  congress.  He  went  to 
Russia  and  was  appointed  rear-admiral  and 
rendered  service  of  value  against  the  Turks, 
but  on  account  of  personal  enmity  of  the  fav- 
orites of  the  emperor  he  was  retired  on  a  pen- 
sion. Failing  to  collect  this,  he  returned  to 
France,  where  he  died,  July  18,  1792. 


THOMAS  MORAN,  the  well-known 
painter  of  Rocky  Mountain  scenery, 
was  born  in  Lancashire,  England,  in  1837. 
He  came  to  America  when  a  child,  and 
showing  artistic  tastes,  he  was  apprenticed 
to  a  wood  engraver  in  Philadelphia.  Three 
years  later  he  began  landscape  painting,  and 
his  style  soon  began  to  exhibit  signs  of  genius. 
His  first  works  were  water-colors,  and 
though  without  an  instructor  he  began  the 
use  of  oils,  he  soon  found  it  necessary  to 
visit  Europe,  where  he  gave  particular  at- 
tention to  the  works  of  Turner.  He  joined 
the  Yellowstone  Park  exploring  expedition 
and  visited  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  1871 
and  again  in  1873,  making  numerous 
sketches  of  the  scenery.  The  most  note- 
worthy results  were  his  "Grand  Canon  of 
the  Yellowstone,"  and  "  The  Chasm  of  the 
Colorado,"  which  were  purchased  by  con- 
gress at  $10,000  each,  the  first  of  which  is 
undoubtedly  the  finest  landscape  painting 
produced  in  this  country.  Mr.  Moran  has 
subordinated  art  to  nature,  and  the  subjects 
he  has  chosen  leave  little  ground   for  fault 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPHY, 


101 


finding  on  that  account.  "The  Mountain 
of  the  Holy  Cross,"  "The  Groves  Were 
God's  First  Temples,"  "  The  Cliffs  of  Green 
River, ""  The  Children  of  the  Mountain," 
"  The  Ripening  of  the  Leaf,"  and  others 
have  given  him  additional  fame,  and  while 
they  do  not  equal  in  grandeur  the  first 
mentioned,  in  many  respects  from  an  artis- 
tic standpoint  they  are  superior. 


L ELAND  STANFORD  was  one  of  the 
greatest  men  of  the  Pacific  coast  and 
also  had  a  national  reputation.  He  was 
born  March  9,  1824,  in  Albany  county,  New 
York,  and  passed  his  early  life  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  attended  the  local 
schools  of  the  county  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  began  the  study  of  law.  He 
entered  the  law  office  of  Wheaton,  Doolittle 
and  Hadley,  at  Albany,  in  1845,  and  a  few 
years  later  he  moved  to  Port  Washington, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  practiced  law  four 
years  with  moderate  success.  In  1852  Mr. 
Stanford  determined  to  push  further  west, 
and,  accordingly  went  to  California,  where 
three  of  his  brothers  were  established  in 
business  in  the  mining  towns.  They  took 
Leland  into  partnership,  giving  him  charge 
of  a  branch  store  at  Michigan  Bluff,  in 
Placer  county.  There  he  developed  great 
business  ability  and  four  years  later  started 
a  mercantile  house  of  his  own  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, which  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
substantial  houses  on  the  coast.  On  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party  he  inter- 
ested himself  in  politics,  and  in  i860  was 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  convention  that 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  the 
autumn  of  1861  he  was  elected,  by  an  im- 
mense majority,  governor  of  California. 
Prior  to  his  election  as  governor  he  had 
been  chosen  president  of  the  newly-orga- 
nized  Central  Pacific    Railroad    Company, 


and  after  leaving  the  executive  chair  he  de- 
voted all  of  his  time  to  the  construction  of 
the  Pacific  end  of  the  transcontinental  rail- 
way. May  10,  1869,  Mr.  Stanford  drove 
the  last  spike  of  the  Central  Pacific  road, 
thus  completing  the  route  across  the  conti- 
nent. He  was  also  president  of  the  Occi- 
dental and  Oriental  Steamship  Company. 
He  had  but  one  son,  who  died  of  typhoid 
fever,  and  as  a  monument  to  his  child  he 
founded  the  university  which  bears  his  son  s 
name,  Leland  Stanford,  Junior,  University. 
Mr.  Stanford  gave  to  this  university  eighty- 
three  thousand  acres  of  land,  the  estimated 
value  of  which  is  $8,000,000,  and  the  entire 
endowment  is  $20,000,000.  In  18S5  Mr. 
Stanford  was  elected  United  States  senator 
as  a  Republican,  to  succeed  J.  T.  Farley,  a 
Democrat,  and  was  re-elected  in  1891.  His 
death  occurred  June  20,  1894,  at  Palo  Alto, 
California. 

STEPHEN  DECATUR,  a  famous  com- 
modore in  the  United  States  navy,  was 
born  in  Maryland  in  1779.  He  entered  the 
naval  service  in  1798.  In  1804,  when  the 
American  vessel  Philadelphia  had  been  run 
aground  and  captured  in  the  harbor  of  Trip- 
oli, Decatur,  at  the  head  of  a  few  men, 
boarded  her  and  burned  her  in  the  face  of 
the  guns  from  the  city  defenses.  For  this 
daring  deed  he  was  made  captain.  He  was 
given  command  of  the  frigate  United  States 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  18 12,  and 
in  October  of  that  year  he  captured  the 
British  frigate  Macedonian,  and  was  re- 
warded with  a  gold  medal  by  congress.  Af- 
ter the  close  of  the  war  he  was  sent  as  com- 
mander of  a  fleet  of  ten  vessels  to  chastise 
the  dey  of  Algiers,  who  was  preying  upon 
American  commerce  with  impunity  and  de- 
manding tribute  and  ransom  for  the  release 
of  American    citizens   captured.       Decatur 


102 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


captured  a  number  of  Algerian  vessels,  and 
compelled  the  dey  to  sue  for  peace.  He 
was  noted  for  his  daring  and  intrepidity, 
and  his  coolness  in  the  face  of  danger,  and 
helped  to  bring  the  United  States  navy  into 
favor  with  the  people  and  congress  as  a 
means  of  defense  and  offense  in  time  of 
war.  He  was  killed  in  a  duel  by  Commo- 
dore Barron,  March  12,  1820. 


JAMES  KNOX  POLK,  the  eleventh 
president  of  the  United  States,  1845  to 
1849,  was  born  November  2,  1795,  in  Meck- 
lenburg county,  North  Carolina,  and  was 
the  eldest  child  of  a  family  of  six  sons.  He 
removed  with  his  father  to  the  Valley  of  the 
Duck  River,  in  Tennessee,  in  1806.  He 
attended  the  common  schools  and  became 
very  proficient  in  the  lower  branches  of 
education,  and  supplemented  this  with 
a  course  in  the  Murfreesboro  Academy, 
which  he  entered  in  18  13  and  in  the  autumn 
of  18 1 5  he  became  a  student  in  the  sopho- 
more class  of  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina, at  Chapel  Hill,  and  was  graduated  in 
1 8 1 8.  He  then  spent  a  short  time  in  re- 
cuperating his  health  and  then  proceeded  to 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  where  he  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Felix  Grundy. 
After  the  completion  of  his  law  studies  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  removed  to 
Columbia,  Maury  county,  Tennessee,  and 
started  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. Mr.  Polk  was  a  Jeffersonian  "Re- 
publican "  and  in  1823  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  of  Tennessee.  He  was  a  strict 
constructionist  and  did  not  believe  that  the 
general  government  had  the  power  to  carry 
on  internal  improvements  in  the  states,  but 
deemed  it  important  that  it  should  have  that 
power,  and  wanted  the  constitution  amended 
to  that  effect.  But  later  on  he  became 
alarmed  lest  the  general  government    might 


become  strong  enough  to  abolish  slavery 
and  therefore  gave  his  whole  support  to  the 
"  State's  Rights"  movement, and  endeavored 
to  check  the  centralization  of  power  in  the 
general  government.  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen 
a  member  of  congress  in  1825,  and  held  that 
office  until  1839.  He  then  withdrew,  as  he 
was  the  successful  gubernatorial  candidate 
of  his  state.  He  had  become  a  man  of 
great  influence  in  the  house,  and,  as  the 
leader  of  the  Jackson  party  in  that  body, 
weilded  great  influence  in  the  election  of 
General  Jackson  to  the  presidency.  He 
sustained  the  president  in  all  his  measures 
and  still  remained  in  the  house  after  Gen- 
eral Jackson  had  been  succeeded  by  Martin 
Van  Buren.  He  was  speaker  of  the  house 
during  five  sessions  of  congress.  He  was 
elected  governor  of  Tennessee  by  a  large 
majority  and  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nash- 
ville, October  4,  1839.  He  was  a  candidate 
for  re-election  but  was  defeated  by  Governor 
Jones,  the  Whig  candidate.  In  1844  the 
most  prominent  question  in  the  election  was 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  and  as  Mr.  Polk 
was  the  avowed  champion  of  this  cause  he 
was  nominated  for  president  by  the  pro- 
slavery  wing  of  the  democratic  party,  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  was  inaug- 
urated March  4,  1S45.  President  Polk 
formed  a  very  able  cabinet,  consisting  of 
James  Buchanan,  Robert  J.  Walker,  Will- 
iam L.'Marcy,  George  Bancroft,  Cave  John- 
son, and  John  Y.  Mason.  The  dispute  re- 
garding the  Oregon  boundary  was  settled 
during  his  term  of  office  and  a  new  depart- 
ment was  added  to  the  list  of  cabinet  po- 
sitions, that  of  the  Interior.  The  low  tariff 
bill  of  1846  was  carried  and  the  financial 
system  of  the  country  was  reorganized.  It 
was  also  during  President  Polk's  term  that 
the  Mexican  war  was  successfully  conducted, 
which  resulted  in  the  acquisition  of  Califor- 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPUV. 


103 


nia  and  New  Mexico.  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
the  presidency  March  4,  1849,  after  having 
declined  a  re-nomination,  and  was  succeeded 
by  General  Zachary  Taylor,  the  hero  of  the 
Mexican  war.  Mr.  Polk  retired  to  private 
life,  to  his  home  in  Nashville,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-four  on  June  9,  1849. 


ANNA  DICKINSON  (Anna  Elizabeth 
Dickinson),  a  noted  lecturer  and  pub- 
lic speaker,  was  born  at  Philadelphia,  Oc- 
tober 28,  1842.  Her  parents  were  Quakers, 
and  she  was  educated  at  the  Friends'  free 
schools  in  her  native  city.  She  early  man- 
ifested an  inclination  toward  elocution  and 
public  speaking,  and  when,  at  the  age  of  18, 
she  found  an  opportunity  to  appear  before 
a  national  assemblage  for  the  discussion  of 
woman's  rights,  she  at  once  established  her 
reputation  as  a  public  speaker.  From  i860 
to  the  close  of  the  war  and  during  the  ex- 
citing period  of  reconstruction,  she  was  one 
of  the  most  noted  and  influential  speakers 
before  the  American  public,  and  her  popu- 
larity was  unequaled  by  that  of  any  of  her 
sex.  A  few  weeks  after  the  defeat  and 
death  of  Colonel  Baker  at  Ball's  Bluff,  Anna 
Dickinson,  lecturing  in  New  York,  made 
the  remarkable  assertion,  "Not  the  incom- 
petency of  Colonel  Baker,  but  the  treachery 
of  General  McClellan  caused  the  disaster  at 
Ball's  Bluff."  She  was  hissed  and  hooted 
off  the  stage.  A  year  later,  at  the  same 
hall  and  with  much  the  same  class  of  audi- 
tors, she  repeated  the  identical  words,  and 
the  applause  was  so  great  and  so  long  con- 
tinued that  it  was  impossible  to  go  on  with 
her  lecture  for  more  than  half  an  hour.  The 
change  of  sentiment  had  been  wrought  by 
the  reverses  and  dismissal  of  McClellan  and 
his  ambition  to  succeed  Mr.  Lincoln  as  presi- 
dent. 

Ten  years  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Anna 


Dickinson  was  not  heard  of  on  the  lec- 
ture platform,  and  about  that  time  she  made 
an  attempt  to  enter  the  dramatic  profession, 
but  after  appearing  a  number  of  times  in  dif- 
ferent plays  she   was  pronounced   a  failure. 


ROBERT  J.  BURDETTE.— Some  per- 
sonal characteristics  of  Mr.  Burdette 
were  quaintly  given  by  himself  in  the  follow- 
ing words:  "Politics?  Republican  after 
the  strictest  sect.  Religion  ?  Baptist.  Per- 
sonal appearance  ?  Below  medium  height, 
and  weigh  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
pounds,  no  shillings  and  no  pence.  Rich  ? 
Not  enough  to  own  a  yacht.  Favorite  read- 
ing? Poetry  and  history — know  Longfellow 
by  heart,  almost.  Write  for  magizines  ? 
Have  mOi-e  '  declined  with  thanks  '  letters 
than  would  fill  a  trunk.  Never  able  to  get 
into  a  magazine  with  a  line.  Care  about  it? 
Mad  as  thunder.  Think  about  starting  a 
magazine  and  rejecting  everbody's  articles 
except  my  own."  Mr.  Burdette  was  born 
at  Greensborough,  Pennsylvania,  in  1844. 
He  served  through  the  war  of  the  rebellion 
under  General  Banks  "on  an  excursion 
ticket"  as  he  felicitously  described  it,  "good 
both  ways,  conquering  in  one  direction  and 
running  in  the  other,  pay  going  on  just  the 
same."  He  entered  into  journalism  by  the 
gateway  of  New  York  correspondence  for 
the  "Peoria  Transcript,"  and  in  1874  wenf 
on  the  "  Burlington  Hawkeye"  of  which  he 
became  the  managing  editor,  and  the  work 
that  he  did  on  this  paper  made  both  him- 
self and  the  paper  famous  in  the  world  of 
humor.  Mr.  Burdette  married  in  1870, 
and  his  wife,  whom  he  called  "  Her  Little 
Serene  Highness,"  was  to  him  a  guiding 
light  until  the  day  of  her  death,  and  it  was 
probably  the  unconscious  pathos  with  which 
he  described  her  in  his  work  that  broke  the 
barriers  that  had  kept  him  out  of  the  maga- 


104 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


zines  and  secured  him  the  acceptance  of  his 
"Confessions"  by  Lippincott  some  years 
ago,  and  brought  him  substantial  fame  and 
recognition  in  the  literary  world. 

WILLIAM  DEAN  HOWELLS,  one 
of  the  leading  novelists  of  the  present 
century  and  author  of  a  number  of  works 
that  gained  for  him  a  place  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  was  born  March  I,  1837,  at 
Martinsville,  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  At 
the  age  of  three  years  he  accompanied  his 
father,  who  was  a  printer,  to  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  printer's  trade. 
Later  he  was  engaged  on  the  editorial  staff 
of  the  "  Cincinnati  Gazette"  and  the  "  Ohio 
State  Journal."  During  1861-65  ne  was 
the  United  States  consul  at  Venice,  and 
from  1871  to  1878  he  was  the  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  "Atlantic  Monthly."  As  a 
writer  he  became  one  of  the  most  fertile 
and  readable  of  authors  and  a  pleasing  poet. 
In  18S5  he  became  connected  with  "  Har- 
per's Magazine. "  Mr.  Howells  was  author 
of  the  list  of  books  that  we  give  below: 
"Venetian  Life,"  "  Italian  Journeys,"  "No 
Love  Lost,"  "  Suburban  Sketches,"  "Their 
Wedding  Journey,"  "A  Chance  Acquaint- 
ance," "A  Foregone  Conclusion,"  "Dr. 
Breen's  Practice,"  "A  Modern  Instance," 
"The  Rise  of  Silas  Lapham,"  "Tuscan 
Cities,"  "Indian  Summer,"  besides  many 
others.  He  also  wrote  the  "  Poem  of  Two 
Friends,"  with  J.  J.  Piatt  in  i860,  and 
some  minor  dramas:  "The  Drawing 
Room  Car,"  "The  Sleeping  Car,"  etc., 
that  are  full  of  exqusite  humor  and  elegant 
dialogue. 

T  AMES  RUSSELL  LOWELL  was  a  son 
<J  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Lowell,  and  was  born 
lit  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  February  22, 
1819.      He  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 


1838  as  class  poet,  and  went  to  Harvard 
Law  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1840,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Boston,  but  soon  gave  his  un- 
divided attention  to  literary  labors.  Mr. 
Lowell  printed,  in  1841,  a  small  volume  of 
poems  entitled  "  A  Year's  Life,"  edited  with 
Robert  Carter;  in  1843,  "  The  Pioneer, "  a 
literary  and  critical  magazine  (monthly),  and 
in  1848  another  book  of  poems,  that  con- 
tained several  directed  against  slavery.  He 
published  in  1844  a  volume  of  "Poems" 
and  in  1845  "  Conversations  on  Some 
of  the  Old  Poets,"  "The  Vision  of  Sir 
Launfal,"  "A  Fable  for  Critics, "  and  "The 
Bigelow  Papers,"  the  latter  satirical  es- 
says in  dialect  poetry  directed  against 
slavery  and  the  war  with  Mexico.  In 
1851-52  he  traveled  in  Europe  and  re- 
sided in  Italy  for  a  considerable  time,  and 
delivered  in  1854-55  a  course  of  lectures  on 
the  British  poets,  before  the  Lowell  Insti- 
tute, Boston.  Mr.  Lowell  succeeded  Long- 
fellow in  January,  1855,  as  professor  of 
modern  languages  and  literature  at  Harvard 
College,  and  spent  another  year  in  Emope 
qualifying  himself  for  that  post.  He  edited 
the  "  Atlantic  Monthly"  from  1857  to  1862, 
and  the  "North  American  Review"  from 
1863  until  1872.  From  1864  to  1870  he 
published  the  following  works:  "  Fireside 
Travels,"  "Under  the  Willows,"  "The 
Commemoration  Ode,"  in  honor  of  the 
alumni  of  Harvard  who  had  fallen  in  the 
Civil  war;  "The  Cathedral,"  two  volumes 
of  essays;  "Among  My  Books"  and  "My 
Study  Windows,"  and  in  1867  he  published 
a  new  series  of  the  "  Bigelow  Papers."  He 
traveled  extensively  in  Europe  in  1872-74, 
and  received  in  person  the  degree  of  D.  C. 
L.  at  Oxford  and  that  of  LL.  D.  at  the 
University  of  Cambridge,  England.  He 
was  also  interested  in  political  life  and  held 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


105 


many  important  offices.  He  was  United 
States  minister  to  Spain  in  1877  and  was 
also  minister  to  England  in  1880-85.  On 
January  2,  1884,  he  was  elected  lord  rector 
of  St.  Andrew  University  in  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, but  soon  after  he  resigned  the  same. 
Mr.  Lowell's  works  enjoy  great  popularity 
in  the  United  States  and  England.  He 
died  August  12,   1S91. 


JOSEPH  HENRY,  one  of  America's 
greatest  scientists,  was  born  at  Albany, 
New  York,  December  17,  1797.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  city 
and  graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy, 
where  he  became  a  professor  of  mathemat- 
ics in  1826.  In  1827  he  commenced  a 
course  of  investigation,  which  he  continued 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  the  results  pro- 
duced had  great  effect  on  the  scientific  world. 
The  first  success  was  achieved  by  producing 
the  electric  magnet,  and  he  next  proved  the 
possibility  of  exciting  magnetic  energy  at  a 
distance,  and  it  was  the  invention  of  Pro- 
fessor Henry's  intensity  magnet  that  first 
made  the  invention  of  electric  telegraph  a 
possibility.  He  made  a  statement  regarding 
the  practicability  of  applying  the  intensity 
magnet  to  telegraphic  uses,  in  his  article  to 
the  '  'American  Journal  of  Science  "  in  1 83 1 . 
During  the  same  year  he  produced  the  first 
mechanical  contrivance  ever  invented  for 
maintaining  continuous  motion  by  means  of 
electro-magnetism,  and  he  also  contrived  a 
machine  by  which  signals  could  be  made  at 
a  distance  by  the  use  of  his  electro-magnet, 
the  signals  being  produced  by  a  lever  strik- 
ing on  a  bell.  Some  of  his  electro-magnets 
were  of  great  power,  one  carried  over  a  ton 
and  another  not  less  than  three  thousand  six 
hundred  pounds.  In  1832  he  discovered 
that  secondary  currents  could  be  produced 
in  a  long  conductor  by  the  induction  of  the 


primary  current  upon  itself,  and  also  in  the 
same  year  he  produced  a  spark  by  means  of 
a  purely  magnetic  induction.  Professor 
Henry  was  elected,  in  1832,  professor  of  nat- 
ural philosophy  in  the  College  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  in  his  earliest  lectures  at  Princeton, 
demonstrated  the  feasibility  of  the  electric 
telegraph.  He  visited  Europe  in  1837,  and 
while  there  he  had  an  interview  with  Pro- 
fessor Wheatstone,  the  inventor  of  the 
needle  magnetic  telegraph.  In  1846  he  was 
elected  secretary  of  the  Smithsonian  Insti- 
tution,being  the  first  incumbent  in  that  office, 
which  he  held  until  his  death.  Professor 
Henry  was  elected  president  of  the  Ameri- 
can Association  for  the  Advancement  of 
Science,  in  1849,  and  of  the  National 
Academy  of  Sciences.  He  was  made  chair- 
man of  the  lighthouse  board  of  the  United 
States  in  1871  and  held  that  position  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  doctor  of  laws  from 
Union  College  in  1829,  and  from  Harvard 
University  in  185 1,  and  his  death  occurred 
May  13,  1878.  Among  his  numerous  works 
may  be  mentioned  the  following:  "Contri- 
butions to  Electricity  and  Magnetism," 
"American  Philosophic  Trans, "  and  many 
articles  in  the  "American  Journal  of 
Science,"  the  journal  of  the  Franklin  Insti- 
tute; the  proceedings  of  the  American  As- 
sociation for  the-  Advancement  of  Science, 
and  in  the  annual  reports  of  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution  from  its  foundation. 


FRANKLIN  BUCHANAN,  the  famous 
rear-admiral  of  the  Confederate  navy 
during  the  rebellion,  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  He  became  a  United  States 
midshipman  in  18 15  and  was  promoted 
through  the  various  grades  of  the  service 
and  became  a  captain  in  1855.  ^r-  Buch- 
anan resigned  his  captaincy  in  order  to  join 


106 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


the  Confederate  service  in  1861  and  later  he 
asked  to  be  reinstated,  but  his  request  was 
refused  and  he  then  entered  into  the  service 
of  the  Confederate  government.  He  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  frigate  "  Merri- 
mac  "  after  she  had  been  fitted  up  as  an  iron- 
clad, and  had  command  of  her  at  the  time 
of  the  battle  of  Hampton  Roads.  It  was 
he  who  had  command  when  the  "  Merri- 
mac"  sunk  the  two  wooden  frigates,  "  Con- 
gress" and  "Cumberland,"  and  was  also 
in  command  during  part  of  the  historical 
battle  of  the  "  Merrimac  "  and  the  "Moni- 
tor," where  he  was  wounded  and  the  com- 
mand devolved  upon  Lieutenant  Catesby 
Jones.  He  was  created  rear-admiral  in  the 
Confederate  service  and  commanded  the 
Confederate  fleet  in  Mobile  bay,  which  was 
defeated  by  Admiral  Farragut,  August  5, 
1864.  Mr.  Buchanan  was  in  command  of 
the  "Tennessee,"  an  ironclad,  and  during 
the  engagement  he  lost  one  of  his  legs  and 
was  taken  prisoner  in  the  end  by  the  Union 
fleet.  After  the  war  he  settled  in  Talbot 
county,  Maryland,  where  he  died  May  11, 
1874. 

RICHARD  PARKS  BLAND,  a  celebrated 
American  statesman,  frequently  called 
"the  father  of  the  house,"  because  of  his 
many  years  of  service  in  the  lower  house 
of  congress,  was  born  August  19,  1835, 
near  Hartford,  Kentucky,  where  he  received 
a  plain  academic  education.  He  moved, 
in  1855,  to  Missouri,  from  whence  he  went 
overland  to  California,  afterward  locating  in 
Virginia  City,  now  in  the  state  of  Nevada, 
but  then  part  of  the  territory  of  Utah. 
While  there  he  practiced  law,  dabbled  in 
mines  and  mining  in  Nevada  and  California 
for  several  years,  and  served  for  a  time  as 
treasurer  of  Carson  county,  Nevada.  Mr. 
Bland  returned  to  Missouri  in   1865,  where 


he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Rolla, 
Missouri,  and  in  1869  removed  to  Lebanon, 
Missouri.  He  began  his  congressional  career 
in  1873,  when  he  was  elected  as  a  Demo- 
crat to  the  forty-third  congress,  and  he  was 
regularly  re-elected  to  every  congress  after 
that  time  up  to  the  fifty-fourth,  when  he  was 
defeated  for  re-election,  but  was  returned 
to  the  fifty-fifth  congress  as  a  Silver  Demo- 
crat. During  all  his  protracted  service, 
while  Mr.  Bland  was  always  steadfast  in  his 
support  of  democratic  measures,  yet  he  won 
his  special  renown  as  the  great  advocate  of 
silver,  being  strongly  in  favor  of  the  free 
and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver,  and  on  ac- 
count of  his  pronounced  views  was  one  of 
the  candidates  for  the  presidential  nomina- 
tion of  the   Democratic  party  at  Chicago  in 


FANNY  DAVENPORT  (F.  L.  G.  Daven- 
port) was  of  British  birth,  but  she  be- 
longs to  the  American  stage.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  the  famous  actor,  E.  L.  Daven- 
port, and  was  born  in  London  in  1850. 
She  first  went  on  the  stage  as  a  child  at  the 
Howard  Athenaeum,  Boston,  and  her  entire 
life  was  spent  upon  the  stage.  She  played 
children's  parts  at  Burton's  old  theater  in 
Chambers  street,  and  then,  in  1862,  appeared 
as  the  King  of  Spain  in  "  Faint  Heart  Never 
Won  Fair  Lady."  Here  she  attracted  the 
notice  of  Augustin  Daly,  the  noted  mana- 
ger, then  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  theater,  who 
offered  her  a  six  weeks'  engagement  with 
her  father  in  "London  Assurance."  She 
afterwards  appeared  at  the  same  house  in  a 
variety  of  characters,  and  her  versatility 
was  favorably  noticed  by  the  critics.  After 
the  burning  of  the  old  Fifth  Avenue,  the 
present  theater  of  that  name  was  built  at 
Twenty-eighth  street,  and  here  Miss  Daven- 
port appeared  in  a  play  written  for  her  by 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


107 


Mr.  Daly.  She  scored  a  great  success. 
She  then  starred  in  this  play  throughout  the 
country,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Edwin  F. 
Price,  an  actor  of  her  company,  in  1880. 
In  1882  she  went  to  Paris  and  purchased 
the  right  to  produce  in  America  Sardou's 
great  emotional  play,  "Fedora."  It  was 
put  on  at  the  Fourteenth  Street  theater  in 
New  York,  and  in  it  she  won  popular  favor 
and  became  one  of  the  most  famous  actresses 
of  her  time. 


HORACE  BRIGHAM  CLAFLIN,  one 
of  the  greatest  merchants  America  has 
produced,  was  born  in  Milford,  Massachu- 
setts, a  son  of  John  Claflin,  also  a  mer- 
chant. Young  Claflin  started  his  active  life 
as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store,  after  having 
been  offered  the  opportunity  of  a  college 
education,  but  with  the  characteristic 
promptness  that  was  one  of  his  virtues  he 
exclaimed,  "No  law  or  medicine  for  me." 
He  had  set  his  heart  on  being  a  merchant, 
and  when  his  father  retired  he  and  his 
brother  Aaron,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Sam- 
uel Daniels,  conducted  the  business.  Mr. 
Claflin  was  not  content,  however,  to  run  a 
store  in  a  town  like  Milford,  and  accordingly 
opened  a  dry  goods  store  at  Worcester,  with 
his  brother  as  a  partner,  but  the  partnership 
was  dissolved  a  year  later  and  H.  B.  Claflin 
assumed  complete  control.  The  business 
in  Worcester  had  been  conducted  on  ortho- 
dox principles,  and  when  Mr.  Claflin  came 
there  and  introduced  advertising  as  a  means 
of  drawing  trade,  he  created  considerable 
animosity  among  the  older  merchants.  Ten 
years  later  he  was  one  of  the  most  prosper- 
ous merchants.  He  disposed  of  his  busi- 
ness in  Worcester  for  $30,000,  and  went  to 
New  York  to  search  for  a  wider  field  than 
that  of  a  shopkeeper.  Mr.  Claflin  and 
William  M.  Bulkley  started  in  the  dry  goods 


business  there  under  the  firm  name  of  Bulk- 
ley  &  Claflin,  in  1843,  a°d  Mr  Bulkley  was 
connected  with  the  firm  until  1851, when  he 
retired.  A  new  firm  was  then  formed  under 
the  name  of  Claflin,  Mellin  &  Co.  This 
firm  succeeded  in  founding  the  largest  dry 
goods  house  in  the  world,  and  after  weather- 
ing the  dangers  of  the  civil  war,  during 
which  the  house  came  very  near  going  un- 
der, and  was  saved  only  by  the  superior 
business  abilities  of  Mr.  Claflin,  continued  to 
grow.  The  sales  of  the  firm  amounted  to 
over  $72,000,000  a  year  after  the  close  of 
the  war.  Mr.  Claflin  died  November  14, 
1885. 

CHARLOTTE  CUSHMAN  (Charlotte 
Saunders  Cushman),  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  American  actresses,  was  born  in 
Boston,  July  23,  1816.  She  was  descended 
from  one  of  the  earliest  Puritan  families. 
Her  first  attempt  at  stage  work  was  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  in  a  charitable  concert 
given  by  amateurs  in  Boston.  From  this 
time  her  advance  to  the  first  place  on  the 
American  lyric  stage  was  steady,  until,  in 
1835,  while  singing  in  New  Orleans,  she 
suddenly  lost  control  of  her  voice  so  far  as 
relates  to  singing,  and  was  compelled  to  re- 
tire. She  then  took  up  the  study  for  the 
dramatic  stage  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Barton,  the  tragedian.  She  soon  after 
made  her  debut  as  "Lady  Macbeth."  She 
appeared  in  New  York  in  September,  1836, 
and  her  success  was  immediate.  Her 
"Romeo"  was  almost  perfect,  and  she  is 
the  only  woman  that  has  ever  appeared  in 
the  part  of  "Cardinal  Wolsey."  She  at 
different  times  acted  as  support  of  Forrest 
and  Macready.  Her  London  engagement, 
secured  in  1845,  after  many  and  great  dis- 
couragements, proved  an  unqualified  suc- 
cess. 


108 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


Her  farewell  appearance  was  at  Booth's 
theater,  New  York,  November  7,  1874,  in 
the  part  of  "  Lady  Macbeth,"  and  after  that 
performance  an  Ode  by  R.  H.  Stoddard 
was  read,  and  a  body  of  citizens  went  upon 
the  stage,  and  in  their  name  the  venerable 
poet  Longfellow  presented  her  with  a  wreath 
of  laurel  with  an  inscription  to  the  effect 
that  "she  who  merits  the  palm  should  bear 
it."  From  the  time  of  her  appearance  as  a 
modest  girl  in  a  charitable  entertainment 
down  to  the  time  of  final  triumph  as  a  tragic 
queen,  she  bore  herself  with  as  much  honor 
to  womanhood  as  to  the  profession  she  rep- 
resented. Her  death  occurred  in  Boston, 
February  18,  1876.  By  her  profession  she 
acquired  a  fortune  of  $600,000. 


NEAL  DOW,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
temperance  reformers  our  country  has 
known,  was  born  in  Portland,  Me.,  March  20, 
1804.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
Friends  Seminary,  at  New  Bedford,  Massa- 
chusetts, his  parents  being  members  of  that 
sect.  After  leaving  school  he  pursued  a 
mecrantile  and  manufacturing  career  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  active  in  the 
affairs  of  his  native  city,  and  in  1839  be- 
came chief  of  the  fire  department,  and  in 
1851  was  elected  mayor.  He  was  re-elected 
to  the  latter  office  in  1 854.  '  Being  opposed 
to  the  liquor  traffic  he  was  a  champion  of 
the  project  of  prohibition,  first  brought  for- 
ward in  1  S39  by  James  Appleton.  While 
serving  his  first  term  as  mayor  he  drafted  a 
bill  for  the  "suppression  of  drinking  houses 
and  tippling  shops,"  which  he  took  to  the 
legislature  and  which  was  passed  without  an 
alteration.  In  1858  Mr.  Dow  was  elected 
to  the  legislature.  On  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Thirteenth  Maine  Infantry  and  accompanied 
General  Butler's  expedition  to  New  Orleans. 


In  1862  he  was  made  brigadier-general.  At 
the  battle  of  Port  Hudson  May  27,  1863,  he 
was  twice  wounded,  and  taken  prisoner.  He 
was  confined  at  Libby  prison  and  Mobile 
nearly  a  year,  when,  being  exchanged,  he 
resigned,  his  health  having  given  way  under 
the  rigors  of  his  captivity.  He  made  sev- 
eral trips  to  England  in  the  interests  of 
temperance  organization,  where  he  addressed 
large  audiences.  He  was  the  candidate  of 
the  National  Prohibition  party  for  the  presi- 
dency in  1880,  receiving  about  ten  thousand 
votes.  In  1884  he  was  largely  instrumental 
in  the  amendment  of  the  constitution  of 
Maine,  adopted  by  an  overwhelming  popular 
vote,  which  forever  forbade  the  manufacture 
or  sale  of  any  intoxicating  beverages,  and 
commanding  the  legislature  to  enforce  the 
prohibition.      He  died  October  2,   1897. 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth  president 
of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Orange  county,  Virginia,  September  24, 
1784.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on  his  fath- 
er's plantation  and  his  education  was  lim- 
ited. In  1808  he  was  made  lieutenant  of 
the  Seventh  Infantry,  and  joined  his  regi- 
ment at  New  Orleans.  He  was  promoted 
to  captain  in  18 10,  and  commanded  at  Fort 
Harrison,  near  the  present  site  of  Terre 
Haute,  in  18 12,  where,  for  his  gallant  de- 
fense, he  was  brevetted  major,  attaining  full 
rank  in  18 14.  In  1815  he  retired  to  an  es- 
tate near  Louisville.  In  18 16  here-entered 
the  army  as  major,  and  was  promoted  to 
lieutenant-colonel  and  then  to  colonel. 
Having  for  many  years  been  Indian  agent 
over  a  large  portion  of  the  western  country, 
he  was  often  required  in  Washington  to  give 
advice  and  counsel  in  matters  connected 
with  the  Indian  bureau.  He  served  through 
the  Black  Hawk  Indian  war  of  1832,  and  in 
1837  was  ordered  to  the  command  of  the 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


109 


army  in  Florida,  where  he  attacked  the  In- 
dians in  the  swamps  and  brakes,  defeated 
them  and  ended  the  war.  He  was  brevetted 
brigadier-general  and  made  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  army  in  Florida.  He  was  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  the  army  of  the 
southwest  in  1840,  But  was  soon  after  re- 
lieved of  it  at  his  request.  He  was  then 
stationed  at  posts  in  Arkansas.  In  1845  he 
was  ordered  to  prepare  to  protect  and  de- 
fend Texas  boundaries  from  invasion  by 
Mexicans  and  Indians.  On  the  annexation 
of  Texas  he  proceeded  with  one  thousand 
five  hundred  men  to  Corpus  Christi,  within 
the  disputed  territory.  After  reinforcement 
he  was  ordered  by  the  Mexican  General  Am- 
pudia  to  retire  beyond  the  Nueces  river, 
with  which  order  he  declined  to  comply. 
The  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma  followed,  and  he  crossed  the  Rio 
Grande  and  occupied  Matamoras  May  1 8th. 
He  was  commissioned  major-general  for  this 
campaign,  and  in  September  he  advanced 
upon  the  city  of  Monterey  and  captured  it 
after  a  hard  fight.  Here  he  took  up  winter 
quarters,  and  when  he  was  about  to  resume 
activity  in  the  spring  he  was  ordered  to  send 
the  larger  part  of  his  army  to  reinforce 
General  Scott  at  Vera  Cruz.  After  leaving 
garrisons  at  various  points  his  army  was  re- 
duced to  about  five  thousand,  mostly  fresh 
recruits.  He  was  attacked  by  the  army  of 
Santa  Anna  at  Buena  Vista,  February  22, 
1847,  and  after  a  severe  fight  completely 
routed  the  Mexicans.  He  received  the 
thanks  of  congress  and  a  gold  medal  for 
this  victory.  He  remained  in  command  of 
the  "  army  of  occupation "  until  winter, 
when  he  returned  to  the  United  States. 

In  1848  General  Taylor  was  nominated 
by  the  Whigs  for  president.  He  was  elected 
over  his  two  opponents,  Cass  and  Van 
Buren.      Great  bitterness  was  developing  in 


the  struggle  for  and  against  the  extension  of 
slavery,  and  the  newly  acquired  territory  in 
the  west,  and  the  fact  that  the  states  were 
now  equally  divided  on  that  question,  tended 
to  increase  the  feeling.  President  Taylor 
favored  immediate  admission  of  California 
with  her  constitution  prohibiting  slavery, 
and  the  admission  of  other  states  to  be 
formed  out  of  the  new  territory  as  they 
might  elect  as  they  adopted  constitutions 
from  time  to  time.  This  policy  resulted  in 
the  "  Omnibus  Bill,"  which  afterward  passed 
congress,  though  in  separate  bills;  not,  how- 
ever, until  after  the  death  of  the  soldier- 
statesman,  which  occurred  July  9,  1850. 
One  of  his  daughters  became  the  wife  of 
Jefferson  Davis. 


M' 


ELVILLE  D.  LANDON,  better  known 
as  "  Eli  Perkins,  "  author,  lecturer  and 
humorist,  was  born  in  Eaton,  New  York, 
September  7,  1839.  He  was  the  son  of 
John  Landon  and  grandson  of  Rufus  Lan- 
don,  a  revolutionary  soldier  from  Litchfield 
county,  Connecticut.  Melville  was  edu- 
cated at  the  district  school  and  neighboring 
academy,  where  he  was  prepared  for  the 
sophomore  class  at  Madison  University.  He 
passed  two  years  at  the  latter,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  Union  College,  and  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1861,  receiving  the  degree  of 
A.  M.,  in  1862.  He  was,  at  once,  ap- 
pointed to  a  position  in  the  treasury  depart- 
ment at  Washington.  This  being  about  the 
time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and 
before  the  appearance  of  any  Union  troops 
at  the  capital,  he  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  "  Clay  Battalion,"  of  Washing- 
ton. Leaving  his  clerkship  some  time  later, 
he  took  up  duties  on  the  staff  of  General  A. 
L.  Chetlain,  who  was  in  command  at  Mem- 
phis. In  1864  he  resigned  from  the  army 
and  engaged  in  cotton  planting  in  Arkansas 


110 


COMPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


and  Louisiana.  In  1867  he  went  abroad, 
making  the  tour  of  Europe,  traversing  Rus- 
sia. While  in  the  latter  country  his  old 
commander  of  the  "  Clay  Battalion,"  Gen- 
eral Cassius  M.  Clay,  then  United  States 
minister  at  St.  Petersburg,  made  him  secre- 
tary of  legation.  In  1 87 1,  on  returning  to 
America,  he  published  a  history  of  the 
Franco-Prussian  war,  and  followed  it  with 
numerous  humorous  writings  for  the  public 
press  under  the  name  of  "Eli  Perkins," 
which,  with  his  regular  contributions  to  the 
"  Commercial  Advertiser,"  brought  him  into 
notice,  and  spread  his  reputation  as,a  hu- 
morist throughout  thecountry.  He  also  pub- 
lished "Saratoga  in  1891,"  "Wit,  Humor 
and  Pathos,"  ' '  Wit  and  Humor  of  the  Age," 
■'  Kings  of  Platform  and  Pulpit,"  "  Thirty 
Years  of  Wit  and  Humor,"  "  Fun  and  Fact," 
and  "  China  and  Japan." 


LEWIS  CASS,  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent statesman  and  party  leaders  of  his 
day,  was  born  at  Exeter,  New  Hampshire, 
October  9,  1782.  He  studied  law,  and  hav- 
ing removed  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  commenced 
the  practice  of  that  profession  in  1802.  He 
entered  the  service  of  the  American  govern- 
ment in  18 12  and  was  made  a  colonel  in 
the  army  under  General  William  Hull,  and 
on  the  surrender  of  Fort  Maiden  by  that 
officer  was  held  as  a  prisoner.  Being  re- 
leased in  1813,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general  and  in  18 14  ap- 
pointed governor  of  Michigan  Territory. 
After  he  had  held  that  office  for  some 
sixteen  years,  negotiating,  in  the  meantime, 
many  treaties  with  the  Indians,  General 
Cass  was  made  secretary  of  war  in  the  cabi- 
net of  President  Jackson,  in  1 83 1.  He  was, 
in  1836,  appointed  minister  to  France, 
which  office  he  held  for  six  years.  In  1844 
he  was  elected   United   States  senator  from 


Michigan.  In  1846  General  Cass  opposed 
the  Wilmot  Proviso,  which  was  an  amend- 
ment to  a  bill  for  the  purchase  of  land  from 
Mexico,  which  provided  that  in  any  of  the 
territory  acquired  from  that  power  slavery 
should  not  exist.  For  this  and  other  reasons 
he  was  nominated  as  Democratic  candidate 
for  the  presidency  of  the  United  States  in 
1848,  but  was  defeated  by  General  Zachary 
Taylor,  the  Whig  candidate,  having  but 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  electoral  votes 
to  his  opponent's  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three.  In  1849  General  Cass  was  re-elected 
to  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  and  in 
1854  supported  Douglas'  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill.  He  became  secretary  of  state  in 
March,  1857,  under  President  Buchanan, 
but  resigned  that  office  in  December,  i860. 
He  died  June  17,  1866.  The  published 
works  of  Lewis  Cass,  while  not  numerous, 
are  well  written  and  display  much  ability. 
He  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his  day 
in  the  political  councils  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  left  a  reputation  for  high  probity 
and  honor  behind  him. 


DEWITT  CLINTON.— Probably  there 
were  but  few  men  who  were  so  popular 
in  their  time,  or  who  have  had  so  much  in- 
fluence in  moulding  events  as  the  individual 
whose  name  honors  the  head  of  this  article. 
De  Witt  Clinton  was  the  son  of  General 
James  Clinton,  and  a  nephew  of  Governor 
George  Clinton,  who  was  the  fourth  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States.  He  was  a 
native  of  Orange  county,  New  York,  born  at 
Little  Britain,  March  2,  1769.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Columbia  College,  in  his  native 
state,  in  1796,  and  took  up  the  study  of  law. 
In  1790  he  became  private  secretary  to  his 
uncle,  then  governor  of  New  York.  He  en- 
tered public  life  as  a  Republican  or  anti- 
Federalist,   and  was  elected   to  the   lower 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


Ill 


house  of  the  state  assembly  in  1797,  and  the 
senate  of  that  body  in  1798.  At  that  time 
he  was  looked  on  as  "the  most  rising  man 
in  the  Union."  In  1801  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate.  In  1803  he  was 
appointed  by  the  governor  and  council 
mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York,  then  a 
very  important  and  powerful  office.  Hav- 
ing been  re-appointed,  he  held  the  office 
of  mayor  for  nearly  eleven  years,  and 
rendered  great  service  to  that  city.  Mr. 
Clinton  served  as  lieutenant-governor  of 
the  state  of  New  York,  1811-13,  and 
was  one  of  the  commissioners  appointed 
to  examine  and  survey  a  route  for  a  canal 
from  the  Hudson  river  to  Lake  Erie.  Dif- 
fering with  President  Madison,  in  relation  to 
the  war,  in  18 12,  he  was  nominated  for  the 
presidency  against  that  gentleman,  by  a 
coalition  party  called  the  Clintonians,  many 
of  whom  were  Federalists.  Clinton  received 
eight-nine  electoral  votes.  His  course  at 
this  time  impaired  his  popularity  for  a  time. 
He  was  removed  from  the  mayoralty  in 
1814,  and  retired  to  private  life.  In  1815 
he  wrote  a  powerful  argument  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  Erie  canal,  then  a  great  and 
beneficent  work  of  which  he  was  the  prin- 
cipal promoter.  This  was  in  the  shape  of 
a  memorial  to  the  legislature,  which,  in 
18 17,  passed  a  bill  authorizing  the  construc- 
tion of  that  canal.  The  same  year  he  was 
elected  governor  of  New  York,  almost  unani- 
mously, notwithstanding  the  opposition  of 
a  few  who  pronounced  the  scheme  of  the 
canal  visionary.  He  was  re-elected  governor 
in  1820.  He  was  at  this  time,  also,  presi- 
dent of  the  canal  commissioners.  He  de- 
clined a  re-election  to  the  gubernatorial 
chair  in  1822  and  was  removed  from  his 
place  on  the  canal  board  two  years  later. 
But  he  was  triumphantly  elected  to  the  of- 
fice of  governor  that  fall,  and  his  pet  project, 


the  Erie  canal,  was  finished  the  next  year. 
He  was  re-elected  governor  in  1826,  but 
died  while  holding  that  office,  February  II, 


AARON  BURR,  one  of  the  many  brilliant 
figures  on  the  political  stage  in  the  early 
days  of  America,  was  born  at  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  February  6,  1756.  He  was  the  son 
of  Aaron  and  Esther  Burr,  the  former  the 
president  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and 
the  latter  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Edwards, 
who  had  been  president  of  the  same  educa- 
tional institution.  Young  Burr  graduated 
at  Princeton  in  1772.  In  1775  he  joined 
the  provincial  army  at  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts. For  a  time,  he  served  as  a  private 
soldier,  but  later  was  made  an  aide  on  the 
staff  of  the  unfortunate  General  Montgom- 
ery, in  the  Quebec  expedition.  Subse- 
quently he  was  on  the  staffs  of  Arnold,  Put- 
nam and  Washington,  the  latter  of  whom 
he  disliked.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenant-colonel  and  commanded  a 
brigade  on  Monmouth's  bloody  field.  In 
I779>  on  account  of  feeble  health,  Colonel 
Burr  resigned  from  the  army.  He  took  up 
the  practice  of  law  in  Albany,  New  York, 
but  subsequently  removed  to  New  York  City. 
In  1789  he  became  attorney-general  of  that 
state.  In  1791  he  was  chosen  to  represent 
the  state  of  New  York  in  the  United  States 
senate  and  held  that  position  for  six  years. 
In  1800  he  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were  both 
candidates  for  the  presidency,  and  there 
being  a  tie  in  the  electoral  college,  each 
having  seventy-three  votes,  the  choice  was 
left  to  congress,  who  gave  the  first  place  to 
Jefferson  and  made  Aaron  Burr  vice-presi- 
dent, as  the  method  then  was.  In  1 804  Mr. 
Burr  and  his  great  rival,  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton, met  in  a  duel,  which  resulted  in  the 
death  of  the  latter,  Burr  losing  thereby  con- 


112 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


siderable  political  and  social  influence.  He 
soon  embarked  in  a  wild  attempt  upon 
Mexico,  and  as  was  asserted,  upon  the 
southwestern  territories  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  tried  for  treason  at 
Richmond,  Virginia,  in  1807,  but  acquitted, 
and  to  avoid  importunate  creditors,  fled  to 
Europe.  Afteratime,  in  1812,  he  returned 
to  New  York,  where  he  practiced  law,  and 
where  he  died,  September  14,  1836.  A  man 
of  great  ability,  brilliant  and  popular  talents, 
his  influence  was  destroyed  by  his  unscrupu- 
lous political  actions  and  immoral  private 
life.  

ALBERT  GALLATIN,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  statesmen  of  the  early 
days  of  the  republic,  was  born  at  Geneva, 
Switzerland,  January  29,  1761.  He  was 
the  son  of  Jean  de  Gallatin  and  Sophia  A. 
Rolaz  du  Rosey  Gallatin,  representatives  of 
an  old  patrician  family.  Albert  Gallatin 
was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  and  was 
educated  under  the  care  of  friends  of  his 
parents.  He  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Geneva  in  1779,  and  declining  employ- 
ment under  one  of  the  sovereigns  of  Ger- 
many, came  to  the  struggling  colonies,  land- 
ing in  Boston  July  14,  1780.  Shortly  after 
his  arrival  he  proceeded  to  Maine,  where  he 
served  as  a  volunteer  under  Colonel  Allen. 
He  made  advances  to  the  government  for 
the  support  of  the  American  troops,  and  in 
November,  1780,  was  placed  in  command 
of  a  small  fort  at  Passamaquoddy,  defended 
by  a  force  of  militia,  volunteers  and  Indians. 
In  1783  he  was  professor  of  the  French 
language  at  Harvard  University.  A  year 
later,  having  received  his  patrimony  from 
Europe,  he  purchased  large  tracts  of  land 
in  western  Virginia,  but  was  prevented  by 
the  Indians  from  forming  the  large  settle- 
ment he  proposed,  and,  in  1786,  purchased 


a  farm  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania. 
In  1789  he  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
to  amend  the  constitution  of  that  state,  and 
united  himself  with  the  Republican  party, 
the  head  of  which  was  Thomas  Jefferson. 
The  following  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  to  which  he  was 
subsequently  re-elected.  In  1793  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  but 
could  not  take  his  seat  on  account  of  not 
having  been  a  citizen  long  enough.  In  1794 
Mr.  Gallatin  was  elected  to  the  representa- 
tive branch  of  congress,  in  which  he  served 
three  terms.  He  also  took  an  important 
position  in  the  suppression  of  the  "whiskey 
insurrection."  In  1S01,  on  the  accession  of 
Jefferson  to  the  presidency,  Mr.  Gallatin 
was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
In  1809  Mr.  Madison  offered  him  the  posi- 
tion of  secretary  of  state,  but  he  declined, 
and  continued  at  the  head  of  the  treasury 
until  1812,  a  period  of  twelve  years.  He 
exercised  a  great  influence  on  the  other  de- 
partments and  in  the  general  administration, 
especially  in  the  matter  of  financial  reform, 
and  recommended  measures  for  taxation, 
etc. ,  which  were  passed  by  congress,  and  be- 
came laws  May  24,  1 8 1 3 .  The  same  year  he 
was  sent  as  an  envoy  extraordinary  to  Rus- 
sia, which  had  offered  to  mediate  between 
this  country  and  Great  Britain,  but  the  lat- 
ter country  refusing  the  interposition  of 
another  power,  and  agreeing  to  treat  di- 
rectly with  the  United  States,  in  18 14,  at 
Ghent,  Mr.  Gallatin,  in  connection  with  his 
distinguished  colleagues,  negotiated  and 
signed  the  treaty  of  peace.  In  181 5,  in 
conjunction  with  Messrs.  Adams  and  Clay, 
he  signed,  at  London,  a  commercial  treaty 
between  the  two  countries.  In  18 16,  de- 
clining his  old  post  at  the  head  of  the  treas- 
ury, Mr.  Gallatin  was  sent  as  minister  to 
France,    where    he    remained    until    1823. 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


118 


After  a  year  spent  in  England  as  envoy  ex- 
traordinary, he  took  up  his  residence  in  New 
York,  and  from  that  time  held  no  public 
office.  In  1830  he  was  chosen  president  of 
the  council  of  the  University  of  New  York. 
He  was,  in  1831,  made  president  of  the 
National  bank,  which  position  he  resigned 
in  1839.      He  died  August  12,  1849. 


MILLARD  FILLMORE,  the  thirteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  of  New  England  parentage  in  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  January  7, 
1800.  His  school  education  was  very  lim- 
ited, but  he  occupied  his  leisure  hours  in 
study.  He  worked  in  youth  upon  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  his  native  county,  and  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  was  apprenticed  to  a  wool 
carder  and  cloth  dresser.  Four  years  later 
he  was  induced  by  Judge  Wood  to  enter  his 
office  at  Montville,  New  York,  and  take  up 
the  study  of  law.  This  warm  friend,  find- 
ing young  Fillmore  destitute  of  means, 
loaned  him  money,  but  the  latter,  not  wish- 
ing to  incur  a  heavy  debt,  taught  school 
during  part  of  the  time  and  in  this  and  other 
ways  helped  maintain  himself.  In  1822  he 
removed  to  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  the  year 
following,  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  East  Aurora,  in  the  same  state.  Here 
he  remained  until  1830,  having,  in  the 
meantime,  been  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
supreme  court,  when  he  returned  to  Buffalo, 
where  he  became  the  partner  of  S.  G. 
Haven  and  N.  K.  Hall.  He  entered  poli- 
tics and  served  in  the  state  legislature  from 
1829  to  1832.  He  was  in  congress  in  1 833— 
35  and  in  1837-41,  where  he  proved  an 
active  and  useful  member,  favoring  the 
views  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  then  battling 
almost  alone  the  slave-holding  party  in  na- 
tional politics,  and  in  most  of  public  ques- 


tions acted  with  the  Whig  party.  While 
chairman  of  the  committee  of  ways  and 
means  he  took  a  leading  part  in  draughting 
the  tariff  bill  of  1842.  In  1844  Mr.  Fill- 
more was  the  Whig  candidate  for  governor 
of  New  York.  In  1847  he  was  chosen 
comptroller  of  the  state,  and  abandoning 
his  practice  and  profession  removed  to  Al- 
bany. In  1848  he  was  elected  vice  presi- 
dent on  the  ticket  with  General  Zachary 
Taylor,  and  they  were  inaugurated  the  fol- 
lowing March.  On  the  death  of  the  presi- 
dent, July  9,  1850,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  in- 
ducted into  that  office.  The  great  events 
of  his  administration  were  the  passage  of 
the  famous  compromise  acts  of  1850,  and 
the  sending  out  of  the  Japan  expedition  of 
1852. 

March  4,  1853,  having  served  one  term, 
President  Fillmore  retired  from  office,  and 
in  1855  went  to  Europe,  where  he  received 
marked  attention.  On  returning  home,  in 
1856,  he  was  nominated  for  the  presidency 
by  the  Native  American  or  "Know-Noth- 
ing" party,  but  was  defeated,  James  Buch- 
anan being  the  successful  candidate. 

Mr.  Fillmore  ever  afterward  lived  in  re- 
tirement. During  the  conflict  of  Civil  war 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  sup- 
posed, however,  that  his  sympathy  was  with 
the  southern  confederacy.  He  kept  aloof 
from  the  conflict  without  any  words  of  cheer 
to  the  one  party  or  the  other.  For  this  rea- 
son he  was  forgotten  by  both.  He  died  of 
paralysis,  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  March  8, 
1874-  

PETER  F.  ROTHERMEL,  one  of  Amer- 
ica's greatest  and  best-known  historical 
painters,  was  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, July  8,  1817,  and  was  of  German 
ancestry.  He  received  his  earlier  education 
in   his  native   county,  and   in    Philadelphia 


114 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


learned  the  profession  of  land  surveying. 
But  a  strong  bias  toward  art  drew  him  away 
and  he  soon  opened  a  studio  where  he  did 
portrait  painting.  This  soon  gave  place  to 
historical  painting,  he  having  discovered  the 
bent  of  his  genius  in  that  direction.  Be- 
sides the  two  pictures  in  the  Capitol  at 
Washington — '  'DeSoto  Discovering  the  Mis- 
sissippi" and  "Patrick  Henry  Before  the 
Virginia  House  of  Burgesses" — Rothermel 
painted  many  others,  chief  among  which 
are:  "Columbus  Before  Queen  Isabella," 
"Martyrs  of  the  Colosseum,"  "Cromwell 
Breaking  Up  Service  in  an  English  Church, " 
and  the  famous  picture  of  the  "Battle 
of  Gettysburg."  The  last  named  was 
painted  for  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  for 
which  Rothermel  received  the  sum  of  $25,- 
000,  and  which  it  took  him  four  years  to 
plan  and  to  paint.  It  represents  the  portion 
of  that  historic  field  held  by  the  First  corps, 
an  exclusively  Pennsylvania  body  of  men, 
and  was  selected  by  Rothermel  for  that 
reason.  For  many  years  most  of  his  time 
was  spent  in  Italy,  only  returning  for  short 
periods.  He  died  at  Philadelphia,  August 
16,  1895. 

EDMUND  KIRBY  SMITH,  one  of  the 
distinguished  leaders  upon  the  side  of  the 
south  in  the  late  Civil  war,  was  born  at  St. 
Augustine,  Florida,  in  1824.  After  receiv- 
ing the  usual  education  he  was  appointed  to 
the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1845  and 
entered  the  army  as  second  lieutenant  of 
infantry.  During  the  Mexican  war  he  was 
made  first  lieutenant  and  captain  for  gallant 
conduct  at  Cerro  Gordo  and  Contreras. 
From  1849  to  1852  he  was  assistant  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics  at  West  Point.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  Second  cavalry  with 
the  rank  of  captain  in   1855,  served  on  the 


frontier,  and  was  wounded  in  a  fight  with 
Comanche  Indians  in  Texas,  May  13,  1859. 
In  January,  1861,  he  became  major  of  his 
regiment,  but  resigned  April  9th  to  fol- 
low the  fortunes  of  the  southern  cause. 
He  was  appointed  brigadier-general  in  the 
Confederate  army  and  served  in  Virginia. 
At  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861, 
he  arrived  on  the  field  late  in  the  day,  but 
was  soon  disabled  by  a  wound.  He  was 
made  major-general  in  1 862,  and  being  trans- 
ferred to  East  Tennessee,  was  given  com- 
mand of  that  department.  Under  General 
Braxton  Bragg  he  led  the  advance  in  the 
invasion  of  Kentucky  and  defeated  the  Union 
forces  at   Richmond,  Kentucky,  August  30,  . 

1862,  and  advanced  to  Frankfort.  Pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  he 
was  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
October  10,  and  in  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
boro,   December  31,    1862,   and  January  3, 

1863.  He  was  soon  made  general,  the 
highest  rank  in  the  service,  and  in  com- 
mand of  the  trans-Mississippi  department 
opposed  General  N.  P.  Banks  in  the  famous 
Red  River  expedition,  taking  part  in  the 
battle  of  Jenkins  Ferry,  April  30,  1864,  and 
other  engagements  of  that  eventful  cam- 
paign. He  was  the  last  to  surrender  the 
forces  under  his  command,  which  he  did 
May  26,  1865.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  located  in  Tennessee,  where  he  died 
March  28,  1893. 


JOHN  JAMES  INGALLS,  a  famous 
J  American  statesman,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 29,  1833,  at  Middleton,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  was  reared  and  received  his  early 
education.  He  went  to  Kansas  in  1858 
and  joined  the  free-soil  army,  and  a  year 
after  his  arrival  he  was  a  member  of  the  his- 
torical Wyandotte  convention,  which  drafted 
a   free-state   constitution.      In  i860  he  was 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


115 


made  secretary  of  the  territorial  council, 
and  in  1861  was  secretary  of  the  state  sen- 
ate. The  next  year  he  was  duly  elected  to 
the  legitimate  state  senate  from  Atchison, 
where  he  had  made  his  home.  From  that 
time  he  was  the  leader  of  the  radical  Re- 
publican element  in  the  state.  He  became 
the  editor  of  the  "Atchison  Champion  "  in 
1863,  which  was  a  "red-hot  free-soil  Re- 
publican organ."  In  1862  he  was  the  anti- 
Lane  candidate  for  lieutenant-governor,  but 
was  defeated.  He  was  elected  to  the  Unit- 
ed States  senate  to  succeed  Senator  Pom- 
eroy,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  forty-third 
congress  and  served  until  the  fiftieth.  In 
the  forty-ninth  congress  he  succeeded  Sen- 
ator Sherman  as  president  pro  tern.,  which 
position  he  held  through  the  fiftieth  con- 
gress. 

BENJAMIN  WEST,  the  greatest  of  the 
early  American  painters,  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent  and  Quaker  parentage.  He  was 
born  in  Springfield,  Pennsylvania,  in  1738. 
From  what  source  he  inherited  his  genius  it 
is  hard  to  imagine,  since  the  tenets  and 
tendencies  of  the  Quaker  faith  were  not  cal- 
culated to  encourage  the  genius  of  art,  but 
at  the  age  of  nine  years,  with  no  suggestion 
except  that  of  inspiration,  we  find  him  choos- 
ing his  model  from  life,  and  laboring  over 
his  first  work  calculated  to  attract  public 
notice.  It  was  a  representation  of  a  sleep- 
ing child  in  its  cradle.  The  brush  with 
which  he  painted  it  was  made  of  hairs 
which  he  plucked  from  the  cat's  tail,  and 
the  colors  were  obtained  from  the  war  paints 
of  friendly  Indians,  his  mother's  indigo  bag, 
and  ground  chalk  and  charcoal,  and  the  juice 
of  berries,  but  there  were  touches  in  the  rude 
production  that  he  declared  in  later  days 
were  a  credit  to  his  best  works.  The  pic- 
ture  attracted    notice,    for   a    council    was 


called  at  once  to  pass  upon  the  boy's  con- 
duct in  thus  infringing  the  laws  of  the  so- 
ciety. There  were  judges  among  them  who 
saw  in  his  genius  a  rare  gift  and  their  wis- 
dom prevailed,  and  the  child  was  given  per- 
mission to  follow  his  inclination.  He  studied 
under  a  painter  named  Williams,  and  then 
spent  some  years  as  a  portrait  painter  with 
advancing  success.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  he  went  to  Italy,  and  not  until  he  had 
perfected  himself  by  twenty-three  years  of 
labor  in  that  paradise  of  art  was  he  satisfied 
to  turn  his  face  toward  home.  However,  he 
stopped  at  London,  and  decided  to  settle 
there,  sending  to  America  for  his  intended 
bride  to  join  him.  Though  the  Revolution- 
ary war  was  raging,  King  George  III  showed 
the  American  artist  the  highest  considera- 
tion and  regard.  His  remuneration  from 
works  for  royalty  amounted  to  five  thou- 
sand dollars  per  year  for  thirty  years. 

West's  best  known  work  in  America  is, 
perhaps,  "The  Death  of  General  Wolf." 
West  was  one  of  the  thirty-six  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Royal  academy  and  succeeded 
Joshua  Reynolds  as  president,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  until  his  death.  His  early 
works  were  his  best,  as  he  ceased  to  display 
originality  in  his  later  life,  conventionality 
having  seriously  affected  his  efforts.  He 
died  in  1820. 


SAMUEL  PORTER  JONES,  the  famous 
Georgia  evangelist,  was  born  October 
16,  1847,  in  Chambers  county,  Alabama. 
He  did  not  attend  school  regularly  during 
his  boyhood,  but  worked  on  a  farm,  and 
went  to  school  at  intervals,  on  account  of 
ill  health.  His  father  removed  to  Carters- 
ville,  Georgia,  when  Mr.  Jones  was  a  small 
boy.  He  quit  school  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
and  never  attended  college.  The  war  inter- 
fered  with  his  education,  which  was  intended 


116 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


to  prepare  him  for  the  legal  profession. 
After  the  war  he  renewed  his  preparation 
for  college,  but  was  compelled  to  desist  from 
such  a  course,  as  his  health  failed  him  en- 
tirely. Later  on,  however,  he  still  pursued 
his  legal  studies  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  Soon  after  this  event  he  went  to  Dal- 
las, Paulding  county,  Georgia,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  in  a  few  months  removed  to  Cherokee 
county,  Alabama,  where  he  taught  school. 
In  1869  he  returned  to  Cartersville,  Georgia, 
and  arrived  in  time  to  see  his  father  die. 
Immediately  after  this  event  he  applied  for 
a  license  to  preach,  and  went  to  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  to  the  meeting  of  the  North  Geor- 
gia Conference  of  the  M.  E.  church  south, 
which  received  him  on  trial.  He  became 
an  evangelist  of  great  note,  and  traveled 
extensively,  delivering  his  sermons  in  an 
inimitable  style  that  made  him  very  popular 
with  the  masses,  his  methods  of  conducting 
revivals  being  unique  and  original  and  his 
preaching  practical  and  incisive. 


SHELBY  MOORE  CULLOM,  a  national 
character  in  political  affairs  and  for 
many  years  United  States  senator  from 
Illinois,  was  born  November  22,  1829,  at 
Monticello,  Kentucky.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois  in  1830  and  spent  his  early 
yearson  a  farm ,  but  having  formed  the  purpose 
of  devoting  himself  to  the  lawyer's  profession 
he  spent  two  years  study  at  the  Rock  River 
seminary  at  Mount  Morris,  Illinois.  In  1853 
Mr.  Cullom  entered  the  law  office  of  Stuart 
and  Edwards  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  two 
years  later  he  began  the  independent  prac- 
tice of  law  in  that  city.  He  took  an  active 
interest  in  politics  and  was  soon  elected  city 
attorney  of  Springfield.  In  1856  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Illinois  house  of 
representatives.     He  identified  himself  with 


the  newly  formed  Republican  party  and  in 
i860  was  re-elected  to  the  legislature  of  his 
state,  in  which  he  was  chosen  speaker  of  the 
house.  In  1862  President  Lincoln  appoint- 
ed a  commission  to  pass  upon  and  examine 
the  accounts  of  the  United  States  quarter- 
masters and  disbursing  officers,  composed 
as  follows:  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  of  Illinois; 
Charles  A.  Dana,  of  New  York,  and 
Gov.  Boutwell,  of  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
Cullom  was  nominated  for  congress  in 
1864,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of 
1,785.  In  the  house  of  representatives  he 
became  an  active  and  aggressive  member, 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  territories 
and  served  in  congress  until  1868.  Mr. 
Cullom  was  returned  to  the  state  legislature, 
of  which  he  was  chosen  speaker  in  1872, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1874.  In  1876  he 
was  elected  governor  of  Illinois  and  at  the 
end  of  his  term  he  was  chosen  for  a  second 
term.  He  was  elected  United  States  senator 
in  1883  and  twice  re-elected. 


RICHARD  JORDAN  GATLING,  an 
American  inventor  of  much  note,  was 
born  in  Hertford  county,  North  Carolina, 
September  12,  1 818.  At  an  early  age  he 
gave  promise  of  an  inventive  genius.  The 
first  emanation  from  his  mind  was  the 
invention  of  a  screw  for  the  propulsion  of 
water  craft,  but  on  application  for  a 
patent,  found  that  he  was  forestalled  but 
a  short  time  by  John  Ericsson.  Subse- 
quently he  invented  a  machine  for  sowing 
wheat  in  drills,  which  was  used  to  a  great 
extent  throughout  the  west.  He  then  stud- 
ied medicine,  and  in  1847-8  attended 
lectures  at  the  Indiana  Medical  College 
at  Laporte,  and  in  1848-9  at  the  Ohio 
Medical  College  at  Cincinnati.  He  later 
discovered  a  method  of  transmitting  power 
through  the  medium  of  compressed  air.      A 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRATHT. 


119 


double-acting  hemp  break  was  also  invented 
by  him.  The  invention,  however,  by  which 
Dr.  Gatling  became  best  known  was  the 
famous  machine  gun  which  bears  his  name. 
This  he  brought  to  light  in  1861-62,  and  on 
the  first  trial  of  it,  in  the  spring  of  the  latter 
year,  two  hundred  shots  per  minute  were 
fired  from  it.  After  making  some  improve- 
ments which  increased  its  efficiency,  it  was 
submitted  to  severe  trials  by  our  govern- 
ment at  the  arsenals  at  Frankfort,  Wash- 
ington and  Fortress  Monroe,  and  at  other 
points.  The  gun  was  finally  adopted  by 
our  government,  as  well  as  by  that  of  Great 
Britain,  Russia  and  others. 


BENJAMIN  RYAN  TILLMAN,  who  won 
a  national  fame  in  politics,  was  born 
August  11,  1847,  in  Edgefield  county,  South 
Carolina.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
Oldfield  school,  where  he  acquired  the 
rudiments  of  Latin  and  Greek,  in  addition 
to  a  good  English  education.  He  left  school 
in  1864  to  join  the  Confederate  army,  but 
was  prevented  from  doing  so  by  a  severe 
illness,  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  an  eye. 
In  1867  he  removed  to  Florida,  but  returned 
in  1868,  when  he  was  married  and  devoted 
himself  to  farming.  He  was  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  organization  of  his  county, 
but  except  a  few  occasional  services  he  took 
no  active  part  in  politics  then.  Gradually, 
however,  his  attention  was  directed  to  the 
depressed  condition  of  the  farming  interests 
of  his  state,  and  in  August,  1885,  before  a 
joint  meeting  of  the  agricultural  society  and 
state  grange  at  Bennettsville,  he  made  a 
speech  in  which  he  set  forth  the  cause  of 
agricultural  depression  and  urged  measures 
of  relief.  From  his  active  interest  in  the 
farming  class  he  was  styled  the  "Agricult- 
ural  Moses."      He  advocated  an  industrial 

school  for  women  and  for  a  separate  agri- 
7 


cultural  college,  and  in  1887  he  secured  a 
modification  in  the  final  draft  of  the  will  of 
Thomas  G.  Clemson,  which  resulted  in  the 
erection  of  the  Clemson  Agricultural  Col- 
lege at  Fort  Hill.  In  1890  he  was  chosen 
governor  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and 
carried  the  election  by  a  large  majority. 
Governor  Tillman  was  inaugurated  Decem- 
ber 4,  1890.  Mr.  Tillman  was  next  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  from  South 
Carolina,  and  gained  a  national  reputation 
by  his  fervid  oratory. 


GEORGE  DENISON  PRENTICE.— 
No  journalist  of  America  was  so  cele- 
brated in  his  time  for  the  wit,  spice,  and 
vigor  of  his  writing,  as  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch.  From  Atlantic  to 
Pacific  he  was  well  known  by  his  witticism 
as  well  as  by  strength  and  force  of  his  edi- 
torials. He  was  a  native  of  Preston,  Con- 
necticut, born  December  18,  1802.  After 
laying  the  foundation  of  a  liberal  education 
in  his  youth,  he  entered  Brown  University, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1823.  Tak- 
ing up  the  study  of  law,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1S29.  During  part  of  his  time 
he  was  editor  of  the  "  New  England  Weekly 
Review,"  a  position  which  he  relinquished 
to  go  south  and  was  succeeded  by  John 
Greenleaf  Whittier,  the  Quaker  poet. 

On  arriving  in  Louisville,  whither  he 
had  gone  to  gather  items  for  his  history  of 
Henry  Clay,  Mr.  Prentice  became  identified 
with  the  "  Louisville  Journal,"  which,  under 
his  hands,  became  one  of  the  leading  Whig 
newspapers  of  the  country.  At  the  head  of 
this  he  remained  until  the  day  of  his  death. 
This  latter  event  occurred  January  22,  1870, 
and  he  was  succeeded  in  the  control  of  the 
"  Journal  "  by    Colonel    Henry   Watterson. 

Mr.  Prentice  was  an  author  of  consider- 
able celebrity,  chief  among  his  works  being 


120 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


"The  Life  of  Henry  Clay,"  and  "  Prentice- 
ana,"  a  collection  of  wit  and  humor,  that 
passed  through  several  large  editions. 


SAM.  HOUSTON,  in  the  opinion  of  some 
critics  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men 
who  ever  figured  in  American  history,  was  a 
native  of  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia,  born 
March  2,  1793.  Early  in  life  he  was  left  in 
destitute  circumstances  by  the  death  of  his 
father,  and,  with  his  mother,  removed  to 
Tennessee,  then  almost  a  boundless  wilder- 
ness. He  received  but  little  education, 
spending  the  most  of  his  time  among  the 
Cherokee  Indians.  Part  of  the  time  of  his 
residence  there  Houston  acted  as  clerk  for  a 
trader  and  also  taught  one  of  the  primitive 
schools  of  the  day.  In  181 3  he  enlisted  as 
private  in  the  United  States  army  and  was 
engaged  under  General  Jackson  in  the  war 
with  the  Creek  Indians.  When  peace  was 
made  Houston  was  a  lieutenant,  but  he  re- 
signed his  commission  and  commenced  the 
study  of  law  at  Nashville.  After  holding 
some  minor  offices  he  was  elected  member 
of  congress  from  Tennessee.  This  was  in 
1823.  He  retained  this  office  until  1827, 
when  he  was  chosen  governor  of  the  state. 
In  1829,  resigning  that  office  before  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term,  Sam  Houston  removed 
to  Arkansas,  and  made  his  home  among  the 
Cherokees,  becoming  the  agent  of  that 
tribe  and  representing  their  interests  at 
Washington.  On  a  visit  to  Texas,  just 
prior  to  the  election  of  delegates  to  a  con- 
vention called  for  the  purpose  of  drawing 
up  a  constitution  previous  to  the  admission 
of  the  state  into  the  Mexican  union,  he  was 
unanimously  chosen  a  delegate.  The  con- 
vention framed  the  constitution,  but,  it  be- 
ing rejected  by  the  government  of  Mexico, 
and  the  petition  for  admission  to  the  Con- 
federacy denied  and  the  Texans  told  by  the 


president  of  the  Mexican  union  to  give  up 
their  arms,  bred  trouble.  It  was  determined 
to  resist  this  demand.  A  military  force  was 
soon  organized,  with  General  Houston  at 
the  head  of  it.  War  was  prosecuted  with 
great  vigor,  and  with  varying  success,  but 
at  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  April  21,  1836, 
the  Mexicans  were  defeated  and  their  leader 
and  president,  Santa  Anna,  captured.  Texas 
was  then  proclaimed  an  independent  repub- 
lic, and  in  October  of  the  same  year  Hous- 
ton was  inaugurated  president.  On  the  ad- 
mission of  Texas  to  the  Federal  Union,  in 
1845,  Houston  was  elected  senator,  and 
held  that  position  for  twelve  years.  Oppos- 
ing the  idea  of  secession,  he  retired  from 
political  life  in  1861,  and  died  at  Hunts- 
ville,  Texas,  July  25,  1863. 


ELI  WHITNEY,  the  inventor  of  the  cot- 
ton-gin, was  born  in  Westborough,  Mas- 
sachusetts, December  8,  1765.  After  his 
graduation  from  Yale  College,  he  went  to 
Georgia,  where  he  studied  law,  and  lived 
with  the  family  of  the  widow  of  General 
Nathaniel  Greene.  At  that  time  the  only 
way  known  to  separate  the  cotton  seed  from 
the  fiber  was  by  hand,  making  it  extremely 
slow  and  expensive,  and  for  this  reason  cot- 
ton was  little  cultivated  in  this  country. 
Mrs.  Greene  urged  the  inventive  Whitney 
to  devise  some  means  for  accomplishing 
this  work  by  machinery.  This  he  finally 
succeeded  in  doing,  but  he  was  harassed  by 
attempts  to  defraud  him  by  those  who  had 
stolen  his  ideas.  He  at  last  formed  a  part- 
nership with  a  man  named  Miller,  and  they 
began  the  manufacture  of  the  machines  at 
Washington,  Georgia,  in  1795.  The  suc- 
cess of  his  invention  was  immediate,  and  the 
legislature  of  South  Carolina  voted  the  sum 
of  $50,000  for  his  idea.  This  sum  he  had 
great  difficulty  in  collecting,  after  years  of 


COMTEXDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


121 


litigation  and  delay.  North  Carolina  al- 
lowed him  a  royalty,  and  the  same  was 
agreed  to  by  Tennessee,  but  was  never  paid. 

While  his  fame  rests  upon  the  invention 
of  the  cotton-gin,  his  fortune  came  from  his 
improvements  in  the  manufacture  and  con- 
struction of  firearms.  In  1798  the  United 
States  government  gave  him  a  contract  for 
this  purpose,  and  he  accumulated  a  fortune 
from  it.  The  town  of  Whitneyville,  Con- 
necticut, was  founded  by  this  fortune. 
Whitney  died  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
January  8,   1825. 

The  cotton-gin  made  the  cultivation  of 
cotton  profitable,  and  this  led  to  rapid  in- 
troduction of  slavery  in  the  south.  His  in- 
vention thus  affected  our  national  history  in 
a  manner  little  dreamed  of  by  the  inventor. 


LESTER  WALLACK  (John  Lester  Wal- 
lack),  for  many  years  the  leading  light 
comedian  upon  the  American  stage,  was 
the  son  of  James  W.  Wallack,  the  "  Brum- 
mell  of  the  Stage."  Both  father  and  son 
were  noted  for  their  comeliness  of  feature 
and  form.  Lester  Wallack  was  born  in 
New  York,  January  1,  18 19.  He  received 
his  education  in  England,  and  made  his  first 
appearance  on  the  stage  in  1848  at  the  New 
Broadway  theater,  New  York.  He  acted 
light  comedy  parts,  and  also  occasion- 
ally in  romantic  plays  like  Monte  Cristo, 
which  play  made  him  his  fame.  He  went 
to  England  and  played  under  management 
of  such  men  as  Hamblin  and  Burton, and  then 
returned  to  New  York  with  his  father,  who 
opened  the  first  Wallack's  theater,  at  the 
corner  of  Broome  and  Broadway,  in  1852. 
The  location  was  afterward  changed  to 
Thirteenth  and  Broadway,  in  1861,  and 
later  to  its  present  location,  Broadway  and 
Thirteenth,  in  1882.  The  elder  Wallack 
died   in   1864,    after  which  Lester  assumed 


management,  jointly  with  Theodore  Moss. 
Lester  Wallack  was  commissioned  in  the 
queen's  service  while  in  England,  and  there 
he  also  married  a  sister  to  the  famous  artist, 
the  late  John  Everett  Millais.  While  Les- 
ter Wallack  never  played  in  the  interior 
cities,  his  name  was  as  familiar  to  the  public 
as  that  of  our  greatest  stars.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 6,  1888,  at  Stamford,   Connecticut. 


GEORGE  MORTIMER  PULLMAN, 
the  palace  car  magnate,  inventor, 
multi-millionaire  and  manufacturer,  may 
well  be  classed  among  the  remarkable 
self-made  men  of  the  century.  He  was 
born  March  3,  1831,  in  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York.  His  parents  were  poor,  and 
his  education  was  limited  to  what  he  could 
learn  of  the  rudimentary  branches  in  the 
district  school.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
went  to  work  as  clerk  for  a  country  mer- 
chant. He  kept  this  place  three  years, 
studying  at  night.  When  seventeen  he 
went  to  Albion,  New  York,  and  worked  for 
his  brother,  who  kept  a  cabinet  shop  there. 
Five  years  later  he  went  into  business  for 
himself  as  contractor  for  moving  buildings 
along  the  line  of  the  Erie  canal,  which  was 
then  being  widened  by  the  state,  and  was 
successful  in  thii.  In  1858  he  removed  to 
Chicago  and  engaged  in  the  business  of 
moving  and  raising  houses.  The  work  was 
novel  there  then  and  he  was  quite  success- 
ful. About  this  time  the  discomfort  attend- 
ant on  traveling  at  night  attracted  his  at- 
tention. He  reasoned  that  the  public  would 
gladly  pay  for  comfortable  sleeping  accom- 
modations. A  few  sleeping  cars  were  in 
use  at  that  time,  but  they  were  wretchedly 
crude,  uncomfortable  affairs.  In  1859  he 
bought  two  old  day  coaches  from  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  road  and  remodeled  them  some- 
thing like  the  general  plan  of  the  sleeping 


122 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


cars  of  the  present  day.  '  They  were  put 
into  service  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  and 
became  popular  at  once.  In  1863  he  built 
the  first  sleeping-car  resembling  the  Pullman 
cars  of  to-day.  It  cost  $18,000  and  was 
the  "Pioneer."  After  that  the  Pullman 
Palace  Car  Company  prospered.  It  had 
shops  at  different  cities.  In  1880  the  Town 
of  Pullman  was  founded  by  Mr.  Pullman 
and  his  company,  and  this  model  manufac- 
turing community  is  known  all  over  the 
world.    Mr.  Pullman  died  October  19,  1897. 


JAMES  E.  B.  STUART,  the  most  famous 
cavalry  leader  of  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy during  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in 
Patrick  county,  Virginia,  in  1833.  On 
graduating  from  the  United  States  Military 
Academy,  West  Point,  in  1854,  he  was  as- 
signed, as  second  lieutenant,  to  a  regiment 
of  mounted  rifles,  receiving  his  commission 
in  October.  In  March,  1855,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  newly  organized  First  cavalry, 
and  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  the 
following  December,  and  to  captain  April 
22,  1 86 1.  Taking  the  side  of  the  south, 
May  14,  1 861,  he  was  made  colonel  of  a 
Virginia  cavalry  regiment,  and  served  as 
such  at  Bull  Run.  In  September,  1861,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-gen- 
erai,  and  major-general  early  in  1862.  On 
the  reorganization  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  in  June  of  the  latter  year,  when 
R.  E.  Lee  assumed  command,  General  Stu- 
art made  a  reconnoissance  with  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  cavalry  and  four  guns, 
and  in  two  days  made  the  circuit  of  McClel- 
lan's  army,  producing  much  confusion  and 
gathering  useful  information,  and  losing  but 
one  man.  August  25,  1862,  he  captured 
part  of  Pope's  headquarters'  train,  including 
that  general's  private  baggage  and  official 
correspondence,    and  the   next  night,    in  a 


descent  upon  Manasses,  capturing  immense 
quantities  of  commissary  and  quartermaster 
store,  eight  guns,  a  number  of  locomotives 
and  a  few  hundred  prisoners.  During  the 
invasion  of  Maryland,  in  September,  1862, 
General  Stuart  acted  as  rearguard,  resisting 
the  advance  of  the  Federal  cavalry  at  South 
Mountain,  and  at  Antietam  commanded  the 
Confederate  left.  Shortly  after  he  crossed 
the  Potomac,  making  a  raid  as  far  as  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pennsylvania.  In  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862,  Gen- 
eral Stuart's  command  was  on  the  extreme 
right  of  the  Confederate  line.  At  Chancel- 
lorsville,  after  "Stonewall  "  Jackson's  death 
and  the  wounding  of  General  A.  P.  Hill, 
General  Stuart  assumed  command  of  Jack- 
son's corps,  which  he  led  in  the  severe  con- 
test of  May  3,  1863.  Early  in  June,  the 
same  year,  a  large  force  of  cavalry  was 
gathered  under  Stuart,  at  Culpepper,  Vir- 
ginia, which,  advancing  to  join  General  Lee 
in  his  invasion  of  Pennsylvania,  was  met  at 
Brandy  Station,  by  two  divisions  of  cavalry 
and  two  brigades  of  infantry,  under  General 
John  I.  Gregg,  and  driven  back.  During  the 
movements  of  the  Gettysburg  campaign  he 
rendered  important  services.  In  May,  1864, 
General  Stuart  succeeded,  by  a  detour,  in 
placing  himself  between  Richmond  and 
Sheridan's  advancing  column,  and  at  Yellow 
Tavern  was  attacked  in  force.  During  the 
fierce  conflict  that  ensued  General  Stuart 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  at  Rich- 
mond, May  1 1,   1864. 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE,  the  fourteenth 
president  of  the  United  States — from 
1853  until  1857 — was  born  November  23, 
1804,  at  Hillsboro,  New  Hampshire.  He 
came  of  old  revolutionary  stock  and  his 
father  was  a  governor  of  the  state.  Mr. 
Pierce  entered  Bowdoin   College  in   1820, 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


128 


was  graduated  in  1824,  and  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Wood- 
bury, and  later  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
Mr.  Pierce  practiced  his  profession  with 
varying  successes  in  his  native  town  and 
also  in  Concord.  He  was  elected  to  the 
state  legislature  in  1833  and  served  in  that 
body  until  1837,  the  last  two  years  of  his 
term  serving  as  speaker  of  the  house.  He 
was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate  in 
1837,  just  as  President  Van  Buren  began 
his  term  of  office.  Mr.  Pierce  served  until 
1842,  and  many  times  during  Polk's  term  he 
declined  important  public  offices.  During 
the  war  with  Mexico  Mr.  Pierce  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general,  and  he  embarked 
with  a  portion  of  his  troops  at  Newport, 
Rhode  Island,  May  27,  1847,  and  went  with 
them  to  the  field  of  battle.  He  served 
through  the  war  and  distinguished  himself 
by  his  skill,  bravery  and  excellent  judg- 
ment. When  he  reached  his  home  in  his 
native  state  he  was  received  coldly  by  the 
opponents  of  the  war,  but  the  advocates  of 
the  war  made  up  for  his  cold  reception  by 
the  enthusiastic  welcome  which  they  ac- 
corded him.  Mr.  Pierce  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  and  in  the  political 
strife  that  followed  he  gave  his  support  to 
the  pro- slavery  wing  of  the  Democratic 
party.  The  Democratic  convention  met  in 
Baltimore,  June  12,  1852,  to  nominate  a 
candidate  for  the  presidency,  and  they  con- 
tinued in  session  four  days,  and  in  thirty- 
five  ballotings  no  one  had  secured  the  re- 
quisite two-thirds  vote.  Mr.  Pierce  had  not 
received  a  vote  as  yet,  until  the  Virginia 
delegation  brought  his  name  forward,  and 
finally  on  the  forty-ninth  ballot  Mr.  Pierce 
received  282  votes  and  all  the  other  candi- 
dates eleven.  His  opponent  on  the  Whig 
ticket  was  General  Winfield  Scott,  who 
only  received   the  electoral  votes    of   four 


states.  Mr.  Pierce  was  inaugurated  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  March  4,  1853, 
with  W.  R.  King  as  vice  president,  and  the 
following  named  gentlemen  were  afterward 
chosen  to  fill  the  positions  in  the  cabinet: 
William  S.  Marcy,  James  Guthrie,  Jeffer- 
son Davis,  James  C.  Dobbin,  Robert  Mc- 
Clelland, James  Campbell  and  Caleb  Cush- 
ing.  During  the  administration  of  President 
Pierce  the  Missouri  compromise  law  was 
repealed,  and  all  the  territories  of  the  Union 
were  thrown  open  to  slavery,  and  the  dis- 
turbances in  Kansas  occurred.  In  1857  he 
was  succeeded  in  the  presidency  by  James 
Buchanan,  and  retired  to  his  home  in  Con- 
cord, New  Hampshire.  He  always  cherished 
his  principles  of  slavery,  and  at  the  out- 
break of  the  rebellion  he  was  an  adherent  of 
the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  He  died  at 
Concord,  New  Hampshire,  October  8,  1869. 


JAMES  B.  WEAVER,  well  known  as  a 
leader  of  the  Greenback  and  later  of  the 
Populist  party,  was  born  at  Dayton,  Ohio, 
June  12,  1833.  He  received  his  earlier 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Ohio 
University,  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1854.  Removing  to  the  grow- 
ing state  of  Iowa,  he  became  connected 
with  "The  Iowa  Tribune,"  at  the  state 
capital,  Des  Moines,  as  one  of  its  editors. 
He  afterward  practiced  law  and  was  elected 
district  attorney  for  the  second  judicial  dis- 
trict of  Iowa,  on  the  Republican  ticket  in 
1866,  which  office  he  held  for  a  short  time. 
In  1867  Mr.  Weaver  was  appointed  assessor 
of  internal  revenue  for  the  first  district  of 
Iowa,  and  filled  that  position  until  some- 
time in  1873.  He  was  elected  and  served 
in  the  forty-sixth  congress.  In  1880  the 
National  or  Greenback  party  in  convention 
at  Chicago,  nominated  James  B.  Weaver  as 


124 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPH7 . 


its  candidate  for  the  presidency.  By  a 
union  of  the  Democratic  and  National 
parties  in  his  district,  he  was  elected  to  the 
forty-ninth  congress,  and  re-elected  to  the 
same  office  in  the  fall  of  1886.  Mr.  Weaver 
was  conceded  to  be  a  very  fluent  speaker, 
and  quite  active  in  all  political  work.  On 
July  4,  1892,  at  the  National  convention 
of  the  People's  party,  General  James  B. 
Weaver  was  chosen  as  the  candidate  for 
president  of  that  organization,  and  during 
the  campaign  that  followed,  gained  a  na- 
tional reputation. 


ANTHONY  JOSEPH  DREXEL,  one 
of  the  leading  bankers  and  financiers  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1826,  and  was  the  son  of 
Francis  M.  Drexel,  who  had  established 
the  large  banking  institution  of  Drexel  & 
Co.,  so  well  known.  The  latter  was  a  native 
of  Dornbirn,  in  the  Austrian  Tyrol.  He 
studied  languages  and  fine  arts  at  Turin, 
Italy.  On  returning  to  his  mountain  home, 
in  1809,  and  finding  it  in  the  hands  of  the 
French,  he  went  to  Switzerland  and  later 
to  Paris.  In  i8i2,aftera  short  visit  home, 
he  went  to  Berlin,  where  he  studied  paint- 
ing until  18 17,  in  which  year  he  emigrated 
to  America,  and  settled  in  Philadelphia.  A 
few  years  later  he  went  to  Chili  and  Peru, 
where  he  executed  some  fine  portraits  of 
notable  people,  including  General  Simon 
Bolivar.  After  spending  some  time  in  Mex- 
ico, he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  banking  business.  In  1837  he 
founded  the  house  of  Drexel  &  Co.  He 
died  in  1837,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  two 
sons,  Anthony  J.  and  Francis  A.  His  son, 
Anthony  J.  Drexel,  Jr. ,  entered  the  bank 
when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  before  he 
was  through  with  his  schooling,  and  after 
that  the  history  of  the  banking  business  of 


which  he  was  the  head,  was  the  history  of  his 
life.  The  New  York  house  of  Drexel,  Mor- 
gan &  Co.  was  established  in  1850;  the 
Paris  house,  Drexel,  Harjes  &  Co., in  1867. 
The  Drexel  banking  houses  have  supplied 
iand  placed  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars 
n  government,  corporation,  railroad  and 
other  loans  and  securities.  The  reputation 
of  the  houses  has  always  been  held  on  the 
highest  plane.  Mr.  Drexel  founded  and 
heavily  endowed  the  Drexel  Institute,  in 
Philadelphia,  an  institution  to  furnish  better 
and  wider  avenues  of  employment  to  young 
people  of  both  sexes.  It  has  departments 
of  arts,  science,  mechanical  arts  and  domes- 
tic economy.  Mr.  Drexel, Jr., departed  this 
life  June  30,  1893. 


SAMUEL  FINLEY  BREESE  MORSE. 
inventor  of  the  recording  telegraph  in- 
strument, was  born  in  Charlestown,  Massa- 
chusetts, April  27,  1 79 1.  He  graduated 
from  Yale  College  in  18 10,  and  took  up  art 
as  his  profession.  He  went  to  London  with 
the  great  American  painter,  Washington 
Allston,  and  studied  in  the  Royal  Academy 
under  Benjamin  West.  His  "Dying  Her- 
cules," his  first  effort  in  sculpture,  took  the 
gold  medal  in  18 13.  He  returned  to  Amer- 
ica in  1 81 5  and  continued  to  pursue  his 
profession.  He  was  greatly  interested  in 
scientific  studies,  which  he  carried  on  in 
connection  with  other  labors.  He  founded 
the  National  Academy  of  Design  and  was 
many  years  its  president.  He  returned  to 
Europe  and  spent  three  years  in  study 
in  the  art  centers,  Rome,  Florence,  Venice 
and  Paris.  In  1832  he  returned  to  America 
and  while  on  the  return  voyage  the  idea  of 
a  recording  telegraph  apparatus  occurred  to 
him,  and  he  made  a  drawing  to  represent  his 
conception.  He  was  the  first  to  occupy  the 
chair  of    fine  arts  in  the  University  of  New 


COMPEXDllM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


125 


York  City,  and  in  1835  he  set  up  his  rude 
instrument  in  his  room  in  the  university. 
But  it  was  not  until  after  many  years  of 
discouragement  and  reverses  of  fortune  that 
lie  finally  was  successful  in  placing  his  inven- 
tion before  the  public.  In  1844,  by  aid  of 
the  United  States  government,  he  had  con- 
structed a  telegraph  line  fort}' miles  in  length 
from  Washington  to  Baltimore.  Over  this 
line  the  test  was  made,  and  the  first  tele- 
graphic message  was  flashed  May  24,  1 844, 
from  the  United  States  supreme  court  rooms 
to  Baltimore.  It  read,  "What  hath  God 
wrought!"  His  fame  and  fortune  were  es- 
tablished in  an  instant.  Wealth  and  honors 
poured  in  upon  him  from  that  day.  The 
nations  of  Europe  vied  with  each  other 
in  honoring  the  great  inventor  with  medals, 
titles  and  decorations,  and  the  learned 
societies  of  Europe  hastened  to  enroll  his 
name  upon  their  membership  lists  and  confer 
degrees.  In  1858  he  was  the  recipient  of  an 
honor  never  accorded  to  an  inventor  before. 
The  ten  leading  nations  of  Europe,  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  Emporer  Napoleon,  ap- 
pointed representatives  to  an  international 
congress,  which  convened  at  Paris  for  the 
special  purpose  of  expressing  gratitude  of  the 
nations,  and  they  voted  him  a  present  of 
400,000  francs. 

Professor  Morse  was  present  at  the  unveil- 
ing of  a  bronze  statue  erected  in  his  honor  in 
Central  Park,  New  York,  in  1871.  His  last 
appearance  in  public  was  at  the  unveiling 
of  the  statue  of  Benjamin  Franklin  in  New 
York  in  1872,  when  he  made  the  dedica- 
tory speech  and  unveiled  the  statue.  He 
died  April  2,  1872,  in  the  city  of  New  York. 


MORRISON  REMICH  WAITE, seventh 
chief  justice  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  at  Lyme,  Connecticut,  November  29, 
1816.      He  was  a  graduate   from  Yale  Col- 


lege in  1837,  in  the  class  with  William  M. 
Evarts.  His  father  was  judge  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  errors  of  the  state  of  Con- 
necticut, and  in  his  office  young  Waite 
studied  law.  He  subsequently  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  was  elected  to  the  legislature  of 
that  state  in  1849.  He  removed  from 
Maumee  City  to  Toledo  and  became  a  prom- 
inent legal  light  in  that  state.  He  was 
nominated  as  a  candidate  for  congress  re- 
peatedly but  declined  to  run,  and  also  de- 
clined a  place  on  the  supreme  bench  of  the 
state.  He  won  great  distinction  for  his  able 
handling  of  the  Alabama  claims  at  Geneva, 
before  the  arbitration  tribunal  in  1871,  and 
was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States  in  1874  on  the 
death  of  Judge  Chase.  When,  in  1876,  elec- 
toral commissioners  were  chosen  to  decide 
the  presidential  election  controversy  between 
Tilden  and  Hayes,  Judge  Waite  refused  to 
serve  on  that  commission. 

His  death  occurred  March  23,  1888. 


ELISHA  KENT  KANE  was  one  of  the 
distinguished  American  explorers  of  the 
unknown  regions  of  the  frozen  north,  and 
gave  to  the  world  a  more  accurate  knowl- 
edge of  the  Arctic  zone.  Dr.  Kane  was 
born  February  3,  1820,  at  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the 
universities  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania, 
and  took  his  medical  degree  in  1843.  He 
entered  the  service  of  the  United  States 
navy,  and  was  physician  to  the  Chinese 
embassy.  Dr.  Kane  traveled  extensively 
in  the  Levant,  Asia  and  Western  Africa, 
and  also  served  in  the  Mexican  war,  in 
which  he  was  severely  wounded.  His 
first  Arctic  expedition  was  under  De  Haven 
in  the  first  Grinnell  expedition  in  search 
of  Sir  John  Franklin  in  1850.  He  com- 
manded   the    second    Grinnell    expedition 


126 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY 


in  1853-55,  and  discovered  an  open  polar 
sea.  For  this  expedition  he  received  a  gold 
medal  and  other  distinctions.  He  published 
a  narrative  of  his  first  polar  expedition  in 
1853,  and  in  1856  published  two  volumes 
relating  to  his  second  polar  expedition.  He 
was  a  man  of  active,  enterprising  and  cour- 
ageous spirit.  His  health,  which  was  al- 
ways delicate,  was  impaired  by  the  hard- 
ships of  his  Arctic  expeditions,  from  which 
he  never  fully  recovered  and  from  which  he 
died  February  16,  1857,  at  Havana. 


ELIZABETH  CADY  STANTON  was  a 
daughter  of  Judge  Daniel  Cady  and 
Margaret  Livingston,  and  was  born  Novem- 
ber 12,  181 5,  at  Johnstown,  New  York.  She 
was  educated  at  the  Johnstown  Academy, 
inhere  she  studied  with  a  class  of  boys,  and 
was  fitted  for  college  at  the  age  of  fifteen, 
*fter  which  she  pursued  her  studies  at  Mrs. 
Willard's  Seminary,  at  Troy.  Her  atten- 
tion was  called  to  the  disabilities  of  her  sex 
by  her  own  educational  experiences,  and 
through  a  study  of  Blackstone,  Story,  and 
Kent.  Miss  Cady  was  married  to  Henry  B. 
Stanton  in  1840,  and  accompanied  him  to 
the  world's  anti-slavery  convention  in  Lon- 
don. While  there  she  made  the  acquain- 
tance of  Lucretia  Mott.  Mrs.  Stanton 
resided  at  Boston  until  1847,  when  the 
family  moved  to  Seneca  Falls,  New  York, 
and  she  and  Lucretia  Mott  signed  the  first 
call  for  a  woman's  rights  convention.  The 
meeting  was  held  at  her  place  of  residence 
July  19-20,  1848.  This  was  the  first  oc- 
casion of  a  formal  claim  of  suffrage  for 
women  that  was  made.  Mrs.  Stanton  ad- 
dressed the  New  York  legislature,  in  1854, 
on  the  rights  of  married  women,  and  in 
i860,  in  advocacy  of  the  granting  of  di- 
vorce for  drunkenness.  She  also  addressed 
the  legislature  and  the    constitutional  con- 


vention, and  maintained  that  during  the 
revision  of  the  constitution  the  state  was 
resolved  into  its  original  elements,  and  that 
all  citizens  had,  therefore,  a  right  to  vote 
for  the  members  of  that  convention.  After 
1869  Mrs.  Stanton  frequently  addressed 
congressional  committees  and  state  consti- 
tutional conventions,  and  she  canvassed 
Kansas,  Michigan,  and  other  states  when 
the  question  of  woman  suffrage  was  sub- 
mitted in  those  states.  Mrs.  Stanton  was 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  "  Revolution,"  and 
most  of  the  calls  and  resolutions  for  con- 
ventions have  come  from  her  pen.  She 
was  president  of  the  national  committee, 
also  of  the  Woman's  Loyal  League,  and 
of  the  National  Association,  for  many  years. 


DAVID  DUDLEY  FIELD,  a  great 
American  jurist  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut in  1805.  He  emc.ea  Williams  College 
when  sixteen  years  old,  and  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  1825.  In  1828  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  went  to  New  York, 
where  he  soon  came  into  prominence  be- 
fore the  bar  of  that  state.  He  entered  upon 
the  labor  of  reforming  the  practice  and 
procedure,  which  was  then  based  upon  the 
common  law  practice  of  England,  and  had 
become  extremely  complicated,  difficult  and 
uncertain  in  its  application.  His  first  paper 
on  this  subject  was  published  in  1839,  and 
after  eight  years  of  continuous  efforts  in  this 
direction,  he  was  appointed  one  of  a  com- 
mission by  New  York  to  reform  the  practice 
of  that  state.  The  result  was  embodied  in 
the  two  codes  of  procedure,  civil  and  crimi- 
nal, the  first  of  which  was  adopted  almost 
entire  by  the  state  of  New  York,  and  has 
since  been  adopted  by  more  than  half  the 
states  in  the  Union,  and  became  the  basis 
of  the  new  practice  and  procedure  in  Eng- 
land, contained  in  the  Judicature  act.      He 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAI'Iir. 


127 


was  later  appointed  chairman  of  a  new  com- 
mission to  codify  the  entire  body  of  laws. 
This  great  work  employed  many  years  in  its 
completion,  but  when  finished  it  embraced 
a  civil,  penal,  ar.d  political  code,  covering 
the  entire  field  of  American  laws,  statutory 
and  common.  This  great  body  of  law  was 
adopted  by  California  and  Dakota  territory 
in  its  entirety,  and  many  other  states  have 
since  adopted  its  substance.  In  1867  the 
British  Association  for  Social  Science  heard 
a  proposition  from  Mr.  Field  to  prepare  an 
international  code.  This  led  to  the  prepara- 
tion of  his  "  Draft  Outlines  of  an  Interna- 
tional Code,"  which  was  in  fact  a  complete 
body  of  international  laws,  and  introduced 
the  principle  of  arbitration.  Other  of  his 
codes  of  the  state  of  New  York  have  since 
been  adopted  by  that  state. 

In  addition  to  his  great  works  on  law, 
Mr.  Field  indulged  his  literary  tastes  by  fre- 
quent contributions  to  general  literature, 
and  his  articles  on  travels,  literature,  and 
the  political  questions  of  the  hour  gave 
him  rank  with  the  best  writers  of  his  time. 
His  father  was  the  Rev.  David  Dudley  Field, 
and  his  brothers  were  Cyrus  W.  Field,  Rev. 
Henry  Martin  Field,  and  Justice  Stephen 
J.  Field  of  the  United  States  supreme 
court.  David  Dudley  Field  died  at  New 
York,  April  13,  1894. 


HENRY  M.  TELLER,  a  celebrated 
American  politician,  and  secretary  of 
the  interior  under  President  Arthur,  was  born 
May  23,  1830,  in  Allegany  county,  New 
York.  He  was  of  Hollandish  ancestry  and 
received  an  excellent  education,  after  which 
he  took  up  the  study  of  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  the  state  of  New  York. 
Mr.  Teller  removed  to  Illinois  in  January, 
1858,  and  practiced  for  three  years  in  that 
state.      From  thence  he  moved  to  Colorado 


in  1 86 1  and  located  at  Central  City,  which 
was  then  one  of  the  principal  mining  towns 
in  the  state.  His  exceptional  abilities  as 
a  lawyer  soon  brought  him  into  prominence 
and  gained  for  him  a  numerous  and  profit- 
able clientage.  In  politics  he  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party,  but  declined  to  become 
a  candidate  for  office  until  the  admission  of 
Colorado  into  the  Union  as  a  state,  when 
he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate. 
Mr.  Teller  drew  the  term  ending  March 
4,  1877,  but  was  re-elected  December  11, 
1876,  and  served  until  April  17,  1882,  when 
he  was  appointed  by  President  Arthur  as 
secretary  of  the  interior.  He  accepted  a 
cabinet  position  with  reluctance,  and  on 
March  3,  1885,  he  retired  from  the  cabinet, 
having  been  elected  to  the  senate  a  short 
time  before  to  succeed  Nathaniel  P.  Hill. 
Mr.  Teller  took  his  seat  on  March  4,  1885, 
in  the  senate,  to  which  he  was  afterward 
re-elected.  He  served  as  chairman  on  the 
committee  of  pensions,  patents,  mines  and 
mining,  and  was  also  a  member  of  commit- 
tees on  claims,  railroads,  privileges  and 
elections  and  public  lands.  Mr.  Teller  came 
to  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  ablest  advo- 
cates of  the  silver  cause.  He  was  one  of  the 
delegates  to  the  Republican  National  conven- 
tion at  St.  Louis  in  1896,  in  which  he  took 
an  active  part  and  tried  to  have  a  silver 
plank  inserted  in  the  platform  of  the  party, 
Failing  in  this  he  felt  impelled  to  bolt  the 
convention,  which  he  did  and  joined  forces 
with  the  great  silver  movement  in  the  cam- 
paign which  followed,  being  recognized  in 
that  campaign  as  one  of  the  most  able  and 
eminent  advocates  of  "silver"   in   America. 


JOHN  ERICSSON,  an  eminent  inven- 
tor and  machinist,  who  won  fame  in 
America,  was  born  in  Sweden,  July  31,1 803. 
In  early  childhood  he  evinced  a  decided  in- 


128 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


clination  to  mechanical  pursuits,  and  at  the 
age  of  eleven  he  was  appointed  to  a  cadet- 
ship  in  the  engineer  corps,  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy. 
In  1826  he  introduced  a  "flame  engine," 
which  he  had  invented,  and  offered  it  to 
English  capitalists,  but  it  was  found  that  it 
could  be  operated  only  by  the  use  of  wood 
for  fuel.  Shortly  after  this  he  resigned  his 
commission  in  the  army  of  Sweden,  and  de- 
voted himself  to  mechanical  pursuits.  He 
discovered  and  introduced  the  principle  of 
artificial  draughts  in  steam  boilers,  and  re- 
ceived a  prize  of  two  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  for  his  locomotive,  the  "Novelty," 
which  attained  a  great  speed,  for  that  day. 
The  artificial  draught  effected  a  great  saving 
in  fuel  and  made  unnecessary  the  huge 
smoke-stacks  formerly  used,  and  the  princi- 
ple is  still  applied,  in  modified  form,  in  boil- 
ers. He  also  invented  a  steam  fire-engine, 
and  later  a  hot-air  engine,  which  he  at- 
tempted to  apply  in  the  operation  of  his 
ship,  "Ericsson,"  but  as  it  did  not  give  the 
speed  required,  he  abandoned  it,  but  after- 
wards applied  it  to  machinery  for  pumping, 
hoisting,  etc. 

Ericsson  was  first  to  apply  the  screw 
propeller  to  navigation.  The  English  peo- 
ple not  receiving  this  new  departure  readily, 
Ericsson  came  to  America  in  1839,  and 
built  the  United  States  steamer,  "Prince- 
ton," in  which  the  screw-propeller  was  util- 
ized, the  first  steamer  ever  built  in  which 
the  propeller  was  under  water,  out  of  range 
of  the  enemy's  shots.  The  achievement 
which  gave  him  greatest  renown,  however, 
was  the  ironclad  vessel,  the  "Monitor,"  an 
entirely  new  type  of  vessel,  which,  in  March, 
1862,  attacked  the  Confederate  monster 
ironclad  ram,  "Virginia,"  and  after  a  fierce 
struggle,  compelled  her  to  withdraw  from 
Hampton  Roads  for  repairs.      After  the  war 


one  of  his  most  noted  inventions  was  his 
vessel,  "  Destroyer,"  with  a  submarine  gun, 
which  carried  a  projectile  torpedo.  In  1886 
the  king  of  Spain  conferred  on  him  the 
grand  cross  of  the  Order  of  Naval  Merit. 
He  died  in  March,  1889,  and  his  body  was 
transferred,  with  naval  honors,  to  the  country 
of   his  birth. 

JAMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fifteenth  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  April  23,  1 791 .  He  was  of  Irish 
ancestry,  his  father  having  come  to  this 
country  in  1783,  in  quite  humble  circum- 
stances, and  settled  in  the  western  part  of 
the  Keystone  state. 

James  Buchanan  remained  in  his  se- 
cluded home  for  eight  years,  enjoying  but 
few  social  or  intellectual  advantages.  His 
parents  were  industrious  and  frugal,  and 
prospered,  and,  in  1799,  the  family  removed 
to  Mercersbur  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
was  placed  in  school.  His  progress  was 
rapid,  and  in  1801  he  entered  Dickinson 
College,  at  Carlisle,  where  he  took  his  place 
among  the  best  scholars  in  the  institution. 
In  1809  he  graduated  with  the  highest  hon- 
ors in  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen,  tall, 
graceful  and  in  vigorous  health.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  at  Lancaster,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812.  He  rose 
very  rapidly  in  his  profession  and  took  a 
stand  with  the  ablest  of  his  fellow  lawyers. 
When  but  twenty-six  years  old  he  success- 
fully defended,  unaided  by  counsel,  one  of 
the  judges  of  the  state  who  was  before  the 
bar  of  the  state  senate  under  articles  of  im- 
peachment. 

During  the  war  of  18 12-15,  Mr.  Buch- 
anan sustained  the  government  with  all  his 
power,  eloquently  urging  the  vigorous  prose- 
cution of  the  war,  and  enlisted  as   a  private 


COMPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRAPHY 


129 


volunteer  to  assist  in  repelling  the  British 
who  had  sacked  and  burned  the  public 
buildings  of  Washington  and  threatened 
Baltimore.  At  that  time  Buchanan  was 
a  Federalist,  but  the  opposition  of  that 
party  to  the  war  with  Great  Britain  and  the 
alien  and  sedition  laws  of  John  Adams, 
brought  that  party  into  disrepute,  and  drove 
many,  among  them  Buchanan,  into  the  Re- 
publican, or  anti-Federalist  ranks.  He  was 
elected  to  congress  in  1828.  In  1831  he 
was  sent  as  minister  to  Russia,  and  upon 
his  return  to  this  country,  in  1833,  was  ele- 
vated to  the  United  States  senate,  and  re- 
mained in  that  position  for  twelve  years. 
Upon  the  accession  of  President  Polk  to 
office  he  made  Mr.  Buchanan  secretary  of 
state.  Four  years  later  he  retired  to  pri- 
vate life,  and  in  1853  he  was  honored  with 
the  mission  to  England.  In  1856  the  na- 
tional Democratic  convention  nominated 
him  for  the  presidency  and  he  was  elected. 
It  was  during  his  administration  that  the 
rising  tide  of  the  secession  movement  over- 
took the  country-  Mr.  Buchanan  declared 
that  the  national  constitution  gave  him  no 
power  to  do  anything  against  the  movement 
to  break  up  the  Union.  After  his  succession 
by  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860,  Mr.  Buchanan 
retired  to  his  home  at  Wheatland,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  died  June  1,   1868. 


JOHN  HARVARD,  the  founder  of  the 
Harvard  University,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land about  the  year  1608.  He  received  his 
education  at  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge, 
and  came  to  America  in  1637,  settling  in 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  non-conformist 
minister,  and  a  tract  of  land  was  set  aside 
for  him  in  Charlestown,  near  Boston.  He 
was  at  once  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to 
formulate  a  body  of  laws  for  the  colony. 
One  year  before  his  arrival  in   the  colony 


the  general  court  had  voted  the  sum  of  four 
hundred  pounds  toward  the  establishment  of 
a  school  or  college,  half  of  which  was  to  be 
paid  the  next  year  In  1637  preliminary 
plans  were  made  for  starting  the  school.  In 
1638  John  Harvard,  who  had  shown  great 
interest  in  the  new  institution  of  learning 
proposed,  died,  leaving  his  entire  property, 
about  twice  the  sum  originally  voted,  to  the 
school,  together  with  three  hundred  volumes 
as  a  nucleus  for  a  library.  The  institution 
was  then  given  the  name  of  Harvard,  and 
established  at  Newton  (now  Cambridge), 
Massachusetts.  It  grew  to  be  one  of  the  two 
principal  seats  of  learning  in  the  new  world, 
and  has  maintained  its  reputation  since.  It 
now  consists  of  twenty-two  separate  build- 
ings, and  its  curriculum  embraces  over  one 
hundred  and  seventy  elective  courses,  and  it 
ranks  among  the  great  universities  of  the 
world. 

ROGER  BROOKE  TANEY,  a  noted 
jurist  and  chief  justice  of  the  United 
States  supreme  court,  was  born  in  Calvert 
county,  Maryland,  March  17,  1777.  He 
graduated  fiom  Dickinson  College  at  the 
age  of  eighteen,  took  up  the  study  of  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1799.  He 
was  chosen  to  the  legislature  from  his  county, 
and  in  1801  removed  to  Frederick,  Mary- 
land. He  became  United  States  senator 
from  Maryland  in  18 16,  and  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  in  Baltimore  a  few 
years  later.  In  1824  he  became  an  ardent 
admirer  and  supporter  of  Andrew  Jackson, 
and  upon  Jackson's  election  to  the  presi- 
dency, was  appointed  attorney  general  of 
the  United  States.  Two  years  later  he  was 
appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury,  and 
after  serving  in  that  capacity  for  nearly  one 
year,  the  senate  refused  to  confirm  the  ap- 
pointment.     In    1835,   upon    the    death  of 


130 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRATHT. 


Chief-justice  Marsha!!,  he  was  appointed  to 
that  place,  and  a  political  change  having 
occurred  in  the  make  up  of  the  senate,  he 
was  confirmed  in  1836.  He  presided  at 
his  first  session  in  January  of  the  following 
year. 

The  case  which  suggests  itself  first  to 
the  average  reader  in  connection  with  this 
jurist  is  the  celebrated  "  Dred  Scott  "  case, 
which  came  before  the  supreme  court  for 
decision  in  1856.  In  his  opinion,  delivered 
on  behalf  of  a  majority  of  the  court,  one 
remarkable  statement  occurs  as  a  result  of 
an  exhaustive  survey  of  the  historical 
grounds,  to  the  effect  that  "  for  more  than 
a  century  prior  to  the  adoption  of  the  con- 
stitution they  (Africans)  had  been  regarded 
so  far  inferior  that  they  had  no  rights  which 
a  white  man  was  bound  to  respect."  Judge 
Taney  retained  the  office  of  chief  justice 
until  his  death,  in  1864. 


JOHN  LOTHROP  MOTLEY.— This  gen- 
tleman had  a  world-wide  reputation  as 
an  historian,  which  placed  him  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  great  men  of  America.  He  was 
born  April  15,  18 14,  at  Dorchester,  Massa- 
chusetts, was  given  a  thorough  preparatory 
education  and  then  attended  Harvard,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1831.  He  also 
studied  at  Gottingen  and  Berlin,  read  law 
and  in  1836  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In 
1 84 1  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the 
legation  at  St.  Petersburg,  and  in  1866-67 
served  as  United  States  minister  to  Austria, 
serving  in  the  same  capacity  during  1869 
and  1870  to  England.  In  1856,  after  long 
and  exhaustive  research  and  preparation, he 
published  in  London  "The  Rise  of  the 
Dutch  Republic."  It  embraced  three  vol- 
umes and  immediately  attracted  great  at- 
tention throughout  Europe  and  America  as 
a  work  of  unusual  merit.      From    1S61   to 


1868  he  produced  "The  History  of  the 
United  Netherlands,"  in  four  volumes. 
Other  works  followed,  with  equal  success, 
and  his  position  as  one  of  the  foremost  his- 
torians and  writers  of  his  day  was  firmly 
established.  His  death  occured  May  29, 
1877-  

ELIAS  HOWE,  the  inventor  of  the  sew- 
ing machine,  well  deserves  to  be  classed 
among  the  great  and  noted  men  of  Amer- 
ica. He  was  the  son  of  a  miller  and  farmer 
and  was  born  at  Spencer,  Massachusetts, 
July  9,  1 8 19.  In  1835  he  went  to  Lowell 
and  worked  there,  and  later  at  Boston,  in  the 
machine  shops.  His  first  sewing  machine 
was  completed  in  1845,  and  he  patented  it  in 
1846,  laboring  with  the  greatest  persistency 
in  spite  of  poverty  and  hardships,  working 
for  a  time  as  an  engine  driver  on  a  railroad 
at  pauper  wages  and  with  broken  health. 
He  then  spent  two  years  of  unsuccessful  ex- 
ertion in  England,  striving  in  vain  to  bring 
his  invention  into  public  notice  and  use. 
He  returned  to  the  United  States  in  almost 
hopeless  poverty,  to  find  that  his  patent 
had  been  violated.  At  last,  however,  he 
found  friends  who  assisted  him  financially, 
and  after  years  of  litigation  he  made  good 
his  claims  in  the  courts  in  1854.  His  inven- 
tion afterward  brought  him  a  large  fortune. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  volunteered  as  a 
private  in  the  Seventeenth  Connecticut  Vol- 
unteers, and  served  for  some  time.  During 
his  life  time  he  received  the  cross  of  the 
Legion  of  Honor  and  many  other  medals. 
His  death  occurred  October  3,  1867,  at 
Brooklyn,  New  York. 


PHILLIPS  BROOKS,  celebrated  as  an 
eloquent  preacher  and  able  pulpit  ora- 
tor, was  born  in  Boston  on  the  13th  day  of 
December,     1835.      He    received    excellent 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


131 


educational  advantages,  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1855.  Early  in  life  he  decided 
upon  the  ministry  as  his  life  work  and 
studied  theology  in  the  Episcopal  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  at  Alexandria,  Virginia.  In 
1859  he  was  ordained  and  the  same  year 
became  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Advent, 
in  Philadelphia.  Three  years  later  he  as- 
sumed the  pastorate  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  where  he  remained  until  1870. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  accepted 
the  pastoral  charge  of  Trinity  Church  in 
Boston,  where  his  eloquence  and  ability  at- 
tracted much  attention  and  built  up  a  pow- 
erful church  organization.  Dr.  Brooks  also 
devoted  considerable  time  to  lecturing  and 
literary  work  and  attained  prominence  in 
these  lines. 

WILLIAM  B.  ALLISON,  a  statesman 
of  national  reputation  and  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Republican  party,  was  born 
March  2,  1829,  at  Perry,  Ohio.  He  grew 
up  on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  assisted 
in  cultivating,  and  attended  the  district 
school.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  went 
to  the  academy  at  Wooster,  and  subse- 
quently spent  a  year  at  the  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, at  Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  He  next 
taught  school  and  spent  another  year  at  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Allison  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
at  Wooster,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the 
barini85i,  and  soon  obtained  a  position 
as  deputy  county  clerk.  His  political  lean- 
ings were  toward  the  old  line  Whigs,  who 
afterward  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  state 
convention  in  1856,  in  the  campaign  of 
which  he  supported  Fremont  for  president. 
Mr  Allison  removed  to  Dubuque,  Iowa, 
in  the  following  year.  He  rapidly  rose  to 
prominence  at  the  bar  and   in  politics.     In 


i860  he  was  chosen  as  a  delegate  to  the 
Republican  convention  held  in  Chicago,  of 
which  he  was  elected  one  of  the  secretaries. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  he  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  staff  of  the  governor.  His 
congressional  career  opened  in  1862,  when 
he  was  elected  to  the  thirty-eighth  congress; 
he  was  re-elected  three  times,  serving  from 
March  4,  1863,  to  March  3,  1871.  Hewas 
a  member  of  the  ways  and  means  committee 
a  good  part  of  his  term.  His  career  in  the 
United  States  senate  began  in  1873,  and  he 
rapidly  rose  to  eminence  in  national  affairs, 
his  service  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  that 
body  being  marked  by  close  fealty  to  the 
Republican  party.  He  twice  declined  the 
portfolio  of  the  treasury  tendered  him  by 
Garfield  and  Harrison,  and  his  name  was 
prominently  mentioned  for  the  presidency 
at  several  national  Republican  conventions. 


MA* 


ARY  ASHTON  LIVERMORE,  lec- 
rer  and  writer,  was  born  in  Boston, 
December  19,  1821.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Timothy  Rice,  and  married  D.  P.  Liver- 
more,  a  preacher  of  the  Universalist  church. 
She  contributed  able  articles  to  many  of  the 
most  noted  periodicals  of  this  country  and 
England.  During  the  Civil  war  she  labored 
zealously  and  with  success  on  behalf  of  the 
sanitary  commission  which  played  so  impor- 
tant a  part  during  that  great  struggle.  She 
became  editor  of  the  "  Woman's  Journal," 
published  at  Boston  in  1870. 

She  held  a  prominent  place  as  a  public 
speaker  and  writer  on  woman's  suffrage, 
temperance,  social  and  religious  questions, 
and  her  influence  was  great  in  every  cause 
she  advocated. 


JOHN  B.    GOUGH.  a  noted   temperance 
lecturer,  who  won  his  fame  in  America, 
was  born  in   the  village  of   Sandgate,  Kent, 


132 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPIir 


England,  August  22,  1817.  He  came  to 
the  United  States  at  the  age  of  twelve. 
He  followed  the  trade  of  bookbinder,  and 
lived  in  great  poverty  on  account  of  the 
liquor  habit.  In  1843,  however,  he  re- 
formed, and  began  his  career  as  a  temper- 
ance lecturer.  He  worked  zealously  in  the 
cause  of  temperance,  and  his  lectures  and 
published  articles  revealed  great  earnestness. 
He  formed  temperance  societies  throughout 
the  entire  country,  and  labored  with  great 
success.  He  visited  England  in  the  same 
cause  about  the  year  1853  and  again  in 
1878.  He  also  lectured  upon  many  other 
topics,  in  which  he  attained  a  wide  reputa- 
tion. His  death  occurred  February  18, 
1886.  

THOMAS  BUCHANAN  READ,  author, 
sculptor  and  painter,  was  born  in  Ches- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania,  March  12,  1822. 
He  early  evinced  a  taste  for  art,  and  began 
the  study  of  sculpture  in  Cincinnati.  Later 
he  found  painting  more  to  his  liking.  He 
went  to  New  York,  where  he  followed  this 
profession,  and  later  to  Boston.  In  1846 
he  located  in  Philadelphia.  He  visited 
Italy  in  1850,  and  studied  at  Florence, 
where  he  resided  almost  continuously  for 
twenty-two  years.  He  returned  to  America 
in  1872,  and  died  in  New  York  May  11  of 
the  same  year. 

He  was  the  author  of  many  heroic 
poems,  but  the  one  giving  him  the  most  re- 
nown is  his  famous  "Sheridan's  Ride,"  of 
which  he  has  also  left  a  representation  in 
painting. 

EUGENE  V.  DEBS,  the  former  famous 
president  of  the  American  Railway 
Union,  and  great  labor  leader,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  in  1855. 
He  received    his   education    in   the    public 


schools  of  that  place  and  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  began  work  as  a  painter  in 
the  Vandalia  shops.  After  this,  for  some 
three  years,  he  was  employed  as  a  loco- 
motive fireman  on  the  same  road.  His 
first  appearance  in  public  life  was  in  his 
canvass  for  the  election  to  the  office  of  city 
clerk  of  Terre  Haute.  In  this  capacity  he 
served  two  terms,  and  when  twenty  six 
years  of  age  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
legislature  of  the  state  of  Indiana.  While 
a  member  of  that  body  he  secured  the 
passage  of  several  bills  in  the  interest  of 
organized  labor,  of  which  he  was  always 
a  faithful  champion.  Mr.  Debs'  speech 
nominating  Daniel  Voorhees  for  the  United 
States  senate  gave  him  a  wide  reputation  for 
orator}'.  On  the  expiration  of  his  term  in 
the  legislature,  he  was  elected  grand  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  Brotherhood  of 
Locomotive  Fireman  and  filled  that  office 
for  fourteen  successive  years.  He  was 
always  an  earnest  advocate  of  confederation 
of  railroad  men  and  it  was  mainly  through 
his  efforts  that  the  United  Order  of  Railway 
Employes,  composed  of  the  Brotherhood 
of  Railway  Trainmen  and  Conductors, 
Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Firemen  and 
the  Switchmen's  Mutual  Aid  Association  was 
formed,  and  he  became  a  member  of  its 
supreme  council.  The  order  was  dissolved 
by  disagreement  between  two  of  its  leading 
orders,  and  then  Mr.  Debs  conceived  the 
idea  of  the  American  Railway  Union.  He 
worked  on  the  details  and  the  union  came 
into  existence  in  Chicago,  June  20, 1 893.  For 
a  time  it  prospered  and  became  one  of  the 
largest  bodies  of  railway  men  in  the  world. 
It  won  in  a  contest  with  the  Great  Northern 
Railway.  In  the  strike  made  by  the  union 
in  sympathy  with  the  Pullman  employes 
inaugurated  in  Chicago  June  25,  1S94,  and 
the  consequent  rioting,   the   Railway  Union 


COMPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


\m 


lost  much  prestige  and  Mr.  Debs,  in  company 
with  others  of  the  officers,  being  held  as  in  con- 
tempt of  the  United  States  courts,  he  suffered 
a  sentence  of  six  months  in  jail  at  Wood- 
stock, McHenry  county,  Illinois.  In  1897 
Mr.  Debs,  on  the  demise  of  the  American 
Railway  Union,  organized  the  Social 
Democracy,  an  institution  founded  on  the 
best  lines  of  the  communistic  idea,  which 
was  to  provide  homes  and  employment  for 
its  members. 


JOHN  G.  CARLISLE,  famous  as  a  law- 
yer, congressman,  senator  and  cabinet 
officer,  was  born  in  Campbell  (now  Kenton) 
county,  Kentucky,  September  5,  1835,  on  a 
farm.  He  received  the  usual  education  of 
the  time  and  began  at  an  early  age  to  teach 
school  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  study  of 
law.  Soon  opportunity  offered  and  he 
entered  an  office  in  Covington,  Kentucky, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar  in 
1858.  Politics  attracted  his  attention  and 
in  1859  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives in  the  legislature  of  his  native 
state.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  war  in  1861, 
he  embraced  the  cause  of  the  Union  and  was 
largely  instrumental  in  preserving  Kentucky 
to  the  federal  cause.  He  resumed  his  legal 
practice  for  a  time  and  declined  a  nomina- 
tion as  presidential  elector  in  1864.  In 
1866  and  again  in  1869  Mr.  Carlisle  was 
elected  to  the  senate  of  Kentucky.  He  re- 
signed this  position  in  1871  and  was  chosen 
lieutenant  governor  of  the  state,  which  office 
he  held  until  1875.  He  was  one  of  the 
presidential  electors-at-large  for  Ken- 
tucky in  1876.  He  first  entered  congress  in 
1877,  and  soon  became  a  prominent  leader 
on  the  Democratic  side  of  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, and  continued  a  member  of 
that  body  through  the  forty-sixth,  forty- 
seventh,  forty-eighth   and  forty-ninth  con- 


gresses, and  was  speaker  of  the  house  during 
the  two  latter.  He  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate  to  succeed  Senator 
Blackburn,  and  remained  a  member  of  that 
branch  of  congress  until  March,  1893,  when 
he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
He  performed  the  duties  of  that  high  office 
until  March  4,  1897,  throughout  the  en- 
tire second  administration  of  President 
Cleveland.  His  ability  and  many  years  of 
public  service  gave  him  a  national  reputa- 
tion. 

FRANCES  E.  WILLARD,  for  many  years 
president  of  the  -Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  Union,  and  a  noted  American 
lecturer  and  writer,  was  born  in  Rochester, 
New  York,  September  28,  1839.  Graduating 
from  the  Northwestern  Female  College  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  she  began  teaching  and  met 
with  great  success  in  many  cities  of  the  west. 
She  was  made  directress  of  Genesee  Wes- 
leyan  Seminary  at  Lima,  Ohio,  in  1867,  and 
four  years  later  was  elected  president  of  the 
Evanston  College  for  young  ladies,  a  branch 
of  the  Northwestern  University. 

During  the  two  years  succeeding  1869 
she  traveled  extensively  in  Europe  and  the 
east,  visiting  Egypt  and  Palestine,  and 
gathering  materials  for  a  valuable  course  of 
lectures,  which  she  delivered  at  Chicago  on 
her  return.  She  became  very  popular,  and 
won  great  influence  in  the  temperance 
cause.  Her  work  as  president  of  the  Wo- 
man's Christian  Temperance  Union  greatly 
strengthened  that  society,  and  she  made 
frequent  trips  to  Europe  in  the  interest  of 
that  cause. 

RICHARD  OLNEY.—  Among  the  promi- 
nent men  who  were  members  of  the 
cabinet  of  President  Cleveland  in  his  second 
administration,  the  gentleman  whose  name 


134 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


heads  this  sketch  held  a  leading  place,  oc- 
cupying the  positions  of  attorney  general 
and  secretary  of  state. 

Mr.  Olney  came  from  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  honored  New  England  families; 
the  first  of  his  ancestors  to  come  from  Eng- 
land settled  in  Massachusetts  in  1635.  This 
was  Thomas  Olney.  He  was  a  friend  and 
co-religionist  of  Roger  Williams,  and  when 
the  latter  moved  to  what  is  now  Rhode 
I'sland,  went  with  him  and  became  one  of 
the  founders  of  Providence  Plantations. 

Richard  Olney  was  born  in  Oxford, 
Massachusetts,  in  1835,  and  received  the 
elements  of  his  earlier  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  which  New  England  is  so  proud 
of.  He  entered  Brown  University,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1856,  and  passed  the 
Harvard  law  school  two  years  later.  He 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  with 
Judge  B.  F.  Thomas,  a  prominent  man  of 
that  locality.  For  years  Richard  Olney  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
learned  lawyers  in  Massachusetts.  Twice 
he  was  offered  a  place  on  the  bench  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  state,  but  both  times 
he  declined.  He  was  always  a  Democrat 
in  his  political  tenets,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  trusted  counsellor  of  members  of  that 
party.  In  1874  Mr.  Olney  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  legislature.  In  1876,  during 
the  heated  presidential  campaign,  to 
strengthen  the  cause  of  Mr.  Tilden  in  the 
New  England  states,  it  was  intimated  that 
in  the  event  of  that  gentleman's  election  to 
the  presidency,  Mr.  Olney  would  be  attor- 
sey  general. 

When  Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  on  his  inaugura- 
tion in  March,  1893,  he  tendered  the  posi- 
tion of  attorney  general  to  Richard  Olney. 
This  was  accepted,  and  that  gentleman  ful- 
filled the  duties  of  the  office  until  the  death 


of  Walter  Q.  Gresha'm,  in  May,  1895,  made 
vacant  the  position  of  secretary  of  state. 
This  post  was  filled  by  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  Olney.  While  occupying  the  later 
office,  Mr.  Olney  brought  himself  into  inter- 
national prominence  by  some  very  able  state 
papers. 

JOHN  JAY  KNOX,  for  many  years  comp- 
troller of  the  currency,  and  an  eminent 
financier,  was  born  in  Knoxboro,  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  May  19,  1828.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education  and  graduated  at 
Hamilton  College  in  1849.  For  about 
thirteen  years  he  was  engaged  as  a  private 
banker,  or  in  a  position  in  a  bank,  where 
he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  knowledge  of 
the  laws  of  finance.  In  1862,  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  then  secretary  of  the  treasury,  ap- 
pointed him  to  an  office  in  that  department 
of  the  government,  and  later  he  had  charge 
of  the  mint  coinage  correspondence.  In  1 867 
Mr.  Knox  was  made  deputy  comptroller 
of  the  currency,  and  in  that  capacity,  in 
1870,  he  made  two  reports  on  the  mint 
service,  with  a  codification  of  the  mint  and 
coinage  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
suggesting  many  important  amendments 
These  reports  were  ordered  printed  by  reso- 
lution of  congress.  The  bill  which  he  pre- 
pared, with  some  slight  changes,  was  sub- 
sequently passed,  and  has  been  known  in 
history  as  the  "  Coinage  Act  of  1873." 

In  1872  Mr.  Knox  wns  appointed  comp- 
troller of  the  currency,  and  held  that  re- 
sponsible position  until  1884,  when  he  re- 
signed. He  then  accepted  the  position  of 
president  of  the  National  Bank  of  the  Re- 
public, of  New  York  City,  which  institution 
he  served  for  many  years.  He  was  the 
author  of  "  United  States  Notes,"  published 
in  1884.  In  the  reports  spoken  of  above,  a 
history  of  the  two  United  States   banks  is 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


135 


given,  together  with  that  of  the  state  and 
national  banking  system,  and  much  valuable 
statistical  matter  relating  to  kindred  sub- 
jects. 

NATHANIEL  HAWTHORNE.— In  the 
opinion  of  many  critics  Hawthorne  is 
pronounced  the  foremost  American  novelist, 
and  in  his  peculiar  vein  of  romance  is  said 
to  be  without  a  peer.  His  reputation  is 
world-wide,  and  his  ability  as  a  writer  is 
recognized  abroad  as  well  as  at  home. 
He  was  born  July  4,  1804,  at  Salem,  Massa- 
chusetts. On  account  of  feeble  health  he 
spent  some  years  of  his  boyhood  on  a  farm 
near  Raymond,  Maine.  He  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  a  liberal  education  in  his  youth, 
and  entered  Bowdoin  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1825  in  the  same  class  with 
H  W  Longfellow  and  John  S.  C.  Abbott. 
He  then  returned  to  Salem,  where  he  gave 
his  attention  to  literature,  publishing  several 
tales  and  other  articles  in  various  periodi- 
cals. His  first  venture  in  the  field  of  ro- 
mance, "  Fanshaw,"  proved  a  failure.  In 
1836  he  removed  to  Boston,  and  became 
editor  of  the  "American  Magazine,"  which 
soon  passed  out  of  existence.  In  1837  he 
published  "Twice  Told  Tales,"  which  were 
chiefly  made  up  of  his  former  contributions 
to  magazines.  In  1838-41  he  held  a  posi- 
tion in  the  Boston  custom  house,  but  later 
took  part  in  the  "Brook  farm  experiment," 
a  socialistic  idea  after  the  plan  of  Fourier. 
In  1843  he  was  married  and  took  up  his 
residence  at  the  old  parsonage  at  Concord, 
Massachusetts,  which  he  immortalized  in 
his  next  work,  "  Mosses  From  an  Old 
Manse,"  published  in  1846.  From  the  lat- 
ter date  until  1850  he  was  surveyor  of  the 
port  of  Salem,  and  while  thus  employed 
wrote  one  of  his  strongest  works,  "The 
Scarlet   Letter."     For  the  succeeding  two 


years  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  was  his  home, 
and  the  "  House  of  the  Seven  Gables"  was 
produced  there,  as  well  as  the  "  Blithedale 
Romance."  In  1852  he  published  a  "Life 
of  Franklin  Pierce,"  a  college  friend  whom 
he  warmly  regarded.  In  1853  he  was  ap- 
pointed United  States  consul  to  Liverpool, 
England,  where  he  remained  some  years, 
after  which  he  spent  some  time  in  Italy. 
On  returning  to  his  native  land  he  took  up 
his  residence  at  Concord,  Massachusetts. 
While  taking  a  trip  for  his  health  with  ex- 
President  Pierce,  he  died  at  Plymouth,  New 
Hampshire,  May  19,  1864.  In  addition  to 
the  works  mentioned  above  Mr.  Hawthorne 
gave  to  the  world  the  following  books: 
"  True  Stories  from  History,"  "The  Won- 
der Book,"  "  The  Snow  Image,"  "Tangle- 
wood  Tales,"  "The  Marble  Faun,"  and 
"  Our  Old  Home.  "  After  his  death  appeared 
a  series  of  "Notebooks,"  edited  by  his  wife, 
Sophia  P.  Hawthorne;  "  Septimius  Felton," 
edited  by  his  daughter,  Una,  and  "Dr. 
Grimshaw's  Secret,"  put  into  shape  by  his 
talented  son,  Julian.  He  left  an  unfinished 
work  called  "  Dolliver  Romance,"  which  has 
been  published  just  as  he  left  it. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  sixteenth  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  was  born 
February  12,  1809,  in  Larue  county  (Har- 
din county),  Kentucky,  in  a  log-cabin  near 
Hudgensville.  When  he  was  eight  years 
old  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Indiana, 
near  the  Ohio  river,  and  a  year  later  his 
mother  died.  His  father  then  married  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  (Bush)  Johnston,  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  Kentucky,  who  proved  a  kind  of  fos- 
ter-mother to  Abraham,  and  encouraged 
him  to  study.  He  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
and  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Gentryville,  and 
was  noted  for  his  athletic  feats  and  strength. 
fondness    for  debate,   a  fund  of    humorous 


136 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


anecdote,  as  well  as  the  composition  of  rude 
verses.  He  made  a  trip  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen to  New  Orleans  on  a  flat-boat,  and  set- 
tled in  Illinois  in  1830.  He  assisted  his 
father  to  build  a  log  house  and  clear  a  farm 
on  the  Sangamon  river  near  Decatur,  Illinois, 
and  split  the  rails  with  which  to  fence  it.  In 
1851  he  was  employed  in  the  building  of  a 
flat-boat  on  the  Sangamon,  and  to  run  it  to 
New  Orleans.  The  voyage  gave  him  anew 
insight  into  the  horrors  of  slavery  in  the 
south.  On  his  return  he  settled  at  New 
Salem  and  engaged,  first  as  a  clerk  in  a  store, 
then  as  grocer,  surveyor  and  postmaster,  and 
he  piloted  the  first  steamboat  that  as- 
cended the  Sangamon.  He  participated  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war  as  captain  of  volun- 
teers, and  after  his  return  he  studied  law, 
interested  himself  in  politics,  and  became 
prominent  locally  as  a  public  speaker.  He 
was  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1834  as  a 
"  Clay  Whig, "  and  began  at  once  to  dis- 
play a  command  of  language  and  forcible 
rhetoric  that  made  him  a  match  for  his 
more  cultured  opponents.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1837,  and  began  prac- 
tice at  Springfield.  He  married  a  lady  of  a 
prominent  Kentucky  family  in  1842.  He 
was  active  in  the  presidential  campaigns  of 
1840  and  1844  and  was  an  elector  on  the 
Harrison  and  Clay  tickets,  and  was  elected 
to  congress  in  1846,  over  Peter  Cartwright. 
He  voted  for  the  Wilmot  proviso  and  the 
abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, and  opposed  the  war  with  Mexico,  but 
gained  little  prominence  during  his  two 
years'  service.  He  then  returned  to  Spring- 
field and  devoted  his  attention  to  law,  tak- 
ing little  interest  in  politics,  until  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  compromise  and  the  passage 
of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  in  1854.  This 
awakened  his  interest  in  politics  again  and 
he  attacked  the  champion  of  that  measure, 


Stephen  A.  Douglas,  in  a  speech  at  Spring- 
field that  made  him  famous,  and  is  said 
by  those  who  heard  it  to  be  the  greatest 
speech  of  his  life.  Lincoln  was  selected  as 
candidate  for  the  United  States  senate,  but 
was  defeated  by  Trumbull.  Upon  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  the  Whig 
party  suddenly  went  to  pieces,  and  the  Re- 
publican party  gathered  head.  At  the 
Bloomington  Republican  convention  in  1856 
Lincoln  made  an  effective  address  in  which 
he  first  took  a  position  antagonistic  to  the  ex- 
istence of  slavery.  He  was  a  Fremont  elector 
and  received  a  strong  support  for  nomina- 
tion as  vice-president  in  the  Philadelphia 
convention.  In  1858  he  was  the  unanimous 
choice  of  the  Republicans  for  the  United 
States  senate,  and  the  great  campaign  of  de- 
bate which  followed  resulted  in  the  election 
of  Douglas,  but  established  Lincoln's  repu- 
tation as  the  leading  exponent  of  Republican 
doctrines.  He  began  to  be  mentioned  in 
Illinois  as  candidate  for  the  presidency,  and 
a  course  of  addresses  in  the  eastern  states 
attracted  favorable  attention.  When  the 
national  convention  met  at  Chicago,  his 
rivals,  Chase,  Seward,  Bates  and  others, 
were  compelled  to  retire  before  the  western 
giant,  and  he  was  nominated,  with  Hannibal 
Hamlin  as  his  running  mate.  The  Demo- 
cratic party  had  now  been  disrupted,  and 
Lincoln's  election  assured.  He  carried 
practically  every  northern  state,  and  the 
secession  of  South  Carolina,  followed  by  a 
number  of  the  gulf  states,  took  place  before 
his  inauguration.  Lincoln  is  the  only  presi- 
dent who  was  ever  compelled  to  reach 
Washington  in  a  secret  manner.  He  es- 
caped assassination  by  avoiding  Baltimore, 
and  was  quietly  inaugurated  March  4,  1861. 
His  inaugural  address  was  firm  but  con- 
ciliatory, and  he  said  to  the  secessionists: 
"  You  have    no  oath  registered  in  heaven 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


137 


to  destroy  the  government,  while  I  have  the 
most  solemn  one  to  preserve,  protect  and 
defend  it.'  He  made  up  his  cabinet  chiefly 
of  those  political  rivals  in  his  own  party — 
Seward,  Chase,  Cameron,  Bates — and  se- 
cured the  co-operation  of  the  Douglas  Dem- 
ocrats. His  great  deeds,  amidst  the  heat 
and  turmoil  of  war,  were:  His  call  for 
seventy-five  thousand  volunteers,  and  the 
blockading  of  southern  ports;  calling  of  con- 
gress in  extra  session,  July  14,  1861,  and 
obtaining  four  hundred  thousand  men  and 
four  hundred  million  dollars  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war;  appointing  Stanton  secre- 
tary of  war;  issuing  the  emancipation  proc- 
lamation; calling  three  hundred  thou- 
sand volunteers;  address  at  Gettysburg 
cemetery;  commissioned  Grant  as  lieuten- 
ant-general and  commander-in-chief  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States;  his  second 
inaugural  address;  his  visit  to  the  army  be- 
fore Richmond,  and  his  entry  into  Rich- 
mond the  day  after  its  surrender. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  shot  by  John 
Wi'kes  Booth  in  a  box  in  Ford's  theater 
at  Washington  the  night  of  April  14,  1865, 
and  expired  the  following  morning.  His 
body  was  buried  at  Oak  Ridge  cemetery, 
Springfield,  Illinois,  and  a  monument  com- 
memorating his  great  work  marks  his  resting 
place. 

STEPHEN  GIRARD,  the  celebrated 
philanthropist,  was  born  in  Bordeaux, 
France,  May  24,  1750.  He  became  a  sailor 
engaged  in  the  American  coast  trade,  and 
also  made  frequent  trips  to  the  West  Indies. 
During  the  Revolutionary  war  he  was  a 
grocer  and  liquor  seller  in  Philadelphia. 
He  married  in  that  city,  and  afterward 
separated  from  his  wife.  After  the  war  he 
again  engaged  in  the  coast  and  West  India 
trade,  and  his  fortune  began  to  accumulate 


from  receiving  goods  from  West  Indian 
planters  during  the  insurrection  in  Hayti, 
little  of  which  was  ever  called  for  again. 
He  became  a  private  banker  in  Philadelphia 
in  1812,  and  afterward  was  a  director  in  the 
United  States  Bank.  He  made  much  money 
by  leasing  property  in  the  city  in  times  of 
depression,  and  upon  the  revival  of  industry 
sub-leasing  at  enormous  profit.  He  became 
the  wealthiest  citizen  of  the  United  States 
of  his  time. 

He  was  eccentric,  ungracious,  and  a 
freethinker.  He  had  few,  if  any,  friends  in 
his  lifetime.  However,  he  was  most  chari- 
tably disposed,  and  gave  to  charitable  in- 
stitutions and  schools  with  a  liberal  hand. 
He  did  more  than  any  one  else  to  relieve 
the  suffering  and  deprivations  during  the 
great  yellow  fever  scourge  in  Philadelphia, 
devoting  his  personal  attention  to  the  sick. 
He  endowed  and  made  a  free  institution, 
the  famous  Will's  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary 
of  Philadelphia — one  of  the  largest  institu- 
tions of  its  kind  in  the  world.  At  his  death 
practically  all  his  immense  wealth  was  be- 
queathed to  charitable  institutions,  more 
than  two  millions  of  dollars  going  to  the 
founding  of  Girard  College,  which  was  to 
be  devoted  to  the  education  and  training  of 
boys  between  the  ages  of  six  and  ten  years. 
Large  donations  were  also  made  to  institu- 
tions in  Philadelphia  and  New  Orleans. 
The  principal  building  of  Girard  College  is 
the  most  magnificent  example  of  Greek 
architecture  in  America.  Girard  died  De- 
cember 26,  1831. 


LOUIS  J.  R.  AGASSIZ,  the  eminent  nat- 
uralist and  geologist,  was  born  in  the 
parish  of  Motier,  near  Lake  Neuchatel,  Swit- 
zerland, May  28,  1807,  but  attained  his 
greatest  fame  after  becoming  an  American 
citizen.      He  studied  the  medical  sciences  at 


188 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


Zurich,  Heidelberg  and  Munich.  His  first 
work  was  a  Latin  description  of  the  fishes 
which  Martius  and  Spix  brought  from  Brazil. 
This  was  published  in  1 829-3 '  •  He  devoted 
much  time  to  the  study  of  fossil  fishes,  and 
in  1832  was  appointed  professor  of  natural 
history  at  Neuchatel.  He  greatly  increased 
his  reputation  by  a  great  work  in  French, 
entitled  " Researches  on  Fossil  Fishes,"  in 
1832-42,  in  which  he  made  many  important 
improvements  in  the  classification  of  fishes. 
Having  passed  many  summers  among  the 
Alps  in  researches  on  glaciers,  he  propounded 
some  new  and  interesting  ideas  on  geology, 
and  the  agency  of  glaciers  in  his  "Studies 
by  the  Glaciers."  This  was  published  in 
1840.  This  latter  work,  with  his  "  System 
of  the  Glaciers,"  published  in  1847,  are 
among  his  principal  works. 

In  1846,  Professor  Agassiz  crossed  the 
ocean  on  a  scientific  excursion  to  the  United 
States,  and  soon  determined  to  remain  here. 
He  accepted,  about  the  beginning  of  1848, 
the  chair  of  zoology  and  geology  at  Harvard. 
He  explored  the  natural  history  of  the 
United  States  at  different  times  and  gave  an 
impulse  to  the  study  of  nature  in  this 
country.  In  1865  he  conducted  an  expedi- 
tion to  Brazil,  and  explored  the  lower  Ama- 
zon and  its  tributaries.  In  1868  he  was 
made  non-resident  professor  of  natural  his- 
tory at  Cornell  University.  In  December, 
1 87 1,  he  accompanied  the  Hassler  expedi- 
tion, under  Professor  Pierce,  to  the  South 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans.  He  died  at 
Cambridge,     Massachusetts,  December   14, 

1873- 

Among  other  of  the  important  works  of 
Professor  Agassiz  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing: "Outlines  of  Comparative  Physi- 
ology," "Journey  to  Brazil,"  and  "Contri- 
butions to  the  Natural  History  of  the  United 
States."      It  is  said  of  Professor  Agassiz, 


that,  perhaps,  with  the  exception  of  Hugh 
Miller,  no  one  had  so  popularized  science  in 
his  day,  or  trained  so  many  young  natural- 
ists. Many  of  the  theories  held  by  Agassiz 
are  not  supported  by  many  of  the  natural- 
ists of  these  later  days,  but  upon  many  of 
the  speculations  into  the  origin  of  species  and 
in  physics  he  has  left  the  marks  of  his  own 
strongly  marked  individuality. 


WILLIAM  WINDOM.—  As  a  prominent 
and  leading  lawyer  of  the  great  north- 
west, as  a  member  of  both  houses  of  con- 
gress, and  as  the  secretary  of  the  treasury, 
the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch 
won  for  himself  a  prominent  position  in  the 
history  of  our  country. 

Mr.  Windom  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Belmont  county,  May  10,  1827. 
He  received  a  good  elementary  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  state,  and  took  up 
the  study  of  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until 
1855.  In  the  latter  year  he  made  up  his 
mind  to  move  further  west,  and  accordingly 
went  to  Minnesota,  and  opening  an  office, 
became  identified  with  the  interests  of  that 
state,  and  the  northwest  generally.  In 
1858  he  took  his  place  in  the  Minnesota 
delegation  in  the  national  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, at  Washington,  and  continued 
to  represent  his  constituency  in  that  body 
for  ten-  years.  In  1871  Mr.  Windom  was 
elected  United  States  senator  from  Min- 
nesota, and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office 
after  fulfilling  the  duties  of  the  position  for 
a  full  term,  in  1876.  On  the  inauguration 
of  President  Garfield,  in  March,  1881,  Mr. 
Windom  became  secretary  of  the  treasury 
in  his  cabinet.  He  resigned  this  office  Oc- 
tober 27,  1 88 1,  and  was  elected  senator 
from  the   North  Star  state    to  fill   the   va- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


189 


cancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  A.  J. 
Edgerton.  Mr.  Windom  served  in  that 
chamber  until  March,   1883. 

William    Windom    died    in     New    York 
City  January  29,   1891. 


DON  M.  DICKINSON,  an  American 
politician  and  lawyer,  was  born  in 
Port  Ontario,  New  York,  January  17,  1846. 
He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Michigan 
when  he  was  but  two  years  old.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Detroit 
and  at  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann 
Arbor,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one.  In  1872  he  was  made 
secretary  of  the  Democratic  state  central 
committee  of  Michigan,  and  his  able  man- 
agement of  the  campaign  gave  him  a  prom- 
inent place  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  In 
1876,  during  the  Tilden  campaign,  he  acted 
as  chairman  of  the  state  central  committee. 
He  was  afterward  chosen  to  represent  his 
state  in  the  Democratic  national  committee, 
and  in  1886  he  was  appointed  postmaster- 
general  by  President  Cleveland.  After  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  returned 
to  Detroit  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law. 
In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1896,  Mr. 
Dickinson  adhered  to  the  "gold  wing"  of 
the  Democracy,  and  his  influence  was  felt 
in  the  national  canvass,  and  especially  in 
his  own  state. 


JOHN  JACOB  ASTOR,  the  founder  of 
<J  the  Astor  family  and  fortunes,  while  not 
a  native  of  this  country,  was  one  of  the 
most  noted  men  of  his  time,  and  as  all  his 
wealth  and  fame  were  acquired  here,  he 
may  well  be  classed  among  America's  great 
men.  He  was  born  near  Heidelberg,  Ger- 
many, July  17,  1763,  and  when  twenty 
years  old  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
Even  at  that   age  he  exhibited  remarkable 


business  ability  and  foresight,  and  soon  he 
was  investing  capital  in  furs  which  he  took 
to  London  and  sold  at  a  great  profit.  He 
next  settled  at  New  York,  and  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  the  fur  trade.  He  exported 
furs  to  Europe  in  his  own  vessels,  which  re- 
1  m  u<  id  with  cargoes  of  foreign  commodities, 
and  thus  he  rapidly  amassed  an  immense 
fortune.  In  181 1  he  founded  Astoria  on 
the  western  coast  of  North  America,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river,  as  a  depot 
for  the  fur  trade,  for  the  promotion  of 
which  he  sent  a  number  of  expeditions  to 
the  Pacific  ocean.  He  also  purchased  a 
large  amount  of  real  estate  in  New  York, 
the  value  of  which  increased  enormously 
All  through  life  his  business  ventures  were 
a  series  of  marvelous  successes,  and  he 
ranked  as  one  of  the  most  sagacious  and 
successful  business  men  in  the  world.  He 
died  March  29,  1848,  leaving  a  fortune  es- 
timated at  over  twenty  million  dollars  to 
his  children,  who  have  since  increased  it. 
John  Jacob  Astor  left  $400,000  to  found  a 
public  library  in  New  York  City,  and  his  son, 
William  B.  Astor,  who  died  in  1875,  left 
$300,000  to  add  to  his  father's  bequest. 
This  is  known  as  the  Astor  Library,  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  United  States. 


SCHUYLER  COLFAX,  an  eminent 
American  statesman,  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  March  23,  1823,  being  a  grand- 
son of  General  William  Colfax,  the  com- 
mander of  Washington's  life-guards.  In 
1836  he  removed  with  his  mother,  who  was 
then  a  widow,  to  Indiana,  settling  at  South 
Bend.  Young  Schuyler  studied  law,  and 
in  1845  became  editor  of  the  "St.  Joseph 
Valley  Register,"  a  Whig  paper  published 
at  South  Bend.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  which  formed  a  new  constitu- 
tion   for  Indiana  in  1850,  and   he  opposed 


140 


COMPENDIUM  OF  BIOGRAPHY. 


the  clause  that  prohibited  colored  men 
from  settling  in  that  state.  In  1851  he  was 
defeated  as  the  Whig  candidate  for  congress 
but  was  elected  in  1854,  and,  being  repeat- 
edly re-elected,  continued  to  represent  that 
district  in  congress  until  1869.  He  became 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential 
members  of  the  house  of  representatives, 
and  served  three  terms  as  speaker.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  was  an  active  participant 
in  all  public  measures  of  importance,  and 
was  a  confidential  friend  and  adviser  of 
President  Lincoln.  In  May,  1868,  Mr. 
Colfax  was  nominated  for  vice-president  on 
the  ticket  with  General  Grant,  and  was 
elected.  After  the  close  of  his  term  he  re- 
tired from  office,  and  for  the  remainder  of 
his  life  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  lectur- 
ing and  literary  pursuits.  His  death  oc- 
curred January  23,  1885.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  prominent  members  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  America, 
and  that  order  erected  a  bronze  statue  to 
his  memory  in  University  Park,  Indianapo- 
lis, Indiana,  which  was  unveiled  in  May, 
1887. 

WILLIAM  FREEMAN  VILAS,  who  at- 
tained a  national  reputation  as  an  able 
lawyer,  statesman,  and  cabinet  officer,  was 
born  at  Chelsea,  Vermont,  July  9,  1840. 
His  parents  removed  to  Wisconsin  when 
our  subject  was  but  eleven  years  of  age, 
and  there  with  the  early  settlers  endured  all 
the  hardships  and  trials  incident  to  pioneer 
life.  William  F.  Vilas  was  given  all  the 
advantages  found  in  the  common  schools, 
and  supplemented  this  by  a  course  of  study 
in  the  Wisconsin  State  University,  after 
which  he  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  began  practicing  at  Madison. 
Shortly  afterward  the  Civil  war  broke  out 
and  Mr.  Vilas  enlisted  and  became   colonel 


of  the  Twenty-third  regiment  of  Wisconsin 
Volunteers,  serving  throughout  the  war  with 
distinction.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  Wisconsin,  resumed  his  law  prac- 
tice, and  rapidly  rose  to  eminence  in  this 
profession.  In  1885  he  was  selected  by 
President  Cleveland  for  postmaster-general 
and  at  the  close  of  his  term  again  returned 
to  Madison,  Wisconsin,  to  resume  the  prac- 
tice of  law. 

THOMAS  McINTYRE  COOLEY,  an  em- 
inent American  jurist  and  law  writer, 
was  born  in  Attica,  New  York,  January  6, 
1824.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1846, 
and  four  years  later  was  appointed  reporter 
of  the  supreme  court  of  Michigan,  which 
office  he  continued  to  hold  for  seven  years. 
In  the  meantime,  in  1859,  he  became  pro- 
fessor of  the  law  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  and  soon  afterward  was 
made  dean  of  the  faculty  of  that  depart- 
ment. In  1864  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  supreme  court  of  Michigan,  in  1867  be- 
came chief  justice  of  that  court,  and  in 
1869  was  re-elected  for  a  term  of  eight 
years.  In  1881  he  again  joined  the  faculty 
of  the  University  of  Michigan,  assuming  the 
professorship  of  constitutional  and  adminis- 
trative law.  His  works  on  these  branches 
have  become  standard,  and  he  is  recog- 
nized as  authority  on  this  and  related  sub- 
jects. Upon  the  passage  of  the  inter-state 
commerce  law  in  1887  he  became  chairman 
of  the  commission  and  served  in  that  capac- 
ity four  years. 


JOHN  PETER  ALTGELD,  a  noted 
American  politician  and  writer  on  social 
questions,  was  born  in  Germany,  December 
30,  1847.  He  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  and  settled  in  Ohio  when  two  years 
old.      In  1864  he  entered  the  Union  army 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


141 


and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  after 
which  he  settled  in  Chicago,  Illinois.  He 
was  elected  judge  of  the  superior  court  of 
Cook  county,  Illinois,  in  1886,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  until  elected  governor  of 
Illinois  in  1892,  as  a  Democrat.  D.uring 
the  first  year  of  his  term  as  governor  he  at- 
tracted national  attention  by  his  pardon  of 
the  anarchists  convicted  of  the  Haymarket 
murder  in  Chicago,  and  again  in  1894  by 
his  denunciation  of  President  Cleveland  for 
calling  out  federal  troops  to  suppress  the 
rioting  in  connection  with  the  great  Pull- 
man strike  in  Chicago.  At  the  national 
convention  of  the  Democratic  party  in  Chi- 
cago, in  July,  1896,  he  is  said  to  have  in- 
spired the  clause  in  the  platform  denuncia- 
tory of  interference  by  federal  authorities  in 
local  affairs,  and  "government  by  injunc- 
tion." He  was  gubernatorial  candidate  for 
re-election  on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  1896, 
but  was  defeated  by  John  R.  Tanner,  Re- 
publican. Mr.  Altgeld  published  two  vol- 
umes of  essays  on  "  Live  Questions,"  evinc- 
ing radical  views  on  social   matters. 


ADLAI  EWING  STEVENSON,  an  Amer- 
ican statesman  and  politician,  was  born 
in  Christian  county,  Kentucky,  October  23, 
1835,  and  removed  with  the  family  to 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  1852.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1858,  and  set- 
tled in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Metamora,  Illinois.  In  1861  he  was 
made  master  in  chancery  of  Woodford 
county,  and  in  1864  was  elected  state's  at- 
torney. In  1868  he  returned  to  Blooming- 
ton  and  formed  a  law  partnership  with 
James  S.  Ewing.  He  had  served  as  a  pres- 
idential elector  in  1864,  and  in  1868  was 
elected  to  congress  as  a  Democrat,  receiv- 
ing a  majority  vote  from  every  county  in  his 
district.     He     became     prominent    in    his 


party,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  national 
convention  in  1884.  On  the  election  of 
Cleveland  to  the  presidency  Mr.  Stevenson 
was  appointed  first  assistant  postmaster- 
general.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term 
he  continued  to  exert  a  controlling  influence 
in  the  politics  of  his  state,  and  in  1892  was 
elected  vice-president  of  the  United  States 
on  the  ticket  with  Grover  Cleveland.  At 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  law  at  Bloomington, 
Illinois. 

SIMON  CAMERON,  whose  name  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  history 
of  the  United  States  as  a  political  leader 
and  statesman,  was  born  in  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  March  8,  1799.  He  grew 
to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  receiving 
good  educational  advantages,  and  develop- 
ing a  natural  inclination  for  political  life. 
He  rapidly  rose  in  prominence  and  became 
the  most  influential  Democrat  in  PennsyJ' 
vania,  and  in  1845  was  elected  by  that  party 
to  the  United  States  senate.  Upon  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  was 
one  of  the  first  to  declare  his  allegiance  to 
it,  and  in  1856  was  re-elected  United  States 
senator  from  Pennsylvania  as  a  Republican. 
In  March,  1861,  he  was  appointed  secretary 
of  war  by  President  Lincoln,  and  served 
until  early  in  1862,  when  he  was  sent  as 
minister  to  Russia,  returning  in  1863.  In 
1866  he  was  again  elected  United  States 
senator  and  served  until  1877,  when  he  re- 
signed and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  James 
Donald  Cameron.  He  continued  to  exert  a 
powerful  influence  in  political  affairs  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  June  26,   1889. 

James  Donald  Cameron  was  the  eld- 
est son  of  Simon  Cameron,  and  also 
attained  a  high  rank  among  American 
statesmen.      He  was    born  at   Harrisburg, 


Hi 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


Pennsylvania,  May  14,  1833,  and  received  an 
excellent  education,  graduating  at  Princeton 
College  in  1852.  He  rapidly  developed  into 
one  of  the  most  able  and  successful  business 
men  of  the  country  and  was  largely  inter- 
ested in  and  identified  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  coal,  iron,  lumber  and  manu- 
facturing interests  of  his  native  state.  He 
served  as  cashier  and  afterward  president  of 
the  Middletown  bank,  and  in  1861  was  made 
vice-president,  and  in  1863  president  of 
the  Northern  Central  railroad,  holding  this 
position  until  1874,  when  he  resigned  and 
was  succeeded  by  Thomas  A.  Scott.  This 
road  was  of  great  service  to  the  government 
during  the  war  as  a  means  of  communica- 
tion between  Pennsylvania  and  the  national 
capital,  via  Baltimore.  Mr.  Cameron  also 
took  an  active  part  in  political  affairs, 
always  as  a  Republican.  In  May,  1876, 
he  was  appointed  secretary  of  war  in  Pres- 
ident Grant's  cabinet,  and  in  1877  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  United  States 
senate.  He  was  re-elected  in  1885,  and 
again  in  1891,  serving  until  1896,  and  was 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
influential  members  of  that  body. 


ADOLPHUS  W.  GREELEY,  a  famous 
American  arctic  explorer,  was  born  at 
.  Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  March  27, 
1844.  He  graduated  from  Brown  High 
School  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  a  year 
later  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Nineteenth 
Massachusetts  Infantry,  and  was  made  first 
sergeant.  In  1863  he  was  promoted  to 
second  lieutenant.  After  the  war  he  was 
assigned  to  the  Fifth  United  States  Cavalry, 
and  became  first  lieutenant  in  1873.  He 
was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  United  States 
signal  service  shortly  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  An  expedition  was  fitted  out  by  the 
United    States    government     in    1881,    un- 


der auspices  of  the  weather  bureau,  and 
Lieutenant  Greeley  placed  in  command. 
They  set  sail  from  St.  Johns  the  first  week 
in  July,  and  after  nine  days  landed  in  Green- 
land, where  they  secured  the  services  of  two 
natiyes,  together  with  sledges,  dogs,  furs 
and  equipment.  They  encountered  an  ice 
pack  early  in  August,  and  on  the  28th  of 
that  month  freezing  weather  set  in.  Two 
of  his  party,  Lieutenant  Lockwood  and  Ser- 
geant Brainard,  added  to  the  known  maps 
about  forty  miles  of  coast  survey,  and 
reached  the  highest  point  yet  attained  by 
man,  eighty-three  degrees  and  twenty-four 
minutes  north,  longitude,  forty-four  degrees 
and  five  minutes  west.  On  their  return  to 
Fort  Conger,  Lieutenant  Greeley  set  out 
for  the  south  on  August  9,  1883.  He 
reached  Baird  Inlet  twenty  days  later  with 
his  entire  party.  Here  they  were  compelled 
to  abandon  their  boats,  and  drifted  on  an 
ice-floe  for  one  month.  They  then  went 
into  camp  at  Cape  Sabine,  where  they  suf- 
fered untold  hardships,  and  eighteen  of  the 
party  succumbed  to  cold  and  hunger,  and 
had  relief  been  delayed  two  days  longer 
none  would  have  been  found  alive.  They 
were  picked  up  by  the  relief  expedition, 
under  Captain  Schley,  June  22,  1884.  The 
dead  were  taken  to  New  York  for  burial. 
Many  sensational  stories  were  published 
concerning  the  expedition,  and  Lieutenant 
Greeley  prepared  an  exhaustive  account 
of  his  explorations  and  experiences. 


LEVI  P.  MORTON,  the  millionaire  poli- 
tician, was  born  in  Shoreham,  Ver- 
mont, May  16,  1824,  and  his  early  educa- 
tion consisted  of  the  rudiments  which  he 
obtained  in  the  common  school  up  to  the 
age  of  fourteen,  and  after  that  time  what 
knowledge  he  gained  was  wrested  from  the 
hard  school  of  experience.     He  removed  to 


COMPENDIUM  OF  BIOGRAPHY. 


148 


Hanover,  Vermont,  then  Concord,  Vermont, 
and  afterwards  to  Boston.  He  had  worked 
in  a  store  at  Shoreham,  his  native  village, 
and  on  going  to  Hanover  he  established  a 
store  and  went  into  business  for  himself. 
In  Boston  he  clerked  in  a  dry  goods  store, 
and  then  opened  a  business  of  his  own  in 
the  same  line  in  New  York.  After  a  short 
career  he  failed,  and  was  compelled  to  set- 
tle with  his  creditors  at  only  fifty  cents  on 
the  dollar.  He  began  the  struggle  anew, 
and  when  the  war  began  he  established  a 
banking  house  in  New  York,  with  Junius 
Morgan  as  a  partner.  Through  his  firm 
and  connections  the  great  government  war 
loans  were  floated,  and  it  resulted  in  im- 
mense profits  to  his  house.  When  he  was 
again  thoroughly  established  he  invited  his 
former  creditors  to  a  banquet,  and  under 
each  guest's  plate  was  found  a  check  cover- 
ing the  amount  of  loss  sustained  respec- 
tively, with  interest  to  date. 

President  Garfield  appointed  Mr.  Mor- 
ton as  minister  to  France,  after  he  had  de- 
clined the  secretaryship  of  the  navy,  and  in 
1888  he  was  nominated  as  candidate  for 
vice-president,  with  Harrison,  and  elected. 
In  1894  he  was  elected  governor  of  New 
York  over  David  B.  Hill,  and  served  one 
term. 

CHARLES  KENDALL  ADAMS,  one 
of  the  most  talented  and  prominent 
educators  this  country  has  known,  was  born 
January  24,  1835,  at  Derby,  Vermont.  He 
received  an  elementary  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  studied  two  terms  in 
the  Derby  Academy.  Mr.  Adams  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Iowa  in  1856.  He  was 
very  anxious  to  pursue  a  collegiate  course, 
but  this  was  impossible  until  he  had  attained 
the  age  of  twenty-one.  In  the  autumn  of 
1856  he  began  the  study  of  Latin  and  Greek 


at  Denmark  Academy,  and  in  September, 
1857,  he  was  admitted  to  the  University  of 
Michigan.  Mr.  Adams  was  wholly  depend- 
ent upon  himself  for  the  means  of  his  edu- 
cation. During  his  third  and  fourth  year 
he  became  deeply  interested  in  historical 
studies,  was  assistant  librarian  of  the  uni- 
versity, and  determined  to  pursue  a  post- 
graduate course.  In  1864  he  was  appointed 
instructor  of  history  and  Latin  and  was  ad- 
vanced to  an  assistant  professorship  in  1865, 
and  in  1867,  on  the  resignation  o^  Professoi 
White  to  accept  the  presidency  of  Cornell, 
he  was  appointed  to  fill  the  chair  of  profes- 
sor of  history.  This  he  accepted  on  con- 
dition of  his  being  allowed  to  spend  a  year 
for  special  study  in  Germany,  France  and 
Italy.  Mr.  Adams  returned  in  1868,  and 
assumed  the  duties  of  his  professorship. 
He  introduced  the  German  system  for  the 
instruction  of  advanced  history  classes,  and 
his  lectures  were  largely  attended.  In  1885, 
on  the  resignation  of  President  White  at 
Cornell,  he  was  elected  his  successor  and 
held  the  office  for  seven  years,  and  on  Jan- 
uary 17,  1893,  he  was  inaugurated  presi- 
dent of  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  Pres- 
ident Adams  was  prominently  connected 
with  numerous  scientific  and  literary  organ- 
izations and  a  frequent  contributor  to  the 
historical  and  educational  data  in  the  peri- 
odicals and  journals  of  the  country.  He 
was  the  author  of  the  following:  "  Dem- 
ocracy and  Monarchy  in  France,"  "  Manual 
of  Historical  Literature,"  "  A  Plea  for  Sci- 
entific Agriculture,"  "  Higher  Education  in 
Germany." 

JOSEPH  B.  FORAKER,  a  prominent  po- 
litical leader  and  ex-governor  of  Ohio, 
was  born  near  Rainsboro,  Highland  county, 
Ohio,  July  5,  1846.  His  parents  operated 
a  small  farm,  with  a  grist  and  sawmill,  hav- 


144 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


ing  emigrated  hither  from  Virginia  and 
Delaware  on  account  of  their  distaste  for 
slavery. 

Joseph  was  reared  upon  a  farm  until 
1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighty -ninth 
Ohio  Infantry.  Later  he  was  made  ser- 
geant, and  in  1864  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant. The  next  year  he  was  brevetted 
captain.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was 
mustered  out  of  the  army  after  a  brilliant 
service,  part  of  the  time  being  on  the  staff 
of  General  Slocum.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Lookout  Mount- 
ain and  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  in  Sher- 
man's march  to  the  sea. 

For  two  years  subsequent  to  the  war 
young  Foraker  was  studying  at  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  but  later 
went  to  Cornell  University,  at  Unity,  New 
York,  from  which  he  graduated  July  1, 
1869.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  In  1879  Mr.  Foraker  was  elected 
judge  of  the  superior  court  of  Cincinnati 
and  held  the  office  for  three  years.  In  1883 
he  was  defeated  in  the  contest  for  the  gov- 
ernorship with  Judge  Hoadly.  In  1885, 
however,  being  again  nominated  for  the 
same  office,  he  was  elected  and  served  two 
terms.  In  1889,  in  running  for  governor 
again,  this  time  against  James  E.  Camp- 
bell, he  was  defeated.  Two  years  later  his 
career  in  the  United  States  senate  began. 
Mr.  Foraker  was  always  a  prominent  figure 
at  all  national  meetings  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  a  strong  power,  politically,  in  his 
native  state. 


LYMAN  ABBOTT,  an  eminent  American 
preacher  and  writer  on  religious  sub- 
jects, came  of  a  noted  New  England 
family.  His  father,  Rev.  Jacob  Abbott,  was 
a  prolific  and  popular  writer,  and  his  uncle, 
Rev.    John    S.    C.     Abbott,   was    a    noted 


preacher  and  author.  Lyman  Abbott  was 
born  December  18,  1835,  in  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts.  He  graduated  at  the  New 
York  University,  in  1853,  studied  law,  and 
practiced  for  a  time  at  the  bar,  after  which 
he  studied  theology  with  his  uncle,  Rev. 
John  S.  C.  Abbott,  and  in  i860  was  settled 
in  the  ministry  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  re- 
maining there  until  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  then  became  connected  with  the 
Freedmen's  Commission,  continuing  this 
until  1868,  when  he  accepted  the  pastorate 
of  the  New  England  Congregational  church, 
in  New  York  City.  A  few  years  later  he  re- 
signed, to  devote  his  time  principally  to  lit- 
erary pursuits.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
edited  for  the  American  Tract  Society,  its 
"Illustrated  Christian  Weekly,"  also  the 
New  York  "Christian  Union."  He  pro- 
duced many  works,  which  had  a  wide  circu- 
lation, among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
following:  "Jesus  of  Nazareth,  His  Life  and 
Teachings,"  "Old  Testament  Shadows  of 
New  Testament  Truths,"  "Morning  and 
Evening  Exercises,  Selected  from  Writings 
of  Henry  Ward  Beecher,"  "Laicus,  or  the 
Experiences  of  a  Layman  in  a  Country 
Parish,"  "Popular  Religious  Dictionary," 
and  "Commentaries  on  Matthew,  Mark, 
Luke,  John  and  Acts." 


GEORGE  WILLIAM  CURTIS.— The 
well-known  author,  orator  and  journal- 
ist whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  born 
at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  February  24, 
1824.  Having  laid  the  foundation  of  a 
most  excellent  education  in  his  native  land, 
he  went  to  Europe  and  studied  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Berlin.  He  made  an  extensive 
tour  throughout  the  Levant,  from  which  he 
returned  home  in  1850.  At  that  early  age 
literature  became  his  field  of  labor,  and  in 
185 1  he  published  his  first  important  work, 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


145 


"  Nile  Notes  of  a  Howadji."  In  1852  two 
works  issued  from  his  facile  pen,  "The 
Howadji  in  Syria,"  and  "Lotus-Eating." 
Later  on  he  was  the  author  of  the  well- 
known  "  Potiphar  Papers,"  "  Prue  and  I," 
and  "Trumps."  He  greatly  distinguished 
himself  throughout  this  land  as  a  lecturer 
on  many  subjects,  and  as  an  orator  had  but 
few  peers.  He  was  also  well  known  as  one 
of  the  most  fluent  speakers  on  the  stump, 
making  many  political  speeches  in  favor  of 
the  Republican  party.  In  recognition  of 
his  valuable  services,  Mr.  Curtis  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Grant,  chairman  of 
the  advisory  board  of  the  civil  service.  Al- 
though a  life-long  Republican,  Mr.  Curtis 
refused  to  support  Blaine  for  the  presidency 
in  1884,  because  of  his  ideas  on  civil  ser- 
vice and  other  reforms.  For  his  memorable 
and  magnificent  eulogy  on  Wendell  Phillips, 
delivered  in  Boston,  in  1884,  that  city  pre- 
sented Mr.  Curtis  with  a  gold  medal. 

George  W.  Curtis,  however,  is  best 
known  to  the  reading  public  of  the  United 
States  by  his  connection  with  the  Harper 
Brothers,  having  been  editor  of  the  "  Har- 
per's Weekly, "  and  of  the  "Easy  Chair," 
in  "  Harper's  Monthly  Magazine, "for many 
years,  in  fact  retaining  that  position  until 
the  day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  August 
31,  1892.  

ANDREW  JOHNSON,  the  seventeenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  served 
from  1865  to  1869.  He  was  born  Decem- 
ber 8,  1808,  at  -Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 
and  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  four 
years.  He  never  attended  school,  and  was 
apprenticed  to  a  tailor.  While  serving  his 
apprenticeship  he  suddenly  acquired  a  pas- 
sion for  knowledge,  and  learned  to  read. 
From  that  time  on  he  spent  all  his  spare 
time  in  reading,  and   after  working  for  two 


years  as  a  journeyman  tailor  at  Lauren's 
Court  House,  South  Carolina,  he  removed 
to  Greenville,  Tennessee,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  and  was  married.  Under  his 
wife's  instruction  he  made  rapid  progress  in 
his  studies  and  manifested  such  an  interest 
in  local  politics  as  to  be  elected  as  "  work- 
ingmen's  candidate  "  alderman  in  1828,  and 
in  1830  to  the  mayoralty,  and  was  twice 
re-elected  to  each  office.  Mr.  Johnson 
utilized  this  time  in  cultivating  his  talents 
as  a  public  speaker,  by  taking  part  in  a  de- 
bating society.  He  was  elected  in  1835  to 
the  lower  house  of  the  legislature,  was  re- 
elected in  1839  as  a  Democrat,  and  in 
1841  was  elected  state  senator.  Mr.  John- 
son was  elected  representative  in  congress 
in  1843  and  was  re-elected  four  times  in 
succession  until  1853,  when  he  was  the  suc- 
cessful candidate  for  the  gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  He  was  re-elected  in  1855 
and  in  1857  he  entered  the  United  States 
senate.  In  i860  he  was  supported  by  the 
Tennessee  delegation  to  the  Democratic 
convention  for  the  presidential  nomination, 
and  lent  his  'influence  to  the  Breckinridge 
wing  of  the  party.  At  the  election  of  Lin- 
coln, which  brought  about  the  first  attempt 
at  secession  in  December,  i860,  Mr.  John- 
son took  a  firm  attitude  in  the  senate  for 
the  Union.  He  was  the  leader  of  the  loy- 
alists in  East  Tennessee.  By  the  course 
that  Mr.  Johnson  pursued  in  this  crisis  he 
was  brought  prominently  before  the  north- 
ern people,  and  when,  in  March,  1862,  he 
was  appointed  military  governor  of  Ten- 
nessee with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general, 
he  increased  his  popularity  by  the  vigorous 
manner  in  which  he  labored  to  restore 
order.  In  the  campaign  of  1864  he  was 
elected  vice-president  on  the  ticket  with 
President  Lincoln,  and  upon  the  assassi- 
nation of  the    latter    he    succeeded    to  the 


146 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


presidency,  April  15,  1865.  He  retained 
the  cabinet  of  President  Lincoln,  and  at 
first  exhibited  considerable  severity  towards 
the  former  Confederates,  but  he  soon  inau- 
gurated a  policy  of  reconstruction,  pro- 
claimed a  general  amnesty  to  the  late  Con- 
federates, and  established  provisional  gov- 
ernments in  the  southern  states.  These 
states  claimed  representation  in  congress  in 
the  following  December,  and  then  arose  the 
momentous  question  as  to  what  should  be 
the  policy  of  the  victorious  Union  against 
their  late  enemies.  The  Republican  ma- 
jority in  congress  had  an  apprehension  that 
the  President  would  undo  the  results  of  the 
war,  and  consequently  passed  two  bills  over 
the  executive  veto,  and  the  two  highest 
branches  of  the  government  were  in  open 
antagonism.  The  cabinet  was  reconstructed 
in  July,  and  Messrs.  Randall,  Stanbury  and 
Browning  superseded  Messrs.  Denison, 
Speed  and  Harlan.  In  August,  1867,  Pres- 
ident Johnson  removed  the  secretary  of  war 
and  replaced  him  with  General  Grant,  but 
when  congress  met  in  December  it  refused 
to  ratify  the  removal  of  Stanton,  who  re- 
sumed the  functions  of  his  office.  In  1868 
the  president  again  attempted  to  remove 
Stanton,  who  refused  to  vacate  his  post 
and  was  sustained  by  the  senate.  Presi- 
dent Johnson  was  accused  by  congress  of 
high  crimes  and  misdemeanors,  but  the  trial 
resulted  in  his  acquittal.  Later  he  was  Uni- 
ted States  senator  from  Tennessee,  and 
died  July  31,  1875. 


EDMUND  RANDOLPH,  first  attorney- 
general  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  August  10,  1753.  His  father, 
John  Randolph,  was  attorney-general  of 
Virginia,  and  lived  and  died  a  royalist.  Ed- 
mund was  educated  in  the  law,  but  joined 
the  army  as  aide-de-camp  to   Washington 


in  1775,  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Virginia  convention  in 
1776,  and  attorney-general  of  the  state  the 
same  year.  In  1779  he  was  elected  to  the 
Continental  congress,  and  served  four  years 
in  that  body.  He  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention in  1787  that  framed  the  constitu- 
tion. In  that  convention  he  proposed  what 
was  known  as  the  "  Virginia  plan"  of  con- 
federation, but  it  was  rejected.  He  advo- 
cated the  ratification  of  the  constitution  in 
the  Virginia  convention,  although  he  had  re- 
fused to  sign  it.  He  became  governor  of 
Virginia  in  1788,  and  the  next  year  Wash- 
ington appointed  him  to  the  office  of  at- 
torney-general of  the  United  States  upon 
the  organization  of  the  government  under 
the  constitution.  He  was  appointed  secre- 
tary of  state  to  succeed  Jefferson  during 
Washington's  second  term,  but  resigned  a 
year  later  on  account  of  differences  in  the 
cabinet  concerning  the  policy  pursued  to- 
ward the  new  French  republic.  He  died 
September   12,  181 3. 


W INFIELD  SCOTT  HANCOCK  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  14,  1824.  He  received 
his  early  education  at  the  Norristown 
Academy,  in  his  native  county,  and,  in  1840, 
was  appointed  a  cadet  in  the  United  States 
Military  Academy,  at  West  Point.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  latter  in  1844,  andbrev- 
etted  as  second  lieutenant  of  infantry.  In 
1853  he  was  made  first  lieutenant,  and  two 
years  later  transferred  to  the  quartermaster's 
department,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  and 
in  1863  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  He 
served  on  the  frontier,  and  in  the  war  with 
Mexico,  displaying  conspicuous  gallantry  dur- 
ing the  latter.  He  also  took  a  part  in  the 
Seminole  war,  and  in  the  troubles  in  Kan- 
sas, in  1857,  and  in  California,  at   the  out- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


147 


break  of  the  Civil  war,  as  chief  quarter- 
master of  the  Southern  district,  he  exerted 
a  powerful  influence.  In  1861  he  applied 
for  active  duty  in  the  field,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  department  of  Kentucky  as  chief 
quartermaster,  but  before  entering  upon  that 
duty,  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers.  His  subsequent  history  during 
the  war  was  substantially  that  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  He  participated  in  the 
campaign,  under  McClellan,  and  led  the 
gallant  charge,  which  captured  Fort  Magru- 
der,  won  the  day  at  the  battle  of  Wil- 
liamsburg, and  by  services  rendered  at 
Savage's  Station  and  other  engagements, 
won  several  grades  in  the  regular  service, 
and  was  recommended  by  McClellan  for 
major-general  of  volunteers.  He  was  a  con- 
spicuous figure  at  South  Mountain  and  An- 
tietam.  He  was  commissioned  major-gen- 
eral of  volunteers,  November  29,  1862,  and 
made  commander  of  the  First  Division  of 
the  Second  Corps,  which  he  led  at  Fred- 
ricksburg  and  at  Chancellorsville.  He  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Second 
Corps  in  June,  1863,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  July  I,  2  and  3,  of  that  year, 
took  an  important  part.  On  his  arrival  on 
the  field  he  found  part  of  the  forces  then 
in  retreat,  but  stayed  the  retrograde 
movement,  checked  the  enemy,  and  on  the 
following  day  commanded  the  left  center, 
repulsed,  on  the  third,  the  grand  assault  of 
General  Lee's  army,  and  was  severely 
wounded.  For  his  services  on  that  field 
General  Hancock  received  the  thanks  of 
congress.  On  recovering  from  his  wound, 
he  was  detailed  to  go  north  to  stimulate  re- 
cruiting and  fill  up  the  diminished  corps,  and 
was  the  recipient  of  many  public  receptions 
and  ovations.  In  March,  1864,  he  returned 
to  his  command,  and  in  the  Wilderness  and 
at   Spottsylvania   led  large    bodies  of   men 


successfully  and  conspicuously.  From  that 
on  to  the  close  of  the  campaign  he  was  a 
prominent  figure.  In  November,  1864,  he 
was  detailed  to  organize  the  First  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps,  and  at  the  close  of  hostilities 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Mid- 
dle Military  Division.  In  July,  1866,  he 
was  made  major-general  of  the  regular 
service.  He  was  at  the  head  of  various 
military  departments  until  1872,  when  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Atlantic,  which  post  he  held 
until  his  death.  In  1869  he  declined  the 
nomination  for  governor  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic 
party  for  president,  in  1880,  and  was  de- 
feated by  General  Garfield,  who  had  a  popu- 
lar majority  of  seven  thousand  and  eighteen 
and  an  electoral  majority  .of  fifty-nine.  Gen- 
eral Hancock  died  February  9,  1886. 


THOMAS  PAINE,  the  most  noted  polit- 
ical and  deistical  writer  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary period,  was  born  in  England,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1737,  of  Quaker  parents.  His  edu- 
cation was- obtained  in  the  grammar  schools 
of  Thetford,  his  native  town,  and  supple- 
mented by  hard  private  study  while  working 
at  his  trade  of  stay-maker  at  London  and 
other  cities  of  England.  He  was  for  a  time 
a  dissenting  preacher,  although  he  did  not 
relinquish  his  employment.  He  married  a 
revenue  official's  daughter,  and  was  employed 
in  the  revenue  service  for  some  time.  He 
then  became  a  grocer  and  during  all  this  time 
he  was  reading  and  cultivating  his  literary 
tastes,  and  had  developed  a  clear  and  forci- 
ble style  of  composition.  He  was  chosen  to 
represent  the  interests  of  the  excisemen, 
and  published  a  pamphlet  that  brought 
him  considerable  notice.  He  was  soon  after- 
ward introduced  to  Benjamin  Franklin,  and 
having  been  dismissed  from  the  service  on  a 


148 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


charge  of  smuggling,  his  resentment  led  him 
to  accept  the  advice  of  that  statesman  to 
come  to  America,  in  1774.  He  became 
editor  of  the  ' '  Pennsylvania  Magazine,"  and 
the  next  year  published  his  "Serious 
Thoughts  upon  Slavery"  in  the  "Penn- 
sylvania Journal."  His  greatest  political 
work,  however,  was  written  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  Dr.  Rush,  and  entitled  "Common 
Sense."  It  was  the  most  popular  pamphlet 
written  during  the  period  and  he  received 
two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  from  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania  in  recognition  of  its 
value.  His  periodical,  the  "Crisis,"  began 
in  1776,  and  its  distribution  among  the 
soldiers  did  a  great  deal  to  keep  up  the  spirit 
of  revolution.  He  was  made  secretary  of 
the  committee  of  foreign  affairs,  but  was  dis- 
missed for  revealing  diplomatic  secrets  in 
one  of  his  controversies  with  Silas  Deane. 
He  was  originator  and  promoter  of  a  sub- 
scription to  relieve  the  distress  of  the  soldiers 
near  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  sent  to 
France  with  Henry  Laurens  to  negotiate  the 
treaty  with  France,  and  was  granted  three 
thousand  dollars  by  congress  for  his  services 
there,  and  an  estate  at  New  Rochelle,  by  the 
state  of  New  York. 

In  1787,  after  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  he  went  to  France,  and  a  few 
years  later  published  his  "  Rights  of  Man," 
defending  the  French  revolution,  which 
gave  him  great  popularity  in  France.  He 
was  made  a  citizen  and  elected  to  the  na- 
tional convention  at  Calais.  He  favored 
banishment  of  the  king  to  America,  and 
opposed  his  execution.  He  was  imprisoned 
for  about  ten  months  during  1794  by  the 
Robespierre  party,  during  which  time  he 
wrote  the  "  Age  of  Reason,"  his  great  deis- 
tical  work.  He  was  in  danger  of  the  guillo- 
tine for  several  months.  He  took  up  his 
residence  with  the  family  of  James  Monroe, 


then  minister  to  France  and  was  chosen 
again  to  the  convention.  He  returned 
to  the  United  States  in  1802,  and  was 
cordially  received  throughout  the  coun- 
try except  at  Trenton,  where  he  was  insulted 
by  Federalists.  He  retired  to  his  estate  at 
New  Rochelle,  and  his  death  occurred  June 
8,  1809. 

JOHN  WILLIAM  MACKAY  was  one  of 
America's  noted  men,  both  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  western  coast  and  the 
building  of  the  Mackay  and  Bennett  cable. 
He  was  born  in  1831  at  Dublin,  Ireland; 
came  to  New  York  in  1840  and  his  boyhood 
days  were  spent  in  Park  Row.  He  went 
to  California  some  time  after  the  argonauts 
of  1849  and  took  to  the  primitive  methods 
of  mining — dost  and  won  and  finally  drifted 
into  Nevada  about  i860.  The  bonanza  dis- 
coveries which  were  to  have  such  a  potent 
influence  on  the  finance  and  statesmanship 
of  the  day  came  in  1872.  Mr.  Mackay 
founded  the  Nevada  Bank  in  1878.  He  is 
said  to  have  taken  one  hundred  and 
fifty  million  dollars  in  bullion  out  of 
the  Big  Bonanza  mine.  There  were  as- 
sociated with  him  in  this  enterprise  James 
G.  Fair,  senator  from  Nevada;  William 
O'Brien  and  James  C.  Flood.  When 
vast  wealth  came  to  Mr.  Mackay  he  be- 
lieved it  his  duty  to  do  his  country  some 
service,  and  he  agitated  in  his  mind  the 
building  of  an  American  steamship  line, 
and  while  brooding  over  this  his  attention 
was  called  to  the  cable  relations,  between 
America  and  Europe.  The  financial  man- 
agement of  the  cable  was  selfish  and  ex- 
travagant, and  the  capital  was  heavy  with 
accretions  of  financial  "  water"  and  to  pay 
even  an  apparent  dividend  upon  the  sums 
which  represented  the  nominal  value  of  the 
cables,  it  was  necessary   to  hold    the    rates 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


149 


at  an  exorbitant  figure.  And,  moreover, 
the  cables  were  foreign;  in  one  the  influence 
of  France  being  paramount  and  in  the  other 
that  of  England;  and  in  the  matter  of  intel- 
ligence, so  necessary  in  case  of  war,  we 
would  be  at  the  mercy  of  our  enemies.  This 
train  of  thought  brought  Mr.  Mackay  into  re- 
lation with  James  Gordon  Bennett,  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  "  New  York  Herald."  The 
result  of  their  intercourse  was  that  Mr.  Mac- 
kay so  far  entered  into  the  enthusiasm  of 
Mr.  Bennett  over  an  independent  cable, 
that  he  offered  to  assist  the  enterprise  with 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  was  the 
inception  of  the  Commercial  Cable  Com- 
pany, or  of  what  has  been  known  for  years 
as   the    Mackav-Bennett  cable. 


ELISHA  GRAY,  the  great  inventor  and 
electrician,  was  born  August  2,  1835. 
at  Barnesville,  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  He 
was,  as  a  child,  greatly  interested  in  the 
phenomena  of  nature,  and  read  with  avidity 
all  the  books  he  could  obtain,  relating  to 
this  subject.  He  was  apprenticed  to  various 
trades  during  his  boyhood,  but  his  insatiable 
thirst  for  knowledge  dominated  his  life  and 
he  found  time  to  study  at  odd  intervals. 
Supporting  himself  by  working  at  his  trade, 
he  found  time  to  pursue  a  course  at  Oberlin 
College,  where  he  particularly  devoted  him- 
self to  the  study  of  physicial  science.  Mr. 
Gray  secured  his  first  patent  for  electrical 
or  telegraph  apparatus  on  October  1,  1867. 
His  attention  was  first  attracted  to  tele- 
phonic transmission  during  this  year  and  he 
saw  in  it  a  way  of  transmitting  signals  for 
telegraph  purposes,  and  conceived  the  idea 
of  electro-tones,  tuned  to  different  tones  in 
the  scale.  He  did  not  then  realize  the  im- 
portance of  his  invention,  his  thoughts  being 
employed  on  the  capacity  of  the  apparatus 
for  transmitting   musical   tones   through  an 


electric  circuit,  and  it  was  not  until  1874 
that  he  was  again  called  to  consider  the  re- 
production of  electrically-transmitted  vibra- 
tions through  the  medium  of  animal  tissue. 
He  continued  experimenting  with  various 
results,  which  finally  culminated  in  his 
taking  out  a  patent  for  his  speaking  tele- 
phone on  February  14,  1876.  He  took  out 
fifty  additional  patents  in  the  course  of 
eleven  years,  among  which  were,  telegraph 
switch,  telegraph  repeater,  telegraph  annun- 
ciator and  typewriting  telegraph.  From 
1869  until  1873  he  was  employed  in  the 
manufacture  of  telegraph  apparatus  in  Cleve- 
land and  Chicago,  and  filled  the  office  of 
electrician  to  the  Western  Electric  Com- 
pany. He  was  awarded  the  degree  of  D. 
S.,  and  in  1874  he  went  abroad  to  perfect 
himself  in  acoustics.  Mr.  Gray's  latest  in- 
vention was  known  as  the  telautograph  or 
long  distance  writing  machine.  Mr.  Gray 
wrote  and  published  several  works  on  scien- 
tific subjects,  among  which  were:  "Tele- 
graphy and  Telephony,"  and  "  Experi- 
mental Research  in  Electro-Harmonic  Tele- 
graphy and  Telephony." 


WHITELAW  REID.— Among  the  many 
men  who  have  adorned  the  field  of 
journalism  in  the  United  States,  few  stand 
out  with  more  prominence  than  the  scholar, 
author  and  editor  whose  name  heads  this  ar- 
ticle. Born  at  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
October  27,  1837,  he  graduated  at  Miami 
University  in  1856.  For  about  a  year  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  graded  schools  of 
South  Charleston,  Ohio,  after  which  he  pur- 
chased the  "Xenia  News,"  which  he  edited 
for  about  two  years.  This  paper  was  the 
first  one  outside  of  Illinois  to  advocate  the 
nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  Mr.  Reid 
having  been  a  Republican  since  the  birth  of 
that  party  in  1856.     After  taking  an  active 


150 


COMPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRATHT. 


part  in  the  campaign,  in  the  winter  of  1860- 
61,  he  went  to  the  state  capital  as  corres- 
pondent of  three  daily  papers.  At  the  close 
of  the  session  of  the  legislature  he  became 
city  editor  of  the  "Cincinnati  Gazette," 
and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  went  to 
the  front  as  a  correspondent  for  that  journal. 
For  a  time  he  served  on  the  staff  of  General 
Morris  in  West  Virginia,  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  Shortly  after  he  was  on  the  staff 
of  General  Rosecrans,  and,  under  the  name 
of  "Agate,"  wrote  most  graphic  descrip- 
tions of  the  movements  in  the  field,  espe- 
cially that  of  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing. In  the  spring  of  1862  Mr.  Reid  went 
to  Washington  and  was  appointed  librarian 
to  the  house  of  representatives,  and  acted  as 
correspondent  of  the  "  Cincinnati  Gazette." 
His  description  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
written  on  the  field,  gained  him  added 
reputation.  In  1865  he  accompanied  Chief 
Justice  Chase  on  a  southern  tour,  and  pub- 
lished "After  the  War;  a  Southern  Tour." 
During  the  next  two  years  he  was  engaged 
in  cotton  planting  in  Louisiana  and  Ala- 
bama, and  published  "Ohio  in  the  War." 
In  1868  he  returned  to  the  "  Cincinnati  Ga- 
zette," becoming  one  of  its  leading  editors. 
The  same  year  he  accepted  the  invitation  of 
Horace  Greeley  and  became  one  of  the  staff 
on  the  "  New  York  Tribune."  Upon  the 
death  of  Mr.  Greeley  in  1872,  Mr.  Reid  be- 
came editor  and  chief  proprietor  of  that 
paper.  In  1878  he  was  tendered  the  United 
States  mission  to  Berlin,  but  declined.  The 
offer  was  again  made  by  the  Garfield  ad- 
ministration, but  again  he  declined.  In 
1878  he  was  elected  by  the  New  York  legis- 
lature regent  of  the  university,  to  succeed 
General  John  A.  Dix.  Under  the  Harrison 
administration  he  served  as  United  States 
minister  to  France,  and  in  1892  was  the 
Republican  nominee  for  the  vice-presidency 


of  the  United  States.  Among  other  works 
published  by  him  were  the  "  Schools  of 
Journalism,"  "The  Scholar  in  Politics," 
"Some  Newspaper  Tendencies,"  and 
' '  Town-Hall  Suggestions. " 


GEORGE  WHITEFIELD  was  one  of 
the  most  powerful  and  effective  preach- 
ers the  world  has  ever  produced,  swaying 
his  hearers  and  touching  the  hearts  of  im- 
mense audiences  in  a  manner  that  has  rarely 
been  equalled  and  never  surpassed.  While 
not  a  native  of  America,  yet  much  of  his 
labor  was  spent  in  this  country.  He  wielded 
a  great  influence  in  the  "United  States  in 
early  days,  and  his  death  occurred  here;  so 
that  he  well  deserves  a  place  in  this  volume 
as  one  of  the  most  celebrated  men  America 
has  known. 

George  Whitefield  was  born  in  the  Bull 
Inn,  at  Gloucester,  England,  December  16, 
1 7 14.  He  acquired  the  rudiments  of  learn- 
ing in  St.  Mary's  grammar  school.  Later 
he  attended  Oxford  University  for  a  time, 
where  he  became  intimate  with  the  Oxford 
Methodists,  and  resolved  to  devote  himself 
to  the  ministry.  He  was  ordained  in  the 
Gloucester  Cathedral  June  20,  1836,  and 
the  following  day  preached  his  first  sermon 
in  the  same  church.  On  that  day  there 
commenced  a  new  era  in  Whitefield's  life. 
He  went  to  London  and  began  to  preach  at 
Bishopsgate  church,  his  fame  soon  spread- 
ing over  the  city,  and  shortly  he  was  en- 
gaged four  times  on  a  single  Sunday  in  ad- 
dressing audiences  of  enormous  magnitude, 
and  he  preached  in  various  parts  of  his  native 
country,  the  people  crowding  in  multitudes 
to  hear  him  and  hanging  upon  the  rails  and 
rafters  of  the  churches  and  approaches  there- 
to. He  finally  sailed  for  America,  landing 
in  Georgia,  where  he  stirred  the  people  to 
great  enthusiasm.     During  the  balance  of 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BlOGRATHr. 


153 


his  life  he  divided  his  time  between  Great 
Britain  and  America,  and  it  is  recorded  that 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic  thirteen  times.  He 
came  to  America  for  the  seventh  time  in 
1770.  He  preached  every  day  at  Boston 
from  the  17th  to  the  20th  of  September, 
1770,  then  traveled  to  Newburyport,  preach- 
ing at  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  September 
29,  on  the  way.  That  evening  he  went  to 
Newburyport,  where  he  died  the  next  day, 
Sunday,  September  30,   1770. 

"  Whitefield's  dramatic  power  was  amaz- 
ing, "  says  an  eminent  writer  in  describing 
him.  "  His  voice  was  marvelously  varied, 
and  he  ever  had  it  at  command — an  organ, 
a  flute,  a  harp,  all  in  one.  His  intellectual 
powers  were  not  of  a  high  order,  but  he  had 
an  abundance  of  that  ready  talent  and  that 
wonderful  magnetism  which  makes  the  pop- 
ular preacher;  and  beyond  all  natural  en- 
dowments, there  was  in  his  ministry  the 
power  of  evangelical  truth,  and,  as  his  con- 
verts believed,  the  presence  of  the  spirit  of 
God."  

CHARLES  FRANCIS  BRUSH,  one  of 
America's  prominent  men  in  the  devel- 
opment of  electrical  science,  was  born  March 
17,  1849,  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  spent 
his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm.  From 
the  district  school  at  Wickliffe,  Ohio,  he 
passed  to  the  Shaw  Academy  at  Collamer, 
and  then  entered  the  high  school  at  Cleve- 
land. His  interest  in  chemistry,  physics 
and  engineering  was  already  marked,  and 
during  his  senior  year  he  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  chemical  and  physical  appar- 
atus. During  these  years  he  devised  a  plan 
for  lighting  street  lamps,  constructed  tele- 
scopes, and  his  first  electric  arc  lamp,  also 
an  electric  motor.  In  September,  1867,  he 
entered  the  engineering  department  of  the 
University    of    Michigan    and   graduated  in 


1869,  which  was  a  year  in  advance  of  his 
class,  with  the  degree  of  M.  E.  He  then 
returned  to  Cleveland,  and  for  three  years 
was  engaged  as  an  analytical  chemist  and 
for  four  years  in  the  iron  business.  In 
1875  Mr.  Brush  became  interested  in  elec- 
tric lighting,  and  in  1876,  after  four  months' 
experimenting,  he  completed  the  dynamo- 
electric  machine  that  has  made  his  name 
famous,  and  in  a  shorter  time  produced  the 
series  arc  lamps.  These  were  both  patent- 
ed in  the  United  States  in  1876,  and  he 
afterward  obtained  fifty  patents  on  his  later 
inventions,  including  the  fundamental  stor- 
age battery,  the  compound  series,  shunt- 
winding  for  dynamo-electric  machines,  and 
the  automatic  cut-out  for  arc  lamps.  His 
patents,  two-thirds  of  which  have  already 
been  profitable,  are  held  by  the  Brush 
Electric  Company,  of  Cleveland,  while  his 
foreign  patents  are  controlled  by  the  Anglo- 
American  Brush  Electric  Light  Company, 
of  London.  In  1880  the  Western  Reserve 
University  conferred  upon  Mr.  Brush  the 
degree  of  Ph.  D.,  and  in  1881  the  French 
government  decorated  him  as  a  chevalier  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor. 


HENRY  CLEWS,  of  Wall-street  fame, 
was  one  of  the  noted  old-time  opera- 
tors on  that  famous  street,  and  was  also  an 
author  of  some  repute.  Mr.  Clews  was 
born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  August  14, 
1840.  His  father  had  him  educated  with 
the  intention  of  preparing  him  for  the  minis- 
try, but  on  a  visit  to  the  United  States  the 
young  man  became  interested  in  a  business 
life,  and  was  allowed  to  engage  as  a  clerk  in 
the  importing  house  of  Wilson  G.  Hunt  & 
Co.,  of  New  York.  Here  he  learned  the 
first  principles  of  business,  and  when  the  war 
broke  out  in  1861  young  Clews  saw  in  the 
needs  of  the   government  an  opportunity  to 


154 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPHY 


reap  a  golden  harvest.  He  identified  him- 
self with  the  negotiating  of  loans  for  the 
government,  and  used  his  powers  of  pur- 
suasion  upon  the  great  money  powers  to 
convince  them  of  the  stability  of  the  govern- 
ment and  the  value  of  its  securities.  By 
enthusiasm  and  patriotic  arguments  he  in- 
duced capitalists  to  invest  their  money  in 
government  securities,  often  against  their 
judgment,  and  his  success  was  remarkable. 
His  was  one  of  the  leading  firms  that  aided 
the  struggling  treasury  department  in  that 
critical  hour,  and  his  reward  was  great.  In 
addition  to  the  vast  wealth  it  brought, 
President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  Chase 
both  wrote  important  letters,  acknowledging 
his  valued  service.  In  1873,  by  the  repu- 
diation of  the  bonded  indebtedness  of  the 
state  of  Georgia,  Mr.  Clews  lost  six  million 
dollars  which  he  had  invested  in  those  se- 
curities. It  is  said  that  he  is  the  only  man, 
with  one  exception,  in  Wall  street,  who 
ever  regained  great  wealth  after  utter  dis- 
aster. His  "  Twenty-Eight  Years  in  Wall 
Street  "  has  been  widely  read. 


ALFRED  VAIL  was  one  of  the  men  that 
gave  to  the  world  the  electric  telegraph 
and  the  names  of  Henry,  Morse  and  Vail 
will  forever  remain  linked  as  the  prime  fac- 
tors in  that  great  achievement.  Mr.  Vail 
was  born  September  25,  1807,  at  Morris- 
town,  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  son  of  Stephen 
Vail,  the  proprietor  of  the  Speedwell  Iron 
Works,  near  Morristown.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen,  after  he  had  completed  his  stud- 
ies at  the  Morristown  Academy,  Alfred  Vail 
went  into  the  Speedwell  Iron  Works  and 
contented  himself  with  the  duties  of  his 
position  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He 
then  determined  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
ministry,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  he 
entered  the  University  of  the   City  of   New 


York,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1836.  His 
health  becoming  impaired  he  labored  for  a 
time  under  much  uncertainty  as  to  his  future 
course.  Professor  S.  F.  B.  Morse  had  come 
to  the  university  in  1835  as  professor  of  lit- 
erature and  fine  arts,  and  about  this  time, 

1837,  Professor  Gale,  occupying  the  chair 
of  chemistry,  invited  Morse  to  exhibit  his 
apparatus  for  the  benefit  of  the  students. 
On  Saturday,  September  2,  1837,  the  exhi- 
bition took  place  and  Vail  was  asked  to  at- 
tend, and  with  his  inherited  taste  for  me- 
chanics and  knowledge  of  their  construction, 
he  saw  a  great  future  for  the  crude  mechan- 
ism used  by  Morse  in  giving  and  recording 
signals.  Mr.  Vail  interested  his  father  in 
the  invention,  and  Morse  was  invited  to 
Speedwell  and  the  elder  Vail  promised  to 
help  him.  It  was  stipulated  that  Alfred 
Vail  should  construct  the  required  apparatus 
and  exhibit  before  a  committee  of  congress 
the  telegraph  instrument,  and  was  to  receive 
a  quarter  interest  in  the  invention.  Morse 
had  devised  a  series  of  ten  numbered  leaden 
types,  which  were  to  be  operated  in  giving 
the  signal.  This  was  not  satisfactory  to 
Vail,  so  he  devised  an  entirely  new  instru- 
ment, involving  a  lever,  or  "point,"  on  a 
radically  different  principle,  which,  when 
tested,  produced  dots  and  dashes,  and  de- 
vised the  famous  dot-and-dash  alphabet, 
misnamed  the  "Morse."  At  last  the  ma- 
chine was  in  working  order,  on  January  6, 

1838.  The  machine  was  taken  to  Wash- 
ington, where  it  caused  not  only  wonder, 
but  excitement.  Vail  continued  his  experi- 
ments and  devised  the  lever  and  roller. 
When  the  line  between  Baltimore  and 
Washington  was  completed,  Vail  was  sta- 
tioned at  the  Baltimore  end  and  received 
the  famous  first  message.  It  is  a  remarka- 
ble fact  that  not  a  single  feature  of  the 
original  invention  of   Morse,  as  formulated 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


15ft 


by  his  caveat  and  repeated  in  his  original 
patent,  is  to  be  found  in  Vail's  apparatus. 
From  1837  to  1844  it  was  a  combination  of 
the  inventions  of  Morse,  Henry  and  Vail, 
but  the  work  of  Morse  fell  gradually  into 
desuetude,  while  Vail's  conception  of  an 
alphabet  has  remained  unchanged  for  half  a 
century.  Mr.  Vail  published  but  one  work, 
"American  Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph," 
in  1845,  and  died  at  Morristown  at  the  com- 
paratively early  age  of  fifty-one,  on  January 
19-   '§59-  

ULYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the  eighteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  April  27,  1822,  at  Point  Pleasant,  Cler- 
mont county,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  entered  the  United  States  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  June,  1843,  and  was  given  his 
brevet  as  second  lieutenant  and  assigned  to 
the  Fourth  Infantry.  He  remained  in  the 
service  eleven  years,  in  which  time  he 
was  engaged  in  the  Mexican  war  with  gal- 
lantry, and  was  thrice  brevetted  for  conduct 
in  the  field.  In  1848  he  married  Miss  Julia 
Dent,  and  in  1854,  having  reached  the 
grade  of  captain,  he  resigned  and  engaged 
in  farming  near  St.  Louis.  In  i860  he  en- 
tered the  leather  business  with  his  father  at 
Galena,  Illinois. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in  1861, 
he  commenced  to  drill  a  company  at  Ga- 
lena, and  at  the  same  time  offered  his  serv- 
ices to  the  adjutant-general  of  the  army, 
but  he  had  few  influential  friends,  so  re- 
ceived no  answer.  He  was  employed  by 
the  governor  of  Illinois  in  the  organization 
of  the  various  volunteer  regiments,  and  at 
the  end  of  a  few  weeks  was  given  the 
colonelcy  of  the  Twenty-first  Infantry,  from 
that  state.  His  military  training  and  knowl- 
edge soon  attracted  the  attention  of  his  su- 


perior officers,  and  on  reporting  to  General 
Pope  in  Missouri,  the  latter  put  him  in 
the  way  of  advancement.  August  7,  1861, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers,  and  for  a  few  weeks 
was  occupied  in  watching  the  movements  of 
partisan  forces  in  Missouri.  September  1, 
the  same  year,  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  Southeast  Missouri, 
with  headquarters  at  Cairo,  and  on  the  6th 
of  the  month,  without  orders,  seized  Padu- 
cah,  which  commanded  the  channel  of  the 
Ohio  and  Tennessee  rivers,  by  which  he  se- 
cured Kentucky  for  the  Union.  He  now 
received  orders  to  make  a  demonstration  on 
Belmoat,  which  he  did,  and  with  about  three 
thousand  raw  recruits  held  his  own  against 
the  Confederates  some  seven  thousand 
strong,  bringing  back  about  two  hundred 
prisoners  and  two  guns.  In  February,Ji862, 
he  moved  up  the  Tennessee  river  with 
the  naval  fleet  under  Commodore  Foote. 
The  latter  soon  silenced  Fort  Henry,  and 
Grant  advanced  against  Fort  Donelson  and 
took  their  fortress  and  its  garrison.  His 
prize  here  consisted  of  sixty-five  cannon, 
seventeen  thousand  six  hundred  stand  of 
arms,  and  fourteen  thousand  six  hundred 
and  twenty-three  prisoners.  This  was  the 
first  important  success  won  by  the  Union 
forces.  Grant  was  immediately  made  a 
major-general  and  placed  in  command  of 
the  district  of  West  Tennessee.  In  April, 
1862,  he  fought  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, and  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  by 
the  enemy  Grant  became  commander  of  the 
Department  of  the  Tennessee.  He  now 
made  his  first  demonstration  toward  Vicks- 
burg,  but  owing  to  the  incapacity  of  subor- 
dinate officers,  was  unsuccessful.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1863,  he  took  command  of  all  the 
troops  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  devoted 
several  months  to  the   siege  of   Vicksburg, 


156 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHr. 


which  was  finally  taken  possession  of  by  him 
July  4,  with  thirty-one  thousand  six  hundred 
prisoners  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-two 
cannon,  thus  throwing  the  Mississippi  river 
open  to  the  Federals.  He  was  now  raised 
to  the  rank  of  major-general  in  the  regular 
army.  October  following,  at  the  head  of 
the  Department  of  the  Mississippi,  General 
Grant  went  to  Chattanooga,  where  he  over- 
threw the  enemy,  and  united  with  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  The  remarkable  suc- 
cesses achieved  by  him  pointed  Grant  out 
for  an  appropriate  commander  of  all  na- 
tional troops,  and  in  February,  1864,  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-general  was  made  for  him 
by  act  of  congress.  Sending  Sherman  into 
Georgia,  Sigel  into  the  Valley  of  West  Vir- 
ginia and  Butler  to  attempt  the  capture  of 
Richmond  he  fought  his  way  through  the 
Wilderness  to  the  James  and  pressed  the 
siege  of  the  capital  of  the  Confederacy. 
After  the  fall  of  the  latter  Grant  pressed 
the  Confederate  army  so  hard  that  their 
commander  surrendered  at  Appomattox 
Court  House,  April  9,  1865.  This  virtually 
ended  the  war. 

After  the  war  the  rank  of  general  was 
conferred  upon  U.  S.  Grant,  and  in  1868  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  United  States, 
and  re-elected  his  own  successor  in  1872. 
After  the  expiration  of  the  latter  term  he 
made  his  famous  tour  of  the  world.  He  died 
at  Mt.  McGregor,  near  Saratoga,  New  York, 
July  23,  1885,  and  was  buried  at  Riverside 
Park,  New  York,  where  a  magnificent  tomb 
has  been  erected  to  hold  the  ashes  of  the 
nation's  hero. 


JOHN  MARSHALL,  the  fourth  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  United  States  supreme  court, 
was  born  in  Germantown,  Virginia,  Septem- 
ber 24,  1755  His  father,  Colonel  Thomas 
Marshall,  served  with  distinction  in  the  Rev- 


olutionary war,  while  he  also  served  from 
the  beginning  of  the  war  until  1779,  where 
he  became  noted  in  the  field  and  courts 
martial.  While  on  detached  service  he  at- 
tended a  course  of  law  lectures  at  William 
and  Mary  College,  delivered  by  Mr.  Wythe, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  next  year 
he  resigned  his  commission  and  began  his 
career  as  a  lawyer.  He  was  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  convention  called  in  Virginia 
to  ratify  the  Federal  constitution.  He  was 
tendered  the  attorney-generalship  of  the 
United  States,  and  also  a  place  on  the  su- 
preme bench,  besides  other  places  of  less 
honor,  all  of  which  he  declined.  He 
went  to  France  as  special  envoy  in  1798, 
and  the  next  year  was  elected  to  congress. 
He  served  one  year  and  was  appointed,  first, 
secretary  of  war,  and  then  secretary  of  state, 
and  in  1801  was  made  chief  justice  of  the 
United  States.  He  held  this  high  office  un- 
til his  death,  in  1835. 

Chief  Justice  Marshall's  early  education 
was  neglected,  and  his  opinions,  the  most 
valuable  in  existence,  are  noted  for  depth 
of  wisdom,  clear  and  comprehensive  reason- 
ing, justice,  and  permanency,  rather  than  for 
wide  learning  and  scholarly  construction. 
His  decisions  and  rulings  are  resorted  to 
constantly  by  our  greatest  lawyers,  and  his 
renown  as  a  just  judge  and  profound  jurist 
was  world  wide. 


LAWRENCE  BARRETT  is  perhaps 
known  more  widely  as  a  producer  of 
new  plays  than  as  a  great  actor.  He  was 
born  in  Paterson,  New  Jersey,  in  1838,  and 
educated  himself  as  best  he  could,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  became  salesman 
for  a  Detroit  dry  goods  house.  He  after- 
wards began  to  go  upon  the  stage  as  a 
supernumerary,  and  his  ambition  was  soon 
rewarded  by  the  notice  of  the  management. 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


157 


During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  a 
soldier,  and  after  valiant  service  for  his 
country  he  returned  to  the  stage.  He  went 
to  Europe  and  appeared  in  Liverpool,  and 
returning  in  1869,  he  began  playing  at 
Booth's  theater,  with  Mr.  Booth.  He  was 
afterward  associated  with  John  McCullough 
in  the  management  of  the  California 
theater.  Probably  the  most  noted  period 
of  his  work  was  during  his  connection  with 
Edwin  Booth  as  manager  of  that  great 
actor,  and  supporting  him  upon  the  stage. 
Mr.  Barrett  was  possessed  of  the  crea- 
tive instinct,  and,  unlike  Mr.  Booth,  he 
sought  new  fields  for  the  display  of  his 
genius,  and  only  resorted  to  traditional 
drama  in  response  to  popular  demand.  He 
preferred  new  plays,  and  believed  in  the 
encouragement  of  modern  dramatic  writers, 
and  was  the  only  actor  of  prominence  in  his 
time  that  ventured  to  put  upon  the  stage 
new  American  plays,  which  he  did  at  his 
own  expense,  and  the  success  of  his  experi- 
ments proved  the  quality  of  his  judgment. 
He  died  March  21,   189c. 


ARCHBISHOP  JOHN  HUGHES,  a  cel- 
ebrated Catholic  clergyman,  was  born 
at  Annaboghan,  Tyrone  county,  Ireland, 
June  24,  1797,  and  emigrated  to  America 
when  twenty  years  of  age,  engaging  for 
some  time  as  a  gardener  and  nurseryman. 
In  1 8 19  he  entered  St.  Mary's  College, 
where  he  secured  an  education,  paying  his 
way  by  caring  for  the  college  garden.  In 
1825  he  was  ordained  a  deacon  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  church,  and  in  the  same  year, 
a  priest.  Until  1 838  he  had  pastoral  charges 
in  Philadelphia,  where  he  founded  St.  John's 
Asylum  in  1829,  and  a  few  years  later  es- 
tablished the  "Catholic  Herald."  In  1838 
he  was  made  bishop  of  Basileopolis  in  parti- 
bus    and    coadjutor   to    Bishop  Dubois,   of 


New  York,  and  in  1842  became  bishop  of 
New  York.  In  1839  he  founded  St.  John's 
College,  at  Fordharn.  In  1850  he  was 
made  archbishop  of  New  York.  In  1 861-2 
he  was  a  special  agent  of  the  United  States 
in  Europe,  after  which  he  returned  to  this 
country  and  remained  until  his  death,  Jan- 
uary 3,  1864.  Archbishop  Hughes  early 
attracted  much  attention  by  his  controver- 
sial correspondence  with  Rev.  John  Breck- 
inridge in  1833-35.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
ability,  a  fluent  and  forceful  writer  and  an 
able  preacher. 

RUTHERFORD  BIRCHARD  HAYES 
was  the  nineteenth  president  of  the 
United  States  and  served  from  1877  to  1881. 
He  was  born  October  4,  1822,  at  Delaware, 
Ohio,  and  his  ancestry  can  be  traced  back 
as  far  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and  Rutherford 
were  two  Scottish  chieftans  fighting  side  by 
side  with  Baliol,  William  Wallace  and 
Robert  Bruce.  The  Hayes  family  had  for 
a  coat  of  arms,  a  shield,  barred  and  sur- 
mounted by  a  flying  eagle.  There  was  a 
circle  of  stars  about  the  eagle,  while  on  a 
scroll  underneath  was  their  motto,  "Recte." 
Misfortune  overtook  the  family  and  in  1680 
George  Hayes,  the  progenitor  of  the  Ameri- 
can family,  came  to  Connecticut  and  settled 
at  Windsor.  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  was 
a  very  delicate  child  at  his  birth  and  was 
not  expected  to  live,  but  he  lived  in  spite  of 
all  and  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
seven  years  old,  when  he  was  placed  in 
school.  He  was  a  very  tractable  pupil,  being 
always  very  studious,  and  in  1838  entered 
Kenyon  College,  graduating  from  the  same 
in  1842.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow  at  Colum- 
bus, but  in  a  short  time  he  decided  to  enter 
a  law  school  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts, 
where  for  two  years  he  was  immersed  in  the 


158 


COMPENDIUM   OF  BIOGRAPHY. 


study  of  law.  Mr.  Hayes  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1845  in  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  very 
soon  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession  with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of 
Fremont,  Ohio.  He  remained  there  three 
years,  and  in  1849  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  his  ambition  found  a  new 
stimulus.  Two  events  occurred  at  this 
period  that  had  a  powerful  influence  on  his 
after  life.  One  was  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  and  the  other  was  his 
introduction  to  a  Cincinnati  literary  club, 
a  body  embracing  such  men  as  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  John  Pope,  and  Edward  F.  Noyes. 
In  1856  he  was  nominated  for  judge  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas,  but  declined,  and 
two  years  later  he  was  appointed  city 
solicitor.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion 
Mr.  Hayes  was  appointed  major  of  the 
Twenty-third  Ohio  Infantry,  June  7,  1861, 
and  in  July  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Virginia,  and  October  15,  1861,  saw  him 
promoted  to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  of  his 
regiment.  He  was  made  colonel  of  the 
Seventy-ninth  Ohio  Infantry,  but  refused  to 
leave  his  old  comrades;  and  in  the  battle  of 
South  Mountain  he  was  wounded  very 
severely  and  was  unable  to  rejoin  his  regi- 
ment until  November  30,  1862.  He  had 
been  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the 
regiment  on  October  15,  1862.  In  the 
following  December  he  was  appointed  to 
command  the  Kanawa  division  and  was 
given  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  for 
meritorious  services  in  several  battles,  and 
in  1864  he  was  brevetted  major-general  for 
distinguished  services  in  1864,  during 
which  campaign  he  was  wounded  several 
times  and  five  horses  had  been  shot  under 
him.  Mr.  Hayes'  first  venture  in  politics 
was  as  a  Whig,  and  later  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  unite  with  the  Republican  party.  In 
1864  he  was  elected  from  the  Second  Ohio 


district  to  congress,  re-elected  in  1866, 
and  in  1867  was  elected  governor  of  Ohio 
over  Allen  G.  Thurman,  and  was  re-elected 
in  1869.  Mr.  Hayes  was  elected  to  the 
presidency  in  1876,  for  the  term  of  four 
years,  and  at  its  close  retired  to  private  life, 
and  went  to  his  home  in  Fremont,  Ohio, 
where  he  died  on  January  17,  1893. 


WILLIAM  JENNINGS  BRYAN  became 
a  celebrated  character  as  the  nominee 
of  the  Democratic  and  Populist  parties  for 
president  of  the  United  States  in  1896.  He 
was  born  March  19,  i860,  at  Salem,  Illi- 
nois. He  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county,  and 
later  on  he  attended  the  Whipple  Academy 
at  Jacksonville.  He  also  took  a  course  in 
Illinois  College,  and  after  his  graduation 
from  the  same  went  to  Chicago  to  study 
law,  and  entered  the  Union  College  of  Law 
a?  a  student.  He  was  associated  with  the 
late  Lyman  Trumbull,  of  Chicago,  during 
his  law  studies,  and  devoted  considerable 
time  to  the  questions  of  government.  He 
graduated  from  the  college,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  went  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Eliza- 
beth Baird.  In  1887  Mr.  Bryan  removed 
to  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  and  formed  a  law 
partnership  with  Adolphus  R.  Talbot.  He 
entered  the  field  of  politics,  and  in  188S 
was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  state  con- 
vention, which  was  to  choose  delegates  to 
the  national  convention,  during  which  he 
made  a  speech  which  immediately  won  him 
a  high  rank  in  political  affairs.  He  declined, 
in  the  next  state  convention,  a  nomination 
for  lieutenant-governor,  and  in  1890  he  was 
elected  congressman  from  the  First  district 
of  Nebraska,  and  was  the  youngest  member 
of  the  fifty-second  congress.  He  cham- 
pioned the  Wilson  tariff  bill,    and  served 


COMPENDIUM  OP   BIOGRAPHY. 


159 


three  terms  in  the  house  of  representatives. 
He  next  ran  for  senator,  but  was  defeated 
by  John  M.  Thurston,  and  in  1896  he  was 
selected  by  the  Democratic  and  Populist 
parties  as  their  nominee  for  the  presidency, 
being  defeated  by  William  McKinley. 


M 


ARVIN  HUGHITT,  one  of  America's 
famous  railroad  men,  was  born  in 
Genoa,  New  York,  and  entered  the  railway 
service  in  1856  as  superintendent  of  tele- 
graph and  trainmaster  of  the  St.  Louis,  Al- 
ton &  Chicago,  now  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road. Mr.  Hughitt  was  superintendent  of 
the  southern  division  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  from  1862  until  1864,  and  was, later 
on,  the  general  superintendent  of  the  road 
until  1870.  He  was  then  connected  with 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Rail- 
road as  assistant  general  manager,  and  re- 
tained this  position  until  1871,  when  he  be- 
came the  general  manager  of  Pullman's 
Palace  Car  Company.  In  1872  he  was  made 
general  superintendent  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroad.  He  served  during 
1876  and  up  to  1880  as  general  manager, 
and  from  1880  until  1887  as  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager.  He  was  elected 
president  of  the  road  in  1887,  in  recog- 
nition of  his  ability  in  conducting  the 
affairs  of  the  road.  He  was  also  chosen 
president  of  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
apolis &  Omaha  Railway;  the  Fremont,  Elk- 
horn  &  Missouri  Valley  Railroad,  and  the 
Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  Railroad, 
and  his  services  in  these  capacities  stamped 
him  as  one  of  the  most  able  railroad  mana- 
gers of  his  day. 


JOSEPH  MEDILL,  one  of  the  most 
eminent  of  American  journalists,  was 
born  in  New  Brunswick,  Canada,  April  6, 
1823.     In  1831  his  father   moved   to  Stark 


county,  Ohio,  and  until  1841  Joseph  Medill 
worked  on  his  father's  farm.  Later  he 
studied  law,  and  began  the  practice  of  that 
profession  in  1846  at  New  Philadelphia, 
Ohio.  But  the  newspaper  field  was  more 
attractive  to  Mr.  Medill,  and  three  years 
later  he  founded  a  free-soil  Whig  paper  at 
Coshocton,  Ohio,  and  after  that  time  jour- 
nalism received  all  his  abilities.  "The 
Leader, "  another  free-soil  Whig  paper,  was 
founded  by  Mr.  Medill  at  Cleveland  in  1852. 
In  that  city  he  also  became  one  of  the  first 
organizers  of  the  Republican  party.  Shortly 
after  that  event  he  removed  to  Chicago  and 
in  1855,  with  two  partners,  he  purchased 
the  "  Chicago  Tribune."  In  the  contest  for 
the  nomination  for  the  presidency  in  i860, 
Mr.  Medill  worked  with  unflagging  zeal  for 
Mr.  Lincoln,  his  warm  personal  friend,  and 
was  one  of  the  president's  stanchest  sup- 
porters during  the  war.  Mr.  Medill  was  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  Constitutional  con- 
vention in  1870.  President  Grant,  in  1871, 
appointed  the  editor  a  member  of  the  firs- 
United  States  civil  service  commission,  and 
the  following'  year,  after  the  fire,  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  Chicago  by  a  great  ma- 
jority. During  1873  and  1874  Mr.  Medill 
spent  a  year  in  Europe.  Upon  his  return 
he  purchased  a  controlling  interest  in  the 
"  Chicago  Tribune." 


CLAUSSPRECKELS,  the  great  "  sugar 
baron,"  and  one  of  the  most  famous 
representatives  of  commercial  life  in  Amer- 
ica, was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  and 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1840, 
locating  in  New  York.  He  very  soon  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  a  small  retail  gro- 
cery store  on  Church  street,  and  embarked 
on  a  career  that  has  since  astonished  the 
world.  He  sold  out  his  business  and  went 
to  California  with  the  argonauts  of  1849, 


160 


COMPENDIUM  OP   BIOGRAPHY 


not  as  a  prospector,  but  as  a  trader,  and  for 
years  after  his  arrival  on  the  coast  he  was 
still  engaged  as  a  grocer.  At  length,  after  a 
quarter  of  a  century  of  fairly  prosperous 
business  life,  he  found  himself  in  a  position 
where  an  ordinary  man  would  have  retired, 
but  Mr.  Spreckles  did  not  retire;  he  had 
merely  been  gathering  capital  for  the  real 
work  of  his  life.  His  brothers  had  followed 
him  to  California,  and  in  combination  with 
them  he  purchased  for  forty  thousand  dollars 
an  interest  in  the  Albany  Brewery  in  San 
Francisco.  But  the  field  was  not  extensive 
enough  for  the  development  of  his  business 
abilities,  so  Mr.  Sprecklas  branched  out 
extensively  in  the  sugar  business.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  the  entire  output  of 
sugar  that  was  produced  on  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  and  after  1885  was  known  as 
the  "  Sugar  King  of  Sandwich  Islands." 
He  controlled  absolutely  the  sugar  trade  of 
the  Pacific  coast  which  was  known  to  be 
not  less  than  ten  million  dollars  a  year. 


CHARLES  HENRY  PARKHURST, 
famous  as  a  clergyman,  and  for  many 
years  president  of  the  Society  for  the 
Prevention  of  Crime,  was  born  April  17, 
1842,  at  Framingham,  Massachusetts,  of 
English  descent.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  was  pupil  in  the  grammar  school  at 
Clinton,  Massachusetts,  and  for  the  ensu- 
ing two  years  was  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods 
store,  which  position  he  gave  up  to  prepare 
himself  for  college  at  Lancaster  academy. 
Mr.  Parkhurst  went  to  Amherst  in  1862, 
and  after  taking  a  thorough  course  he  gradu- 
ated in  1866,  and  in  1867  became  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  Amherst  High  School.  He  re- 
tained this  position  until  1870,  when  he 
visited  Germany  with  the  intention  of  tak- 
ing a  course  in  philosophy  and  theology, 
but  was  forced  to  abandon  this  intention  on 


account  of  illness  in  the  family  causing  his 
early  return  from  Europe.  He  accepted  the 
chair  of  Latin  and  Greek  in  Williston  Semi- 
nary, Easthampton,  Massachusetts,  and  re- 
mained there  two  years.  He  then  accom- 
panied his  wife  to  Europe,  and  devoted  two 
years  to  study  in  Halle,  Leipsic  and  Bonn. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  spent  considerable 
time  in  the  study  of  Sanscrit,  and  in  1874 
he  became  the  pastor  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional church  at  Lenox,  Massachusetts.  He 
gained  here  his  reputation  as  a  pulpit  ora- 
tor, and  on  March  9,  1880,  he  became  the 
pastor  of  the  Madison  Square  Presbyterian 
church  of  New  York.  He  was,  in  1890, 
made  a  member  of  the  Society  for  the  Pre- 
vention of  Crime,  and  the  same  year  be- 
came its  president.  He  delivered  a  sermon 
in  1892  on  municipal  corruption,  for  which 
he  was  brought  before  the  grand  jury,  which 
body  declared  his  charges  to  be  without  suffi- 
cient foundation.  But  the  matter  did  not  end 
here,  for  he  immediately  went  to  work  on  a 
second  sermon  in  which  he  substantiated  his 
former  sermon  and  wound  up  by  saying, 
"I  know,  for  I  have  seen."  He  was  again 
summoned  before  that  august  body,  and  as 
a  result  of  his  testimony  and  of  the  investi- 
gation of  the  jurors  themselves,  the  police 
authorities  were  charged  with  incompetency 
and  corruption.  Dr.  Parkhurst  was  the 
author  of  the  following  works:  ' '  The  Forms 
of  the  Latin  Verb,  Illustrated  by  Sanscrit," 
"The  Blind  Man's  Creed  and  Other  Ser- 
mons," "The  Pattern  on  the  Mount,"  and 
"  Three  Gates  on  a  Side." 


HENRY  BERGH,  although  a  writer, 
diplomatist  and  government  official, 
was  noted  as  a  philanthropist — the  founder 
of  the  American  Society  for  the  Prevention 
of  Cruelty  to  Animals.  On  his  labors  for 
the    dumb    creation    alone    rests  his  fame. 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


161 


Alone,  in  the  face  of  indifference,  opposition 
and  ridicule,  he  began  the  reform  which  is 
now  recognized  as  one  of  the  beneficent 
movements  of  the  age.  Through  his  exer- 
tions as  a  speaker  and  lecturer,  but  above 
all  as  a  bold  worker,  in  the  street,  in  the 
court  room,  before  the  legislature,  the  cause 
he  adopted  gained  friends  and  rapidly  in- 
creased in  power  until  it  has  reached  im- 
mense proportions  and  influence.  The  work 
of  the  society  covers  all  cases  of  cruelty  to 
all  sorts  of  animals,  employs  every  moral 
agency,  social,  legislative  and  personal,  and 
touches  points  of  vital  concern  to  health  as 
well  as  humanity. 

Henry  Bergh  was  born  in  New  York 
City  in  1823,  and  was  educated  at  Colum- 
bia College.  In  1863  he  was  made  secre- 
tary of  the  legation  to  Russia  and  also 
served  as  vice-consul  there.  He  also  de- 
voted some  time  to  literary  pursuits  and  was 
the  author  of  "Love's  Alternative,"  a 
drama;  "Married  Off,"  a  poem;  "'The 
Portentous  Telegram,"  "The  Ocean  Para- 
gon;" "The  Streets  of  New  York,"  tales 
and  sketches. 


HENRY  BENJAMIN  WHIPPLE,  one 
of  the  most  eminent  of  American  di- 
vines, was  born  in  Adams,  Jefferson  county, 
New  York,  February  15,  1822.  He  was 
brought  up  in  the  mercantile  business,  and 
early  in  life  took  an  active  interest  in  polit- 
ical affairs.  In  1847  he  became  a  candidate 
for  holy  orders  and  pursued  theological 
studies  with  Rev.  W.  D.  Wilson,  D.  D., 
afterward  professor  in  Cornell  University. 
He  was  ordained  deacon  in  1849,  in  Trinity 
church,  Geneva,  New  York,  by  Rt.  Rev. 
W.  H.  De  Lancey,  D.  D.,  and  took  charge 
of  Zion  church,  Rome,  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 1,  1849.  In  1850,  our  subject  was  or- 
dained priest    by    Bishop  De    Lancey.      In 


1857  he  became  rector  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  Chicago.  On  the  30th 
of  June,  1859,  he  was  chosen  bishop  of 
Minnesota,  and  took  charge  of  the  interests 
of  the  Episcopal  church  in  that  state,  being 
located  at  Faribault.  In  i860  Bishop 
Whipple,  with  Revs.  I.  L.  Breck,  S.  W. 
Mauncey  and  E.  S.  Peake,  organized  the 
Bishop  Seabury  Mission,  out  of  which  has 
grown  the  Cathedral  of  Our  Merciful  Savior, 
the  Seabury  Divinity  School,  Shattuck 
School  and  St.  Mary's  Hall,  which  have 
made  Faribault  City  one  of  the  greatest 
educational  centers  of  the  northwest.  Bishop 
Whipple  also  became  noted  as  the  friend 
and  defender  of  the  North  American  In- 
dians and  planted  a  number  of  successful 
missions  among  them. 


EZRA  CORNELL  was  one  of  the  greatest 
philanthropists  and  friends  of  education 
the  country  has  known.  He  was  born  at 
Westchester  Landing,  New  York,  January 
11,  1807.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive state  and  became  a  prominent  figure  in 
business  circles  as  a  successful  and  self-made 
man.  Soon  after  the  invention  of  the  elec- 
tric telegraph,  he  devoted  his  attention  to 
that  enterprise,  and  accumulated  an  im- 
mense fortune.  In  1865,  by  a  gift  of  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  he  made  possible 
the  founding  of  Cornell  University,  which 
was  named  in  his  honor.  He  afterward 
made  additional  bequests  amountingto  many 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  Ithaca,  New  York,  December  9, 
1874-  

IGNATIUS  DONNELLY,  widely  knowL 
1  as  an  author  and  politician,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  November  3, 
1831.  He  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools  of  that  city,  and  graduated  from  the 


162 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY 


Central  High  School  in  1849.  He  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  Judge  B.  H.  Brewster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1852.  In 
the  spring  of  1856,  Mr.  Donnelly  emigrated 
to  Minnesota,  then  a  new  territory,  and,  at 
Hastings,  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
partnership  with  A.  M.  Hayes.  In  1857, 
and  again  in  1858,  he  was  defeated  for  state 
senator,  but  in  1859  he  was  elected  by  the 
Republicans  as  lieutenant-governor,  and  re- 
elected in  1 86 1.  In  1862  he  was  elected  to 
represent  the  Second  district  of  Minnesota 
in  congress.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
office  in  1864  and  in  1866.  He  was  an 
abolitionist  and  warmly  supported  President 
Lincoln's  administration,  but  was  strongly 
in  favor  of  leniency  toward  the  people  of 
the  south,  after  the  war.  In  many  ways  he 
was  identified  with  some  of  the  best  meas- 
ures brought  before  the  house  during  his 
presence  there.  In  the  spring  of  1868,  at 
the  request  of  the  Republican  national  com- 
mittee, he  canvassed  New  Hampshire  and 
Connecticut  in  the  interests  of  that  party. 
E.  B.  Washburne  about  this  time  made  an 
attack  on  Donnelly  in  one  of  the  papers  of 
Minnesota,  which  was  replied  to  on  the  floor 
of  the  house  by  a  fierce  phillipic  that  will 
long  be  remembered.  Through  the  inter- 
vention of  the  Washburne  interests  Mr.  Don- 
nelly failed  of  a  re-election  in  1870.  In 
1873  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  from 
Dakota  county,  and  continuously  re-elected 
until  1878.  In  1886  he  was  elected  mem- 
ber of  the  house  for  two  years.  In  later 
years  he  identified  himself  with  the  Popu- 
list party. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Donnelly  became  known  as 
an  author,  publishing  his  first  literary  work, 
"Atlantis,  the  Antediluvian  World,"  which 
passed  through  over  twenty-two  editions  in 
America,  several  in  England,  and  was  trans- 
lated into  French.      This  was  followed  by 


"  Ragnarok,  the  Age  of  Fire  and  Gravel," 
which  attained  nearly  as  much  celebrity  as 
the  first,  and  these  two,  in  the  opinion  of 
scientific  critics,  are  sufficient  to  stamp  the 
author  as  a  most  capable  and  painstaking 
student  of  the  facts  he  has  collated  in  them. 
The  work  by  which  he  gained  the  greatest 
notoriety,  however,  was  "The  Great  Cryp- 
togram, or  Francis  Bacon's  Cipher  in  the 
Shakespeare  Plays."  "Caesar's  Column," 
"  Dr.  Huguet,"  and  other  works  were  pub- 
lished subsequently. 


STEVEN  V.  WHITE,  a  speculator  of 
Wall  Street  of  national  reputation,  was 
born  in  Chatham  county,  North  Carolina, 
August  1,  1 83 1,  and  soon  afterward  re- 
moved to  Illinois.  His  home  was  a  log 
cabin,  and  until  his  eighteenth  year  he 
worked  on  the  farm.  Then  after  several 
years  of  struggle  with  poverty  he  graduated 
from  Knox  College,  and  went  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  entered  a  wholesale  boot  and  shoe 
house  as  bookkeeper.  He  then  studied  law 
and  worked  as  a  reporter  for  the  "Missouri 
Democrat."  After  his  admission  to  the  bar 
he  went  to  New  York,  in  1865,  and  became 
a  member  of  the  banking  house  of  Marvin 
&  White.  Mr.  White  enjoyed  the  reputa- 
tion of  having  engineered  the  only  corner 
in  Wall  Street  since  Commodore  Vander- 
bilt's  time.  This  was  the  famous  Lacka- 
wanna deal  in  1883,  in  which  he  made  a 
profit  of  two  million  dollars.  He  was  some- 
times called  "  Deacon"  White,  and,  though 
a  member  for  many  years  of  the  Plymouth 
church,  he  never  held  that  office.  Mr. 
White  was  one  of  the  most  noted  characters 
of  the  street,  and  has  been  called  an  orator, 
poet,  philanthropist,  linguist,  abolitionist, 
astronomer,  schoolmaster,  plowboy,  and 
trapper.  He  was  a  lawyer,  ex-congress- 
man, expert  accountant,  art  critic  andtheo- 


compexdilm  of  biography 


J  63 


logian.  He  laid  the  foundation  for  a 
"Home  for  Colored  People,"  in  Chatham 
county,  North  Carolina,  where  the  greater 
part  of  his  father's  life  was  spent,  and  in 
whose  memory  the  work  was  undertaken. 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD,  the  twentieth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
November  19,  1831,  in  Cuyahoga  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  the  son  of  Abram  and  Eliza 
(Baliou)  Garfield.  In  1833  the  father,  an 
industrious  pioneer  farmer,  died,  and  the 
care  of  the  family  devolved  upon  Thomas, 
to  whom  James  became  deeply  indebted  for 
educational  and  other  advantages.  As  James 
grew  up  he  was  industrious  and  worked  on 
the  farm,  at  carpentering,  at  chopping  wood, 
or  anything  else  he  found  to  do,  and  in  the 
meantime  made  the  most  of  his  books. 

Until  he  was  about  sixteen,  James'  high- 
est ambition  was  to  become  a  sea  captain. 
On  attaining  that  age  he  walked  to 
Cleveland,  and,  not  being  able  to  find  work, 
he  engaged  as  a  driver  on  the  Ohio  &  Penn- 
sylvania canal,  but  quit  this  after  a  short 
time.  He  attended  the  seminary  at  Ches- 
ter for  about  three  years,  after  which  he 
entered  Hiram  Institute,  a  school  started  by 
the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1850.  In  order 
to  pay  his  way  he  assumed  the  duties  of 
janitor  and  at  times  taught  school.  After 
completing  his  course  at  the  last  named  edu- 
cational institution  he  entered  Williams  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  graduated  in  1856.  He 
afterward  returned  to  Hiram  College  as  its 
president.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1859.  November  11,  1858, 
Mr.  Garfield  and  Lucretia  Rudolph  were 
married. 

In  1859  Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  polit- 
ical speeches,  at  Hiram  and  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  same  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate. 


On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in  1861, 
he  became  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Ohio  Infantry,  and,  while  but  a  ne^\ 
soldier,  was  given  command  of  four  regi- 
ments of  infantry  and  eight  companies  of 
cavalry,  with  which  he  drove  the  Confeder- 
ates under  Humphrey  Marshall  out  of  Ken 
tucky.  January  11,  1862,  he  was  commis- 
sioned brigadier-general.  He  participated 
with  General  Buell  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh 
and  the  operations  around  Corinth,  and  was 
then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the  Fitz  John 
Porter  court-martial.  Reporting  to  General 
Rosecrans,  he  was  assigned  to  the  position 
of  chief  of  staff,  and  resigned  his  position, 
with  the  rank  of  major-general,  when  his 
immediate  superior  was  superseded.  In 
the  fall  of  1862  Mr.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
congress  and  remained  in  that  body,  either 
in  the  house  or  senate,  until  1880. 

June  8,  1880,  at  the  national  Republican 
convention,  held  in  Chicago,  General  Gar- 
field was  nominated  for  the  presidency,  and 
was  elected.  He  was  inaugurated  March 
4,  1 88 1,  but,  July  2,  following,  he  was  shot 
and  fatally  wounded  by  Charles  Guiteau  for 
some  fancied  political  slight,  and  died  Sep- 
tember 19,   1 88 1. 


INCREASE  MATHER  was  one  of  the 
1  most  prominent  preachers,  educators  and 
authors  of  early  times  in  the  New  England 
states.  He  was  born  at  Dorchester,  Massa- 
chusetts, June  21,  1639,  and  was  given  an 
excellent  education,  graduating  at  Harvard 
in  1656,  and  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin, 
two  years  later.  He  was  ordained  a  min- 
ister, and  preached  in  England  and  America, 
and  in  1664  became  pastor  of  the  North 
church,  in  Boston.  In  1685  he  became 
president  of  Harvard  University,  serving 
until  1 70 1.  In  1692  he  received  the  first 
doctorate  in  divinity    conferred  in  English 


164 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


speaking  America.  The  same  year  he  pro- 
cured in  England  a  new  charter  for  Massa- 
chusetts, which  conferred  upon  himself  the 
power  of  naming  the  governor,  lieutenant- 
governor  and  council.  He  opposed  the 
severe  punishment  of  witchcraft,  and  took 
a  prominent  part  in  all  public  affairs  of  his 
day.  He  was  a  prolific  writer,  and  became 
the  author  of  nearly  one  hundred  publica- 
tions, large  and  small.  His  death  occurred 
August  23,  1723,  at  Boston. 


COTTON  MATHER,  a  celebrated  minis- 
ter in  the  "Puritan  times"  of  New 
England,  was  born  at  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, February  12,  1663,  being  a  son  of 
Rev.  Increase  Mather,  and  a  grandson  of 
John  Cotton.  A  biography  of  his  father 
will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
Cotton  Mather  received  his  early  education 
in  his  native  city,  was  trained  by  Ezekiel 
Cheever,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1678;  became  a  teacher,  and  in  1684 
was  ordained  as  associate  pastor  of  North 
church,  Boston,  with  his  father,  having  by 
persistent  effort  overcome  an  impediment  in 
his  speech.  He  labored  with  great  zeal  as 
a  pastor,  endeavoring  also,  to  establish  the 
ascendancy  of  the  church  and  ministry  in 
civil  affairs,  and  in  the  putting  down  of 
witchcraft  by  legal  sentences,  a  work  in 
which  he  took  an  active  part  and  through 
which  he  is  best  known  in  history.  He  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  D.  D.  in  17 10,  con- 
ferred by  the  University  of  Glasgow,  and 
F.  R.  S.  in  17 1 3.  His  death  occurred  at 
Boston,  February  13,  1728.  He  was  the 
author  of  many  publications,  among  which 
were  "  Memorable  Providences  Relating  to 
Witchcraft,"  "Wonders  of  the  Invisible 
World,"  "Essays  to  Do  Good,"  "  Mag- 
nalia  Christi  Americana,"  and  "  Illustra- 
tions of  the   Sacred  Scriptures."     Some  of 


these  works  are  quaint  and  curious,  full  of 
learning,  piety  and  prejudice.  A  well- 
known  writer,  in  summing  up  the  life  and 
character  of  Cotton  Mather,  says :  ' '  Mather, 
with  all  the  faults  of  his  early  years,  was  a 
man  of  great  excellence  of  character.  He 
labored  zealously  for  the  benefit  of  the 
poor,  for  mariners,  slaves,  criminals  and 
Indians.  His  cruelty  and  credulity  were 
the  faults  of  his  age,  while  his  philanthro- 
phy  was  far  more  rare  in  that  age  than  in 
the  present." 

WILLIAM  A.  PEFFER,  who  won  a 
national  reputation  during  the  time 
he  was  in  the  United  States  senate,  was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  September  10,  1831.  He 
drew  his  education  from  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  state  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
taught  school  in  winter,  working  on  a  farm 
in  the  Slimmer.  In  June,  1853,  while  yet  a 
young  man,  he  removed  to  Indiana,  and 
opened  up  a  farm  in  St.  Joseph  county. 
In  1859  he  made  his  way  to  Missouri  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Morgan  county,  but  on 
account  of  the  war  and  the  unsettled  state 
of  the  country,  he  moved  to  Illinois  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Company  F,  Eighty-third  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  following  August.  He  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant  in 
March,  18*63,  and  served  successively  as 
quartermaster,  adjutant,  post  adjutant, 
judge  advocate  of  a  military  commission, 
and  depot  quartermaster  in  the  engineer 
department  at  Nashville.  He  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  June  26,  1865.  He  had, 
during  his  leisure  hours  while  in  the  army, 
studied  law,  and  in  August,  1865,  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  that  profession  at 
Clarksville,  Tennessee.  He  removed  to 
Kansas  in   1870    and    practiced  there  until 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


165 


1878,  in  the  meantime  establishing  and 
conducting  two  newspapers,  the  "  Fredonia 
Journal  "  and  "  Coffey ville  Journal." 

Mr.  Peffer  was  elected  to  the  state  senate 
in  1874  and  was  a  prominent  and  influential 
member  of  several  important  committees. 
He  served  as  a  presidential  elector  in  1880. 
The  year  following  he  became  editor  of  the 
"  Kansas  Farmer,"  which  he  made  a  promi- 
nent and  useful  paper.  In  1890  Mr.  Peffer 
was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate  as 
a  member  of  the  People's  party  and  took 
his  seat  March  4,  1891.  After  six  years  of 
service  Senator  Peffer  was  succeeded  in 
March,  1897,  by  William  A.  Harris. 


ROBERT  MORRIS.— The  name  of  this 
financier,  statesman  and  patriot  is 
closely  connected  with  the  early  history  of 
the  United  States.  He  was  a  native  of 
England,  born  January  20,  1734,  and  came 
to  America  with  his  father  when  thirteen 
years  old.  Until  1754  he  served  in  the 
counting  house  of  Charles  Willing,  then 
formed  a  partnership  with  that  gentleman's 
son,  which  continued  with  great  success  until 
1793.  In  1776  Mr.  Morris  was  a  delegate 
to  the  Continental  congress,  and,  although 
once  voting  against  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, signed  that  paper  on  its  adop- 
tion, and  was  several  times  thereafter  re- 
elected to  congress.  During  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  the  services  of  Robert  Morris 
in  aiding  the  government  during  its  finan- 
cial difficulties  were  of  incalculable  value;  he 
freely  pledged  his  personal  credit  for  sup- 
plies for  the  army,  at  one  time  to  the  amount 
of  about  one  and  a  half  million  dollars,  with- 
out which  the  campaign  of  1 78 1  would  have 
been  almost  impossible.  Mr.  Morris  was 
appointed  superintendent  of  finance  in  1781 
and  served  until  1784,  continuing  to  employ 
his  personal  credit  to  facilitate  the  needs  of 


his  department.  He  also  served  as  mem- 
ber of  the  Pennsylvania  legislature,  and 
from  1786  to  1795  was  United  States  sena- 
tor, declining  meanwhile  the  position  of  sec- 
retary of  the  treasury,  and  suggesting  the 
name  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  that  post.  During  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  Mr.  Morris  was  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  the  China  trade,  and  later  be- 
came involved  inland  speculations,  which 
ruined  him,  so  that  the  remaining  days  of 
this  noble  man  and  patriot  were  passed 
in  confinement  for  debt.  His  death  occurred 
at  Philadelphia,  May  8,  1806. 


WILLIAM  SHARON,  a  senator  and 
capitalist,  and  mine  owner  of  na- 
tional reputation,  was  born  at  Smithfield, 
Ohio,  January  9,  1821.  He  was  reared 
upon  a  farm  and  in  his  boyhood  given  excel- 
lent educational  advantages  and  in  1842 
entered  Athens  College.  He  remained  in 
that  institution  about  two  years,  after  which 
he  studied  law  with  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  St.  Louis  and 
commenced  practice.  His  health  failing, 
however,  he  abandoned  his  profession  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Carrollton, 
Greene  county,  Illinois.  During  the  time 
of  the  gold  excitement  of  1849,  Mr.  Sharon 
went  to  California,  whither  so  many  went, 
and  engaged  in  business  at  Sacramento. 
The  next  year  he  removed  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  operated  in  real  estate.  Being 
largely  interested  in  its  silver  mines,  he  re- 
moved to  Nevada,  locating  at  Virginia  City, 
and  acquired  an  immense  fortune.  He  be- 
came one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Bank  of 
California,  and  during  the  troubles  that 
arose  on  the  death  of  William  Ralston,  the 
president  of  that  institution,  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  bringing  its  affairs  into  a  satis- 
factory shape. 


166 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


Mr.  Sharon  was  elected  to  represent  the 
state  of  Nevada  in  the  United  States  senate 
in  1875,  and  remained  a  member  of  that 
body  until  1881.  He  was  always  distin- 
guished for  close  application  to  business. 
Senator  Sharon  died  November  13,  1885. 


HENRY  W.  SHAW,  an  American  hu- 
morist who  became  celebrated  under 
the  non-de-plume  of  "  Josh  Billings,"  gained 
his  fame  from  the  witticism  of  his  writing, 
and  peculiar  eccentricity  of  style  and  spell- 
ing. He  was  born  at  Lanesborough,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1 8 1 8.  For  twenty-five  years 
he  lived  in  different  parts  of  the  western 
states,  following  various  lines  of  business, 
including  farming  and  auctioneering,  and  in 
the  latter  capacity  settled  at  Poughkeepsie, 
New  York,  in  1858.  In  1863  he  began 
writing  humorous  sketches  for  the  news- 
papers over  the  signature  of  "Josh  Bill- 
ings," and  became  immediately  popular 
both  as  a  writer  and  lecturer.  He  pub- 
lished a  number  of  volumes  of  comic 
sketches  and  edited  an  "  Annual  Allminax  " 
for  a  number  of  years,  which  had  a  wide  cir- 
culation. His  death  occurred  October  14, 
1885,  at  Monterey,  California. 


JOHN  M.  THURSTON,  well  known 
throughout  this  country  as  a  senator 
and  political  leader,  was  born  at  Mont- 
pelier,  Vermont,  August  21,  1847,  0I  an 
old  Puritan  family  which  dated  back  their 
ancestry  in  this  country  to  1636,  and  among 
whom  were  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  and 
of  the  war  of  1812-15. 

Young  Thurston  was  brought  west  by 
the  family  in  1854,  they  settling  at  Madison, 
Wisconsin,  and  two  years  later  at  Beaver 
Dam,  where  John  M.  received  his  schooling 
in  the  public  schools  and  at  Wayland  Uni- 
versity.     His  father  enlisted  as  a  private  in 


the  First  Wisconsin  Cavalry  and  died  while 
in  the  service,  in  the  spring  of  1863. 

Young  Thurston,  thrown  on  his  own 
resources  while  attaining  an  education,  sup- 
ported himself  by  farm  work,  driving  team 
and  at  other  manual  labor.  He  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  May  21,  1869, 
and  in  October  of  the  same  year  located  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska.  He  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  city  council  in  1872,  city 
attorney  in  1874  and  a  member  of  the  Ne- 
braska legislature  in  1874.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  national  convention 
of  1884  and  temporary  chairman  of  that  of 
1888.  Taking  quite  an  interest  in  the 
younger  members  of  his  party  he  was  instru- 
mental in  forming  the  Republican  League 
of  the  United  States,  of  which  he  was  presi- 
dent for  two  years.  He  was  then  elected  a 
member  of  the  United  States  senate,  in 
1895,  to  represent  the  state  of  Nebraska. 

As  an  attorney  John  M.  Thurston  occu- 
pied a  very  prominent  place,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  held  the  position  of  general 
solicitor  of  the  Union  Pacific  railroad  sys- 
tem. 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON,  a  celebrated 
American  naturalist,  was  born  in  Louis- 
iana, May  4,  1780,  and  was  the  son  of  an 
opulent  French  naval  officer  who  owned  a 
plantation  in  the  then  French  colony.  In 
his  childhood  he  became  deeply  interested 
in  the  study  of  birds  and  their  habits.  About 
1794  he  was  sent  to  Paris,  France,  where 
he  was  partially  educated,  and  studied  de- 
signing under  the  famous  painter,  Jacques 
Louis  David.  He  returned  to  the  Unit- 
ed States  about  1798,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  his  father  gave  him,  on  the  Perkiomen 
creek  in  eastern  Pennsylvania.  He  mar- 
ried Lucy  Bakewell  in  1808,  and,  disposing 
of  his  property,  removed  to  Louisville,  Ken- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


167 


tucky,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits. About  two  years  later  he  began  to 
make  extensive  excursions  through  the  pri- 
meval forests  of  the  southern  and  south- 
western states,  in  the  exploration  of  which 
he  passed  many  years.  He  made  colored 
drawings  of  all  the  species  of  birds  that  he 
found.  For  several  years  he  made  his  home 
with  his  wife  and  children  at  Henderson,  on 
the  Ohio  river.  It  is  said  that  about  this 
time  he  had  failed  in  business  and  was  re- 
duced to  poverty,  but  kept  the  wolf  from  the 
door  by  giving  dancing  lessons  and  in  portrait 
painting.  In  1824,  at  Philadelphia,  he  met 
Charles  Lucien  Bonaparte,  who  encouraged 
him  to  publish  a  work  on  ornithology.  Two 
years  later  he  went  to  England  and  com- 
menced the  publication  of  his  great  work, 
"The  Birds  of  America."  He  obtained  a 
large  number  of  subscribers  at  one  thousand 
dollars  a  copy.  This  work,  embracing  five 
volumes  of  letterpress  and  five  volumes  of 
beautifully  colored  plates,  was  pronounced 
by  Cuvier  "  the  most  magnificent  monument 
that  art  ever  raised  to  ornithology." 

Audubon  returned  to  America  in  1829, 
and  explored  the  forests,  lakes  and  coast 
from  Canada  to  Florida,  collecting  material 
for  another  work.  This  was  his  "  Ornitho- 
logical Biography;  or,  An  Account  of  the 
Habits  of  the  Birds  of  the  United  States, 
Etc."  He  revisited  England  in  1831,  and 
returned  in  1839,  after  which  he  resided  on 
the  Hudson,  near  New  York  City,  in  which 
place  he  died  January  27,  1851.  During 
his  life  he  issued  a  cheaper  edition  of  his 
great  work,  and  was,  in  association  with 
Dr.  Bachman,  preparing  a  work  on  the 
quadrupeds  of  North  America. 


the  superior  British  squadron,  under  Com- 
modore Downie,  September  1 1,  18 14.  Com- 
modore McDonough  was  born  in  Newcastle 
county,  Delaware,  December  23,  1783,  and 
when  seventeen  years  old  entered  the 
United  States  navy  as  midshipman,  serving 
in  the  expedition  to  Tripoli,  under  Decatur, 
in  1803-4.  In  1807  he  was  promoted  to 
lieutenant,  and  in  July,  181 3,  was  made  a 
commander.  The  following  year,  on  Lake 
Champlain,  he  gained  the  celebrated  victory 
above  referred  to,  for  which  he  was  again 
promoted;  also  received  a  gold  medal  from 
congress,  and  from  the  state  of  Vermont  an 
estate  on  Cumberland  Head,  in  view  of  the 
scene  of  the  engagement.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  sea,  November  16,  1825,  while  he 
was  returning  from  the  command  of  the 
Mediterranean  squadron. 


COMMODORE    THOMAS    McDON- 
OUGH  gained  his  principal  fame  from 
he  celebrated  victory  which  he  gained  over 


CHARLES  FRANCIS  HALL,  one  of 
America's  most  celebrated  arctic  ex- 
plorers, was  born  in  Rochester,  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  182 1.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  located  in  Cincinnati,  where  later 
he  became  a  journalist.  For  several  years 
he  devoted  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  cal- 
orics. Becoming  interested  in  the  fate  of  the 
explorer,  Sir  John  Franklin,  he  joined  the 
expedition  fitted  out  by  Henry  Grinnell  and 
sailed  in  the  ship  "George  Henry,"  under 
Captain  Buddington,  which  left  New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut,  in  i860.  He  returned  in 
1862,  and  two  years  later  published  his 
"  Arctic  Researches."  He  again  joined  the 
expedition  fitted  out  by  Mr.  Grinnell,  and 
sailed  in  the  ship,  "  Monticello,"  under 
Captain  Buddington,  this  time  remaining  in 
the  arctic  region  over  four  years.  On  his 
return  he  brought  back  many  evidences  of 
having  found  trace  of  Franklin. 

In  1 S7 1  the  ' '  Polaris  "  was  fitted  out  by 
the  United  States  government,  and  Captain 


168 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


Hall  again  sailed  for  the  polar  regions.  He 
died  in  Greenland  in  October,  1S71,  and  the 
"Polaris"  was  finally  abandoned  by  the 
crew,  a  portion  of  which,  under  Captain 
Tyson,  drifted  with  the  icebergs  for  one 
hundred  and  ninety-five  days,  until  picked 
up  by  the  "  Tigress,"  on  the  30th  of  April, 
1873.  The  other  portion  of  the  crew  built 
boats,  and,  after  a  perilous  voyage,  were 
picked  up  in  June,  1873,  by  a  whaling  vessel. 


OLIVER  ELLSWORTH,  the  third  chief 
justice  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
at  Windsor,  Connecticut,  April  29,  1745. 
After  graduating  from  Princeton,  he  took 
up  the  study  of  law,  and  was  licensed 
to  practice  in  177 1.  In  1777  he  was  elected 
as  a  delegate  to  the  Continental  congress. 
He  was  judge  of  the  superior  court  of  his 
state  in  1784,  and  was  chosen  as  a  delegate 
to  the  constitutional  convention  in  1787. 
He  sided  with  the  Federalists,  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  in  1789,  and 
was  a  firm  supporter  of  Washington's  policy. 
He  won  great  distinction  in  that  body,  and 
was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States  by  Washington 
in  1796.  The  relations  between  this  coun- 
try and  France  having  become  violently 
strained,  he  was  sent  to  Paris  as  envoy  ex- 
traordinary in  1799,  and  was  instrumental 
in  negotiating  the  treaty  that  averted  war. 
He  resigned  the  following  year,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Chief  Justice  Marshall.  His 
death  occurred  November  26,   1807. 


MELLVILLE  WESTON  FULLER,  an 
eminent  American  jurist  and  chief 
justice  of  the  United  States  supreme  court, 
was  born  in  Augusta,  Maine,  in  1833.  His 
education  was  looked  after  in  boyhood,  and 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  Bowdoin 
College,  and  on  graduation  entered  the  law 


department  of  Harvard  University.  He  then 
entered  the  law  office  of  his  uncle  at  Ban- 
gor, Maine,  and  soon  after  opened  an  office 
for  the  practice  of  law  at  Augusta.  He  was 
an  alderman  from  his  ward,  city  attorney, 
and  editor  of  the  "  Age,"  a  rival  newspaper 
of  the  "Journal,"  which  was  conducted  by 
James  G.  Blaine.  He  soon  decided  to  re- 
move to  Chicago,  then  springing  into  notice 
as  a  western  metropolis.  He  at  once  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  interests  of  the 
new  city,  and  by  this  means  acquired  an 
experience  that  fitted  him  for  his  future 
work.  He  devoted  himself  assiduously  to 
his  profession,  and  had  the  good  fortune  to 
connect  himself  with  the  many  suits  grow- 
ing out  of  the  prorogation  of  the  Illinois 
legislature  in  1863.  It  was  not  long  before 
he  became  one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  in 
Chicago.  He  made  a  three  days'  speech  in 
the  heresy  trial  of  Dr.  Cheney,  which  added 
to  his  fame.  He  was  appointed  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  United  States  by  President  Cleve- 
land in  1888,  the  youngest  man  who  ever 
held  that  exalted  position.  His  income  from 
his  practice  had  for  many  years  reached 
thirty  thousand  dollars  annually. 


CHESTER  ALLEN  ARTHUR,  twenty- 
first  president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Vermont,  Octo- 
ber 5,  1830.  He  was  educated  at  Union 
College,  Schenectady,  New  York,  from 
which  he  graduated  with  honor,  and  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school.  After  two  years 
he  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  E.  D. 
Culver,  of  New  York,  as  a  student.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  an  old  room-mate,  Henry  D.  Gar- 
diner, with  the  intention  of  practicing  law 
in  the  west,  but  after  a  few  months'  search 
for  a  location,  they  returned  to  New  York 
and  opened  an  office,  and   at  once  entered 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


109 


upon  a  profitable  practice.  He  was  shortly 
afterwards  married  to  a  daughter  of  Lieu- 
tenant Herndon,  of  the  United  States  navy. 
Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  his  nomina- 
tion for  the  vice-presidency.  In  1856  a 
colored  woman  in  New  York  was  ejected 
from  a  street  car  and  retained  Mr.  Arthur 
in  a  suit  against  the  company,  and  obtained 
a  verdict  of  five  hundred  dollars.  It  result- 
ed in  a  general  order  by  all  superintendents 
of  street  railways  in  the  city  to  admit  col- 
ored people  to  the  cars. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  first 
Republican  national  convention,  and  was 
appointed  judge-advocate  for  the  Second 
Brigade  of  New  York,  and  then  chief  engi- 
neer of  Governor  Morgan's  staff.  At  the 
close  of  his  term  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
iaw  in  New  York.  In  1872  he  was  made 
collector  of  the  port  of  New  York,  which 
position  he  held  four  years.  At  the  Chi- 
cago convention  in  1880  Mr.  Arthur  was 
nominated  for  the  vice-presidency  with 
Garfield,  and  after  an  exciting  campaign 
was  elected.  Four  months  after  the  inau- 
guration President  Garfield  was  assassinated, 
and  Mr.  Arthur  was  called  to  take  the  reins 
of  government.  His  administration  of 
affairs  was  generally  satisfactory.  At  its 
close  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  New 
York.  His  death  occurred  November  18, 
1886.  

ISAAC  HULL  was  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous and  prominent  naval  officers  in 
the  early  history  of  America.  He  was  born 
at  Derby,  Connecticut,  March  9,  1775,  be- 
ing the  son  of  a  Revolutionary  officer.  Isaac 
Hull  early  in  life  became  a  mariner,  and 
when  nineteen  years  of  age  became  master 
of  a  merchant  ship  in  the  London  trade. 
In  1 798  he  became  a  lieutenant  in  the  United 
States  navy,  and  three  years  later  was  made 

10 


first  lieutenant  of  the  frigate  "Constitution." 
He  distinguished  himself  by  skill  and  valor 
against  the  French  on  the  coast  of  Hayti,  and 
served  with  distinction  in  the  Barbary  expe- 
ditions. July  12,  1812,  he  sailed  from 
Annapolis,  in  command  of  the  "Constitu- 
tion, "  and  for  three  days  was  pursued  by  a 
British  squadron  of  five  ships,  from  which 
he  escaped  by  bold  and  ingenious  seaman- 
ship. In  August  of  the  same  year  he  cap- 
tured the  frigate  "  Guerriere,"  one  of  his 
late  pursuers  and  for  this,  the  first  naval 
advantage  of  that  war,  he  received  a  gold 
medal  from  congress.  Isaac  Hull  was  later 
made  naval  commissioner  and  had  command 
of  various  navy  yards.  His  death  occurred 
February  13,  1843,  at  Philadelphia. 


M' 


ARCUS  ALONZO  HANNA,  famous 
as  a  prominent  business  man,  political 
manager  and  senator,  was  born  in  New  Lis- 
bon, Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  September 
24,  1837.  He  removed  with  his  father's 
family  to  Cleveland,  in  the  same  state,  in 
1852,  and  in  the  latter  city,  and  in  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson,  Ohio, 
received  his  education.  He  became  an  em- 
ploye of  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of 
Hanna,  Garrettson  &  Co.,  his  father  being 
the  senior  member  of  the  firm.  The  latter 
died  in  1862,  and  Marcus  represented  his 
interest  until  1867,  when  the  business  was 
closed  up. 

Our  subject  then  became  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Rhodes  &  Co.,  engaged  in  the 
iron  and  coal  business,  but  at  the  expira- 
tion of  ten  years  this  firm  was  changed  to 
that  of  M.  A.  Hanna  &  Co.  Mr.  Hanna 
was  long  identified  with  the  lake  carrying 
business,- being  interested  in  vessels  on  the 
lakes  and  in  the  construction  of  them.  As 
a  director  of  the  Globe  Ship  Manufacturing 
Company,    of    Cleveland,    president   of  the 


170 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY 


Union  National  Bank, of  Cleveland,  president 
of  the  Cleveland  City  Railway  Company, 
and  president  of  the  Chapin  Mining  Com- 
pany, of  Lake  Superior,  he  became  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  business  world. 
He  was  one  of  the  government  directors  of 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  being  appointed 
to  that  position  in  1885  by  President  Cleve- 
land. 

Mr.  Hanna  was  a  delegate  to  the  na- 
tional Republican  convention  of  1884,  which 
was  his  first  appearance  in  the  political 
world.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  con- 
ventions of  1888  and  1896,  and  was  elect- 
ed chairman  of  the  Republican  national 
committee  the  latter  year,  and  practically 
managed  the  campaign  of  William  McKin- 
ley  for  the  presidency.  In  1897  Mr.  Hanna 
was  appointed  senator  by  Governor  Bush- 
nell,  of  Ohio,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  resignation  of  John  Sherman. 


GEORGE  PEABODY  was  one  of  the 
best  known  and  esteemed  of  ail  philan- 
thropists, whose  munificent  gifts  to  Ameri- 
can institutions  have  proven  of  so  much 
benefit  to  the  cause  of  humanity.  He  was 
born  February  18,  1795,  at  South  Danvers, 
Massachusetts,  which  is  now  called  Pea- 
body  in  honor  of  him.  He  received  but  a 
meager  education,  and  during  his  early  life 
he  was  a  mercantile  clerk  at  Thetford,  Ver- 
mont, and  Newburyport,  Massachusetts.  In 
1 8 14  he  became  a  partner  with  Elisha 
Riggs,  at  Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia, 
and  in  181 5  they  moved  to  Baltimore,  Mary- 
Ian  i.  The  business  grew  to  great  propor- 
tions, and  they  opened  branch  houses  at 
New  York  and  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Peabody 
made  several  voyages  to  Europe  of  com- 
mercial importance,  and  in  1829  became  the 
head  of  the  firm,  which  was  then  called 
Peabody,  Riggs  &  Co.,  and  in  1838   he  re- 


moved to  London,  England.  He  retired 
from  the  firm,  and  established  the  cele- 
brated banking  house,  in  which  he  accumu- 
lated a  large  fortune.  He  aided  Mr.  Grin- 
nell  in  fitting  out  Dr.  Kane's  Arctic  expedi- 
tion, in  1852,  and  founded  in  the  same  year 
the  Peabody  Institute,  in  his  native  town, 
which  he  afterwards  endowed  with  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Peabody  visited 
the  United  States  in  1857,  and  gave  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  establish- 
ment at  Baltimore  of  an  institute  of  science, 
literature  and  fine  arts.  In  1862  he  gave 
two  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars 
for  the  erecting  of  lodging  houses  for  the 
poor  in  London,  and  on  another  visit  to  the 
United  States  he  gave  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  to  establish  at  Harvard  a 
museum  and  professorship  of  American 
archaeology  and  ethnology,  an  equal  sum  for 
the  endowment  of  a  department  of  physical 
science  at  Yale,  and  gave  the  "Southern 
Educational  Fund"  two  million  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  besides  devoting  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  to  various  objects  of 
public  utility.  Mr.  Peabody  made  a  final 
visit  to  the  United  States  in  1869,  and  on 
this  occasion  he  raised  the  endowment  of 
the  Baltimore  Institute  one  million  dollars, 
created  the  Peabody  Museum,  at  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  with  a  fund  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  gave  sixty  thou- 
sand dollars  to  Washington  College,  Vir- 
ginia; fifty  thousand  dollars  for  a  "Peabody 
Museum, "  at  North  Danvers,  thirty  thousand 
dollars  to  Phillips  Academy,  Andover;  twen- 
ty-five thousand  dollars  to  Kenyon  College, 
Ohio,  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  to  the 
Maryland  Historical  Society.  Mr.  Peabody 
also    endowed    an    art  school  at  Rome,   in 

1868.  He   died   in    London,   November  4, 

1869,  less  then  a  month  after  he  had  re- 
turned   from    the    United    States,    and    his 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPlir. 


171 


remains  were  brought  to  the  United  States 
and  interred  in  his  native  town.  He  made 
several  other  bequests  in  his  will,  and  left 
his  family  about  five  million  dollars. 


MATTHEW  S.  QUAY,  a  celebrated 
public  man  and  senator,  was  born  at 
Dillsburgh,  York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  30,  1833,  of  an  old  Scotch-Irish 
family,  some  of  whom  had  settled  in  the 
Keystone  state  in  171  5.  Matthew  received 
a  good  education,  graduating  from  the  Jef- 
ferson College  at  Canonsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
at  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  then  traveled, 
taught  school,  lectured,  and  studied  law 
under  Judge  Sterrett.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1854,  was  appointed  a  prothon- 
otary  in  1855  and  elected  to  the  same 
office  in  1856  and  1859.  Later  he  was 
made  lieutenant  of  the  Pennsylvania  Re 
serves,  lieutenant-colonel  and  assistant  com- 
missary-general of  the  state,  private  secre- 
tary of  the  famous  war  governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Andrew  G.  Curtin,  colonel  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Pennsylva- 
nia Infantry  (nine  months  men),  military 
state  agent  and  held  other  offices  at  different 
times. 

Mr.  Quay  was  a  member  of  the  house  of 
representatives  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania 
from  1865  to  1868.  He  filled  the  office  of 
secretary  of  the  commonwealth  from  1872 
to  1878,  and  the  position  of  delegate-at- 
large  to  the  Republican  national  conventions 
of  1872,  1876,  1880  and  1888.  Hewasthe 
editor  of  the  "Beaver  Radical"  and  the 
"Philadelphia  Record"  for  a  time,  and  held 
many  offices  in  the  state  conventions  and  on 
their  committees.  He  was  elected  secre- 
tary of  the  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania, 
1869,  and  served  three  years,  and  in  1885 
was  chosen  state  treasurer.  In  1886  his 
great    abilities    pointed    him    out    as    the 


natural  candidate  for  United  States  senator, 
and  he  was  accordingly  elected  to  that  posi- 
tion and  re-elected  thereto  in  1892.  He 
was  always  noted  for  a  genius  for  organiza- 
tion, and  as  a  political  leader  had  but  few 
peers.  Cool,  serene,  far-seeing,  resourceful, 
holding  his  impulses  and  forces  in  hand,  he 
never  quailed  from  any  policy  he  adopted, 
and  carried  to  success  most,  if  not  all,  of 
the  political  campaigns  in  which  he  took 
part. 

JAMES  K.  JONES,  a  noted  senator  and 
political  leader,  attained  national  fame 
while  chairman  of  the  national  executive 
committee  of  the  Democratic  party  in  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1896.  He  was  a 
native  of  Marshall  county,  Mississippi,  and 
was  born  September  29,  1839.  His  father, 
a  well-to-do  planter, settled  in  Dallas  county, 
Arkansas,  in  1848,  and  there  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  received  a  careful  education. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  served  as  a  private 
soldier  in  the  Confederate  army.  From 
1866  to  1873  he  passed  a  quiet  life  as  a 
planter,  but  in  the  latter  year  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
About  the  same  time  he  was  elected  to  the 
Arkansas  senate  and  re-elected  in  1874.  In 
1877  he  was  made  president  of  the  senate 
and  the  following  year  was  unsuccessful  in 
obtaining  a  nomination  as  member  of  con- 
gress. In  1880  he  was  elected  representa- 
tive and  his  ability  at  once  placed  him  in  a 
foremost  position.  He  was  re-elected  to 
congress  in  1882  and  in  1884,  and  served  as 
an  influential  member  on  the  committee  of 
ways  and  means.  March  4,  1885,  Mr.  Jones 
took  his  seat  in  the  United  States  senate  to 
succeed  James  D.  Walker,  and  was  after- 
ward re-elected  to  the  same  office.  In  this 
branch  of  the  national  legislature  his  capa- 
bilities had  a  wider  scope,  and.  he  was  rec- 


172 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


ognized  as  one   of  the  ablest  leaders  of  his 
party. 

On  the  nomination  of  William  J.  Bryan 
as  its  candidate  for  the  presidency  by  the 
national  convention  of  the  Democratic 
party,  held  in  Chicago  in  1896,  Mr.  Jones 
was  made  chairman  of  the  national  com- 
mittee. 

THEODORE  THOMAS,  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  musical  directors  America 
has  known,  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of  Han- 
over in  1835,  and  received  his  musical  educa- 
tion from  his  father.  He  was  a  very  apt  scholar 
and  played  the  violin  at  public  concerts  at 
the  age  of  six  years.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  America  in  1845,  and  joined  the 
orchestra  of  the  Italian  Opera  in  New  York 
City.  He  played  the  first  violin  in  the 
orchestra  which  accompanied  Jenny  Lind 
in  her  first  American  concert.  In  1861  Mr. 
Thomas  established  the  orchestra  that  be- 
came famous  under  his  management,  and 
gave  his  first  symphony  concerts  in  New 
York  in  1864.  He  began  his  first  "summer 
night  concerts"  in  the  same  city  in  1868, 
and  in  1869  he  started  on  his  first  tour  of 
the  principal  cities  in  the  United  States, 
which  he  made  every  year  for  many  years. 
He  was  director  of  the  College  of  Music  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  but  resigned  in  1880,  after 
having  held  the  position  for  three  years. 

Later  he  organized  one  of  the  greatest 
and  most  successful  orchestras  ever  brought 
together  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  was 
very  prominent  in  musical  affairs  during  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition,  thereby  add- 
ing greatly  to  his  fame. 


CYRUS  HALL  McCORMICK,  the  fa- 
mous inventor  and  manufacturer,  was 
born  at  Walnut  Grove,  Virginia,  February 
15,  1809.     When  he  was  seven  years  old  his 


father  invented  a  reaping  machine.  It  was 
a  rude  contrivance  and  not  successful.  In 
1 83 1  Cyrus  made  his  invention  of  a  reaping 
machine,  and  had  it  patented  three  years 
later.  By  successive  improvements  he  was 
able  to  keep  his  machines  at  the  head  of 
its  class  during  his  life.  In  1 845  he  removed 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  two  years  later 
located  in  Chicago,  where  he  amassed  a 
great  fortune  in  manufacturing  reapers  and 
harvesting  machinery.  In  1859  he  estab- 
lished the  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
Northwest  at  Chicago,  an  institution  for  pre- 
paring young  men  for  the  ministry  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  he  afterward  en- 
dowed a  chair  in  the  Washington  and  Lee 
College  at  Lexington,  Virginia.  He  mani- 
fested great  interest  in  educational  and  re- 
ligious matters,  and  by  his  great  wealth  he 
was  able  to  extend  aid  and  encouragement 
to  many  charitable  causes.  His  death  oc- 
curred May  13,   1884. 


DAVID  ROSS  LOCKE.— Under  the 
pen  name  of  Petroleum  V.  Nasby,  this 
well-known  humorist  and  writer  made  for 
himself  a  household  reputation,  and  estab- 
lished a  school  that  has  many  imitators. 

The  subject  of  this  article  was  born  at 
Vestal,  Broome  county,  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1833.  After  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  county  of  his  birth  he  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  "  Democrat,"  at  Cort- 
land, New  York,  where  he  learned  the 
printer's  trade.  He  was  successively  editor 
and  publisher  of  the  '  'Plymouth  Advertiser, " 
the  "Mansfield  Herald,"  the  "  Bucyrus 
Journal,"  and  the  "Findlay  Jeffersonian." 
Later  he  became  editor  of  the  "Toledo 
Blade."  In  i860  he  commenced  his 
"  Nasby"  articles,  several  series  of  which 
have  been  given  the  world  in  book  form. 
Under  a  mask  of  misspelling,  and  in  a  quaint 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


173 


and  humorous  style,  a  keen  political  satire 
is  couched — a  most  effective  weapon. 
Mr.  Locke  was  the  author  of  a  num- 
ber of  serious  political  pamphlets,  and 
later  on  a  more  pretentious  work,  "  The 
Morals  of  Abou  Ben  Adhem."  As  a  news- 
paper writer  he  gained  many  laurels  and  his 
works  are  widely  read.  Abraham  Lincoln 
is  said  to  have  been  a  warm  admirer  of  P. 
V.  Nasby,  of  "  Confedrit  X  Roads"  fame. 
Mr.  Locke  died  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  February 
15,  1888. 

RUSSELL  A.  ALGER,  noted  as  a  sol- 
dier, governor  and  secretary  of  war, 
was  born  in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  February 
27,  1836,  and  was  the  son  of  Russell  and 
Caroline  (Moulton)  Alger.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  years  he  was  left  an  orphan  and  pen- 
niless. For  about  a  year  he  worked  for 
his  board  and  clothing,  and  attended  school 
part  of  the  time.  In  1850  he  found  a  place 
which  paid  small  wages,  and  out  of  his 
scanty  earnings  helped  his  brother  and  sister. 
While  there  working  on  a  farm  he  found 
time  to  attend  the  Richfield  Academy,  and 
by  hard  work  between  times  managed  to  get 
a  fair  education  for  that  time.  The  last 
two  years  of  his  attendance  at  this  institu- 
tion of  learning  he  taught  school  during  the 
winter  months.  In  1857  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1859.  For  a  while  he  found  employ- 
ment in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  impaired 
health  induced  him  to  remove  to  Grand 
Rapids,,  where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business.  He  was  thus  engaged  when  the 
Civil  war  broke  out,  and,  his  business  suf- 
fering and  his  savings  swept  away,  he  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  the  Second  Michigan 
Cavalry.  He  was  promoted  to  be  captain 
the  following  month,  and  major  for  gallant 
conduct  at  Boonesville,  Mississippi,  July  1, 


1862.  October  16,  1862,  he  was  made 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Sixth  Michigan 
Cavalry,  and  in  February,  1863,  colonel  of 
the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry.  He  rendered 
excellent  service  in  the  Gettysburg  cam- 
paign. He  was  wounded  at  Boonesboro, 
Maryland,  and  on  returning  to  his  command 
took  part  with  Sherman  in  the  campaign  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley.  For  services  ren- 
dered, that  famous  soldier  recommended 
him  for  promotion,  and  he  was  brevetted 
major-general  of  volunteers.  In  1866  Gen- 
eral Alger  took  up  his  residence  at  Detroit, 
and  prospered  exceedingly  in  his  business, 
which  was  that  of  lumbering,  and  grew 
quite  wealthy.  In  1884  he  was  a  delegate 
to  the  Republican  national  convention,  and 
the  same  year  was  elected  governor  of 
Michigan.  He  declined  a  nomination  for 
re-election  to  the  latter  office,  in  1887,  and 
was  the  following  year  a  candidate  for  the 
nomination  for  president.  In  1889  he  was 
elected  commander-in-chief  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  and  at  different 
times  occupied  many  offices  in  other  or- 
ganizations. 

In   March,    1897,    President    McKinley 
appointed  General  Alger  secretary  of  war. 


CYRUS  WEST  FIELD,  the  father  of 
submarine  telegraphy,  was  the  son  of 
the  Rev.  David  D.  Field,  D.D.,  a  Congre- 
gational minister,  and  was  born  at  Stock- 
bridge,  Massachusetts,  November  30,  18 19. 
He  was  educated  in  his  native  town,  and  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years  became  a  clerk  in  a 
store  in  New  York  City.  Being  gifted  with 
excellent  business  ability  Mr.  Field  pros- 
pered and  became  the  head  of  a  large  mer- 
cantile house.  In  1853  he  spent  about  six 
months  in  travel  in  South  America.  On  his 
return  he  became  interested  in  ocean  teleg- 
raphy.    Being  solicited  to  aid  in  the  con- 


174 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


struction  of  a  land  telegraph  across  New 
Foundland  to  receive  the  news  from  a  line 
of  fast  steamers  it  was  proposed  to  run  from 
from  Ireland  to  St.  Johns,  the  idea  struck 
him  to  carry  the  line  across  the  broad  At- 
lantic. In  1850  Mr.  Field  obtained  aeon- 
cession  from  the  legislature  of  Newfound- 
land, giving  him  the  sole  right  for  fifty  years 
to  land  submarine  cables  on  the  shores  of 
that  island.  In  company  with  Peter  Cooper, 
Moses  Taylor,  Marshall  O.  Roberts  and 
Chandler  White,  he  organized  a  company 
under  the  name  of  the  New  York,  New- 
foundland &  London  Telegraph  Company. 
In  two  years  the  line  from  New  York  across 
Newfoundland  was  built.  The  first  cable 
connecting-  Cape  Breton  Island  with  New- 
foundland having  been  lost  in  a  storm  while 
being  laid  in  1855,  another  was  put  down  in 
1856.  In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Field  went  to 
London  and  organized  the  Atlantic  Tele- 
graph Company,  furnishing  one-fourth  of  the 
capital  himself.  Both  governments  loaned 
ships  to  carry  out  the  enterprise.  Mr.  Field 
accompanied  the  expeditions  of  1857  and 
two  in  1858.  The  first  and  second  cables 
we're  failures,  and  the  third  worked  but  a 
short  time  and  then  ceased.  The  people  of 
both  continents  became  incredulous  of  the 
feasibility  of  laying  a  successful  cable  under 
so  wide  an  expanse  of  sea,  and  the  war 
breaking  out  shortly  after,  nothing  was  done 
until  1865-66.  Mr.  Field,  in  the  former 
year,  again  made  the  attempt,  and  the  Great 
Eastern  laid  some  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred miles  when  the  cable  parted  and  was 
lost.  The  following  year  the  same  vessel 
succeeded  in  laying  the  entire  cable,  and 
picked  up  the  one  lost  the  year  before,  and 
both  were  carried  to  America's  shore.  After 
thirteen  years  of  care  and  toil  Mr.  Field  had 
his  reward.  He  was  the  recipient  of  many 
medals  and  honors  from   both   home  and 


abroad.  He  gave  his  attention  after  this 
to  establishing  telegraphic  communication 
throughout  the  world  and  many  other  large 
enterprises,  notably  the  construction  of  ele- 
vated railroads  in  New  York.  Mr.  Field 
died  July  1 1,   1892. 


G ROVER  CLEVELAND,  the  twenty- 
second  president  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Caldwell,  Essex  county,  New 
Jersey,  March  18,  1837,  and  was  the  son 
of  Rev.  Richard  and  Annie  (Neale)  Cleve- 
land. The  father,  of  distinguished  New 
England  ancestry,  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister in  charge  of  the  church  at  Caldwell  at 
the  time. 

When  Grover  was  about  three  years  of 
age  the  family  removed  to  Fayetteville, 
Onondaga  county,  New  York,  where  he 
attended  the  district  school,  and  was  in  the 
academy  for  a  short  time.  His  father  be- 
lieving that  boys  should  early  learn  to  labor, 
Grover  entered  a  village  store  and  worked 
for  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  for  the  first  year. 
While  he  was  thus  engaged  the  family  re- 
moved to  Clinton,  New  York,  and  there 
young  Cleveland  took  up  h;s  studies  at  the 
academy.  The  death  of  his  father  dashed 
all  his  hopes  of  a  collegiate  education,  the 
family  being  left  in  straightened  circum- 
stances, and  Grover  started  out  to  battle 
for  himself.  After  acting  for  a  year  (1853- 
54)  as  assistant  teacher  and  bookkeeper  in 
the  Institution  for  the  Blind  at  New  York 
City,  he  went  to  Buffalo.  A  short  time 
after  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  that  city,  and  after  a 
hard  struggle  with  adverse  circumstances, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1859.  He  be- 
came confidential  and  managing  clerk  for 
the  firm  under  whom  he  had  studied,  and 
remained  with  them  until  1863.  In  the  lat- 
ter year  he  was  appointed  district  attorney 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


175 


of  Erie  county.  It  was  during  his  incum- 
bency of  this  office  that,  on  being  nominated 
by  the  Democrats  for  supervisor,  he  came 
within  thirteen  votes  of  election,  although 
the  district  was  usually  Republican  by  two 
hundred  and  fifty  majority.  In  i866Grover 
Cleveland  formed  a  partnership  with  Isaac 
V.  Vanderpoel.  The  most  of  the  work  here 
fell  upon  the  shoulders  of  our  subject,  and 
he  soon  won  a  good  standing  at  the  bar  of 
the  state.  In  1869  Mr.  Cleveland  associated 
himself  in  business  with  A.  P.  Laning  and 
Oscar  Folsom,  and  under  the  firm  name  of 
Laning,  Cleveland  &  Folsom  soon  built  up  a 
fair  practice.  In  the  fall  of  1870  Mr.  Cleve- 
land was  elected  sheriff  of  Erie  county,  an 
office  which  he  filled  for  four  years,  after 
which  he  resumed  his  profession,  with  L.  K. 
Bass  and  Wilson  S.  Bissell  as  partners. 
This  firm  was  strong  and  popular  and 
shortly  was  in  possession  of  a  lucrative 
practice.  Mr.  Bass  retired  from  the  firm 
in  1879,  and  George  J.  Secard  was  admit- 
ted a  member  in  188 1.  In  the  latter  year 
Mr.  Cleveland  was  elected  mayor  of  Buffalo, 
and  in  1882  he  was  chosen  governor  by 
the  enormous  majority  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety-two  thousand  votes.  July  11,  1884, 
he  was  nominated  for  the  presidency  by  the 
Democratic  national  convention,  and  in 
November  following  was  elected. 

Mr.  Cleveland,  after  serving  one  term  as 
president  of  the  United  States,  in  1888  was 
nominated  by  his  party  to  succeed  himself, 
but  he  failed  of  the  election,  being  beaten 
by  Benjamin  Harrison.  In  1892,  however, 
being  nominated  again  in  opposition  to  the 
then  incumbent  of  the  presidency,  Mr.  Har- 
rison, Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  pres- 
ident for  the  second  time  and  served  for  the 
usual  term  of  four  years.  In  1897  Mr. 
Cleveland  retired  from  the  chair  of  the  first 
magistrate  of  the  nation,  and  in  New  York 


City  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  in  which 
city  he  had  established  himself  in  1889. 

June  2,  1886,  Grover  Cleveland  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Frances  Fol- 
som, the  daughter  of  his  former  partner. 


ALEXANDER  WINCHELL,  for  many 
years  one  of  the  greatest  of  American 
scientists,  and  one  of  the  most  noted  and 
prolific  writers  on  scientific  subjects,  was 
born  in  Duchess  county,  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1824.  He  received  a  thorough  col- 
legiate education,  and  graduated  at  the 
Wesleyan  University,  Middletown,  Connect- 
icut, in  1847.  His  mind  took  a  scientific 
turn,  which  manifested  itself  while  he  was 
yet  a  boy,  and  in  1848  he  became  teacher 
of  natural  sciences  at  the  Armenian  Semi- 
nary, in  his  native  state,  a  position  which 
he  filled  for  three  years.  In  1851-3  he  oc- 
cupied the  same  position  in  the  Mesopo- 
tamia Female  Seminary,  in  Alabama,  after 
which  he  was  president  of  the  Masonic  Fe- 
male Seminary,  in  Alabama.  In  1853  he 
became  connected  with  the  University  of 
Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  at  which  institu- 
tion he  performed  the  most  important  work 
of  his  life,  and  gained  a  wide  reputation  as 
a  scientist.  He  held  many  important  posi- 
tions, among  which  were  the  following: 
Professor  of  physics  and  civil  engineering  at 
the  University  of  Michigan,  also  of  geology, 
zoology  and  botany,  and  later  professor  of 
geology  and  palaeontology  at  the  same  insti- 
tution. He  also,  for  a  time,  was  president 
of  the  Michigan  Teachers'  Association,  and 
state  geologist  of  Michigan.  Professor 
Winchell  was  a  very  prolific  writer  on  scien- 
tific subjects,  and  published  many  standard 
works,  his  most  important  and  widely  known 
being  those  devoted  to  geology.  He  also 
contributed  a  large  number  of  articles  tG 
scientific  and  popular  journals. 


176 


COMPENDIUM  OF   B10GRAPHT. 


ANDREW  HULL  FOOTE,  of  the 
United  States  navy,  was  a  native  of 
New  England,  born  at  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, May  4,  1808.  He  entered  the 
navy,  as  a  midshipman,  December  4,  1822. 
He  slowly  rose  in  his  chosen  profession,  at- 
taining the  rank  of  lieutenant  in  1830,  com- 
mander in  1852  and  captain  in  1861. 
Among  the  distinguished  men  in  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  war,  but  few  stood  higher 
in  the  estimation  of  his  brother  officers  than 
Foote,  and  when,  in  the  fall  of  1861,  he 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  flotilla 
then  building  on  the  Mississippi,  the  act 
gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  service. 
Although  embarrassed  by  want  of  navy 
yards  and  supplies,  Foote  threw  himself  into 
his  new  work  with  unusual  energy.  He 
overcame  all  obstacles  and  in  the  new,  and, 
until  that  time,  untried  experiment,  of  creat- 
ing and  maintaining  a  navy  on  a  river, 
achieved  a  success  beyond  the  expectations 
of  the  country.  Great  incredulity  existed  as 
to  the  possibility  of  carrying  on  hostilities 
on  a  river  where  batteries  from  the  shore 
might  bar  the  passage.  But  in  spite  of  all, 
Foote  soon  had  a  navy  on  the  great  river, 
and  by  the  heroic  qualities  of  the  crews  en- 
trusted to  him,  demonstrated  the  utility  of 
this  new  departure  in  naval  architecture. 
All  being  prepared,  February  6,  1862,  Foote 
took  Fort  Henry  after  a  hotly-contested 
action.  On  the  14th  of  the  same  month, 
for  an  hour  and  a  half  engaged  the  batteries 
of  Fort  Donelson,  with  four  ironclads  and 
two  wooden  gunboats,  thereby  dishearten- 
ing the  garrison  and  assisting  in  its  capture. 
April  7th  of  the  same  year,  after  several 
hotly-contested  actions,  Commodore  Foote 
received  the  surrender  of  Island  No.  10,  one 
of  the  great  strongholds  of  the  Confederacy 
on  the  Mississippi  river.  Foote  having  been 
wounded  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  by  neglect 


it  having  become  so  serious  as  to  endanger 
his  life,  he  was  forced  to  resign  his  command 
and  return  home.  June  16,  1862,  he  re- 
ceived the  thanks  of  congress  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  rear  admiral.  He  was 
appointed  chief  of  the  bureau  of  equipment 
and  recruiting.  June  4,  1863,  he  was 
ordered  to  the  fleet  off  Charleston,  to  super- 
cede Rear  Admiral  Dupont,  but  on  his  way 
to  that  destination  was  taken  sick  at  New 
York,  and  died  June  26,  1863. 


NELSON  A.MILES,  the  well-known  sol- 
dier, was  born  at  Westminster,  Massa- 
chusetts, August  8, 1 839.  His  ancestors  set- 
tled in  that  state  in  1643  among  the  early 
pioneers,  and  their  descendants  were,  many 
of  them,  to  be  found  among  those  battling 
against  Great  Britain  during  Revolutionary 
times  and  during  the  war  of  1812.  Nelson 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  received  an  academic 
education,  and  in  early  manhood  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits    in   Boston.     Early    in 

1 86 1  he  raised  a  company  and  offered  hi? 
services  to  the  government,  and  although 
commissioned  as  captain,  on  account  of  his 
youth  went  out  as  first  lieutenant  in  the 
Twenty-second  Massachusetts  Infantry.     In 

1 862  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel 
and  colonel  of  the  Sixty-first  New  York  In- 
fantry. At  the  request  of  Generals  Grant 
and  Meade  he  was  made  a  brigadier  by 
President  Lincoln.  He  participated  in  all 
but  one  of  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  until  the  close  of  the  war.  During 
the  latter  part  of  the  time  he  commanded 
the  first  division  of  the  Second  Corps. 
General  Miles  was  wounded  at  the  battles 
of  Fair  Oaks,  Fredericksburg  and  Chan- 
cellorsville,  and  received  four  brevets  for 
distinguished  service.  During  the  recon- 
struction period  he  commanded  in  North 
Carolina,  and  on   the  reorganization  of  the 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAl'IIY. 


177 


regular  army  he  was  made  colonel  of  in- 
fantry. In  1880  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  in  1890  to 
that  of  major-general.  He  successfully  con- 
ducted several  campaigns  among  the  In- 
dians, and  his  name  is  known  among  the 
tribes  as  a  friend  when  they  are  peacefully 
inclined.  He  many  times  averted  war 
with  the  red  men  by  judicious  and  humane 
settlement  of  difficulties  without  the  military 
power.  In  1892  General  Miles  was  given 
command  of  the  proceedings  in  dedicating 
the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1894,  during  the  great  railroad 
strike  at  the  same  city,  General  Miles,  then 
in  command  of  the  department,  had  the 
disposal  of  the  troops  sent  to  protect  the 
United  States  mails.  On  the  retirement  of 
General  J.  M.  Schofield,  in  1895,  General 
Miles  became  the  ranking  major-general  of 
the  United  States  army  and  the  head  of  its 
forces. 

JUNIUS  BRUTUS  BOOTH,  the  great 
<J  actor,  though  born  in  London  (1796),  is 
more  intimately  connected  with  the  Amer- 
ican than  with  the  English  stage,  and  his 
popularity  in  America  was  almost  un- 
bounded, while  in  England  he  was  not  a 
prime  favorite.  He  presented  "  Richard  III.  " 
in  Richmond  on  his  first  appearance  on  the 
American  stage  in  1821.  This  was  •  his 
greatest  role,  and  in  it  he  has  never  had  an 
equal.  In  October  of  the  same  year  he 
appeared  in  New  York.  After  a  long  and 
successful  career  he  gave  his  final  perform- 
ance at  New  Orleans  in  1852.  He  con- 
tracted a  severe  cold,  and  for  lack  of  proper 
medical  attention,  it  resulted  in  his  death 
on  Norember  30th  of  that  year.  He  was, 
without  question,  one  of  the  greatest  tra- 
gedians that  ever  lived.  In  addition  to  his 
professional   art  and  genius,  he  was  skilled 


in  languages,  drawing,  painting  and  sculp- 
ture. In  his  private  life  he  was  reserved, 
and  even  eccentric.  Strange  stories  are 
related  of  his  peculiarities,  and  on  his  farm 
near  Baltimore  he  forbade  the  use  of  animal 
food,  the  taking  of  animal  life,  and  even  the 
felling  of  trees,  and  brought  his  butter  and 
eggs  to  the  Baltimore  markets  in  person. 

Junius  Brutus  Booth,  known  as  the  elder 
Booth,  gave  to  the  world  three  sons  of  note: 
Junius  Brutus  Booth,  Jr.,  the  husband  of 
Agnes  Booth,  the  actress;  John  Wilkes 
Booth,  the  author  of  the  greatest  tragedy 
in  the  life  of  our  nation;  Edwin  Booth,  in 
his  day  the  greatest  actor  of  America,  if  not 
of  the  world. 

TAMES  MONTGOMERY  BAILEY,  fa- 
<J  mous  as  the  "Danbury  News  Man," 
was  one  of  the  best  known  American  humor- 
ists, and  was  born  September  25,  1841,  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.  He  adopted  journalism  as  a 
profession  and  started  in  his  chosen  work  on 
the  "Danbury  Times,"  which  paper  he  pur- 
chased on  his  return  from  the  war.  Mr. 
Bailey  also  purchased  the  "Jeffersonian," 
another  paper  of  Danbury,  and  consolidated 
them,  forming  the  "Danbury  News,"  which 
paper  soon  acquired  a  celebrity  throughout 
the  United  States,  from  an  incessant  flow  of 
rich,  healthy,  and  original  humor,  which  the 
pen  of  the  editor  imparted  to  its  columns, 
and  he  succeeded  in  raising  the  circulation 
of  the  paper  from  a  few  hundred  copies  a 
week  to  over  forty  thousand.  The  facilities 
of  a  country  printing  office  were  not  so  com- 
plete in  those  days  as  they  are  now,  but  Mr. 
Bailey  was  resourceful,  and  he  put  on  re- 
lays of  help  and  ran  his  presses  night  and 
day,  and  always  prepared  his  matter  a  week 
ahead  of  time.  The  "Danbury  News  Man" 
was  a  new  figure  in  literature,  as  his  humor 
was  so  different  from  that  of  the  newspaper 


ITS 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


wits  who  had  preceded  him,  and  he  maybe 
called  the  pi<  mei  c  i  ii  thai  si  hool  now  bo 
familiar,  Mr,  Bailey  published  in  book 
lin  in  ■  'l  .iff  in  I  (anbury"  and  "The  I  )anbury 
News  Man's  Almanai  "  One  "l  his  most 
admirable  traits  was  philanthrophy,  as  he 
:;.i\  e  with  mi, i  inted  generosity  to  all  comers, 
and  died  comparatively  pooi .  notvi  ithstand 
ing  In  ■  i  >\i  nership  ol  a  vet)  pn  ifitable  busi 
ness  which  netted  him  an  income  of  $.|0,ooo 
.1  yeai ,     I  te  died  March  i,  i  894, 

M\ \\     II  \l  l     CARPEN  I  l  R,   a 
I. mi ■   lawyer,   oratoi    and    senator, 

was  born  in  Moretown,  Vermont,  December 

22,   1  8  ■  1      AH'  i  rei  eiving  a  common  si  l I 

.  dm  at  ion  he  entered  the  United  States 
Military  A<  ademj  al  Wesl  Point,  but  only 
remained  two  years,  On  returning  to  his 
home  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  with 
Paul  Dillingham,  afterwards  governoi  of 
Vermont,  and  whose  daughter  he  married, 
In  1 84;  he  was  admitted  to  prai  tice  at  the 
bar  in  Vermont,  but  he  went  to  Boston  and 
to]  a  time  studied  with  Ruf  us  Choate.  In  1848 
he  moved  west,  settling  al  Beloit,  Wisconsin, 
and  commencing  the  practice  ol  his  profes 
m  ""ii  obtained  a  wide  reputation  for 
ability.  In  1856  Mr.  Carpenter  removed  to 
Milwaukee,  where  he  found  a  wider  held  for 
his  now  increasing  powers.  During  the 
Civil  war,  although  a  strong  Democrat,  he 
w as  loyal  to  the  go\ ei nment  and  aided  the 
Union  cause  to  his  utmost.  In  [868  he 
was  1  ounsel  foi  the  government  in  a  te  it 
case  to  settle  the  legalit}  ol  the  ret  onsti  ui 
tion  act  before  the  United  States  sup 
court,  and  won  lus  i'.isc  against  Jeremiah  S. 
I'.l.n  k,  This  gave  him  the  election  for  sen- 
ate] from  Wisconsin  in  1 869,  and  he  served 
until  iS;s,  during  part  ol  which  time  he  was 
president  pro  tempore  of  the  senate.  Failing 
01  .1  re  ele<  tion  Mi    Cai  penter  resumed  the 


practice     ol     law,    and      when    William    W. 

Belknap,  late  secretary  of  war,  was  im- 
peached, entered  the  1  ase  fi  ir  I  ienei  al 
Belknap,  and  secured  anacquittal.  During 
the  sitting  ol  the  electoral  commission  of 
1S77,  Mr.  Carpenter  appeared  for  Samuel 
J.  Tilden,  although  the  Republican  man- 
agers had  intended  to  have  him  repre  lent 
\\.  I'..  Hayes.  Mr.  Carpenter  was  elected 
ti  1  the  l '  1 1 1 1  <  <  I  States  senate  again  in  1 879, 
and  remained  a  member  of  that  body  until 
the  day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at 
\ \  .  1  1 1 1 1 1  v  1 . 1 1 1 ,  District  of  Columbia,  Feb- 
ruary   '  |.    1  NX  1 . 

Senator  Carpenter's  real  name  was  De- 
catui  Mi  1 1 1 1 1  Hammond  Carpenter  but  about 
[852 he  changed  it  to  the  one  by  which  he 
was  universally  known. 


THOMAS  E.  WATSON,  lawyer  and 
congressman,  the  well-known  Geor- 
gian, whose  name  appears  al  the  he. id  ol 
this  sketch,  made  himself  a  place  in  the  liis- 

i"i\  of  our  country  by  his  ability,  energy 
and  fei  \  id  oratory,  He  w  as  born  in  Col- 
umbia mow  McDuffie)  county,  Georgia, 
September  5,  [856.  He  had  a  common- 
school  education,  and  in  [87  •  entered  Mer- 
cer University,  at  Macon,  Georgia,  as  fresh- 
man, but  for  want  of  money  left  the  college 

,1!  the  end  of  his  sophomore  year.  He 
taught    school,   studying  law  at   the   same 

time,  until  1S75,  when  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  lie  opened  an  office  and  com- 
menced practice  in  Thomson,  Georgia,  in 
November,  [876,  He  carried  on  a  success- 
ful business,  and  bought  land  and  farmed  on 
an  extensive  scale. 

Mr.  Watson  was  a  delegate  to  the  Demo- 
cratii  state  convention  of   [880,  and  was  a 

member  of    the    house  of   representatives    of 

1  he  legislature  "I  his  native  state  in  1 882, 
In  [888  he  was  an  elector-at-large  on  the 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGR  \PHY 


m 


Cleveland  ticket,  and    ill    [890   was   elected 

to  represent    Ins    .  1 1  .t  1  n  1     in  the    fitly  second 

i  ongress.  This  latter  election  is  said  to  have 
been  due  entirely  to  Mr.  Watson's  "dash- 
ing display  of  ability,  eloquent  e  ami  popular 
power."  Ill  his  later  years  lie  championed 
the  alliance  principles  and  policies  until  he 
became  a  leader  in  the  movement.  In  the 
heated  campaign  of  1896,  Mr.  Wal  ion  was 
nominated  as  the  1  andidate  fof  \  i<  e  presi- 
dent on  the  Bryan  ticket  by  that  part  of  the 
People's  party  that  would  not  endorse  the 
nominee  for  the  same  position  made  by  the 
Demoi  1  at  ic  part  y. 


FREDERIC  K  a.   P.  BARNARD,  math 
matician,    physicist  and   educator,  was 

born  in  S  lie  lliel  d,  Massai  li  use  Its,  May  5,  1  Xoij. 
He  graduated  loan  Yale  (  ollege  in  [828, and 
in  1830  became  a  tutor  in  the  same.  From 
1837  to  1848  he  was  professor  of  mathe- 
matics and  natural  philosophy  in  the  I'ni 
versity  of  Alabama,  and  from  [848  to  1850, 
profeSSOl  oi  I  hemistry  and  natural  In  i< .. 
in  the  same  educational  institution.  In 
1  854  he  be<  ame  1  onnected  with  the  Univer- 
sity of  Mississippi,  of  which  he  became 
president  in  [856,  and  chancellor  in  1858. 
In  1H54  he  took  orders  in  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church.  In  1861  Professor  Barnard 
n  tigned  bis  1  ham  elloi  ship  and  <  hail  in  the 
university,  and  in  [863  and  [864  was  con- 
nected with  the  United  States  coast  survey 
inchargeof  chart  printing  and  lithography. 
In  May,  1 864,  he  was  elected  president  of 
Columbia  (  ollege,  New  York  City,  which 
he  served  for  a  number  of  years. 

Profea  lor  B  u  nod  reci  ived  the  honorary 
degree  of  LL.  I),  from  Jefferson  College, 
Mississippi,   in    1-55,  and  from    Yale    '  0 

in    1859;  also  the   degree  of  S.  T.  D,  from 

the  University  of   Mississippi    in    1861,  and 
that  of  L.  II.  D.  from   the   regent  1   ol    thi 


University  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1872. 
In  i860  he  was  a  member   of  the  eclipse 

p. 11  ty   sent    by  the  United  State lsI  sui 

vcy  to  Labrador,  and  during  hi  ibsenci 
was  'in  ted  president  of  the  American  Asso- 
ciation for  the  Advam  ement  of  Si  iem  e.  In 
tin  ai  1  ni  1  ongress  establishing  the  Nal  ional 

Ai  ademy  ol   Si  i<  in  1    ;  in  1  863,  he  wa  .  named 

as  one  "I  th<  oi  iginal  <  orpoi  ators.  In  1X67 
he  was  one  of   the   I  mited  Si  itea  •  ommis- 

1 is  to  the   Paris   Ej  pot  ition.     I  fe  wa  1 

a  member  of  the  American  Philosophical 
S01  niy,  assoi  iate  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican  Academy    of    Alls    and    Sciences,     and 

many    othei     philo  n iphii  al    and    scientific 

101  il  I  ieS  at    home  and  abroad.      I  )|.    Halliard 

was  thoroughly  identified  with  the  progri  ■ 

of  the  ag thosi  bi  am  hi  s.    His  publi  hed 

works  relate  wholly  to  scientifii  01  educa- 
tional subjects,  chief   among  which    are    the 

following:     Report  on<  ollegi ate  Education; 

Art  Culture;  History  of  the  Ai an   I  oa  il 

Survey;  University  Education;   Undulatory 
l  In  ory  ol  I  .ight ,  Mai  hinery  and   Proi  1  sse 
of  the  fndu  iti  ial  Arts,  and  Apparaf  us  ol  the 
Exact  Sciences,  Metrii    System  of  Weights 
ami  Mea  lures,  eti 


EDWIN  McMASTERS  STANTON,    the 
tary  of  war  during  thi    gr<  at   (  ivil 

wai ,   was  n  1  ognized   as  one  ol    Ai a 

foremost  public  men.  He  wa  1  bom  Dei  em- 
ber 19,    I  8  1 4,  at    Steiibenville,    Ohio, 

he  received  his  education  and  studied  law. 
I  [e  was  admitted  to  the  bai  in  1 8  (6,  and 
was  reporter  of  the  mpn  mi  court  oi  '  >hio 
from  [842  until  1845.  I  le  n  moved  to 
Washington  in  [856  to  attend  to  his  prac- 
t  H 1     before    the     United  upreme 

court,  and  in  [858  he  went  to  California  as 
1  nun  K  I  I1.1  1  hi   gi  I    in  1  ertain   land 

cases,  which  he  carried  to  a  mccessful 
conclusion.       Mr.     Stanton     was    appointed 


130 


COMPENDIUM  OF  BIOGRAPHY. 


attorney-general  of  the  United  States  in 
December,  i860,  by  President  Buchanan. 
On  March  4,  1861,  Mr.  Stanton  went  with 
the  outgoing  administration  and  returned  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was 
appointed  secretary  of  war  by  President 
Lincoln  January  20,  1862,  to  succeed  Simon 
Cameron.  After  the  assassination  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  and  the  accession  of  Johnson 
to  the  presidency,  Mr.  Stanton  was  still  in 
the  same  office.  He  held  it  for  three  years, 
and  by  his  strict  adherence  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  he  antagonized  President  John- 
son, who  endeavored  to  remove  him.  On 
August  5,  1867,  the  president  requested  him 
to  resign,  and  appointed  General  Grant  to 
succeed  him,  but  when  congress  convened 
in  December  the  senate  refused  to  concur  in 
the  suspension.  Mr.  Stanton  returned  to 
his  post  until  the  president  again  removed 
him  from  office,  but  was  again  foiled  by 
congress.  Soon  after,  however,  he  retired 
voluntarily  from  office  and  took  up  the 
practice  of  law,  in  which  he  engaged  until 
his  death,  on  December  24,  1869. 


ALEXANDER  CAMPBELL,  the  eminent 
theologian  and  founder  of  the  church 
known  as  Disciples  of  Christ,  was  born  in 
the  country  of  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  June, 
1788,  and  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Campbell,  a  Scoth-Irish  "Seceder. "  After 
studying  at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  he, 
in  company  with  his  father,  came  to  America 
in  1808,  and  both  began  labor  in  western 
Pennsylvania  to  restore  Christianity  to 
apostolic  simplicity.  They  organized  a 
church  at  Brush  Run,  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  181 1,  which,  however,  the 
year  following,  adopted  Baptist  views,  and 
in  1 81 3,  with  other  congregations  joined  a 
Baptist  association.  Some  of  the  under- 
lying principles  and  many  practices    of  the 


Campbells  and  their  disciples  were  repug- 
nant to  the  Baptist  church  and  considerable 
friction  was  the  result,  and  1827  saw  the 
separation  of  that  church  from  the  Church 
of  Christ,  as  it  is  sometimes  called.  The 
latter  then  reorganized  themselves  anew. 
They  reject  all  creeds,  professing  to  receive 
the  Bible  as  their  only  guide.  In  most  mat- 
ters of  faith  they  are  essentially  in  accord  with 
the  other  Evangelical  Christian  churches, 
especially  in  regard  to  the  person  and  work 
of  Christ,  the  resurrection  and  judgment. 
They  celebrate  the  Lord's  Supper  weekly, 
hold  that  repentance  and  faith  should  precede 
baptism,  attaching  much  importance  to  the 
latter  ordinance.  On  all  other  points  they 
encourage  individual  liberty  of  thought.  In 
1 84 1,  Alexander  Campbell  founded  Bethany 
College,  West  Virginia,  of  which  he  was 
president  for  many  years,  and  died  March  4, 
1866. 

The  denomination  which  they  founded 
is  quite  a  large  and  important  church  body 
in  the  United  States.  They  support  quite 
a  number  of  institutions  of  learning,  among 
which  are:  Bethany  College,  West  Virginia; 
Hiram  College,  Hiram,  Ohio;  Northwestern 
Christian  University,  Indianapolis,  Indiana; 
Eureka  College,  Illinois;  Kentucky  Univer- 
sity, Lexington,  Kentucky;  Oskaloosa 
College,  Iowa;  and  a  number  of  seminaries 
and  schools.  They  also  support  several 
monthly  and  quarterly  religious  periodicals 
and  many  papers,  both  in  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  and  her  dependencies. 


WILLIAM  L.WILSON,  the  noted  West 
Virginian,  who  was  postmaster-gener- 
al under  President  Cleveland's  second  ad- 
ministration, won  distinction  as  the  father 
of  the  famous  "  Wilson  bill,"  which  became 
a  law  under  the  same  administration.  Mr. 
Wiison  was  born   May  3,    1843,   in   Jeffer- 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


181 


son  county,  West  Virginia,  and  received 
a  good  education  at  the  Charlestown 
Academy,  where  he  prepared  himself  for 
college.  He  attended  the  Columbian  Col- 
lege in  the  District  of  Columbia,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  i860,  and  then 
attended  the  University  of  Virginia.  Mr. 
Wilson  served  in  the  Confederate  army  dur- 
ing the  war,  after  which  he  was  a  professor 
in  Columbian  College.  Later  he  entered 
into  the  practice  of  law  at  Charlestown. 
He  attended  the  Democratic  convention 
held  at  Cincinnati  in  1880,  as  a  delegate, 
and  later  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  electors 
for  the  state-at-large  on  the  Hancock 
ticket.  In  the  Democratic  convention  at 
Chicago  in  1892,  Mr.  Wilson  was  its  per- 
manent president.  He  was  elected  pres- 
ident of  the  West  Virginia  University  in 
1882,  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office 
on  September  6,  but  having  received  the 
nomination  for  the  forty-seventh  congress 
on  the  Democratic  ticket,  he  resigned  the 
presidency  of  the  university  in  June,  1883, 
to  take  his  seat  in  congress.  Mr.  Wil- 
son was  honored  by  the  Columbian  Uni- 
versity and  the  Hampden-Sidney  College, 
both  of  which  conferred  upon  him  the  de- 
gree of  LL.  D.  In  1884  he  was  appointed 
regent  of  'the  Smithsonian  Institution  at 
Washington  for  two  years,  and  at  the  end 
of  his  term  was  re-appointed.  He  was 
elected  to  the  forty-seventh,  forty-ninth, 
fiftieth,  fifty-first,  fifty-second  and  fifty- 
third  congresses,  but  was  defeated  for  re- 
election to  the  fifty-fourth  congress.  Upon 
the  resignation  of  Mr.  Bissell  from  the  office 
of  postmaster-general,  Mr.  Wilson  was  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  vacancy  by  President 
Cleveland.  Hi?  many  years  of  public  serv- 
ice and  the  prominent  part  he  took  in  the 
discussion  of  public  questions  gave  him  a 
national  reputation. 


CALVIN  S.  BRICE,  a  successful  and 
noted  financier  and  politician,  was 
born  at  Denmark,  Ohio,  September  17, 
1845,  of  an  old  Maryland  family,  who  trace 
their  lineage  from  the  Bryces,  or  Bruces,  of 
Airth,  Scotland.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  a  prominent  Presbyterian  clergyman, 
who  removed  to  Ohio  in  1812.  Calvin  S. 
Brice  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen entered  the  preparatory  department  of 
Miami  University  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  the 
following  year  entered  the  freshman  class. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war, 
although  but  fifteen  years  old,  he  enlisted  in 
a  company  of  three-months  men.  He  re- 
turned to  complete  his  college  course,  but 
re-enlisted  in  Company  A,  Eighty-sixth 
Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  in  the  Virginia 
campaign.  He  then  returned  to  college, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1863.  In  1864 
he  organized  Company  E,  One  Hundred 
and  Eightieth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  hostilities,  in  the  western 
armies. 

On  his  return  home  Mr.  Brice  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  in  1866  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Cincinnati.  In  the  winter  of  1870- 
71  he  went  to  Europe  in  the  interests  of  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Louisville  Railroad  and  pro- 
cured a  foreign  loan.  This  road  became 
the  Lake  Erie  &  Western,  of  which,  in 
1887,  Mr.  Brice  became  president.  This 
was  the  first  railroad  in  which  he  had  a 
personal  interest.  The  conception,  build- 
ing and  sale  of  the  New  York,  Chicago  & 
St.  Louis  Railroad,  known  as  the  "Nickel 
Plate,"  was  largely  due  to  him.  He  was 
connected  with  many  other  railroads,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  the  following: 
Chicago  &  Atlantic;  Ohio  Central;  Rich- 
mond &  Danville;  Richmond  &  West  Point 


182 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


Terminal;  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & 
Georgia;  Memphis  &  Charleston;  Mobile  & 
Birmingham;  Kentucky  Central;  Duluth, 
South  Shore  &  Atlantic,  and  the  Marquette, 
Houghton  &  Ontonagon.  In  1890  he  was 
elected  United  States  senator  from  Ohio. 
Notwithstanding  his  extensive  business  inter- 
ests, Senator  Brice  gave  a  considerable 
time  to  political  matters,  becoming  one  of 
the  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party  and  one 
of  the  most  widely  known  men  in  the 
country.  •» 

BENJAMIN  HARRISON,  twenty-third 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  August  20,  1833,  at  North  Bend, 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  in  the  house  of  his 
grandfather,  General  William  Henry  Har- 
rison, afterwards  president  of  the  United 
States.  His  great-grandfather,  Benjamin 
Harrison,  was  a  member  of  the  Continental 
congress,  signed  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, and  was  three  times  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Virginia. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  Farm- 
ers College  at  an  early  age,  and  two  years 
later  entered  Miami  University,  at  Oxford, 
Ohio.  Upon  graduation  he  entered  the 
office  of  Stover  &  Gwyne,  of  Cincinnati,  as  a 
law  student.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
two  years  later,  and  having  inherited  about 
eight  hundred  dollars  worth  of  property,  he 
married  the  daughter  of  Doctor  Scott,  pres- 
ident of  a  female  school  at  Oxford,  Ohio, 
and  selected  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  to  begin 
practice.  In  i860  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Republicans  as  candidate  for  state 
supreme  court  reporter,  and  did  his  first 
political  speaking  in  that  campaign.  He 
was  elected,  and  after  two  years  in  that 
position  he  organized  the  Seventieth  Indi- 
ana Infantry,  of  which  he  was  made  colonel, 
and  with  his  regiment  joined  General  Sher- 


man's army.  For  bravery  displayed  at  Re- 
saca  and  Peach  Tree  Creek  he  was  made  a 
brigadier-general.  In  the  meantime  the 
office  of  supreme  court  reporter  had  been 
declared  vacant,  and  another  party  elected 
to  fill  it.  In  the  fall  of  1864,  having  been 
nominated  for  that  office,  General  Harrison 
obtained  a  thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  went 
to  Indiana,  canvassed  the  state  and  was 
elected.  As  he  was  about  to  rejoin  his 
command  he  was  stricken  down  by  an  attack 
of  fever.  After  his  recovery  he  joined 
General  Sherman's  army  and  participated  in 
the  closing  events  of  the  war. 

In  1868  General  Harrison  declined  to 
be  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  supreme 
court  reporter,  and  returned  to  the  practice 
of  the  law.  His  brilliant  campaign  for  the 
office  of  governor  of  Indiana  in  1876, 
brought  him  into  public  notice,  although  he 
was  defeated.  He  took  a  prominent  part 
in  the  presidential  canvass  of  1880,  and  was 
chosen  United  States  senator  from  Indiana, 
serving  six  years.  He  then  returned  to  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  In  1888  he  was 
selected  by  the  Republican  convention  at 
Chicago  as  candidate  for  the  presidency,  and 
after  a  heated  campaign  was  elected  over 
Cleveland.  He  was  inaugurated  March  4, 
1889,  and  signed  the  McKinley  bill  October 
1,  1890,  perhaps  the  most  distinctive  feature 
of  his  administration.  In  1892  he  was 
again  the  nominee  of  the  Republican  party 
for  president,  but  was  defeated  by  Grover 
Cleveland,  the  Democratic  candidate,  and 
again  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  Indian- 
apolis. 

JOHN  CRAIG  HAVEMEYER,  the 
celebrated  merchant  and  sugar  refiner, 
was  born  in  New  York  City  in  1833.  His 
father,  William  F.  Havemeyer,  and  grand- 
father, William  Havemeyer,  were  both  sugar 


COMPEXDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


183 


refiners.  The  latter  named  came  from 
Buckeburg,  Germany,  in  1799,  and  settled 
in  New  York,  establishing  one  of  the  first 
refineries  in  that  city.  William  F.  succeeded 
his  father,  and  at  an  early  age  retired  from 
business  with  a  competency.  He  was  three 
times  mayor  of  his  native  city,  New  York. 
John  C.  Havemeyer  was  educated  in 
private  schools,  and  was  prepared  for  college 
at  Columbia  College  grammar  school. 
Owing  to  failing  eyesight  he  was  unable  to 
finish  his  college  course,  and  began  his 
business  career  in  a  wholesale  grocery  store, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  In  1854, 
after  a  year's  travel  abroad,  he  assumed  the 
responsibility  of  the  office  work  in  the  sugar 
refinery  of  Havemeyer  &  Molter,  but  two 
years  later  etablished  a  refinery  of  his  own 
in  Brooklyn.  This  afterwards  developed  into 
the  immense  business  of  Havemeyer  &  Elder. 
The  capital  was  furnished  by  his  father, 
and,  chafing  under  the  anxiety  caused  by  the 
use  of  borrowed  money,  he  sold  out  his 
interest  and  returned  to  Havemeyer  & 
Molter.  This  firm  dissolving  the  next  year, 
John  C.  declined  an  offer  of  partnership 
from  the  successors,  not  wishing  to  use 
borrowed  money.  For  two  years  he  remain- 
ed with  the  house,  receiving  a  share  of  the 
profits  as  compensation.  For  some  years 
thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  the  commission 
business,  until  failing  health  caused  his 
retirement.  In  1871,  he  again  engaged  in 
the  sugar  refining  business  at  Greenport, 
Long  Island,  with  his  brother  and  another 
partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  Havemeyer 
Brothers  &  Co.  Here  he  remained  until 
1880,  when  his  health  again  declined. 
During  the  greater  part  of  his  life  Mr. 
Havemeyer  was  identified  with  many  benev- 
olent societies,  including  the  New  York 
Port  Society,  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  American  Bible  Society, 


New  York  Sabbath  School  Society  and 
others.  He  was  active  in  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  work  in  New  York, 
and  organized  and  was  the  first  president  of 
an  affiliated  society  of  the  same  at  Yonkers. 
He  was  director  of  several  railroad  corpo- 
rations and  a  trustee  of  the  Continental  Trust 
Company  of  New  York. 


WALTER  QUINTIN  GRESHAM,  an 
eminent  American  statesman  and 
jurist,  was  born  March  17,  1833,  near  Cory- 
don,  Harrison  county,  Indiana.  He  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  local  schools  of 
the  county  and  at  Bloomington  Academy, 
although  he  did  not  graduate.  After  leav- 
ing college  he  read  law  with  Judge  Porter 
at  Corydon,  and  just  before  the  war  he  be- 
gan to  take  an  interest  in  politics.  Mr. 
Gresham  was  elected  to  the  legislature  from 
Harrison  county  as  a  Republican;  previous 
to  this  the  district  had  been  represented  by 
a  Democrat.  At  the  commencement  of 
hostilities  he  was  made  lieutenant-colonel  of 
the  Thirty-eighth  Indiana  Infantry,  but 
served  in  that  regiment  only  a  short  time, 
when  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Fifty- 
third  Indiana,  and  served  under  General 
Grant  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  as  brigadier- 
general.  Later  he  was  under  Sherman  in 
the  famous  "March  to  the  Sea,"  and  com- 
manded a  division  of  Blair's  corps  at  the 
siege  of  Atlanta  where  he  was  so  badly 
wounded  in  the  leg  that  he  was  compelled 
to  return  home.  On  his  way  home  he  was 
forced  to  stop  at  New  Albany,  where  he  re- 
mained a  year  before  he  was  able  to  leave. 
He  was  brevetted  major-general  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  While  at  New  Albany.  Mr. 
Gresham  was  appointed  state  agent,  his 
duty  being  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  state 
debt  in  New  York,  and  he  ran  twice  for 
congress    against  ex-Speaker  Kerr,  but  was 


184 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


defeated  in  both  cases,  although  he  greatly 
reduced  the  Democratic  majority.  He  was 
held  in  high  esteem  by  President  Grant, 
who  offered  him  the  portfolio  of  the  interior 
but  Mr.  Gresham  declined,  but  accepted 
the  appointment  of  United  States  judge  for 
Indiana  to  succeed  David  McDonald. 
Judge  Gresham  served  on  the  United  States 
district  court  bench  until  1883,  when  he 
was  appointed  postmaster-general  by  Presi- 
dent Arthur,  but  held  that  office  only  a  few 
months  when  he  was  made  secretary  of  the 
treasury.  Near  the  end  of  President 
Arthur's  term,  Judge  Gresham  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  United  States  circuit 
court  of  the  district  composed  of  Indiana, 
Illinois  and  contiguous  states,  which  he  held 
until  1893.  Judge  Gresham  was  one  of  the 
presidential  possibilities  in  the  National  Re- 
publican convention  in  1888,  when  General 
Harrison  was  nominated,  and  was  also  men- 
tioned for  president  in  1892.  Later  the 
People's  party  made  a  strenuous  effort  to 
induce  him  to  become  their  candidate  for 
president,  he  refusing  the  offer,  however, 
and  a  few  weeks  before  the  election  he  an- 
nounced that  he  would  support  Mr.  Cleve- 
land, the  Democratic  nominee  for  president. 
Upon  the  election  of  Mr.  Cleveland  in  the 
fall  of  1892,  Judge  Gresham  was  made  the 
secretary  of  state,  and  filled  that  position 
until  his  death  on  May  28,  1895,  at  Wash- 
ington, District  of  Columbia. 


ELISHA  B.  ANDREWS,  noted  as  an  ed- 
ucator and  college  president,  was  born 
at  Hinsdale,  New  Hampshire,  January  10, 
1844,  his  father  and  mother  being  Erastus 
and  Elmira  (Bartlett)  Andrews.  In  1861, 
he  entered  the  service  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment as  private  and  non-commissioned 
officer  in  the  First  Connecticut  Heavy  Ar- 
tillery,  and  in    1863   was  promoted  to  the 


rank  of  second  lieutenant.  Returning  home 
he  was  prepared  for  college  at  Powers  In- 
stitute and  at  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  and 
entered  Brown  University.  From  here  he 
was  graduated  in  1870.  For  the  succeeding 
two  years  he  was  principal  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Literary  Institute  at  Suffield,  Connecticut. 
Completing  a  course  at  the  Newton  Theo- 
logical Institute,  he  was  ordained  pastor  of 
the  First  Baptist  church  at  Beverly,  Massa- 
chusetts, July  2,  1874.  The  following 
year  he  became  president  of  the  Denison 
University,  at  Granville,  Ohio.  In  1879 
he  accepted  the  professorship  of  homiletics, 
pastoral  duties  and  church  polity  at  Newton 
Theological  Institute.  In  1882  he  was 
elected  to  the  chair  of  history  and  political 
economy  at  Brown  University.  The  Uni- 
versity of  Nebraska  honored  him  with  an 
LL.  D.  in  1884,  and  the  same  year  Colby 
University  conferred  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
In  1888  he  became  professor  of  political 
economy  and  public  economy  at  Cornell 
University,  but  the  next  year  returned  to 
Brown  University  as  its  president.  From 
the  time  of  his  inauguration  the  college  work 
broadened  in  many  ways.  Many  timely 
and  generous  donations  from  friends  and 
alumni  of  the  college  were  influenced  by 
him,  and  large  additions  made  "to  the  same. 
Professor  Andrews  published,  in  1887, 
"Institutes  of  General  History,"  and  in 
1888,  "  Institutes  of  Economics." 


JOHN  WILLIAM  DRAPER,  the  subject 
of  the  present  biography,  was,  during  his 
life,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  chemists 
and  scientific  writers  in  America.  He  was 
an  Englishman  by  birth,  born  at  Liverpool, 
May  5,  181 1,  and  was  reared  in  his  native 
land,  receiving  an  excellent  education, 
graduating  at  the-  University  of  London.  In 
1833   he  came  to   the  United    States,  and 


r  * 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRATHT. 


187 


settled  first  in  Pennsylvania.  He  graduated 
in  medicine  at  the  University  of  Philadel- 
phia, in  1836,  and  for  three  years  following 
was  professor  of  chemistry  and  physiology 
at  Hampden-Sidney  College.  He  then  be- 
came professor  of  chemistry  in  the  New  York 
University,  with  which  institution  he  was 
prominently  connected  for  many  years.  It 
is  stated  on  excellent  authority  that  Pro- 
fessor Draper,  in  1839,  took  the  first  photo- 
graphic picture  ever  taken  from  life.  He 
was  a  great  student,  and  carried  on  many 
important  and  intricate  experiments  along 
scientific  lines.  He  discovered  many  of  the 
fundamental  facts  of  spectrum  analysis, 
which  he  published.  He  published  a  number 
of  works  of  great  merit,  many  of  which  are 
recognized  as  authority  upon  the  subjects  of 
which  they  treat.  Among  his  work  were: 
"Human  Physiology,  Statistical  and  Dyna- 
mical of  the  Conditions  and  Cause  of  Life 
in  Man,"  "History  of  Intellectual  Develop- 
ment of  Europe,"  "  History  of  the  Ameri- 
can Civil  War,"  besides  a  number  of  works 
on  chemistry,  optics  and  mathematics.  Pro- 
fessor Draper  continued  to  hold  a  high  place 
among  the  scientific  scholars  of  America 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  January, 
1882.  

GEORGE  W.  PECK,  ex-governor  of 
the  state  of  Wisconsin  and  a  famous 
journalist  and  humorist,  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  New  York,  September  28,  1840. 
When  he  was  about  three  years  of  age  his 
parents  removed  to  Wisconsin,  settling  near 
Whitewater,  where  young  Peck  received  his 
education  at  the  public  schools.  At  fifteen 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  "Whitewater 
Register,"  where  he  learned  the  printer's 
art.  He  helped  start  the  "Jefferson  County 
Republican"  later  on,  but  sold  out  his 
interest  therein  and  set  type  in  the  office  of 


the  "State  Journal,"  at  Madison.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the 
Fourth  Wisconsin  Cavalry  as  a  private,  and 
after  serving  four  years  returned  a  second 
lieutenant.  He  then  started  the  "  Ripon 
Representative,"  which  he  sold  not  long 
after,  and  removing  to  New  York,  was  on 
the  staff  of  Mark  Pomeroy's  "Democrat." 
Going  to  La  Crosse,  later,  he  conducted  the 
La  Crosse  branch  paper,  a  half  interest  in 
which  he  bought  in  1S74.  He  next  started 
"Peck's  Sun,"  which  four  years  later  he 
removed  to  Milwaukee.  While  in  La 
Crosse  he  was  chief  of  police  one  year,  and 
also  chief  clerk  of  the  Democratic  assembly 
in  1874.  It  was  in  1878  that  Mr.  Peck 
took  his  paper  to  Milwaukee,  and  achieved 
his  first  permanent  success,  the  circulation 
increasing  to  80,000.  For  ten  years  he  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  original,  versa- 
tile and  entertaining  writers  in  the  country, 
and  he  has  delineated  every  phase  of 
country  newspaper  life,  army  life,  domestic 
experience,  travel  and  city  adventure.  Up 
to  1890  Mr.  Peck  took  but  little  part  in 
politics,  but  in  that  year  was  elected  mayor 
of  Milwaukee  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
The  following  August  he  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Wisconsin  by  a  large  majority, 
the  "Bennett  School  Bill"  figuring  to  a 
large  extent  in  his  favor. 

Mr.  Peck,  besides  many  newspaper  arti- 
cles in  his  peculiar  vein  and  numerous  lect- 
ures, bubbling  over  with  fun,  is  known  to 
fame  by  the  following  books:  "Peck's  Bad 
Boy  and  his  Pa,"  and  "The  Grocery  Man 
and  Peck's  Bad  Boy." 


CHARLES  O'CONOR,  who  was  for 
many  years  the  acknowledged  leader 
of  the  legal  profession  of  New  York  City, 
was  also  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  greatest 
lawyers   America  has  produced.      He  was 


188 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


born  in  New  York  City  in  1804,  his  father 
being  an  educated  Irish  gentleman.  Charles 
received  a  common-school  education,  and 
early  took  up  the  study  of  law,  being  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  1824.  His  close  ap- 
plication and  untiring  energy  and  industry 
soon  placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of  the 
profession,  and  within  a  few  years  he  was 
handling  many  of  the  most  important  cases. 
One  of  the  first  great  cases  he  had  and  which 
gained  him  a  wide  reputation,  was  that  of 
"  Jack,  the  Fugitive  Slave, "  in  1835,  in  which 
his  masterful  argument  before  the  supreme 
court  attracted  wide  attention  and  com- 
ment. Charles  O'Conor  was  a  Democrat 
all  his  life.  He  did  not  aspire  to  office- 
holding,  however,  and  never  held  any  office 
except  that  of  district  attorney  under  Presi- 
dent Pierce's  administration,  which  he  only 
retained  a  short  time.  He  took  an  active 
interest,  however,  in  public  questions,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  state  (New  York)  con- 
stitutional convention  in  1864.  In  1868  he 
was  nominated  for  the  presidency  by  the 
"  Extreme  Democrats."  His  death  occurred 
in  May,  1884. 

SIMON  BOLIVAR  BUCKNER,  a  noted 
American  officer  and  major-general  in 
the  Confederate  army,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1823.  He  graduated  from  West 
Point  Military  Academy  in  1844,  served  in 
the  United  States  infantry  artd  was  later  as- 
signed to  commissary  duty  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  He  served  several  years  at  fron- 
tier posts,  and  was  assistant  professor  in  the 
military  academy  in  1846.  He  was  with 
General  Scott  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  en- 
gaged in  all  the  battles  from  Vera  Cruz  to 
the  capture  of  the  Mexican  capital.  He 
was  wounded  at  Cherubusco  and  brevetted 
first  lieutenant,  and  at  Molino  del  Rey  was 
brevetted  captain.     After  the  close   of  the 


Mexican  war  he  returned  to  West  Point  as 
assistant  instructor,  and  was  then  assigned 
to  commissary  duty  at  New  York.  He  re- 
signed in  1855  and  became  superintendent 
of  construction  of  the  Chicago  custom  house. 
He  was  made  adjutant-genenal,  with  the 
rank  of  colonel,  of  Illinois  militia,  and  was 
colonel  of  Illinois  volunteers  raised  for  the 
Utah  expedition,  but  was  not  mustered  into 
service.  In  i860  he  removed  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  settled  on  a  farm  near  Louisville 
and  became  inspector-general  in  command 
of  the  Kentucky  Home  Guards.  At  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  joined  the  Con- 
federate army,  and  was  given  command  at 
Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  which  he  was 
compelled  to  abandon  after  the  capture  of 
Fort  Henry.  He  then  retired  to  Fort  Don- 
elson,  and  was  there  captured  with  sixteen 
thousand  men,  and  an  immense  store  of  pro- 
visions, by  General  Grant,  in  February, 
1862.  He  was  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war 
at  Fort  Warren  until  August  of  that  year. 
He  commanded  a  division  of  Hardee's  corps 
in  Bragg's  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  was 
afterward  assigned  to  the  third  division  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga, 
and  Murfreesboro.  He  was  with  Kirby 
Smith  when  that  general  surrendered  his 
army  to  General  Canby  in  May,  1865.  He 
was  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  vice- 
presidency  on  the  Gold  Democratic  ticket 
with  Senator  John  M.  Palmer  in  1896. 


SIMON  KENTON,  one  of  the  famous  pio- 
neers and  scouts  whose  names  fill  the 
pages  of  the  early  history  of  our  country, 
was  born  in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia, 
April  3,  1755.  In  consequence  of  an  affray, 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  young  Kenton  went 
to  Kentucky,  then  the  "Dark  and  Bloody 
Ground,"  and  became  associated  with  Dan- 
iel Boone  and  other  pioneers  of  that  region. 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


.189 


For  a  short  time  he  acted  as  a  scout  and 
spy  for  Lord  Dunmore,  the  British  governor 
of  Virginia,  but  afterward  taking  the  side 
of  the  struggling  colonists,  participated  in 
the  war  for  independence  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies.  In  1784  he  returned  to  Virginia, 
but  did  not  remain  there  long,  going  back 
with  his  family  to  Kentucky.  From 
that  time  until  1793  he  participated  in  all 
the  combats  and  battles  of  that  time,  and 
until  "Mad  Anthony"  Wayne  swept  the 
Valley  of  the  Ohio,  and  settled  the  suprem- 
acy of  the  whites  in  that  region.  Kenton 
laid  claim  to  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  new 
country  he  had  helped  to  open  up,  but 
through  ignorance  of  law,  and  the  growing 
value  of  the  land,  lost  it  all  and  was  reduced 
to  poverty.  During  the  war  with  England 
in  1 812-15,  Kenton  took  part  in  the  inva- 
sion of  Canada  with  the  Kentucky  troops 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 
He  finally  had  land  granted  him  by  the 
legislature  of  Kentucky,  and  received  a  pen- 
sion from  the  United  States  government. 
He  died  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  April  29, 
1836.  

ELIHU  BENJAMIN  WASHBURNE,  an 
American  statesman  of  eminence,  was 
born  in  Livermore,  Maine,  September  23, 
1 816.  He  learned  the  trade  of  printer,  but 
abandoned  that  calling  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een and  entered  the  Kent's  Hill  Academy  at 
Reading,  Maine,  and  then  took  up  the  study 
of  law,  reading  in  Hallowell,  Boston,  and  at 
the  Harvard  Law  School.  He  began  prac- 
tice at  Galena,  Illinois,  in  1840.  He  was 
elected  to  congress  in  1852,  and  represented 
his  district  in  that  body  continuously  until 
March,  1869,  and  at  the  time  of  his  retire- 
ment he  had  served  a  greater  number  of 
consecutive  terms  than  any  other  member 
of  the  house.      In  1873  President  Grant  ap- 


pointed him  secretary  of  state,  which  posi- 
tion he  resigned  to  accept  that  of  minister 
to  France.  During  the  Franco- Prussian 
war,  including  the  siege  of  Paris  and  the 
reign  of  the  Commune,  Mr.  Washburne  re- 
mained at  his  post,  protecting  the  lives  and 
property  of  his  countrymen,  as  well  as  that 
of  other  foreign  residents  in  Paris,  while  the 
ministers  of  all  other  powers  abandoned 
their  posts  at  a  time  when  they  were  most 
needed.  As  far  as  possible  he  extended 
protection  to  unfortunate  German  residents, 
who  were  the  particular  objects  of  hatred  of 
the  populace,  and  his  firmness  and  the  suc- 
cess which  attended  his  efforts  won  the  ad- 
miration of  all  Europe.  Mr.  Washburne 
died  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  October  22,  1887. 


WILLIAM  CRAMP,  one  of  the  most 
extensive  shipbuilders  of  this  coun- 
try, was  born  in  Kensington,  then  a  suburb, 
now  a  part  of  Philadelphia,  in  1806.  He 
received  a  thorough  English  education,  and 
when  he  left  school  was  associated  with 
Samuel  Grice,  one  of  the  most  eminent 
naval  architects  of  his  day.  In  1830,  hav- 
ing mastered  all  the  details  of  shipbuilding, 
Mr.  Cramp  engaged  in  business  on  his  own 
account.  By  reason  of  ability  and  excel- 
lent work  he  prospered  from  the  start,  until 
now,  in  the  hands  of  his  sons,  under  the 
name  of  William  Cramp  &  Sons'  Ship  and 
Engine  Building  Company,  it  has  become  the 
most  complete  shipbuilding  plant  and  naval 
arsenal  in  the  western  hemisphere,  and  fully 
equal  to  any  in  the  world.  As  Mr.  Cramp's 
sons  attained  manhood  they  learned  their 
father's  profession,  and  were  admitted  to  a 
partnership.  In  1872  the  firm  was  incor- 
porated under  the  title  given  above.  Until 
i860  wood  was  used  in  building  vessels,  al- 
though pace  was  kept  with  all  advances  in 
the  art  of  shipbuilding.     At  the  opening  of 


190 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


the  war  came  an  unexpected  demand  for 
war  vessels,  which  they  promptly  met.  The 
sea-going  ironclad  "New  Ironsides"  was 
built  by  them  in  1862,  followed  by  a  num- 
ber of  formidable  ironclads  and  the  cruiser 
"Chattanooga."  They  subsequently  built 
several  war  vessels  for  the  Russian  and 
other  governments  which  added  to  their 
reputation.  When  the  American  steamship 
line  was  established  in  1870,  the  Cramps 
were  commissioned  to  build  for  it  four  first- 
class  iron  steamships,  the  "Pennsylvania," 
"Ohio,"  "Indiana"  and  "Illinois,"  which 
they  turned  out  in  rapid  order,  some  of  the 
finest  specimens  of  the  naval  architecture  of 
their  day.  William  Cramp  remained  at  the 
head  of  the  great  company  he  had  founded 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  January  6, 

1879. 

Charles  H.  Cramp,  the  successor  of  his 
father  as  head  of  the  William  Cramp  & 
Sons'  Ship  and  Engine  Building  Company, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  May  9,  1829,  and 
received  an  excellent  education  in  his  native 
city,  which  he  sedulously  sought  to  sup- 
plement by  close  study  until  he  became 
an  authority  on  general  subjects  and  the 
best  naval  architect  on  the  western  hemis- 
.phere.  Many  of  the  best  vessels  of  our 
new  navy  were  built  by  this  immense  con- 
cern.   

WASHINGTON  ALLSTON,  probably 
the  greatest  American  painter,  was 
born  in  South  Carolina  in  1779.  He  was 
sent  to  school  at  the  age  of  seven  years  at 
Newport,  Rhode  Island,  where  he  met  Ed- 
ward Malbone,  two  years  his  senior,  and 
who  later  became  a  painter  of  note.  The 
friendship  that  sprang  up  between  them  un- 
doubtedly influenced  young  Allston  in  the 
choice  of  a  profession.  He  graduated  from 
Harvard  in   1800,  and  went  to  England  the 


following  year,  after  pursuing  his  studies  for 
a  year  under  his  friend  Malbone  at  his  home 
in  South  Carolina.  He  became  a  student 
at  the  Royal  Academy  where  the  great 
American,  Benjamin  West,  presided,  and 
who  became  his  intimate  friend.  Allston 
later  went  to  Paris,  and  then  to  Italy,  where 
four  years  were  spent,  mostly  at  Rome.  In 
1809  he  returned  to  America,  but  soon  after 
returned  to  London,  having  married  in  the 
meantime  a  sister  of  Dr.  Channing.  In 
a  short  time  his  first  great  work  appeared, 
"The  Dead  Man  Restored  to  Life  by  the 
Bones  of  Elisha,"  which  took  the  British 
Association  prize  and  firmly  established  his 
reputation.  Other  paintings  followed  in 
quick  succession,  the  greatest  among  which 
were  "Uriel  in  the  Center  of  the  Sun," 
"Saint  Peter  Liberated  by  the  Angel,"  and 
"Jacob's  Dream,"  supplemented  by  many 
smaller  pieces.  Hard  work,  and  grief'at  the 
death  of  his  wife  began  to  tell  upon  his  health, 
and  he  left  London  in  181 8  for  America. 
The  same  year  he  was  elected  an  associate 
of  the  Royal  Academy.  During  the  next 
few  years  he  painted  "Jeremiah,"  "Witch 
ofEndor,"  and  "Beatrice."  In  1830  Alls- 
ton  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  Dana,  and 
went  to  Cambridge,  which  was  his  home 
until  his  death.  Here  he  produced  the 
"Vision  of  the  Bloody  Hand,"  "Rosalie," 
and  many  less  noted  pieces,  and  had  given 
one  week  of  labor  to  his  unfinished  master- 
piece, "Belshazzar's  Feast,"  when  death 
ended  his  career  July  9,  1843. 


JOHN  ROACH,  ship  builder  and  manu- 
facturer, whose  career  was  a  marvel  0/ 
industrial  labor,  and  who  impressed  his  in- 
dividuality and  genius  upon  the  times  in 
which  he  lived  more,  perhaps,  than  any 
other  manufacturer  in  America.  He  was 
born    at    Mitchelstown,    County  Cork,   Ire- 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


191 


land,  December  25,  181 5,  the  son  of  a 
wealthy  merchant.  He  attended  school 
until  he  was  thirteen,  when  his  father  be- 
came financially  embarrassed  and  failed 
and  shortly  after  died;  John  determined  to 
come  to  America  and  carve  out  a  fortune 
for  himself.  He  landed  in  New  York  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  and  soon  obtained  employ- 
ment at  the  Howell  Iron  Works  in  New  Jer- 
sey, at  twenty-five  cents  a  day.  He  soon 
made  himself  a  place  in  the  world,  and  at 
the  end  of  three  years  had  saved  some 
twelve  hundred  dollars,  which  he  lost  by 
the  failure  of  his  employer,  in  whose  hands 
it  was  left.  Returning  to  New  York  he 
began  to  learn  how  to  make  castings  for 
marine  engines  and  ship  work.  Having 
again  accumulated  one  thousand  dollars,  in 
company  with  three  fellow  workmen,  he 
purchased  a  small  foundry  in  New  York, 
but  soon  became  sole  proprietor.  At  the 
end  of  four  years  he  had  saved  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars,  besides  enlarging  his  works. 
In  1856  his  works  were  destroyed  by  a 
boiler  explosion,  and  being  unable  to  collect 
the  insurance,  was  left,  after  paying  his 
debts,  without  a  dollar.  However,  his 
credit  and  reputation  for  integrity  was  good, 
and  he  built  the  Etna  Iron  Works,  giving  it 
capacity  to  construct  larger  marine  engines 
than  any  previously  built  in  this  country. 
Here  he  turned  out  immense  engines  for 
the  steam  ram  Dunderberg,  for  the  war  ves- 
sels Winooski  and  Neshaning,  and  other 
large  vessels.  To  accommodate  his  increas- 
ing business,  Mr.  Roach,  in  1869,  pur- 
chased the  Morgan  Iron  Works,  one  of  the 
largest  in  New  York,  and  shortly  after  sev- 
eral others.  In  1871  he  bought  the  Ches- 
ter ship  yards,  which  he  added  to  largely, 
erecting  a  rolling  mill  and  blast  furnace,  and 
providing  every  facility  for  building  a  ship 
out  of  the  ore  and  timber.     This  immense 


plant  covered  a  large  area,  was  valued  at 
several  millions  of  dollars,  and  was  known 
as  the  Delaware  River  Iron  Shipbuilding 
and  Engine  Works,  of  which  Mr.  Roach 
was  the  principal  owner.  He  built  a  large 
percentage  of  the  iron  vessels  now  flying 
the  American  flag,  the  bulk  of  his  business 
being  for  private  parties.  In  1875  he  built 
the  sectional  dry  docks  at  Pensacola.  He, 
about  this  time,  drew  the  attention  of  the 
government  to  the  use  of  compound  marine 
engines,  and  thus  was  the  means  of  im- 
proving the  speed  and  economy  of  the  ves- 
sels of  our  new  navy.  In  1883  Mr.  Roach 
commenced  work  on  the  three  cruisers  for 
the  government,  the  "  Chicago,"  "Boston" 
and  "Atlanta,"  and  the  dispatch  boat 
"  Dolphin."  For  some  cause  the  secretary 
of  the  navy  refused  to  receive  the  latter  and 
decided  that  Mr.  Roach's  contract  would 
not  hold.  This  embarrassed  Mr.  Roach, 
as  a  large  amount  of  his  capital  was  in- 
volved in  these  contracts,  and  for  the  pro- 
tection of  bondsmen  and  creditors,  July  18, 
1885,  he  made  an  assignment,  but  the 
financial  trouble  broke  down  his  strong  con- 
stitution, and  January  10,  1887,  he  died. 
His  son,  John  B.  Roach,  succeeded  to  the 
shipbuilding  interests,  while  Stephen  W. 
Roach  inherited  the  Morgan  Iron  Works  at 
New  York. 

JOHN  SINGLETON  COPLEY,  one  of 
the  two  great  painters  who  laid  the 
foundation  of  true  American  art,  was  born 
in  Boston  in  1737,  one  year  earlier  than  his 
great  contemporary,  Benjamin  West.  His 
education  was  limited  to  the  common  schools 
of  that  time,  and  his  training  in  art  he  ob- 
tained by  his  own  observation  and  experi- 
ments solely.  When  he  was  about  seven- 
teen years  old  he  had  mapped  out  his  future, 
however,  by  choosing  painting  as  his  pro  ■ 


192 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


fession.  If  he  ever  studied  under  any 
teacher  in  his  early  efforts,  we  have  no  au- 
thentic account  of  it,  and  tradition  credits 
the  young  artist's  wonderful  success  en- 
tirely to  his  own  talent  and  untiring  effort. 
It  is  almost  incredible  that  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years  his  income  from  his 
works  aggregated  fifteen  hundred  dollars 
per  annum,  a  very  great  sum  in  those  days. 
In  1774  he  went  to  Europe  in  search  of  ma- 
terial for  study,  which  was  so  rare  in  his 
native  land.  After  some  time  spent  in  Italy 
he  finally  took  up  his  permanent  residence 
in  England.  In  1783  he  was  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Academy,  and  later  his 
son  had  the  high  honor  of  becoming  lord 
chancellor  of  England  and  Lord  Lyndhurst. 
Many  specimens  of  Copley's  work  are  to 
be  found  in  the  Memorial  Hall  at  Harvard 
and  in  the  Boston  Museum,  as  well  as  a  few 
of  the  works  upon  which  he  modeled  his 
style.  Copley  was  essentially  a  portrait 
painter,  though  his  historical  paintings  at- 
tained great  celebrity,  his"  masterpiece 
being  his  "  Death  of  Major  Pierson,"  though 
that  distinction  has  by  some  been  given  to 
his  "Death  of  Chatham."  It  is  said  that 
he  never  saw  a  good  picture  until  he  was 
thirty-five  years  old,  yet  his  portraits  prior 
to  that  period  are  regarded  as  rare  speci- 
mens.     He  died  in  181  5. 


HENRY  B.  PLANT,  one  of  the  greatest 
railroad  men  of  the  country,  became 
famous  as  president  of  the  Plant  system  of 
railway  and  steamer  lines,  and  also  the 
Southern  &  Texas  Express  Co.  He  was 
born  in  October,  18 19,  at  Branford, 
Connecticut,  and  entered  the  railroad  serv- 
ice in  1844,  serving  as  express  messenger 
on  the  Hartford  &  New  Haven  Railroad  until 
1853,  during  which  time  he  had  entire 
charge  of  the  express  business  of  that  road. 


He  went  south  in  1853  and  established  ex- 
press lines  on  various  southern  railways,  and 
in  1 86 1  organized  the  Southern  Express 
Co.,  and  became  its  president.  In  1879  he 
purchased,  with  others,  the  Atlantic  &  Gulf 
Railroad  of  Georgia,  and  later  reorganized 
the  Savannah,  Florida  &  Western  Railroad, 
of  which  he  became  president.  He  pur- 
chased and  rebuilt,  in  1880,  the  Savannah 
&  Charleston  Railroad,  now  Charleston  & 
Savannah.  Not  long  after  this  he  organ- 
ized the  Plant  Investment  Co.,  to  control 
these  railroads  and  advance  their  interests 
generally,  and  later  established  a  steamboat 
line  on  the  St.  John's  river,  in  Florida. 
From  1853  until  i860  he  was  general 
superintendent  of  the  southern  division  of 
the  Adams  Express  Co.,  and  in  1867  be- 
came president  of  the  Texas  Express  Co. 
The  "Plant  system"  of  railway,  steamer 
and  steamship  lines  is  one  of  the  greatest 
business  corporations  of  the  southern  states. 


WADE  HAMPTON,  a  noted  Confeder- 
ate officer,  was  born  at  Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  in  1818.  He  graduated 
from  the  South  Carolina  College,  took  an 
active  part  in  politics,  and  was  twice  elected 
to  the  legislature  of  his  state.  In  1861  he 
joined  the  Confederate  army,  and  command- 
ed the  "  Hampton  Legion"  at  the  first  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run,  in  July,  1861.  He  did 
meritorious  service,  was  wounded,  and  pro- 
moted to  brigadier-general.  He  command- 
ed a  brigade  at  Seven  Pines,  in  1862,  and 
was  again  wounded.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Antietam  in  September  of  the 
same  year,  and  participated  in  the  raid  into 
Pennsylvania  in  October.  In  1863  he  was 
with  Lee  at  Gettysburg,  where  he  was 
wounded  for  the  third  time.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  and 
commanded    a   troop   of   cavalry   in    Lee's 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


193 


army  during  1864,  and  was  in  numerous  en- 
gagements. In  1865  he  was  in  South  Car- 
olina, and  commanded  the  cavalry  rear 
guard  of  the  Confederate  army  in  its  stub- 
born retreat  before  General  Sherman  on  his 
advance  toward  Richmond. 

After  the  war  Hampton  took  an  active 
part  in  politics,  and  was  a  prominent  figure 
at  the  Democratic  national  convention  in 
1868,  which  nominated  Seymour  and  Blair 
for  president  and  vice-president.  He  was 
governor  of  South  Carolina,  and  took  his 
seat  in  the  United  States  senate  in  1879, 
where  he  became  a  conspicuous  figure  in 
national  affairs. 


NIKOLA  TESLA,  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated electricians  America  has  known, 
was  born  in  1857,  at  Smiljau,  Lika,  Servia. 
He  descended  from  an  old  and  representative 
family  of  that  country.  His  father  was  a 
a  minister  of  the  Greek  church,  of  high  rank, 
while  his  mother  was  a  woman  of  remarka- 
ble skill  in  the  construction  of  looms,  churns 
and  the  machinery  required  in  a  rural  home. 
Nikola  received  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Gospich,  when  he  was 
sent  to  the  higher  "Real  Schule"  at  Karl- 
stadt,  where,,  after  a  three  years'  course, 
he  graduated  in  1873.  He  devoted  him- 
self to  experiments  in  electricity  and 
magnetism,  to  the  chagrin  of  his  father, 
who  had  destined  him  for  the  ministry, 
but  giving  way  to  the  boy's  evident  genius 
he  was  allowed  to  continue  his  studies  in 
the  polytechnic  school  at  Gratz.  He  in- 
herited a  wonderful  intuition  which  enabled 
him  to  see  through  the  intricacies  of  ma- 
chinery, and  despite  his  instructor's  demon- 
stration that  a  dynamo  could  not  be  oper- 
ated without  commutators  or  brushes, 
began  experiments  which  finally  resulted  in 
his  rotating  field  motors.     After  the  study 


of  languages  at  Prague  and  Buda-Pesth,  he 
became  associated  with  M.  Puskas,  who 
had  introduced  the  telephone  into  Hungary. 
He  invented  several  improvements,  but 
being  unable  to  reap  the  necessary  benefit 
from  them,  he,  in  search  of  a  wider  field, 
went  to  Paris,  where  he  found  employment 
with  one  of  the  electric  lighting  companies 
as  electrical  engineer.  Soon  he  set  his  face 
westward,  and  coming  to  the  United  States 
for  a  time  found  congenial  employment  wrth 
Thomas  A.  Edison.  Finding  it  impossible, 
overshadowed  as  he  was,  to  carry  out  his 
own  ideas  he  left  the  Edison  works  to  join 
a  company  formed  to  place  his  own  inven- 
tions on  the  market.  He  perfected  his 
rotary  field  principle,  adapting  it  to  circuits 
then  in  operation.  It  is  said  of  him  that 
some  of  his  proved  theories  will  change  the 
entire  electrical  science.  It  would,  in  an 
article  of  this  length,  be  impossible  to  ex- 
plain all  that  Tesla  accomplished  for  the 
practical  side  of  electrical  engineering. 
His  discoveries  formed  the  basis  of  the  at- 
tempt to  utilize  the  water  power  of  Niagara 
Falls.  His  work  ranges  far  beyond  the 
vast  department  of  polyphase  currents  and 
high  potential  lighting  and  includes  many 
inventions  in  arc  lighting,  transformers, 
pyro  and  thermo-magnetic  motors,  new 
forms  of  incandescent  lamps,  unipolar  dyna- 
mos and  many  others. 


CHARLES  B.  LEWIS  won  fame  as  an 
American  humorist  under  the  name  of 
"M.  Quad."  It  is  said  he  owes  his 
celebrity  originally  to  the  fact  that  he  was 
once  mixed  up  in  a  boiler  explosion  on  the 
Ohio  river,  and  the  impressions  he  received 
from  the  event  he  set  up  from  his  case  when 
he  was  in  the  composing  room  of  an  ob- 
scure Michigan  paper.  His  style  possesses  a 
peculiar  quaintness,  and  there  runs  through 


194 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


it  a  vein  of  philosophy.  Mr.  Lewis  was 
born  in  1844,  near  a  town  called  Liverpool, 
Ohio.  He  was,  however,  raised  in  Lansing, 
Michigan,  where  he  spent  a  year  in  an  agri- 
cultural college,  going  from  there  to  the 
composing  room  of  the  "Lansing  Demo- 
crat." At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  en- 
listed in  the  service,  remained  during  the 
entire  war,  and  then  returned  to  Lansing. 
The  explosion  of  the  boiler  that  "blew  him 
into  fame, "  took  place  two  years  later,  while 
he  was  on  his  way  south.  When  he  re- 
covered physically,  he  brought  suit  for  dam- 
ages against  the  steamboat  company,  which 
he  gained,  and  was  awarded  a  verdict  of 
twelve  thousand  dollars  for  injuries  re- 
ceived. It  was  while  he  was  employed  by 
the  "Jacksonian"  of  Pontiac,  Mich. .that  he 
set  up  his  account  of  how  he  felt  while  being 
blown  up.  He  says  that  he  signed  it  "M 
Quad,"  because  "a  bourgeoise  em  quad  is 
useless  except  in  its  own  line — it  won't 
justify  with  any  other  type."  Soon  after, 
because  of  the  celebrity  he  attained  by  this 
screed,  Mr.  Lewis  secured  a  place  on  the 
staff  of  the  "  Detroit  Free  Press,"  and  made 
for  that  paper  a  wide  reputation.  His 
sketches  of  the  "Lime  Kiln  Club"  and 
"  Brudder  Gardner "  are  perhaps  the  best 
known  of  his  humorous  writings. 


HIRAM  S.  MAXIM,  the  famous  inventor, 
was  born  in  Sangersville,  Maine, 
February  5,  1840,  the  son  of  Isaac  W. 
and  Harriet  B.  Maxim.  The  town  of  his 
birth  was  but  a  small  place,  in  the 
woods,  on  the  confines  of  civilization, 
and  the  family  endured  many  hardships. 
They  were  without  means  and  entirely 
dependent  on  themselves  to  make  out  of 
raw  materials  all  they  needed.  The  mother 
was  an  expert  spinner,  weaver,  dyer  and 
seamstress  and  the  father  a  trapper,  tanner, 


miller,  blacksmith,  carpenter,  mason  and 
farmer.  Amid  such  surroundings  young 
Maxim  gave  early  promise  of  remarkable 
aptitude.  With  the  universal  Yankee  jack- 
knife  the  products  of  his  skill  excited  the 
wonder  and  interest  of  the  locality.  His 
parents  did  not  encourage  his  latent  genius 
but  apprenticed  him  to  a  coach  builder. 
Four  years  he  labored  at  this  uncongenial 
trade  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  forsook 
it  and  entered  a  machine  shop  at  Fitchburg, 
Massachusetts.  Soon  mastering  the  details 
of  that  business  and  that  of  mechanical 
drawing,  he  went  to  Boston  as  the  foreman 
of  the  philosophical  instrument  manufactory. 
From  thence  he  went  to  New  York  and  with 
the  Novelty  Iron  Works  Shipbuilding  Co. 
he  gained  experience  in  those  trades.  His 
inventions  up  to  this,  time  consisted  of 
improvements  in  steam  engines,  and  an 
automatic  gas  machine,  which  came  into 
general  use.  In  1877  he  turned  his  attention 
to  electricity,  and  in  1878  produced  an 
incandescent  lamp,  that  would  burn  1,000 
hours.  He  was  the  first  to  design  a  process 
for  flashing  electric  carbons,  and  the  first 
to  "standardize"  carbons  for  electric  light- 
ing. In  1880  he  visited  Europe  and  exhibit- 
ing, at  the  Paris  Exposition  of  1881,  a  self- 
regulating  machine,  was  decorated  with  the 
Legion  of  Honor.  In  1883  he  returned  to 
London  as  the  European  representative  of  the 
United  States  Electric  Light  Co.  An  incident 
of  his  boyhood,  in  which  the  recoil  of  a  rifle 
was  noticed  by  him,  and  the  apparent  loss 
of  power  shown,  in  188 1-2  prompted  the 
invention  of  a  gun  which  utilizes  the  recoil  to 
automatically  load  and  fire  seven  hundred 
and  seventy  shots  per  minute.  The  Maxim- 
Nordenfelt  Gun  Co.,  with  a  capital  of  nine 
million  dollars,  grew  from  this.  In  1883  he 
patented  his  electric  training  gear  for  large 
guns.     And  later  turned  his  attention  to  fly- 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPHY 


195 


ing  machines,  which  he  claimed  were  not  an 
impossibility.  He  took  out  over  one  hundred 
patents  for  smokeless  gunpowder,  and  for  pe- 
troleum and  other  motors  and  autocycles. 


JOHN  DAVISON  ROCKEFELLER, 
one  of  America's  very  greatest  financiers 
and  philanthropists,  was  born  in  Richford, 
Tioga  county,  New  York,  July  8,  1839.  He 
received  a  common-school  education  in  his 
native  place,  and  in  1853,  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  he  entered  the 
high  school  of  that  city.  After  a  two-years' 
course  of  diligent  work,  he  entered  the  com- 
mission and  forwarding  house  of  Hewitt  & 
Tuttle,  of  Cleveland,  remaining  with  the 
firm  some  years,  and  then  began  business 
for  himself,  forming  a  partnership  with 
Morris  B.  Clark.  Mr.  Rockefeller  was  then 
but  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  during  the 
year  i860,  in  connection  with  others,  they 
started  the  oil  refining  business,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Andrews,  Clark  &  Co.  Mr. 
Rockefeller  and  Mr.  Andrews  purchased  the 
interest  of  their  associates,  and,  after  taking 
William  Rockefeller  into  the  firm, established 
offices  in  Cleveland  under  the  name  of 
William  Rockefeller  &  Co.  Shortly  after 
this  the  house  of  Rockefeller  &  Co.  was  es- 
tablished in  New  York  for  the  purpose  of 
finding  a  market  for  their  products, -and  two 
years  later  all  the  refining  companies  were 
consolidated  under  the  firm  name  of  Rocke- 
feller, Andrews  &  Flagler.  This  firm  was 
succeeded  in  1870  by  the  Standard  Oil 
Company  of  Ohio,  said  to  be  the  most 
gigantic  business  corporation  of  modern 
times.  John  D.  Rockefeller's  fortune  has 
been  variously  estimated  at  from  one  hun- 
dred million  to  two  hundred  million  dollars. 
Mr.  Rockefeller's  philanthropy  mani- 
fested itself  principally  through  the  American 
Baptist   Educational  Society.      He  donated 


the  building  for  the  Spelman  Institute  at 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  a  school  for  the  instruction 
of  negroes.  His  other  gifts  were  to  the 
University  of  Rochester,  Cook  Academy, 
Peddie  Institute,  and  Vassar  College,  be- 
sides smaller  gifts  to  many  institutions 
throughout  the  country.  His  princely  do- 
nations, however,  were  to  the  University  of 
Chicago.  His  first  gift  to  this  institution 
was  a  conditional  offer  of  six  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  in  1889,  and  when  this  amount 
was  paid  he  added  one  million  more.  Dur- 
ing 1892  he  made  it  two  gifts  of  one  million 
each,  and  all  told,  his  donations  to  this  one 
institution  aggregated  between  seven  and 
eight  millions  of  dollars. 


JOHN  M.  PALMER.— For  over  a  third 
J  of  a  century  this  gentleman  occupied  a 
prominent  place  in  the  political  world,  both 
in  the  state  of  Illinois  and  on  the  broader 
platform  of  national  issues. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  born  at  Eagle  Creek, 
Scott  county,  Kentucky,  September  13, 
18 17.  The  family  subsequently  removed 
to  Christian  county,  in  the  same  state,  where 
he  acquired  a  common-school  education,  and 
made  his  home  until  1831.  His  father  was 
opposed  to  slavery,  and  in  the  latter  year 
removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Alton. 
In  1834  John  entered  Alton  College,  or- 
ganized on  the  manual-labor  plan,  but  his 
funds  failing,  abandoned  it  and  entered  a 
cooper  shop.  He  subsequently  was  en- 
gaged in  peddling,  and  teaching  a  district 
school  near  Canton.  In  1838  he  began  the 
study  of  law,  and  the  following  year  re- 
moved to  Carlinville,  where,  in  December  of 
that  year,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
was  shortly  after  defeated  for  county  clerk. 
In  1843  he  was  elected  probate  judge.  In 
the  constitutional  convention  of  1847,  Mr. 
Palmer  was  a   delegate,  and  from  1849  to 


196 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


185 1  he  was  county  judge.  In  1852  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  state  senate,  but  not 
being  with  his  party  on  the  slavery  question 
he  resigned  that  office  in  1854.  In  1856 
Mr.  Palmer  was  chairman  of  the  first  Re- 
publican state  convention  held  in  Illinois, 
and  the  same  year  was  a  delegate  to  the 
national  convention.  In  i860  he  was  an 
elector  on  the  Lincoln  ticket,  and  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  entered  the  service 
as  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infan- 
try, but  was  shortly  after  brevetted  brigadier- 
general.  In  August,  1862,  he  organized 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  but  in  September  he  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  first  division  of 
the  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  afterward  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general.  In 
1865  he  was  assigned  to  the  military  ad- 
ministration in  Kentucky.  In  1867  General 
Palmer  was  elected  governor  of  Illinois  and 
served  four  years.  In  1872  he  went  with 
the  Liberal  Republicans,  who  supported 
Horace  Greeley,  after  which  time  he  was 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  In 
1890  he  was  elected  United  States  senator 
from  Illinois,  and  served  as  such  for  six 
years.  In  1896,  on  the  adoption  of  the  sil- 
ver plank  in  the  platform  of  the  Democratic 
party,  General  Palmer  consented  to  lead, 
as  presidential  candidate,  the  National  Dem- 
ocrats, or  Gold  Democracy. 


WILLIAM  H.  BEARD,  the  humorist 
among  American  painters,  was  born 
at  Painesville,  Ohio,  in  1821.  His  father, 
James  H.  Beard,  was  also  a  painter  of  na- 
tional reputation.  William  H.  Beard  be- 
gan his  career  as  a  traveling  portrait 
painter.  He  pursued  his  studies  in  New 
York,  and  later  removed  to  Buffalo,  where 
he  achieved  reputation.      He   then    went  to 


Italy  and  after  a  short  stay  returned  to  New 
York  and  opened  a  studio.  One  of  his 
earliest  paintings  was  a  small  picture  called 
"Cat  and  Kittens, "  which  was  placed  in 
the  National  Academy  on  exhibition.  Among 
his  best  productions  are  "Raining  Cats  and 
Dogs,"  "The  Dance  of  Silenus, "  "Bears 
on  a  Bender,"  "Bulls  and  Bears,"  ' '  Whoo!" 
"  Grimalkin's  Dream,"  "  Little  Red  Riding 
Hood,"  "The  Guardian  of  the  Flag."  His 
animal  pictures  convey  the  most  ludicrous 
and  satirical  ideas,  and  the  intelligent, 
human  expression  in  their  faces  is  most 
comical.  Some  artists  and  critics  have  re- 
fused to  give  Mr.  Beard  a  place  among  the 
first  circles  in  art,  solely  on  account  of  the 
class  of  subjects  he  has  chosen. 


WW.  CORCORAN,  the  noted  philan- 
thropist, was  born  at  Georgetown, 
District  of  Columbia.  December  27,  1798. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  entered  the 
banking  business  in  Washington,  and  in 
time  became  very  wealthy.  He  was 
noted  for  his  magnificent  donations  to  char- 
ity. Oak  Hill  cemetery  was  donated  to 
Georgetown  in  1847,  and  ten  years  later  the 
Corcoran  Art  Gallery,  Temple  of  Art,  was 
presented  to  the  city  of  Washington.  The 
uncompleted  building  was  utilized  by  the 
government  as  quartermaster's  headquar- 
ters during  the  war.  The  building  was 
completed  after  the  war  at  a  cost  of  a  mil- 
lion and  a  half  dollars,  all  the  gift  of  Mr. 
Corcoran.  The  Louise  Home  for  Women 
is  another  noble  charity  to  his  credit.  Its 
object  is  the  care  of  women  of  gentle  breed- 
ing who  in  declining  years  are  without 
means  of  support.  In  addition  to  this  he 
gave  liberally  to  many  worthy  institutions 
of  learning  and  charity.  He  died  at  Wash- 
ington February  24,  1888. 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


197 


ALBERT  BIERSTADT,  the  noted  paint- 
er of  American  landscape,  was  born  in 
Dusseldorf,  Germany,  in  1829,  and  was 
brought  to  America  by  his  parents  at  the 
age  of  two  years.  He  received  his  early 
education  here,  but  returned  to  Dusseldorf 
to  study  painting,  and  also  went  to  Rome. 
On  his  return  to  America  he  accompanied 
Lander's  expedition  across  the  continent,  in 
185S,  and  soon  after  produced  his  most 
popular  work,  "The  Rocky  Mountains — 
Lander's  Peak. "  Its  boldness  and  grandeur 
were  so  unusual  that  it  made  him  famous. 
The  picture  sold  for  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars.  In  1867  Mr.  Bierstadt  went  to 
Europe,  with  a  government  commission, 
and  gathered  materials  for  his  great  historic- 
al work,  "Discovery  of  the  North  River 
by  Hendrik  Hudson."  Others  of  his  great 
works  were  "Storm  in  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains," "  Valley  of  the  Yosemite,"  "North 
Fork  of  the  Platte,"  "Diamond  Pool," 
"Mount  Hood,"  "Mount  Rosalie,"  and 
"The  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains."  His 
"Estes  Park"  sold  for  fifteen  thousand 
dollars,  and  "Mount  Rosalie"  brought 
thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  His  smaller 
Rocky  mountain  scenes,  however,  are  vast- 
ly superior  to  his  larger  works  in  execution 
and  coloring. 

ADDISON  CAMMACK,  a  famous  mill- 
ionaire Wall  street  speculator,  was 
born  in  Kentucky.  When  sixteen  years  old 
he  ran  away  from  home  and  went  to  New 
Orleans,  where  he  went  to  work  in  a  ship- 
ping house.  He  outlived  and  outworked 
all  the  partners,  and  became  the  head  of  the 
firm  before  the  opening  of  the  war.  At 
that  time  he  fitted  out  small  vessels  and  en- 
gaged in  running  the  blockade  of  southern 
ports  and  carrying  ammunition,  merchan- 
dise,  etc.,   to  the    southern    people.      This 


made  him  a  fortune.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  quit  business  and  went  to  New 
York.  For  two  years  he  did  not  enter  any 
active  business,  but  seemed  to  be  simply  an 
on-looker  in  the  great  speculative  center  of 
America.  He  was  observing  keenly  the 
methods  and  financial  machinery,  however, 
and  when,  in  1867,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  the  popular  Charles  J.  Osborne,  the 
firm  began  to  prosper.  He  never  had  an 
office  on  the  street,  but  wandered  into  the 
various  brokers'  offices  and  placed  his  orders 
as  he  saw  fit.  In  1873  he  dissolved  his 
partnership  with  Osborne  and  operated 
alone.  He  joined  a  band  of  speculative 
conspirators  known  as  the  "Twenty-third 
party,"  and  was  the  ruling  spirit  in  that  or- 
ganization for  the  control  of  the  stock  mar- 
ket. He  was  always  on  the  ' '  bear  "  side  and 
the  only  serious  obstacle  he  ever  encoun- 
tered was  the  persistent  boom  in  industrial 
stocks,  particularly  sugar,  engineered  by 
James  R.  Keane.  Mr.  Cammack  fought 
Keane  for  two  years,  and  during  the  time  is 
said  to  have  lost  no  less  than  two  million 
dollars  before  he  abandoned  the  fight. 


WALT.  WHITMAN.— Foremost  among 
the  lesser  poets  of  the  latter  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  the  gentleman  whose 
name  adorns  the  head  of  this  article  takes 
a  conspicuous  place. 

Whitman  was  born  at  West  Hills,  Long 
Island,  New  York,  May  13,  1809.  In  the 
schools  of  Brooklyn  he  laid  the  foundation 
of  his  education,  and  early  in  life  learned  the 
printer's  trade.  For  a  time  he  taught  coun- 
try schools  in  his  native  state.  In  1846-7 
he  was  editor  of  the  "  Brooklyn  Eagle,  " 
but  in  1848-9  was  on  the  editorial  staff  of 
the  "Crescent,"  of  New  Orleans.  He 
made  an  extended  tour  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  and  returned  to 


«98 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


Brooklyn,  where,  in  1850,  he  published  the 
"Freeman.  "  For  some  years  succeeding 
his  he  was  engaged  as  carpenter  and  builder. 
During  the  Civil  war,  Whitman  acted  as 
a  volunteer  nurse  in  the  hospitals  at 
Washington  and  vicinity  and  from  the  close 
of  hostilities  until  1873  he  was  employed 
in  various  clerkships  in  the  government 
offices  in  the  nation's  capital.  In  the  latter 
year  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis  as  a 
result  of  his  labors  in  the  hospital,  it  is 
said,  and  being  partially  disabled  lived  for 
many  years  at  Camden,    New  Jersey. 

The  first  edition  of  the  work  which  was 
to  bring  him  fame,  "Leaves  of  Grass,"  was 
published  in  1855  and  was  but  a  small 
volume  of  about  ninety-four  pages.  Seven 
or  eight  editions  of  "Leaves  of  Grass"  have 
been  issued,  each  enlarged  and  enriched  with 
new  poems.  "Drum  Taps,"  at  first  a 
separate  publication,  has  been  incorporated 
with  the  others.  This  volume  and  one 
prose  writing  entitled  "  Specimen  Days  and 
Collect,"  constituted  his  whole  work. 

Walt.  Whitman  died  at  Camden,  New 
Jersey,  March  26,  1892. 


HENRY  DUPONT,  who  became  cele- 
brated as  America's  greatest  manufact- 
urer of  gunpowder,  was  a  native  of  Dela- 
ware, born  August  8,  18 12.  He  received 
his  education  in  its  higher  branches  at  the 
United  States  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  from  which  he  graduated  and  entered 
the  army  as  second  lieutenant  of  artillery  in 
1833.  In  1834  he  resigned  and  became 
proprietor  of  the  extensive  gunpowder 
manufacturing  plant  that  bears  his  name, 
near  Wilmington,  Delaware.  His  large 
business  interests  interfered  with  his  tak- 
ing any  active  participation  in  political 
life,  although  for  many  years  he  served 
as  adjutant-general  of  his  native  state,  and 


during  the  war  as  major-general  command- 
ing the  Home  Guards.  He  died  August  8, 
1889.  His  son,  Henry  A.  Dupont,  also  was 
a  native  of  Delaware,  and  was  born  July  30, 
1838.  After  graduating  from  West  Point 
in  1 86 1,  he  entered  the  army  as  second 
lieutenant  of  engineers.  Shortly  after  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Fifth  Artillery  as  first 
lieutenant.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  captain  in  1864,  serving  in  camp  and 
garrison  most  of  the  time.  He  was  in  com- 
mand of  a  battery  in  the  campaign  of 
1863-4.  As  chief  of  artillery  of  the  army  of 
West  Virginia,  he  figured  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  being  in  the  battles  of  Opequan, 
Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  besides 
many  minor  engagements.  He  afterward 
acted  as  instructor  in  the  artillery  school  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  and  on  special  duty  at 
West  Point.  He  resigned  from  the  army 
March  1;  1875. 


WILLIAM  DEERING,  one  of  the  fa- 
mous manufacturers  of  America,  and 
also  a  philanthropist  and  patron  of  educa- 
tion, was  born  in  Maine  in  1826.  His  an- 
cestors were  English,  having  settled  in  New 
England  in  1634.  Early  in  life  it  was  Will- 
iam's intention  to  become  a  physician,  and 
after  completing  his  common-school  educa- 
tion, when  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  he 
began  an  apprenticeship  with  a  physician. 
A  short  time  later,  however,  at  the  request 
of  his  father,  he  took  charge  of  his  father's 
business  interests,  which  included  a  woolen 
mill,  retail  store  and  grist  mill,  after  which 
he  became  agent  for  a  dry  goods  commission 
house  in  Portland,  where  he  was  married. 
Later  he  became  partner  in  the  firm,  and 
removed  to  New  York.  The  business  pros- 
pered, and  after  a  number  of  years,  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health,  Mr.  Deering  sold  his 
interest  to  his  partner,  a  Mr.  Milner.     The 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


199 


business  has  since  made  Mr.  Milner  a  mill- 
ionaire many  times  over.  A  few  years 
later  Mr.  Deering  located  in  Chicago.  His 
beginning  in  the  manufacture  of  reapers, 
which  has  since  made  his  name  famous, 
was  somewhat  of  an  accident.  He  had 
loaned  money  to  a  man  in  that  business, 
and  in  1878  was  compelled  to  buy  out  the 
business  to  protect  his  interests.  The  busi- 
ness developed  rapidly  and  grew  to  immense 
proportions.  The  factories  now  cover  sixty- 
two  acres  of  ground  and  employ  many  thou- 
sands of  men. 


John  McAllister  schofield,  an 
American  general,  was  born  in  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  September  29,  1831. 
He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1853,  and 
was  for  five  years  assistant  professor  of  nat- 
ural philosophy  in  that  institution.  In  1861 
he  entered  the  volunteer  service  as  major  of 
the  First  Missouri  Volunteers,  and  was  ap- 
pointed chief  of  staff  by  General  Lyon,  under 
whom  he  fought  at  the  battle  of  Wilson's 
Creek.  In  November,  1861,  he  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Missouri 
militia  until  November,  1862,  and  of  the 
army  of  the  frontier  from  that  time  until 
1863.  In  1862  he  was  made  major-general 
of  volunteers,  and  was  placed  in  command  of 
the  Department  of  the  Missouri,  and  in  1864 
of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio.  During  the 
campaign  through  Georgia  General  Scho- 
field was  in  command  of  the  Twenty-third 
Army  Corps,  and  was  engaged  in  most  of  the 
fighting  of  that  famous  campaign.  Novem- 
ber 30,  1864,  he  defeated  Hood's  army  at 
Franklin,  Tennessee,  and  then  joined  Gen- 
eral Thomas  at  Nashville.  He  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Nashville,  where  Hood's  army 
was  destroyed.  In  January,  1865,  he  led 
his   corps    into    North    Carolina,    captured 


Wilmington,  fought  the  battle  of  Kingston, 
and  joined  General  Sherman  at  Goldsboro 
March  22,  1865.  He  executed  the  details 
of  the  capitulation  of  General  Johnston  to 
Sherman,  which  practically  closed  the  war. 
In  June,  1868,  General  Schofield  suc- 
ceeded Edwin  M.  Stanton  as  secretary  of 
war,  but  was  the  next  year  appointed  major- 
general  of  the  United  States  army,  and  order- 
ed to  the  Department  of  the  Missouri.  From 
1870  to  1876  he  was  in  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Pacific;  from  1876  to  188 1 
superintendent  of  the  West  Point  Military 
Academy;  in  1883  he  was  in  charge  of  the 
Department  of  the  Missouri,  and  in  1886  of 
the  division  of  the  Atlantic.  In  1888  he 
became  general-in-chief  of  the  United  States 
army,  and  in  February,  1895,  was  appoint- 
ed lieutenant-general  by  President  Cleve- 
land, that  rank  having  been  revived  by  con- 
gress. In  September,  1895,  he  was  retired 
from  active  service. 


LEWIS  WALLACE,  an  American  gen- 
eral and  famous  author,  was  born  ir* 
Brookville,  Indiana,  April  10,  1827.  He 
served  in  the  Mexican  war  as  first  lieutenant 
of  a  company  of  Indiana  Volunteers.  After 
his  return  from  Mexico  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  practiced  law  in  Covington  and 
Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  until  1861.  At  the 
opening  of  the  war  he  was  appointed  ad- 
jutant-general of  Indiana,  and  soon  after  be- 
came colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Indiana  Vol- 
unteers. He  defeated  a  force  of  Confeder- 
ates at  Rotnney,  West  Virginia,  and  was 
made  brigadier-general  in  September,  1861. 
At  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson  in  1862  he 
commanded  a  division,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  second  day's  fight  at  Shiloh.  In  1863 
his  defenses  about  Cincinnati  saved  that  city 
from  capture  by  Kirby  Smith.  At  Monoc- 
acy  in   July,    1864,    he    was  defeated,   but 


200 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


his  resistance  delayed  the  advance  of  Gen- 
eral Early  and  thus  saved  Washington  from 
capture. 

General  Wallace  was  a  member  of  the 
court  that  tried  the  assassins  of  President 
Lincoln,  and  also  of  that  before  whom  Cap- 
tain Henry  Wirtz,  who  had  charge  of  the 
Andersonville  prison,  was  tried.  In  1881 
General  Wallace  was  sent  as  minister  to 
Turkey.  When  not  in  official  service  he 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  literature. 
Among  his  better  known  works  are  his 
"Fair  God,"  "Ben  Hur,"  "Prince  of 
India,"  and  a  "  Life  of  Benjamin  Harrison." 


THOMAS  FRANCIS  BAYARD,  an  Ameri- 
can statesman  and  diplomat,  was  born 
at  Wilmington,  Delaware,  October  29,  1828. 
He  obtained  his  education  at  an  Episcopal 
academy  at  Flushing,  Long  Island,  and 
after  a  short  service  in  a  mercantile  house  in 
New  York,  he  returned  to  Wilmington  and 
entered  his  father's  law  office  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  practice  of  that  profession. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  185 1.  He 
was  appointed  to  the  office  of  United  States 
district  attorney  for  the  state  of  Delaware, 
serving  one  year.  In  1 869  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate,  and  continuously 
represented  his  state  in  that  body  until  1885, 
and  in  1881,  when  Chester  A.  Arthur  entered 
the  presidential  chair,  Mr.  Bayard  was 
chosen  president  pro  tempore  of  the  senate. 
He  had  also  served  on  the  famous  electoral 
commission  that  decided  the  Hayes-Tilden 
contest  in  1876-7.  In  1885  President  Cleve- 
land appointed  Mr.  Bayard  secretary  of 
state.  At  the  beginning  of  Cleveland's  sec- 
ond term,  in  1893,  Mr.  Bayard  was  selected 
for  the  post  of  ambassador  at  the  court  of 
St.  James,  London,  and  was  the  first  to  hold 
that  rank  in  American  diplomacy,  serving 
until  the  beginning  of  the  McKinley  admin- 


istration. The  questions  for  adjustment  at 
that  time  between  the  two  governments 
were  the  Behring  Sea  controversy  and  the 
Venezuelan  boundary  question.  He  was 
very  popular  in  England  because  of  his 
tariff  views,  and  because  of  his  criticism  of 
the  protective  policy  of  the  United  States 
in  his  public  speeches  delivered  in  London, 
Edinburgh  and  other  places,  he  received,  in 
March,  1896,  a  vote  of  censure  in  the  lower 
house  of  congress. 


JOHN  WORK  GARRETT,  for  so  many 
<J  years  at  the  head  of  the  great  Baltimore 
&  Ohio  railroad  system,  was  born  in  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  July  31,  1820.  His  father, 
Robert  Garrett,  an  enterprising  merchant, 
had  amassed  a  large  fortune  from  a  small 
beginning.  The  son  entered  Lafayette  Col- 
lege in  1834,  but  left  the  following  year  and 
entered  his  father's  counting  room,  and  in 
1839  became  a  partner.  John  W.  Gar- 
rett took  a  great  interest  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad.  He 
was  elected  one  of  the  directors  in  1857, 
and  was  its  president  from  1858  until  his 
death.  When  he  took  charge  of  the  road 
it  was  in  an  embarrassed  condition,  but 
within  a  year,  for  the  first  time  in  its  exist- 
ence, it  paid  a  dividend,  the  increase  in  its 
net  gains  being  $725,385.  After  the  war, 
during  which  the  road  suffered  much  damage 
from  the  Confederates,  numerous  branches 
and  connecting  roads  were  built  or  acquired, 
until  it  reached  colossal  proportions.  Mr. 
Garrett  was  also  active  in  securing  a  regular 
line  of  steamers  between  Baltimore  and 
Bremen,,  and  between  the  same  port  and 
Liverpool.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active 
trustees  of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  and  a 
liberal  contributor  to  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  of  Baltimore.  He 
died  September  26,  1884. 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRATHT. 


201 


Robert  Garrett,  the  son  of  John  W. 
Garrett,  was  born  in  Baltimore  April  9, 
1847,  and  graduated  from  Princeton  in  1867. 
He  received  a  business  education  in  the 
banking  house  of  his  father,  and  in  1871 
became  president  of  the  Valley  Railroad  of 
Virginia.  He  was  made  third  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  in 
1879,  and  first  vice-president  in  1881.  He 
succeeded  his  father  as  president  in  1884. 
Robert  Garrett  died  July  29,  1896. 


CARL  SCHURZ,  a  noted  German-Ameri- 
can statesman,  was  born  in  Liblar,  Prus- 
sia, March  2,  1829.  He  studied  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Bonn,  and  in  1849  was  engaged  in 
an  attempt  to  excite  an  insurrection  at  that 
place.  After  the  surrender  of  Rastadt  by 
the  revolutionists,  in  the  defense  of  which 
Schurz  took  part,  he  decided  to  emigrate  to 
America.  He  resided  in  Philadelphia  three 
years,  and  then  settled  in  Watertown,  Wis- 
consin, and  in  1859  removed  to  Milwaukee, 
where  he  practiced  law.  On  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party  he  became  a 
leader  of  the  German  element  and  entered 
the  campaign  for  Lincoln  in  i860.  He  was 
appointed  minister  to  Spain  in  1861,  but  re- 
signed in  December  of  that  year  to  enter 
the  army.  He  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  in  1862,  and  participated  in  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  also  at 
Chancellorsville.  At  Gettysburg  he  had 
temporary  command  of  the  Eleventh  Army 
Corps,  and  also  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Chattanooga. 

After  the  war  he  located  at  St.  Louis, 
and  in  1869  was  elected  United  States  sena- 
tor from  Missouri.  He  supported  Horace 
Greeley  for  the  presidency  in  1872,  and  in 
the  campaign  of  1876,  having  removed  to 
New  York,  he  supported  Hayes  and  the  Re- 
publican  ticket,  and   was  appointed  secre- 


tary of  the  interior  in  1877.  In  1881  he 
became  editor  of  the  "New  York  Evening 
Post,"  and  in  1884  was  prominent  in  his 
opposition  to  James  G.  Blaine,  and  became 
a  leader  of  the  "Mugwumps,"  thus  assist- 
ing in  the  election  of  Cleveland.  In  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1S96  his  forcible 
speeches  in  the  interest  of  sound  money 
wielded  an  immense  influence.  Mr.  Schurz 
wrote  a  "  Life  of  Henry  Clay,"  said  to  be 
the  best  biography  ever  published  of  that 
eminent  statesman. 


GEORGE  F.  EDMUNDS,  an  American 
statesman  of  national  reputation,  was 
born  in  Richmond,  Vermont,  February  1, 
1828.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the 
public  schools  and  from  the  instructions  of 
a  private  tutor.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  practiced  law,  and  served  in  the  state 
legislature  from  1854  to  1859,  during  three 
years  of  that  time  being  speaker  of  the  lower 
house.  He  was  elected  to  the  state  senate 
and  acted  as  president  pro  tempore  of  that 
body  in  1861  and  1862.  He  became  promi- 
nent for  his  activity  in  the  impeachment 
proceedings  against-President  Johnson,  and 
was  appointed  to  the  United  States  senate 
to  fill  out  the'  unexpired  term  of  Solomon 
Foot,  entering  that  body  in  1866.  He  was 
re-elected  to  the  senate  four  times,  and 
served  on  the  electoral  commission  in  1877. 
He  became  president  pro  tempore  of  the 
senate  after  the  death  of  President  Garfield, 
and  was  the  author  of  the  bill  which  put  an 
end  to  the  practice  of  polygamy  in  the  ter- 
ritory of  Utah.  In  November,  1891,  owing 
to  impaired  health,  he  retired  from  the  sen- 
ate and  again  resumed  the  practice  of  law. 


LUCIUS   Q.    C.    LAMAR,    a    prominent 
political  leader,    statesman    and  jurist, 
was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Georgia,  Sep- 


202 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


temberi7,  1825.  He  graduated  from  Emory 
College  in  1845,  studied  law  at  Macon  under 
Hon.  A.  H.  Chappell,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1847.  He  moved  to  Oxford, 
Mississippi,  in  1849,  and  was  elected  to  a 
professorship  in  the  State  University.  He 
resigned  the  next  year  and  returned  to  Cov- 
ington, Georgia,  and  resumed  the  practice 
of  law.  In  1853  he  was  elected  to  the 
Georgia  Legislature,  and  in  1854  he  removed 
to  his  plantation  in  Lafayette  county,  Mis- 
sissippi, and  was  elected  to  represent  his 
district  in  the  thirty-fifth  and  thirty-sixth 
congresses.  He  resigned  in  i860,  and  was 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  secession  conven- 
tion of  the  state.  He  entered  the  Confed- 
erate service  in  1S61  as  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  Nineteenth  Regiment,  and  was  soon 
after  made  colonel.  In  1863  President 
Davis  appointed  him  to  an  important  diplo- 
matic mission  to.  Russia.  In  1866  he  was 
elected  professor  of  political  economy  and 
social  science  in  the  State  University,  and 
was  soon  afterward  transferred  to  the  pro- 
fessorship of  the  law  department.  He  rep- 
resented his  district  in  the  forty-third  and 
forty-fourth  congresses,  and  was  elected 
United  States  senator  from  Mississippi  in 
1877,  and  re-elected  in  1882.  In  1885,  be- 
fore the  expiration  of  his  term,  he  was 
appointed  by  President  Cleveland  as  secre- 
tary of  the  interior,  which  position  he  held 
until  his  appointment  as  associate  justice  of 
the  United  States  supreme  court,  in  1888, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  until  his  death, 
January  23,  1894. 


BENJAMIN  PENHALLOW  SHILLA- 
BER  won  fame  in  the  world  of 
humorists  under  the  name  of  "Mrs.  Parting- 
ton."  He  was  born  in  1841  at  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire,  and  started  out  in  life  as  a 
printer.      Mr.     Shillaber    went    to    Dover, 


where  he  secured  employment  in  a  printing 
office,  and  from  there  he  went  to  Demerara, 
Guiana,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  com- 
positor in  1835-37.  In  ^40  he  became 
connected  with  the  "Boston  Post,"  and 
acquired  quite  a  reputation  as  a  humorist 
by  his  "Sayings  of  Mrs.  Partington."  He 
remained  as  editor  of  the  paper  until  1S50, 
when  he  printed  and  edited  a  paper  of  his 
own  called  the  "Pathfinder,"  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1852.  Mr.  Shillaber  be- 
came editor  and  proprietor  of  the  "Carpet 
Bag,"  which  he  conducted  during  1850-52, 
and  then  returned  to  the  "Boston  Post," 
with  which  he  was  connected  until  1856. 
During  the  same  time  he  was  one  of  the 
editors  of  the  "Saturday  Evening  Gazette," 
and  continued  in  this  line  after  he  severed 
his  connection  with  the  "Post,"  for  ten 
years.  After  1866  Mr.  Shillaber  wrote  for 
various  newspapers  and  periodicals,  and 
during  his  life  published  the  following 
books:  "Rhymes  with  Reason  and  Without," 
"Poems,"  "Life  and  Sayings  of  Mrs.  Part- 
ington," "Knitting  Work,"  and  others. 
His  death  occurred  at  Chelsea,  Massachu- 
setts, November  25,  1890. 


EASTMAN  JOHNSON  stands  first  among 
painters  of  American  country  life.  He 
was  born  in  Lovell,  Maine,  in  1824,  and  be- 
gan his  work  in  drawing  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een years.  His  first  works  were  portraits, 
and,  as  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Wash- 
ington, the  most  famous  men  of  the  nation 
were  his  subjects.  In  1846  he  went  to  Bos- 
ton, and  there  made  crayon  portraits  of 
Longfellow,  Emerson,  Sumner,  Hawthorne 
and  other  noted  men.  In  1849  he  went  to 
Europe.  He  studied  at  Dusseldorf,  Ger- 
many; spent  a  year  at  the  Royal  Academy, 
and  thence  to  The  Hague,  where  he  spent 
four  years,  producing  there  his  first  pictures 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


203 


of  consequence,  "The  Card -Players  "  and 
"The  Savoyard."  He  then  went  to  Paris, 
but  was  called  home,  after  an  absence  from 
America  of  six  years.  He  lived  some  time 
in  Washington,  and  then  spent  two  years 
among  the  Indians  of  Lake  Superior.  In 
1858  he  produced  his  famous  picture,  "The 
Old  Kentucky  Home."  He  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  at  New  York  at  that 
time.  His  "  Sunday  Morning  in  Virginia  " 
is  a  work  of  equal  merit.  He  was  espe- 
cially successful  in  coloring,  a  master  of 
drawing,  and  the  expression  conveys  with 
precision  the  thought  of  the  artist.  His 
portrayal  of  family  life  and  child  life  is  un- 
equalled. Among  his  other  great  works  are 
"The  Confab,"  "Crossing  a  Stream,' 
"Chimney  Sweep,"  "Old  Stage  Coach," 
"  The  New  Bonnet,"  "  The  Drummer  Boy," 
•'  Childhood  of  Lincoln,"  and  a  great  vari- 
ety of  equally  familiar  subjects. 


PIERCE  GUSTAVE  TOUTANT  BEAU- 
REGARD, one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished generals  in  the  Confederate  army, 
was  born  near  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
May  28,  181 8.  He  graduated  from  West 
Point  Military  Academy  in  1838,  and  was 
made  second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  He 
was  with  General  Scott  in  Mexico,  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  Vera  Cruz,  Cerro 
Gordo,  and  the  battles  near  the  City  of 
Mexico,  for  which  he  was  twice  brevetted. 
After  the  Mexican  war  closed  he  was  placed 
in  charge  of  defenses  about  New  Orleans, 
and  in  i860  was  appointed  superintendent 
of  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point.  He  held  this  position  but  a 
few  months,  when  he  resigned  February  20, 
1 86 1,  and  accepted  a  commission  of  briga- 
dier-general in  the  Confederate  army.  He 
directed   the    attack    on    Fort    Sumter,  the 

first  engagement  of  the  Civil  war.     He  was 
12 


in  command  of  the  Confederates  at  the  first 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  for  this  victory  was 
made  general.  In  1862  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  planned  the  attack  upon  General  Grant 
at  Shiloh,  and  upon  the  death  of  General 
Johnston  he  took  command  of  the  army 
and  was  only  defeated  by  the  timely  arrival 
of  General  Buell  with  reinforcements.  He 
commanded  at  Charleston  and  successfully 
defended  that  city  against  the  combined  at- 
tack by  land  and  sea  in  1863.  In  1864  he 
was  in  command  in  Virginia,  defeating  Gen- 
eral Butler,  and  resisting  Grant's  attack 
upon  Petersburg  until  reinforced  from  Rich- 
mond. During  the  long  siege  which  fol- 
lowed he  was  sent  to  check  General  Sher- 
man's march  to  the  sea,  and  was  with  Gen- 
eral Joseph  E.  Johnston  when  that  general 
surrendered  in  1865.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  was  largely  interested  in  railroad 
management.  In  1866  he  was  offered  chief 
command  of  the  Army  of  Roumania,  and  in 
1869,  that  of  the  Army  of  Egypt.  He  de- 
clined these  offers.  His  death  occurred 
February  20,  1893. 


HENRY  GEORGE,  one  of  America's 
most  celebrated  political  economists, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
September  2,  1839.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education  and  entered  the  high 
school  in  1853,  and  then  went  into  a  mer- 
cantile office.  He  made  several  voyages  on 
the  sea,  and  settled  in  California  in  1858. 
He  then  worked  at  the  printer's  trade  for  a 
number  of  years,  which  he  left  to  follow  the 
editorial  profession.  He  edited  in  succession 
several  daily  newspapers,  and  attracted  at- 
tention by  a  number  of  strong  essays  and 
speeches  on  political  and  social  questions. 
In  1S71  he  edited  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "Out 
Land  and  Policy,"  in  which  he  outlined  a 


\04 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


theory,  which  has  since  made  him  sowidi  u 
known.  This  was  developed  in  "  Progress 
.md  Poverty,"  .1  book  which  soon  attained  a 
large  i  irculation  on  both  sides  oi  the  Allan 
tic,  which  has  been  extensively  translated, 
In  1880  Mr,  George  located  in  New  York, 
where  he  mixde  his  home,  though  he  fre 
quentlj  addressed  audiences  in  ( ireal  Britain, 
Ireland,  Australia,  and  throughout  the 
United  States.  In  \ 886  he  was  nominated 
by  the  laboi  organizations  for  mayor  of  New 
York,  and  made  .1  campaign  notable  foi  its 
development  oi  unexpected  power.  In  1887  he 
was  candidate  ol  the  Union  I  abor  party  for 
sei  retai  \  ol  state  ol  New  Y01  k  rhese  cam 
pa igns  served  to  formulate  the  idea  of  a  single 
tax  and  populari  e  the  Australian  ballot  sys 
tern.  Mi.  George  became  .1  free  trader  in 
1  sss,  a n,  1  in  1  89  •  supported  the  election  oi 
Grover  Cleveland.  His  political  .in,l  eco 
nomic  ideas,  known  as  tli<'  "single  tax," 
have  a  large  and  growing  support,  but  are 
not  confined  to  tins  country  alone.  He 
wrote  numerous  miscellaneous  articles  in 
support  ol  his  principles,  and  also  published: 
•■  riw  l  and  Question, "  "Social  Problems," 
"Pi oteel ion  oi  Free  (Trade, "  "  rhe  Condi 
tion  oi  1  abor,  .in  Open  Letter  to  Pope  Leo 
Mil  .'•  and  ••  Perplexed  Philosopher." 

THOMAS  \1  I  \  W'PI  KSiOlT  -  11ns 
name  is  indissolubly  connected  with 
the  history  and  development  of  the  railwaj 
systems  oi  the  United  States.  Mr.  Scott 
was  born  December  28,  1823,  .it  1  ondon, 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  IK'  was  first 
regularly  employed  l>\  Major  [ames  Patton, 
the  collector  of  tolls  on  the  si. no  road  be 
tween  Philadelphia  and  Columbia,  Penn 
sylvania.  He  entered  into  the  employ  oi 
the  Pennsyh  ama  Railroad  Company  in  1850, 
and  went  through  .ill  the  different  branches 
of  work  until  he  h.ul  mastered  .ill  tin-  details 


ol  the  office  work,  and  in  [858  he  was  ap- 
pointed general  superintendent.     Mr.  Scott 
was  the  next  year  chosen  vice  president  ol 
the  road.      This  position  at   once  brought 
him  before  the  public,  and  the  enterprise 
and  ability  displayed  by  him  in  its  manage 
nient  marked  him  as  a  leader  among  the 
railroad  nun  of  the  country .     At   the  out 
bieak   ol    the  rebellion   in  1861,  Mr.  Scott 
was  selected  byGovernor  Curtin  as  a  mem 
ber  of  his  staff ,  and  placed  in  charge  of  the 
equipment  and  forwarding  of  the  state  troops 
to  the  seat  ol  war.     On  April  27,  [861,  the 

Secretary  oi  War  desired  to  establish  a  new 
line  ol  load  between  the  national  capital 
and   Philadelphia,    (or  the    more    expeditions 

transportation  of  troops.  He  called  upon 
Mr,  Seott  to  direct  tins  work,  and  the  road 

by  the  way  of  Annapolis  and  IVrryville  was 

completed  in  a  marvelously  short  space  ol 
time,  t^n  May  3,  1861,  he  was  commis- 
sioned colonel  of  volunteers,  and  on  the  23d 
of  the  same  month  the  government  railroads 
and  telegraph  lines  were  placed  in  his  charge. 

Mi     Seott    was   the   first    assistant    socio!. n\ 

ol  war  ever  appointed,  and  he  took  charge 
of  this  new  post  August  1,  [861.  In  Janu- 
ary,   [862,    he   was    directed    to  organize 

transportation     in     the    northwest,    and     in 

March  he  performed  the  same  service  on 
the  western  rivers.  He  resigned  June  1. 
[862,  awA  resumed  his  direction  oi  affairs  on 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  Colonel  Scott 
directed  the  policy  that  seemed  to  Ins  road 

the  control  of  the  western  roads,  and  he 
came  the  president  of    the    new  company  to 

operate  those  lines  in   iS,~i.     For  one  year, 

from  March,   I87I,  he  was   president    of  the 

Union  Pacific  Railroad,  and  in  1874  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  presidency  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Company,     lie  projected  the   Texas 

Pacific  Railroad  .\\\A  was  tor  many  years  its 
president.       Colonel     Scott's     health     tailed 


(  0  I//'/  ND1UM    "i-    liJOGR  !/■/// 


him  and  he  re  tigni  d   th<    pn  lidi  n<  v  ol  the 
road  [line  I  nd  died  al  his  home  in 

Darby,  Pennsylvania,  May  2 1,  [881. 


ROBERT  'I  OOMBS,  an  Ameri<  an  stafa 
man  ol  not  >l  n  in  VV ilk':,  COUI1 

ty.  Geo  1  fuly  2,  18 10.  I le  attended 
the  University  ol  Gi  orgia,  and  graduate  d 
from  Union  '  illegi  Schenei  tady,  New 
York,  and  then  took  a  law  course  al  the 
1  rsity  of  Virginia  In  1 8  jo,  before  he 
had  attained  his  majority,  h<  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  by  special  act  of  the  legislature, 
and  rose  rapidly  in  bis  profession,  attracting 
the  attention  of  the  leading  statesmen  and 
judges  of  that  time.  If':  raised  a  volunteer 
company  for  the  Creek  war,  and  served  as 
i  aptain  to  the  clo  ic     He  dto  the 

gi  lal  an  in  1 837,  re  ele<  t<  'I  in  (842, 
and  in  1  844  was  ele<  ted  to  (  ongri  «,  I  le 
had    b(    n    brougbl     tip    as   a   Jeffersonian 

Ol  rat,    but  VOted    for    Ham SOU    m   [84O 

and  for  Clay  in  1844,  He  made  his  firsl 
th<  ' >■■•  gon  question, 
and  immediately  took  rank  with  th<  gr< 
debaters  of  that  body.  In  \\ 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  and 
again  in  1859,  but  when  bis  native  state 
1  at  in  the  senate 
and  v.  d    to  the  Confederate  eon 

t<  d  on  the  be  il  authority 
that  bad  it  not  been  for  a  misunderstanding 
which  could  not  be  explained  till  too  late  he 
would  fia-.e  been  elected  president  of  the 
Confi  deracy,  f  fe  was  app 
of  tate  by  President  Davis,  but  resigned 
after  a  few  months  and  was  commissioned 
ni  ral  in  the  '  onfederate  army. 
If':  won  dit  tinction  at  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run  and  at  Sharpsburg,  b 

oon  after  and  returned  to 
a.      He    organized    the    militia    of 

.-.■nan,    and 


liei  gi  n<  ral  ol    thi    itati    troops      He 
left  the  country  al  the  closi  ol  the  wai  and 
did  not  return  until  1  86j       I  le  died  Dcci  m 
her  t  5,    [885. 

AUS1  IN    '  ORBIN,   one    of    thi 
railway  magnate  1  of  thi   United  I 
born    July  11,  [827,  al    Newport,  New 

I  lain),  .hue  lie     Studied     la  .'/     '.villi     Chief 

[ustii  e  ( ,11  thing  and  < ,• , .<  inoi  Ralph   Ml  I 
calf,  and  later  too  e  in  the  I  lai  .■■■id 

Law  School,  where  he  graduated  in   1 
He  was  admitted   to  the  bar,  and  practiced 
law,  with  Governor  Metcall  as  his  partner, 
until  Octobi  r  12    1851       Mi     '  orbin  then 
removed  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  hi  r< 
mained  until  1865,     In  1854  he  was  a  pari 
nei  in   the  banking  firm  of   Ma< 

and  lati  1  he  organic  d  the  Firsl 
tional  bank  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  which 
commenci  d  bu  in<  ss  |  in<  so.  1  < ■  j,  and 
which  was  the  firsl  national  bank  open  for 
busini  ss  in  the  United  Stat<  a  Mi  (  orbin 
sold  out  his  business  in  thi  I  lavenporl  bank, 
and  removed  to  New  Voik  in  1 865  and  <  om 
in' 11' ed  business  with  partners  undei  the 
-,!  (  01  bin   Banking  '  ompat 

aft':r    his    i'  '"'■  •  al    to  *■     ••    Vork    lie  bl 

ted  in  railroads,  and  bi  came  one  of 
the  leading  railroad  men  of  the  country, 

'I  lie  development  of  thi 

as  a  summi  1  re  ort.  firsl  brought  dim 
I  prominence,     He  buill  a 

road    from    New    York    to    the    island,    and 

built  great  hotel-,  on   its  ocean  front      He 

I  irned    bis    attention    to  Long    I   land, 

■  ured  all   the  railroads  and  co 
dated  them  under  one  nt,  became 

nt  of  the    ..  t<  m,  and  undi 
trol   Long   I      ad  became  I 
suburb   of    New    York.       His  latest   public 
acbievemei  I  I  ion  of  the 

I,     of      Pel  and 


206 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


during  the  same  time  he  and  his  friends 
purchased  the  controlling  interest  of  the 
New  Jersey  Central  Railroad.  He  took  it 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  receiver,  and  in 
three  years  had  it  on  a  dividend-paying 
basis.  Mr.  Corbin's  death  occurred  June 
4,  1896. 

JAMES  GORDON  BENNETT,  Sr., 
was  one  of  the  greatest  journalists  of 
America  in  his  day.  He  was  born  Septem- 
ber 1,  1795,  at  New  Mill,  near  Keith,  Scot- 
land. At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  sent 
to  Aberdeen  to  study  for  the  priesthood, 
but,  convinced  that  he  was  mistaken  in  his 
vocation,  he  determined  to  emigrate.  He 
landed  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  in  18 19, 
where  he  attempted  to  earn  a  living  by 
teaching  bookkeeping.  Failing  in  this  he 
went  to  Boston  and  found  employment  as  a 
proof  reader.  Mr.  Bennett  went  to  New 
York  about  1822  and  wrote  for  the  news- 
papers. Later  on  he  became  assistant 
editor  in  the  office  of  the  "Charleston 
Courier, "but  returned  to  New  York  in  1824 
and  endeavored  to  start  a  commercial 
school,  but  was  unsuccessful  in  this,  and 
again  returned  to  newspaper  work.  He 
continued  in  newspaper  work  with  varying 
success  until,  at  his  suggestion,  the  "En- 
quirer" was  consolidated  with  another 
paper,  and  became  the  "Courier  and  En- 
quirer," with  James  Watson  Webb  as 
editor  and  Mr.  Bennett  for  assistant.  At 
this  time  this  was  the  leading  American 
newspaper.  He,  however,  severed  his  con- 
nection with  this  newspaper  and  tried, 
without  success,  other  ventures  in  the  line 
of  journalism  until  May  6,  1835,  when  he 
issued  the  first  number  of  the  "New  York 
Herald."  Mr.  Bennett  wrote  the  entire 
paper,  and  made  up  for  lack  of  news  by  his 
own  imagination.      The  paper  became  popu- 


lar, and  in  1838  he  engaged  European  jour- 
nalists as  regular  correspondents.  In  1841 
the  income  derived  from  his  paper  was  at 
least  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  the  "  Herald  "  had  on  its 
staff  sixty-three  war  correspondents  and  the 
circulation  was  doubled.  Mr.  Bennett  was 
interested  with  John  W.  Mackay  in  that  great 
enterprise  which  is  now  known  as  the  Mac- 
kay-Bennett  Cable.  He  had  collected  for  use 
in  his  paper  over  fifty  thousand  biographies, 
sketches  and  all  manner  of  information  re- 
garding every  well-known  man,  which  are 
still  kept  in  the  archives  of  the  "Herald" 
office.  He  died  in  the  city  of  New  York  in 
1872,  and  left  to  his  son,  James  Gordon, 
Jr.,  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  profitable 
journals  in  the  United  States,  or  even  in  the 
world. 

OLIVER  WENDELL  HOLMES,  a 
noted  American,  won  distinction  in  the 
field  of  literature,  in  which  he  attained  a 
world-wide  reputation.  He  was  born  at 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  August  29,  1809. 
He  received  a  collegiate  education  and  grad- 
uated from  Harvard  in  1829,  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  and  took  up  the  study  of  law  and 
later  studied  medicine.  Dr.  Holmes  at- 
tended several  years  in  the  hospitals  of 
Europe  and  received  his  degree  in  1836. 
He  became  professor  of  anatomy  and  phys- 
iology in  Dartmouth  in  1838,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1847,  when  he  was 
called  to  the  Massachusetts  Medical  School 
at  Boston  to  occupy  the  same  chair,  which 
position  he  resigned  in  1882.  The  first 
collected  edition  of  his  poems  appeared  in 
1836,  and  his  "Phi  Beta  Kappa  Poems," 
"Poetry,"  in  1836;  "Terpsichore,"  in  1843; 
"Urania,"  in  1846,  and  "Astrsea,"  won  for 
him  many  fresh  laurels.  His  series  of 
papers   in  the   "Atlantic    Monthly,"    were: 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BTOGRAPHT. 


207 


"Autocrat  of  the  Breakfast  Table,"  "Pro- 
fessor at  the  Breakfast  Table,"  "Poet  at 
the  Breakfast  Table,"  and  are  a  series  of 
masterly  wit,  humor  and  pathos.  Among 
hismedical  papers  and  addresses, are:  "Cur- 
rents and  Counter-currents  in  the  Medical 
Science,"  and  "Borderland  in  Some  Prov- 
inces of  Medical  Science."  Mr.  Holmes 
edited  quite  a  number  of  works,  of  which 
we  quote  the  following:  "Else  Venner, " 
"Songs  in  Many  Keys,"  "Soundings  from 
the  Atlantic,"  "Humorous  Poems,"  "The 
Guardian  Angel,"  "Mechanism  in  Thoughts 
and  Morals,"  "Songs  of  Many  Seasons," 
"John  L.  Motley" — a  memoir,  "The  Iron 
Gate  and  Other  Poems,"  "Ralph  Waldo 
Emerson,"  "A  Moral  Antipathy."  Dr. 
Holmes  visited  England  for  the  second  time, 
and  while  there  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  University 
of  Edinburgh.  His  death  occurred  October 
7.  1894.  

RUFUS  CHOATE,  one  of  the  most  em- 
inent of  America's  great  lawyers,  was 
born  October  1,  1799,  at  Essex,  Massachu- 
setts. He  entered  Dartmouth  in  181 5, 
and  after  taking  his  degree  he  remained  as 
a  teacher  in  the  college  for  one  year.  He 
took  up  the  study  of  law  in  Cambridge,  and 
subsequently  studied  under  the  distinguished 
lawyer,  Mr.  Wirt,  who  was  then  United 
States  attorney-general  at  Washington.  Mr. 
Choatebegan  the  practice  of  law  in  Danvers, 
Massachusetts,  and  from  there  he  went  to 
Salem,  and  afterwards  to  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. While  living  at  Salem  he  was 
elected  to  congress  in  1832,  and  later,  in 
1 84 1,  he  was  chosen  United  States  senator 
to  succeed  Daniel  Webster,  Mr.  Webster 
having  been  appointed  secretary  of  state 
under  William  Henry  Harrison. 

After  the  death  of  Webster,  Mr-  Choate 


was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts bar,  and  was  looked  upon  by  the 
younger  members  of  the  profession  with  an 
affection  that  almost  amounted  to  a  rever- 
ence. Mr.  Choate's  powers  as  an  orator 
were  of  the  rarest  order,  and  his  genius 
made  it  possible  for  him  to  enchant  and  in- 
terest his  listeners,  even  while  discussing  the 
most  ordinary  theme.  He  was  not  merely 
eloquent  on  the  subjects  that  were  calculated 
to  touch  the  feelings  and  stir  the  passions 
of  his  audience  in  themselves,  but  could  at 
all  times  command  their  attention.  He  re- 
tired from  active  life  in  1858,  and  was  on 
his  way  to  Europe,  his  physician  having 
ordered  a  sea  voyage  for  his  health,  but  had 
only  reached  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  when 
he  died,  July   13,  1858. 


D WIGHT  L.  MOODY,  one  of  the  most 
noted  and  effective  pulpit  orators  and 
evangelists  America  has  produced,  was  born 
in  Northfield,  Franklin  county,  Massachu- 
setts, February  5,  1837.  He  received  but 
a  meager  education  and  worked  on  a  farm 
until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  be- 
came clerk  in  a  boot  and  shoe  store  in 
Boston.  Soon  after  this  he  joined  the  Con- 
gregational church  and  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  zealously  engaged  in  missionary 
work  among  the  poor  classes.  He  met 
with  great  success,  and  in  less  than  a  year 
he  built  up  a  Sunday-school  which  numbered 
over  one  thousand  children.  When  the 
war  broke  out  he  became  connected  with 
what  was  known  as  the  "Christian  Com- 
mission," and  later  became  city  missionary 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  at 
Chicago.  A  church  was  built  there  for  his 
converts  and  he  became  its  unordained  pas- 
tor. In  the  Chicago  fire  of  1871  the  church 
and  Mr.  Moody's  house  and  furniture,  which 
had  been  given  him,  were  destroyed.     The 


208 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


church  edifice  was  afterward  replaced  by  a 
new  church  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old 
one.  In  1873,  accompanied  by  Ira  D. 
Sankey,  Mr.  Moody  went  to  Europe  and 
excited  great  religious  awakenings  through- 
out England,  Ireland  and  Scotland.  In 
1875  they  returned  to  America  and  held 
large  meetings  in  various  cities.  They 
afterward  made  another  visit  to  Great 
Britain  for  the  same  purpose,  meeting  with 
great  success,  returning  to  the  United  States 
in  1 884.  Mr.  Moody  afterward  continued 
his  evangelistic  work,  meeting  everywhere, 
with  a  warm  reception  and  success.  Mr. 
Moody  produced  a  number  of  works,  some 
of  which  had  a  wide  circulation. 


JOHN  PIERPONT  MORGAN,  a  financier 
<J  of  world-wide  reputation,  and  famous 
as  the  head  of  one  of  the  largest  banking 
houses  in  the  world,  was  born  April  17, 
1837,  at  Hartford,  Connecticut.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  English 
high  school,  in  Boston,  and  later  supple- 
mented this  with  a  course  in  the  University 
of  Gottingen,  Germany.  He  returned  to 
the  United  States,  in  1857,  and  entered  the 
banking  firm  of  Duncan,  Sherman  &  Co., 
of  New  York,  and,  in  i860,  he  became 
agent  and  attorney,  in  the  United  States,  for 
George  Peabody  &  Co.,  of  London.  He 
became  the  junior  partner  in  the  banking 
firm  of  Dabney,  Morgan  &  Co.,  in  1864, 
and  that  of  Drexel,  Morgan  &  Co.,  in  1871. 
This  house  was  among  the  chief  negotiators 
of  railroad  bonds,  and  was  active  in  the  re- 
organization of  the  West  Shore  Railroad, 
and  its  absorption  by  the  New  York  Central 
Railroad.  It  was  conspicuous  in  the  re- 
organization of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Railroad,  in  1887,  which  a  syndicate  of 
capitalists,  formed  by  Mr.  Morgan,  placed 
on  a  sound  financial  basis.      After  that  time 


many  other  lines  of  railroad  and  gigantic 
financial  enterprises  were  brought  under  Mr. 
Morgan's  control,  and  in  some  respects  it 
may  be  said  he  became  the  foremost  financier 
of  the  century. 


THOMAS  BRACKETT  REED,  one  of 
the  most  eminent  of  American  states- 
men, was  born  October  18,  1839,  at  Port- 
land, Maine,  where  he  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
city,  and  prepared  himself  for  college.  Mr. 
Reed  graduated  from  Bowdoin  College  in 
i860,  and  won  one  of  the  highest  honors  of 
the  college,  the  prize  for  excellence  in  Eng- 
lish composition.  The  following  four  years 
were  spent  by  him  in  teaching  and  in  the 
study  of  law.  Before  his  admission  to  the 
bar,  however,  he  was  acting  assistant  pay- 
master in  the  United  States  navy,  and 
served  on  the  "tin-clad"  Sybil,  which  pa- 
trolled the  Tennessee,  Cumberland  and 
Mississippi  rivers.  After  his  discharge  in 
1865,  he  returned  to  Portland,  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar,  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  entered  into  political  life, 
and  in  1868  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
of  Maine  as  a  Republican,  and  in  1869  he 
was  re-elected  to  the  house,  and  in  1870 
was  made  state  senator,  from  which  he 
passed  to  attorney-general  of  the  state. 
He  retired  from  this  office  in  1873,  and 
until  1877  he  was  solicitor  for  the  city 
of  Portland.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to 
the  forty-fifth  congress,  which  assembled 
in  1877.  Mr.  Reed  sprung  into  prominence 
in  that  body  by  one  of  the  first  speeches 
which  he  delivered,  and  his  long  service  in 
congress,  coupled  with  his  ability,  gave  him 
a  national  reputation.  His  influence  each 
year  became  more  strongly  marked,  and  the 
leadership  of  his  party  was  finally  conceded 
to  him,  and  in  the  forty-ninth   and  fiftieth 


COMPENDIUM   OP   BIOGRAPHY. 


209 


congresses  the  complimentary  nomination 
for  the  speakership  was  tendered  him  by  the 
Republicans.  That  party  having  obtained 
the  ascendency  in  the  fifty-first  congress  he 
was  elected  speaker  on  the  first  ballot,  and 
he  was  again  chosen  speaker  of  the  fifty- 
fourth  and  fifth-fifth  congresses.  As  a 
writer,  Mr.  Reed  contributed  largely  to  the 
magazines  and  periodicals,  and  his  book 
upon  parliamentary  rules  is  generally  rec- 
ognized as  authority  on  that  subject. 


CLARA  BARTON  is  a  celebrated  char- 
acter among  what  might  be  termed  as 
the  highest  grade  of  philanthropists  Amer- 
ica has  produced.  She  was  born  on  a  farm 
at  Oxford,  Massachusetts,  a  daughter  of 
Captain  Stephen  Barton,  and  was  educated 
at  Clinton,  New  York.  She  engaged  in 
teaching  early  in  life,  and  founded  a  free 
school  at  Bordentown,  the  first  in  New  Jer- 
sey. She  opened  with  six  pupils,  but  the 
attendance  had  grown  to  six  hundred  up  to 
1854,  when  she  went  to  Washington.  She 
was  appointed  clerk  in  the  patent  depart- 
ment, and  remained  there  until  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war,  when  she  resigned 
her  position  and  devoted  herself  to  the  al- 
leviation of  the  sufferings  of  the  soldiers, 
serving,  not  in  the  hospitals,  but  on  the  bat- 
tle field.  She  was  present  at  a  number  of 
battles,  and  after  the  war  closed  she  origi- 
nated, and  for  some  time  carried  on  at  her 
own  expense,  the  search  for  missing  soldiers. 
She  then  for  several  years  devoted  her  time 
to  lecturing  on  "Incidents  of  the  War." 
About  1868  she  went  to  Europe  for  her 
health,  and  settled  in  Switzerland,  but  on  the 
outbreak  of  the  Franco-German  war  she  ac- 
cepted the  invitation  of  the  grand  duchess 
of  Baden  to  aid  in  the  establishment  of  her 
hospitals,  and  Miss  Barton  afterward  fol- 
lowed the  German  army      She  was   deco- 


rated with  the  golden  cross  by  the  grand 
duke  of  Baden,  and  with  the  iron  cross  by 
the  emperor  of  Germany.  She  aiso  served 
for  many  years  as  president  of  the  famous 
Red  Cross  Society  and  attained  a  world- 
wide reputation. 


CARDINAL  JAMES  GIBBONS,  one  of 
the  most  eminent  Catholic  clergymen 
in  America,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, July  23,  1834.  He  was  given  a 
thorough  education,  graduated  at  St.  Charles 
College,  Maryland,  in  1857,  and  studied 
theology  in  St.  Mary's  Seminary,  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  In  1861  he  became  pastor  of 
St.  Bridget's  church  in  Baltimore,  and  in 
1868  was  consecrated  vicar  apostolic  of 
North  Carolina.  In  1872  our  subject  be- 
came bishop  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  and 
five  years  later  was  made  archbishop  of  Bal- 
timore. On  the  30th  of  Tune,  i885,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  full  degree  of  cardinal 
and  primate  of  the  American  Catholic 
church.  He  was  a  fluent  writer,  and  his 
book,  "  Faith  of  Our  Fathers,'  had  a  wide 
circulation. 

CHAUNCEY  MITCHELL  DEPEW.— 
This  name  is,  without  doubt,  one  of 
the  most  widely  known  in  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Depew  was  born  April  23,  1834,  at 
Peekskill,  New  York,  the  home  of  the  Depew 
family  for  two  hundred  years.  He  attended 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  place, 
where  he  prepared  himself  to  enter  college. 
He  began  his  collegiate  course  at  Yale  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  and  graduated  in  1856. 
He  early  took  an  active  interest  in  politics 
and  joined  the  Republican  party  at  its  for- 
mation. He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
and  went  into  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Will- 
iam Nelson,  of  Peekskill,  for  that  purpose, 
and  in  1858  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 


210 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


He  was  sent  as  a  delegate  by  the  new  party 
to  the  Republican  state  convention  of  that 
year.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  1859,  but  though  he  was  a  good 
worker,  his  attention  was  detracted  by  the 
rampaign  of  i860,  in  which  he  took  an  act- 
ive part.  During  this  campaign  he  gained 
his  first  laurels  as  a  public  speaker.  Mr. 
Depew  was  elected  assemblyman  in  1862 
from  a  Democratic  district.  In  1863  he  se- 
cured the  nomination  for  secretary  of  state, 
and  gained  that  post  by  a  majority  of  thirty 
thousand.  In  1866  he  left  the  field  of  pol- 
itics and  entered  into  the  active  practice 
of  his  law  business  as  attorney  for  the 
New  York  &  Harlem  Railroad  Company, 
and  in  1869  when  this  road  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  New  York  Central,  and 
called  the  New  York  Central  &  Hudson 
River  Railroad,  he  was  appointed  the  attor- 
ney for  the  new  road.  His  rise  in  the  rail- 
road business  was  rapid,  and  ten  years  after 
his  entrance  into  the  Vanderbilt  system  as 
attorney  for  a  single  line,  he  was  the  gen- 
eral counsel  for  one  of  the  largest  railroad 
systems  in  the  world.  He  was  also  a 
director  in  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern,  Michigan  Central,  Chicago  & 
Northwestern,  St.  Paul  &  Omaha,  West 
Shore,  and  Nickel  Plate  railroad  companies. 
In  1874  Mr.  Depew  was  made  regent  of 
the  State  University,  and  a  member  of  the 
commission  appointed  to  superintend  the 
erection  of  the  capitol  at  Albany.  In  1882, 
on  the  resignation  of  W.  H.  Vanderbilt 
from  the  presidency  of  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral and  the  accession  to  that  office  by 
James  H.  Rutter,  Mr.  Depew  was  made 
second  vice-president,  and  held  that  posi- 
tion until  the  death  of  Mr.  Rutter  in  1885. 
In  this  year  Mr.  Depew  became  the  execu- 
tive head  of  this  great  corporation.  Mr. 
Depew's  greatest  fame  grew  from  his  ability 


and  eloquence  as  an  orator  and  "  after-din- 
ner speaker, "  and  it  has  been  said  by  emi- 
nent critics  that  this  country  has  never  pro- 
duced his  equal  in  wit,  fluency  and  eloquence. 


PHILIP  KEARNEY.— Among  the  most 
dashing  and  brilliant  commanders  in 
the  United  States  service,  few  have  outshone 
the  talented  officer  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
June  2,  1815,  and  was  of  Irish  ancestry  and 
imbued  with  all  the  clash  and  bravery  of  the 
Celtic  race.  He  graduated  from  Columbia 
College  and  studied  law,  but  in  1837  ac~ 
cepted  a  commission  as  lieutenant  in  the 
First  United  States  Dragoons,  of  which  his 
uncle,  Stephen  W.  Kearney,  was  then  colo- 
nel. He  was  sent  by  the  government, 
soon  after,  to  Europe  to  examine  and  report 
upon  the  tactics  of  the  French  cavalry. 
There  he  attended  the  Polytechnic  School, 
at  Samur,  and  subsequently  served  as  a  vol- 
unteer in  Algiers,  winning  the  cross  of  the 
Legion  of  Honor.  He  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  1840,  and  on  the  staff  of 
General  Scott,  in  the  Mexican  war,  served 
with  great  gallantry.  He  was  made  a  cap- 
tain of  dragoons  in  1846  and  made  major 
for  services  at  Contreras  and  Cherubusco. 
In  the  final  assault  on  the  City  of  Mexico 
at  the  San  Antonio  Gate,  Kearney  lost  an 
arm.  He  subsequently  served  in  California 
and  the  Pacific  coast.  In  1851  he  resigned 
his  commission  and  went  to  Europe,  where 
he  resumed  his  military  studies.  In  the 
Italian  war,  in  1859,  he  served  as  a  volun- 
teer on  the  staff  of  General  Maurier,  of  the 
French  army,  and  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Solferino  and  Magenta,  and  for  bravery 
was,  for  the  second  time,  decorated  with 
the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  On  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  hastened  home, 
and,  offering  his  services  to  the  general  gov- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


211 


ernment,  was  made  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers  and  placed  in  command  of  a  bri- 
gade of  New  Jersey  troops.  In  the  cam- 
paign under  McClellan  he  commanded  a  di- 
vision, and  at  Williamsburg  and  Fair  Oaks 
his  services  were  valuable  and  brilliant,  as 
well  as  in  subsequent  engagements.  At 
Harrison's  Landing  he  was  made  major-gen- 
eral of  volunteers.  In  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run  he  was  conspicuous,  and  at  the 
battle  of  Chantilly,  September  i,  1862, 
while  leading  in  advance  of  his  troops,  Gen- 
eral Kearney  was  shot  and  killed. 


RUSSELL  SAGE,  one  of  the  financial 
giants  of  the  present  century  and  for 
more  than  an  average  generation  one  of  the 
most  conspicuous  and  celebrated  of  Ameri- 
cans, was  born  in  a  frontier  hamlet  in  cen- 
tral New  York  in  August,  18 16.  While  Rus- 
sell was  still  a  boy  an  elder  brother,  Henry 
Risley  Sage,  established  a  small  grocery 
store  at  Troy,  New  York,  and  here  Russell 
found  his  first  employment,  as  errand  boy. 
He  served  a  five-years  apprenticeship,  and 
then  joined  another  brother,  Elisha  M.  Sage, 
in  a  new  venture  in  the  same  line,  which 
proved  profitable,  at  least  for  Russell,  who 
soon  became  its  sole  owner.  Next  he 
formed  the  partnership  of  Sage  &  Bates, 
and  greatly  extended  his  field  of  operations. 
At  twenty-five  he  had,  by  his  own  exertions, 
amassed  what  was,  in  those  days,  a  consid- 
erable fortune,  being  worth  about  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars.  He  had  acquired  an 
influence  in  local  politics,  and  four  years 
later  his  party,  the  Whigs,  elected  him  to 
the  aldermanic  board  of  Troy  and  to  the 
treasuryship  of  Rensselaer  county.  In  1848 
he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  New 
York  delegation  to  the  Whig  convention  at 
Philadelphia,  casting  his  first  votes  for  Henry 
Clay,  but  joining  the    "stampede"  which 


nominated  Zachary  Taylor.  In  1850  the 
Whigs  of  Troy  nominated  him  for  congress, 
but  he  was  not  elected — a  failure  which  he 
retrieved  two  years  later,  and  in  1854  he 
was  re-elected  by  a  sweeping  majority.  At 
Washington  he  ranked  high  in  influence  and 
ability.  Fame  as  a  speaker  and  as  a  polit- 
ical leader  was  within  his  grasp,  when  he 
gave  up  public  life,  declined  a  renomination 
to  congress,  and  went  back  to  Troy  to  de- 
vote himself  to  his  private  business.  Six 
years  later,  in  1863,  he  removed  to  New 
York  and  plunged  into  the  arena  of  Wall 
street.  A  man  of  boundless  energy  and 
tireless  pertinacity,  with  wonderful  judg- 
ment of  men  and  things,  he  soon  took  his 
place  as  a  king  in  finance,  and,  it  is  said, 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  con- 
trolled more  ready  money  than  any  other 
single  individual  on  this  continent. 


ROGER  QUARLES  MILLS,  a  noted 
United  States  senator  and  famous  as  the 
father  of  the  "Mills  tariff  bill,  "was  born 
in  Todd  county,  Kentucky,  March  30,  1832. 
He  received  a  liberal  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  removed  to  Palestine, 
Texas,  in  1849.  He  took  up  the  study  of 
law,  and  supported  himself  by  serving  as  an 
assistant  in  the  post-office,  and  in  the  offices 
of  the  court  clerks.  In  1850  he  was  elected 
engrossing  clerk  of  the  Texas  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, and  in  1852  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  while  still  a  minor,  by  special  act 
of  the  legislature.  He  then  settled  at  Cor- 
sicana,  Texas,  and  began  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  was  elected  to 
the  state  legislature  in  1859,  and  in  1872  he 
was  elected  to  congress  from  the  state  at 
large,  as  a  Democrat.  After  his  first  elec- 
tion he  was  continuously  returned  to  con- 
gress until  he  resigned  to  accept  the  posi- 
tion of  United  States  senator,  to  which  he 


212 


C  OMPENDIUM  OF  '  BIO  GRA  PHY. 


was  elected  March  23,  1892,  to  succeed 
Hon.  Horace  Chilton.  He  took  his  seat  in 
the  senate  March  30,  1892;  was  afterward 
re-elected  and  ranked  among  the  most  use- 
ful and  prominent  members  of  that  body. 
In  1876  he  opposed  the  creation  of  the  elec- 
toral commission,  and  in  1887  canvassed 
the  state  of  Texas  against  the  adoption  of 
a  prohibition  amendment  to  its  constitution, 
which  was  defeated.  He  introduced  into 
the  house  of  representatives  the  bill  that  was 
known  as  the  "Mills  Bill,"  reducing  duties 
on  imports,  and  extending  the  free  list. 
The  bill  passed  the  house  on  July  21,  1888, 
and  made  the  name  of  "Mills"  famous 
throughout  the  entire  country. 


HAZEN  S.  PINGREE,  the  celebrated 
Michigan  political  leader,  was  born  in 
Maine  in  1842.  Up  to  fourteen  years  of 
age  he  worked  hard  on  the  stony  ground  of 
his  father's  small  farm.  Attending  school 
in  the  winter,  he  gained  a  fair  education, 
and  when  not  laboring  on  the  farm,  he 
found  employment  in  the  cotton  mills  in  the 
vicinity.  He  resolved  to  find  more  steady 
work,  and  accordingly  went  to  Hopkinton, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  entered  a  shoe  fac- 
tory, but  on  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  en- 
listed at  once  and  was  enrolled  in  the  First 
Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  which  was 
his  initial  fight,  and  served  creditably  his 
early  term  of  service,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  he  re-enlisted.  He  fought  in  the, 
battles  of  Fredricksburg,  Harris  Farm, 
Spottsylvania  Court  House  and  Cold  Har- 
bor. In  1864  he  was  captured  by  Mosby, 
and  spent  five  months  at  Andersonville, 
Georgia,  as  a  prisoner,  but  escaped  at  the 
end  of  that  time.  He  re-entered  the  service 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fort 
Fisher,  Boyden,    and    Sailor's    Creek.      He  I 


was  honorably  mustered  out  of  service,  and 
in  1866  went  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  where 
he  made  use  of  his  former  experience  in  a 
shoe  factory,  and  found  work.  Later  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  another  workman 
and  started  a  small  factory,  which  has  since 
become  a  large  establishment.  Mr.  Pin- 
gree  made  his  entrance  into  politics  in  1889, 
in  which  year  he  was  elected  by  a  surpris- 
ingly large  majority  as  a  Republican  to  the 
mayoralty  of  Detroit,  in  which  office  he  was 
the  incumbent  during  four  consecutive  terms. 
In  November,  1896,  he  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  of  Michigan.  While 
mayor  of  Detroit,  Mr.  Pingree  originated 
and  put  into  execution  the  idea  of  allowing 
the  poor  people  of  the  city  the  use  of  va- 
cant city  lands  and  lots  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  potatoes.  The  idea  was  enthusiast- 
ically adopted  by  thousands  of  poor  families, 
attracted  wide  attention,  and  gave  its  author 
a  national  reputation  as  "Potato-patch  Pin- 
gree."   

THOMAS  ANDREW  HENDRICKS,  an 
eminent  American  statesman  and  a 
Democratic  politician  of  national  fame,  was 
born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 7,  1 8 19.  In  1822  he  removed,  with  his 
father,  to  Shelby  county,  Irtdiana.  He 
graduated  from  the  South  Hanover  College 
in  1 841,  and  two  years  later  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  In  185  I  he  was  chosen  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  constitutional  convention, 
and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  deliberations 
of  that  body.  He  was  elected  to  congress 
in  185 1,  and  after  serving  two  terms  was 
appointed  commissioner  of  the  United  States 
general  land-office.  In  1863  he  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate,  where  his  dis- 
tinguished services  commanded  the  respect 
of  all  parties.  He  was  elected  governor  of 
Indiana  in    1872,  serving  four  years,  and  in 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


213 


1876  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  as 
candidate  for  the  vice-presidency  with  Til- 
den.  The  returns  in  a  number  of  states 
were  contested,  and  resulted  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  famous  electoral  commission, 
which  decided  in  favor  of  the  Republican 
candidates.  In  1884  Mr.  Hendricks  was 
again  nominated  as  candidate  for  the  vice- 
presidency,  by  the  Democratic  party,  on  the 
ticket  with  Grover  Cleveland,  was  elected, 
and  served  about  six  months.  He  died  at 
Indianapolis,  November  25,  1885.  Hewas 
regarded  as  one  of  the  brainiest  men  in  the 
party,  and  his  integrity  was  never  ques- 
tioned, even  by  his  political  opponents. 


GARRETT  A.  HOBART,  one  of  the 
many  able  men  who  have  held  the 
high  office  of  vice-president  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  June  3,  1844,  in  Mon- 
mouth county,  New  Jersey,  and  in  i860  en- 
tered the  sophomore  class  at  Rutgers  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  graduated  in  1863  at 
the  age  of  nineteen.  He  then  taught 
school  until  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Socrates  Tuttle,  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey, 
with  whom  he  studied  law.  and  in  1869 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  immediately 
began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession 
in  the  office  of  the  above  named  gentleman. 
He  became  interested  in  political  life,  and 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  1865  held  his  first  office,  serving  as 
clerk  for  the  grand  jury.  He  was  also  city 
counsel  of  Paterson  in  1871,  and  in  May, 
1872,  was  elected  counsel  for  the  board  of 
chosen  freeholders.  He  entered  the  state 
legislature  in  1873,  and  was  re-elected  to 
the  assembly  in  1874.  Mr.  Hobart  was 
made  speaker  of  the  assembly  in  1876,  and 
and  in  1879  was  elected  to  the  state  senate. 
After  serving  three  years  in  the  same,  he 
was  elected  president  of.  that  body  in  1881, 


and  the  following  year  was  re-elected  to 
that  office.  He  was  a  delegate-at-large  to 
the  Republican  national  convention  in  1876 
and  1880,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
national  committee  in  1884,  which  position 
he  occupied  continuously  until  1896.  He 
was  then  nominated  for  vice-president  by 
the  Republican  national  convention,  and 
was  elected  to  that  office  in  the  fall  of  1896 
on  the  ticket  with  William  McKinley. 


WILLIAM  MORRIS  STEWART,  noted 
as  a  political  leader  and  senator,  was 
born  in  Lyons,  Wayne  county,  New  York, 
August  9,  1827,  and  removed  with  his  par- 
ents while  still  a  small  child  to  Mesopota- 
mia township,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  He 
attended  the  Lyons  Union  school  and  Farm- 
ington  Academy,  where  he  obtained  his  ed- 
ucation. Later  he  taught  mathematics  in 
the  former  school,  while  yet  a  pupil,  and 
with  the  little  money  thus  earned  and  the 
assistance  of  James  C.  Smith,  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  New  York, 
he  entered  Yale  College.  He  remained 
there  until  the  winter  of  1849-50,  when,  at- 
tracted by  the  gold  discoveries  in  California 
he  wended  his  way  thither.  He  arrived  at 
San  Francisco  in  May,  1850,  and  later  en- 
gaged in  mining  with  pick  and  shovel  in  Ne- 
vada county.  In  this  way  he  accumulated 
some  money,  and  in  the  spring  of  1852  he 
took  up  the  study  of  law  under  John  R. 
McConnell.  The  following  December  he 
was  appointed  district  attorney,  to  which 
office  he  was  chosen  at  the  general  election 
of  the  next  year.  In  1854  he  was  ap- 
pointed attorney-general  of  California,  and 
in  i860  he  removed  to  Virginia  City,  Ne- 
vada, where  he  largely  engaged  in  early 
mining  litigation.  Mr.  Stewart  was  also  in- 
terested in  the  development  of  the  "Corn- 
stock    lode,"    and    in    1861    was    chosen    a 


214 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


member  of  the  territorial  council.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention in  1863,  and  was  elected  United 
States  senator  in  1864,  and  re-elected  in 
1869.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  in 
1875,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
Nevada,  California,  and  the  Pacific  coast 
generally.  He  was  thus  engaged  when  he 
was  elected  again  to  the  United  States  sen- 
ate as  a  Republican  in  1887  to  succeed  the 
late  James  G.  Fair,  a  Democrat,  and  took 
his  seat  March  4,  1887.  On  the  expiration 
of  his  term  he  was  again  re-elected  and  be- 
came one  of  the  leaders  of  his  party  in  con- 
gress. His  ability  as  an  orator,  and  the 
prominent  part  he  took  in  the  discussion  of 
public  questions,  gained  him  a  national  rep- 
utation. 

GEORGE  GRAHAM  VEST,  for  many 
years  a  prominent  member  of  the 
United  States  senate,  was  born  in  Frank- 
fort, Kentucky,  December  6,  1848.  He 
graduated  from  Center  College  in  1868,  and 
from  the  law  department  of  the  Transyl- 
vania University  of  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
in  1853.  In  the  same  year  he  removed  to 
Missouri  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, In  i860  he  was  an  elector  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  lower  house  of  the  Missouri  legislature 
in  1860-61.  He  was  elected  to  the  Con- 
federate congress,  serving  two  years  in  the 
lower  house  and  one  in  the  senate.  He 
then  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  and  in 
1879  was  elected  to  the  senate  of  the  United 
States  to  succeed  James  Shields.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1885,  and  again  in  1891  and 
1897.  His  many  years  of  service  in  the 
National  congress,  coupled  with  his  ability 
as  a  speaker  and  the  active  part  he  took  in 
the  discussion  of  public  questions,  gave  him 
a  wide  reputation. 


HANNIBAL  HAMLIN,  a  noted  American 
statesman,  whose  name  is  indissolubly 
connected  with  the  history  of  this  country, 
was  born  in  Paris,  Maine,  August  27,  1809. 
He  learned  the  printer's  trade  and  followed 
that  calling  for  several  years.  He  then 
studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  1833.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
of  the  state  of  Maine,  where  he  was  several 
times  chosen  speaker  of  the  lower  house. 
He  was  elected  to  congress  by  the  Demo- 
crats in  1843,  and  re-elected  in  1845.  In 
1848  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States 
senate  and  served  in  that  body  until  1861. 
He  was  elected  governor  of  Maine  in  1857 
on  the  Republican  ticket,  but  resigned  when 
re-elected  to  the  United  States  senate 
the  same  year.  He  was  elected  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  on  the  ticket  with 
Lincoln  in  i860,  and  inaugurated  in  March, 
1 861.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  collector 
of  the  port  of  Boston.  Beginning  with 
1869  he  served  two  six-year  terms  in  the 
United  States  senate,  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed by  President  Garfield  as  minister  to 
Spain  in  1881.  His  death  occurred  July  4, 
1891. 

TSHAM  G.  HARRIS,  famous  as  Confed- 
1  erate  war  governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
distinguished  by  his  twenty  years  of  service 
in  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Tennessee,  and 
educated  at  the  Academy  of  Winchester. 
He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  commenced  practice 
at  Paris,  Tennessee,  in  1841.  He  was 
elected  to  the  state  legislature  in  1847,  was 
a  candidate  for  presidential  elector  on  the 
Democratic  ticket  in  1848,  and  the  next 
year  was  elected  to  congress  from  his  dis- 
trict, and  re-elected  in  185 1.  In  1853  he 
was  renominated   by  the   Democrats  of  his 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


215 


district,  but  declined,  and  removed  to  Mem- 
phis, where  he  took  up  the  practice  of  law. 
He  was  a  presid.ntial  elector-at-large  from 
Tennessee  in  1856,  and  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  the  next  year,  and.  again 
in  1859,  and  in  1861.  He  was  driven  from 
Nashville  by  the  advance  of  the  Union 
armies,  and  for  the  last  three  years  of  the 
war  acted  as  aid  upon  the  staff  of  the  com- 
manding general  of  the  Confederate  army 
of  Tennessee.  After  the  war  he  went  to 
Liverpool,  England,  where  he  became  a 
merchant,  but  returned  to  Memphis  in  1867, 
and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  1877 
he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate, 
to  which  position  he  was  successively  re- 
elected until  his  death  in  1897. 


NELSON  DINGLEY,  Jr.,  for  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century  one  of  the  leaders 
in  congress  and  framer  of  the  famous 
"  Dingley  tariff  bill,"  was  born  in  Durham, 
Maine,  in  1832.  His  father  as  well  as  all 
his  ancestors,  were  farmers,  merchants  and 
mechanics  and  of  English  descent.  Young 
Dingley  was  given  the  advantages  first  of 
the  common  schools  and  in  vacations  helped 
his  father  in  the  store  and  on  the  farm. 
When  twelve  years  of  age  he  attended  high 
school  and  at  seventeen  was  teaching  in  a 
country  school  district  and  preparing  him- 
self for  college.  The  following  year  he  en- 
tered Waterville  Academy  and  in  185 1  en- 
tered Colby  University.  After  a  year  and  a 
half  in  this  institution  he  entered  Dart- 
mouth College  and  was  graduated  in  1855 
with  high  rank  as  a  scholar,  debater  and 
writer.  He  next  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1856.  But  instead  of 
practicing  his  profession  he  purchased  the 
"  Lewistown  (Me.)  Journal,"  which  be- 
came famous  throughout  the  New  England 
?fates  as  a  leader  in  the  advocacy  of  Repub- 


lican principles.  About  the  same  time  Mr. 
Dingley  began  his  political  career,  although 
ever  after  continuing  at  the  head  of  the 
newspaper.  He  was  soon  elected  to  the 
state  legislature  and  afterward  to  the  lower 
house  of  congress,  where  he  became  a 
prominent  national  character.  He  also 
served  two  terms  as  governor  of  Maine. 


OLIVER  PERRY  MORTON,  a  distin- 
guished American  statesman,  was  born 
in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  August  4,  1823. 
His  early  education  was  by  private  teaching 
and  a  course  at  the  Wayne  County  Seminary. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  entered  the 
Miami  University  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  at 
the  end  of  two  years  quit  the  college,  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  John  New- 
man, of  Centerville,  Indiana,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1847. 

Mr.  Morton  was  elected  judge  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  in  1852,  but  on  thi. 
passage  of  the  "  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill  "  he 
severed  his  connection  with  that  party,  and 
soon  became  a  prominent  leader  of  the  Re- 
publicans. He  was  elected  governor  of  In- 
diana in  1 86 1,  and  as  war  governor  became 
well  known  throughout  the  country.  He 
received  a  paralytic  stroke  in  1865,  which 
partially  deprived  him  of  the  use  of  his 
limbs.  He  was  chosen  to  the  United  States 
senate  from  Indiana,  in  1867,  and  wielded 
great  influence  in  that  body  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  November  1,   1877. 


JOHN  B.  GORDON,  a  brilliant  Confeder- 
ateofficer  and  noted senatorof  theUnited 
States,  was  born  in  Upson  county,  Georgia, 
February  6,  1832.  He  graduated  from  the 
State  University,  studied  law,  and  took  up 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war  he  entered  the  Confederate 
service  as  captain   of  infantry,  and  rapidly 


216 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general, 
commanding  one  wing  of  the  Confederate 
army  at  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1868  he 
was  Democratic  candidate  for  governor  of 
Georgia,  and  it  is  said  was  elected  by  a  large 
majority,  but  his  opponent  was  given  the 
office.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  national 
Democratic  conventions  in  1868  and  1872, 
and  a  presidential  elector  both  years.  In 
1873  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
senate.  In  1886  he  was  elected  governor 
of  Georgia,  and  re-elected  in  1888.  He 
was  again  elected  to  the  United  States 
senate  in  1890,  serving  until  1897,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  A.  S.  Clay.  He  was 
regarded  as  a  leader  of  the  southern  Democ- 
racy, and  noted  for  his  fiery  eloquence. 


STEPHEN  JOHNSON  FIELD,  an  illus- 
trious associate  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States,  was  born  at 
Haddam,  Connecticut,  November  4,  18 16, 
being  one  of  the  noted  sons  of  Rev.  D. 
D.  Field.  He  graduated  from  Williams 
College  in  1837,  took  up  the  study  of  law 
with  his  brother,  David  Dudley  Field,  be- 
coming his  partner  upon  admission  to  the 
bar.  He  went  to  California  in  1849,  and  at 
once  began  to  take  an  active  interest  in  the 
political  affairs  of  that  state'.  He  was 
elected  alcalde  of  Marysville,  in  1850,  and 
in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  was  elected 
to  the  state  legislature.  In  1857  he  was 
elected  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state,  and  two  years  afterwards  became  its 
chief  justice.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  as  associate  justice  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  United  States.  During 
his  incumbency,  in  1873,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  governor  of  California  one  of  a  com- 
mission to  examine  the  codes  of  the  state 
and  for  the  preparation  of  amendments  to 
the  same  for  submission  to  the   legislature. 


In  1877  he  was  one  of  the  famous  electoral 
commission  of  fifteen  members,  and  voted 
as  one  of  the  seven  favoring  the  election  of 
Tilden  to  the  presidency.  In  1880  a  large 
portion  of  the  Democratic  party  favored  his 
nomination  as  candidate  for  the  presidency. 
He  retired  in  the  fall  of  1897,  having 
served  a  greater  number  of  years  on  the 
supreme  bench  than  any  of  his  associates  or 
predecessors,  Chief  Justice  Marshall  coming 
next  in  length  of  service. 


JOHN  T.  MORGAN,  whose  services  in 
the  United  States  senate  brought  him 
into  national  prominence,  was  born  in 
Athens,  Tennessee,  June  20,  1824.  At  the 
age  of  nine  years  he  emigrated  to  Alabama, 
where  he  made  his  permanent  home,  and 
where  he  received  an  academic  education. 
He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1845.  He  took  a 
leading  part  in  local  politics,  was  a  presi- 
dential elector  in  i860,  casting  his  ballot 
for  Breckenridge  and  Lane,  and  in  1861 
was  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention  which 
passed  the  ordinance  of  secession.  In  May, 
of  the  same  year,  he  joined  the  Confederate 
army  as  a  private  in  Company  I,  Cahawba 
Rifles,  and  was  soon  after  made  major  and 
then  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Fifth  Regiment. 
In  1862  he  was  commissioned  colonel,  and 
soon  after  made  brigadier-general  and  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  a  brigade  in  Vir- 
ginia. He  resigned  to  join  his  old  regiment 
whose  colonel  had  been  killed.  He  was 
soon  afterward  again  made  brigadier-gen- 
eral and  given  command  of  the  brigade  that 
included  his  regiment. 

After  the  war  he   returned  to  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  and  continued  it  up  to  the  time 
of  his  election  to  the  United  States  senate,  ip 
1877.    He  was  a  presidential  elector  in  1876 
and  cast  his  vote  for  Tilden  and  Hendricks 


COMPENDIUM   OP   BIOGRAPHY. 


217 


He  was  re-elected  to  the  senate  in  1S83, 
and  again  in  1889,  and  1895.  His  speeches 
and  the  measures  he  introduced,  marked 
as  they  were  by  an  intense  Americanism, 
brought    him    into   national  prommence. 


WILLIAM  McKINLEY.the  twenty-fifth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  at  Niles,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1844.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  a  Methodist  academy  in  *he  small  village 
of  Poland,  Ohio.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  Mr.  McKinley  was  teaching  school, 
earning  twenty-five  dollars  per  month.  As 
soon  as  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon  he  en- 
listed in  a  company  that  was  formed  in 
Poland,  which  was  inspected  and  mustered 
in  by  General  John  C.  Fremont,  who  at 
first  objected  to  Mr.  McKinley,  as  being  too 
young,  but  upon  examination  he  was  finally 
accepted.  Mr.  McKinley  was  seventeen 
when  the  war  broke  out  but  did  not  look  his 
age.  He  served  in  the  Twenty-third  Ohio 
Infantry  throughout  the  war,  was  promoted 
from  sergeant  to  captain,  for  good  conduct 
on  the  field,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
for  meritorious  services,  he  was  brevetted 
major.  After  leaving  the  army  Major  Mc- 
Kinley took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1869  he  took 
his  initiation  into  politics,  being  elected  pros- 
ecuting attorney  of  his  county  as  a  Republi- 
can, although  the  district  was  usually  Demo- 
cratic. In  1 876  he  was  elected  to  congress, ' 
and  in  a  call  upon  the  President-elect,  Mr. 
Hayes,  to  whom  he  went  for  advice  upon  the 
way  he  should  shape  his  career,  he  was 
told  that  to  achieve  fame  and  success  he 
must  take  one  special  line  and  stick  to  it. 
Mr.  McKinley  chose  tariff  legislation  and 
he  became  an  authority  in  regard  to  import 
duties.      He  was  a  member  of  congress  for 


many  years,  became  chairman  of  the  ways 
and  means  committee,  and  later  he  advo- 
cated the  famous  tariff  bill  that  bore  his 
name,  which  was  passed  in  1890.  In  the 
next  election  the  Republican  party  was 
overwhelmingly  defeated  through  the  coun- 
try, and  the  Democrats  secured  more  than 
a  two  thirds  majority  in  the  lower  house, 
and  also  had  control  of  the  senate,  Mr. 
McKinley  being  defeated  in  his  own  district 
by  a  small  majority.  He  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio  in  1891  by  a  plurality  of 
twenty-one  thousand,  five  hundred  and 
eleven,  and  two  years  later  he  was  re-elected 
by  the  still  greater  plurality  of  eighty  thou- 
sand, nine  hundred  and  ninety-five.  He  was 
a  delegate-at-large  to  the  Minneapolis  Re> 
publican  convention  in  1892,  and  was  in- 
structed to  support  the  nomination  of  Mr. 
Harrison.  He  was  chairman  of  the  con^ 
vention,  and  was  the  only  man  from  Ohio 
to  vote  for  Mr.  Harrison  upon  the  roll  call. 
In  November,  1892,  a  number  of  prominent 
politicians  gathered  in  New  York  to  discuss 
the  political  situation,  and  decided  that  the 
result  of  the  election  had  put  an  end  to  Mc- 
Kinley and  McKinleyism.  But  in  less  than 
four  years  from  that  date  Mr.  McKinley  was 
nominated  for  the  presidency  against  the 
combined  opposition  of  half  a  dozen  rival 
candidates.  Much  of  the  credit  for  his  suc- 
cess was  due  to  Mark  A.  Hanna,  of  Cleve- 
land, afterward  chairman  of  the  Republican 
national  committee.  At  the  election  which 
occurred  in  November,  1896,  Mr.  McKinley 
was  elected  president  of  the  United  States 
by  an  enormous  majority,  on  a  gold  stand- 
ard and  protective  tariff  platform.  He  was 
inaugurated  on  the  4th  of  March,  1897, 
and  called  a  special  session  of  congress,  to 
which  was  submitted  a  bill  for  tariff  reform, 
which  was  passed  in  the  latter  part  of  July 
of  that  vear. 


218 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


CINCINNATUS  HEINE  MILLER, 
known  in  the  literary  world  as  Joaquin 
Miller,  "  the  poet  of  the  Sierras,"  was  born 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1841.  When  only 
about  thirteen  years  of  age  he  ran  away 
from  home  and  went  to  the  mining  regions 
in  California  and  along  the  Pacific  coast. 
Some  time  afterward  he  was  taken  prisoner 
by  the  Modoc  Indians  and  lived  with  them 
for  five  years.  He  learned  their  language 
and  gained  great  influence  with  them,  fight- 
ing in  their  wars,  and  in  all  modes  of  living 
became  as  one  of  them.  In  1858  he  left 
the  Indians  and  went  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  studied  law,  and  in  i860  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  Oregon.  In  1866  he 
was  elected  a  county  judge  in  Oregon  and 
served  four  years.  Early  in  the  seventies 
he  began  devoting  a  good  deal  of  time  to 
literary  pursuits,  and  about  1874  he  settled 
in  Washington,  D.  C.  He  wrote  many 
poems  and  dramas  that  attracted  consider- 
able attention  and  won  him  an  extended 
reputation.  Among  his  productions  may  be 
mentioned  "Pacific  Poems,"  "Songs  of  the 
Sierras,"  "Songs  of  the  Sun  Lands," 
' '  Ships  in  the  Desert, "  ' '  Adrianne,  a  Dream 
of  Italy,"  "Danites,"  "Unwritten  History," 
"  First  Families  of  the  Sierras  "  (a  novel), 
"  One  Fair  Woman  "  (a  novel),  "  Songs  of 
Italy,"  "  Shadows  of  Shasta,"  "The  Gold- 
Seekers  of  the  Sierras,"  and  a  number  of 
others. 

GEORGE  FREDERICK  ROOT,  a 
noted  music  publisher  and  composer, 
was  born  in  Sheffield,  Berkshire  county, 
Massachusetts,  on  August  30,  1S20.  While 
working  on  his  father's  farm  he  found  time 
10  learn,  unaided,  several  musical  instru- 
ments, and  in  his  eighteenth  year  he  went 
to  Boston,  where  he  soon  found  employ- 
ment as  a  teacher  of   music.      From    1839 


until  1844  he  gave  instructions  in  music  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and  was  also 
director  of  music  in  two  churches.  Mr. 
Root  then  went  to  New  York  and  taught 
music  in  the  various  educational  institutions 
of  the  city.  He  went  to  Paris  in  1850  and 
spent  one  year  there  in  study,  and  on  his  re- 
turn he  published  his  first  song,  "Hazel 
Dell."  It  appeared  as  the  work  of  "  Wur- 
zel,"  which  was  the  German  equivalent  of 
his  name.  He  was  the  originator  of  the 
normal  musical  institutions,  and  when  the 
first  one  was  started  in  New  York  he 
was  one  of  the  faculty.  He  removed  to 
Chicago,  Illinois,  in  i860,  and  established 
the  firm  of  Root  &  Cady,  and  engaged  in 
the  publication  of  music.  He  received,  in 
1872,  the  degree  of  "  Doctor  of  Music  " 
from  the  University  of  Chicago.  After  the 
war  the  firm  became  George  F.  Root  &  Co., 
of  Cincinnati  and  Chicago.  Mr.  Root  did 
much  to  elevate  the  standard  of  music  in  this 
country  by  his  compositions  and  work  as  a 
teacher.  Besides  his  numerous  songs  he 
wrote  a  great  deal  of  sacred  music  and  pub- 
lished many  collections  of  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music.  For  many  years  he  was  the 
most  popular  song  writer  in  America,  and 
was  one  of  the  greatest  song  writers  of  the 
war.  He  is  also  well-known  as  an  author, 
and  his  work  in  that  line  comprises:  "  Meth- 
ods for  the  Piano  and  Organ,"  "Hand- 
book on  Harmony  Teaching,"  and  innumer- 
able articles  for  the  musical  press.  Among 
his  many  and  most  popular  songs  of  the 
war  time  are :  ' '  Rosalie,  the  Prairie-flower, " 
"  Battle  Cry  of  Freedom,"  "Just  Before  the 
Battle,"  "Tramp,  Tramp,  Tramp,  the  Boys 
are  Marching,"  "  The  Old  Folks  are  Gone," 
"A  Hundred  Years  Ago,"  "Old  Potomac 
Shore, "and  "  There's  Music  in  the  Air."  Mr. 
Root's  cantatas  include  ' '  The  Flower  Queen" 
and  "The  Haymakers."     He  died  in  1896. 


PART    II 


BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


OF 


Webster  County 


IOWA 


BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


LORENZO  S.  COFFIN. 

Iowa  has  furnished  her  full  quota  of  em- 
inent men  to  the  nation,  men  of  pronounced 
ability  who  have  become  leaders  in  states- 
craft,  in  commercial,  industrial  and  profes- 
sional life,  and  others  whose  influence  has 
been  given  for  the  amelioration  of  condi- 
tions that  in  any  way  oppose  or  hinder  the 
development  of  their  fellow  men.  Quiet  and 
unostentatious  in  manner,  seeking  not  self 
aggrandizement  in  any  direction,  Lorenzo 
S.  Coffin  has  become  known  as  one  of  the 
most  honored  sons  of  the  Hawkeye  state, 
not  because  he  has  won  distinction  in  poli- 
tics, i  r  even  because  he  has  attained  excep- 
tional success  in  business,  but  because  bis 
efforts  have  been,  and  are  still,  unselfishly 
given  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow  men.  Rec- 
ognizing the  law  of  universal  brotherhood, 
his  sympathetic  spirit  has  prompted  action 
that,  guided  by  sound  practical  judgment, 
lias  resulted  in  great  good.  He  has  long 
since  passed  the  Psalmist's  span  of  three 
score  years  and  ten,  the  snows  of  seventy- 
nine  winters  having  fallen  upon  his  head, 
but  old  age  is  not  necessarily  a  synonym  of 
weakness  and  it  need  not  suggest  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course  inactivity  or  helplessness. 
There  is  an  old  age  which  is  a  benediction 
to  all  with  whom  it  comes  in  contact:  that 
C'ives  out  of  its  riches  stores  of  wisdom  and 


experience  and  grows  stronger  mentally  and 
spiritually  as  the  days  pass.  Such  is  it  with 
Lorenzo  S.  Coffin,  whose  career  is  a  source 
of  encouragement  to  his  contemporaries  and 
an  abiding  lesson  to  the  young. 

In  pioneer  days  of  Webster  county  Mr. 
Coffin  took  up  his  abode  within  her  borders. 
He  was  born  in  Alton,  New  Hampshire, 
April  IO,  [823,  on  the  farm  which  was  also 
the  birthplace  of  his  father,  Stephen  Coffin. 
The  family  is  of  English  lineage,  and  at  an 
early  epoch  in  American  development  was 
founded  in  Massachusetts,  whence  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject  removed  to  the 
( iranite  State,  settling-  on  the  farm  on  which 
both  Stephen  and  Lorenzo  Coffin  were  born. 
There  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  carrying 
on  agricultural  pursuits.  His  death  oc- 
curred when  he  was  about  seventy-five 
years  of  age.  In  his  family  were  nine  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  reached  mature  years  and 
reared   families  of  their  own. 

Stephen  Coffin  was  trained  to  the  work 
of  the  home  farm  and  for  many  years  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  in  Xew  Hamp- 
shire. He  was  also  a  clergyman  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  and  his  influence  was  widely  felt 
in  behalf  of  Christianity.  He  died  in  Dover, 
New  Hampshire,  when  about  seventy-five 
years  of  age.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Deborah  Philbrook  and  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty-eight.      She   was  a  native  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Sanbornton,    New     Hampshire,    represent-  of  the  rnosl  popular  schools  of  the  country 

ing  an  early  family  of  sturdy  pioneers.     Her  and  he  wenl  there  with  the  intention  of  pur 

father,     David      Philbrook,   was    bom    at  suing  an  extended  course  of  study,  bul  re 

Hampton     Beach,     New     Hampshire,    and  mained  only  a  year  and  a  half, 
spent   the  greater  part   of  his  life  on   the  [n  the  meantime  Mr.  Coffin  was  united  in 

farm  ai   Sanbornton.     He  lived  to  the  ad-  marriage  to   Miss  Cynthia  T.   Curtis,  and 

vanced  age  of  more  than  ninety  years     a  they  went   to  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  where 

noble  Christian  man  who  commanded  the  re-  both   engaged   in    teaching   in    the   Geauga 

sped  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  Seminary.     Among  their  pupils  were  James 

He  Had  eight  sons  and  eight  daughters,  all  A.  Garfield  and   Lucretia  Rudolph,  his  fu- 

nf  whom  reached  mature  years,  and  to  each  lure  wile,  who  first  met  in  that  school.      The 

lie  gave  good   educational   privileges,   thus  [ailing  health  of  Mrs.  Coffin  obliged  them  to 

fitting  them   for  life's  practical  duties.     In  give  up  teaching  after  one  year's  connection 

the  family  of  Stephen  and  Deborah   t  Phil-  with  Geauga  Seminary,  and  in  the  winter 

brook)    Coffin    were   three   daughters   and   a  of    [854-5    Mr.    Coffin    came    t<>    fowa    imi    ,1 

son:     Catherine  I'.  Coffin  was  a  teacher  in  business  trip.     Being  pleased  with  Webster 

the  seminar)'  in  Charleston,  Massachusetts,  county  and  the  advantages   it  offered  and 

She  married    Benjamin   Stanton   and   both  with  linn  faith  in  its  future  he  resolved  t<> 

engaged  in    educational    work    fur   several  locate  here,     lie  secured    a    claim    oi    one 

years  at   Union  College,  Schenectady,  New  hundred  and  sixty  anas,  which  he  entered 

York.     Christiana  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  when   the  government    placed   the  land   on 

I).  1'..  ('('well,  nf  Maine.    She  possessed  con-  the  market,  and  thus  began  the  development 

siderable  poetical  talent  and  was  a  writer  of  his  line  farm,  to  which  he  has  added  by 
for  many  magazines  and  papers.  Her  "I  his  line  farm,  to  which  he  has  added 
death  occurred  in  1863.  Sarah,  who  was  by  subsequent  purchases  from  time  1" 
the  wife  of  Mr.  l.ynde,  died  when  alum!  time  until  he  now  owns  seven  hundred 
sixty  years  of  age.  and  twenty  acres.  The  experience  ill 
Upon  his  father's  farm  Lorenzo  S.  his  boyhood  and  early  manhood  upon 
Coffin  spent  his  youth  and  earlj  became  fa-  the  farm  now  proved  very  valuable  to 
miliar  with  the  labor  of  field  and  meadow.  him.  With  characteristic  energy  he  be- 
H is  educational  advantages  at  the  time  were  gan  the  development  of  his  land,  and  Wil- 
meager,  hut  later  the  family  removed  to  lowwedge  Farm  is  now  one  of  the  must  d<- 
Wolfboro,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  he  sirable  and  valuable  farming  properties  in 
came  a  student  in  the  Wolfboro  Academy,  the  state,  supplied  with  all  modern  improve 
lie  lost  his  mother  when  fourteen  years  of  incuts  and  accessories.  On  the  brow  of  the 
age  hut  continued  at  home  until  he  had  at  hill  about  three  miles  from  Fort  Dodge, 
tained  his  majority,  when  he  began  work  near  which  he  decided  to  erect  his  build- 
ing as  a   farm  hand  in  the  home  neighbor  ings  is  a  large  spring  of  purest  water,  flow 

h 1,  ami  thus  he  acquired  a  sum  sufficient  ing  continually,    while  other  springs   upon 

tn  enable  him  to  continue  his  education  and  the  place  feed  the  stream,  the  Lizzard,  which 

prepare  for  teaching,  a  profession  which  he  winds  its  way,  bordered  by  magnificent  for- 

followed  with  success  for  some  time.     <  (ber  est  trees,  through  the  farm.     Mr.  Coffin  has 

lin  College,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio,  was  then  one  made  a  specialt)  of  the  breeding  and  raising 


I  HE   BIOGR  S.PHIC  \l.   RECORD, 


225 


of  fine  stock,  and  now  owns  one  of  the  larg- 
esl  and  choicest  herds  of  short  horn  cattle  to 
be  found  in  the  west,  keeping  from  one  hun- 
dred to  two  hundred  head.  I  fe  alsi  ■  breed 
for  the  market  Poland-China  hogs  and  Ox- 
ford Down  sheep,  generally  keeping 
hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  head  of 
the  former  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  or 
more  of  the  latter.  From  two  to  five  nun 
are  employed  upon  the  farm  and  the  work 
it,  under  the  immediate  >upei  ision  of  J.  I. 
Rutledge,  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Coffin,  who  is 
3  joint  owner  in  the  stock  on  the  farm.  Mod- 
ern machinery,  practical  and  improved 
methods  and  all  conveniences  and  aco 
ies  for  facilitating  the  work  are  here  found. 

Not  long  after  coming  to  this  home  Mr. 
i  was  called  upon  to  mourn  lh< 
Of  his  wife,  who  died  \pril  20,  [856.  In 
February,  1X57.  he  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Mary  1  ha  1 
of  Orleans  county.  New  York.  Three  chil- 
dren were  horn  unto  them,  but  one  only  liv- 
ing, Carrie  C,  the  wife  of  J.  1.  Rutledge. 
1  »ne  child  died  in  infancy  and  Kitty  May 
died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  -ears. 

While  successfully  conducting  his  private 
business  affair-.  Mr.  Coffin  never  confines 
his  efforts  selfishly  to  his  work.  From  [859 
to  [876  he  used  to  leave  his  home  Sunday 
mornings  very  early  and  on  horseback 
would  ride  to  differenl  parts  of  the  country, 
\  here  no  minister  was  sent,  and  pi  each  the 
Gospel.  He  would  often  ride  forty  miles 
and  in  return  ne   1  da  dollar  it 

doing  it  all  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow  men, 
during  which  time  he  also  conducted  a  great 
funerals.  In  the  early  days  he  was 
the  edit<  r  of  the  agricultural  department  of 
the  Fort  Dodge  Messenger  and  many  have 
profited  by  his  practical  wisdom  as  set  forth 
in  the  columns  of  that  paper.  For  many 
years  he  was  also  an  active  member  of  the 


State    Agricultural     Society    and     labored 

earnestl;    and  efft  ctivel     it rction  with 

thai  organization  to  promote  the  inte  ■ 

the    farming    people   throughoul    thi 

bul    vhile  his  interest  in  the      bje 

abated,  other  duties  have  made  h(  a       di 

mands  upon  his  time,  Eon  ing  him  to 

his  work    in    that    held    to  attend    to    more 

ng    I         lie   had    in    the   mi   it 

served  his  count)  loyally  in  the  Civil  war, 
enlisting  in  the  fall  of  1862  as  a  membei  ol 
I  ompany  I.  Thirl  econd  Iowa  Infantry. 
I  !e    i   'ined    lire    arm)     a  •    a    pre.  ale    hut    was 

promi  -ted  in  turn  to  the  office    1 
quartet  ma  tei     et  g<  anl  and  <  haplain 
ah'  nt  a  <  ear  In-  remained  at  the  fronl 
then  1  eturned  to  in  -  h<  me. 

Perhaps  the  work  w  ha  h  ha  made  Mr. 
(  ^llii!  up  -t  widely  know  n  and  which  has 
been  of  the  ho  ad<   I   ben*  fil   to  his   fellow 

men   is   that   in   co tion    with   providing 

better  condition     for  railroad  1  mpli yes.    In 

I  .ir    [883    he    ".a      appl  '  Govi 

nor  Sherman  to  fill  a  vacanc)   on  tin-  rail 
road  1  caused  b  1  men! 

of  the  I  Ion.  James  Wilson,  and  on  tl  ■ 
piration    of    that    term    in     [885    wa 
appointed,   <  continuing     in     Hi.    office   until 
1888.     It  was  during  tin-  period  that  Mr. 
Coffin  became  interested  in  'hat   .  ha  I 
making  his  life   ..oil,     pn  rt  •    hap 

and  improving  the  con  rail 

road    men.      In    speaking  01 
he  sa\  -       "] 

guiding  of   ah  idence   bringing 

me  to  the  position  where  I  might  realizi 
condition  of  the  great  multitude  of  suffer- 
ing, helpless  men.  the  misery  of 
dirion  seemed  to  he  growing  wi 
day,  with  no  indication  or  hope  of  is  grow- 
ing letter,  and  as  I  occupied  the  positii 
railroad    commissioner,    receiving    reports 


226 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


continually  from,  all  over  the  state  and  the 
United  States  of  the  terrible  slaughter  and 
crippling  of  the  railroad  men,  I  then  for  the 
first  time  saw  the  need  for  work  in  this  field 
and  determined  by  the  help  of  God  to  do 
something  to  alleviate  the  suffering  of  those 
men."  He  then  immediately  began  to  in- 
vestigate more  fully  the  conditions  and 
surroundings  of  the  railroad  men  of  the 
country  and  to  agitate  the  subject  of  the 
automatic  brake  and  car  coupler,  and  finally 
succeeded  in  securing  the  enactment  of  the 
law  requiring  them  to  be  placed  on  all  cars 
on  lines  in  Iowa,  which  was  passed  by  the 
Iowa  state  legislature  in  1888.  This  was 
the  first  law  ever  enacted  by  any  state  for 
the  safety  of  railroad  men.  The  law  was 
strongly  opposed  by  the  railroad  companies. 
Railroad  managers  said  its  enforcement 
would  cost  them  millions  of  dollars  annu- 
ally and  would  do  little,  if  anything,  toward 
lessening  the  likelihood  of  accident. 
Through  the  efforts  of  Air.  Coffin  and  the 
co-operation  of  societies  of  railroad  em- 
ployes and  df  private  citizens  to  whom  the 
rec.i  rd  of  railroad  accidents  was  appalling, 
the  law  was  finally  passed,  with  the  result 
that  the  number  of  accidents  on  railroads 
caused  simply  in  the  coupling  of  cars  alone 
has   been    reduced    three-fourths. 

To  the  compiler  of  this  sketch  Mr. 
Collin  said:  "To  Iowa  must  be  given  the 
1  of  enacting  into  law  the  first  bill  ever 
presented  to  any  legislature  for  the  safety 
of  life  and  limb  of  railroad  men."  It  was 
drafted  by  Air.  Coffin  and  he  says  that  he 
spent  a  full  month  on  the  bill.  So  anxious 
was  he  that  the  bill  should  be  so  drawn  that 
no  court  could  set  it  aside  as  unconstitu- 
tional, that  he  consulted  with  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  Iowa  supreme  court  on  every 
section  of  it.  Air.  Coffin  has  the  great  satis- 
faction of  knowing  that  from  the  day  it  be- 


came a  law  its  constitutionality  has  never 
been  questioned.  He  says  that  it  went 
through  the  Iowa  legislature  with  practi- 
cally a  unanimous  vote,  not  a  vote  against 
it  in  the  senate  and  only  three  or  four 
against  it  in  the  house.  The  roads  were 
given  five  years  to  do-  the  work  of  equipping 
their  cars  with  the  safety  appliances  that 
the  law  required.  But  here  came  a  great 
dilemma — all  of  the  Iowa  roads  were  inter- 
state roads  and  engaged  in  interstate  traf- 
fic. Foreign  cars  from  outside  roads 
would,  of  course,  have  to-  be  equipped  in 
the  same  maimer  as  the  cars  of  the  Iowa 
roads  or  they  could  not  receive  them,  or 
else  the  lading  must  all  be  transferred 
from  these  foreign  cars  to1  the  Iowa  cars. 
Here  was  a  very  serious  problem  to  be 
faced. 

Air.  Coffin  said:  "The  only  way  to 
solve  that  problem  that  showed  itself  to  me 
was  through  a  way  so  strewn  with  vast  diffi- 
culties that  it  was  absolutely  appalling  and 
I  dared  not  face  it  for  a  while.  Yet  it 
seemed  to  me  it  must  be  done.  Some  of 
the  states  adjoining  Iowa  copied  my  bill  and 
made  it  into  a  law.  If  only  all  the  states 
would  do  the  same  and  not  change  a  sec- 
tion it  would  be  just  the  thing,  but  I  could 
not  expect  that,  and  it  would  take  a  long 
while  ti  1  gi  1  fn  mi  1  me  state  to  another  to'  get 
them  to  pass  the  same  kind  of  a  law.  The 
more  I  thought  of  it.  I  made  up  my  mind 
that  it  would  be  a  practical  impossibility, 
and  so  the  alternative  was  forced  on  me 
that  a  national  law  must  be  had.  Of  course 
this  meant  that  I  must  go  to  Washington 
and  try  to  get  a  bill  through  congress.  This 
seemed  so  utterly  beyond  all  possibility  for 
a  man  like  me  to  accomplish  that  for  awhile 
I  thought  that  I  would  not  undertake  it,  but 
I  could  not  rest.  In  my  dreams  I  would 
see  these  railroad  men  crushed  between  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


227 


ends  of  the  cars,  hear  their  awful  screams 
as  the  iron  wheels  ground  them  to  pieces 
under  the  cars.  Finally  I  thought  that  I 
must  try,  or  at  least  that  I  would  go  to  Chi- 
cago and  talk  with  some  of  the  railroad 
officials  there  and  ask  their  advice.  I  felt 
sure  that  the  companies  that  ran  roads 
through  Iowa  would  like  to  have  all  other 
roads  to  equip  their  cars  as  theirs  were  to 
be,  so  there  would  be  an  easy  interchange 
(if  cars  from  one  road  to  another.  I 
thought  that  would  help  in  this  great  move. 
To  show  how  hopeless  the  undertaking  was 
in  their  judgment  I  will  relate  what  was 
said  in  my  talk  with  Marvin  Hughitt,  presi- 
dent of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Rail- 
way. When  I  went  into  his  office  he  was 
busy  examining  some  papers,  and  after  a 
little  while  he  said  in  rather  a  sharp  and 
vexed  tone :  'Now,  Mr.  Coffin,  as  you  have 
g<  't  your  state  to  enact  that  law,  I  want  that 
you  should  go  to  every  state  adjoining  Iowa 
and  get  them  to  enact  such  a  law  as  Iowa 
lias.'  I  said  that  I  realized  the  great  im- 
portance of  a  uniform  law  and  could  see  no 
way  to  secure  it  only  through  congress,  and 
that  I  had  about  made  up  my  mind  to  go 
down  to  Washington  and  get  it  to  pass  my 
bill.  Mr.  Hughitt  dropped  the  papers  he 
had  in  his  hand  on  the  table  before  him  and 
looked  at  me  with  great  amazement  and 
said  :  'Air.  Coffin,  congress  is  a  great  body  ; 
you  can't  move  that.'  My  after  experience 
showed  me  how  well  that  man  judged  of 
what,  as  he  well  thought,  a  wild  under- 
taking, and  how  well  he  understood  and 
appreciated  the  difficulties  I  would  have  to 
encounter. 

"In  the  spring  of  1888  the  interstate 
commerce  commission,  then  just  organized, 
invited  what  state  railroad  commissioners 
that  were  then  created  to  come  to  Wash- 
ington and  hold  a  conference.     That  noted 


jurist,  Judge  Cooley,  of  Michigan,  was 
president  of  the  national  commission.  Al- 
though my  term  of  office  had  expired  a  few 
weeks  before  the  date  of  that  conference, 
cur  state  commission  urged  me  to  attend 
that  meeting.  I  did  so,  and  near  the  close 
of  the  last  session  of  that  meeting,  by  the 
request  of  a  member  of  the  Iowa  board,  I 
was  asked  by  Judge  Cooley  to  address  the 
conference.  This  I,  of  course,  did,  giving 
them  the  mass  of  statistics  I  had  been  com- 
piling, which  was  new  to  them  all.  After 
I  had  sat  down  commissioners  from 
other  states  gathered  around  and  said  :  'Mr. 
Coffin,  you  must  be  wrong,  for  we  can't 
think  that  it  is  possible  that  there  is  such  a 
fearful  killing  and  maiming  of  our  railroad 
men.'  I  assured  them  that  they  were  ab- 
solutely correct,  as  far  as  Iowa  was  con- 
cerned, for  they  were  from  the  reports  of 
the  roads  themselves  to  our  state  board,  as 
our  law  required  them  to  report  to  us  every 
accident  to  their  men. 

"As  but  very  few  of  the  states  had  as 
yet  required  the  roads  to  report  as  ours  did, 
I  had  to  get  the  number  of  killed  and  in- 
jured in  other  states  by  the  rule  of  three. 
If  Iowa,  with  so  many  miles  of  road,  have 
so  many  accidents  to  their  men,  how  many 
will  all  the  miles  in  the  nation  give  us? 
Afterward,  from  a  talk  with  an  old  railroad 
man,  I  found  that  my  basis  of  calculation 
was  wrong,  for  I  should  have  taken  il  by 
the  number  of  engines,  for  on  most  all  of 
the  mads  east  there  would  be  a  great  many 
m.ore  trains  a  day  than  in  the  then  sparsely 
settled  Iowa.  When  I  made  my  computa- 
tions on  this  basis  the  total  was  so  awful 
that  I  clid  not  dare  to  give  the  exact  figures 
to  the  public.  Afterward  Judge  Cooley 
wrote  me  to  give  to  his  national  commis- 
sion what  facts  and  figures  I  had  gathered 
up     and     what    other     information   I   had 


228 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD.  • 


gained  on  this  matter  in  my  live  years  of 
experience  as  a  commissioner.  I  am  telling- 
all  this  to  you,  sir,  that  yon  may  see,  as  I 
do,  the  wonderful  way  I  was  led  on  so  as 
to  have  more  and  more  of  the  standing  be- 
fore the  public  and  the  powers  that  then 
were.  Let  it  be  understood  all  along  that 
J  now  realized  that  I  was  only  an  instru- 
ment in  the  hand  of  God  and  the  Father  to 
be  used  by  Him  for  a  great  good  to  the 
great  army  of  railroad  men  who  are  now  an 
absolute  necessity  to  the  prosperity  of  this 
great  country.  The  information  I  sent  to 
judge  Cooley  was  by  the  request  of  Gen- 
eral Benjamin  Harrison,  then  president- 
elect of  the  United  States,  sent  to  him.  and 
used  by  him  in  his  inaugural  when 
he  was  sworn  into  his  high  office.  He  did 
it  in  these  words :  'It  is  a  disgrace  to  our 
civilization  that  men  in  a  lawful  employ- 
ment for  a  livelihood  should  be  exposed  to 
greater  danger  than  soldiers  in  time  of  ac- 
tual war.'  He  very  strongly  recommended 
speedy  action  by  congress.  So  you  see  how 
in  this  unthought  of  and  unpremeditated 
way  a  mighty  opening  was  made  for  me. 
Then  I  had  two  especially  strong  and  influ- 
ential friends,  one  in  each  house  of  con- 
gress. One  was  W.  B.  Allison  in  the  sen- 
ate, and  Colonel  David  B.  Henderson  in 
the  house,  now  its  speaker.  Here  again 
was  another  of  the  series  of  special  provi- 
dences that  show  so  plainly  all  along  the 
road,  but  of  which  I  was  not  aware  then, 
but  now  can  see  as  clearly  as  the  noonday 
sun.  Some  years  before  at  one  of  the  con- 
gressional elections  it  was  a  question 
whether  Colonel  Henderson  would  be  re- 
turned, as  he  at  that  time  bad  a  very  strong 
competitor,  and  I  suppose  that  it  is  no 
egotism  in  me  to-  say  what  was  then  pretty 
well  understood  to  be  the  fact,  that  my  in- 
fluence with  the  railroad  bovs  and  with  the 


farmers  of  his  district  had  much  to  do  with 
saving  him.  This  had  made  him  a  firm 
friend  and  he  was  ready  to  aid  me  all  in  his 
power,  which  was  great,  and  he  wielded  it 
to  good  advantage  for  the  bill.  "Well,  the 
4th  of  March  was  coming  on.  I  had  been 
working  on  the  bill  for  congress  with  a 
great  deal  of  care  and  labor.  I  had  been 
very  anxious  before  the  inauguration  to 
have  Mr.  Harrison  say  a  word  for  the  boys 
in  his  address.  I  wanted  to  know  how  he 
felt,  but  never  having  met  him,  and  there 
being  such  a  throng  around  him,  I  could 
see  no  way  to  get  to  him  to  ask  him  to  re- 
member the  boys.  Finally  Colonel  Hender- 
son gave  me  a  letter  to  him,  and  so  I  had 
a  chance  to  speak  to  him.  His  first  words 
after  reading  the  letter  were,  'Well,  what  is 
it  ?'  In  as  few  words  as  I  could  I  told  what 
I  wanted.  In  an  instant  he  replied,  'It  is  in 
there.'  meaning'  in  his  address,  and  those 
were  his  last  words  to  me.  I  grasped  his 
hand,  thanked  him  with  tears  in  my  eyes 
and  left. 

"Congress  convened.  My  bills  were  in- 
troduced and  referred  to  the  committee  on 
interstate  commerce.  For  four  long  years 
I  was  in  what  was  called  the  third  house  of 
congress,  'the  lobby.'  It  is  not  necessary 
for  me  to  try  to  tell  you  of  the  long  strug- 
gle. It  would  fill  a  book.  I  fully 
realized  that  public  opinion  had  much  to  do 
with  acts  of  congress,  so  wherever  I  heard 
of  a  great  gathering  of  influential  men. 
such  as  great  gatherings  of  church  officials 
of  every  denomination,  there  I  would  go  and 
get  a  few  moments  time  to  plead  for  the 
lives  and  limbs  of  the  railroad  boys  and  for 
Sunday  rest  as  well,  getting  them  to  pass 
strong  resolutions  which  I  had  usually  al- 
ready prepared.  And  so  I  worked.  The 
first  congress  of  Harrison's  administration 
closed  without  my  being  able  to  get  the  bills 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


229 


out  of  the  committee's  hands.  They  were 
introduced  again  at  the  opening  of  his  last 
congress,  and  from  that  time  1  m  the  rail- 
roads were  there  in  force  fighting  the  bill. 
They  told  the  committee  that  it  would  cost 
the  roads  one  hundred  million  dollars  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  that  bill.  But 
God  loved  these  trainmen  more  than  He 
did  the  millions  of  the  corporations,  and 
the  bill  went  through  and  President  Harri- 
son signed  it  and  made  it  a  law  the  day  be- 
fore he  left  his  high  office,  on  the  3d  of 
March,  1893.  The  law  gave  the  roads  five 
years  to  equip  their  cars  as  the  law  directed, 
but  near  the  close  of  the  fifth  year  the  roads 
came  before  the  interstate  commerce  com- 
mission  and  pleaded  for  five  years  more, 
but  the  five  railroad  brotherhoods  with  my- 
self were  there  in  opposition,  and  they  got 
only  two  years  and  then  seven  months  after 
that.  As  the  result  of  that  law  there  are  at 
least  fifteen  hundred  less  deaths  and  over 
five  thousand  less  painful  accidents  in  a 
year  than  when  President  Harrison  signed 
that  bill.  So  beneficial  is  this  law  found  to 
l^e  in  an  economical  sense,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  saving  of  life  and  limb,  that  the  very 
officials  that  then  called  me  a  crank  and 
abused  me  so  unmercifully,  now  take  me  by 
the  hand  and  thank  me  for  what  they  then 
cursed  me  for.  Yet  it  never  seems  to  me 
that  I  have  done  anything  but  what 
was  my  plain  dutv  to  do  after  the 
awful  facts  came  to  my  knowledge.  I 
never  could  have  respected  myself  if  I  had 
refused  to  try,  frightened  at' the  lions  I 
really  saw  in  the  way.  So  then  let  the 
praise  go  where  it  belongs,  to  God." 

Mr.  Coffin  certainly  deserves  the  un- 
bounded gratitude  of  all  railroad  men 
throughout  the  country,  by  securing  the  en- 
actment of  the  national  law  which  was  passed 
by  congress  March  2.   1893.     He  has  done 


more  than  any  other  individual  to  promote 
temperance  among  railroad  men  by  the  use 
of  what  is  known  as  the  "'white  button.'' 
He  has  had  made  a  little  white  button,  in 
which  are  the  initials  R.  R.  T.  A. — Rail- 
road Temperance  Association — and  these 
buttons  he  gives  to  all  railroad  employes 
who  will  promise  to  wear  one  and  abstain 
from  the  use  of  liquor.  He  has  paid  out 
over  five  thousand  dollars  alone  for  these 
buttons,  having  distributed  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  of  them,  and  is 
still  engaged  in  the  work,  always  having  a 
supply  of  them  when  he  travels.  This  in- 
conspicuous little  button  is  a  constant  re- 
minder to  the  wearer  that  he  has  given  his 
v/ord  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  those  bev- 
erages which  destroy  manhood  and  render 
the  individual  unfitted  for  the  performance 
of  life's  duties.  A  lasting  monument  to  the 
work  of  .Mr.  Coffin  is  seen  in  the  home  for 
disabled  and  infirm  railroad  men  at  High- 
land Park,  Illinois,  near  Chicago.  All 
brotherhood  railroad  men  are  eligible  as 
members,  the  only  requirement  being  that 
they  contribute  as  much  as  "the  expense  of 
one  cigar  a  day."  This  entitles  any  brother- 
hood man  in  railroad  employ,  in  case  of 
accident  or  inability,  to  a  good  home  fi  >r 
life,  containing  all  necessities  and  comforts. 
At  this  time  the  work  is  progressing  nicely 
under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Coffin  and  the  co- 
operation of  the  four  railroad  brotherhood-. 
the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineer-, 
the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Firemen, 
the  Brotherhood  of  Railroad  Trainmen  and 
the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors.  These 
four  orders  have  contributed  to  the  home 
and  at  the  present  time  they  are  planning 
an  eighty-thousand-dollar  fire-proof  build- 
ing as  an  addition  to  the  present  home. 
There  are  now  between  twenty  and  thirty 
inmates.     Mr.  Coffin  is  the  president  of  the 


230 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Railroad  Employes'  Home,  and,  more  than 
(.hat,  lie  is  the  friend  of  all  railroad  men, 
having  a  warm  personal  interest  in  their 
welfare. 

Another  important  work  is  now  en- 
gaging the  attention  of  Mr.  Coffin,  who,  in 
connection  with  other  leading-  citizens  of 
Fort 'Dodge  and  vicinity,  is  building  a 
hi  me  for  ex-convicts.  -Mr.  Coffin  alone  has 
donated  eighty  acres  of  land  and  five  thou- 
sand dollars  in  cash  for  the  building,  and  is 
also  devoting  a  great  deal  of  his  time  to  the 
work.  The  object  of  the  movement  is  to 
assist  th:  ex-convicts  in  getting  work  and 
helping  them  again  to  win  a  place  in  the 
world  consistent  with  upright  and  useful 
manhood. 

Mr.  Coffin  has  ever  been  a  friend  to  the 
poi  i  and  needy,  to  the  oppressed  and  the 
suffering,  and.  believing  that  the  spark  of 
divinity  is  in  every  individual  and  may  lie 
fanned  into  flame,  he  is  ever  ready  to  ex- 
tend a  helping  hand  to  those  in  need  of 
cither  material  or  moral  assistance.  His 
home  while  in  Ohio  was  a  station  in  the 
famous  underground  railroad  when  slavery 
existed  in  the  land  and  his  strong  Aboli- 
tion principles  led  him  to  ally  himself  with 
the  Republican  party  when  it  was  formed 
to  prevent  the  further  extension  of  slavery. 
He  lias  since  been  one  of  its  stalwart  sup- 
porters. 

To  what  church  does  he  belong?  We 
answer,  ti  the  church  which  Christ  founded 
when  he  said  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and 
preach  the  Gospel,"  when  he  gave  the 
mandate,  "bear  ye  one  another's  burdens," 
and  said  "Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto 
one  of  the  least  of  these,  my  brethren,  ye 
have  done  it  unto  me."  One  of  the  most 
interesting-  features  of  the  Willowedge 
Farm  is  his  chapel,  which  he  built,  about 
twelve  years     ago     for    the    benefit   of   his 


(laughter,  who  was  greatly  interested  in 
Sunday-school  work.  In  connection  with 
the  same  is  a  circulating  library  for  the 
community.  Services  are  held  Sunday  af- 
ternoons — held  in  the  afternoon  that  they 
need  not  conflict  with  the  morning  or  even- 
ing services  of  the  city  churches.  Pastors 
and  people  of  all  denominations  are  wel- 
come, and  the  gospel  of  Christ — forgive- 
ness and  love — is  preached.  Along  the 
same  line  of  Christian  liberality  is  his  ef- 
fective work  in  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
'  ssi  nation,  in  which  almost  each  Sunday 
he  addresses  a  meeting  of  this  organization. 
Who  can  measure  the  influence  of  such  a 
life? 

''Our  echoes  roll  from  soul  to  soul 
And  grow  forever  and  forever." 

In  business  he  has  achieved  splendid 
success,  but  the  most  envious  could  not 
grudge  him  his  prosperity  so  worthib  has 
it  been  won,  so  well  used.  He  has  builded 
to  himself  a  monument  more  lasting  than 
stone    in    the    freewill    offering   of    grateful 

»  «  » 

CYRUS  C.  CARPENTER. 

The  office  of  the  chief  executive  of  Iowa 
has  ever  been  filled  by  men  of  marked  abil- 
ity and  unfaltering  devotion  to  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  commonwealth,  but  among 
the  long  list  of  illustrious  men  who  have 
seiwed  as  governor  none  have  more  de- 
served the  honor  conferred  upon  them  or 
more  loyally  advanced  the  interests  of  the 
state  than  Governor  Cyrus  C.  Carpenter. 
He  came  to  Iowa  in  the  earlv  days  of  her 
development  and  the  public  life  of  few 
other   citizens   in   this    part   of   the  country 


C.  C.  CARPENTER 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


-3. 


have  extended  aver  as  long  a  period  as  did 
his,  and  certainly  the  life  of  none  other  has 
been  more  varied  in  service,  mure  con- 
stant in  honor,  more  fearless  in  conduct  and 
more  stainless  in  reputation.  In  his  life 
time  the  people  of  his  state,  recognizing  his 
merit,  rejoiced  in  his  advancement  and  in 
the  honors  to  which  he  attained,  and  since 
his  death  they  have  gratefully  cherished  his 
memory.  True  men  are  the  crown  jewels 
of  the  republic,  and  the  very  names  of  the 
distinguished  dead  are  a  continual  inspira- 
tion and  an  abiding  lesson. 

Back  to  Xew  England  Governor  Car- 
penter traced  his  ancestry,  his  people  living 
in  Massachusetts  in  an  early  day,  while 
later  representatives  of  the  family  became 
residents  of  Pennsylvania,  and  it  was  in 
Susquehanna  county,  that  state,  that  he  was 
born  in  November,  1830.  He  had  neither 
the  advantages  of  wealth  or  influence  to  as- 
sist him,  but  early  learned  the  valued  les- 
sons  of  industry ,  honesty  and  self-reliance. 
Although  earnest  toil  was  the  lot  of  the 
members  of  the  Carpenter  household,  he 
was  surrounded  by  the  refining  influence  of 
a  home  where  integrity  and  character  were 
rated  at  their  true  worth.  He  eagerly 
availed  himself  of  the  opportunities  educa- 
tion afforded  by  the  country  schools  and 
later  continued  his  studies  in  the  Harford 
Academy,  where  he  prepared  himself  for 
teaching,  a  profession  which  he  followed 
at  intervals  for  a  number  of  years.  Life 
lay  before  him.  and  with  a  young  man's 
bright  hope  of  the  future,  fortified  by  laud- 
able ambition,  strong  determination  and 
manly  principles,  he  resolved  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  the  west,  where  he  believed 
greater  opportunities  were  afforded  than  in 
the  older  and  more  thickly  settled  east.  He 
determined  to  make  Iowa  his  home  for  the 
reason,  as  he  was  often  heard  to  remark  in 


later  life,  "that  he  liked  the  looks  of  it  on 
the  map."  Therefore  he  started,  but  his 
pecuniary  resources  were  very  limited,  and 
when  he  reached  Licking  county,  Ohio,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  replenish  his  depleted 
exchequer.  This  he  did  by  teaching  school 
for  two  years,  and  then  again  followed  the 
guidance  of  the  "star  of  empire"  which 
westward  takes  its  way.  In  June,  1854,  he 
reached  Des  Moines  on  his  way  to  Fort 
Dodge,  then  a  military  outpost  in  the  wil- 
derness of  northwestern  Iowa.  The  ele- 
mental strength  of  his  character  and  the 
purpose  of  his  nature  was  manifest  in  many 
act-  of  his  life  in  those  early  days,  one  of 
which  will  serve  to-  indicate  this.  The  pro- 
prietor of  the  hotel  at  which  he  had  been 
entertained  over  night  in  the  capital  city, 
on  learning  that  it  required  nearly  all  his 
money  to  meet  the  expense  of  the  night's 
lodging,  offered  to  trust  him  for  the 
amount,  but  declining  the  offer,  he  paid  his 
bill  in  full  and  on  foot  started  to  complete 
the  journey  of .  eighty  miles  across  the 
prairie  which  lay  between  the  capital  and 
his  destination.  He  builded  his  fortune  not 
upon  the  faith  of  his  fellow7  men,  their  in- 
fluence or  their  aid,  but  upon  the  substantial 
qualities  of  unfaltering  determination  and 
unflagging  integrity.  He  found  in  the  new 
settlement  men  of  courageous  spirit,  ready 
to  do  and  to  dare  in  order  to  make  homes 
for  themselves  and  their  families,  and  he 
was  soon  recognized  as  a  leader  in  their 
midst.  His  work  in  the  development  and 
upbuilding  of  the  state  in  pioneer  times  can- 
not be  overestimated,  for  he  aided  in  laying 
bri  ad  and  deep  the  foundations  for  the  pres- 
ent progress  and  prosperity  of  this  great 
commonwealth.  His  first  work  in  the  west 
was  in  the  line  of  surveying,  and  he  estab- 
lished the  boundaries  to  make  farms  and 
homes  as  well  as  public  property.     This  oc- 


-  - 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cupie!  .  lmer 

I     : 

- 

I 

—  prided 

3 
■ 

He 
.e  could  gel 

ran  be- 

earne- 

■ 

■ement.    H 

'■  ~ 
I 

a  car  ighbor- 

r 

e  became  a  mer 


general  assembly  upon  which  he  left  the  im- 
ng  individuality. 
About  the  time  he  retired  from  the  office 
'jecame  in  rivilwar  and 

he  enlisted.     He  had  had  previous  military 
r   vhen  the  Indians  massacred  the 
Lake  he 
rty  that  went  to  the  rescue  of  the  few 
:atastrophe.     It  was  in  the 
•rrity  has  hardly 
been  paralleled  in  the  history-  of  the  state 
I  hardshi; 
greater  than  were  met 

5 
Mr.  Carpenter  became  a  private,  but, 
■ 

-  captain  and  his 

with  I  fterward  with  General 

at  with  the  rank 
L   _ 
ry  record  tb  the 

rty,  personal  coon  g  -trong  pur- 

It  was  during  the  |  e  war  that 

C.  Burkh 

-    : 
earlie 

•he  home 

he  si 

n  the 
where  the  panionship 

■     ■ 
duced. 

The  nel  Carpenter  re- 

I  was  ma'! 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ister  of  the  land  office,  then  a  positi 
great  responsibility.  He  not  only  filled  the 
office  acceptably,  but  by  his  complete  mas- 
tery of  the  details  oi  the  business  he  con- 
tributed, through  a  carefully  prepared  book 
on  the  subject  of  surveying,  to  the  success- 
ful administration  of  the  office  in  after 
years.  In  1872  he  was  elected  chief  execu- 
tive of  the  state,  and  by  re-election  was 
continued  in  the  office  for  four  years,  lit 
speaking-  of  this  period  of-  his  life  Senator 
J.  P.  Dolliver  has  said:  "The  years  in 
which  he  was  g  r  were  years 

and  industrial  transition.  The 
houses  were  located  but  the  problems  of 
popular  education  were  becoming  mon 
more  troublesome.  The  railroad  builders 
had  finished  their  work  in  the  midst  of 
blunders  innumerable  on  their  own  part  and 
on  the  part  of  the  law-making  power,  leav- 
g  .  thousand  problems  arising  out  of  their 
to  lie  solved  by  than 
or  by  the  people  thei  si  es  The  public 
lands  had  all  lieen  taken  up,  but  the  Iowa 
farm  was  only  beginning  to  approach  a 
solution  oi  those  questions  which  from  that 
day  to  this  have  lieen  prominent  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  everywhere.  In  all 
-  things  it  may  be  truly  said  that  Gov- 
ernor Carpenter  gave  the  state  a  coherent 
and  intelligent  guidance  which  has  saved 
us  from  the  disasters  which  have  afflicted 
other  western  communities.  It  was  a  time 
when  we  needed  a  leader  wh 
tmsted  both  by  the  people  and  the  strangers 
who  had  invested  their  money  in  Iowa 
lands.  He  had  the  confidence  oi  the  people 
1  experience  identified  him 
in  thought  and  sympathy  with  them.  He 
could  speak  to  them  in  terms  which  in  other 
men  would  have  struck  the  note  oi  insin- 
cerity and  affectation.  His  public  ntte 
lied  with  homely  wisdom  and  .. 


act  and  full        sense  as  max- 

■  ancients.      The  peo] 
him  because  he  told  their. 

-     - 
plainly   ind 

and  also  show  forth  th< 
man:     "The  bless       g   -  ck     - 

c  -  servator  and  prom 
mater       greatness  bul 
decency  oi  the  world.  *  *  *  The   « 
material    advancement    depends 
proper     direction    and    pr  t< 
men  with  ;'  .       -     sition  to  toil,  to  dart 

-  e."  He  had  no  sympathy  with  the 
notion,  not  yet  altogether  extinct,  that  the 
schov^ls  of  Iowa       -  much  mom 

lay  the  hand  oi  taxation  :  upon 

the  possessions  of  the  rich.     "1:' 

g     wealth."  said  he.  "would  place  a  g 
over  their  treasui  diaMe  than 

or  bolts,  the  per  diem  of  jurors  or  ti 

•     f  sheriffs  and  judges,  the  -     eg 
will  be  found  in  enlarging  ami 
the   common-school    system    oi   Iowa   until 

tizen  can  reach  maturity  without 
raining  tion."     Under  his 

ministration  the  laws  were  frame 
cessfully  defended  in  the  courts  \vhi< 
the  first  limits  upon  the  reckless  mai    _ 
ment   of  western    railroads,    which    ..: 
time  promised  not  only  to  despoil  the 
munity  but   to   ruin   the  roads   thems* 

-  broad-minded   man   looked 
subject  and  when   he  had 

stigations  j 
farm   against     di<  gers 

like  th<  s  long  as 

appreciate   truth     in     the    garb   of  Ira 
"The  exorl 

nor,  "is  the  skeleton  in  the 
crib."     He  new 

d   if  the  railroad   companies 


236 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


spected  him  and  afterward  followed  his 
counsel  it  was  because  he  was  willing  to  tell 
them  the  truth-  and  without  the  malice  which 
seeks  to  destroy  was  anxious  that  they 
should  exercise  the  wisdom  which  pre- 
serves. In  his  message  to  the  legislature 
of  1874  he  anticipated  the  platform  of 
peace  and  mutual  advantage  upon  which 
the  people  and  the  railroads  of  Iowa  a  w 
stand  together. 

After  Governor  Carpenter  retired  from 
the  offiqe  of  chief  executive  of  the  state  he 
held  an  important  position  in  the  treasury 
department  under  the  administration  of 
General  Grant.  Returning  home,  he  was 
appointed  a  member  of  the  railway  com- 
mission, and  while  he  proved  a  useful  mem- 
ber of  that  body,  he  soon  resigned  because 
Ins  name  had  been  mentioned  in  connection 
with  the  nomination  for  congress  and  he  did 
not  wish  to  make  a  canvass  for  one  office 
while  holding  another.  He  was  elected  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  councils  of  the 
house,  serving  on  the  committees  on  war 
claims,  agriculture,  levees  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  education  and  labor,  and  at  the 
end  of  his  term  he  was  named  a  member  of 
the  committee  that  waited  upon  the  presi- 
dent to  tell  him  that  congress  was  waiting 
his  pleasure  to  adjourn.  While  a  member 
of  congress  Governor  Carpenter  succeeded 
in  getting  a  United  States  court  established 
at  Fort  Dodge,  and  as  a  direct  result  of  his 
labors  the  handsome  government  building 
was  erected  in  which  court  is  held  and  the 
Fort  Dodge  postoffice  is  located.  He  won 
the  friendship  of  .many  of  the  most  promi- 
nent men  of  the  nation.  He  worked  for  the 
good  of  the  country  without  thought  of  self- 
aggrandizement  and  was  an  earnest  cham- 
pion of  every  measure  which  he  believed 
would  contribute  to  the  general  prosperity 
Careful  consideration  preceded    every    de- 


cisive stand  which  he  took  concerning  a 
question  up  for  settlement,  but  when  his 
course  was  once  determined  upon  neither 
fear  nor  favor  could  cause  him  to  change, 
although  he  always  listened  courteously  to 
argument.  Again  Senator  Dolliver  writes 
cf  him:  "His  speech  on  the  national 
finance  in  the  second  session  of  the  forty- 
sixth  congress  was  a  masterpiece  of  reason- 
ing and  sound  philosophy.  It  was  tem- 
perate in  tone,  simple  in  manner,  fortified 
at  every  point  by  the  lessons  of  history  and 
experience,  while  throughout  it  all  the  plat 
of  genial  wit  lighted  the  rugged  strength 
of  his  argument.  Probably  the  most  im- 
portant service  of  his  congressional  life  was 
the  work  he  did  in  connection  with  creating 
the  department  of  agriculture.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  which  framed  the 
bill,  and  in  the  debate  his  speech  was  par- 
ticularly strong  and  persuasive.  The  speech 
itself  reveals  his  deep  research  into  the 
needs  and  resources  of  the  country  and  his 
wide  information  in  respect  to  the  progress 
of  agriculture  throughout  the  world.  It 
enabled  him  also  to  give  his  estimate  of 
the  relation  of  the  American  farm  to  civ- 
ilization of  the  country,  and  his  comments 
upon  the  aspect  of  the  question  are  not  only 
instructive  but  inspiring  in  the  noblest 
sense. 

After  his  retirement  from  congress  he 
was  again  sent  to  the  state  legislature  and 
held  important  local  positions,  and  the  wel- 
fare of  district,  state  and  nation  were 
thereby  advanced.  His  was  a  noble  na- 
ture— one  that  subordinated  personal  am- 
bition to  public  good  and  sought  rather  to 
benefit  others  than  to  advance  himself.  His 
was  a  sturdy  American  character  and  a 
stalwart  patriotism  and  he  bad  the  strong- 
est attachment  for  our  free  institutions  and 
was  ever  willing  to  make  any  personal  sac- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


'-37 


rifice  for  their  preservation.  A  lofty  pa- 
triotism and  a  Christian  manhood  perme- 
ated his  life  and  actions.  The  hest  monu- 
ment erected  to  his  memory  was  the  spon- 
taneous freewill  offering  of  a  grateful  peo- 
ple who  gathered  at  his  bier  when  in  1898 
all  that  was  mortal  of  Cyrus  Carpenter  was 
laid  in  the  tomb.  Men  of  national  fame 
spoke  of  their  regard  for  him,  the  president 
voiced  his  great  friendship  and  respect  for 
him,  the  chiefest  men  of  Iowa  attended  the 
last  sad  rites,  but  the  people  among  whom 
he  had  lived  mourned  him  as  a  brother. 
Young  and  old.  rich  and  poor  loved  him, 
and  he  lives  enshrined  in  their  hearts. 

"His  life  was  noble,  and  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him  that  nature  might  stand  up 
.And    say    to    all    the    world,    'This    was    a 
man.'  " 

+-+-+ 

WILLIAM  HUTCHISON. 

Among-  the  honored  veterans  of  the 
Ci\il  war  now  residing  in  Fort  Dodge, 
Iowa,  is  William  Hutchison,  who  since 
1897  has  had  charge  of  the  city  scales,  and 
has  most  creditably  filled  that  position.  He 
was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  August 
9.  1832,  a  son  of  Jimpsey  and  Rebecca 
(Peppard)  Hutchison,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  By  occupation  the  father 
w  a-  a  farmer.  In  his  family  were  twelve 
children,  four  sons  and  eight  daughters,  of 
v  hi  nn  three  si  ms  fought  for  the  old  flag  and 
the  cause  it  represented  in  the  Civil  war. 
One  of  these,  Jonathan  Hutchison,  was  a 
major  in  the  Thirty-second  Iowa  Volunteer 
Infantry. 

On  the  home  farm  in  the  count}-  of  his 
nativity  William  Hutchison  grew  to  man- 
hood, and  his  education  was  acquired  in  the 


schools  of  Fredericksburg,  Ohio.  In  May, 
1864,  be  donned  the  blue  and  went  to  the 
defense  of  his  country  as  third  sergeant  in 
Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  and  honorably  discharged  in  the 
foil.. wing  September,  and  is  now  an  hon- 
ored member  of  Fort  Donelson  Post,  No. 
236,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Fort  Dodge. 

On  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Hutchison  re- 
turned to  his  old  home  in  Wayne  county, 
<  Ihio,  hut  in  1865  came  to  Fort  Dodge,  and 
engaged  in  carpenter  work  here  until  1897, 
when  he  took  charge  of  the  city  scales,  and 
has  since  discharged  the  duties  of  that  po- 
sition in  a  most  acceptable  manner. 

In  1852  Mr.  Hutchison  married  Miss 
Rachel  Sands,  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  William  Sands,  who  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade.  Four  children  blessed 
this  union,  namely:  Bryson  T.,  born  in 
1853,  is  now  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness in  Fort  Dodge;  Alice,  born  in  1859,  is 
at  home  with  her  parents;  Charlotte,  born 
in  i860,  died  in  1864;  and  Ida,  born  in 
1864,  is  now  the  wife  of  A.  M.  White,  who 
is  at  the  head  of  the  White  Line  Dray  busi- 
ness in  Fort  Dodge. 


JOHN  R.  ROSCOE. 

J.  ihn  R.  Roscoe,  vice-president  of  the 
Charles  Craft  Company,  has  spent  almost 
his  entire  life  in  Fort  Dodge,  and  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  one  of  its  old  and 
highly  respected  families.  His  father,  Gil- 
bert Roscoe,  was  born  in  Putnam  county, 
Xew  York,  March  6,  1820,  where  his  an- 
cestors settled  at  an  early  day  in  the  de- 
velopment of  this  country.  There  he  grew 
to   manhood   and   learned    the    carpenter's 


238 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


trade.  On  the  3d  of  September,  1842,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Char- 
lotte Bailey,  whose  family  were  also'  among 
the  pioneers  of  Putnam  county.  Deciding 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  west,  Mr.  Roscoe 
came  to  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  in  1856,  travel- 
ing by  wagon  from  Dubuque  and  arriving 
here  on  the  24th  of  April  after  many  diffi- 
culties. He  pre-empted  a  farm  in  Webster 
county,  and  after  residing  thereon  for  three 
years  removed  to  the  city,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building  until 
called  to  his  final  rest,  December  30,  1884. 
His  widow  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-seven years  and  makes  her  home  with 
our  subject.  For  forty-one  years  his  home 
was  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  avenue  south 
and  Fourteenth  street.  He  was  a  faithful  and 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  was  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by 
all  who  knew  him.  Of  his  nine  children 
only  our  subject  is  now  living.  Three  of 
the  number  died  within  a  week  after  reach- 
ing Fort  Dodge  from  measles  contracted  in 
I  Hibuque. 

John  R.  Roscoe  was  born  on  the  5th  of 
September,  [855,  and  was  therefore  only 
six  months  old  when  the  family  came  to 
Fort  Dodge  from  his  birthplace  in  Putnam 
county,  New  York.  In  the  public  schools 
of  this  city  he  acquired  a  good  practical  ed- 
ucation, and  in  early  life  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade  from  his  father,  at  which  he 
worked  for  seventeen  years.  In  1890  he 
entered  a  retail  grocery  store  in  the  capacity 
of  clerk,  and  when  the  Charles  Craft  Com- 
pany was  organized  and  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  Iowa  in  1898  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  and  is  now  vice-president  of 
the  same.  They  do  a  large  retail  business 
as  dealers  in  both  groceries  and  meats,  and 
command  a  liberal  share  of  the  public  pat- 
ronage.    Mr.  Roscoe  is  an  energetic,  enter- 


prising business  man,  and  to  him  is  due  not 
a  little  of  the  success  of  the  concern  with 
which  he  is  connected.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  is  held  in  high  regard  in  both 
business  and  social  circles. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  1883,  Mr. 
Roscoe  wedded  Miss  Mary  E.  Cisne,  of 
Marshalltown,  Iowa,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  two1  children,  namely,  Earl  R.  and 
Melvin  G. 


JONATHAN  P.  DOLLIVER. 

An  enumeration  of  the  men  of  the  pres- 
ent generation  who  have  conferred  honor 
and  dignity  upon  the  state  which  has  holl- 
ered them  would  be  incomplete  were  there 
failure  to  make  prominent  mention  of  him 
whose  name  initiates  this  review.  He  holds 
distinctive  precedence  as  an  eminent  lawyer 
and  statesman  and  a  man  of  scientific  and 
literary  attainments.  Through  several 
terms  in  congress  he  has  borne  himself 
with  such  signal  dignity  and  honor  as  to 
gain  him  the  respect  of  all.  He  has  been 
and  is  distinctively  a  man  of  affairs  and 
one  who  has  wielded  a  wide  influence.  A 
strong  mentality,  an  invincible  courage,  a 
most  determined  individuality  have  so  en- 
tered into  his  makeup  as  to  render  him  a 
natural  leader  of  men  and  a  director  of 
opinion,  and  to-day  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  of  the  nation  is  Senator 
Jonathan  Prentiss  Dolliver,  of  Iowa. 

Mr.  Dolliver  was  born  in  Kingwood, 
Preston  county,  Virginia,  now  West  Vir- 
ginia, February  6,  1858.  His  father,  the 
Rev.  J.  J.  Dolliver,  was  a  Methodist  min- 
ister, well  known  in  West  Virginia  and 
Ohio  conferences,  where  he  labored  most 
earnestly    and    effectively    to    advance    his 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


24' 


holy  calling.  He  now  resides  in  Fort 
Dodge.  His  wife  belonged  to  a  pr<  mineni 
family  of  the  Old  Dominion,  being  a  niece 

of  William  <  I.  Brown,  i  f  Kingwood,  West 
Virginia,  and  a  sister  of  the  Hon.  John 
G.     Brown,    of     Morg  West     Vir- 

ginia. 

In  his  bi  iyhi » id  Senati  n  Dollive 
forth  the  elemental  strength  of  his  charac- 
ter and  gave  evidence  of  that  genius  and 
preci  city,  which,  combined  with  his  indus- 
try, early  placed  him  iii  the  front  ranks  in 
his  schi ml  days  and  have  since  won  him 
high  honors  in  the  council  chambers  of  the 
nation.  In  1870  he  took  up  his  abode  near 
\b  rgantown  and  there  attended  the  State 
University,  completing  the  course  by  grad- 
uation in  1875,  when  he  was  but  seventeen 
vears  of  age.  He  afterward  spent  two 
years  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Sand- 
wich, Illinois.  Naturally  he  chose  as  a  life- 
work  a  calling  demanding  strong  mentality, 
keen  analytical  power  and  strong  reasoning 
powers,  for  such  was  the  trend  of  his  mind. 
While  teaching  he  also  pursued  the  study 
of  law,  and  in  [878  he  and  his  brother  were 
admitted  to  the  bar.  Mr.  Dolliver  was  then 
but  twenty  years  of  age.  With  his  bsother 
he  went  to  Chicago1,  where  they  expended 
must  of  their  money  for  law  books,  having 
only  enough  remaining  to  bring  them  to 
Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  which  place  they  had 
chosen  as  the  scene  of  their  labors.  Here 
the}-  opened  a  law  office  and  many  were 
the  hardships  and  trials  they  met,  but  with 
courageous  spirit  they  endured  all  without 
complaint,  and  in  course  of  time  a  good 
practice  rewarded  them.  The  marked  ora- 
torical ability  which  J.  P.  Dolliver  had 
early  manifested  soon  drew  public  atten- 
tion to  him  and  brought  him  into  promi- 
nence. Not  only  did  his  clientage  increase, 
but  he  also  became  active  in  the  local  ranks 


of  the  Republican  party,  and  was  calk 
the  leadership  1  if  its  f,  ,rces  here.  1  [1 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  count}-  and 
conventions,  and  when  he  rose  to  speak  si- 
lence immediately  prevailed  among  his 
auditors  and  he  was  listened  to  with  rani 
attention.  In  [888  he  was  elected  to  repre- 
sent the  tenth  congressional  district  of 
Iowa  in  the  house  of  representatives,  and, 
from  that  time  until  he  became  United 
States  Senator  he  was  recognized  as  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  lower  body.  Nol 
did  his  eloquence  hold  enchained  the  atten- 
tion of  the  house,  but  his  strong  reasoning, 
comprehensive  thought  and  logical  deduc- 
tions showed  that  he  had  made  a  deep, 
earnest  and  conscientious  study  of  the 
questions  discussed,  and  therefore  many 
were  convinced.  His  work  in  congress  has 
become  a  matter  of  history,  for  he  has  left 
the  impress  of  his  individuality  upon  the 
legislation  of  the  nation  during-  the  past 
decade.  His  term  in  the  house  would  have 
expired  in  1901,  but  after  the  death  of  \<  h 
Henry  Gear,  Governor  Shaw,  of  Iowa,  on 
the  23d  of  August,  1900,  appointed  Mr.  Dol- 
liver to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  United  States 
senate.  In  the  Republican  national  conven- 
tion held  in  Philadelphia,  in  [900,  he  was 
strongly  urged  to  become  a  candidate  for 
the  vice-presidency. 

In  1895  Mr.  Dolliver  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Louise  Pearson,  of  Fort 
Dodge,  a  daughter  of  George  R.  Pearson, 
and  the}-  still  maintain  their  home  in  the 
[owa  city  where  he  entered  upon  his  pro- 
fessional career,  although  they  spend  much 
time  in  the  capital.  Mr.  Dolliver  is  vet  a 
young  man,  but  his  name  has  already  been 
ineffacably  stamped  upon  the  pages  of 
American  history.  Endowed  by  nature 
with  high  intellectual  qualities,  to  which  have 
been  added  the  discipline  and  embellishments 


242 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  culture,  his  is  a  most  attractive  personal- 
ity. Well  versed  in  the  learning  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  with  a  deep  knowledge  of  hu- 
man nature  and  the  spring  of  human  con- 
duct, with  great  shrewdness,  sagacity  and 
extraordinary  tact,  he  is  in  the  courts  an 
advocate  of  great  power  and  influence. 
Bath  judges  an<!  juries  have  always  heard 
him  with  attention .  and  deep  interest.  On 
the  political  stage,  such  is  his  personal  pop- 
ularity and  such  his  personal  magnetism, 
that  his  appearance  to  address  the  people  is 
the  signal  for  tumultuous  enthusiasm.  His 
is  a  sturdy  American  character  and  a  stal- 
wart patriot,  and  with  the  strongest  at- 
tachment for  our  free  institutions,  he  is 
ever  willing  to  make  any  personal  sacrifice 
fi  ir  their  preservation. 


WILLIAM  K.  HARDING. 

For  almost  half  a  century  this  gentle- 
man has  heen  a  resident  of  Iowa,  and  is  to- 
day «  ne  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
Vincent,  where  he  has  mercantile  and  real 
interests.  He  is  a  man  win  se  sound 
common  sense  and  vigorous  able  manage- 
ment of  his  affairs  have  heen  important  fac- 
tors in  his  success,  and  with  his  undoubted 
integrity  of  character  have  given  him  an 
honorable  position  among  his   fellow   men. 

Mr.  Harding  was  born  in  Union  coun- 
ty, Indiana.  February  5.  1836,  and  is  a  son 
of  Thomas  K.  Harding,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred  in  Butler  county.  Ohio,  in  1810. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Harding, 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  a  pioneer  of 
Butler  county,  Ohio.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  early  Indian  war.  and  entered 
the  United  States  service  in  the  war  of 
1812  and  died  while  in  the  army.     When  a 


young  man  Tin  anas  K.  Harding  left  his  na- 
tive state  and  removed  to  Brownsville, 
Union  county,  Indiana,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  axes  and  reap  hooks 
for  a  few  years.  While  there  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Rachel  Knott,  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina,  and  a  near  relative 
of  Senator  Knott,  of  Kentucky.  Removing 
to  Boone  county.  Indiana.  Mr.  Hardin:; 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  engaged  in 
farming  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
dying  there  about  1870.  His  wife,  who 
survived  him  ten  years,  passed  away  in 
1880. 

This  worth)  couple  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, who  m  order  of  birth  were  as  follows: 
Samuel,  a  resident  of  Clinton  county,  In- 
diana; John,  of  Tipton  county,  that  state; 
William  K.,  of  this  review;  Rebecca,  who 
grew  to  womanhood  and  married  but  was 
quite  young  at  the  time  of  her  death;  Mar- 
garet, now  the  wife  of  Charles  McDonald, 
of  Clinton  county.  Indiana;  Mrs.  Martha 
Ann  Kutz,  a  widow  residing  that  count}-; 
Marion,  a  resident  of  Kirkland,  Indiana  ;  and 
Thomas  J.,  who  died  in  the  service  during 
the  Civil  war. 

William  K.  Harding  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  na- 
tive state,  and  later  received  private  in- 
struction, but  the  greater  part  of  his  educa- 
tion has  been  obtained  by  reading  and  ob- 
servation in  later  years.  On  coming  to 
Iowa  in  1853  'le  nrst  located  in  Benton 
count  v.  where  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  followed  that  occupation  for  a 
few  vears.  There  he  entered  land,  which  he 
improved,  and  later  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing at  Marys ville.  now  Urbana,  for  about 
two  years,  selling  1  ut  at  the  end  of  that 
time. 

The  country  being  then  engaged  in  civil 


[HE    ]',!(  GRAPHICAL   REC(  >RD. 


243 


war.  Mr.  Harding  enlisted  August  12, 
1863,  fi  r  three  years  or  during  the  war. 
and  assisted  in  raising  a  pan  of  a  company, 
which  was  joined  to  Captain  Sell's  com- 
mand at  Vinton.  It  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  as  <  "■  mpany  K, 
Fortieth  L  \\a  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
ned  tn  the  Army  of  the  Southwest,  un- 
ieneral  ( .rant.  Air.  I  larding,  win  -  had 
entered  the  service  as  seo  nd  lieutenant. 
participated  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and 
d  in  taking  that  stronghold.  After 
the  surrender  he  was  taken  ill  and  sent  b  1  the 
hospital  at  Mound  City.  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  six  weeks,  and  was  then  senl  home 
"ii  a  furlough.  Subsequently  he  returned 
to  the  hospital  at  Mound  City  and  reported 
for  duty  to  the  Seventh  Army  Corp 
joining  his  regiment  at  Little  Rock,  Ar- 
kansas, where  he  spent  the  winter.  Being 
again  taken  ill,  he  resigned  on  the  advice  of 
the  surgeon  and  returned  home  in  the  spring 
of  1864,  and  for  two  years  thereafter  w  a-  in 
pi  1  >r  health. 

That  time  was  spent  in  Benton  county, 
Iowa,  and  when  he  had  sufficiently  recov- 
ered Mr.  Harding  opened  a  store  in  Gilbert- 
ville.  hut  -i  hi  1  ut  at  the  end  of  a  few-  months 
and  removed  to  Jessup,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged  in  merchandising  for  about  six 
years.  On  disposing  of  that  store  he  came 
to  Webster  county,  and  was  engaged  in  the 
grain  and  stock  business  at  Duncombe,  at 
the  same  time  serving  as  station  agent  at 
that  place  for  seven  years.  During  his  resi- 
dence here  lie  erected  an  opera  house  at 
(  edar  Falls,  Iowa,  which  he  has  since  dis- 
posed of.  In  the  meantime  he  opened  a 
store  in  Duncombe  and  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising until  coming  to  Vincent,  where 
he  has  now  made  his  home  fi  >r  fi  mrteen 
years.  Here  lie  bought  property  and  built 
the  first  business  house  and  residence  in  the 


town,  being  practically  its  founder.  On  the 
D  mpletii  n  <  f  In-  -tore  building  he  put  in 
a  large  sti  ck  1  f  general  merchandise,  and 
ha-  since  successfull)  engagi 
having  by  fair  and. horn  rable  dealing  built 
up  an  excellent  trade.  Since  locating  here 
he  has  bi  tight  and  sold  considerable  farm 
property,  and  has  also  dealt  quite  exten- 
sively in  town  lots.  He  is  pre-eminently 
public-spirited  and  progressive,  and  has  ma- 
terially aided  in  the  upbuilding  and  develop- 
ment of  the  place. 

In  Benton  count}-.  Iowa.  April  _\  1856, 
Mr.  J  larding  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  Moore,  who  was  born  in  John- 
son county,  Indiana,  ami  was  a  young  girl 
when  she  came  to  Iowa,  her  mother,  Mrs. 
Matilda  Moore,  being  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Benton  county.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  three  children,  namely:  ( 1  )  James 
I)..  a  resident  of  Vincent,  is  married  and 
has  four  children:  Cleveland  A..  James 
Wilford,  Genevieve  and  Aha  Marie.  1  _' ) 
William  W.  is  now  a  business  man  of  Chi- 
cago. (  3  )  Jennie  M.  is  the  wife  of  William 
I  1.  W'oolsey,  who  ijs  in  partnership  with  our 
subject  in  the  mercantile  business.  They 
have  two  children.  Derward  Delos  and 
Gladys  L. 

Politicall)  Mr.  Harding  is  a  Jackson- 
ian  Democrat,  and  has  always  affiliated  with 
that  party  since  casting  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  [860. 
He  has  been  a  delegate  to  both  county  and 
state  conventions,  but  has  never  been  an 
aspirant  fi  r  office,  though  he  was  the  can- 
didate of  his  party  for  count)  treasurer  in 
[902,  and  was  once  nominated  for  repre- 
sentative of  Buchanan  county  without  his 
knowledge.  lie  has  since  declined  to  serve 
in  any  official  capacity,  preferring  to  give 
his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
interests.     He  was  made  a  Mason  at  Center 


244 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


l"\\a.  and  later  assisted  in  organiz- 
ing-Jessup  Lodge,  but  is  now  dimitted.  He 
ep  interest  in  everything  pertain- 
ing to  the  public  welfare  of  the  town,  and 
withholds  his  support  from  no  enterprise 
calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit.  He 
has  liKitlc  for  himself  an  honorable  record 
in  lm.Mii.s-~,  and  by  his  well-directed  ef- 
fi  rts  has  acquired  a  handsome  competence. 
As  a  citizen,  friend  and  neighbor  he  is  true 
to  every  duty  and  justly  merits  the  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held. 


WILLIAM  V.  DOWD. 

The  death  of  William  V.  Dowd,  in  June, 
L889,  removed  from  Webster  county  one 
of  its  niO'St  successful  farmers  and  estimable 
citizens.  He  was  born  in  Hocking  county. 
Ohio,  September  25,  1823,  a  sun  of  Alex- 
ander and  Nancy  (Vandeford)  Dowd, 
b  tli  natives  of  North  Carolina,  the  former 
burn  in  [799,  the  latter  in  1782.  His  pa- 
ternal grandparents  were  Conner  Dowd  and 
wife,  who  were  born  in  1737  and  1777, 
respectively.  His  grandfather  Vande- 
ford was  born  in  178b.  The  parents  of 
our  subject  were  married  in  Ohio;  in 
which  state  they  resided  for  about  twenty 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Indiana,  where 
the  following  twelve  years  were  passed. 
in  [854  thej  came  to  towa,  and  after  spend- 
ing one  year  in  Madison  count}'  took  up 
their  residence  at  Beecher's  Corners,  in 
Burnside  township,  Webster  count)-,  where 
the  father  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  which 
a  log  cabin  had  already  been  erected.  Five 
years  later  they  went  to  Colorado  and  made 
their  home  near  Denver  for  about  two 
years.  Returning  to  Iowa  at  the  end  of 
that    time,    thev    settled    in    Boone    county, 


where  the  mother  died  in  December,  [864 
The  year  following  the  father  married 
Elizabeth  Beason,  and  after  residing  in 
i  1  1  ne  count)  for  a  tune  they  removed  to 
a  farm  one  and  a  half  miles  easl  of  Day- 
ton, low  a.  where  he  continued  to  live  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  May  27,  1874. 
In-  widow,  who  long  survived  him,  died 
m  Colorado  in  [899.  By  his  second  mar- 
riage he  had  no  children.  Of  the  eight 
children  born  of  the  first  union  our  subject 
was  the  eldest,  while  the  others  were  as 
follows:  Sarah  is  now  the  widow  of  Ben- 
jamin F.  Allison  and  resides  in  California; 
Hannah  first  married  David  Miller,  who 
died  in  Tama  county.  Iowa,  and  .she  later 
wedded  J.  Kihhy.  She  died  in  Butte,  Mon- 
tana, in  1899.  Nancy  married  a  Mr.  Davis 
and  died  in  .Madison  county,  Iowa.  Mary 
wedded  George  Wilson  and  died  in  Golden. 
Colorado.  Alexander  married  Catherine 
Childs  ami  died  in  1867.  His  widow  now 
resides  in  Guthrie  Center,  Iowa.  Minerva, 
deceased,  was  the  wife  of  James  Kelly,  of 
Golden.  Colorado.  Marion  died  in  child- 
hood. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Mr.  Dowd. 
ot  this  review,  was  reared  and  educated, 
and  during  his  boyhood  and  youth  assisted 
his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  He 
was  married  in  1844  to  Miss  Martha  Alli- 
son, who  died,  in  1854.  By  that  union  six 
children  were  born,  namely:  (1)  Susan 
M.,  born  in  Indiana,  October  23,  1  S_j 5 , 
married  George  Nettles  and  died  in  Perry, 
Iowa,  in  October,  1890.  (2)  Mary  J., 
born  in  Indiana.  April  19,  18-17,  1S  the  wife 
of  Captain  John  L.  Kinney,  of  Dayton, 
Iowa.  (3)  Francis  A.,  born  in  Indiana, 
June  18,  1848,  married  Mrs.  Lindreth 
Burnquest  and  is  now  living  in  Fort  Dodge, 
being  sheriff  of  Webster  county.  14) 
Alexander,  bora   in   Indiana,   Novembei    7, 


WILLIAM  V.  DOWD 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    REO  »RD. 


-47 


[849,  resides  in  B.urnside  township,  this 
county.  He  married  Loretta  Stoughton,  and 
they  have  four  children,  Charles,  Belle, 
Frank  and  Lee.  (5)  John  H.,  born  in  In- 
diana. January  10,  1 S  5  j .  first  married 
Clarissa  Blair,  who  died,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren, Nellie,  Ray,  John  and  Edna,  and  for 
his  second  wife  he  married  Tillie  Watts, 
by  whom  he  has  two  children.  Fannie  and 
Chauncey  M.  (6)  James,  born  in  Indi- 
ana, January   15,   1854,  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Dowd  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being-  with  Elizabeth  Hill, 
vvho  died,  leaving  one  child,  Elizabeth,  who 
was  born  in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  Janu- 
ary j  j.  1856.  She  first  married  Frank 
Rakestraw,  by  whom  she  had  three  chil- 
dren, William.  Maud  and  George.  Her 
husband  was  an  engineer  and  was  killed  in 
a  collision,  and  she  subsequently  wedded  a 
Mr.  Morrison.  They  have  one  child, 
Mabel,  and  now  make  their  home  in  Spo- 
kane.   Washington. 

For  his  third  wife  Mr.  Dowd  married 
Rebecca  Kinney,  who  also  died  leaving  one 
daughter,  Nancy  E,  who  was  born  in  Burn- 
side  township,  this  county,  December  j. 
j  So,),  ami  married  T.  D.  Reese.  She  died 
in  Everett,  Washington,  in  August.  1901, 
leaving  three  children.  Clarence.  Marguer- 
ite and  Helen. 

<  In  the  19th  of  December,  1866,  at  Day- 
ton, Iowa,  Mr.  Dowd  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mrs.  Clarissa  L.  Corbin,  win 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  January  7,  1838, 
a  daughter  of  James  and  Carressa  ('Parker) 
Spring,  both  natives  of  Xew  York  state. 
Her  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, came  west  in  1850  and  settled  near 
Homer  in  what  was  then  Webster  county. 
Iowa,  but  removed  to  Kansas  in  [883, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying   in   June.    1888.      He   first   purchased 


forty  acre-  0]    land,  which  he  placed  under 
cultivation,   and   later  added    to   it    'lie   hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,      in  politics  he  was  a 
Republican.      I  fe  bad   thirteen  childre 
whom  Mrs.   Dowd  is  the  eldest.   The  others 
were  Ichabod,  who  married  a  lad}'  of  Vir- 
ginian   birth    and    resides    in    Kansas; 
who  died  in  infancy;  William  Daniel,  win 
died   unmarried;    Mary,   who   wedded   Ed- 
ward  Wells   and   died    near    Beatrice.    Ne- 
braska; Cynthia  C,  wife  of  Edward 
■  if    Boone   county.    Iowa;    Sarah,     deceased 
wife  of  Zach  Aldridge,  of  Nebraska:  James 
A.,  who  wedded  Mary  Williams  and  lives 
in  Rutland,  Kansas:  David  M..  who  is  also 
married  and  lives  in  the  Sun  Flower  state: 
Naomi,  deceased  wife  ol  George  Hitchings, 
of  Bonne   county,    Iowa;    Alice,    wife    of 
Henry    Dowel,   of   Rutland,     Kansas:    and 
twins  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Dowd  was  married  near  Lehigh, 
[owa,  January  21,  1858.  to  Albert  G.  Cor- 
bin. the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Ellis 
Mercer,  an  old  settler  and  justice  of  the 
peace.  Mr.  Corbin  was  born  in  Hunting- 
don county,  Pennsylvania,  January  27.  1831, 
and  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Margaret 
M.  (Park)  Corbin.  who  traveled  life's 
journey  together  for  almost  seventy  years. 
His  father  was  horn  in  Huntingdon  coun- 
ty. Pennsylvania.  February  19.  1S07.  and 
died  in  Story  county.  Iowa,  January  27, 
1900,  wdiile  the  mother  was  hunt  in  Hunt- 
erdon county.  New  Jersey,  February  22, 
[809,  and  died  in  June.  1899.  The 
moved  to  Ohio  in  1834,  and  on  coming  to 
Iowa  in  1853.  first  1'  cated  in  Webster 
county,  but  in  1800  removed  to  - 
countv.  where  they  ever  afterward  made 
their  home.  During  the  Civil  war  Albert 
G.  Corbin  enlisted  in  Company  D.  Six- 
teenth Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
seriously  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 


248 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fn  in  the  effects  of  which  he  died  on  the 
loth  of  April.  1862,  after  having  a  limb 
amputated.  He  left  two  sons :  W'ilbert  X., 
now  a  resident  of  Nevada,  Iowa,  mar- 
ried Ella  McKee  and  their  children  are 
Blaine,  Clara.  Lloyd,  Mabel,  Fay,  Bertha,, 
Lee,  and  Eva.  William,  the  younger 
son,  was  killed  on  the  railroad,  December 
19,  1882,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years. 
By  her  second  marriage  Mrs.  Dowd  has 
four  children,  all  horn  in  Webster  county. 
In  order  of  birth  they  are  as  follows:  1  1  1 
Alice  M.,  born  December  22.  1867,  is  the 
wife  of  Eric  Bloom,  a  farmer  of  Dayton 
township,  and  they  have  two  children, 
William  V.  and  .Maud.  (2)  William  W., 
born  October  31,  1872,  is  now  managing 
the  estate  left  by  his  father.  (3)  Clara 
Florence,  twin  sister  of  William  W.,  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  Putzke,  who  resides  three 
miles  northeast  of  Dayton.  I  4  )  Amanda 
M.,  born  August  3.  1876,  is  the  wife  of 
Andrew  Olson,  of  Fort  Dodge,  and  has 
1  ne  child,  Gerald  D. 

In  1855  Mr.  Dowd  came  to  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  and  was  ever  afterward 
pn  minently  identified  with  agricultural  in- 
terests, being  one  of  the  most  successful 
fanners  of  his  community.  At  the  time 
-  death  he  owned  over  eight  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  land  in  this  county.  In 
cial  relations  he  was  a  Mason,  and  in 
politics  was  an  ardent  Republican.  On  th? 
4th  of  June.  1889,  he  passed  away,  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  Day- 
ton cemetery.  In  his  death  the  community 
realized  that  it  had  lost  one  of  it^  best  citi- 
zens; his  family  a  good  husband  and  fa- 
ther; and  his  memory  is  tenderly  cher- 
ished, not  only  in  his  home,  but  by  all  who 
knew  him. 


CAPTAIN  J.  L.  KINNEY. 

Among  the  brave  men  who  devoted 
their  early  manhi  iod  to  the  service  of  their 
country  as  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war  was 
Captain  J.  L.  Kinney,  now  one  of  the  promi- 
nent and  representative  citizens  of  Dayton, 
Iowa.  He  was  horn  in  Pennsylvania.  June 
13,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and  El+za 
J.  (McComb)  Kinney,  the  former  a  native 
of  Ohio,  the  latter  of  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  their  marriage  was 
celebrated.  For  about  four  years  they  made 
their  home  in  Armstrong  county,  that 
state,  then  spent  one  year  in  West  Virginia, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  removed  to 
Meigs  county,  Ohio.  It  was  in  the  spring 
of  185 1  that  they  came  to  Iowa,  and  took 
up  their  residence  in  Boone  county.  One 
year  later  they  removed  to  Webster  county, 
but  after  spending  a  year  near  Fort  Dodge 
they  returned  to  Boone  county,  and  in  1858 
went  to  Greene  county,  remaining  there  un- 
til the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  Their  next 
home  was  in  Monona  county,  Iowa,  and 
from  there  they  removed  to  the  state  of 
Washington,  locating  near  Ellensburg, 
where  the  mother  died  in  1894,  and  the 
father  in  1898. 

Their  family  consisted  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, namely:  Eliza  J.  married  I.  D.  How- 
ard and  died  in  Jefferson,  Iowa,  in  1897; 
Robert  married  Sarah  Leverton  and  resides 
in  Dallas  county,  Iowa ;  Margaret  died  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years :  Rebecca  married 
William  V.  Dowd  and  died  in  Dayton  town- 
ship. Webster  county,  in  1862;  the  Captain 
is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Mary  E.  is  the 
wife  of  James  Merida.  of  Monona  county; 
David  married  Lois  Pinkney,  now  deceased, 
and  lives  in  the  state  of  Washington  :  Nancy 
is    the    wife    of     John     Sininis.    of   Greene 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


249 


county,  l<>\\  a;  Thomas  wedded  Mercy 
Balis  and  resides  in  Monona  county;  Aaron 
married  Tillie  Extrand  and  also  lives  in 
Al- hi,  ma  county;  William  married  Gustie 
Reese  and  makes  his  home  in  Ellensburg, 
Washington;  and  James  married  Emma 
Smith  and  also  resides  in  Ellensburg. 

1  aptain  Kinney  began  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  and 
after  coming  to  this  state  with  the  family  at 
the  age  of  nine  years,  he  continued  to  at- 
tend school  for  eight  years.  Coming  to 
Dayton  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  he  commenced 
work  as  a  farm  hand  at  twenty-rive  cents 
per  day  and  fifteen  dollars  per  month,  and 
was  thus  employed  until  the  country  became 
invi  >lved  in  civil  war. 

Responding  to  the  President's  call  for 
troops,  our  subject  enlisted  at  Jefferson, 
Greene  county,  August  6,  1861,  in  Com- 
pany H,  Tenth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry, 
bejng  under  the  command  of  Captain  J.  Orr. 
Colonel  N.  Purcell  and  General  U.  S. 
Grant.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at 
Iowa  City,  and  from  there  went  to  St. 
Louis,  and  later  to  Cape  Girardeau  and 
Greenfield,  Missouri,  whence  they  returned 
tn  Cape  Girardeau.  ■  They  next  proceeded 
to  Bird's  Point.  Island  No.  10  and  New 
Madrid,  and  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh  went 
up  the  Tennessee  river  to  Hamburg.  They 
were  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  were  first 
under  heavy  tiring  in  the  battle  of  Iuka,  fol- 
lowed by  the  second  battle  of  Corinth. 
They  next  went  to  Grand  Junction.  Holly 
Springs  and  Oxford,  Mississippi,  and  from 
the  last  named  place  returned  to  Memphis, 
whence  they  went  to  Helena.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  Ya  I  expedition,  and 
after  their  return  to  Helena  they  went  to 
Milliken's  Bend.  They  were  in  the  Vicks- 
burg  campaign  in  the  spring  of  1863,  and 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Thompson's  Hill 


near  Port  Gibson,  and  also  Raymond  and 
Jackson,  as  a  pan  of  McPherson's 
Their  next  engagement  was  the  batl 
Champion  Hill,  where  they  lost  more  than 
in  any  other  engagement.  After  this  they 
again  assisted  in  the  siege  ^\  Vicksburg. 
After  serving  two  years  our  subject  was 
commissioned  lieutenant  in  a  negro  regi- 
ment, the  Fiftieth  United  States  Regulars, 
and  with  his  command  went  to  New  Or- 
leans in  the  spring  of  [865.  Under  the 
command  of  General  Canby  they  proceeded 
to  Pensacola,  Florida,  and  were  later  in  the 
siege  and  battle  of  Mobile.  They  stormed 
the  works  at  Blakely  and  took  the  fort  by 
charge,  after  which  they  returned  to  Mo- 
bile, where  Captain  Kinney  resigned,  hav- 
ing previously  been  promoted  to  that  rank. 
He  was  mustered  out  on  the  1st  of  May, 
[865,  and  returned  to  Dayton  with  a  war 
record  of  which  he  may  justly  be  proud. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1865,  the 
Captain  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Mary 
J.  Dowd,  who  was  horn  in  Noble  county, 
Indiana.  April  19,  1847,  her  parents  being 
William  A",  and  Martha  (Allison)  Dowd, 
natives  of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  respect- 
ively. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dowd  were  married 
in  Indiana,  and  there  five  children  were 
born  to  them,  namely:  Maria,  who  mar- 
ried George  T.  Nettles  and  died  in  1 
Marv  J.,  wife  of  our  subject:  F.  A.,  who 
married  Caroline  Burnquisl  and  makes  his 
home  in  Fori  Hodge,  having  set 
terms  as  sheriff  of  this  county;  Alexander, 
who  married  Miss  Loretta  Stoughton  and 
livi  on  a  farm  near  Dayton;  and  John  H., 
who  first  married  Clarissa  I  Hair  and  sec- 
ond Tilla  Watts,  and  formerly  resided  on  a 
farm  near  Dayton  but  is  now  living  in  Okla- 
homa. The  mother  of  these  children  died 
in  1854.  and  in  the  fall  of  1855  the  father 
married   Elizabeth   Hill  and  later  removed 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  locating  on  a 
farm,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1889. 
His  second  wife  died  in  1857.  leaving  one 
child,  Lizzie.  She  first  married  Frank 
Rakestraw,  an  engineer,  who  was  killed  on 
the  Rock  Island  Railroad,  and  later  wedded 
Canity  Morrison,  and  now  lives  in  Spo- 
kane, Washington.  In  1858  Mr.  Dowd 
married  Rebecca  Kinney,  by  whom  he  had 
one  daughter,  Nancy,  who  married  T.  D. 
Reece,  now  a  resident  of  Rossland,.  Can- 
ada, and  she  died  August  18,  1901.  Mr. 
Dowd  lost  his  third  wife  in  1862,  and 
four  years  later  he  married  Mrs. 
Clarissa  Corbin,  who  now  lives  on  a  farm 
near  Dayton.  By  the  last  marriage  there 
were  four  children:  .Mice,  wife  of  Erie 
Bloom,  of  Dayton  township;  Clara,  wife  of 
Ed  Putsky,  a  farmer  of  the  same  township; 
W.  \V.,  win. 1  is  a  twin  brqther  of  Clara  and 
resides  with  his  mother  in  Dayton  township; 
and  \tnanda,  wife  of  Andrew  (  >lsun,  of 
Pert  Dodge. 

The  children  horn  to  Captain  Kinney 
and  wife  are  as  follows:  (1)  Harry  A., 
born  December  6,  r866,  is  an  engineer  on 
the  Chicago  Great  Western  Railroad  and 
resides  in  Dayton.  He  married  Elsie 
Meanor,  who  died  in  the  spring  of  1897, 
leaving  six  children:  Flossie  J.,  Dersey  E., 
Georgie,  Xellie,  Bessie  and  Robert.  (2) 
Willis  E.,  horn  March  29,  1868,  is  a  vet- 
erinary surgeon  of  Madison,  South  Dakota 
He  married  Helen  Scott  and  has  one  child. 
Grace.  13)  George  F.,  horn  July  1,  1871, 
is  a  farmer  of  Harcourt,  Webster  county. 
He  married  Emma  Gerdie  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Fern  and  Iva.  (4)  Fred  II.,  born 
January  8.  1S7X,  is  a  brakeman  on  the  Chi- 
cago &  Northwestern  Railroad  and  lives 
in  (  arroll.  Iowa.  He  married  Mattie  Wil- 
cox and  has  two  children,  Florence  and 
Bernice.      (5)    Ralph   V.,   born   November 


9,  1877,  married  Grace  Xeece  and  is  a 
brakeman  on  the  Northwestern  Railroad, 
residing  in  Lake  City.  (6)  John  W.,  born 
March  10,  1879,  married  Abbie  Carlson  and 
is  a  farmer  of  Dayton.  (7)  Perry  D.,  born 
May  9.  1883.  (8)  Benjamin  H.,  horn  May 
21,  1NN7,  and  (01  Mary  M.,  horn  July  15. 
1888,  are  all  at  home. 

Since  his  marriage  Captain  Kinney  has 
given  his  time  and  attention  to  farming  and 
stock  raising,  and  has  met  with  marked 
success,  being  now  the  owner  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  farming  land  in  Web- 
ster comity,  besides  some  town  property  in 
Dayton.  He  now  feeds  oyer  three  hun- 
dred head  of  stock  and  ships  large  numbers 
to  the  city  markets,  having  been  success- 
fully engaged  in  the  stock  business  for 
many  years. 

Captain  Kinney  attends  and  contributes 
to  the  support  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  is  a  member  of  Oak  Lodge,  No 
531,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  the  Grand  Army 
Post  of  Dayton.  As  a  Republican  he  has 
.been  prominently  identified  with  public  af- 
fairs, and  was  twice  a  candidate  for  state 
representative,  but  unfortunately  his  party 
was  then  in  the  minority  in  his  district.  He 
has,  however,  most  creditably  and  satisfac- 
torily served  as  supervisor  for  nine  years, 
and  has  also  tilled  the  office  of  township 
trustee  several  terms.  As  a  soldier  he  was 
brave  and  fearless, "being  always  found  at 
his  post  of  duty,  and  as  a  citizen  he  has  ever 
been  found  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
him,  so  that  he  well  merits  the  high  regard 
in  which  he  is  held  bv  his  fellow  citizens. 


JOHN   F.   DUNCOMBE. 

If  "biography  is  the  home  aspect  of 
history,"  as  Wilmott  has  expressed  it.  then 
it    i-    entirely    within    the   province   of   this 


JOHN.  F.  DUNCOMBE 


THE    BIOGR  U'HICAl.    RECORD. 


!53 


volume    to    perpetuate  th< 

-  who  have  made  the  history  of  the 
Hawkeye  state.  Wars  and  conquests  have 
formed  the  annals  of  the  pasl  centuries,  but 
in  the  nineteenth  century  the  records  were 
those  of  mind  over  matter,  nol  tin 
man  over  man.  and  the  victories  achieved 
have  been  along  the  lines  of  business  prog- 
ress and  improvement,  of  substantial  de- 
velopment, culture  and  learning.  There  is 
esident  of  northwestern  Iowa  whose 
efforts  have  been  of  more  avail  in  promot- 
ing the  transformation  of  Webster  county 
from  a  wild,  unclaimed  region  to  a  section 
where  every  indication  of  an  advanced  civ- 
ilization is  found.  His  business  interests 
have  been  so  broad  and  varied  that  he  has 
contributed  in  large  measure  to  the  general 
prosperity,  and  yet  not  alone  along  business 
lines  have  his  efforts  been  put  forth  for  the 
public  good.  Almost  a  half  century  has 
passed  since  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Fort 
1  >odge  and  his  life  record  has  since  become 
an  important  chapter  in  its  history. 

John  Francis  Duncombe  was  born  on 
the  homestead  farm  in  Erie  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  22,  1831,  and  back  to 
England  he  traces  his  ancestry,  where  dif 
ferent  members  of  the  family  served  their 
country  in  parliament  and  in  other  import- 
ant public  positions.  The  familj 
Founded  in  America  by  Charles  Duncombe, 
who.  taking  up  his  abode  in  the  new  world, 
was  a  stanch  patriot  in  Rev  lutionary  days. 
<  mm  1  f  his  large  fortune  he  contributed 
more  than  sixtv  thousand  pounds  in  aid  .it 
the  colonists  who  were  struggling  for  lib- 
erty and  independence,  and  he  not  onl) 
gave  a  large  share  of  his  fortune,  bui  also 
laid  down  his  life  upon  the  altar  of  his 
country.  His  son,  the  grandfather  of  John 
.F.  Duncombe,  was  a  volunteer  in  the  Amer- 
ican  army  in  the  second   war   with   Great 


Britain  in    [812.      Hi  Duncombe, 

became  a   farmer  •  1'  Erie  1  ennsyl- 

vania,  where  he  gained  a  comfortable  liv- 
ing through  the  care  and  cultivation  of  his 
fields. 

h  was  upon  this  farm  th; 
boyhood  days  of  John  !•'.  Duncombe  were 
passed.  In_a  loo  scl10O]  house  his  early 
education  was  acquired  and  when  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  was  sent  to  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, at  Meadville,  where  he  pursued  his 
studies  for  three  years.  On  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  matriculated  in  Center 
College,  in  Danville,  Kentucky,  where  he 
was  graduated  with  high  honors  in  the 
class  of  June.  185.2.  He  then  returned  to 
Allegheny  College,  where  he  was  graduat- 
ed the  same  month.  Subsequently  the  lat- 
ter institution  conferred  upon  him  the  de- 
gree of  Master  of  Arts. 

Mr.  Duncombe  is  truly  a  self-educated 
and  self-made  man.  While  attending  col- 
te  spent  the  periods  of  vacation  in 
teaching  in  order  to  secure  the  means 
necessary  to  meet  his  expenses,  having 
charge  of  his  first  school  before  he  was  sev- 
enteen years  of  age.  On  the  completion 
of  hi-  collegiate  work  he  began  the  study 
of  law  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1853,  after  which  he 
at  once  began  practice.  While  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Erie  he  was  married.  I  tecember  29, 
1852,  to  Miss  Carrie  Perkins,  who  died  No- 
vember  10.   [854,  in  Erie. 

'Die  following  year  .Mr.  Duncombe  be- 
came a  resident  of  Fort  Dodge,  arriving 
here  in  April,  lie  borrowed  three  hundred 
dollars  from  hi-  father,  having  -urrendered 
his  interest  in  the  paternal  estate  in  con- 
sideration of  moiiex  advanced  to  meet  col- 
lege expenses,  and  with  that  -mall  sum  as 
his  entire  fortune,  boldly  struck  out  for 
the  west    to   make   In-     own     way    in    the 


254 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


world.  Into  the  wild  western  region 
lie  made  his  way,  the  vast,  unclaimed 
and  unbroken  prairies  stretched  away 
on  every  side  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach  and  no  railroads  connected  with 
the  outside  world  the  little  town  of  Fort 
Dodge,  in  which  there  were  no  build- 
ings aside  from  the  soldiers'  barracks. 
Much  of  the  land  in  tins  locality  belonged 
to  the  government,  with  the  exception  of 
the  few  isolated  claims  along  the  streams, 
where  timber  and  springs  could  be  found. 
The  pioneers  had  little  money  and  seldom 
indulged  in  the  luxury  of  litigation,  but 
his  keen  foresight  enabled  Mr.  Duncombe 
to  recognize  the  possibilities  and  oppor- 
tunities of  the  country  and  to  realize  that 
it  must  soon  become  a  thickly  settled  dis- 
trict, so  that  he  resolved  to  remain  and  en- 
dure the  privations  and  hardships  which 
must  be  met  in  pioneer  times  in  order  to 
enjoy  the  benefits  which  the  future  prom- 
ised. Xo  .man  in  the  community  did  more 
to  promote  progress,  to>  encourage  im- 
provement and  to  advance  the  transforma- 
tion which  has  changed  this  district  from 
a  wild,  unsettled  region  to  one  of  prosper- 
ity, where  wealth,  culture  and  refinement 
have  become  important  factors  in  the  life 
of  the  community.  The  land  was  reclaimed 
for  purposes  of  civilization  and  the  track 
of  the  shining  pi'  v\  3<  i  n  made  its  way 
s  the  once  barren  prairie;  all  the  com- 
forts and  conveniences  of  the  older  east 
were  introduced,  property  rose  in  value  and 
labor  brought  the  reward  of  prosperity. 
Trials  and  difficulties  were  of  frequent  oc- 
currence, but  gradually  the  work  of  the 
brave,  resolute  and  enterprising  early  set- 
tlers, who  wrought  along  the  lines  of  great- 
est good,  wrought  a  transformation  that 
placed  Webster  county  upon  a  par  with  any 
of  the  counties  of  this  great  commonwealth. 


An  event  deeply  impressed  upon  the  annals 
of  frontier  history  occurred  in  the  spring 
of  1857.  News  was  brought  to  Fort  D<  dge 
of  the  extermination  by  the  Sioux  Indians 
of  the  colony  which  the  year  before  had 
settled  aim  >ng  the  groves  that  surrounded 
the  beautiful  lakes  of  Okoboji  and  vicinity, 
on  the  extreme  northern  boundary  of  the 
state,  in  Dickinson  count)'.  Die  winter 
had  been  one  of  the  greatest  severity ;  the 
whole  country  was  covered  with  a  heavy 
blanket  of  snow,  filling  ravines  and  sloughs 
to  a  depth  of  many  feet,  rendering  travel 
very  difficult.  The  report  that  all  of  the 
colonists  were  massacred,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  four  young  women,  who  were 
dragged  away  into  captivity  more  terrible 
than  death,  aroused  a  frenzy  of  horror  that 
demanded  instant  pursuit,  rescue  and  pun- 
ishment. Over  a  hundred  fearless  young 
men  from  Webster  and  the  neighboring 
county  of  Hamilton  hastily  assembled  at 
Fort  Dodge,  organized  into  three  com- 
panies, choosing  for  their  captains  C.  -  B. 
Richards  and  John  F.  Duncombe,  of  Fort 
Dodge,  and  J.  C.  Johnson,  of  Webster 
City.  The  veteran  Major  Williams,  then 
nearly  sixtv  years  of  age.  took  command 
and  the  little  battalion,  poorly  equipped  for 
such  a  perilous  winter  march,  hastened  to 
the  rescue.  Their  suffering  and  heroic  en- 
durance of  hardships,  almost  equal  to  those 
of  Napoleon's  army  in  the  Moscow-  cam- 
paign, are  matters  of  history.  Every  mem- 
ber of  that  little  army  of  volunteers  proved 
himself  a  hero  and  won  a  place  among  "the 
bravest  of  the  brave."  Captain  Johnson 
and  William  Burkholder  perished  on  the  re- 
turn march  and  many  others  b?:ely  sur- 
vived to  reach  their  homes.  The  state  has 
o  mmemorated  their  heorism  by  a  monu- 
ment, placed  on  the  site  where  the  terri- 
ble massacre  began.     Mr.  Duncombe  being 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


255 


appropriately   appointed  one  of    the    com- 
missi ners  to  superintend  its  erection. 

But  pioneer  days  passed  and  other  con- 
ditions were  found  in  the  once  wild,  west- 
ern districts.  Business  developed  and  in 
the  activity  of  commercial  and  industrial 
life,  as  well  as  in  the  line  of  his  professii  n. 
Mr.  Duncornbe  bore  an  active  part.  In 
1858  he  became  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
Fort  Dodge  Sentinel,  which  had  been  estab- 
lished in  July.  1836,  by  A.  S.  White.  Some 
years  later  he  was  editor  and  proprietor  of 
the  Fort  Dodge  Democrat,  but  he  never 
relinquished  his  law  practice  while  connect- 
ed with  journalism.  His  fellow  citizens 
recognizing  his  fitness  for  leadership,  called 
him  to  public  office  and  throughout  the  en- 
tire period  of  his  residence  here  he  has  ex- 
ercised strong  influence  in  molding  public 
thought  and  opinion.  In  1859  he  was 
nominated  by  the  Democrats  of  the  thirty- 
second  district,  consisting  of  twenty-three 
counties,  for  the  position  of  state  senator 
and  the  election  returns  placed  him  in  office 
for  a  four-years'  term.  Twice  he  has  rep- 
resented his  district  in  the  lower  branch 
of  the  general  assembly  and  for  eighteen 
years  he  was  one  of  the  regents  of  the 
State  University,  while  for  ten  years  he 
lectured  on  railroad  law  in  that  institution. 
He  was  honored  with  the  appointment  to 
the  position  as  one  of  the  Iowa  Columbian 
commissioners  having  charge  of  the  [ov  1 
exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair  in  Chicago  in 
1893.  Few  elective  1  fhces  has  he  tilled,  for 
he  has  always  been  an  advocate  of  the 
cratic  party,  which  has  ever  been  in 
the  minority  in  Iowa.  He  has  been  his 
party's  candidate  for  lieutenant  governor, 
supreme  judge  and  representative  in  con- 
gress, and  it  is  said  that  had  he  been  a  Re- 
publican   lie    could    have   gained    any    office 


within  the  gift  of  the  party  in  the  state, 
but  he  has  never  wavered  in  his  allegiance 
to  what  he  believes  to  be  right  and  has  ever 
maintained  his  position  as  a  free-trade 
Democrat.  He  has  for  many  years,  how- 
ever, occupied  a  most  distinguished  posi- 
tion in  Democratic  circles.  In  iXj2  he  was 
chairman  of  the  Iowa  delegation  to  the 
Democratic  national  convention  in  Balti- 
more, where  Horace  Greeley  was  nominated 
for  the  presidency.  In  189J  he  was  again 
chairman  of  the  Iowa  delegation  at  the 
Chicago  convention,  but  having  been  se- 
lected to  present  the  name  of  Governor 
Boies  as  a  candidate  for  the  presidency,  he 
resigned  his  chairmanship  and  in  a  speech 
characterized  by  great  eloquence  and  power 
placed  the  name  of  Iowa's  Democratic  ex- 
exutive  before  the  meeting. 

Throughout  all  the  years  of  his  resi- 
dence in  Iowa  Mr.  Dunci  mibe  has  remained 
a  distinguished  member  of  the  bar  and  has 
been  connected  with  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant litigation  tried  in  the  courts  of  the 
district.  As  a  lawyer  he  is  sound,  clear- 
minded  and  well  trained.  The  limitations 
which  were  imposed  by  the  constitution  on 
federal  powers  are  well  understood  by  him. 
With  the  long  line  of  decisions,  from  Mar- 
shall down,  by  which  the  constitution  has 
been  expounded,  he  is  familiar,  as  are  all 
tin  n  ughly  skilled  lawyers.  He  is  at  home 
in  all  departments  of  the  law  from  the 
minutia  in  practice  to  the  greater  topics 
wherein  is  involved  the  consideration  of 
the  ethics  and  the  philosophy  1  i  juris- 
prudence and  the  higher  concerns  of  pub- 
lic policy.  But  he  is  not  learned  in  the 
law  alone,  for  he  has  studied  long  and  care- 
fully the  subjects  that  are  to  the  states- 
man and  the  man  of  affairs  of  the  greatest 
import. — the  questions   of   finance,   political 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


economy,  sociology, — and  has  kept  abreasl 
oi  the  best  thinking  men  of  the  age.  He  is 
felicitious  and  clear  in  argument,  thorough- 
ly in  earnest,  full  of  the  vigor  of  convic- 
tion, never  abusive  of  adversaries,  imbued 
with  the  highest  courtesies  and  yet  a  foe 
worthy  of  the  steel  of  the  most  able  op- 
ponent. While  he  has  given  his  services 
largely  to  the  legal  business  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railway  Company,  holding  the  po- 
sitii  11  of  district  attorney,  having  twenty- 
three  counties  in  four  states  in  his  jurisdic 
he  ha-  also  a  large  general  practice. 
He  has  defended  in  twelve  trial-  for  mur- 
der and  prosecuted  in  three.  "When  the 
great  legal  contest  was  made  over  the 
validity  of  the  prohibition  amendment  to 
the  state  constitution,  Mr.  Duncombe  and 
Judge  C.  C.  Nourse  and  Senator  James  F. 
Wilson  were  appointed  by  the  governor  to 
represent  the  state  in  sustaining  the  legality 
of  the  act. 

Although  his  attention  has  been  chiefly 
given  t>>  his  law  practice,  'Sir.  Duncombe  has 
also  aided  in  controlling  business  enter- 
prises of  vast  importance  to  the  community. 
He  was  line  of  the  incorporators  of  the 
Iowa  Falls  &  Sioux  City  Railway,  the  Ma- 
son City  &  Fort  Dodge  Railroad,  the  Fort 
Dodge  &  Fort  Ridgely,  now  the  Minneapo- 
lis \  St.  Louis  Railroad,  and  all  other  lines 
projected  to  enter  Fort  Dodge.  Fie  also 
was  i  me  of  the  first  tp  develop  the  coal 
mining  interests  in  that  section,  and  was 
the  builder  of  the  principal  hotel  in  Fort 
>  dge.  For  man}-  years  he  has  been  en- 
gaged largely  in  coal  mining  and  in  the 
manufacture  of  stucco  and  all  its  products 
from  the  extensive  gypsum  deposits  which 
underlie  a  large  tract  of  the  country  about 
Fort  Dodge,  hi-  sons  having  charge  of  the 
business. 


Mr.  Duncombe  was  married  on  the 
nth  of  .May.  1850.  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  Miss  Mary  A.  Williams,  daughter  of 
Major  Williams,  the  founder  of  Fort 
Dodge  and  for  man}-  years  one  of  the  best 
known  citizens  of  northwestern  Iowa. 
They  have  two  sons  and  three  daughters 
living,  and  the  family  attends  the  Episco- 
pal church.  Such  in  brief  is  the  life  record 
of  one  who,  for  forty-seven  years,  has 
made  his  home  in  Fort  Dodge.  Materia! 
interests  owe  their  advancement  to  him ; 
public  progress  has  been  promoted  through 
his  efforts.  He  has  attained  distinction 
at  the  bar  and  in  the  walks  of  private  life 
lias  ever  commanded  unqualified  respect. 
While  undoubtedly  he  has  not  been  with- 
out that  honorable  ambition,  which  is  so 
powerful  and  useful  as  an  incentive  to  ac- 
tivity in  public  affairs,  he  has  ever  regarded 
the  pursuits  of  private  life  as  being  in  them- 
selves abundantly  worthy  of  his  best  ef- 
forts. His  is  a  noble  character — one  that 
has  subordinated  personal  ambition  to  pub- 
lic good  and  sought  rather  the  benefit  of 
others  than  the  aggrandizement  of  self. 
His  has  been  a  conspicuotisly  successful 
career.  Endowed  by  nature  with  high  in- 
tellectual qualities,  to  which  have  been  add- 
ed the  discipline  and  embellishments  of  cul- 
ture, his  is  a  most  attractive  personality. 
Well  versed  in  the  learning  of  his  pro- 
fessii  hi  and  with  a  deep  knowledge  of  hu- 
man nature  and  the  springs  of  human  con- 
duct, with  great  shrewdness  and  sagacity 
and  extraordinary  tact,  he  is  in  the  courts 
an  advocate  of  great  power  and  influence. 
Both  judges  and  juries  have  always  heard 
him  with  deep  attention  and  interest.  If 
his  efforts  had  been  confined  alone  to  his 
practice,  his  life  had  not  been  in  vain,  but 
it  has  been  enriched  bv  an  unselfish  devo- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tion   to  the  public  good,  and   Iowa  honors 
him  as     ne  oi  her  most  pn  miinent  am 
ued   citizens. 


IS  \  \f  G  \im<  »]■:. 


From  the  days  of  pioneer  development 
in  Webster  county,  Isaac  Garmoe  has  been 
an  active  factor  in  all  that  has  tended 
toward  the  upbuilding  and  substantial  im- 
provement of  Fori  Dodge.  His  name  is  so 
closely  associated  with  its  history  that  no 
record  of  the  county  would  be  complete 
without  extended  mention  of  his  life  work. 
He  was  born  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lou- 
den, Franklin  count)',  Pennsylvania,  No- 
vember 9,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Magdalena  (Bulger)  Garmoe,  also  natives 
of  the  Keystone  state.  The  father  was  of 
French  extraction  and  the  mother  of  Ger- 
man lineage.  They  became  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  including  Isaac  Garmoe. 
who  spent  the  first  twenty  years  of  his  life 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1847  accompanied  his  father's 
family  on  their  emigration  westward.  Af- 
ter remaining  temporarily  in  Illinois  for  six 
months  they  continued  their  journey  until 
they  arrived  in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  tak- 
ing up  their  abode  in  the  "Rich  Woods" 
near  Fairfield.  The  journey  from  McCon- 
nellsbnrg  to  Pittsburg  was  by  a  six-horse 
team  and  from  there  to  Copperas  Creek 
Landing  was  made  by  steamboat.  Through- 
out their  remaining  days  the  parents  of  our 
subject  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Fairfield. 

Isaac  Garmoe  came  to  Webster  county 
in  1854  and  purchased  land  near  Border 
Plains,  where  he  farmed  until  November, 
1861.  The  county  was  then  but  sparsely 
settled  and  the  division  of  Hamilton  and 
Webster    counties     had     not    been     made. 


\n<  r  the  dh  ision  Mr.  1  rarmoe  was  e 

t)  treasurer  of  Webster  count)  in  [861, 
being  the  second  person  ever  chosen  to  the 
position,  which  also  included  the  dutii 
count)  recorder  at  thai  time.  He  served 
for  two  terms,  from  January,  [862,  until 
January.  [866,  and  since  that  time  he  has 
made  Fort  Dodge  his  home.  But  whether 
in  office  or  out  of  it,  he  has  always  been 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  adopted 
county  and  has  contributed  in  large  meas- 
ure to  its  progress  and  improvement. 

Prior  to  coming  to  Webster  county,  Mr. 
( rarmoe  had  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  summer  and  taught  school  in  win- 
ter, receiving  a  salary  of  forty  to  sixty  dol- 
lars for  three  months'  service  and  boarding 
himself.  Since  his  retirement  from  office, 
he  has  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  and 
real  estate  business  and  no  man  in  the  coun- 
ty has  a  broader  or  more  accurate  know  ledge 
of  realty  values.  His  business  methods 
have  ever  been  above  reproach,  and  while 
adding  to  his  own  income,  he  has  in  a  con- 
scientious manner  aided  many  new  comers 
in  gaining  desirable  homes,  In  recent 
years  he  has  conducted  many  important  real 
estate  transfers  and  his  clientage  has  con- 
tinually grown,  bringing  to  him  gratifying 
success.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the  (  oin 
mercial  and  Fort  Dodge  Savings  Banks. 

Mr.  Garmoe  has  been  twice  married. 
In  1849  he  wedded  Miss  Susan  Jane  Bar- 
gar,  who  died  in  1855,  after  which  he  was 
joined  in  wedlock  to  -Mrs.  Margarel  Sher- 
rill  Johnson,  a  native  of  Alabama,  who 
came  to  Webster  county  with  her  first  hus- 
band, Mr.  Johnson.  In  his  church  re- 
lations Mr.  Garmoe  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  repre- 
sented the  local  church  at  Fort  Dodge 
as  delegate  to  the  general  conference  held  in 
Baltimore  in  May,  1876.    He  is  also  a  mem- 


258 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ber  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Charles 
City  College  and  of  the  Morning  Side  Col- 
lege at  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  a  contributor 
to  both.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  belonging 
to  both  the  subordinate  lodge  and  the  en- 
campment. He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of 
the  Whig  party,  his  father  having  been  an 
advocate  of  its  principles,  and  on  the  in- 
auguration of  the  new  Republican  party  he 
joined  its  ranks  and  has  since  been  one  of 
its  warmest  advocates.  Viewed  in  a  per- 
sonal light,  he  is  a  strong  man  of  earnest 
purpose  and  unflagging  determination,  and 
his  persistency  has  been  an  important  fac- 
tor jn  hi-,  success.  His  labors  in  behalf  of 
the  county  have  been  of  a  very  beneficial 
nature,  and  at  all  times  he  has  commanded 
the  respect,  confidence  and  good  will  of  his 
felli  >w  citizens. 


J.  H.  VANDEVENDER. 

J.  H.  Yandevender,  manager  of  the 
"Western  Grain  Company,  at  Buncombe, 
and  an  extensive  farmer  and  stockraiser  of 
Washington  township,  was  born  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  Au- 
gust 22,  1858.  He  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  his  township,  and  reared  to 
an  appreciation  of  the  dignity  and  useful- 
ness of  an  agricultural  life.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  he  faced  the  problem  of  self- 
support,  and  for  five  years  worked  out  as  a 
farm  band  by  the  month,  two  years  of  that 
time  being  spent  in  his  home  neighborhood 
and  the  remaining  three  years  in  northeast- 
ern Kansas.  He  then  returned  to  Hamilton 
county.  Iowa,  and  in  Fremont  township 
rented  a  farm,  upon  which  he  lived  for  four 
years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  purchased 
eighty-six  acres  of  land,  where  he  resided 
with  his  family  until  August  1,  1891. 


At  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa.  May  1.2.  1882, 
Mr.  Yandevender  married  Sadie  M.  Ouens, 
who  was  born  in  Canada  in  1861,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hugh  and  Jane  Ouens,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ireland.  The  parents  were  mar- 
ried in  Canada,  and  from  there  removed  to 
near  Browning,  Missouri,  where  they  lived 
for  three  years.  They  then  came  to  Fre- 
mont township,  Hamilton  county.  Iowa, 
and  lived  upon  rented  land  for  se\-en  years. 
A  later  place  of  residence  was  Pocahontas 
county,  Iowa,  where  the  mother  died  in 
1895,  after  which  the  father  sold  his  inter- 
ests in  this  state  and  settled  in  Estberville, 
Iowa,  where  he  is  now  living  a  retired  life. 
He  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters :  Will- 
iam, a  resident  of  Buffalo  Center.  Iowa ; 
Thomas,  who  lives  in  North  Dakota:  John. 
who  is  married  and  lives  in  Pocahontas 
county.  Iowa;  Robert,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  creamery  business  in  Chicago ;  Albert, 
who  is  a  farmer  in  Pocahontas  county, 
Iowa;  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  Eli 
Long  and  lives  in  Deer  Creek  township. 
Webster  county,  Iowa;  Hannah,  who  re- 
sides in  Estberville,  Iowa;  Belle,  who  also 
lives  in  Estherville ;  Susie ;  and  Sadie,  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Yandevender.  To  Mir.  and 
Mrs.  Yandevender  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Emmet  W.,  born  March 
8,  1883,  died  August  23.  1898;  Zelpha  B., 
born  October  16,  1885,  is  engaged  in  edu- 
cational work  in  Colfax  township.  Webster 
county:  and  Alta  L..  born  October  6.  1887, 
is  at  present  attending  school. 

After  becoming  identified  with  Dun- 
combe  in  1891,  Mr.  Yandevender  engaged 
in  the  grain  business,  and  although  the  com- 
panv  has  undergone  many  changes  and  op- 
erated under  four  different  names,  his  ex- 
pert services  have  been  ever  since  in  de- 
mand as  manager.  In  the  meantime  he  has 
disposed  of  his  farm  in  Hamilton  county, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


259 


and  has.  instead,  a  splendidly  improved 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 4.  Washington  township,  Webster  coun- 
ty, and  owns  one  of  the  finest  residences 
in  Duncombe.  Other  city  property  has 
come  int.  1  his  possession,  and  many  public 
interests  engage  the  attention  not  needed  in 
his  general  grain  and  fanning  husiness.  As 
a  stanch  upholder  of  Republican  institu- 
tions and  issues  he  has  been  singularly 
trusted  and  honored  by  the  community,  has 
been  a  member  of  die  city  council  for  six 
years  and  has  also  served  as  township 
urer.  Fraternally  he  is  associated  with 
the  Acacia  Lodge,  No.  176,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.. 
at  Webster  City.  Mr.  Vandevender  is  a 
man  who  has  risen  solely  upon  his  own 
merits,  without  early  influential  hacking  or 
money  assistance,  lie  started  out  in  life 
with  a  capital  amounting-  to  well-balanced 
brain  force  and  large  capacity  for  labor,  and 
his  reputation  and  attainments  rest  upon 
the  solid  and  substantial  elements  of  life. 


HENRY  W.  SANBORN. 

Henry  W.  Sanborn  is  one  of  Fort 
Dodge's  old  citizens,  whose  useful  and  well- 
spent  life  has  not  only  gained  for  him  the 
friendship  and  good  will  of  his  fellow  men 
hut  has  put  him  in  a  position  to  take  the 
balance   of   life   easy. 

A  native  of  New  York,  Air.  Sanborn 
was  born  in  Norfolk-,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
November  9,  [832,  and  is  the  son  of  Rob- 
ert C.  and  Cassandre  W.  ( Stevens )  San- 
born, who  were  horn  in  New  Hampshire 
and  removed  to  New  York  just  before  the 
birth  of  our  subject.  He  has  one  sister  liv- 
ing. By  occupation  his  father  was  a  con- 
tractor. In  1833  the  family  removed  to 
Buffalo,  New  York,  and  in   1841  to  Michi- 


gan and  located  on  a  farm,  where  our  sub- 
ject passed  his  boyhood  and  youth,  his  edu- 
cation being  obtained  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood. 

In  [852  Mr.  Sanborn  went  to  Jackson, 
.Michigan,  where  he  made  his  home  for  four 
years.  He  was  present  and  took  part  in  the 
big  mass  meeting  held  on  Moody's  Hill, 
when  the  Republican  party  was  organized 
ami  first  given  the  name  on  the  6th  of  Jul)-, 
[854.  The  following  fall  Kingsley  S. 
Bingham  was  triumphantly  elected  the  first 
Republican  governor  of  Michigan. 

Mr.  Sanborn  then  went  to  Marengo, 
Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  mar- 
ble business  for  some  time.  On  the  6th  of 
May,  1858,  while  on  a  visit  to  New  York 
state  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  J.  Cooper,  of  Massena,  St.  Lawrence 
count}-.  New  York,  whose  parents  were 
farmers.  Three  children  blessed  this  union, 
namely:  Jennie  C,  born  August  20, 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  Orville  E., 
bom  February  22,  1864,  is  now  with  the 
Great  Western  Cereal  Company,  of  Fort 
Lodge;  and  Alberta  I'M  born  August  22, 
[869,  is  the  wife  of  R.  G.  Long,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business  in  Detroit, 
Michigan. 

On  the  1 2th  of  November,  1858,  Mr. 
Sanborn  took  up  his  residence  in  his  native 
count}-,  where  be  was  engaged  in  the  marble 
business  until  after  the  Civil  war  broke  out. 
He  was  enrolled  in  July,  1863,  in  Company 
F.  Eighty-third  New  York  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, under .  Captain  Jacobs  and  Colonel 
Moesch.  From  camp  rendezvous,  New 
York  Git}-,  he  went  to  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac and  joined  the  regiment  at  Bealeton 
Station,  near  the  Rappahannock  river.  The 
regiment  was  in  the  Second  Brigade  under 
Brigadier  General  Henry  Baxter,  the  Sec- 
ond Division  under  Brigadier  General  John 


26o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1  '.  K>  'binsi  n  and  the  First  Army  Corps  un 
der  Major  General  John  F.  Reynolds. 
While  Mr.  Sanborn  was  with  his  regiment 
il  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Mine  Run.  Vir- 
ginia, November  28,  1863,  and  a  number 
of  smaller  engagements.  On  account  of 
disability  contracted  while  with  the  regi- 
ment he  was  discharged  In  un  the  service 
June  in.  1864,  al  De  ('amp  general  hos- 
pital near  Alexandria,  Virginia,  and  went  to 
New  York  city  with  the  old  members  of  the 
regiment  whose  time  was  out. 

In  the  fall  of  [864  Air.  Sanborn  became 
interested  in  the  marble  business  in  Corn- 
wall, Canada,  but  resided  in  Massena,  New 
York.  lie  was  afterward  in  business  in 
Massena  until  1869,  when  he  sold  out  on 
account  of  ill  health.  Leaving  New  York 
1870,  he  removed  to  Constantine,  St.  Jo- 
seph county,  Michigan,  and  in  April,  1872, 
came  to  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  where  he  was 
employed  in  the  marble  business  fur  two 
years.  He  then  located  on  his  homestead, 
where  lie  resided  until  April,  1879.  when 
he  returned  to  Fort  Dodge  and  went  to 
work  fur  A.  M.  De  Lano,  where  the  follow- 
ing five  years  were  spent.  He  next  went 
tn  Sioux  Falls,  Smith  Dakota,  but  continued 
to  make  Fort  Dodge  his  home,  and  since 
1895  has  passed  his  time  here,  having  re- 
tired from  active  business  mi  account  of  ill 
health.  Wherever  known  he  is  respected, 
and  has  the  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  been  brought  in  contact. 


GEl  IRGE  MARSH. 


Among  the  old  and  honored  citizens  of 
Webster  county  none  is  more  deserving  of 
mention  in  a  work'  of  this  character  than 
George  Marsh,  who  for  forty-five  years  has 
made  hi-  In  me  in  Yell  township.     He  was 


born  m  Count}  Kent.  England,  and  was 
there  reared  and  educated.  Before  leaving 
his  native  land  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Alls-  Charlotte  Page,  who  was  also 
In  'in  in  G  mnty  Kent. 

1  r  about  five  years  after  nis  marriage 
Mi  Marsh  engaged  in  farming  in  Eng- 
land, but  at  the  end  of  that  time  decided 
1-  tr\  his  fortune  in  the  new  world,  believ- 
ing that  here  were  better  opportunities  for 
advancement.  Accordingly,  in  1846,  he 
and  his  family  took  passage  on  a  sailing 
vessel  at  Liverpool  and  after  a  voyage  of 
six  weeks  landed  in  New  York,  Going 
up  the  Hudson  river,  they  made  their  way 
westward  and  finally  located  at  Waukegan, 
Illinois,  where  they  spent  eleven  years. 

In  1857  Mr.  Marsh  came  to  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  and  took  up  a  river  claim  in 
Yell  township,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  As  time  passed  he  added  to  the 
original  tract  until  he  had  two  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  sections  19,  20  and  29. 
which,  with  the  exception  of  nine  acres, 
was  all  wild  land  when  it  came  into  his 
possession,  but  it  was  not  long  before  the 
whole  farm  was  under  cultivation.  He 
built  fences,  erected  a  good  house,  barn  and 
other  outbuildings ;  and  made  many  other 
useful  and  valuable  improvements  until  he 
had   one  of  the  best    farms   in   the   county. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marsh  were  born 
thirteen  children,  namely:  Frances,  wife 
of  James  Bloomfietd,  of  Fair,  Kansas; 
George  W..  whose  sketch  is  given  below; 
John,  who  married  Jennette  Wicks  and  re- 
sides in  Steelville,  Missouri ;  James,  who 
married  Elizabeth  E.  Barnette  and  lives  in 
Yell  township,  this  county;  Addie,  deceased 
wife  of  X.  C.  Howard,  of  Burnside  town- 
ship; Carrie,  wife  of  James  Baker,  of  Kim- 
ball, [ndiana;  Samuel,  who  married  Aman- 
da   Mitchell    and    died     in     Yeli    township; 


GEORGE  MARSH 


MRS.  GEORGE  MARSH 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


265 


Lydia.  wife  of  Marion  Douglass,  of  Web- 
ster township;  William,  who  married 
Mamie  Cram  and  resides  in  Burnside  town- 
ship; Fred,  who  married  Ella  Allen  and 
also  lives  in  Burnside  township;  Emma, wife 
of  Miles  Kilt,  of  Alba,  Indiana;  Rose,  de- 
ceased wife  of  William  Mead,  of  Republic. 
Kansas;  Lincoln,  who  married  Nellie 
Clark  and  died  in  Yell  township,  this 
county.  The  mi  ither  of  these  children  died 
on  the  5th  of  February,  [898,  and  was  laid 
to  rest  in  Oak  Grove  cemetery.  Yell  town- 
ship. 

Although  now  eighty-seven  years  of 
age  Mr.  Marsh  is  still  hale  and  hearty  and 
appears  like  a  man  mueh  younger.  Po- 
litically he  is  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  in  early  life  took  quite  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  public  affairs, 
filling  all  of  the  township  offices  and  serv- 
ing.as  county  supervisor  for  a  time.  He  is 
an  earnest  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  his  pleasant,  genial 
manner  lias  endeared  him  to  all  with  whom 
he  has  been  brought  in  contact,  either  in 
business  or  social  life. 


B.   E.   PETERSON. 

The  material  prosperity  of  Fulton  town- 
ship has  been  fostered  and  maintained  by 
the  praiseworthy  efforts  of  B.  E.  Peterson, 
who1  owns  a  well-improved  farm  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  22.  Although  born  in  Nor- 
way, April  14,  1858,  he  is  an  American 
aside  from  the  accident  of  birth,  for  he  was 
but  eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents. 
Ole  and  Olena  Peterson,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  at  the  close  of  the  Civil  war. 
The  family  came  directly  to  Iowa  and  lo- 
cated on  section  22,  Fulton  township, 
Webster    county,  where    the    mother    now 


lives  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Olena  Lud- 
dick.  the  father  having  died  June  |.  [898. 
The  children  bom  into  the  family  who  are 
now  living  are;  B.  E..  John,  Julius,  Mar- 
tin, Fred,  Jacob,  Olena,  I. -ding.  Anna 
Field  and  Louisa. 

In  his  youth  Mr.  Peterson  was  not 
favored  with  large  educational  opportuni- 
ties, for  the  tasks  on  the  home  farm  were 
arduous  and  consumed  about  all  of  the  time 
between  the  rising  and  setting  of  the  sun. 
However,  he  learned  much  from  observa- 
tion and  general  dealings  with  men,  so  that 
at  the  present  time  he  is  a  well-informed 
man  on  current  and  other  events.  On  De- 
cember 17,  1879,  he  married  Lena  Bean,  a 
native  of  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  born 
May  20,  1861.  Her  parents  were  born  in 
Norway  and  came  to  America  in  i860,  and 
lived  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  for  three 
years,  after  which  they  settled  in  De  Kalb 
county,  Illinois,  and  in  1874  moved  to  near 
Callender,  Webster  county.  Iowa.  Later 
still  they  settled  in  the  town  of  Callender, 
where  the  mother  died  July  14,  1897,  the 
father  surviving  her  until  his  death  at  the 
home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  B.  E.  Peterson, 
March  1,  1898.  Mrs.  Peterson  is  one  of  a 
family  of  seven  children,  the  others  being: 
Nels.  who  married  Ada  Johnson  and  lives 
in  Compton,  Illinois;  Eli,  who  married 
Lissa  Knappenbergh  and  lives  in  Fort. 
Dodge,  Iowa;  Anna,  wife  of  N.  L.  Randall, 
of  Fort  Dodge:  Cora,  widow  nf  Tin 
Byrd  and  a  resident  of  Lee,  Illinois;  Sarah. 
wife  of  Ike  Christopher,  of  South  Dakota: 
and  Adeline,  widow  of  Jonas  Olson  and  a 
resident  of  Seattle,  Washington.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Peterson  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Frank  Oliver,  born  De- 
cember 27,  1881,  and  now  attending  Tobin 
College,  Fort  Dodge;  and  William  Cyrus, 
born  March  22,   1894. 


266 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ever  since  his  marriage  Mr.  Peterson 
has  owned  the  farm  upon  which  he  now 
lues,  although  in  the  meantime  his  inter- 
ests have  been  varied  and  have  called  him 
to  different  parts  of  the  county.  On  three 
different  occasions  he  has  rented  his  farm 
and  lived  in  Fort  Dodge,  and  at  one  time 
worked  on  a  dairy  farm  for  a  couple  of 
years,  still  later  engaging  in  the  sale  of 
musical  instruments,  of  which  he  has  an 
extensive  knowledge.  For  a  portion  of  one 
season  he  ran  a  feed  barn  in  the  city  of 
Fort  Dodge,  and  at  Callender  for  two  years 
he  worked  as  a  section  hand.  Mr.  Peter- 
son is  a  Republican  in  national  politics,  and 
Ids  fellow  townsmen  have  honored  him 
with  their  trust  by  placing  him  in  a  num- 
ber of  responsible  local  offices,  the  duties  of 
which  he  has  performed  with  credit  to  him- 
•self  and  the  township.  Himself  and  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  Congregational 
church.  Mr.  Peterson  has  an  enviable  repu- 
tation for.  integrity  and  general  excellence, 
and  is  one  o-f  the  progressive  influences  of 
his  locality. 


WILLIAM  LLOYD  NICHOLSON,  M.  D. 

Dr.  William  Lloyd  Nicholson,  deceased, 
was  fur  many  years  one  of  the  most  highly 
esteemed  and  honored  citizens  of  Fort 
Dodge,  lie  was  born  on  the  25th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1832,  in  County  Waterford,  Ire- 
land. His  father  served  with  distinction  as 
a  colonel  in  the  English  army.  Of  his  three 
sons  one  was  connected  with  the  Bank  of 
Dublin  and  another  was  a  farmer  in  Lou- 
isiana. 

The  Doctor,  who  was  the  oldest  son, 
acquired  his  early  education  in  the  national 
schools  of  Waterford,  and  also  in  a  col- 
lege that  was  located  on  his  father's  land, 


and  later  attended  the  University  of  Glas- 
gow, where  he  completed  the  prescribed 
medical  course  and  was  granted  the  degree 
of  M.  B.  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years.  He  then  came  to  the  new  world, 
and  in  1855  took  up  his  residence  in  Fort 
Dodge,  Iowa.  Here  he  taught  a  private 
school  for  some  time  and  then  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  medicine. 

After  the  country  became  involved  in 
civil  war  Dr.  Nicholson  enlisted  at  Fort 
Dodge,  August  16,  1862,  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war,  as  a  private  in  Company 
].,  Thirty-second  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry, 
under  Captain  J.  Hutchinson  and  Colonel 
Scott.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Davenport, 
October  6,  and  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant  of  his  company,  but  resigned  his 
commission  on  the  1st  of  the  following  De- 
cember, being  appointed  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  Twenty-ninth  Iowa  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, under  Colonel  Benton.  Subse- 
quently he  was  made  chief  surgeon  with 
the  rank  of  major.  He  participated  in  the 
White  river  expedition  in  January,  1863, 
and  Yazoo  Pass  in  the  following  February, 
and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Helena,  Ar- 
kansas, July  4;  Bayou  Meto,  August  27; 
Little  Rock,  September  10;  Terre  Moir, 
April  2,  1864;  Elkin's  Ford,  April  4; 
Prairie  D'Anne,  April  10  and  12;  Camden, 
April  id;  and  Jenkins  Ferry,  April  30. 
At  the  last  named  place  he  was  captured, 
but  was  shortly  afterward  released  on  the 
exchange  of  prisoners.  He  was  granted  a 
thirty-day  furlough,  which  he  spent  at 
home,  and  on  the  31st  of  December,  1864, 
rejoined  his  regiment.  He  took  part  in  the 
campaign  against  Mobile  from  the  17th  of 
March  to  the  9th  of  April,  1865,  and  was 
in  the  assault  on  Spanish  Fort,  Alabama, 
April  8 ;  Fort  Blakely,  April  9,  and  Mobile, 
April  12.     Fie  was  then  in  the  Texas  cam- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


267 


paign  until  July,  1805;  was  mustered  out  at 
New  Orleans  on  the  10th  of  August,  and 
honorably  discharged  at  Davenport,  Iowa, 
September    19,    1865,   the   war  being-  over. 

Returning-  to  his  home  in  Fort  Dodge, 
Dr.  Nicholson  was  successfully  engaged  in 
practice  here  until  his  death.  A  progress- 
ive physician  and  a  constant  student,  he 
took  a  post-graduate  course  at  Des  Moines 
in  1882  and  received  a  diploma.  On  the 
8th  of  March,  1883,  he  opened  a  drug  store 
in  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Crawford,  but 
soon  withdrew,  and  served  one  term  as  city 
clerk. 

The  Doctor  was  first  married  Decem- 
ber 31,  1865,  to  Miss  Anna  J.  Leonard,  of 
Cedar  Rapids,  who  died  January  15,  1875, 
leaving-  one  child,  W.  L.  Nicholson,  who 
is  now  living  in  El  Paso,  Texas.  On  the 
27th  of  November,  1S76,  Dr.  Nicholson 
married  Miss  Sarah  L  Sherman,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
Anna  Sherman,  who  is  now  attending 
school  and  resides  with  her  mother  in  Fort 
Dodge. 

For  four  years  prior  to  his  death  the 
Doctor  was  in  ill  health,  his  sufferings 
being  caused  by  hay  fever,  and  he  passed 
away  on  the  10th  of  November,  1890.  He 
was  an  honored  member  of  the  Fort  Donel- 
son  Post,  No.  236,  G.  A.  R.,  and  during 
President  Cleveland"s  first  administration 
served  as  pension  examiner.  He  also  served 
in  that  capacity  for  some  years  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  being  one  of  the  first  ap- 
pointed to  that  position.  He  was  also  ex- 
amining physician  for  the  Catholic  Mutual 
Benefit  Association,  to  which  he  belonged, 
and  was  a  prominent  member  and  president 
at  one  time  of  the  District  Medical  Society. 
Up  to  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  surgeon 
For  all  the  railroads  entering  Fort  Dodge. 
He  was  a  great  lover  of  nature,  was  quite 


a  naturalist,  and  contributed  many  able 
articles  to  the  magazine  known  as  the 
American  Field.  He  also  wrote  for  news- 
papers and  other  periodicals  and  possessed 
considerable  ability  as  a  poet.  Widely  and 
favorably  known,  he  left  many  friends  to 
mourn  his  loss  as  well  as  his  immediate 
family.  In  manner  he  was  pleasant  and 
genial,  and  he  was  held  in  the  highest  re- 
gard by  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact- 
either  in  professional  or  social  life. 


ANDREW  ARENT. 

It  has  been  said  that  biography  yields 
to  no  other  subject  in  point  of  interest  and 
profit,  and  it  is  especially  interesting  to  note 
the  progress  that  has  been  made  and  the 
success  that  has  been  achieved  in  various 
lines  of  business  by  those  of  foreign  birth 
who  have  sought  homes  in  America — the 
readiness  with  which  they  adapt  themselves 
to  the  different  methods  and  customs  of  the 
new  world,  recognize  the  advantages  offered 
and  utilize  the  opportunities  which  the 
United  States  affords. 

Probably  one  of  the  most  successful 
farmers  of  Webster  county  whose  early 
home  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic 
is  Andrew  Arent,  who  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  on  his  farm  on  section  13,  Badger 
township,  two  miles  and  a  half  east  of  the 
village  of  Badger.  He  was  born  near 
Christiania.  Norway,  August  10.  1844.  and 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land, 
though  his  knowledge  of  the  English  lan- 
guage has  been  self-acquired  since  coming 
to  the  new  world.  It  was  in  1862  that  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  worked  on  a  farm  by  (he  month  for  four 


268 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years,  assisting  in  the  support  of  the  family, 
which  consisted  of  his  mother  and  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  he  was  the  eldest.  They 
had  come  with  him  to  America.  Mr. 
Aren't  next  engaged  in  farming  on  rented 
land  for  two  years,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
time  purchased  a  partially  improved  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Lee  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  made  his  home  for  a  few 
years.  On  selling  that  place  he  removed  to 
De  Kalh  county,  Illinois,  and  bought  an- 
other farm  near  the  city  of  De  Kalb,  to  the 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  which  he 
devoted  his  time  and  attention  until  the 
spring  i  if  18S1,  when  he  sold  out  and  came 
to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  where  he  had 
previously  purchased  his  present  farm,  con- 
sisting of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
Later  he  built  a  good,  substantial  residence 
upon  the  place,  a  barn  and  other  outbuild- 
ings, and  to-day  has  one  of  the  most  valu- 
able and  highly  improved  farms  in  Badger 
township.  Since  coming  to  this  county  he 
has  steadily  prospered,  and  has  added  to  his 
landed  possessions  from  time  to  time  until 
he  now  has  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Badger  and  Newark  townships,  divided  into 
several  farms. 

In  Lee  county,  Illinois,  on  the  27th  of 
October,  1872,  Mr.  Arent  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Ellen  Fredsvig,  who 
was  born  in  Norway.  August  1.  1841,  and 
passed  her  girlhood  in  that  country.  On 
coming  to  the  LTnited  States  in  1870  she  lo- 
cated in  Lee  county,  Illinois.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren, fi  ur  sons  and  four  daughters,  namely  : 
Ad:  ]]]]i,  now  a  physician  of  Callender, 
Iowa:  Andrew,  a  merchant  and  druggist  of 
Rutland,  Iowa;  Asaph,  a  physician,  who  is 
now  with  his  brother  in  Rutland;  Arthur, 
a  student  at  Tobin  College,  Fort  Dodge ; 
Minnie,  who  received  a  good  education  and 


is  now  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Fort 
Dodge;  Emma,  who  formerly  engaged  in 
teaching  in  this  county  and  is  now7  attend- 
ing the  State  Normal  School ;  Leonora,  a 
teacher  of  Webster  county;  and  Lillie,  who 
is  attending  the  home  school. 

Mr.  Arent  cast  his  first  presidential  bal- 
lot for  General  U.  S.  Grant  in  1868,  but 
afterward  became  identified  with  the 
Democracy.  He  voted  for  William  Mc- 
Kinley,  and  at  national  elections  now  sup- 
ports the  Republican  party,  but  at  local  elec- 
tions votes  independent  of  party  lines,  sup- 
porting the  men  whom  he  believes  best 
qualified  for  office.  He  and  his  wife  were 
reared  in  the  Lutheran  church  and  still -ad- 
here to  that  faith.  He  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing self-made  men  of  the  count}-,  having 
started  out  in  life  with  nothing  but  his  own 
indomitable  energy,  and  his  accumulation 
of  this  world's  goods  is  attributable  to  his 
own  industry,  perseverance  and  good  man- 
agement. 


GEORGE  W.  MARSH. 

George  W.  Marsh,  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive and  up-to-date  agriculturists  of 
Webster  county,  makes  his  home  on  sec- 
tion 20,  Yell  township,  and  is  justly  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  representative  men 
of  his  community  A  native  of  England, 
he  was  born  in  County  Kent,  April  13, 
1844.  but  was  only  two  years  old  when 
brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents, 
George  and  Charlotte  ( Page)  Marsh 
(see  their  sketch  elsewhere).  The  family 
first  located  near  Waukegan,  in  Lake  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  while  residing  there  our 
subject  attended  the  Oak  Plain  district 
school  at  Gurnee.  After  the  removal  of 
the    family   to  Webster   county,    Iowa,   he- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


-r> 


pursued  his  studies  in  a  log  school  house, 
so  common  in  pioneer  days.  Among  the 
earliest  buildings  erected  in  the  frontier 
settlements  were  tin  se  intended  to  be  used 
fi  r  schools  and  churches,  and  primitive  as 
they  were  in  all  their  appi  intments,  men  of 
strength  i  i  both  body  and  mind  have  gone 
cut  from  their  humble  routs,  where  slabs 
served  as  seats  and  light  was  admitted 
tlir<  ugh  greased  paper  windows. 

When  the  country  became  involved  in 
civil  war,  among  the  brave  boys  who  en- 
thusiastically rushed  to  her  defense  was  our 
subject,  then  but  seventeen  years  of  age. 
On  the  25th  of  July,  186 r,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  I,  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, which  was  mustered  in  at  Mound 
City.  Illinois,  and  assigned  to  General 
Grant's  brigade.  The  command  was  first 
ordered  to  Sulphur  Springs,  Missouri,  and 
participated  in  the  Iron  Mountain  and  Cape 
Girardeau  campaigns  under  General  Fre- 
mont. They  next  went  to  Fort  Holt,  Ken- 
tucky, and  in  February.  1862.  reached  Fort 
Henry.  Tennessee.  They  took  part  in  the 
three  days'  battle  which  ended  in  the  sur- 
render of  Fort  Donelson.  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Nashville,  thence  to  Clarksville, 
and  on  to  Pittsburg  Landing.  At  four 
o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  first  day  of 
the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  Mr.  Marsh 
was  wounded  in  the  left  thigh  by  an  ounce 
ball,  and  on  the  steamer,  City  of  Memphis, 
was  conveyed  to  the  Mound1, City  hospital, 
but  was  later  transferred  to  Jefferson  Bar- 
racks, Missouri.  After  a  short  furlough 
spent  at  home  he  rejoined  his  regiment  at 
Corinth,  Mississippi,  in  September,  1862, 
and  participated  in  the  battle  at  that  place 
on  the  3d  and  4th  of  October,  remaining 
there  until  November,  1863,  at  which  time 
they  joined  General  Sherman's  force  at 
Pulaski,  Tennessee.     On  the  22nd  of  De- 


cember Mr.  Marsh  was  veteranized,  and 
being  granted  a  thirty-days'  furlough,  he 
started  home  on  the  7th  of  January  and 
returned  to  his  regiment  February  28, 
1864.  From  Pulaski  his  command  was 
ordered  to  Florence,  Alabama,  and  after 
taking  part  in  a  running  fight  with  the 
guerrillas  returned  to  Pulaski.  On  the  15th 
1  1  th{  fi  Hi  wing  June  the  regiment  reached 
Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  and  arrived  in 
Rome.  Georgia,  August  20.  On  the  3rd 
of  the  following  Oct  ber  they  reached  Alla- 
toona  Pass,  where  General  Sherman  gave 
the  signal  which  inspired  the  writing  of 
the  famous  hymn — "Hold  the  Fort  for  I 
am  Coming."  The  regiment  then  re- 
turned to  Rome,  Georgia,  and  on  the  nth 
of  November  went  to  Atlanta,  joining  Gen- 
eral Sherman's  army  in  time  to  take  part 
in  the  march  to  the  sea  and  up  through 
the  Carolinas  to  Raleigh,  where  they  re- 
ceived word  of  the  assassination  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln.  Mr.  Marsh  was  present  at 
the  grand  review  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  was  then  mustered  out  of  service,  fuly 
9.  1865,  at  Springfield.  Illinois,  the  war  be- 
ing over  and  his  services  being  no  longer 
needed. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Webster  coun- 
ty, Iowa.  Mr.  Marsh  remained  with  his  fa- 
ther on  the  farm  until  he  was  married  at 
Fort  Dodge,  October  3.  1867.  to  Miss 
Sarah  Ellen  Beem,  who  was  born  in  Noble 
county,  Indiana.  January  24.  1840.  Her 
parents  were  John  and  Sarah  (Schissler) 
Beem,  the  former  born  in  Maryland,  and 
the  latter  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  which 
state  they  were  married.  Later  they  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  and  finally  came  to 
Iowa,  in  1854.  locating  in  Yell  township, 
Webster  county,  where  Mr.  Beem  bought 
one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres  of  wild 
prairie    and    timber  land   and   engaged   in 


27: 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farming.  Upon  his  place  he  built  a  log 
cabin,  and  also  erected  the  second  school 
house  in  the  county,  which  was  also  a  log 
structure.  He  purchased  property  in  Fort 
Dodge,  and  at  one  time  owned  the  lot  on 
which  the  shoe  factory  is  now  located.  In 
religious  faith  he  was  a  Baptist  and  in  po- 
litical sentiment  was  a  Rqmblican.  As  one 
of  the  leading-  citizens  of  his  community  he 
was  called  upon  to  fill  all  of  the  township 
offices,  including  those  of  assessor  and  jus- 
tice of  tbe  peace.  He  died  on  the  15th  of 
November,  j 885.  and  his  wife  passed  away 
March  7,  1893,  both  being  laid  to  rest  111 
Oak  Grove  cemetery,  Yell  township.  Of 
the  ten  children  burn  t"  this  worthy  couple 
three  died  in  infancy  and  the  others  are  as 
follows:  Margaret,  wife  of  David  Doug- 
lass, of  Otho  township,  this  county;  Noble, 
who  was  drowned  in  the  Des  Moines  river 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years;  W.  C,  who 
married  Jane  Nichols  and  resides  in  Sum- 
ner township ;  Angeline,  deceased  wife  of 
James  Brundage,  of  Sheldon,  North  Da- 
ota;  Emily,  wife  of  Aaron  D.  Rolfe,  of 
Burnside  township,  this  county;  Sarah  El- 
len, wife  of  our  subject;  and  John  0.,  who 
married  Clara  Price,  now  deceased,  and 
resides  in  Sumner  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marsh  have  been  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  all  born  in  Yell  town- 
ship. In  order  of  birth  they  are  as  follows  : 
Leota  Lena,  born  August  6,  1868,  is  now 
the  wife  of  John  Grosenbaugh,  a  grain 
dealer  of  Nemaha,  Sac  county,  Iowa.  W. 
C,  born  February  18,  187-1,  is  also  engaged 
in  the  grain  business  in  Nemaha  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. He  married  Myra  Wilbur,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Genevieve  M.  Alma  I., 
born  May  5,  1874,  is  the  wife  of  A.  X. 
Rolfe,  who  resides  on  the  old  Marsh  home- 
stead in  Yell  township,  and  they  have  one 
child,   Vera.      Viola,  born   May    18,    1877, 


is  now  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  mu- 
sic. J.  B.,  born  May  2,  1879,  is  attending 
Drake  University  at  Des  Moines,  and  is  a 
member  of  tbe  Masonic  fraternity.  Dow, 
born  March  11,  1886,  assists  his  father  in 
the  operation  of  the  home  farm. 

For  three  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Marsh  lived  on  the  Beem  farm,  and  then 
removed  to  the  farm  on  section  20,  Yell 
township,  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
Here  he  has  erected  a  most  comfortable  and 
attractive  residence  and  commodious  barns, 
and  to-day  has  one  of  the  best  improved 
farms  in  the  community.  His  estate  com- 
prises four  hundred  and  two  acres  of  land 
and  is  one  of  the  best  in  a  county,  which  is 
noted  for  its  excellent  farms.  Mr.  Marsh 
gives  considerable  attention  to  the  raising 
of  high  grade  stock  for  market,  and  most 
of  tbe  grain  which  he  raises  he  feeds  to  his 
stock.  He  has  been  identified  with  many 
important  business  enterprises,  being  at 
one  time  interested  in  the  coal  mining  in- 
dustry, and  he  is  to-day  a  stockholder  in 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Lehigh.  He 
r  serving  both  as  school  treasurer  and  as- 
sessor of  Yell  township,  and  is  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Republican  party  in  his  com- 
munity. Socially  he  is  connected  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  Captain  Dowd  Post, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Dayton,  and  religiously  is  one 
of  the  prominent  members  and  elders  of 
the  Christian  church.  In  every  way  Mr. 
Marsh  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of 
his  locality,  and  well  merits  the  high  re- 
gard in  which  he  is  uniformity  held. 


ROBERT  FLATTERY. 

Although  at  present  the  owner  of  one  of 
the  finest  farms  in  Colfax  township,  Mr. 
Flattery  has  led  an  unusually   active  life 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


273 


in  other  directions,  and  his  many-sided  abil- 
ity lias  been  prolific  of  continued  success. 
A  native  of  Kings  county,  Ireland,  he  was 
bum  in  1816,  his  parents,  Edward  and  May 
1  Agan  )  Flattery,  being  natives  of  Ireland, 
and  his  father  died  in  the  old  country.  His 
mother,  however,  came  to  America  about 
1840,  and  eventually  died  in  Johnstown, 
Pennsylvania.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to 
this  worthy  couple  the  youngest,  Robert, 
alone  survives. 

On  the  paternal  farm  in  Ireland  of 
twenty-five  acres  Robert  Flattery  passed  his 
youth,  and  the  resources  of  the  property 
were  such  that  little  time  was  permitted  him 
to  attend  the  district  schools.  His  first  in- 
dependent venture  was  as  a  member  of  the 
police  force  in  County  Kilkenny,  Ireland, 
which  position  he  sustained  for  about  ten 
years  and  then  resigned.  In  1850  he  sought 
to  broaden  his  prospects  by  emigrating  to 
the  United  States,  and  upon  locating  in 
Johnstown,  Pennsylvania,  found  employ- 
ment in  the  warehouses  and  subsequently 
was  a  ci  inductor  on  a  freight  train  running 
between  Johnstown  and  Pittsburg.  These 
were  the  very  early  days  of  that  section,  long 
before  the  introduction  of  the  telegraph  or 
other  modern  means  fur  facilitating  busi- 
ness. When  the  devastating  cholera  para- 
lyzed business  in  Pittsburg  in  1854  he  came 
to  Iowa  and  continued  in  the  railroad  busi- 
ness, and  was  partially  successful  as  a  con- 
tractor for  construction  work.  Thus  em- 
ployed he  passed  nineteen  years  of  his  life, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  bought 
the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives,  in  1873, 
and  which  was  then  wildest  prairie  with 
the  one  neighbor  living  one  mile  distant. 
To  the  improvement  of  this  property  Mr. 
Flattery  devoted  his  most  intelligent  en- 
ergies, with  the  result  that  his  farm  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sections 


7  and  8  is  a  distinct  credit  to  his  managerial 
and  other  capabilities.  The  last  contract- 
ing that  Air.  Flattery  was  engaged  in  was 
on  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  between 
the  Cheyenne  and  Lem  rivers.  At  that  time 
the  Indians  were  a  source  of  much  trouble, 
and,  in  addition  to  a  company  of  regular 
soldiers,  each  one  of  the  laborers  was 
armed  with  a  rifle  and  stood  ready  In  de- 
fend himself  at  all  times,  night  or  day. 

November  27.  1861,' Mr.  Flattery  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Julia  Flannery, 
wlin  was  born  in  Illinois  in  [831,  and  whose 
parents  came  from  Ireland  at  a  very  early 
day.  They  were  farmers  first  in  Illinois 
and  later  in  Iowa,  where  they  eventually 
died.  Of  their  three  children  but  two  are 
now  living,  .Mis.  Spellman  being  a  resident 
1  1  \namosa.  Thirteen  children  have  been 
born  tii  Air.  and  Airs.  Flattery,  namely: 
Ann,  win  1  is  the  wife  of  Dan  Strain  and 
lives  in  Coalville,  Iowa;  Alaggie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  William  Yucily  and  lives  in  Col- 
fax township:  John,  who  married  Miss 
Alinnie  Powers  and  lives  on  section  7,  Col- 
fax township;  Edward,  who  married  Lizzie 
Brady  and  lives  in  Badger  township;  Mol- 
lie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Edward  McLean  and 
lives  at  Red  Lodge,  Montana;  Will:  Alike; 
Philip;  Hugh  ;  Julia;  and  Josephine.  Two 
are  deceased:  Robert,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three  years:  and  Kate,  who  died 
in  infancy.  Julia  and  Josephine  have  quali- 
fied as  educators,  and  both  attended  Tobin 
College  at  Fort  Dodge.  The)-  are 
teaching  in  the  district  schools  of  their 
county.  The  sons  are  sturdy  and  capable 
men  and  are  now  working  their  father's 
farm. 

The  Flattery  farm  is  one  of  the  best 
improved  in  Colfax  township,  and  aside 
from  general  fanning  a  large  revenue  is 
made    from     feeding    and    shipping    high- 


274 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


grade  stock.  Mr.  Flattery  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church  at  Fort 
Dodge.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  national  and 
local  politics,  and  has  held  most  of  the  im- 
portant township  offices,  including  that  of 
school  director,  township  trustee  and  treas- 
urer, and  justice  of  the  peace,  which  latter 
office  he  creditably  maintained  fi  >r  m<  ire 
than  twenty-five  years.  He  is  one  of  the 
prominent  men  of  the  township,  and  his 
council  and  assistance  are  ever  at  the  dis- 
posal of  worthy  improvements  in  the  com- 
munity. 


FRANK  A.  DOWD. 


The  Dowd  family  has  been  connected 
with  the  history  of  Webster  county  from 
its  early  pioneer  days,  when  much  of  the 
land  was  still  in  possession  of  the  govern- 
ment and  the  work  of  progress  and  civiliza- 
tion had  scarcely  been  begun  in  this  local- 
ity. Its  members  have  ever  been  found  as 
champions  of  progress  and  advancement, 
and  such  a  citizen  is  Frank  Alison  Dowd, 
who  is  now  capably  filling  the  office  of 
county  sheriff. 

The  Dowd  family  was  founded  in 
America  about  the  beginning  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  by  three  brothers.  John, 
Owen  and  Alexander  -Dowd.  The  first 
two  went  south,  but  the  third  became  a 
resident  of  Ross  county,  Ohio.  He  was  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  married 
Nancy  Vanderford,  who  was  born  in  Ross 
county,  and  in  1837  they  removed  with 
their  family  to  Noble  county,  Indiana, 
where  they  entered  land  from  the  govern- 
ment, their  warrants  being  signed  by  Pres- 
ident Van  Buren.  These  papers  are  still  in 
possession  of  the  family  as  treasured  heir- 
looms. Later  Alexander  Dowd,  his  wife, 
his  two  sons.  William  and  Alexander,  and 


their  families  all  came  to  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  and  cast  in  their  lot  with  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  this  region,  the  grandparents 
here  spending-  their  remaining  days.  The 
grandfather  died  May  27,  1874,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four  years,  eight  months  and 
nineteen  days,  while  his  wife  passed  away 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years,  one  month 
and  twenty-three  days,  on  the  22d  of  No- 
vember, 1863.  In  their  family  were  seven 
children.  Alexander,  Jr.,  was  one  of  the 
'49ers  who  went  to  California  in  search  1  if 
gold,  was  also  among  the  gold  seekers  at 
Pikes  Peak.  Colorado,  and  at  the  time 
of  the  Civil  war  he  entered  the  Union  army 
as  captain  of  Company  I.  Thirty-second 
Iowa  Infantry,  with  which  he  served 
throughout  the  war.  His  death  occurred 
in  1867,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
thirty-seven  years,  five  months  and  nine- 
teen days.  William  Vanderford  Dowd.  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  the  second  of 
the  family.  Hannah  became  the  wife  of 
David  Miller  and  both  are  now  deceased. 
Sarah  wedded  B.  F.  Alison,  and  aboul 
1855  they  came  to  Iowa,  where  they  re- 
sided for  many  years,  but  both  have  now 
passed  away.  Nancy  married  Lewis  Davis, 
and  in  1861  they  went  to  Colorado,  but 
both  are  now  deceased.  Vary  became  the 
wife  of  George  V.  Wilson,  who  lived  near 
Winterset.  Iowa,  at  the  time  of  their  mar- 
riage. Later  they  became  early  settler-,  of 
Webster  county,  and  in  1862  they  went  to 
Colorado  and  afterward  to  Kansas,  where 
both  died.  Minerva  is  the  deceased  wife  of 
Dr.  James  Kelly,  who  lived  in  the  southern 
portion  of  Webster  county,  and  was  the 
first  physician  to  locate  in  Webster  ccmty 
south  of  Fort  Dodge,  but  in  i860  went  to 
Colorado,  and  now  makes  his  home  in 
Golden  City,  that  state,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine. 


ALEXANDER  DO  WD,  Sr. 


FRANK  A.  DOWD 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


277 


William  Vanderford  Dowd,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Ross  county, 
Ohio,  September  2?.   1823.  and  tbere  mar- 
ried Martha  Jane  Alison,  who  was  a  native 
of  the  same  county.     Her  death  occurred 
in  Noble  county,  Indiana,  in  1854.  and  her 
remains  were  interred  in  Wolf  Lake  cem- 
etery.    Our  subject  was  then  only  six  years 
of  age.     There  were  five  children  by  that 
marriage.   Susan  Maria,  the  eldest,  married 
G.  T.  Nettles,  an  employe  of  the  Chicago, 
Rick   Island  &  Pacific  Railroad  Company, 
now  living  at  Dayton,  Iowa,  but  she  died 
October  25,   1890,  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years. and  two  days.     Alar}'  Jane  is  the  wife 
of  John  L.  Kinney,  of  Dayton.     Frank  A. 
is   the  next   younger.      Alexander   is  living 
in   Dayton  township,    and    John    H.,    the 
youngest,  is  a  resident  of  Oklahoma.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  the  father  mar- 
ried    Elizabeth    Hill,    and    their   only    child 
was  given  the  mother's  maiden  name.     She 
became  the  wife  of  Frank  Rakestraw,  an 
engineer   on   the   Chicago,    Rock   Island   & 
Pacific  Railroad,  who  was  killed  March  30, 
1888,  at  Walnut.  Iowa.     His  widow  after- 
ward became  the  wife  of  C.   B.   Morrison, 
of    Spokane,    Washington.      For   his   third 
wife  William   V.    Dowd   married    Rebecca 
Kinney,   and  they  also   had  one  daughter, 
Nannie  E.,  who  became  the  wife  of  T.  D. 
Reese,    of    Missoula,    Montana,     and     died 
August   18,    1901,  at  Everett,  Washington. 
In  1855  tne  entire  family,  consisting  of  the 
paternal   grandparents   of   our   subject   and 
the  parents  of  Alexander  Dowd.  Jr..  came 
from  Indiana  to  Webster  county,  locating 
in  Dayton  township  when  it  was  all  wild 
land    still   belonging    to    the    government. 
There  was   not   a   house  in   the  village   1  £ 
1  )ayti  n     and     even     pioneer     development 
had    scarcely    been    begun.       The      father 
entered  the  north  half  of  section    u,  Day- 


ton township,  while  Alexander  I 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  entered 
the  south  half.  From  that  time  till 
his  death,  which  occurred  June  4.  1889, 
he  remained  a  resident  of  Dayton  town- 
ship. He  did  much  for  the  develop- 
ment and  progress  of  the  county  along  ag- 
ricultural lines  and  was  a  worthy  and  high- 
ly respected  citizen. 

Frank  Allison  Dowd  was  born  in  Sparta 
township.  Noble  county,  Indiana,  June  18, 
1848,  and  was  therefore  only  about  seven 
years  of  age  when  with  his  parents  he  came 
ti  1  Webster  county.  He  was  reared  amid  the 
wild  scenes  of  the  frontier  and  with  the  fam- 
ily endured  all  the  hardships  and  trial-  of 
pioneer  life.  He  assisted  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  fields  until  1807,  when  he  entered  the 
empli  y  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Rail- 
road as  brakeman.  the  road  having  been 
completed  to  Omaha  only  the  year  before. 
In  the  spring  of  1868.  however,  he  returned 
to  his  home  in  Dayton,  where  he  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1869.  He  was  elected  con- 
stable of  Dayton  township  in  that  year,  and 
on  the  3d  of  November,  1869.  he  went  to 
Le-  Moines,  where  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Chicago.  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Rail- 
road as  fireman  for  Go  irge  T.  Xettles.  his 
brother-in-law.  He  continued  in  that  em- 
ploy until  1872,  when  he  went  to  Colorado 
and  worked  on  the  Rio  Grande  Railroad  as 
fireman  fi  >r  a  time  and  was  then  promi  ted  to 
engineer,  serving  until  the  financial  panic  of 
1S73,  when  he  was  laid  off.  He  next  re- 
moved to  Saguache,  near  Lost  Pinnos 
Agency,  and  did  the  machine  work  for  a 
sawmill,  which  he  operated  through  the 
winter  of  1873. 

On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  re- 
turned to  Iowa,  locating  at  Stuart,  and  for 
one  year  was  employed  in  the  shops  of  the 
Chicago,   Rock  Island  &  Pacific.     In   187; 


78 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  again  went  upon  the  road,  running  an 
engine  on  the  main  line  from  Stuart  to 
Council  Bluffs  and  to  Brooklyn  until  1882, 
when  he  went  north,  entering  the  service  of 
the  Canadian  Pacific  Railroad,  in  August,  as 
engineer,  his  run  being-  between  Winnipeg 
and  the  mountains.  He  was  with  that  road 
until  April.  1887,  and  during  the  last  two 
years  ran  an  engine  through  the  Kicking 
Horse  Pass,  at  the  foot  of  Mt.  Stevens. 
Going  to  Minot,  North  Dakota,  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad 
as  conductor,  running  from  Minot  to  Great 
Falls.  Montana,  on  a  passenger  train  until 
he  resigned  in  August,  1890.  At  that  time 
he  was  appointed  deputy  collector  of  cus- 
toms at  Sweet  Grass,  his  office  being  at  that 
place  on  the  Great  Falls  &  Canada  Railroad, 
one  hundred  and  thirty-three  miles  north  of 
Great  Falls,  on  the  Canadian  boundary.  In 
1893  he  resigned  that  office  and  returned  to 
Dayton  to  look  after  his  farming  interests, 
for  since  1863  he  has  owned  a  half  section 
of  valuable  land  in  Dayton  township. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1896.  Mr.  Dowd 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Caroline 
Burnquist.  of  Webster  county,  the  widow 
of  Samuel  Burnquist.  They  have  a  wide 
acquaintance  in  the  county  and  their 
friends  are  many.  In  the  fall  of  1897 
Mr.  Dowd  was  elected  sheriff  of  Webster 
county  for  a  term  of  four  years,  which  ex- 
pired January  2,  1902.  He  has  served 
as  mayor  of  Dayton  for  two  terms  and  has 
also  been  justice  of  the  peace.  In  his  po- 
litical views  he  has  always  been  a  stalwart 
Republican,  which  has  been  the  political 
faith  of  the  family  since  the  organization  of 
the  party,  previous  to  which  time  his  father 
and  grandfather  were  Whigs.  Mr.  Dowd 
i?  a  prominent  Mason.  On  the  5th  of  Au- 
gust. 1870,  he  became  a  member  of  Capitol 
Lodge,  No.   110,  A.   F.  &  A.   M.,  at  Des 


Moines,  Iowa.    In  1877  he  became  a  Royal 

Arch  Mason  in  Adell,  Iowa,  and  the  same 
year  he  joined  Temple  Commandery,  No.  4, 
K.  T.,  of  Des  Moines,  while  on  the  23d  of 
November,  1896,  he  joined  Kaaba  Temple 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  also  has  member- 
ship relations  with  Lincoln  Lodge,  No.  59, 
K.  P.,  of  Stuart,  Iowa,  was  one  of  its 
charter  members  and  was  elected  vice  chan- 
cellor and  chancellor  commander.  Di- 
mitting  from  that  lodge,  he  was  one  of 
the  seventeen  members  to  institute  Mystic 
Lodge,  No.  2,  K.  P.,  at  Moose  Jaw, 
in  the  Northwest  territory  of  Canada, 
where  he  was  elected  vice  chancellor, 
but  his  membership  is  now  in  Dayton. 
He  likewise  belonged  to  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  in  Fort  Dodge. 
There  are  certain  qualities  in  his  nature 
which  render  him  popular  with  his  fellow 
men,  and  in  Webster  county  he  has  many 
warm  friends. 


TOHN  D.  STINE. 


John  D.  Stine,  residing  at  1507  Third 
avenue  south,  was  born  on  the  8th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1850,  in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  and 
is  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  children,  six 
sons  and  six  daughters,  whose  parents  were 
Daniel  E.  and  Mary  (Dawson)  Stine,  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania  and  Illinois,  respect- 
ively. In  the  fall  of  1855  the  father,  who 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  removed  with  his 
family  to  Fort  Dodge,  and  in  partnership 
with  David  Burkbolder  engaged  in  con- 
tracting and  building  for  five  years.  He 
built  the  first  boat  that  went  clown  the  Des 
Moines  river,  it  being  a  side-wheeler,  forty 
feet  long  by  six  wide,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  Whang  Doodle.  On  its  first  trip 
it   carried   a  load   of  provisions  and  pork. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


279 


Soon  after  his  arrival  here  Mr.  Stine  built 
a  house  on  the  corner  of  Third  avenue  south 
and  Sixth  street,  which  is  still  standing — 
one  of  the  few  landmarks  of  pioneer  days. 
In  1861  he  purchased  a  farm  on  the  river, 
and  to  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
that  place  he  devoted  his  attention  until 
1866,  when  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose 
it.  He  then  removed  to  Kansas  City,  but 
spent  his  last  days  in  Denver,  where  he  died 
December  29,   1888. 

Mr.  Stine,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  only  five  years  old  on  the  re- 
moval of  his  family  to  Fort  Dodge,  and  the 
greater  part  of  his  education  was  obtained 
in  the  schools  of  this  citv  and  count)', 
though  he  afterward  attended  school  in 
Kansas  City  for  one  year  while  the  family 
were  living  there.  He  then  worked  with 
his  father  at  contracting  and  building  for 
two  years,  and  in  1870  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad  Company 
as  bridge  carpenter,  later  becoming  fore- 
man of  a  building  gang.  In  the  spring  of 
1873  Mr.  Stine  returned  to  Fort  Dodge, 
and  engaged  in  carpenter  work  here  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  went  to  Carroll,  Iowa. 
where  he  followed  contracting  and  building 
alone  for  a  time,  and  later  in  partnership 
with  his  father,  who  had  removed  from 
Kansas  City  to  that  place.  In  1879  our  sub- 
ject returned  to  Kansas  City,  and  a  year 
later  we  again  find  him  in  Fort  Dodge, 
where  he  remained  until  going  to  Denver, 
Colorado,  in  1881.  There  he  engaged  in 
contracting  until  1892,  since  which  time  he 
has  made  his  home  permanently  in  Fori 
Dodge  and  has  been  foreman  of  a  gang  of 
carpenters  on  contract  work.  In  1900  he 
took  charge  of  the  construction  of  the  Mid- 
land Opera  House,  and  was  thus  employed 
until  the  15th  of  December,  1900,  when  he 
sprained  both  ankles  in  a  fall  and  was  un- 


able to  attend  to  business  for  seven  weeks. 
On  his  recovery  he  resumed  his  former  po- 
sitii  n  as  foreman  of  a  contracting  gang. 
He  is  considered  one  of  the  best  and  most 
skillful  carpenters  in  the  city,  and  his  work 
always  gives  the  utmost  satisfaction. 

On  the  2d  of  November,  1878,  Mr. 
Stine  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Naoma  Talbott,  of  Carroll,  Iowa,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Alexander  and  Nancy  (Greenlee) 
Talbott,  who  were  farming  people  of  Car- 
roll county.  By  this  union  were  born  five 
children,  whose  names  and  dates  of  birth 
were  as  follows:  Milo  B.,  August  1,  1879; 
Rico  II..  November  2j,  1883;  Robert  E., 
April  16,  1885;  Daniel  A.,  August  9,  1891 ; 
and  Florence  E.,  February  21,  1900.  The 
only  daughter  died  November  27,  1901. 
Milo  B.  is  now  attending  the  National 
Medical  College  of  Chicago,  where  he  will 
graduate  in  [902.  He  was  married,  Febru- 
ary 22,  1899,  h '  ^''ss  Mabel  F.  Seaman,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  C.  O.  Seaman,  of  Chero- 
kee, L  >w  a. 


LEMUEL  G.   HASTINGS. 

Among  the  honored  veterans  of  the 
Civil  war  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
Fort  Dodge  is  numbered  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  His 
early  home  was  in  New  England,  being  born 
in  Oakdale,  Massachusetts.  March  20.  1S22, 
a  son  of  Mahum  and  Annie  (Powers) 
Hastings,  in  whose  family  were  twelve  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  eight  daughters.  In 
early  life  the  father  was  engaged  in  the 
cooperage  business,  but  after  the  removal 
of  the  family  to  Worcester,  Massachusetts, 
in  1 83 1,  he  engaged  in  the  commission 
business  until-  called  to  his  final  rest  in 
1849. 


2SO 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Lemuel 
G.  Hastings  was  a  student  in  the  schools  of 
Oakdale  and  Worcester,  and  in  1839  com- 
menced learning  the  boot  maker's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  for  two  years.  He  was 
next  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business  in 
Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  until  1849,  when 
he  closed  out  his  establishment  with  the  in- 
tention of  going  to  California  in  search  of 
the  precious  metal  which  had  lately  been 
discovered  there.  On  the  31st  of  October 
he  sailed  from  Boston,  and,  rounding  Cape 
Horn,  landed  in  San  Francisco,  March  6, 
1850,  after  a  long  and  tedious  voyage  of 
five  months  and  six  days.  He  worked  in 
the  gold  mines  until  1855,  when  he  returned 
to  his  old  home  in  Oakdale,  Massachusetts, 
by  way  of  the  Panama  route,  the  return  trip 
covering  only  twenty-one  days. 

For  six  months  Mr.  Hastings  was  em- 
ployed as  baggage  master  on  the  Little 
Miami  division  of  the  railroad  between 
Cincinnati  and  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1856  returned  to  California,  by  way 
of  the  Isthmus,  and  remained  there  until 
1862,  working  in  the  mines.  On  the  29th 
of  March,  that  year,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
I,  First  California  Cavalry,  under  Captain 
Kennedy  and  Colonel  Gorman,  who  after- 
ward became  a  general.  His  regiment  was 
attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Rio-  Grande, 
and  did  considerable  fighting  with  the  In- 
dians, taking  part  in  many  skirmishes. 
After  a  hard  campaign  Mr.  Hastings  was 
finally  discharged  and  mustered  out  of 
service  at  San  Francisco,  April  28,  1865, 
the  war  being  then  practically  over.  He 
acted  as  one  of  General  McDowell's  escorts 
to  San  Francisco. 

On  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Hastings  re- 
turned to  Oakdale,  Massachusetts,  but  two 
months  later  went  to  Aurora,  Illinois,  where 
he  worked  in  the  car  shops  one  year,  and 


then  engaged  in  general  merchandising  at 
Geneva,  that  state,  in  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law  fur  the  following  year.  Sell- 
ing his  interest  in  the  business,  he  returned 
to  Aurora  and  re-entered  the  car  shops,  but 
remained  only  a  few  months.  We  next  find 
him  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business  at 
St.  Charles,  Illinois,  for  about  a  year,  and 
at  the  end  of  that  time  he  again  went  to 
Aurora. 

In  1869  Mr.  Hastings  came  to  Fort 
Dodge,  and  for  two  years  operated  a  small 
farm  on  the  river,  after  which  he  conducted 
a  restaurant  in  the  city  for  about  thirteen 
}ears.  Selling  out  at  the  end  of  that  time, 
he  bought  a  place  at  the  outskirts  of  the  city 
and  engaged  in  the  stock  business  for  a 
year,  when  he  disposed  of  his  pn  iperty  here 
and  removed  to  Marshalltown,  Iowa.  He 
only  remained  there  a  short  time,  however, 
and  then  returned  to  Fort  Dodge,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  restaurant  business  about 
four  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  sold 
out.  The  following  season  was  spent  in 
California,  and  on  his  return  to  Iowa  pur- 
chased a  skating  rink  in  Rockwell  City,  but 
only  run  it  one  night,  as  the  insurance  men 
would  take  no  risks  in  insuring  it.  Mov- 
ing the  building  to  Jefferson,  this  state,  he 
built  a  house  and  engaged  in  the  fruit  busi- 
ness, remaining  there  six  years.  He  then 
traded  his  property  at  that  place  for  prop- 
erty in  Fort  Dodge,  and  here  has  lived  a 
retired  life  since  1890. 

Mr.  Hastings  was  married  in  1846  to 
Miss  Martha  Stone,  of  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts, by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Charles 
X.,  who  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Lake 
Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  for  twenty-three  years. 
He  was  a  second  time  married,  in  1867,  to 
Amanda  Conk,  of  St.  Charles,  Illinois,  who 
died  December  2,  1900,  leaving  no  children. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mr.  Hastings  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  is  also  connected  with  Fort 
Donelson  Post,  No.  236,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which 
he  was  chaplain  for  four  years.  After  a 
useful  and  honorable  career  he  can  well 
afford  to  lay  aside  all  business  cares  and 
live  in  ease  and  retirement,  surrounded  1>\ 
many  friends,  who  esteem  him  highly  for 
his  sterling'  worth  and  many  excellencies 
of  character. 


REV.   C.   II.   REMINGTI  >N. 

The  true  religion  has  been  the  strongest 
influence  known  to  man  through  all  time, 
while  the  many  false  doctrines  which  have 
sprung  up  have  flourished  only  for  a  day 
and  then  vanished.  More  potent  at  the  pres~ 
ent  time  than  at  any  period  in  the  world's 
history  are  the  work  and  influence  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  among  those  who  are  devoting 
their  lives  to  its  inculcation  among  men  is 
P.ev.  Charles  Hazard  Remington,  the  hon- 
ored pastor  of  St.  Mark's  Episcopal  church 
of  Fort  Dodge. 

He  was  born  in  Tiskilwa,  Illinois,  De- 
cember 12,  1865,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
Ellery  and  Adeline  (Stevens)  Remington, 
who  were  natives  o>f  Rhode  Island  and  Xew 
Hampshire  respectively,  and  both  represen- 
tatives of  good  old  Revolutionary  families. 
The  father  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Lord 
Remington,  one  of  the  original  planters  of 
Providence,  Rhode  Island.  The  mother 
traced  her  ancestry  back  through  Calvin 
and  Jane  (Greeley)  Stevens.  Our  subject 
is  a  great-great-grandson  of  Asa  Stevens 
and  Bradford  Xewcomb.  The  former  was 
born  in  Hampsted.  Xew  Hampshire,  in 
1 73 2,  and  was  killed  at  Quebec,  Canada, 
December  31,  1775,  at  the  opening  of  the 
Revolutionary   war.      Mr.   Remington's    fa- 


ther died  in  Illinois,  in  1870,  and  his  mother 
subsequently  married  Rev.  James  Cornell, 
now  rector  of  St.  John's  church  at  Tanes- 
ville,  Minnesota.  He  served  three  years  in 
a  Xew  York  regiment  during  the  Civil  war: 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Chattanooga, 
and  was  with  Sherman's  army  on  the  march 
to  the  sea.  Although  he  was  never 
wounded,  he  received  a  sunstroke,  from 
which  he  has  never  fully  recovered,  and 
now  draws  a  small  pension.  Our  subject 
has  two  brothers,  William  Wallace  Rem- 
ington, who  is  now  engaged  in  the  milling 
business  at  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota; 
and  Paul  Calvin  Remington,  a  druggist 
and  manufacturing  chemist  at  Bismarck, 
North  Dakota. 

Air.  Remington's  early  education  was 
acquired  at  Shattucks  school  in  Faribault, 
Minnesota,  which  he  attended  four  years, 
graduating  in  1886.  He  then  entered  Trin- 
ity College  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and 
"ii  graduating  from  that  institution  in  c88g 
became  a  student  at  the  Episcopal  Theo- 
logical School,  Cambridge,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  completed  the  course  in  June. 
[892,  and  was  granted  the  degree  of  B.  D. 
Being  ordained  as  a  clergyman  in  the 
Episcopal  church,  he  took  charge  of  a  mis- 
sion al  West  Duluth.  Minnesota,  in  July  fol- 
lowing, and  remained  there  one  year  and  a 
half.  He  was  next  assistant  rector  at  St. 
Mark's  church,  Minneapolis,  and  remained 
there  until  coming'  to  Fort  Dodge  in  the 
spring  of  1896.  as  rector  of  St.  Mark's 
church  at  this  place,  which  then  had  a  mem- 
bership of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five.  This 
church  was  founded  July  -1-'.  1855.  and  the 
present  church  edifice,  at  the  corner  of  Tenth 
street  and  First  avenue  south,  was  built  in 
1894.  Since  Mr.  Remington  became  rector 
the  chancel  and  choir  room  have  been  built, 
and  a  three-thousaud-dollar  pipe  organ  put 


282 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in,  and  other  improvements  made  in  the 
church  property,  so  that  it  is  now  valued  at 
eighteen  thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Remington  is  the  senior  minister  of 
Fort  Dodge  by  virtue  of  the  length  of  resi- 
dence, and  is  president  of  the  ministerial  as- 
sociation of  the  city.  In  1897  he  was  instru- 
mental in  organizing  the  Associated  Chari- 
ties, composed  of  the  charitable  societies  of 
Fort  Dodge,  and  has  since  served  as  secre- 
tary of  the  'same.  He  is  a  man  of  thought- 
ful, earnest  purpose,  of  strong  intellectual 
endowments,  of  broad  charity  and  kindly 
nature,  and  by  all  denominations,  as  well  as 
his'jwn  people,  is  held  in  the  highest  regard. 


GEORGE  McMAHON. 

George  McMahon,  who  for  many  years 
came  and  went  among  his  fellow  townsmen 
of  Elkhorn  township,  was  born  hi  Iowa  City, 
Iowa,  in  1869.  His  parents,  Patrick  and 
Mary  McMahon,  were  born,  reared  and 
married  in  Ireland,  and  upon  emigrating  to 
America  settled  upon  the  farm  in  Elkhorn 
township,  Webster  county,  Iowa,  now  occu- 
pied by  Mrs.  George  McMahon.  In  the  city 
of  Fort  Dodge  the  parents  eventually  died, 
leaving  four  children,  of  whom  George  was 
the  oldest.  One  brother  died  when  quite 
yi  iiiiig,  while  a  sister,  Johanna,  married  John 
Riley,  and  lives  in  Fort  Dodge,  another 
sister,  Kate,  married  John  McManah  and 
lives  near  Badger,  Iowa.  The  father  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church. 

George  McMahon  attended  the  public 
schools  until  his  seventeenth  year,  after 
which  he  settled  on  his  father's  farm,  to 
which  he  afterwards  fell  heir.  October  28, 
1896,  at  Fort  Dodge,  he  was  united  in  mar- 


riage at  Corpus  Christi  church  with  Ella 
Crimins,  who  was  born  in  Elkhard  town- 
ship, February  22,  1876,  a  daughter  of 
Timothy  and  Mary  Crimins,  a  sketch  of 
whose  lives  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMahon  were  born  two 
sons,  Daniel,  born  August  10,  1897,  and 
Joseph  C,  born  December  2$,  1S98. 

In  apparently  in  the  best  of  health  and 
spirits  Mr.  McMahon  went  away  from  his 
home  April  17,  1901,  and  in  the  most  un- 
accountable way  failed  to  return  to  those 
who  were  dependent  upon  his  sympathy  and 
help.  A  month  later  to  the  day  he  was 
found  and  restored  to  his  family,  his  body 
bearing  out  the  supposition  that  he  had  been 
murdered.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political 
affiliations,  and  was  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church.  Since  her  hus- 
band's death  Mrs.  McMahon  has  carried  out 
his  plans  as  nearly  as  possible,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  her  uncle,  Simon  Tramer,  ad- 
mirably manages  the  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres.  She  has  prospered  exceedingly  and 
proved' an  excellent  business  woman.  Mrs. 
McMahon  also  owns  property  at  Fort 
Dodge,  where  she  has  four  lots  and  some 
residences. 


FRANKLIN  McGUIRE. 

Prominent  among  the  early  settlers  and 
representative  pioneers  of  "Webster  county  is 
numbered  Franklin  McGuire  of  Fort  Dodge, 
who  has  made  his  home  here  since  1849,  an(i 
has  therefore  witnessed  its  entire  growth  and 
development.  He  was  born  in  Ray  county, 
Missouri,  March  u.  1833,  a  son  of  Francis 
and  Rebecca  McGuire.  His  ancestors  were 
among  the  pioneers  of  both  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  and  his  father  was  a  native  of  the 
latter  state.   After  the  mother's  death,  which 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


2S3 


occurred  in  Missouri,  the  father  and  children 
came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  the  spring 
of  1849.  the  trip  being  made  overland.  They 
first  settled  on  Boone  river,  but  the  following 
spring  moved  up  the  river  about  three  miles 
to  what  is  now  known  as  McGuire's  Bend 
in  Veil  township.   The  father  gave  the  name 
of  Skillet  creek   to  that  stream   as   mi   its 
banks  he  found  the  skillet  which  he  had  lost 
while    hunting.     During    those    early    days 
huntingwas  the  principal  occupation  of  both 
father  and  sons,  and  they  hunted  and  trap- 
ped all  over  this  section  of  the  state,  deer, 
elk,   buffalo  and   wild   turkeys    being  very 
plentiful  at  that  time.     Webster  county  had 
not  yet  been  surveyed  when  they  settled  here 
and  it  was  not  until  two  years  later  that  the 
fort   was  established  at  what  is  known  as 
Fori   Dodge.     The  father  died  in   1861,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 

In  the  family  of  this  honored  pioneer 
were  the  following  children:     James,   who 
spent  his  life  in  this  county,  but'  died  in  the 
south;  Franklin,  of  this  review;  Blvthe,  now 
a  resident  of  Dakota;  Samuel,  of  Missouri; 
Jane,  wife  of  John  Goodrich;  Rebecca,  wid- 
ow of  Francis  McGuire  and  a  resident  of 
Webster  county ;  and  Jemima,  wife  of  Henry 
Lott,   a   famous   Indian   fighter.     The   fact 
that  Mr.  Lott  had  killed  so  many  red  men 
was  probably  the  cause  of  the  Spirit  Lake 
massacre,  in  which  the  Indians  tried  to  re- 
venge themselves.     They  kidnapped  hi.  s<  oi, 
whom  they  allowed  to  freeze  to  death,  and 
killed  a  great   many   white  settlers   in   the 
region  of  Spirit  Lake.     Mr.  Lott  then  left 
that    locality    and    went   to   Colorado.     He 
settled  in  Webster  county  prior  to  our  sub- 
ject's locating  (there,   and   soon   afterward 
Jake  and   Roderic  Mericale  and  Isaac  Bell 
settled  there. 

Indians   were  still   occasionally  seen    in 
this  locality  after  Mr.  McGuire  took  up  his 


residence  here.  At  that  time  there  were  no 
public  schools  and  he  attended  the  first  sub- 
scription school  started  in  the  county,  it  be- 
ing in  Webster  township  and  taught  by 
Lizzie  ( lent.  1  [e  became  thon  rughly  famil- 
iar with  all  the  experiences  of  pioneer  life, 
and  was  forced  to  endure  many  hardships' 
and  privations  in  his  frontier  home.  The 
family  entered  land  in  Yell  township,  and  he 
assisted  in  breaking  the  raw  prairie.  Later 
he  bought  a  tract  of  land  along  the  river 
banks  and  continued  to  follow  farming  until 
1890,  when  he  removed  to  Webster  City, 
but  after  residing  in  that  place  four  or  five 
years  he  came  to  Fort  Dodge,  where  he  now 
makes  his  home,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Ehzabeth  McDonald,  died  about  twelve 
years  ago.     They  had  no  children 


JOHN  F.  THISSELL. 


John  F.  Thissell,  deceased.  Mas  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Fort  Dodge.    A  native  of  Maine, 
he  was  born  near  Belfast.  May  22,  1821,  and 
was  a  son  of  Ezra  Thissell."  who  removed 
with  Ins  family  to  Muskingum,  Ohio,  about 
1830,  and  was  engaged  in  the  salt  business 
near  McConnellsville,  but  was  not  long  per- 
mitted to  enjoy  his  new  home,  as  both  he 
and  his  wife  died  about  a  year  after  locating 
there.     Ah.  ut   1835  the  children  removed  to 
Waynesville,  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  where 
our  subject  made  his  home  with  a  married 
sister  until  reaching  manhood.     He  learned 
the  cabinetmaker's  and  carpenter's  trades,  at 
which  he  worked  for  some  time!  and  then 
erected   a   store  building  and   embarked  in 
andising,  but  as  the  Illinois  Central 
and  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroads  failed  to  pass 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


through  Wuynesville  when  they  were  built 
the  town  was  virtually  killed,  the  trade  being 
drawn  to  the  railroad  centers.  Mr.  Thissell 
then  si  Id  out  and  came  to  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  and  buying  land  on  Brushy  creek,  he 
engaged  in  its  operation  for  seven  years.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  he  opened  a  hotel  in  the 
old  barracks  building  in  Fort  Dodge  and 
conducted  it  for  fifteen  months.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  was  next  employed  in  a  lumber 
yard  for  a  year.  He  also  run  a  meat  market 
for  about  a  year,  and  on  selling  his  farm  in 
1866  bought  a  grocery  store,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  three  years.  A  year  after  dispos- 
ing of  his  store,  he  again  embarked  in  the 
same  line  of  business,  to  which  he  gave  his 
time  and  attention  until  1883,  when,  owing 
to  ill  health,  he  retired  from  business.  He 
was  known  by  every  one  as  "Honest  John," 
being  upright  and  honorable  in  all  his  deal- 
ings, and  enjoying  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  all  w  ho  knew  him. 

At  Waynesville,  Illinois.  November  28, 
1841,  Mr.  Thissell  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  J.  Hoover,  who  was  burn 
in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  March  16,  1824, 
a  daughter  of  Chris  and  Martha  (  Broom- 
hall)  Hoover.  Her  mother  reached  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eigthy-seven  years,  d)  ing  De- 
cember 22,  1891.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thissell  were  born  two  children,  but  the 
younger,  Mary  V.,  who  was  born  March  29, 
1846,  died  March  20,  1874.  Martha  J., 
born  November  12,  1842,  was  married  July 
22,  1862,  to  Jasper  Bell,  by  whom  she  had 
two  children,  namely:  Lucius  H.,  who  was 
born  April  2S,  1S72,  and  is  now  a  barber  of 
Waverly,  ,  Iowa :  Mary  C,  who  was  born 
May  26,  1876,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  James 
V.  Lowry.  For  her  second  husband  Mrs. 
Bell  married  Jacob  Kirchner  and  she  now 
makes  her  home  with  her  mother.     She  is  a 


st<  ckholder  in  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Fort  Dodge. 

Mr.  Thissell  died  on  the  31st  of  August, 
1891,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  a  man  of  the  strictest 
integrity  and  many  sterling  traits  of  char- 
acter, and  in  his  death  the  community  real- 
ized that  the}'  had  lost  one  of  their  best  and 
most  reliable  citizens.  He  always  supported 
the  Republican  party,  but  could  never  be  in- 
duced to  take  any  part  in  political  affairs. 


CHARLES  A.  GUILD. 

Although  his  residence  in  Webster 
county  was  of  comparatively  short  duration 
Charles  A.  <  luild  was  widely  and  favorably 
known,  and  his  untimely  death  was 
mourned  by  a  host  of  warm  friends.  He 
was  born  on  the  29th  of  December,  186 1,  in 
Morgan,  Calhoun  county,  Georgia,  and  was 
a  worthy  representative  of  an  honored  old 
family. 

In  the  dictionary  of  obsolete  and  pro- 
vincial English  by  Wright.  Gild  is  defined 
as  a  "village  green."  In  the  Guild  geneal- 
ogy published  by  Charles  Burleigh  we  find 
that  the  first  one  of  the  name  was  Alexander 
Guide,  who  had  property  in  Sterling,  Eng- 
land, in  1449-50.  The  founder  of  the 
American  branch  of  the  family  was  John 
Guild,  who  was  born  in  England  in  1616, 
and  in  1630  came  to  the  new  world  with  his 
brother  and  sister,  Samuel  and  Ann  Guild. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  church  at  Dedham, 
Massachusetts,  July  17,  1040,  and  was  mar- 
ried June  24,  1645,  to  Elizabeth  Crooke,  of 
Roxbury,  Massachusetts.  The  family  has 
been  one  of  the  proudest  and  most  aristo- 
cratic in  England  and  Scotland,  as  the 
genealogical  records  show,  and  the  coat  of 
arms  is  still  used  there. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Dr.  Lewis  A.  Guild,  the  lather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Franklin.  Massachu- 
setts, February  23,  1825,  a  son  of  Cyrus  and 
Amy  (Pierce)  Guild,  and  was  educated  at 
Harvard  University.  He  made  the  practice 
of  medicine  his  life  work,  and  became  one 
of  the  most  prominent  physicians  of  his 
a  immunity.  He  was  als<  1  judge  1  >f  the  coun- 
ty court  for  a  time  and  United  States  com- 
missioner. In  politics  he  was  an  uncom- 
promising Republican,  and  in  religious  be- 
lief he  was  a  Baptist,  holding  membership 
in  the  church  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  where  his 
last  days  were  spent.  There  he  died  June 
14,  1888,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  For  his  first  wife  he  married 
Rebecca  Smith,  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Emma  L., 
who  was  born  in  1851  and  died  in  1864. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  Dr.  Guild  mar- 
ried Frulilla  F.  Stubbs,  and  two  children 
blessed  this  union:  Lewis  S..  who  was  born 
in  1858  and  was  accidentally  killed  while 
attending-  Arlington  College  in  1874;  and 
Charles  A.,  of  this  review.  The  Doctor's 
third  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Lou  C. 
Chipsted,  and  to  them  were  born  five  chil- 
dren, whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  were 
as  follows:  George  W.,  April  13.  1868; 
William  E.,  April  25,  1871  ;  Henry  A.. 
June  23.  1873;  Emma  J..  December  16. 
1875:  and  Lewis  A..  February  1,  1881. 

The  primary  education  of  our  subject 
was  acquired  in  the  district  school  near  his 
boyhood  home,  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  Atlanta,  he  attended  the  public 
schools  of  that  city,  completing  his  educa- 
tion at  a  college  there.  After  leaving 
school  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  management  of  his 
nursery  near  Atlanta. 

On  the  22d  of  December.  1880.  at  Ath- 
ens, Tennessee,  Mr.  Guild    was    united    in 


marriage  by  Rev.  S.  S.  Richardson,  to  Mis- 
Molly  E.  Schaeffer,  who  was  born  in  Green- 
ville. Virginia,  March  15,  1858.  Her  par- 
ents, Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Raindhill) 
Schaeffer,  were  both  natives  of  Frankfort, 
Germany,  the  former  horn  June  10.  1808, 
the  latter  May  30,  1827.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  where  Mr. 
Schaeffer  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
shoes  for  three  years.  When  Mrs.  Guild 
was  about  three  years  old  the  family  re- 
moved to  Huntsville.  Alabama,  where  her 
father  conducted  a  large  shoe  factory,  doing 
an  extensive  business.  At  that  place  her 
mother  died,  August  21,  [869,  and  was 
buried  there.  On  the  6th  of  April.  1N71. 
Mr.  Schaeffer  was  again  married  at  Hunts- 
ville, his  second  union  being  with  Anna 
Eliza  Stubbs,  a  native  of  Georgia,  and  in 
1877  they  removed  to  Athens,  Tennessee, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuit-;, 
having  purchased  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  acres.  On  selling  that 
place  in  1886  he  went  to  Dalton.  Georgia, 
and  bought  a  splendid  home,  where  he  lived 
retired  until  called  to  his  final  rest  June  7. 
[899,  his  remains  being  interred  there.  I  lis 
second  wife  still  survives  him  and  continues 
to  reside  in  Dalton.  He  was  an  Ancient 
Odd  Fellow,  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a 
faithful  and  consistent  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church. 

Mrs.  Guild  has  one  brother,  William  II. 
Schaeffer,  who  was  born  June  4,  1854,  and 
now  resides  in  Paris,  Tennessee.  He  first 
married  Jennie  Lawton,  of  Memphis  Ten- 
nessee, and  after  her  death  wedded  Tommy 
Fields,  of  Georgia.  Ten  children  were  horn 
to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  as  f<  >lli  >w  -  :  ( Clar- 
ence O.,  who  was  born  in  Atlanta.  Georgia, 
November  11,  1881,  and  was  killed  at  the 
same  time  as  his  father.  June  28,  1901  ; 
Charles    V.   who  was  horn   in  Des  Moines, 


290 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Iowa,  November  29,  1883,  and  is  now  man- 
aging the  farm 'for  his  mother;  Mollie  E., 
born  in  Towner  Lake,  Polk  county,  Iowa, 
August  13,  1885  ;  Nettie  E.,  born  in  Grimes, 
Iowa,  December  21,  1S86;  Ida  G.,  also  born 
in  Grimes,  July  31,  1888;  William  J.,  born 
in  Webster  county,  October  8,  1890;  Benja- 
min Harrison,  born  April  5,  1892;  Maudie 
Leona,  who  was  born  October  1,  1894.  and 
died  December  18,  1897;  Dora  Elnora,  born 
May  S,  1896;  and  Frank  R.,  born  October 
2,  1900. 

After  his  marriage  Mr."  Guild  engaged 
in  the  nursery  business  at  Atlanta,  Georgia, 
lor  a  time,  and  then  purchased  four  acres  of 
land,  which  he  converted  into  a  magnificent 
floral  park,  becoming  one  of  the  leading- 
florists  and  nurserymen  of  that  city.  In 
1882  he  removed  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and 
for  two  years  was  manager  of  a  large  stock 
farm  near  that  city.  He  next  had  charge  of 
the  Ironclad  Nursery  for  one  year,  and 
during  the  following  two  years  rented  and 
carried  on  the  Towner  Lake  summer  resort. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  purchased  prop- 
erty in  Grimes,  r<  >lk  county,  where  he  estab- 
lished his  family,  and  then  engaged  in  op- 
erating a  rented  farm  h>r  two  years. 

G  ming  to  Webster  county,  Mr.  Guild 
then  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Yell 
township,  and  to  it  he  subsequently  added 
a  forty-acre  tract  adjoining  it  on  the  south- 
west. Still  later  he  bought  sixty  acres 
northeast  of  the  farm,  and  in  the  spring  of 
90:  purchased  eighty  acres  on  the  north- 
west, making  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  sixtv  acres.  A  part  of  this  was  timber 
land  when  it  came  into  his  possession,  but 
was  cleared  by  him  and  placed  under  culti- 
vation. Upon  his  farm  he  erected  a  splen- 
did residence,  good  barns,  granaries  and 
cattle  sheds,  making  it  one  of  the  best  im- 


proved places  in  the  locality.  In  connection 
with  general  farming  he  engaged  in  raising 
a  high  grade  of  cattle  for  market,  and  in 
both  undertakings  met  with  excellent  suc- 
cess, so  that  he  was  able  to  leave  his  family 
in  comfortable  circumstances. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1901,  within  hail- 
ing distance  of  his  own  home  and  in  the 
presence  of  his  wife  and  son  Charles,  Mr. 
Guild  and  his  son  Clarence  O.  were  shot  and 
killed.  This  affair  was  the  outcome  of  a 
family  feud  between  Mr.  Guild  and  the 
Bricker  brothers,  and  culminated  in  the  "Bad 
tragedy  just  mentioned.  Public  sentiment 
was  all  with  the  Guild  family,  the  Brickers 
and  their  relatives  for  generations  back 
having  never  had  a  very  enviable  reputa- 
tion. In  the  death  of  our  subject  the  com- 
munity realized  that  it  had  lost  one  of  its 
most  valued  citizens — a  man  of  progressive 
ideas  and  sterling  worth.  He  attended  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was  a  kind 
and  loving  husband  and  father.  His 
funeral  was  largely  attended  by  an  extensive 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances,  who 
gathered  together  to  pay  their  last  respects 
to  the  deceased.  He  was  laid  to  rest  in  Oak- 
wood  cemetery.  Stratford.  Iowa.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  Clarence  O. 
( ruild  was  just  entering  manhood.  He  was 
a  bright,  promising  young  man,  highly  re- 
spected and  esteemed  by  all  who-  knew  him, 
and  very  popular  among  his  many  friends 
in  this  community. 

Since  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Guild 
lia^  assumed  the  management  of  the  farm, 
and  has  displayed  excellent  business  and  ex- 
ecutive ability.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Hunts- 
ville  Female  College  and  is  a  lady  of  culture 
and  refinement  and  exceptional  intellectual 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


291 


charms.  She  is  courteous  and  entertaining 
and  presides  with  gracious  dignity  over  her 
home. 


JOHN  E.   POWERS. 

During  his  long  and  active  life.  John 
E.  Powers  has  envaded  many  lines  of  activ- 
ity and  by  reason  of  his  success  in  one  and 
all  of  his  undertakings  has  richly  earned  the 
right  to  live  in  comparative  remoteness  from 
business  activity  in  his  Duncombe  home.  He 
in  youth  was  by  no  means  free  from  respon- 
sibility, for  the  paternal  farm  in  Ireland, 
where  he  was  born  in  1828.  was  rendered 
desolate  by  the  death  of  his  mother  when 
her  son  was  three  years  of  age,  although  the 
father  survived  her  until  1845.  Until  his 
eighteenth  year  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  in  1849  emigrated  to  America 
and  located  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  He 
here  accepted  a  position  as  bookkeeper  for 
O'Brien  &  Fitz  Morris,  at  a  salary  of  one 
hundred  dollars  per  month,  a  responsibility 
relinquished  at  the  end  of  a  month  to  fill  a 
like  position  at  the  same  salary  for  the  Mich- 
igan Central  Railroad  Company,  in  Indiana. 
When  a  year  had  passed,  he  located  in  Chi- 
1  ago  and  engaged  as  superintendent  for  the 
building  of  the  Chicago.  Rock-Island  Rail- 
mad,  from  Chicago  Junction  to  Blue  Island, 
a  distance  of  nine  miles,  and  after  the  com- 
pletion of  this  contract  he  assisted  Henry 
Fuller  in  laying  the  first  iron  water  pipe  in 
Chicago.  In  1852  he  received  a  contract 
from  Bay  &  Sherman  to  do  the  dry  excava- 
tion between  the  Randolph  and  Madison 
street  bridges,  where  the  American  Trans- 
portation Company  have  their  warehouse,  to 
the  depth  of  eight  feet.  On  the  completion 
of  that  work  Mr.  Powers  went  to  Stony 
Island  with  J.  A.  Patmor,  who  had  the  con- 


tract to  get  out  stone  for  the  protection  of 
the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  east  of  Mich- 
igan avenue.  Shortly  after  this  when  Mr. 
Patmor  took  a  contract  at  Decatur,  Illinois, 
in  1853,  he  appointed  Mr.  Powers  superin- 
tendent of  the  work.  The  following  year 
Mr.  Hurd.  who  was  one  of  Mr.  Patmor's 
partners  in  the  work  at  Decatur,  employed 
our  subject  to  superintend  some  work  at 
Franklin  Grove,  near  Dixon.  Illinois.  In 
1855  he  had  charge  of  some  work  four  miles 
west  of  Dixon  for  George  Hurd,  a  brother 
of  his  previous  employer,  and  it  was  while 
serving  as  foreman  for  that  gentleman  that 
Mr.  Powers  was  married  at  Dixon,  in  1855. 
to  Miss  Ellen  Flinn,  a  native  of  County  Gal- 
way,  Ireland. 

Going  to  Cairo.  Illinois,  in  185(1.  ne  be- 
came connected  with  the  big  cut  on  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad  at  Villaridge,  twelve 
miles  north  of  Cairo,  and  got  that  cut  of  sev- 
enty-five feet  down  to  grade.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  became  superintendent  for  C.  C. 
Parker,  who  had  a  contract  to  grade  ten 
miles  of  the  Jacksonville  &  Alton  Railroad 
from  Lake  Station.  Indiana,  and  who  ab- 
sconded, owing  Mr.  Powers  one  thousand 
dollars.  In  1858  he  went  to  Vincennes,  In- 
diana, to  superintend  work  for  Mr.  Van- 
duzer  on  the  Mound  City  Railroad,  and 
while  there  his  first  wife  died,  in  i860.  The 
three  children  born  to  them  all  died  in  in- 
fancy. In  [860  Mr.  Powers  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  levee  built  between  Alton  and 
St.  Louis  on  the  Illinois  side  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river. 

In  1866  Mr.  Powers  built  four  miles  of 
the  Sioux  City  e^c  Pacific  Railroad  from  Mis- 
souri Valley  Junction  north.  Then  in  1867 
he  built  nine  miles  of  the  Iowa  Central  Rail- 
road from  Mason  City  north.  In  1868  he 
became  identified  with  Iowa,  at  which  time 
he  built  seven  miles  of  the  Illinois  Central 


292 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Railroad.  He  then  took  a  contract  to  build 
several  miles  of  the  Northwestern  Railroad 
below  the  Missouri  Valley,  after  which  he 
assisted  Mr.  Flinn  as  bookkeeper  for  six  or 

seven  years.  In  1868  he  purchased  one-half 
section  of  land,  near  Border  Plains,  Iowa, 
upon  which  he  lived,  and  engaged  in  farming 
until  1879.  In  1X72  he  again  engaged  in 
contracting  and  built  four  miles  of  the  Ma- 
son City  &  Fort  Dodge  Railroad,  from  Yin- 
cent  to  Boone  river. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Powers  had  become 
much  interested  in  the  undertakings  of  the 
Greenback  party,  and  in  1878  was  elected 
clerk  of  Webster  county  and  removed  to 
Fort  Dodge,  which  continued  to  be  his  home 
during  the  two  years  of  his  office.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term,  he  again  settled  on 
his  farm,  which  was  his  home  until  1899, 
during  which  year  he  removed  to  Duncombe 
and  purchased  a  block  and  erected  his  fine, 
o  unmodious  residence. 

At  Border  Plains,  Iowa,  in  1808,  Mr. 
Powers  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ryan,  the 
mother  of  the  following  children  by  her 
former  marriage:  Michael,  who  is  a  miner 
in  Idaho;  James  R.,  who  is  living  in  Denver, 
Colorado;  John  R..  who  is  very  success-ful  as 
a  miner  in  British  Columbia,  and  is  the  own- 
er of  several  valuable  claims;  Hugh  R..  who 
is  working  with  his  brother  James  in  Den- 
ver, Colorado;  Frank  R.,  who  is  running  a 
hotel  at  Wallace,  Idaho:  Jerry  R.,  who  lives 
on  a  farm  near  Border  Plains :  Mary  R..  who 
is  deceased;  Kate  R.,  who  is  the  widow  of 
Robert  Hannon,  of  Border  Plains  ;  ami  Brid- 
get, who  is  the  wife  of  John  Maloney,  of 
Denver,  Colorado.  No  children  have  been 
b  rn  of  the  second  union  of  Mr.  Powers.  He 
had  three  brothers :  Edward  P.,  who  died 
in  New  York,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four,  leav- 
ing a  wife  and  nine  children;  Patrick  P.. 
who  is  a  resident  of  California;  and  Dennis 


P.,  who  died  in  Ireland  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen. 

In  political  affiliation  Mr.  Powers  is  a 
Republican,'  having  been  allied  with  that 
party  for  the  past  ten  years.  Of  late  he  has 
neither  sought  or  desired  official  recognition, 
but  has  preferred  rather  to  lead  a  life  remote 
from  the  strife  of  political  competition.  He 
is  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  fine  land.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  of  Duncombe. 


(II  \KI.KS  COLBY 


For  twenty-eight  years  Charles  Colby 
has  been  an  active  factor  in  commercial 
circles  in  Fort  Dodge,  and  is  an  enterprising 
and  progressive  citizen,  belonging  to  that 
class  of  wide-awake,  progressive  men  whose 
efforts  have  led  to  the  substantial  develop- 
ment and  growth  of  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try. He  was  born  in  Burke,  Caledonia 
county,  Vermont,  on  the  12th  of  January, 
1847,  aiK'  when  a  small  boy  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Wisconsin, 
where  he  remained  for  a  number  of  years, 
pursuing  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  continued  with  his  father  until  the  lat- 
ter's  return  to  Massachusetts,  and  in  1S73 
he  came  to  Fort  Dodge,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  Here  he  entered  into  part- 
nership in  the  livery  business  in  which  he 
has  since  been  engaged,  and  the  enterprise 
has  met  with  gratifying  success  through- 
out the  vears  of  its  existence,  owing  to^  the 
capable  management,  keen  discrimination, 
unfaltering  energy  and  straightforward 
business  methods  of  the  proprietors. 

On  the  12th  of  March.  1868,  Mr.  Colby 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Massachusetts 
to  Eliza  A.  Howes,  an  estimable  ladv  who 


CHARLES  COLBY 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


295 


resided  in  Havvley,  Massachusetts.  Her 
people  resided  within  fourteen  miles  of  the 
Hoosic  tunnel,  and  Charles  Colby  sawed 
and  sold  lumber  which  was  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  that  tunnel.  Six  children  have 
been  born  unto  Air.  and  Airs.  Colby: 
Charles  II.,  who  is  clerk  of  the  court  of 
Fi  nt  Dodge ;  George  Henry,  who  is  a  sales- 
man in  a  hardware  store  in  this  city;  Jen- 
nie, the  wife  of  John  L.  Chalmers,  a  tea 
merchant  of  Newton,  Iowa:  Ida  B.,  Minnie 
and  Irene,  at  home. 

Air.  Colby  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Republican  party  and  believes  firmly 
in  its  principles.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
city  council  when  the  water  works  and  gas 
plants  were  built  and  favored  every  pro- 
gressive measure  which  he  believed  would 
prove  of  practical  benefit  to  the  city.  His 
hie  has  been  characterized  by  enterprise 
and  advancement  and  has  been  well  spent. 
In-  genuine  worth  commending  him  to  the 
confidence  and  regard  of  his  fellow  towns- 
men among  whom  he  has  walked  as  an 
upright  and  valued  citizen  for  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century. 


HENRY  SHEERER. 

Although  long  since  passed  beyond  the 
pale  of  human  labor  and  possibility,  Henry 
Sheerer  is  remembered  as  a  man  who  made 
the  most  of  his  gifts  and  opportunities,  and 
who,  in  passing  by,  made  many  friends, 
whom  he  knew  how  to  retain.  In  his' veins 
flowed  the  Teutonic  blood  of  his  conserva- 
tive and  industrious  forefathers,  and  in 
Baden,  Germany,  for  centuries  the  field  of 
their  activity,  he  was  born  March  2.  1834. 
His    parents,    August    and    Rosina    (Fels) 


'Sheerer,  were  also  born  in  Baden,  where 
they  were  reared,  educated,  married,  and 
eventually  died,  the  mother  in  1859,  a,1(1  tllL* 
father  in  1861.  The  father  was  a  man  of 
some  means,  and  for  many  years  ci  inducted 
a  large  bakery.  To  himself  and  wife  were 
horn  five  children,  namely:  Caroline,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Conrad  Miller,  and  died 
in  1863,  leaving  one  daughter;  Henrv: 
Sophia,  who  was  unmarried  and  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty-eight  years;  Stephania.  who  died 
at  the  age  of  forty-five:  and  August,  who 
was  a  mate  of  the  whaler  "Louisiana."  and 
while  sailing  from  New  Bedford.  Massachu 
setts,  in  1862,  left  the  ship  in  a  boat  in  pur- 
suit of  whales,  and  was  lost  at  sea. 

The  education  of  Mr.  Sheerer  was  ac- 
quired in  the  public  schools  and  at  the  acad- 
emy at  Carlsruhe,  Baden,  and  when  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of 
gardening,  at  which  he  became  an  expert. 
As  became  an  ambitious  and  aspiring  man 
he  looked  around  for  a  profitable  Ii  cation  in 
which  to  spend  his  life,  and  in  1851  em- 
barked in  a  sailing  vessel  from  Havre,  and 
upon  locating  in  Newark,  New  Jersev, 
worked  as  a  gardener  and  florist.  February 
24.  1859.  ait  Newark,  he  married  Emily 
Raab,  a  native  also  of  Carlsruhe.  Baden, 
born  February  4,  1837.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Sheerer  were  Francis  and  Minnie  (Lankin) 
Raab,  who  were  married  in  Carlsruhe.  where 
the  mother  died  in  185 1.  The  father  mi  >ved 
with  his  family  to  America  in  1853,  crossing 
the  seas  on  the  good  ship  "Zurich."  and  af- 
ter six  weeks  out  from  Havre  landed  in  New 
York  harbor.  They  went  to  Newark.  New- 
Jersey,  where  the  father  applied  his  trade 
of  tailoring,  although  he  afterwards  re- 
moved to  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  about 
1872,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1889.  He 
was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.      To 


296 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


himself  and  wife  were  born  the  following 
children:  Emily,  the  widow  of  Mr.  Sheer- 
er; Amalia,  the  widow  of  Fred  Kappler,  re- 
siding in  Newark,  New  Jersey;  Francis,  who 
married  Mollie  Combs  and  resides  in  Ohio 
Falls,  Indiana;  Christin,  now  deceased,  who 
lived  in  Newark,  and  left  one  daughter; 
Edward,  also  deceased,  who  lived  in  New- 
ark, and  left  one  daughter;  and  William,  de- 
ceased, who  also  left  one  daughter.  Eight 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sheerer:  Henry,  born  December  5,  1859, 
married  Lizzie  Smith,  and  is  living  on  a 
farm  in  Grand  Ridge,  La  Salle  county,  Illi- 
nois, with  his  three  children,  Cora,  Jessie 
and  Nettie.  Herman,  born  September  3, 
1861,  married  Emma  Smith,  lives  on  a  farm 
in  Elkhorn  township,  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
and  has  seven  children,  Hattie,  Mable,  An- 
na, Lloyd,  Emma,  Chester  and  a  babe.  Ed- 
ward, born  April  12,  1864,  married  Matilda 
Smith,  and  lives  on  a  farm  in  Elkhorn  town- 
ship. Frank,  born  May  20,  1866,  married 
Caroline  Lehr,  is  a  farmer  in  Elkhorn  town- 
ship and  has  two  children,  Nellie  and  Ger- 
trude. George,  horn  May  20,  1868,  married 
Orie  Carter,  lives  in  Keithsburg,  Illinois, 
and  has  two  children,  Delia  and  Edna. 
Louise,  born  September  23,  1870,  married 
Oscar  Gruber,  who  was  born  in  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois,  February  18,  1868,  and  who 
is  a  farmer  in  Elkhorn  township.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children :  Lewis, 
born  March  8,  1893;  Emily,  born  July  31, 
1895;  and  Frank,  born  September  2,  1899. 
Emily  Sheerer,  born  March  3,  1873.  married 
John  Redman.  Paul  Sheerer,  born  January 
28,  1875,  married  Maud  Poundstone,  and 
lives  in  Elkhorn  township. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Sheerer  went  to 
Bristol  county,  Massachusetts,  and  worked 
at  his  trade  for  a  couple  of  years,  and  then 
went    to    Westchester    county,  New  York, 


where  he  lived  until  1864.  A  later  place 
of  residence  was  La  Salle  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  rented  land,  and  where  his  useful 
and  meritorious  life  terminated  April  16, 
1876.  He  is  buried  at  Grand  Ridge,  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois.  He  was  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  fraternally  was  associated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
With  his  family  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  contributed 
generously  towards  its  charities  and  support. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Sheer- 
er, no  less  ambitious  as  an  agriculturist, 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
which,  with  the  assistance  of  her  sons,  she 
farmed  until  1898.  She  then  removed  to 
Iowa,  as  did  most  of  her  children,  and  in 
Elkhorn  township  bought  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  which  she  has  since 
rented  out.  Her  sons  also  bought  land,  have 
married  and  settled  down  to  he  substantial 
and  successful  men. 


_  JOHN  ROLL,  Sr. 

John  Koll,  Sr.,  a  well-known  resident  of 
Fort  Dodge,  is  the  possessor  of  a  handsome 
property  which  now  enables  him  to  spend  his 
declining  years  in  the  pleasurable  enjoyment 
of  his  accumulations.  The  record  of  his  life, 
previous  to  1890,  is  that  of  an  active,  enter- 
prising, methodical  and  sagacious  business 
man,  who  bent  his  energies  to  the  acquire- 
ment of  a  comfortable  competence  for  him- 
self and  family. 

A  native  of  German}'.  Mr.  Koll  was  born 
in  Bavaria  June  24,  1822,  and  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  Koll,  whose  life  was  devoted  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  had  three  brothers 
and  four  sisters,  but  is  the  only  one  of  the 
family  to  crime  to  America.     In  his  native 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


297 


land  lie  was  reared  and  educated,  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  commenced  learning  the 
brewery  business,  at  which  he  worked  until 
his  emigration  to  the  United  States  in  1849. 
Landing  in  New  York,  he  proceeded  at  once 
to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  where  he  soon 
found  employment  in  a  brewery,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  for  seven  years.  In  1856 
he  removed  to  Lyons,  Iowa,  and  started  a 
brewery  of  his  own.  which  he  conducted 
three  years,  and  on  selling  out  went  to  Ana- 
mosa, where  he  built  a  brewerv  and  operated 
it  four  years  or  until  it  ceased  to  be  profitable 
when  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  During  the 
following  three  years  lie  worked  in  a  brew- 
ery in  Dyersville,  and  then  built  one  for  him- 
self, but  after  operating  it  with  a  partner 
for  a  short  time  he  sold  out  and  came  to 
Fort  Dodge  in  the  spring  of  1865.  Here  he 
built  a  house,  but  the  following  fall  removed 
to  Boonesboro,  where  he  spent  two  years  and 
a  half.  On  his  return  to  Fort  Dodge  in  the 
spring  of  1868  he  commenced  the  erection 
of  a  brewery,  hauling  the  lumber  from  Iowa 
Falls  and  Boone,  a  distance  of  fifty  miles, 
and  after  its  completion  he  engaged  in  op- 
erating it  for  two  years  after  the  prohibitory 
law  was  passed  in  1883.  Destroying  all  the 
beer  in  1885,  he  embarked  in  the  wholesale 
beer  business,  which  he  carried  mi  until 
1889.  when  he  purchased  a  farm  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  for  a  year. 
He  then  rented  the  place,  and  has  since  lived 
a  retired  life  in  Fort  Dodge,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  former  labor.  He  has  succeeded 
in  accumulating  some  good  property,  and 
besides  hir  own  residence  he  now  owns  five 
houses  and  five  pieces  of  business  property, 
from  which  he  derives  a  good  inci  >me. 

On  the  9th  of  May.  1853,  Mr-  Kail 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Schnek,  of  Milwaukee. 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Annie  Schnek,  and 
they  have  become  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 


dren, as  follows:  Katrina,  born  in  Mil- 
waukee, March  1,  1854,  was  killed  in  the 
Pomeroy  cyclone  July  12.  [893;  John.  Jr., 
born  in  Milwaukee  December  14,  1856.  and 
Henry,  born  in  Lyons,  Iowa,  October  21, 
1858,  are  both  in  the  wholesale  beer  business 
in  Fort  Dodge;  William,  born  in  Anamosa 
November  2y.  i860,  is  an  engineer  on  the 
Burlington  &  Missouri  River  Railroad  in 
Nebraska ;  Mary,  born  in  Anamosa  Septem- 
ber 10,  1862,  married  John  Francis,  an  en- 
gineer on  the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  Rail- 
road, residing  in  Fort  Dodge;  Lizzie,  born 
in  Dyersville  May  10,  1864,  died  October 
18,  1889;  Joseph,  born  in  Fort  Dodge  Sep- 
tember 28,  [866,  and  Albert,  born  Septem- 
ber 29,  1868,  are  both  engaged  in  the  saloon 
business  in  this  city;  Michael,  born  October 
2^,,  1870,  is  in  the  restaurant  business  in 
Fort  Dodge;  and  Frank,  born  December  16, 
1872,  is  a  carpenter  of  this  city. 


OLE  WILLIAMSON. 

Among  the  representative  and  prominent 
citizens  of  Badger  township,  Webster  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  is  numbered  Ole  Williamson, 
whose  home  is  on  section  21.  lie  dates  his 
residence  in  this  county  from  the  31st  of 
July,  1869,  and  with  its  development  and 
upbuilding  he  has  since  been  actively  identi- 
fied. A  native  of  Norway,  he  was  born  near 
Stavanger  July  1,  1840,  and  was  there 
reared  to  manhood  upon  a  farm.  In  1862 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  first 
set  foot  on  American  soil  at  Quebec,  Can- 
ada, whence  he  proceeded  at  once  to  La 
Salle  county,  Illinois,  where  lie  worked  on 
a  farm  by  the  month  for  one  year. 

In  the  fall  of  [863  Mr.  Williamson  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Christina 
Sagaard,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Norway 


298 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  came  to  this  country  on  the  same  vessel 
of  which  her  husband  was  a  passenger.  At 
that  time  they  were  unacquainted,  however. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Williamson  engaged 
in  farming  on  rented  land  first  in  La  Salle 
county,  and  later  in  Livingston  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  spent  several  years.  On  leav- 
ing there  he  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
in  1869,  and  located  where  he  now  resides 
and  began  the  improvement  of  a  tract  of  wild 
land.  Subsequently  he  bought  eighty  acres 
of  that  place,  erected  thereon  a  small  house, 
and  has  since  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of 
that  land.  To  the  original  purchase  he  has 
since  added  a  forty-acre  tract,  making  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  1  in 
which  he  has  erected  a  handsome  residence, 
convenient  barns  and  outbuildings.  Besides 
this  property  he  has  another  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  the  northern 
boundary  line  of  the  county,  a  part  of  which 
is  in  1  tumboldt  count)-. 

Air.  and  Mrs.  Williamson  have  seven 
children  living,  namely  :  (  1  )  Isabella  is  now 
the  widow  of  Professor  Cornelius  R.  Hill,  a 
man  of  superior  education  and  a  well-known 
educator  of  Minnesota  and  Iowa,  having 
taught  in  some  of  the  leading  colleges  of 
those  states.  For  eight  years  he  was  at  the 
seminary  at  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  March 
4.  1896,  he  was  president  of  Jewell  Lu- 
theran College  at  Jewell  Junction,  Iowa. 
Mrs.  1  lill  is  nenv  a  teacher  at  that  place.  She 
has  two  children,  Ruth  and  Carl.  (  2  )  Will- 
iam is  a  minister  of  the  United  Lutheran 
church  at  Portland.  Maine.  For  several 
years  he  followed  the  teacher's  profession, 
having  been  connected  with  Tobin  College 
of  Fort  Dodge  and  Jewell  Lutheran  Col- 
lege. (3)  Peter  was  also1  for  several  years 
one  of  the  successful  teachers  of  Iowa,  but 
is    now    a    minister    of    the    Presbvterian 


church.  (4)  Syvert  is  a  wide-awake  young 
man  of  great  promise.  (5)  Susie  is  married 
and  resides  at  Jewell  Junction,  Iowa.  (6) 
Anna  is  one  of  the  prominent  teachers  of 
Webster  county,  and  has  for  her  motto,  as 
had  Longfellow's  youth, — "Excelsior !"  (  7) 
Ina,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  has  marked 
talent  for  music — as  have  all  to  a  greater 
or  less  degree — and  expects  to  educate  her- 
self in  this  art  and  adopt  it  as  her  profession. 

Their  home,  filled  as  it  is  with  marks  of 
culture  on  every  hand,  such  as  music,  hooks 
and  flowers,  is  an  interesting  one.  The  ef- 
forts of  Mrs.  Williamson  deserve  especial 
mention.  She  has  not  only  reared  a  large 
family,  which  alone  to  the  modern  woman 
appears  a  Herculean  task,  but  as  a  pioneer 
wife  she  has  ever  been  ready  with  strong 
and  willing  hands  to  see  that  chores  were 
done,  grain  in  stack  and  hay  in  the  mow. 
The  fortitude  and  heroism  of  a  pioneer's 
wife  in  the  midst  1  'f  hardships  and  privations 
cannot  be  too  fully  realized  and  appreciated. 

In  his  political  views  Air.  Williamson  is 
a  stanch  Republican,  having  supported  every 
presidential  nominee  of  that  party  since  cast- 
ing his  first  vote  for  General  Grant  in  1868. 
He  has  never  sought  official  preferment,  but 
gives  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his 
farming  interests.  He  has  met  with  well  de- 
served success  in  all  his  undertakings,  and 
is  to-day  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  substan- 
tial farmers  of  hi-,  community. 


DANIEL  DANIELS. 

One  of  the  most  venerable  and  honored 
of  the  promoters  of  prosperity  in  Webster 
county  is  Daniel  Daniels,  who,  though  re- 
tired from  active  life,  and  already  emerged 
from  the  f<  mr  so  n'e  and  one  mile  post  of 


DANIEL  DANIELS 


MRS.  DANIEL  DANIELS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


301 


life,  is  yet  hale  and  hearty,  and  able  to  ap- 
preciate the  devotion  of  his  children  and 
the  constancy  of  friends.  A  native  of 
Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  he  was  born  De- 
cember 15,  1820,  a  son  of  Abram  anil 
Christine  (Thurston)  Daniels,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  New  York  and  died 
in  Pennsylvania  in  J  847,  while  his  wife  died 
about  1877. 

The  Daniels  family  sought  the  larger 
possibilities  of  America  long  before  the 
Revolutionary  war,  in  which  struggle  for 
independence  our  subject's  grandfather 
Thurston  served  with  courage  for  seven 
years,  while  his  father-in-law  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812.  Abram  Daniels  was  a 
very  early  settler  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his 
son,  Daniel,  used  to  walk  a  long  distance  In 
the  little  log  school  bouse  with  paper  win- 
dows and  slab  seats.  He  was  reared  to  an 
appreciation  of  the  dignity  of  farming  as 
an  occupation,  and  continued  to  assist  his 
father  until  grown  to  manhood.-  He  then 
for  a  time  worked  out  on  different  farms, 
and  eventually  bought  a  farm  in  Bureau 
county,  Illinois.  March  23,  1849.  ne  mar- 
ried Mary  Ann  Bennett,  who-  was  born  in 
Ohio,  June  2,  1828.  her  father  being  a  na- 
tive of  England  and  her  mother  of  German 
descent.  She  had  one  half  sister  and  two 
half  brothers,  all  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. After  his  marriage  .Mr.  Daniels 
continued  to  live  on  his  Illinois  farm  until 
1854,  when,  after  disposing  of  his  interests, 
he  came  to  Iowa  and  located  on  section  10, 
Webster  township,  Webster  county,  where 
he  purchased  a  half  section  of  laud,  and 
later  other  property,  which  has  since  been 
divided  among  his  children,  so  that  now' 
be  owns  no  land  whatever.  The  children 
who  have  thus  profited  by  the  enterprise 
and  generosity  of  their  father  are  as  fol- 
lows:    William  Henrv,  Lucy  Ann.  Charley, 


Bennett,  Alfred,  Angeline,  Flora,  and  Em- 
ma. 'Jdie  children  have  all  benefited  by  the 
substantial  training  of  their  youth,  and  all 
are  industrious  and  prosperous  members  of 
their  respective  communities.  Airs.  Daniels 
died  June  20.  1807,  and  is  buried  at  Web- 
ster  City,  in  which  town  they  had  lived  for 
about  a  year  after  retiring  from  farming. 
At  the  present  time  Mr.  Daniels  makes  his 
home  witli  Erwin  Taylor,  his  son-in-law. 
In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Daniels 
was  first  identified  with  the  Whig  and  later 
with  the  Republican  parties,  but  he  has 
never  devoted  much  time  to  politics.  In 
the  very  early  days  he  served  five  years  as 
supervisor,  but  of  late  years  has  not  held 
office.  He  is  one  of  the  interesting  per- 
sonalities of  the  county,  and  is  full  of  anec- 
dotes regarding  the  times  when  the  red  man 
was  a  very  formidable  antagonist  to  the 
pale- face  and  considered  himself  the  right- 
ful possessor  of  the  land  and  all  it  con- 
tained. He  lived  in  Iowa  at  the  time  of 
the  Indian  massacres  at  Spirit  Lake  and 
New  I  dm,  anil  knew  personally  many  who 
participated  in  that  fearful  struggle  for 
supremacy. 


W.  R.  McGUIRE. 


Among  Webster  county's  officials  there 
is  probably  none  better  known  than  W.  R. 
McGuire.  the  present  deputy  sheriff.  A  na- 
tive of  Missouri,  he  was  horn  in  Clay  coun- 
ty, March  3.  [858,  his  parents  being  Noah 
and  Sarah  J.  (  Wallace)  McGuire.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather  John  McGuire,  was  a 
native  of  Tennessee,  and  was  cue  of  three 
brothers  who  removed  to  Missouri  at  an 
early  day,  being  among  die  pioneers  who  set- 
tled in  that  state  at  the  beginning  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  Our  subject's  maternal 


3°2 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


grandfather  was  David  Oliver  Wallace, 
whose  nickname  was  "Bruin."  He  was  a 
brigadier  general  in  the  Civil  war  and  died 
in  1899.  The  father  of  our  subject  also 
participated  in  that  struggle,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  B,  Forty-fourth  Missouri 
Volunteer  Infantry.  During  his  active  busi- 
ness life  lie  followed  farming,  but  is  now  liv- 
ing retired  in  Cameron,  Missouri. 

\Y.  R.  McGuire  is  the  oldest  in  a  family 
of  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  W.  R. ;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Richard 
Ellis,  of  Missouri;  Simon  F.,  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  minister  of  that  state;  Martha, 
wife  of  George  Nettles,  of  Dayton,  Iowa; 
John,  foreman  of  the  Chicago  Bridge  & 
Iron  Company,  of  Chicago;  Sadie,  a  resi- 
dent of  Fort  Dodge;  David  and  Frank,  who 
are  in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  Bridge  & 
Iron  Company  and  reside  in  Chicago;  Han- 
nah, wife  of  Oscar  Harmon,  of  Missouri; 
and  Ida,  at  home  with  her  parents.  Edith 
is  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood in  his  native  state.  Those  were  stir- 
ring days  when  Missouri  was  the  seat  of 
conflict  between  the  north  and  south,  and  he 
remembers  to  have  seen  Ouantrel's  raider 
pass  the  door  of  his  father's  home.  The 
James  boys  often  visited  the  locality,  and 
Mr.  McGuire  attended  school  with  the  no- 
torious Ford  boys,  one  of  whom  later  killed 
Jesse  James. 

On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  Mr. 
McGuire  took  up  the  occupation  to  which 
he  had  been  reared  and  followed  farming  in 
Missouri  until  August.  1S77,  when  he  came 
to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  continued  to 
engage  in  that  pursuit  in  Yell  township  un- 
til appointed  deputy  sheriff  in  1898.  Since 
then  he  lias  devoted  his  entire  time  ami  at- 
tention to  the  duties  of  that  office,  and  has 


proved  a  most  capable  and  trustworthy  of- 
ficial. 

In  1881  Mr.  McGuire  was  united  in  mar- 
riage witli  Miss  Laura  Kmeriem,  of  Yell 
township,  an  adopted  daughter  of  Franklin 
McGuire.  By  this  union  have  been  born  two 
children,  Lester  and  Carrie.  Fraternally 
Mr.  McGuire  affiliates  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  politically  has 
been  identified  witli  the  Republican  party 
since  attaining  his  majority.  He  lias  taken 
quite  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  local 
politics,  and  has  been  called  upofi  to  fill  sev- 
eral township  offices,  including  those  of 
school  trustee,  president  of  the  school  board 
and  justice  of  the  peace. 


WILLIAM  H.  GRABENHORST. 

William  H.  Grabenhorst,  who,  with  his 
father  and  brother  owns  and  operates  a  half 
section  of  land  on  section  12,  Dayton  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  De- 
cember 14,  1859,  and  is  a  son  OI  H.  C.  and 
Margaret  Ann  (Layer)  Grabenhorst,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  province 
of  Brunswick,  Germany,  and  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1847.  The  lather  lived 
for  many  years  in  the  vicinity  of  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  where  he  engaged  principally  in 
the  dairy  business.  He  owned  about  one 
hundred  and  ninety  cows,  and  did  an  annual 
business  of  nearly  forty  thousand  dollars. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  immense  industry 
and  well  applied  enterprise,  and  he  is  one 
of  the  foremost  developers  of  Webster  coun- 
ty, where  he  first  bought  land  in  1859. 

As  a  boy  William  H.  Grabenhorst  prof- 
ited by  the  training  to  be  found  in  the  public 
schools  of  Baltimore,  and  he  also  studied 
for  three  years  at  the  Pennsylvania  College, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


303 


at  Gettysburg.  Pennsylvania.  His  initiation 
into  tiie  held  of  independent  support  was  as 
a  member  of  the  United  States  coast  sur- 
vey at  Washington,  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage,  Sep- 
tember  22.  1881,  with  Eva  Haight,  who  was 
born  in  Dutchess  county,  Xew  York,  and  is 
of  American  parentage.  Mrs.  Grabenhorst 
has  one  brother,  Harry,  who  is  a  resident  of 
Seattle,  Washington,  and  one  sister,  Mrs. 
Harry  Miller  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Grabenhorst  with  his  wife  came  to  their 
present  home  near  Dayton,  Iowa,  in  March, 
1883.  To  them  have  been  born  eight  chil- 
dren :  Anna,  in  1883;  Lillie,  in  1885; 
I  ...  rge,  in  1NS7;  Will,  in  1889;  Charley,  in 
1891;  Eugene,  in  1893;  'Nellie,  in  1896; 
and  Evelyn,  in  1901.  Mr.  Grabenhorst  is 
one  of  the  intelligently  progressive  men  of 
his  township,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all 
who  are  privileged  to  know  him. 


WILLIAM  X.  MESERVEY. 

An  important  chapter  in  the  history  of 
Webster  county  is  that  formed  by  the  life 
record  of  William  X.  Meservey.  He  was 
one  of  the  public  spirited  citizens  to  whose 
energy  and  foresight  this  locality  is  in- 
debted for  many  improvements.  His  work 
was  of  such  a  character  as  to  promote  the 
general  welfare  and  along  lines  of  progress 
his  efforts  were  efficient  and  beneficial.  As 
a  journalist,  he  made  known  to  the  world 
the  possibilities  and  natural  resources  of  this 
section  of  the  country;  through  the  columns 
of  his  paper  he  championed  reform  and  ad- 
vancement, and  in  judicial  offices  he  stood 
as  a  just  interpreter  of  the  law  which  par- 
takes the  life  and  liberty  and  the  rights  of 
the  people.  Over  his  public  and  private  ca- 
reer there  falls  no  shadow  , -,f  wrong  or  sus- 


picion of  evil.  Fearless  in  conduct,  honor- 
able in  action,  stainless  in  reputation,  his 
wi  rk  did  much  toward  influencing  for  good, 
the  welfare  of  Webster  county,  and  his  ex- 
ample is  indeed  worthy  of  emulation. 

Mr.  Meservey  was  born  in  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  November  6,  1820,  and  in 
his  early  youth  he  was  for  a  few  years  a 
student  in  a  graded  school  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Upon  putting  aside  his  text-books  he 
secured  employment  in  a  wholesale  dry- 
house  in  that  city,  where  he  remained 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  but  thinking  to 
devote  his  life  to  professional  work  he  then 
entered  the  law  office  of  Amos  Lane,  of 
Lawrenceburg,  Indiana,  and  in  1843  'ie  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Cincinnati.  The  same 
year  he  removed  to  Xew  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
where  he  engaged  in  practice  until  [845, 
when  he  returned  to  the  north,  locating  in 
Clinton,  Illinois,  which  was  his  place  of  resi- 
dence until  1854. 

That  year  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Meservey  in  Webster  county.  He  located 
in  Homer,  which  was  then'  the  count}-  seat 
of  Hamilton  and  Webster  counties,  which 
were  then  one  organization,  the  division 
having  not  yet  occurred.  When  this  county 
was  formed  and  Fort  Dodge  was  made  the 
county  seat,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  lat- 
ter place  and  was  an  active,  public-spirited 
and  prominent  resident  of  the  place  until 
his  death.  In  1S62  he  was  appointed  to  a 
position  in  the  United  States  treasury  de- 
partment with  headquarters  at  Monroe, 
Louisiana,  and  there  remained  four  years, 
returning  to  Fort  Dodge  after  the  close  of 
the  war.  Subsequently  he  assumed  control 
of  the  Fort  Dodge  Messenger  and  con- 
ducted that  paper  until  June  4.  1S74.  when 
he  sold  his  interest.  In  February,  1877.  he 
became  the  editor-in-chief  of  the  Webster 
County  Gazette,  and  that  continued  to  be 


304 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  business  connection  until  his  life's  labors 
were  ended.  He  was  a  fluent  orator,  an  in- 
structive writer  and  his  editorials  treated  in 
broad  and  impartial  manner  the  questions 
claiming  public  attention.  He  made  of  his 
paper  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  widely 
circulated  journals  in  western  Iowa,  and 
through  its  columns  he  promoted  every  in- 
terest which  he  believed  would  prove  of 
value  and  benefit  to  his  adopted  citv.  He 
was  a  man  true  to  his  honest  convictions, 
and  neither  fear  nor  favor  could  swerve  him 
from  a  course  which  he  believed  to  be  right. 

Mr.  Meservey  was  twice  elected  judge 
of  Webster  county,  and  upon  the  bench  he 
"won  golden  opinions  from  all  sorts  of  peo- 
ple." His  knowledge  of  the  law  was  ap- 
plied with  equity  of  the  points  in  litigation, 
and  his  decisions  were  always  fair  and  im- 
partial. This  was  the  only  civil  office  he  ever 
held,  preferring  the  independence  of  a  pri- 
vate citizen  to  the  cares  of  official  life.  Vet 
he  was  ever  willing  to  second  the  efforts  of 
his  friends  who  aspired  to  political  honors. 
In  his  early  years  he  endorsed  the  prin- 
ciples of  Democratcy  and  lent  his  support 
toward  achieving  success  for  the  party,  but 
when  the  Civil  war  was  inaugurated  and  the 
south  sought  to  destroy  the  Union,  setting  at 
naught  the  power  of  the  constitution,  he  be- 
came identified  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  was  ever  afterward  unswerving  in  his- 
allegiance  to  its  principles. 

In  Marion,  De  Witt  county,  Illinois,  on 
the  27th  of  December,  1847,  the  Judge  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Amanda  C.  Rob- 
bins,  a  native  of  Campbell  county.  Kentucky, 
who  removed  to  Illinois  with  her  parents 
during  her  childhood.  Her  father.  Judge 
Daniel  Robbins,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of 
the  Prairie  state.  He  was  a  native,  how- 
ever, of  Baltimore.  Maryland,  and  was  of 
English  lineage.     At  the  time  of  his  death 


the  Judge  left  a  widow  and  four  children 
to  mourn  his  loss,  the  members  of  the 
househeld  in  addition  to  Mrs.  Meservey 
being:  Stillman  T.,  who  is  now  serving 
from  his  district  as  representative  in  the 
state  legislature:  A.  F. ;  AliceM..  the  widow 
of  Oliver  M.  Welch;  and  William  D.  In 
his  social  relations  the  Judge  was  a  Mason 
and  was  also  identified  with  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows  fraternity,  exemplifying  in  his  life  the 
beneficent  and  helpful  spirit  of  both  orders. 
His  death  occurred  September  21.  1N7N, 
and  the  community  thereby  lost  one  of  its 
most  valued  citizens, — a  man  who  had  ever 
been  found  as  a  friend  of  movements  that 
contributed  in  large  measure  to  the  general 
good.  He  commanded  respect  for  his  fear- 
less advance  of  what  he  believed  to  be  right, 
by  his  straightforward  methods  in  business. 
by  his  loyalty  in  citizenship  and  his  faith- 
fulness  to   his   friend-. 


CYRUS   BURXETT. 

Since  1857  Cyrus  Burnett  has  made  his 
home  in  Webster  county,  and  his  name  is 
inseparably  connected  with  its  agricultural 
interests.  His  thoroughly  American  spirit 
and  his  great  energy  have  enabled  him  to 
attain  a  position  of  influence,  and  he  is  to- 
day the  owner  of  eight  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  valuable  farm  land  in  Iowa  and 
residence  property  in  Dayton. 

Air.  Burnett  was  bnrn  in  Ohio,  on  the 
Oth  of  February.  1826.  His  father,  John 
I'..  Burnett,  was  a  native  of  Xew  Jersey  and 
of  German  descent,  while  his  mother,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Hattie  Burgen, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  of  Irish  parent- 
age. They  were  married  in  the  latter  state 
and  from  there  removed  to  Ohio  in  1812, 
cuttino-  their   wav   through   the   wilderness 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3°5 


for  out'  hundred  miles  to  Wayne  county, 
where  they  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land.  On  selling  that  farm  in  1857 
they  removed  to  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  and 
there  purchased  another  farm,  where  the 
father  died  six  years  later.  The  mother 
then  made  her  home  for  a  time  with  her 
children  in  Iowa  City,  and  died  at  that  place 
in  1865.  Of  their  fourteen  children,  twelve 
reached  man  and  womanhood  and  mar- 
ried, namely:  Thomas  married  Cindrella 
Nixson  and  lived  for  some  time  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  but  both  died  in  Cedar  coun- 
ty, Iowa.  Daniel  married  Katie  Hines  and 
also  lived  in  Wayne  count}.  Ohio,  and 
Cedar  count}',  Iowa,  but  died  in  Iowa  City. 
William  married  Bettie  Hines  and  died 
about  1854  in  Cedar  count}-,  where  his  wife 
and  several  children  still  reside.  Louisa 
married  David  Fairfield  and  removed  from 
Wooster,  Ohio,  to  Williams  county,  that 
state,  where  he  died  on  Christmas  and  she  on 
the  following  New  Years  Day  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  '60s.  Wilson  married  a  Miss 
Alexander  and  both  died  in  Williams  coun- 
ty, Ohio.  Mary  was  the  wife  of  George  Eck- 
ert,  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  both  are 
now  deceased.  Sarah  married  John  Large, 
of  Wayne  count}'.  Ohio,  and  both  died  in 
Indiana.  John,  deceased,  first  married  Ann 
Van  Est.  of  Millersburg,  Ohio,  and  came  to 
Cedar  county,  Iowa,  where  she  died,  and 
he  subsequently  married  again.  Nancy 
married  Robert  Smith  and  died  in  Cedar 
county.  Isaac  married  Eliza  Lorah  and 
later  Eliza  Nixson,  and  died  in  Cedar 
county.  Margaret  wedded  Stow  Smith,  of 
Wayne  count}-.  Ohio,  and  they  now  reside 
in  Cedar  count}-,  Iowa.  Cyrus  completes 
the  family. 

Our  subject  began  his  education  in  a 
primitive  log  school  house  with  slab 
benches,   where   school     was    conducted   on 


the  subscription  plan.  Me  also  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  for 
a  time,  and  continued  his  studies  there  until 
fifteen  years  of  age.  He  remained  at  home 
until  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  in 
Wooster,  Ohio,  March  16,  1850,  Miss  Mar- 
garet Ann  Richey  becoming  his  wife.  She 
Was  born  in  Wayne  county,  January  4, 
1832,  a  daughter  of  Gasper  T.  and  Martha 
(Richart)  Richey.  The  father  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  count}-,  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  of  Irish  descent  on  the  paternal  side 
and  of  German  extraction  on  the  maternal 
side.  Her  mother  was  also  a  native  of  that 
state  ami  was  of  Scotch  lineage.  Mrs.  Bur- 
nett's paternal  grandparents  were  married 
in  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  and  made  their 
home  in  Lycoming  county,  that  state,  un- 
til 183 1,  when  they  removed  to  Ohio, 
where  the  grandmother  died  in  1840.  She 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Margaret  Lock- 
ard,  and  was  a  lady  of  culture  and  refine- 
ment. The  grandfather  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolutionary  war  under  General 
Washington,  and  other  ancestors  took  part 
in  the  early  Indian  wars  and  the  war  of 
1812.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Burnett  were 
married  in  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  in  1854 
came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  where  the 
father  died  in  1882,  and  the  mother  in  1892. 
They   had   a    family   of   eleven   children,   of 

whom   four   died    in    infanc_\    or   childh 1. 

Of  the  seven  remaining  Mrs.  Burnett  is  the 
oldest;  Mary  Jane  is  the  wife  of  J.  R.  Line, 
of  Fort  1  lodge;  Priscilla  married  Levi  Em- 
erson and  died  in  Stratford.  Iowa;  Hen- 
rietta is  the  wife  of  A.  R.  Daughenbaugh, 
of  Des  Moines;  Casper  T.  married  Hattie 
Lyon  and  died  on  a  farm  in  Webster  coun- 
ty; James  F.  married  Eliza  Baker  and  lives 
in  Pilot  Mound.  Boone  county:  S.  B.  mar- 
ried Angeline  Mahan  and  resides  in  Web- 
ster county. 


306 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burnett  have  four  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely : 
Edwin  Curtis,  the  oldest,  died  and  was 
buried  on  his  thirty-second  birthday,  May 
9,  1883.  Jennie  successfully  engaged  in 
school  teaching  at  Rocky  Ford  and  La 
Junta,  Colorado,  for  nine  years,  but  has  now 
retired  and  makes  her  home  in  Denver. 
Howard,  who  is  a  law  graduate  of  Cedar 
Rapids,  is  now  engaged  in  the  oil,  coal 
and  fuel  business  at  Chadron,  Nebraska. 
He  married  Nettie  David  in  the  Black  Hills, 
South  Dakota,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Ruth.  Williams  Lester,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  shoe  business  in  Dayton,  Iowa,  wed- 
ded Mary  F.  Lane  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Cyrus  Lester  and  Margaret  Iris. 

In  1 85 7  Mr.  Burnett  and  his  family 
came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  five  miles  southeast  of  Day- 
ton, but  have  made  their  home  in  the  vil- 
lage since  1884,  when  he  retired  from  ac- 
tive labor  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 
He  conquered  all  the  obstacles  in  the  path 
to  success  and  secured  for  himself  and  fam- 
ily a  handsome  competence,  being  now  the 
possessor  of  some  valuable  property.  He  is 
independent  in  politics,  giving  his  support 
to  the  men  and  measures  which  he  believes 
best  qualified  to  advance  the  interests  of  his 
community  and  promote  the  general  wel- 
fare. Wherever  known  he  is  held  in  high 
regard,  and  as  an  honored  pioneer  and 
highly  respected  citizen  he  is  certainly  de- 
serving of  honorable  mention  in  the  history 
of  his  adopted  county. 


CHRISTIAN  SCHMOKER. 

One  of  the  leading  citizens  and  repre- 
sentative farmers  of  Cooper  township  is 
Christian   Schmoker,   who  claims   Switzer- 


land as  his  native  land,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  that  country,  August  26,  1844. 
About  1857  he  emigrated  to  the  new  world 
with  his  parents,  Christian  and  Anna  (Ber- 
net)  Schmoker,  also  natives  of  Switzerland. 
The  'family  first  located  in  Wisconsin, 
where  they  made  their  home  until  1868, 
and  then  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
settling  in  Cooper  township,  where  the  fa- 
ther purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  wild  land,  which  he  transformed  into  a 
good  farm.  He  followed  general  farming 
throughout  life,  and  was  a  sturdy,  hard- 
working man.  Here  he  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years,  his  wife  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living, 
namely :  Peter,  Christian,  John,  Jacob, 
Carl,  Frederick,  Gotlieb,  Rudolph,  Anna, 
Elizabeth  and  Rosa.  The  father  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  church, 
and  was  a  Republican  in  politics.  He 
might  well  be  termed  a  pioneer  of  Cooper 
township,  for  on  locating  here  he  took  up 
new  land  and  materially  assisted  in  the  de- 
velopment of  his  section  of  the  county. 
He  reared  his  family  to  habits  of  thrift  and 
industry,  and  many  of  them  are  to-day 
among  the  substantial  citizens  of  Webster 
county. 

Mr.  Schmoker,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood  in  Wisconsin, 
and  attended  school  there.  In  1868  he  came 
with  the  family  to  this  county,  and  has  since 
engaged  in  general  farming,  at  present  own- 
ing a  well-improved  and  valuable  place  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Cooper 
township. 

Mr.  Schmoker  has  been  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  Miss  Elizabeth  Hass. 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  died  in  1881, 
leaving  six  children,  namely:  Willie,  now 
deceased ;      Ferdinand ;      Martin :      Louisa  ; 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


307 


Anna,  now  deceased;  and  Rosa.  His  sec- 
ond wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Cath- 
arine Scharf  and  was  born  in  Illinois.  By 
this  union  five  children  were  born,  namely: 
Albert;  Phoebe;  Cora,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  months:  Hugo,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years ;  and  Winnie. 

In  his  religious  views  Mr.  Schmoker 
is  a  Lutheran.  By  his  ballot  he  supports 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  his  fellow  citizens,  recognizing 
his  worth  and  ability,  have  called  upon  him 
to  till  local  offices  of  honor  and  trust,  and 
he  has  most  capably  served  as  school  treas- 
urer in  Cooper  township  for  the  past  fifteen 
wars,  being  the  present  incumbent.  He  is 
a  self-made  man,  for  his  success  in  life  is 
due  entirely  to  his  own  well-directed  and 
energetic  efforts. 


DEXTER  A.  WELLER. 

For  more  than  forty-two  years  this  gen- 
tleman has  made  his  home  in  Fort  Dodge, 
Iowa,  and  his  name  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  public  affairs,  for  during  the 
greater  part  of  this  time  he  has  held  some 
public  position,  and  is  now  acceptably  filling 
the  office  of  city  clerk.  Mr.  Weller  was 
horn  in  Arlington,  Bennington  county, 
Vermont,  November  15,  1830,  and  is  a  son 
of  Daniel  and  Rhoda  (Snow)  Weller,  in 
whose  family  were  five  children,  four  sons 
and  one  daughter.  In  1834  they  removed 
to  Sandgate,  Bennington  county,  and  in  the 
schools  of  that  place  our  subject  received 
his  elementary  education.  In  1850  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  East  Salem,  Washington 
county,  Xew  York,  where  the  father  en- 
gaged in  the  dye  and  clothing  business. 

While  residing  at  that  place  Dexter  A. 
Weller  taught  school  during  the  winter 
months,  while  through  the  summer  seasons 


he  worked  up<  m  a  farm  until  the  fall  of 
1855,  when  he  came  to  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa, 
arriving  here  on  the  30th  of  September. 
Here  he  engaged  in  teaching  during  the  fol- 
lowing  winter,  and- then  followed  farming 
until  November,  1S64,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  treasurer  of  Webster  county, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  until  January  1, 
1866,  when  he  resumed  farming,  but  in 
[867  returned  to  the  treasurer's  office  as 
deputy,  and  filled  that  position  until  the  1st 
of  January,  1878.  During  the  next  four 
years  he  did  office  work,  and  in  1883  was 
appointed  secretary  of  the  school  board, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  He  was 
again  made  deputy  treasurer  in  1882,  and 
held  that  office  until  elected  county  treas- 
urer in  1886,  after  which  he  served  in  the 
latter  capacity  two  years.  He  continued  to 
work  on  the  books  in  various  offices,  how- 
ever, until  March,  1892,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed city  clerk,  and  has  since  filled  that 
position  in  a  most  creditable  and  satisfac- 
tory manner. 

Mr.  Weller  was  married  September-  4, 
1861,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  F.  Sargent,  a  resi- 
dent of  Johnsonville,  Rensselaer  county, 
Xew  York.  She  was  born  in  England. and 
came  with  her  husband  to  Fort  Dodge  in 
[862.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weller  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Mary  L.,  born  December  2,  1862,  is 
at  home  with  her  parents :  and  Minnie  E., 
born  April  9,  1866,  is  the  wife  of  C.  H. 
I  1  Iby,  clerk  of  the  courts  at  Fort  Dodge. 

Socially  Mr.  Weller  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  He 
has  made  a  most  trustworthy  and  capable 
public  officer,  and  has  always  been  found 
true  and  faithful  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
him,  whether  public  or  private,  and  he  well 
deserves  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  uni- 
formly held. 


3o8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


PHILLIP  KARCHER. 

Among  the  brave  defenders  of  the 
Union  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil 
war  was  Phillip  Karcher.  a  well-known  citi- 
zen of  Fort  Dodge,  his  home  being  at  609 
Fourth  avenue  south.  He  was  born  in 
Philadelphia  on  the  26th  nf  March,  1832, 
Ms1  parents  being  Phillip  and  Katherine 
(Erb)  Karcher,  in  whose  family  were  seven 
children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  ac- 
quired a  .thorough  knowledge  of  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  at  which  he  worked  in  the 
east  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Earl- 
ville,  Iowa.  The  following  year  he  came 
to  Fort  Dodge,  and  continued  to  follow  his 
chosen  occupation  until  after  the  Civil  war 
broke  out.  On  the  22d  of  August,  1862, 
Mr.  Karcher  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Thirty- 
second  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  under 
Captain  Alexander  Dowd  and  Colonel 
John  Scott.  His  regiment  being  assigned 
to  the  Sixteenth  Corps.  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, he  took  part  with  that  command  in 
the  hattles  of  Fort  De  Russey,  Pleas- 
ant Hill  and  Yellow  Bayou,  Louisiana; 
Lake  Chicot,  Arkansas;  Tuples.  Missis- 
sippi; Old  Tom  Creek,  Mississippi;  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee;  and  Blakely,  Alabama. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  mustered 
out  and  discharged  from  the  service  at  Clin- 
ton, [owa,  August  24,  1865.  Returning  to 
Fort  Dodge,  he  has  since  engaged  in  shoe- 
making  and  has  met  with  fair  success.  He 
is  now  an  honored  member  of  Fort  Donel- 
son  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  No.  236,  and  is  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
him. 

Mr.    Karcher   was   married,   August   6, 


1853,  tn  Miss  .Margaret  Hefiey,  of  Phila- 
delphia, a  daughter  of  John  M.  Hefiey,  a 
farmer  of  Pennsylvania.  Seven  children 
blessed  this  union,  namely:  William  H., 
born  May  13,  1854,  is  now  engaged  in 
mining  in  Colorado;  Phillip,  Jr.,  born  De- 
cember S.  [856,  is  a  blacksmith  of  Des 
Moines;  Mary  I'"...  horn  September  8,  i860, 
is  the  wife  of  William  Grace,  a  farmer 
of  Palo  Alto  count}-,  Iowa;  Catherine,  born 
August  28,  1862,  is  at  home;  John  Morris, 
born  July  9,  1866,  is  a  railroad  contractor 
in  Illinois;  George  S.,  born  March  18,  1869, 
is  in  the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road and  resides  at  home ;  and  James,  born 
April  14,  1877,  is  a  fireman  on  the  same 
road. 


ANGUS  McBANE. 

Angus  McBane  was  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Webster  county,  and  for  many 
years  no  man  was  more  actively  or  hon- 
orably associated  with  financial  interests  in 
this  part  of  the  state  than  he.  As  a  real 
estate  dealer  he  became  an  important  fac- 
tor in  the  development  and  settlement  of 
the  count}',  and  in  all  possible  ways  he  con- 
tributed to  the  upbuilding  and  substantial 
improvement  of  the  city  and  the  surround- 
ing district,  so  that  his  name  is  inseparably 
interwoven  with  its  annals.  His  career 
was  one  of  enterprising  business  activity, 
cf  loyal  citizenship  and  of  fidelity  to  all  the 
relations  and  duties  of  private  life,  and  his 
example  is  one  well   worth}-  of  emulation. 

Mr.  McBane  was  born  in  Columbiana 
count}-,  Ohio,  March  2j,  1829,  a  son  of 
John  and  Marjory  McBane,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Inverness,  Scotland,  where  they 
were  reared  and  married.  In  1817  they 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  "the  land  of  the  free 


ANGUS  McBANE 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3ii 


and  the  home  of  the  brave,"  taking  up  their 
abode  among  the  earl)  settlers  of  Colum- 
biana county,  where  the  father  entered  a 
of  land  from  the  government.  With 
characteristic  Scottish  thrift  and  energy  he 
began  its  development  and  transformed  it 
inti  an  excellent  farm  up  n  which  he  and 
his  wife  spent  their  remaining  days.  They 
da  family  1  E  eighl  children,  of  whom 
five  were  hum  in  Scotland,  while  three  were 
added  to  the  family  circle  after  the  emigra- 
ti<  11   to   the  new   w<  add. 

(  >n  the  old  family  hi  rn.este.ad  in  the 
Buckeye  state  Angus  McBane,  1  £  this  re- 
view, was  born  and  reared,  and  in  [844, 
when  fifteen  years  of  age,  he  started  to 
learn  the  printer's  trade  in  his  brother's 
ce,  bul  he  did  not  find  this  pursuit  con- 
genial, and  en  the  expiratii  n  of  his  service 
he  sought  1  ther  employment  and  accepted  a 
positii  11  ui  a  drug  -t^re  at  Wellsville,  which 
positii  n  lie  retained  alu  ut  fi  it  years,  when 
he  went  down  the  Ohii  and  Mississippi 
5  on  a  flatboat  to  \c\\  Orleans.  At 
this  time  the  excitement  following  the  dis- 
er)  of  gi  Id  in  California  was  at  its 
1  night,  and  Mr.  McBane,  who  was  pos- 
sessed 1  1"  a  go  d  constitution  and  was  full 
1  hi  pe  and  energy,  determined  to  try  his 
fortune  in  the  Golden  state,  hoping  that 
amid  tlie  reported  wealth  of  the  Pacific 
eoasl  he  might  secure  enough  of  the  pre- 
cious metal  to  render  him  a  wealthy  man 
or  at  least  give  him  a  good  start  in  the 
business  world.  Accordingly  he  made 
preparations  for  the  western  journey.  In 
tlie  spring  of  1850  he  joined  a  party  of 
American  Argonauts  in  search  of  the  gold- 
en fleece,  hut  instead  of  sailing  amid  en- 
chanted isles  as  their  Greek  predecessors 
had  done,  they  journeyed  by  ox-teams 
across  hundreds  of  miles  of  plains  or 
through  mountain  passes,   four  month-  be- 


ing required  to  make  the  trip,  and  on  his 
arrival  there  he  spent  all  but  a  very  small 
sum  of  money.  For  two  years  after  his 
arrival  Mr.  McBane  worked  in  the  mines. 
and  then  engaged  in  the  milling  business 
where  Nevada  City  now  stands,  erecting  a 
-;oam  sawmill,  which  he  operated  until 
1854,  wdien  he  returned  to  New  York,  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  from 
the  eastern  metropolis  made  his  way  to 
Ohio.  After  a  short  time  he  made  an.  ther 
trip  down  the  river  to  \e\\  Orleans,  ami 
next  engaged  in  the  commission  busi 
v  nli  his  bn  ther  Alexander  in  Pittsburg, 
hut  after  a  short  time  withdrew  from  the 
hrm,  believing  that  the  west  would  offer 
better  business  opportunities  than  the  older 
and  more  thickly  settled  east.  Aco  rdingl) 
he  made  his  way  to  Chicago.  Minneapolis 
and  then  to  he-  Moines,  Iowa,  intending 
to  engage  in  the  real  estate  business  there, 
hut  finding  that  the  best  land  had  already 
been  secured  in  these  place-,  h 
Fort  Dodge,  in  June,  1855.  and  remained 
a  resident  of  this  city  until  his  death.  In 
Uigust  of  that  year  he  built  a  banking 
house  and  at  once  engaged  in  the  banking 
and  real  estate  business  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Wilsons,  McBane  X  Company.  1  le- 
va- subsequently  prominently  connected 
with  various  hanking  institutions  ami  at 
one  lime  wa-  president  of  the  Merchants 
National  Bank,  and  was  also  officiall)  0  n- 
nected  with  the  First  National  Banl 
its  consolidation  with  the  Merchants  Na- 
tional, while  later  he  was  a  member  of  the 
hanking  firm  of  McBane  &  Grant.  His 
thorough  understanding  of  the  business 
made  his  counsel  of  importance  in  financial 
circles,  and  the  success  of  the  institutions 
with  which  he  was  associated  was  due  in 
no  -mall  measure  to  his  efforts.  As  the 
years    passed    his    prosperity    increased,    his 


312 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


labors  making  him  one  of  the  must  affluent 
citizens  of  the  count}-,  but  success  did  n<  a 
come  ti '  him  all  at  once  as  there  were  years 
when  the  county  was  sparsely  settled  and 
there  was  not  much  business  to  be  done. 

Mr.  McBane  was  actively  interested  in 
the  general  progress  and  welfare,  and  c  i- 
operated  whenever  possible  in  the  move- 
ments which  led  to  substantial  impn  ve- 
ment  in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  was  liv- 
ing in  Webster  county  when  in  1857  the 
Indians  massacred  the  people  at  Spirit 
Lake.  He  took  an  active  part  in  assisting 
in  the  protection  of  the  settlers  at  that 
point,  being  connected  with  the  expedition 
that  went  to  their  relief.  Through  his  real 
estate  transactions  he  induced  settlers  to 
come  to  the  county  and  was  ever  conscien- 
tious in  aiding  them  to  secure  the  kind  of 
farms  they  desired,  so  that  he  always  en- 
joyed and  merited  the  business  confidence 
of  the  people. 

In  1858  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
McBane  and  Miss  Elizabeth  McLaughlin, 
of  Hamilton  county.  Iowa,  a  native  of 
Columbiana  county.  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
of  James  McLaughlin,  of  Inverness,  Scot- 
land, who  with  his  family  came  to  "Webster 
City.  Iowa,  in  1856,  but  the  following  fall 
he  died,  leaving  a  wife  and  three  children. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McBane  were  born  four 
nd  three  daughters,  namely:  Will- 
iam Wilson,  who  died  at  Great  Falls.  Mon- 
tana, August  10.  1900:  James  Alexander, 
who  died  at  Fort  Dodge.  November  6, 
1890;  John  Daniel,  who  died  in  October. 
1877:  Angus,  who  is  the  only  living  -mi: 
Lizzie,  who  died  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
day  on  which  her  father  passed  away;  Mar- 
jory; and  Blanche,  who  js  the  wife  of  J.  C. 
Alvarado. 

For  some  time  prior  to  his  death  Mr. 
McBane  was  in  failing  health,  and  on  the 


12th  of  April,  1888,  he  departed  this  life. 
For  a> third  of  a  century  he  lived  in  Fort 
Dodge,  and  few  men  were  more  widely 
known  in  Webster  county,  his  business  in- 
terests bringing  him  into  contact  with  a 
large  number  whose  friendship  and  respect 
he  won  by  an  honorable  life  and  a  kindly 
manner.  He  richly  merited  his  prosperity, 
for  it  was  honorably  gained  and  worthily 
used.  His  career  proved  the  power  of  in- 
dustry, integrity  and  perseverance  as  fac- 
tors in  the  business  world  and  should  serve 
as  an  inspiration  to  others  who  must  de- 
pend upon  their  own  resources  for  advance- 
ment. 


TIMOTHY  CRIMINS. 

Timothy  Crimins,  experienced  railroad 
man,  scientific  farmer  and  all-around  help- 
ful citizen  of  Elkhorn  township,  was  born 
in  Count}-  Cork,  Ireland,  January  15,  1826. 
His  parents,  Dennis  and  Julia  (McCallif) 
Crimins,  were  natives  respectively  of  Coun- 
ties Kerry  and  Cork,  Ireland,  and  were 
married  in  their  native  land,  where  they 
engaged  in  farming.  In  the  family  were 
the  following  children:  John,  who  died  in 
Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  in  1899,  was  a  soldier 
during  the  Civil  war.  and  was  wounded 
while  serving  in  the  Sixty-fifth  Illinois  In- 
fantry; Johanna  died  in  June,  1871 :  Den- 
nis died  in  Ireland :  and  Ellen  also  died  in 
her  native  land. 

Before  coming  to  America,  in  1849.  a* 
the  age  of  twenty-four  years.  Mr.  Crimins 
studied  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
land,  and  gained  considerable  knowledge  of 
farming  and  general  business.  He  sailed  on 
the  good  ship  John  Evans,  which  for  five 
weeks  plowed  its  way  through  stormy  seas 
and  delaying  calms,  and  finally  arrived  in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


313 


Boston  Harbor.     Mr.  Crimins  engaged  in 
railroad  work  out  of  Boston,  and  for  twenty 

year?  was  identified  with  the  Harlem  Rail- 
road. After  spending  some  time  in  Con- 
necticut he  was  with  the  Maysville  Railroad 
in  Kentucky  during  one  summer,  and  then 
went  to  work  on  the  levee  in  Arkansas, 
eventually  bringing  up  at  St.  Louis,  where 
he  worked  with  the  Pacific  Railroad  for 
two  years.  He  then  returned  to  Xew  York 
and  worked  on  the  canal,  later  crossing  the 
lake  from  Buffalo  to  Ohio,  and  then  trav- 
eled to  Michigan,  where  he  walked  thirty- 
five  miles  to  catch  a  train  to  Chicago.  He 
then  went  to  Dunleith.  Illinois,  and  worked 
on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  was 
employed  one  summer  in  Iowa,  and  for  a 
year  in  Minnesota,  afterward  working  for 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company  out  of 
Omaha.  Nebraska.  At  a  later  period  he 
came  to  Des  Moines.  Iowa,  and  was  with 
nearly  all  the  railroads  through  central 
Iowa,  and  finally  abandoned  the  railroad 
business  entirely  and  settled  on  the  river 
claim  on  section  9,  Elkhorn  township.  Web- 
ster county,  which  he  afterward  purchased. 
Tune  24.  1872.  Mr.  Crimins  married 
Mary  Trainer,  a  native  of  County  Louth. 
Ireland,  born  December  25,  1897,  and  ,a 
daughter  of  Patrick  and  Ellen  (White) 
Trainer,  also  natives  of  County  Louth.  The 
parents  came  to  America,  where  the  mother 
died,  after  which  the  father  returned  to  Ire- 
land. There  were  in  the  family  the  follow- 
ing- children  :  Patrick,  who  married  Anna 
Colwell  and  lives  in  Fort  Dodge:  John. 
who  is  a  gold  miner  in  Montana;  Simon, 
win'  lives  in  Elkhorn  township.  Webster 
county.  Iowa:  Robert,  who  is  engaged  in 
railroading  in  Fort  Dodge;  Margretta.  who 
is  the  wife  of  Donald  Farrell,  of  Fort 
Dodge;  Susan,  who  is  the  wife  of  Owen 
Halligan.   of  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Dodsre: 


Anna,  who  was  the  wife  of  Anthony  Halli- 
gan  and  died  twenty  years  ago  in  Elkhorn 
a^et,  who  is  the  wife  of  \Y. 
M.  Hachenburg,  of  Minnesota;  and  Lizzie, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Jim  B reman,  of  Minne- 
sota. Seven  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crimins.  namely:  Dennis, 
who  married  Jennie  Mclntire;  Joe.  who  died 
in  infancy:  Patrick,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years :  Ellen,  who  is  the  widow  of 
George  McMahon ;  Edward,  who  is  living 
at  home:  and  Julia,  who  is  also  living  at 
home. 

At  the  time  of  taking  possession  of  his 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  Mr. 
Crimins  had  a  great  deal  of  laborious  work 
ahead  of  him.  for  the  property  was  raw 
prairie  and  had  hitherto  been  unacquainted 
with  plow  or  harrow.  He  broke  the  land 
himself,  and  has  since  made  all  manner  of 
desirable  improvements,  including  a  com- 
fortable house,  tine  barn,  good  fences  and 
outbuildings,  as  well  as  modern  machinery 
of  every  known  variety.  He  is  a  pn  g 
ive  farmer  and  valued  citizen,  and  his  ef- 

-  have  resulted  in  a  benefit  to  the  com- 
munitv. 


CHARLES  PINGEL. 

This  well-known  and  successful  agri- 
culturist of  Cooper  township,  was  born  in 
Meggesburg.  on  the  8th  of  April.  1844.  and 
was  a  lad  of  eight  years  when  he  cr 
the  broad  Atlantic  in  company  with  his  par- 
ents. Henry  and  Dora  Pingel.  who  were 
also  natives  of  the  fatherland.  The  family 
located  in  Jo  Daviess  county.  Illinois. 
where  Henrv  Pingel  continued  to  make  his 
home  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
his  time  and  attention  being  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuits.     He  did  not  live  long, 


314 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


however,  after  coining  to  this  country,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  His 
wife  still  survives  him  and  now  makes  her 
home  with  their  only  daughter,  Mrs.  Cath- 
arine Wenters,  in  Iowa.  In  their  family 
were  only  two  children,  the  other  being  our 
subject. 

Charles  Pingel  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois.  His 
educational  advantages  were  limited,  as  he 
began  working  for  his  board  and  clothes 
when  a  mere  buy,  and  has  since  been  de- 
pendent upon  !iis  own  resources  for  a  liveli- 
bi  dd.  The  first  wages  he  received  were  five 
dollars  per  month.  While  employed  as  a 
farm  hand  he  managed  to  save  some  of  his 
salary,  and  was  at  length  .able  to  purchase  a 
traci  of  forty  acres  in  Jo  Daviess  count}-, 
Illinois.  He  has  since  1"  ught  and  s<  Id  sev- 
eral farms.  In  1874  he  came  to  Iowa,  and 
after  residing  in  various  places  he 
located  in  Webster  county  in  1880,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Cooper  township.  He  is 
n<  w  the  1  wner  of  a  hue  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  pleasantly  located  four 
and  a  half  miles  east  of  Fort  Dodge,  and 
in  connection  with  its  operation  he  also  cul- 
tivates rented  property  to  the  amount  of 
four  hundred  and  forty  acres.  Of  this 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  are  de- 
voted tn  corn  and  a  similar  amount  to  small 
grain,  while  the  remainder  is  in  hay  and 
pasture.  He  keeps  from  fifty  to  seventy 
bead  of  cattle  and  a  large  number  of  horses 
and  hugs.  He  has  good  and  substantial 
buildings  upon  his  place,  and  everything 
about  the  farm  testifies  to  the  thrift  and  in- 
dustry <  if  the  owner. 

On  the  226  of  February,  1864,  Mr. 
Pingel  married  Miss  Dora  Dubler,  win 
was  born  in  Germany,  October  17,  1844,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Gillhoff)  Dub- 
ler.     Her   father   died   in   that   country   and 


her  mother  afterward  came  to  America, 
where  she  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-eight years.  Of  their  five  children 
three  are  still  living:  John,  Sophia  and 
Dora.  The  children  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wife  are  William,  Paulina,  John, 
Louisa,  Frederick,  Otto,  Norman,  Edward, 
Herman.  Christian,  George  and  Frank,  all 
living;  and  Anna,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  The  family  have  a  pleas- 
ant home,  where  hospitality  and  good  cheer 
abound,  and  they  stand  high  in  the  com- 
munity where  t'hey  reside.  Mrs.  Pingel  is 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  church  and  is 
a  most  estimable  lady.  Our  subject  is  lib- 
eral in  his  religious  views  and  is  a  Republi- 
can in  politics. 


UFA.   JOHN   A.   CHRISTENSON. 

Rev.  John  A.  Christenson,  the  beloved 
past  r  of  the  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church  of  Dayton.  Iowa,  was  born  in 
Sweden,  September  29,  1854,  a  son  of  Carl 
and  Anna  Christina  (Carl)  Christenson, 
Who  were  also  natives  of  that  country.  The 
lather  was  captain  of  a  vessel  sailing  out 
of  Gutteribefg  and  was  lust  in  a  stnrm  at 
ea  1  11  (  tctnber  jo,  1SN1,  when  all  on  board 
perished.  His  widow  subsequently  came 
tn  America,  in  11X87.  with  her  youngest 
son,  and  is  now  living  with  another  sun  in 
Princeton,  Illinois.  In  the  family  were  five 
children,  namely:  Carl,  who  married 
Anna  Carlson  and  died  in  Sweden  in  1897; 
John  A.,  our  subject:  Gustave,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  living  in  Princeton,  Illinois;  Al- 
fred, a  resident  of  Belvidere,  that  state; 
and  Francis,  who  makes  his  home  in  Chi- 
cagi  i'. 

Mr.  Christenson,  of  this  review,  beeran 


REV.  JOHN  A.  CHRIS? ENSON 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


317 


his  educatii  n  in  the  public  schools  1  t 
Sweden,  and  was  graduated  therefrom  in 
1871.  Having  decided  to  trj  his  fortune 
on  this  side  pf  the  Atlantic,  he  came  to 
America  in  May.  [88  >,  and  first  set  foot  on 
American  soil  at  Boston.  He  spent  three 
mi  nths  at  Chicago,  and  then  went  to  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  -a .year 
and  a  half,  being  employed  as  an  expert 
machinist  while  carrying  on  his  theological 
studies    preparatory    1  ••       g    the    min- 

istry. In  1882  he  took  charge  of  a  small 
congregatii  n  at  De  Kail).  Illinois. 

Prior  to  this  Mr.  Christenson  was  mar- 
ried at  RockfOrd,  April  8,  1881,  to  Miss 
Lotta  Swan,  who  was  born  in  Stockholm, 
Sweden.  December  3,  1857,  and  died  i  1 
tober  4,  1887.  her  remains  being  interred 
in  Chicago.  She  ilosl  her  mother  when 
quite  yi  Ling-,  and  her  father  died  in  1887. 
Both  were  life-long  residents  of  Swi 
They  had  two  children,  one  of  whom  also 
died   in   that   country. 

About  Christmas.  1884,  Mr.  Christen1 
si  n  went  to  Chicagi  to  take  charge  of  the 
Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Mission 
church  near  Humboldt  Park,  and  remained 
there  until  November,  1888.  There  he  was 
married  October  19,  1888.  to  Miss  Jose- 
phine Nettenstrom,  who  was  born  in 
Sweden.  January  4.  ^863,  a  daughtei 
J.  P.  and  Anna  Lisa  Nettenstrom,  also  na- 
tive- of  that  country.  In  1881  the  famih 
emigrated  to  the  United  Sta 
in  Chicago,  where  the  father  worked  at  his 
trade  of  blacksmithing  with  good  success 
for  many  years  and  is  now  living  a  retired 
life,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  fi  rmer  toil.  <  >f 
his  nine  children  the  following  are  still  liv- 
ing: Bettie.  wife  of  Otto  Elg,  of  Chicago; 
Josephine,  wife  of  our  subject;  Joel,  who 
married  Ellen  Peterson  and  resides  in  Chi- 
cago, beinsr  an   architect   for  the   Chicago, 


Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad,  erecting 
buildings  and  bridges  for  that  company; 
d,  who  married  Emma  Johnson,  and 
is  a  cutter  and  tailor  of  Chicago;  Richard, 
who  is  a  bookkeeper  in  the  First  National 
Bank  1  E  Chicago:  Ida,  wife  <  t  John  Saf- 
strom,  1  f  that  city;  and  Rimer,  who  is  at- 
tending school  in  Chicagi 

By  his  first  marriage   Mr.   Christensi  n 
wi  1  si  ns  :     Edwin,  b  rn  in  Ri  ckfi  rd, 
tllinois,    April    21,    1882;   and    David,   born 
in  DeKalb,  Illinois,  April   15.   [884.     There 
were   seven  children  by   the   second   union, 
namely:  Ellen,  born  in  Galesburj 
Decern! j<     2  >.    [889;  Mabel,  1)'  rn  in  Sioux 
City,  Ii  wa.    Uigusl    12,  1891 ;  Ab< 
Dayton,  October  io.   [893;  .Myrtle,  born  in 
n,  August  m.  1895;  Wilburt,  born  in 
'.  Septembe  r  o.  1896  :  ( '1<  ments,  born 
in    Da}  ti  n,   1  Icti  her    10.    [898 :   and     I 
dore,  born  in  Dayton,   November   1.    i 

I  )n  lca\  ing  I  1  SSS, 

Mr.  Christensi  n  went  to  Galesburg,  tllinois, 
to  taki  1  f    the    Second    Lutheran 

church  1  f  that  place,  and  remained 
until  August,  1890.  In  June  1  f  that  year 
he  went  to  Jamestown,  New  York,  where  he 
examined  and  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Au- 
gustana  synod.  He  then  accepted  a  call 
fri  in  the  church  of  that  denomination  at 
City,  Iowa,  and  from  there  came  to 
Dayton  in  May.  1893,  as  pastor  of  the  Swed- 
ish Evangelical  Lutheran  church 
place,  and  is  still  filling  that  position. 
Here  he  has  a  nice  church  and  a  good  par- 
..  and  under  his  able  guidance  the 
church  has  steadilj  prospered  and  is  now  in 
a    flourishini  n.      lie    is    a    bi 

minded,  liberal  man  and  excellent  scholar, 
having  a  fine  library  <  f  several  hundred 
volumes,  of  which  he  makes  good  use.  In 
his  pi  litical  views  he  is  a  stanch  Republican, 


3i8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  is  a  man  highly  respected  and  esteemed 
not  only  by  the  people  of  his  own  congre- 
gation but  by  all  who  know  him. 


C.  L.  GRANGER. 


The  financial  and  commercial  interests 
of  Fort  Dodge  would  be  very  incomplete 
and  unsatisfactory  without  a  personal  and 
somewhat  extended  mention  of  those  whose 
lives  are  so  closely  interwoven  with  the  de- 
velopment and  business  interests  of  the  city 
which  has  been  the  home  and  scene  of  labor 
of  many  men  who  have  not  only  led  lives 
that  should  serve  as  inspiration  to  others 
but  have  also  been  of  important  service  to 
their  city  and  county  through  various  ave- 
nues of  usefulness.  Although  Mr.  Granger 
was  not  a  pioneer  of  Webster  county,  there 
is  no  man  who  more  richly  deserves  men- 
tion in  this  volume  than  he.  His  business 
interests  were  so  broad  and  varied  that  he 
contributed  in  large  measure  to  the  general 
prosperity,  and  yet  not  alone  along  business 
lines  were  his  efforts  put  forth  for  the  pub- 
lic good,  fur  from  the  time  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Webster  county  his  life  record  be- 
came an   important  chapter   in  its  history. 

C.  L.  Granger  was  a  native  of  Michi- 
gan, born  at  Mt.  Clemens.  February  u, 
1850,  and  was  a  son  of  Sylvester  and  Mary 
(Venue)  Granger.  When  quite  young  his 
family  removed  to  Crown  Point.  Indiana, 
and  it  was  here  Mr.  Granger  grew  to  man- 

1 d  and  received  his  early  mental  training. 

From  the  first  he  became  interested  in  the 
implement  trade  and  his  whole  life  was  de- 
voted to  that  line  of  business.  While  still 
a  young  man  he  became  associated  with  the 
McCormick  Company,  and  it  was  but  a 
lime  before  they  recognized  his  worth 
and  ability.     He  was  first  promoted  to  the 


position  of  general  agent  in  Illinois  and  later 
held  the  same  position  in  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland,  Xew  Jersey  and  Delaware.  In 
1879  ne  determined  to  seek  a  new  field  of 
labor  and  entered  the  business  world  as  a 
dealer.  Landing  in  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  in 
December  of  that  year,  he  soon  embarked 
in  the  wholesale  and  retail  agricultural  im- 
plement business,  which  he  continued  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death. 

At  Crown  Point,  Indiana,  October  14, 
1874,  Mr.  Granger  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Alice  A.  Willey,  a  native  of  that 
state.  Her  father,  George  Willey,  was  a 
pioneer  of  Indiana,  where  he  continued  to 
make  his  home  throughout  life.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  now  deceased  and  are  sleep- 
ing their  last  sleep  in  the  Crown  Point 
cemetery.  , 

As  before  stated,  it  was  at  a  very  early 
age  that  Mr.  Granger  began  business  for 
himself,  and  his  success  in  life  was  due  en- 
tirely to  his  own  efforts.  He  belonged  to 
the  great  army  of  self-made  men  that  have 
by  their  industry,  perseverance  and  straight- 
forward business  methods  made  this  com- 
mercial world  of  ours  what  it  is  to-day,  the 
greatest  in  the  whole  world.  When  but  a 
youth  he  formed  a  habit  of  making  use  of 
all  his  opportunities,  and  his  success  was 
by  no  means  the  result  of  fortunate  circum- 
stances. It  came  to  him  as  a  natural  result 
of  energy,  labor  and  perseverance,  directed 
by  an  evenly-balanced  mind  and  honorable 
business  principles.  He  determined  to 
make  a  success  of  his  life,  and  the  pros- 
perity  that  came  to  him  was  well  deserved. 

In  addition  to  his  regular  business  Mr. 
Granger  was  also  associated  with  other  en- 
terprises. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Cardiff  Gypsum  Company,  and  re- 
mained a  stockholder  of  the  same  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


319 


Fraternally  Mr.  Granger  was  a  Knight 
Templar  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  Legion  of  Honor,  and  politi- 
cally was  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  As  a  public-spirited  and  progressive 
citizen  he  took  an  active  and  influential 
part  in  municipal  affairs,  and  for  four  terms 
most  efficiently  served  as  mayor  of  Fort 
Dodge.  It  has  been  said  by  those  who  were 
most  closely  associated  with  him  at  that 
time  that  he  was  the  strong  supporter  of  all 
movements  calculated  to  benefit  the  city  of 
bis  adoption,  and  to-day  all  acknowledge 
that  never  were  the  reins  of  city  govern- 
ment in  more  capable  hands.  He  was  an 
enterprising  man  and  all  matters  pertaining 
to  the  public  welfare  received  his  hearty 
endorsement.  Over  his  life  record  there 
falls  no  shadow  of  wrong;  his  public  serv- 
ice was  most  exemplary,  and  his  private  life 
was  marked  by  the  utmost  fidelity  to  duty.  ' 
He  died  at  Passavant  Hospital,  Chicago, 
where  he  bad  gone  for  treatment,  April  6, 
1900.  after  having  been  in  poor  health  for 
some  time.  His  death  was  a  sad  blow  to  his 
wife  and  friends,  of  which  he  had  scores, 
ami  he  is  to-day  mourned  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  made  for  himself  a  record  in  busi- 
ness, and  by  his  well-directed  efforts  ac- 
quired a  handsome  competence. 


JOHN  FALLON. 

John  Fallon,  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  Douglas  township.  He 
was  born  in  Ireland  on  the  19th  of  April, 
1831,  and  came  to  America  in  1833.  For 
some  time  he  made  his  home  in  Clinton 
county.  New  York,  where  he  owned  and 
operated  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  ten 
acres. 


Before  leaving  the  Empire  state  Mr. 
Fallon  was  married,  January  8,  1858,  to 
Miss  Mary  Gannon,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  city,  April  2,  1840.  Her  parents, 
Thomas  and  Alary  (Mahon)  Gannon,  were 
natives  of  Ireland  and  came  to  the  new 
world  when  young.  Her  father,  who  was 
a  mason  by  trade,  spent  his  last  days  in 
Clinton  county,  New  York,  where  he  died 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years. 
His  wife  was  seventy-nine  years  old  at  the 
time  of  her  death.  Of  the  nine  children 
born  to  them  only  two  reached  years  of 
maturity,  and  Mrs.  Fallon  is  the  only  one 
of  the  family  now  living.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  became  the  parents  of  fourteen 
children,  who  are  still  living,  namely: 
William  H..  Thomas,  Alary,  Frank,  George, 
Julius,  Joseph,  Josephine.  Hattie,  Lena, 
James,  John,  Anna  and  Clement.  Those 
deceased  are  Charles,  who  was  the  second 
in  order  of  birth  and  died  on  the  home  farm 
in  1893;  Bennett  John,  who  died  in  Chi- 
cago, May  20,  1886;  and  Kattie,  who  died 
when  quite  young. 

In  November,  1866,  Mr.  Fallon  came 
to  Iowa  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Web- 
ster county,  first  buying  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Douglas  township  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  Henry.  Sub- 
sequently he  purchased  the  farm  where  his 
last  days  were  spent,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  owned  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  rich  and  arable  land  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  He  was  a  hard-working, 
energetic  man  and  met  with  marked  suc- 
cess in  his  farming  operations.  He  also 
gave  considerable  attention  to  the  feeding 
of  stock  and  prospered  in  that  undertaking. 
As  one  of  the  leading  and  influential 
citizens  of  his  township  Mr.  Fallon  was 
called  upon  to  till  several  local  offices  of 
honor  and  trust,  such  as  assessor  and  trus- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tee.  and  always  took  quite  an  active  and 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs.  In  his 
political  views  he  was  first  a  Democrat,  but 
was  later  independent  in  politics,  and  in  re- 
ligii  us  faith  was  a  Catholic.  After  a  use- 
ful and  well-spent  life,  he  died  December  9, 
honored  ami  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  His  family  still  reside  on  the 
nld  home  farm  and  are  people  of  promi- 
nence in  the  community  where  they  reside. 
William  H.  Fallon,  the  oldest  son  of 
1  ui'  subject,  was  born  in  Clinton  county, 
New  Y<  rk,  December  7.  1859.  and  began 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
itate,  continuing  his  studies  in  the  schools 
of  Douglas  township  after  the  removal  of 
lite  family  to  this  county.  He  is  now  ad- 
ministrator of  his  father's  estate,  and  in 
the  conduct  of  the  business  displays  ex- 
ceptional ability  and  sound  judgment.  He 
is  now  successfully  engaged  in  farming 
upon  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
kind,  one  hundred  of  which  are  devoted 
n.  seventy  to  small  grain  and  the 
remainder  to  pasture  and  ha}-.  In  con- 
n  with  his  brothers  he  carries  on 
the  home  farm,  and  makes  a  specialty  of 
the  breeding  of  standard  thoroughbred 
hor'ses  and  owns  some  very  valuable  ani- 
mal-, including  two  thoroughbred  stallions 
ami  one  standbred.  Some  of  his  horses 
have  fine  records.  He  also  keeps  seven- 
teen head  of  cattle  and  takes  great  pride  in 
his    stock.      In   politics   he   is   independent. 


LOUIS   W.   XEUDECK. 

The-  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  farmers  and  stock  raisers 
of  Web-ter  county,  and  is  the  largest  land 
owner  in  Douglas  t<  wnship,  where  he  has 


made  his  home  since  1887.  He  was  born 
on  the  3d  of  .May.  1S52.  in  St.  Anthony, 
nenv  East  Minneapolis.  Minnesota,  and  is  a 
son  of  Louis  and  Catherine  (Wolf)  Neu- 
deck,  the  former  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, December  2$,  1821,  the  latter  in 
Epenberen  Westphalia.  Germany.  Decem- 
ber 7.  [826.  <  )n  hi- emigration  to  America, 
about  1842,  the  father  located  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania,  and  when  a  young  man 
followed  a  seafaring  life.  Later  be  en- 
gaged in  the  cattle  business  to  some  extent 
in  Illinois  and  in  the  dry  goods  business  at 
Stillwater,  Minnesota,  from  1848  to  1850. 
lie  was  next  interested  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness at  St.  Anthony  and  subsequently  in  the 
meat  business,  being  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  that  place.  In  [862  he  joined  Anson 
Mi  rthrup's  company  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Xew  Ulm  Indian  massacre.  He  served  in 
this  company  until  the  Indians  were  sub- 
dyed  in  1863,  when  he  crossed  the  plains 
with  provisions,  etc.,  and  opened  up  a  cattle 
ranch  in  Helena,  Montana.  Returning  in 
the  spring-  of  1864.  be  soon  afterward 
Captain  Fisk's  expedition,  which 
A'as  organized  for  the  purpose  of  transpi  1 . 
tng  provisions,  etc..  to  the  gold  fields  of 
Idaho.  When  about  two  hundred  miles 
north  of  Fort  Rice  the  party  went  into  camp 
for  dinner  and  after  a  two-hours' 
they  resumed  their  journey.  While  in 
camp  one  of  Mr.  Neudeek's  oxen  strayed 
away.  Telling  the  rest  of  the  party  to  con- 
tinue their  way,  he  started  in  search  of  the 
animal  with  no  thought  of  danger,  as  it  v  as 
thought  that  not  an  Indian  was  near,  but 
such  was  not  the  case,  as  he  had  gone  but  a 
short  distance  ere  he  was  killed,  on  the  2d 
of  October,  1864.  It  seems  as  if  this  was  a 
signal,  for  at  once,  from  all  quarters  In- 
dians appeared.  The  party  at  once  went 
into  camp  again  and  made  preparations  for 


LOUIS  W.  NEUDECK 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


323 


an  attack.  For  two  weeks  they  held  the  In- 
dians at  bay,  hoping  for  reinforcements,  as 
two  of  their  number  had  gone  back  to  Fort 
Rice  after  the  soldiers  which  were  stationed 
there,  but  bef<  re  their  arrival  twelve  of  the 
party  were  killed  and  many  wounded. 

Mrs.  Neudeck  died  April  14.  1881.  In 
the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  five 
children  who  reached  years  of  maturity, 
namely:  .Mrs.  Eliza  Stetson,  of  Minne- 
apolis, Minnesota;  Louis  \\  ..  our  subject; 
William  11..  also  a  residenl  of  Minneap 
Mrs.  Carrie  Smith,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cali- 
fi  rnia;  and  Lucy,  who  married  Lou  Four- 
rev  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 

Louis  W.  Neudeck  passed  his  boyh 1 

and  youth  in  Minneapolis  and  is  indebted 
to  its  public  scho  Is  for  his  educational  ad- 
vantages. On  starting  out  in  life  for  him- 
self he  was  first  employed  as  a  herdsman  for 
the  cattlemen  of  Minneapolis.  In  1870  he 
went  to  Duluth.  where  lie  engaged  in  the 
meat  business  for  a  rear,  at  the  end  1  if  which 
time  he  removed  to  Austin.  Minnesota, 
where  the  following  year  was  spent  in  the 
same  business.  In  1872  he  engaged  in  the 
meat  business  at  Red  Wing,  that  state, 
where  he  continued  for  about  nine  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Minneapolis,  where  he 
carried  on  an  extensive  meat  and  cattle 
business  on  In  th  the  east  and  west  side  up 
to  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Webster  coun- 
ty, Iowa.  In  connection  with  this  business 
he  also  conducted  a  large  farm,  most  of  the 
land  being'  used  for  grazing  purposes.  In 
1887  he  disposed  of  his  interests  in  Minne-  . 
SOta  and  purchased  eight  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  valuable  farm  land  in  Doug- 
las township,  this  county.  This  place  is 
supplied  with  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings and  everything-  about  the  farm  shows 
the  careful  supervision  of  its  owner,  who  is 
one  of  the  most  up-to-date  and  progressive 


agriculturists  of  northwestern  Iowa.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  farming  operations  Mr.  Neu- 
deck has  become  known  as  the  most,  exten- 
sive breeder  of  polled  Angus  cattle  in  this 

on  of  the  state,  and  at  present  has  ,,,, 
two  hundred  head  of  thoroughbreds  upon 
his  place.  lie  ships  his  cattle  to  all  parts 
of  the  west  and  south  and  also  east  of  the 
Mississippi  river.  Trior  to  coming  to  Iowa 
lie  was  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  busi- 
ness in  Minnesota  and  has  been  eminently 
successful  in  this  venture.  Me  is  alsi  .1 
breeder  of  French  coach  horses.  Shropshire 
sheep  and  Poland  China  hogs,  and  keeps 
front  forty-five  to  fifty  head  of  horses.  For 
ten  years  he  has  owned  Illustre,  a  celebrated 
imported  French  coach  stallion.  On  ac- 
o  unt  of  his  stock  most  1  f  his  land  is  used 
fir  pasturage,  but  three  hundred  acres  are 
yearl)    planted  in  corn  and  1  al  - 

Mr.  Neudeck  was  married.  Octob 
1878,  to  Miss  Clara  <  >.  Eames,  a  nati 
Oquawka,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Obediah  and  Mary  (Biglow)  Eames. 
Her  father,  who  was  horn  in  1824,  died  in 
1881,  hut  her  mother  is  still  living.  Cap- 
tain Eames  built  and  ran  several  steamboats 
o.n  the  Mississippi  river  between  Stillwater, 
Minnesota,  and  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  also  had  large  cat- 
tle and  landed  interests.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Neudeck  have  five  children:  Vinnie  E., 
Louis  M.,  Harry  W.,  Mabel  C.  and 
Ertel  M. 

Mr.  Neudeck  is  a  prominent  Mason, 
being  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  of 
Des  Moines,  and  his  family  belongs  to  the 
[Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  political 
support  is  given  to  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Democratic  party,  but  he  takes  no  active 
part  in  public  affairs,  preferring  to  give  his 
undivided  attention  to  his  own  business  in- 
terests.    He  to-day  enjoys  the  reward  of  his 


324 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


painstaking  and  conscientious  work.  By 
his  energy,  perseverance  and  fine  business 
ability  he  lias  been  enabled  to  secure  an 
ample  fortune.  Systematic  and  methodical, 
his  sagacity,  keen  discrimination  and  sound 
judgment  have  made  him  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  agriculturists  of  Iowa. 


THOMAS   CAHILL. 

Prominent  among  the  citizens  of  Fort 
Dodge  now  retired  from  active  business 
cares  is  Thomas  Cahill,  who  is  spending 
his  declining  years  is  ease  and  quiet  at  his 
pleasant  h<  me,  902  Third  avenue  north. 
He  was  born  in  Kilkenny.  Ireland,  in  1830, 
and  is  a  son  of  Patrick  Cahill,  who  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1852,  and  spent  his 
last  days  at  Palo  Alto,  Iowa.  Rev.  Michael 
Cahill.  a  brother  of  our  subject,  was  or- 
dained a  Catholic  priest  at  St.  Louis  in 
1854,  and  the  following  year  was  appointed 
pastor  of  a  church  at  Boomington,  Illinois. 
He  died  in  Paris  in  1857. 

Thomas  Cahill  passed  the  days  of  his 
minority  in  his  native  land,  and  in  January. 
185 1,  came  to  the  New  World.  He  first 
located  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  later 
spent  two  years  in  Ohio,  and  from  there  re- 
moved to  Elgin,  Illnois,  in  1854.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  came  to  Iowa  and  bought  a 
farm  near  Iowa  City,  and  in  1856  took  up 
a  claim  in  Palo  Alto  county,  being  there  at 
the  time  of  the  Indian  massacre  in  that 
county.  In  the  spring  of  1857  ne  located 
permanently  in  Fort  Dodge. 

Mr.  Cahill  was  married  in  Chicago,  111  1- 
in  July,  1857,  to  Miss  Bridget  Hickey, 
a  sifter  of  Judge  Hickey,  and  a  native  of 
County  Kilkenny.  Ireland.  Of  the  six- 
children  horn  of  this  union  Katherine  is  the 


only  one  now  living.  The  sons  were 
Michael,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
months;  Thomas  Patrick,  who  died  in  1888, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years;  Michael 
Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy;  Daniel,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  years ;  and  James, 
who  died  in  childhood.  Thomas  Patrick 
was  educated  at  Professor  Kenyon's  Col- 
lege and  served  as  assistant  county  treas- 
urer for  a  time,  being  a  very  bright  and 
promising  young  man.  The  wife  and 
mother,  who  was  a  most  estimable  lady, 
died  October  10,  1901,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine  years. 

On  taking  up  his  residence  in  Fort 
Dodge  in  1857,  Mr.  Cahill  embarked  in  the 
•grocery  business  with  William  Halihan  on 
Market  street  next  to  Laufersweiler's  furni- 
ture store,  and  that  partnership  continued 
until  the  fall  of  1858,  afer  which  he  was 
alone  in  business  on  the  corner  of  Walter 
street  and  First  avenue  south  until  1862. 
During  that  year  he  became  interested  in 
railroad  contracting,  and  for  twenty-one 
years  engaged  in  that  business,  receiving 
large  contracts  for  grading  the  road  beds 
of  the  Illinois  Central;  Burlington.  Cedar 
Rapids  &  X.  >rthern  and  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroads.  On  account  of 
failing  health  he  retired  from  business 
about  1895,  having  accumulated  enough 
property  to  enable  him  to  spend  his  remain- 
ing years  in  ease  and  comfort.  His  real 
estate  holdings  in  Fort  Dodge  include  one 
lot  on  Third  avenue  and  Ninth  street  and 
three  lots  on  block  22  First  avenue  south. 
All  of  this  property  has  been  acquired 
through  his  own  unaided  efforts  and  he  de- 
serves great  credit  for  the  success  he  has 
achieved  in  life.  For  almost  forty  years  he 
was  one  of  the  active  and  progressive  men 
of  the  city,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  re- 
liable  ami   honorable  citizens,   and  now   in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


325 


his  declining  years  is  enjoying  a  well-earned 
rest,  free  from  the  cares  and  responsibilities 
(  1  business  life. 


VICTOR  GABRIELSOX. 

This  gentleman  is  entitled  to  distinction 
as  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  enter- 
prising business  men  of  Dayton.  No  one 
in  the  locality  is  better  known,  for  his  en- 
tire life  has  here  been  passed,  and  all  his 
interests  from  boyhood  have  been  closely 
associated  with  those  of  Webster  county. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  the  hardware  and 
agricultural  implement  business  in  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  George  A. 

Mr.  Gabrielson  was  born  in  Dayton,  on 
the  30th  of  March,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of 
Ji  hn  Gabrielson,  whose  sketch  appears  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  Upon  the 
hi  »nie  farm  he  grew  to  manhood,  giving  his 
father  the  benefit  of  his  labors  until  nine- 
teen years  of  age.  His  early  education,  ac- 
quired in  the  common  schools,  was  supple- 
mented by  two  years'  attendance  at  the 
■\Yestern  Normal  School  at  Shenandoah. 
Iowa,  where  he  won  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
For  two  year-  he  taught  in  district  schools 
and  for  one  year  in  a  graded  school.  He 
then  accepted  a  position  with  the  firm  of 
Grange  &  Mitchell,  implement  dealers  at 
Fi  irt  Dodge,  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  bought 
an  interest  in  the  hardware  business  of 
Richardson  &  Roerbeck  at  Dayton,  but  two 
years  later  sold  out  to  Mr.  Richardson,  and 
111  connection  with  his  brother,  George  A., 
opened  a  new  establishment  as  dealers  in 
hardware  and  implements.  This  business 
they  still  carry  on,  having  met  with  well- 
merited  success.  Through  courtesy  to  their 
customers  and  by  fair  and  honorable  deal- 
ing, they  have  gained  a  liberal  share  of  the 


public  patronage,  and  to-day  occupy  an  en- 
viable position  in  business  circles. 

In  1893  Mr.  Gabrielson  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Hannah  Sackrison,  of 
Stratford,  Iowa,  who  was  born  Januarv  1, 
[865,  in  Illinois.  Her  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Sackrison,  were  both  natives  of  Swe- 
den, and  came  to  America  in  early  life, 
their  marriage  being  celebrated  in  Illinois. 
The  mother  is  deceased,  but  the  father  is 
still  living  and  continues  to  reside  in  Strat- 
ford.  In  early  life  he  followed  farming, 
but  is  now  retired  from  active  labor.  His 
family  consisted  of  six  children,  namely: 
Otto,  who  now  lives  with  our  subject; 
Mary,  wife  of  John  Carlson,  of  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa;  Emily,  who  died  at  the  age 
■  i  -even  years;  Albert,  who  married  Caro- 
line Israelson  and  resides  in  Hardin  town- 
ship, this  county;  and  Eddie  and  Gust,  who 
live  with  Albert.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gabrielson 
have  two  children:  Nellie  V.,  born  May 
27.  1895;  and  John  H.,  born  January  16, 
1898.  The  family  have  a  pleasant  home  in 
Dayton,  where  hospitality  and  good  cheer 
reign  supreme.  Mrs.  Gabrielson  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  our  subject  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity.  Politically 
he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  partv. 
He  is  quite  popular  both  in  business  and 
social  circles  and  highly  respected  bv  all 
who  know  him. 


GEORGE  LARSON. 

One  of  the  leading  agriculturists  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Badger  town- 
ship is  George  Larson,  whose  home  is  on 
section  8.  His  success  in  life  has  been 
worthily  achieved,  as  in  him  are  embraced 


326 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  characteristics  of  an  unbending  integ- 
rity, unabated  energy  and  industry  that 
never  flag.  Coming  to  this  county  in 
March.  [865,  he  has  witnessed  almost  its 
entire  development,  and  has  materially 
aided  in  its  upbuilding  and  advancement. 

A  native  of  Norway,  Air.  Larson  was 
born  in  the  "land  of  the  midnight  sun." 
September  16,  1833,  and  there  grew  to 
manhood  upon  a  farm,  being  given  but  lim- 
ited school  privileges.  In  1855  he  took 
passage  on  a  sailing  vessel,  and  after  about 
eight  weeks  on  the  water  landed  in  Quebec, 
Canada,  whence  he  made  his  way  to  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  worked  on  the 
railroad  for  about  six  years. 

At  the  end  of  that  period  Mr.  Larson 
came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  raw-  prairie  land 
where  he  now  resides  and  built  thereon  a 
log  house,  which  was  his  It -me  for  seven  or 
eight  rears.  In  the  meantime  he  placed 
acre  after  acre  of  his  land  under  the  plow 
until  it  was  all  under  cultivation,  lie  broke 
the  land  with  two  yoke  of  oxen,  and  has 
made  all  the  improvements  upon  the  place, 
having  recently  erected  a  large  and  pleas- 
ant residence,  lie  has  also  built  barns  and 
other  outbuildings,  has  set  out  fruit  and 
shade  trees,  and  now  has  a  fine  grove  of 
maple  and  forest  trees  planted  from  the 
seed. 

Before  leaving  Norway  Mr.  Larson 
married  Miss  Anna  Marear.  who  died  in 
Wisconsin,  leaving  fixe  children,  namely: 
Mary,  Louis,  John,  Sebert  and  Albert.  He 
was  again  married  in  Wehster  county, 
[owa,  in  1868,  his  second  union  being  with 
Miss  Cecelia  Severson,  who  was  also  born 
and.  reared  in  Norway,  and  on  coming  to 
this  country  spent  eight  years  in  Dane  coun- 
ty. Wisconsin,  before  taking  up  her  resi- 
dence  in    Webster   county,    Iowa.      By   his 


last  marriage  Mr.  Larson  had  five  children, 
two  ,  f  whom  are  still  living:  Severer:, 
who  married  Tillie  Johnson  and  has  one 
child.  Gyhard  S. ;  and  Albert. 

Politically  Mr.  Larson  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  since 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  but  he  has  newer  sought  or 
cared  for  official  preferment,  desiring  rather 
to  dewote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to 
his  agricultural  interests.  He  is  a  man  of 
good  business  ability,  and  as  he  thoroughly 
understands  his  chosen  occupation  he  has 
met  with  remarkable  success  since  coming 
to  this  country,  and  is  to-day  the  owner  of 
a  line  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  under  ex- 
cellent cultivation  and   well   improved. 


JOHN  ROLL.   Tr. 


John  Roll.  Jr..  who  is  now  successfully 
engaged  in  the  liquor  business  at  602  First 
avenue  south.  Fort  Dodge.  Iowa,  was  born 
in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  on  the  14th  of 
December,  1856,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of 
ten  children,  whose  parents  are  John  and 
Mary  (Schnek)  Roll,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

During  the  infancy  of  our  subject  the 
family  came  to  Iowa,  and  he  was  principally 
reared  and  educated  in  Fort  Dodge.  After 
leaving  school  he  assisted  his  father  in  the 
brewery  business  until  1886.  and  later 
worked  for  the  roadmaster  of  the  Minne- 
apolis &  St.  Louis  Railroad  for  about  a 
year.  Since  then  he  has  engaged  in  the 
liquor  business  in  Fort  Dodge  and  now 
owns  a  saloon  at  602  First  avenue  south, 
as  previously  stated.  He  also  acts  as 
wholesale  agent  for  the  West  Side  Brewing 
( '.1  mpany  of  Chicago. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


327 


Mr.  Koll  was  married  October  27,  18S1, 

to  Miss  Minnie  Osmondson,  a  daughter  of 
Christ  and  Rachel  (Raymer)  Osmondson, 
who  are  natives  of  Norway  and  are  n  , 
residents  of  Fori  Dodge.  Four  children 
blessed  this  union,  namely:  Albeit  Francis, 
born  July  21,  1882,  was  killed  October  29, 
iSS;;  Harry  Edgar,  hum  .March  [8,  1NN1. 
is  at  home;  Hattie  Aileen.  born  December 
6,  1887,  was  a  graduate  from  the  Roge; 
School  of  Music  of  Fort  Dodge  and  then 
attended  a  school  of  music  in  Chicago;  and 
Violet  Elizabeth,  born  December  jj,    [893, 

0  mpletes  the  family.  The  family  have  a 
nice  home  at  306  Second  avenue  north. 
Mr.    EG  11    is    a    wide-awake,    energetic    ami 

pr<  gressive  man.  and  is  meeting  with  g 1 

success.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Iowa  Legion  of 
]|i  m  r. 

■»-<-*■ 

WILLIAM   J.   VAN   OSDOLL. 

William  J.  Van  <  )sdoll,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  prominently  identified  with  the 
business  interests  of  Fort  Dodge,  and  was 

1  ne  1  t  its  most  honored  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens.  A  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
he    was    horn     in    Meshoppen,     Wyoming 

nnty,  December  18,  1829,  and  was  a  son 
1  f  Philip  and  Melissa  (Churchill)  Van 
(  >sd<  11,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Hol- 
land and  settled  in  Meshoppen,  where  our 
subject  was  reared  and  educated.  In  early 
life  he  learned  the  mason's  trade,  and  at  the 
1  twenty  years  commenced  contracting 
and  building  on  his  own  account. 

Mr.  Van  Osdoll  was  thus  employed  un- 
til after  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  when  he 
entered  the  service  of  his  country,  enlist- 
ing 1  n  the  1 -t  of  September.  1862,  in  Com- 


pany P.  Fifty-second  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  under  Captain  Jayne  and 
Colonel  Dodge.  The  regiment  became  a 
1  an  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  I 
assigned  to  the  First  Brigade.  Third  Divis- 
ion. Fourth  and  Tenth  Corps.  Mr.  Van 
Osdoll  was  mustered  into  service  Septem- 
ber 16,  [862,  and  with  his  command  was 
sent  to  North  Carolina  to  operate  against 
Wilmington.  Beauport  ami  Port  Royal 
lie  took  part  in  the  engagement  on  Morris 
Island,  July  10,  1863,  and  at  Fort  Wagner 
from  that  date  until  the  Oth  of  the  follow- 
ing September,  and  was  in  the  assault  on 
Charleston  in  July,  [864.  Lie  remained  on 
Morris  Island  during  the  summer  and 
autumn  of  ] 8*  14,  doing  duty  as  boat  in- 
fantry, and  in  February,  [865,  Major  Hen- 
nessy,  with  Company  1'.,  proceeded  ag 
the  city  of  Charleston  and  captured  that 
stronghold  of  treason.  On  account  of  fever 
our  subject  was  confined  in  the  hospital  at 
Beauport  for  four  weeks,  and  was  detailed 
fi  ir  special  duty  in  the  signal  corps  \< 
months  in  the  fall  of  1864.  Lie  was  at- 
tached to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  un- 
til the  last  year  of  the  war.  when  he  was 
transferred  to>  Sherman's  army.  On  the 
cessation  of  hostilities  he  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Salisbury.  North  Carolina. 
June  24,  1865. 

When  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Van  <  >sdi  11 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  Meshoppen, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  followed  his  chosen 
calling  until  the  spring  of  1868,  when  he 
came  to  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  and  continued 
to  ivork  at  the  mason's  trade  at  this  place 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  On 
locating  here  he  built  a  house  for  the  ac- 
commodation  of  his  family. 

On  the  2d  of  July,  1859,  in  Meshoppen, 
Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Van  Osdoll  married 
,\h--   Olive   Robinson,  a  daughter  of  John 


32* 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  Olive  (Howard)  Robinson,  who  were 
natives  of  that  state  and  residents  of  Wy- 
oming county,  where  her  father  followed 
farming.  By  this  union  the  following  chil- 
dren were  born :  Lillian,  now  the  wife  of 
W.  M.  Merritt,  an  insurance  adjuster  of 
Fort  Dodge;  Frank,  who  is  a  traveling 
salesman  for  the  Stucco  Mills  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Fort  Dodge;  and  Olive,  a  stenog- 
rapher for  S.  R.  Dohs,  a  wholesale  fruit 
dealer  of  Fort  Dodge.  The  son  married 
Nettie  Beach. 

As  a  public-spirited  citizen  Mr.  Van 
Osdoll  took  an  active  interest  in  municipal 
affairs,  and  for  four  years  was  an  influen- 
tial member  of  the  city  council  of  Fort 
Dodge.  Socially  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He 
died  on  the  8th  of  February,  1898,  leaving 
many  friends  as  well  as  his  immediate  fam- 
ily to  mourn  his  loss.  He  was  a  brave 
soldier  and  valued  citizen,  and  commanded 
universal  respect  and  esteem. 


SAMUEL  ISAAC  CHINBURG,  D.  D.  S. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  den- 
tists of  Webster  county  is  Dr.  S.  I.  Chin- 
burg,  of  Dayton,  who  was  born  in  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  April  15,  i860,  of  Swedish 
parentage.  His  father,  who  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  entered  the  service  of  his 
adopted  country  during  the  Civil  war,  and 
died  in  Andersonville  prison.  The  mother 
died  in  Boone  county,  Iowa.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  five  children,  namely:  August; 
Charles  J.,  who  married  Tilla  Burnquist 
and  resides  in  Odebolt,  Iowa;  Carrie, 
widow  of  C.  M.  Blaine  and  a  resident  of 
La  Crosse,  Wisconsin;  Mary,  wife  of  Ho- 
bart  Crane,  of  Menominee,  Michigan ;  and 
Samuel  Isaac,  of  this  review. 


Dr.  Chinburg  received  a  good  common- 
school  education,  graduating  from  the  third 
ward  school  of  Des  Moines.  He  then  took 
a  two  years'  course  in  dentistry  at  the 
Pennsylvania  University,  Philadelphia,  and 
since  leaving  that  institution  in  1879  has 
successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession  in  Iowa,  being  located  at 
Des  Moines  for'  over  ten  years.  He  was 
then  upon  the  road  for  nearly  the  same 
length  of  time,  finally  locating  in  Dayton 
in  1895.  Here  he  has  since  made  his  head- 
quarters, but  still  does  considerable  work 
outside  of  the  town.  He  has  a  well-equipped 
office,  and  enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice, his  skill  and  ability  being  widely  recog- 
nized. 


PATRICK   SCALLY. 

Patrick  Scully,  deceased,  who  for  many 
years  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
business  interests  of  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  was 
born  in  Castletown,  Geoghagan,  Ireland,  in 
1828,  and  came  alone  to  America  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years.  He  first  located  in 
Illinois,  where  he  worked  in  the  mines  for 
a  number  of  years.  While  thus  employed 
the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  he  manifested 
his  love  for  his  adopted  country  by  enlist- 
ing at  Belleville,  Illinois,  July  2j,  1801.  as 
a  private  in  Company  K,  Twenty-second 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  but  was  after- 
ward promoted  to  orderly  sergeant.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Missionary 
Ridge,  Chickamauga,  Chattanooga  and 
Perryville  and  many  other  engagements 
under  General  Sherman ;  and  was  a  member 
of  the  corps  sent  to  the  relief  of  General 
Burnside.  He  was  wounded  at  Knoxville, 
Tennessee.  After  over  three  years  of 
arduous  and  faithful  service    on    southern 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


329 


battle  fields,  he  was  honorably  discharged 
August  1.  1X1,4.  and  returned  to  his  home 
in  Illinois  with  a  war  record  of  which  he 
could  be  justly  proud. 

In  (868  Mr.  Scally  came  to  Fort  Dodge, 
and  after  being  engaged  in  the  saloon  busi- 
ness for  a  short  time,  he  opened  a  hotel  in 
a  building  on  the  square  and  successfully 
conducted  it  until  1883.  During  the  fol- 
lowing two  years  he  practically  lived  re- 
tired and  then  again  embarked  in  the  hotel 
business,  which  he  carried  on  until  failing 
health  compelled  his  retirement  in   1891. 

At    the  church   of   the  Holy   Cross,   in 
Xew    York   city,    .Air.    Scally   was   married, 
May  10.  iN-,,.  to  Miss  Rose  Phelan,  whose 
parents  lived  on  a  farm  in  Ireland  adjoin- 
ing the  Scally  homestead.     For  four  years 
previous  to  this  Mrs.  Scally  had  resided  in 
that  city,  but  after  her  marriage  came  to 
Fori  Dodge,  where  they  continued  to  make 
their  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
May  12,   1897.     Of  the  four  children  born 
to   himself    and     wife    two    survive   him: 
Mary,   wife   of  P.    M.   Dowd,   a  grocer  of 
Fort  Dodge;  and  Thomas,  freight  agent  for 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  this  place. 
In  business  affairs  Mr.  Scally  prospered 
and  accumulated  considerable  property,  in- 
cluding some  farm  land  in  Webster  countv. 
a  part  of  which  his  widow  still  owns,  hav- 
ing a  good  farm  in  Don-las  township  and 
another    in     Washington     township.       She 
also  owns  the  building  where  the  firm  of 
Dowd  &  Scally  are  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  and  her  pleasant  residence  at  520 
Third    avenue    south.      At    one    time    Mr. 
Scally  was  engaged  in  prospecting  for  coal, 
and  was  always  a  very  progressive  and  en- 
ergetic business  man.     He  was  a  member  of 
(  '  rpus  Christi  church  and  Fort  Donelson 
Post,   Xo.  2^,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Fort  Dodge, 
and    was    a     man     highly    respected    and 


esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  the  care 
of  her  property  Mrs.  Scally  has  displayed 
good  business  and  executive  ability,  and 
has  met  with  good  success.  She  is 'a  most 
estimable  woman,  and  has  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  in  Fort  Dodge 
who  esteem  her  highly  for  her  genuine 
worth. 

■»  » » 

ROBERT  WILSON  BLAIX. 

One   of   the   representative   farmers   of 
W  ebster  county,  Iowa,  who  has  done  much 
toward    promoting    the    advancement    and 
welfare  of  this  section  of  the  state,  is  Rob- 
ert Wilson  Blain,  who  is  now  living  retired 
on  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
in  Douglas  township.     He  is  of  Scotch  de- 
scent,  his  grandfather.   Robert  Blain.  hav- 
ing emigrated   from   Scotland  in   1S02,  and 
ed  in   Westmoreland  county.   Pennsyl- 
vania.    There  his  life  was  spent  in  the  pur- 
suits   of    farming   and    blacksmithing  until 
hi-  death,  he  having  attained    the    age    of 
eighty  years.      His   wife.    Elizabeth    (John- 
son)  Plain.  al>o  lived  to  an  advanced  age. 
William   Blain.   the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  but  one  year  of  age  when  he  came 
to  America  with  his  parents.     He  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his   life   in    Westmoreland 
county.  Pennsylvania,  but  when  fifty  years 
of  age  he  removed  to  California.     There  he 
engaged  in  mining,  and  passed  away  in  his 
fifty-second  year.     He  married  Miss  Cath- 
erine Weih.  who  was  a  faithful  and  loving 
companion  to  him,  and  who,  lived  to  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-four.     They  were  the 
parents   of   nine   children,    eight   of   whom 
reached  mature  years.     Our  subject,  who  is 
the  eldest  of  the  children,  and  a  sister.  Emily 
Graig.  who  resides  in  Chicago.  Illinois,  are 
the  only  surviving  members  of  the  family. 


330 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Robert  Wilson  Blain,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review,  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county,  Pennsylvania,  November 
[,.  1827.  In  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive county  he  received  his  early  education, 
and  there  lie  also  learned  the  trades  of  gun- 
smith and  machinist.  In  1843  ne  'ett  ms 
native  state  for  the  west,  and  settled  in 
Clayton  county,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged 
in  millwright  and  carpenter  work.  He  was 
employed  largely  in  bridge  building  and 
mill  work  in  that  portion  of  the  state  until 
1858,  when  lie  removed  to  Webster  county. 
Prior  to  his  locating  in  this  county  he  had 
purchased  a  valuable  tract  of  .land  in  Clay 
county,  which  he  had  cultivated  extensively. 
In  i860,  however,  he  sold  this  property  and 
purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  re- 
sides, and  which  comprises  a  tract  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  rich  land.  To 
this  property  he  has  made  improvements, 
and  has  all  the  modern  equipments  and  im- 
plements necessary  for  the  perfect  culti- 
vation of  the  land,  and  in  all  the  surround- 
ing country  there  is  no  farm  which  yields 
more  bountiful  harvests  than  that  of  Mr. 
Blain.  Sixty  acres  of  the  land  is  devoted 
to  the  raising  of  corn;  forty  acres  yield 
large  crops  of  the  smaller  grains,  while  the 
remainder  of  the  land  is  sown  to  hay,  and 
also  affords  pasturage  for  his  live  stock. 
'I  he  farm  is  perfect  in  its  entirety.  A  com- 
fortable residence,  well-filled  barns  and  out- 
buildings present  a  neat  and  thrifty  ap- 
pearance which  plainly  indicates  the  care 
and  Labor  which  have  been  bestowed  upon 
them.  In  addition  to  this  property,  Mr. 
Blain  also  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Humboldt  county,  Iowa.  His 
life's  labor  has  been  crowned  with  success. 
and  be  now  lives  retired  from  active  life, 
enjoying  the  well-earned  rest  which  is  his 
after  years  of  unceasing  labor.     The  duties 


of  the  farm  are  performed  by  one  of  his 
sons. 

In  1855  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Blain  and  AI  iss  Lydia  Kendelstive,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  wdio  has  been  a  most  lov- 
ing and  helpful  companion  on  the  journey 
of  life.  Eleven  children  have  blessed  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blain.  namely: 
Edward  !•".,  James  \Y..  Rosella  A..  Sarah 
C,  Carrie  C,  Charles  L.,  Fannie  A..  Kittie 
M.;  William  11.,  Harry  and  Elmo.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Blain  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
and  has  always  been  active  in  local  affairs. 
For  nine  successive  years  he  held  the  office 
of  township  trustee,  performing  his  duties 
with  a  promptness  and  fidelity  that  won  for 
him  the  high  respect  and  commendation  of 
his  fellow  citizens.  At  the  present  time  he 
is  content  to  remain  at  his  own  fireside,  de- 
clining to  accept  any  public  office.  His  in- 
fluence fi  r  good  has  always  been  felt  in  the 
community  and  mam-  issues  which  have  re 
suited  in  the  progress  and  welfare  of  the 
county  have  been  made  successful  through 
his  untiring  efforts.  Since  the  establish- 
ment of  the  weather  bureau  in  the  state  he 
has  furnished  the  reports,  and  has  also  re- 
ported the  crop  conditions  for  Webster 
county.  lie  attends  the  Congregational 
church,  and  during  his  entire  life  has  up- 
held the  principles  of  justice  and  honor. 
He  and  his  family  have  many  friends  in 
Webster  countw  and  all  who  know  them 
entertain  for  them  the  highest  respect. 


ISAAC  BELL. 


Among  the  prominent  citizens  of  Web- 
ster count}-,  Iowa,  who  through  a  number  of 
years  has  been  identified  with  the  farming 
interests  of  the  state,  is  Isaac  Bell,  who  was 


ISAAC  BELL 


MRS.  ISAAC  BELL 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


335 


bum  in  Clay  county,  Indiana.  February  i_\ 
1835,  and  is  a  son  of  [saac  and  Amy 
(Craig")  Bell.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  one  of  the  brave  soldiers  of  the  war  of 
iSij.  and  lived  tu  an  extreme  old  age.  llis 
remains  were  interred  in  Vigories  cemetery, 
this  county.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
bom  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  mother  in 
Virginia,  of  good  old  Revolutionary  stuck. 
They  were,  married  in  Ohio  and  there  the 
father  engaged  for  some  years  in  farming, 
and  then  removed  to  Clay  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  took  up  a  government  claim  upon 
which  the  family  lived  for  twelve  years. 

Isaac  Bell,  Sr.,  was  one  of  those  hardy, 
adventurous  men.  who  found  enjoyment  in 
the  dangers  and  privations  of  pioneer  life, 
enduring  the  trials  in  order  to  reap  the  bene- 
fits, hence,  in  [844,  he  sold  his  interests  in 
Indiana  and  removed  to  Iowa,  taking  up  a 
government  claim  again  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  This  was  raw-  prairie  land, 
near  Washington,  then  a  trading  post  of 
uiie  thousand  inhabitants,  and  this  land  Mr. 
Eell  broke  with  his  oxen.  Then  this  claim 
was  sold  tu  tin isl'  win"  were  willing  tu  pay 
fur  land  already  broken,  and  Mr.  Bell  went 
tu  Marion  county,  where  he  again  took  up  a 
claim,  improved  it  and  three  years  later  sold 
it  ami  moved  into  Hamilton  county.  On 
disposing  of  his  property  in  that  county  he 
came  ti>  Webster  county  in  April.  [849. 
Here  Mr.  Bell  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Yell  township  and  lived  upon 
this  farm  until  his  death,  in  February,  1871, 
his  burial  being  in  Vigories  cemetery,  this 
ti  >w  nship. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  removed 
by  death,  August  26,  iSr.4.  In  1865  Mr. 
Bell  was  married  a  second  lime  to-  Mrs. 
Cynthia  Townslay.  The  children  burn  b 
him  were  twelve  in  number,  and  all  of  the 
first  marriage.    They  were  as  follows:     Ja- 


cob, who  firsl  married  Rachel  Hardin  and 
second  Louisa  La}  tun,  resided  in  Nell  I 
ship;  Jane,  who  married  first  Andrew 
Fautz  and  second  Samuel  Dungan,  n 
in  Harrison  county,  Iowa;  Nancy,  who 
married  first  Nelson  Hunter,  second  James. 
Johnson  and  third  William  McDonald,  re 
sided  in  Yell  township;  Pressley,  who  mar- 
ried Elmira  Howard,  resided  in  Hamilton 
county,  where  she  died  in  February,  [900; 
Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  Henry  Craig,  and 
resides  in  Richmond,  Indiana;  Sarah  mar- 
ried Alexander  Rogers,  of  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska, and  both  are  deceased:  Purlonzo, 
who  first  married  Jane  Neice  and  second 
Mrs.  Sophia  Allen,  lived  in  Stor)  county, 
[owa;  Isaac,  of  this  biography,  is  the  eighth 
in  order  of  birth;  Lucinda,  who  married 
William  Jered,  has  passed  away,  as  has  her 
husband,  having  lived  in  Madrid,  Iowa,  and 
later. in  Kansas;  and  one  child  died  in  in- 
fancy. Of  the  children  five  are  now  living. 
Isaac  Hell,  of  this  sketch,  attended  school 
in  Boone  county,  Iowa,  later  fur  a  short 
period  at  Missouri  Bend,  and  a  district 
school]  in  Webster  township,  this  county. 
After  leaving  school,  at  the  age  of  nineteen. 
he  continued  tu  assisl  his  father  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-one.  Those  were  pio- 
neer days,  and  at  the  time  of  the  location  of 
the  family  in  Iowa  our  subject  recalls  many 
hunting  expeditions  taken  with  his  father, 
who  was  a  fine  sportsman.  Then  it  was  u., 
trouble  to  keep  the  larder  supplied  with  wild 
turkej  and  venison,  and  young  I  >aac  became 
an  expert  hunter. 

On  August  jo,  [858,  Mr.  Bell  was 
united  in  marriage  tu  Miss  Sarah  V  Stark. 
who  w  as  In  mi  111  \  igi  1,  Indiana,  Xii-im  1  o. 
[835.  The  Stark  family  originated  in  Wales 
and  probably  tew  familie ;  1  an  A  m  a 
greater  number  of  American  patriots  upon 
its  rolls,  from  the  brave  Captain  Stark,  of 


336 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Revolutionary  fame,  whom  every  school 
buy  remembers  as  intimating  the  only  way 
in  which  "Molly  Stark"  might  be  kept  from 
being  a  widow,  on  down  through  later  wars 
until  1861,  when  five  brave  brothers  of  Mrs. 
Bell  testified  to  their  loyalty  by  entering  the 
Union  army.  Airs.  Bell  was  the  daughter 
of  Jesse  and  Sarah  (  Bates  1  Stark,  both  na- 
tives of  Kentucky,  although  married  in  In- 
diana. Air.  and  Airs.  Stark  lived  in  Indi- 
ana until  1850,  moving  then  to  Monroe, 
Green  county,  Wisconsin,  where  they  lived 
until  the  spring  of  [852.  Then  they  moved 
to  Boone  county.  Iowa,  settling  on  land 
which  Air.  Stark  bought  at  that  time.  In 
1853  he  moved  to  Yell  township,  Webster 
county,  and  lived  upon  his  farm  there  until 
his  death,  October  15,  1877,  his  widow  sur- 
viving until  February  7,   188 1. 

Thirteen  children  were  born  to  Air.  and 
Airs.  Stark,  Airs.  Bell  being  the  ninth  in 
order  of  birth,  and  the  others  as  follows: 
Simeon,  who  died  in  Missouri,  married  Lu- 
zetta  Herring,  whose  death  occurred  in  Illi- 
nois, in  which  state  they  lived;  Abraham 
married  Isabella  Herring  and  died  at  their 
home  in  [llinois,  where  his  widow  resides; 
Malinda  married  John  Kuvkendall  and  re- 
sides in  Santa  Rosa,  California;  William, 
who  married  Elizabeth  Shew,  died  in  Illi- 
nois; Candace,  who  married  George  Kuy- 
kendall. 'lied  at  their  home  in  Santa  Rosa. 
California;  Jessie,  who  married  Winnia 
Mitchell,  resides  in  Elmwood,  Nebraska; 
James  resides  in  Seattle.  Washington; 
Ancel,  who  married  Louisa  De  Fore,  re- 
sides at  Encline,  Boone  county,  Iowa;  Den- 
nis, who  married  Margaret  Alitchell.  re- 
sides at  Elmwood.  Nebraska;  Charles 
gave  up  his  life  for  his  country  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war:  Christia  Ann  resides  in 
Elmwood.  Nebraska,  and  is  the  widow  of 
John  Mitchell,  who  died  while  in  the  Civil 


war;  and  George,  who  married  Martha 
Armstrong,  resides  at  Tindall,  South  Da- 
kota. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  moved 
to  the  fine  farm  which  he  now  occupies  on 
section  1.  Yell  township,  Webster  county, 
where  his  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres 
are  now  cultivated  by  his  sons,  Air.  Bell 
having  practically  retired  from  activity. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  in 
the  township  and  under  his  capable  man- 
agement has  become  one  of  the  most  pro- 
ductive. 

In  political  life,  like  his  father,  Mr.  Bell 
has  always  adhered  to  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  part}',  and  also  like  his  father, 
he  has  been  a  leading  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  Formerly  he  was  connected 
with  tire  Masonic  lodge  in  Homer,  Iowa. 

To  Air.  and  Airs.  Bell  have  been  born 
a  large  and  interesting  family  which  has 
few  broken  links.  Many  of  the  children 
have  married  and  the  bright  faces  of  happy 
grandchildren  now  surround  our  subject 
and  his  most  worthy  wife.  These  children 
were:  Albert,  born  June  21,  1856,  married 
first  Airs.  Ellen  Grosehart  and  second  Josie 
Denton;  Purlonzo,  born  May  12,  1858, 
married  Alary  Swearingen,  and  they  reside 
in  Cripple  Creek.  Colorado;  Estelle.  born 
February  1.  i860,  was  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Armstrong,  of  Yell  township,  and  died  on 
June  19,  1888;  Amy  L.,  born  July  6,  1,861, 
married  Thomas  Ervin  and  lives  in  (  >kla- 
homa  City, Oklahoma:  George  S..  born  June 
26,  1863,  married  Lizzie  Davis  and  resides 
in  Cripple  Creek.  Colorado;  Alary  Alice, 
born  November  12,-1867,  married  Grant 
Paul  and  resides  in  Yell  township;  Charles, 
born  November  14,  1869,  married  Stella 
Baker  and  lives  on  the  home  place  :  William, 
born  November  2,  1872,  married  Frank- 
Baker  and  resides  in   Yell  township,  on  a 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


337 


farm;  John  F.,  born  November  -'5,  1875. 
is  single  and  lives  at  home;  and  Edith  Delia 
and  Eathel  Rella,  twins,  were  horn  June  25. 
[883. 


C.  H.  PAYNE. 


New  conditions  in  life  gave  rise  to 
many  new  enterprises  in  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury, pn  minent  among  which  was  the  mu- 
tual insurance  business,  and  probably  110 
single  line  of  business  has  been  of  more 
practical  value  to  mankind  than  this.  The 
very  term  •'mutual"  indicates  that  many 
share  therein  and  profit  by  the  good  results 
that  follow  this  co-operative  industry.  One 
61  the  leading  representatives  of  mutual  in- 
surance in  northwestern  Iowa  is  C.  H. 
Payne,  whose  long  residence  in  Fort  Dodge, 
together  with  his  business  activity  and  ster- 
ling worth,  has  made  him  one  of  the  best- 
known  and  most  highly  respected  citizens 
in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  is  the  present 
secretary  of  the  Farmers  Mutual  Insurance 
Association  of  Webster  and  adjoining 
counties  and  is  a  director  of  the  Iowa  Tor- 
nado Insurance  Company  and  the  Central 
Iowa  Mutual  Insurance  Association,  while 
.if  several  other  insurance  companies  he  is 
a  representative. 

Mr.  Payne  was  born  in  Bridgeport,  Ad- 
dison county.  Vermont,  April  25.  1829,  a 
son  of  Roswell  and  Elmira  (Barbour") 
Payne.  In  1836  the  father  removed  with 
his  family  to  Galesburg,  Illinois,  the  city 
having  but  a  short  time  previous  been 
founded.  He  was  one  of  its  earliest  set- 
tlers and  built  one  of  the  first  houses  there 
and  devoted  his  energies  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  Both  he  and  his  wife  spent  their 
remaining  days  in  Galesburg  and  were  laid 
to  rest  in  the  cemetery  there.     After  attend- 


ing the  common  schools  C.  H.  Payne  con- 
tinued his  education  in  Knox  College,  of 
Galesburg,  and  when  a  yi  »ung  man  engaged 
in  farming  in  Illinois,  following  that  pur- 
suit until  1868. 

In  the  spring  of  that  year  Mr.  Payne 
came  to  Fort  Dodge.  Theie  was  no  rail- 
road here  at  the  time  and  northwestern  Iowa 
was  still  largely  unimproved.  Mr.  Payne 
began  merchandising  in  connection  with  the 
insurance  business,  with  which  he  had  al- 
ready become  somewhat  acquainted,  having 
written  his  first  insurance  application  in 
June.  [851,  nn  ire  than  a  half  century  ago. 
He  met  with  creditable  success  in  his  mer- 
cantile enterprise  and  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness until  187(1.  when  he  sold  out.since  which 
tune  he  has  given  his  entire  attention  to  the 
insurance  business.  In  1884  he  was  one  of 
tlie  organizers  1  f  the  Farmers  Mutual  In- 
surance Company,  which  i<  now  carrying 
insurance  to  the  amount  of  three  ami  a  half 
million  dollars.  Success  has  attended  the 
company  from  the  start.  The  officers  are 
L.  S.  Coffin,  president;  F.  B.  Drake,  vice-' 
president;  C.  H.  Payne,  secretary;  and  C. 
W.  Maher.  treasurer,  the  last  named  suc- 
ceeding to  the  office  <  ai  the  death  of  C.  C. 
Carpenter. 

On  the  15th  of  April.  185J.  Mr.  Payne 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  S.  A.  Reed, 
of  Connecticut,  and  unto  them  have  been 
h->rn  seven  children;  F.  \\..  who  is  pro- 
prietor of  a  mill  and  creamery  at  Williams, 
Iowa;  F.  E.,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser; 
Otho.  who  is  engaged  in  the  breeding  of 
line  stock;  Rev.  C.  A.,  who  is  pastor  of  the 
(  ngregational  church  in  Berlin.  Wiscon- 
sin; George  H..  a  real  estate  dealer  1  f 
Payne.  Knox  county.  Xehraska ;  Henry 
l:..  who  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness in  Omaha:  Walter  W..  a  merchant  of 
Truesdale,   h-w a:  and   Harriet,  who  is  as- 


338 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


sisting  her  lather  in  business.  The  family 
attend  the  Congregational  church,  of  which 
the  parents  have  long  been  faithful  mem- 
bers, while  Mr.  Payne  has  served  for  many 
years  as  deacon.  He  is  a  public-spirited 
citizen,  deeply  interested  in  all  movements 
calculated  to-  advance  the  material,  social, 
intellectual  or  moral  interests  of  the  com- 
munity. In  his  business  his  enterprise, 
capable  management  and  straightforward 
dealings  have  brought  him  creditable  pros- 
perity and  he  is  still  a  very  active  factor  in 
insurance  circles,  although  he  has  passed 
the  Psalnii^t's  span  of  three  score  years  and 
ten.  His  life,  honorable  and  upright,  has 
ever  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  his  fellow  men,  and  among  the  represen- 
tative citizens  of  Webster  county  he  well 
deserves  prominent  mention. 


W.  II.  II.  COLBY  &  BROTHER. 

The  firm  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view is  composed  of  two  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  energetic  business  men  of  north- 
western Iowa,  men  who  have  made  their 
own  way  in  the  world,  who  owe  their  ad- 
vancement and  prosperity  to  their  own 
efforts.  For  a  number  of  years  they  have 
been  identified  with  business  interests  in 
Port  Dodge,  where  they  are  now  conduct- 
ing a  large  livery  stable,  which  is  well 
patronized.  They  also  have  a  feed  barn 
which  is  run  in  connection  with  the  livery. 
'!  be  senior  member  of  the  firm  is  W.  H.  II. 
Colby  and  the  brother  is  Charles  Colby. 
while  Fred  < ..  Colby,  a  son  of  the  former. 
aKo  owns  an  interest  in  the  business.  All 
reside  in  Fort  Dodge,  and  their  progressive 
and  enterprising  spirit  makes  them  valued 
citizens. 


The  Colbys  were  an  old  Xew  England 
family,  and  Harrison  and  Jane  Colby,  the 
parents  of  W.  IT.  II.  and  Charles  Colby, 
were  natives  of  Vermont.  The  family  re- 
moved from  the  Green  Mountain  state  to 
Wisconsin  about  1855.  The  father  traded 
his  Vermont  property  for  a  stock  of  jewelry 
in  Boston  and  on  arriving  at  Token  creek, 
Wise  msin,  he  exchanged  the  jewelry  for  a 
hotel  property  in  the  Badger  state.  He  next 
brought  his  family  to  the  west,  and  in  Wis- 
ci  msin  conducted  a  hotel  and  store,  his  son, 
W.  II.  II.  Colby,  managing  the  latter.  For 
five  or  six  years  the  father  remained  there 
ami  then  traded  his  property  for  a  farm  in 
.Massachusetts.  After  spending  four  or  five 
years  in  agricultural  pursuits  he  rented  a 
hotel  in  Greenfield,  Massachusetts,  called 
the  Franklin  House,  conducting  the  same 
for  about  three  years,  when  he  returned  to 
the  farm,  which  had  been  rented  during  the 
time  he  was  in  the  hotel.  This  was  in  1865. 
It  was  about  1874  when  he  came  to  Fort 
Dodge,  where  he  lived  in  retirement  from 
business  cares.  His  death  occurred  in  1888 
and  his  wife  passed  away  fourteen  months 
later.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren:  Delia,  who  has  passed  away;  Eliza- 
beth, who  is  the  widow  of  F.  Randall,  who 
served  as  a  captain  in  the  Civil  war  and  con- 
tracted disease  which  resulted  in  his  death 
after  the  close  of  hostilities ;  and  W.  H.  H. 
and  Charles.  The  living  sister  is  a  resident 
of  Pasadena,  California. 

W.  FI.  H.  Colby  was  born  in  Barton, 
Vermont,  March  18,  1840,  and  was  about 
fifteen  years  of  age  when  with  his  mother, 
his  sisters  and  brother  he  went  to  Wis- 
consin to  join  his  father.  He  assisted 
his  father  largely  in  his  business  there, 
managing  the  store  and  early  developed 
excellent  ability.  When  only  nineteen 
\eais    1  f    age    he    was    married,    on    the 


W.  H.  H.  COLBY 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


34i 


25th  of  June.  [859,  to  MisS  Emily  E. 
Spaulding,  a  daughter  of  <  ieorge  A.  Spauld- 
iv.g.  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  an 
early  settler  of  Wisconsin.  Her  mother 
died  in  the  Badger  state  and  her  father 
afterward  made  his  Inane  with  Mrs.  Colby 
until  his  death. 

After  his  marriage  the  subject  of  this 
review  purchased  a  farm  and  for  a  time  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  During  the 
war  he  purchased  horses  for  the  government 
service  in  Wisconsin.  He  was  also  en- 
gaged in  the  cattle  industry,  and  he  pur- 
chased a  hotel  and  livery  barn  at  Sun 
Prairie,  Wisconsin,  being  associated  in  the 
latter  enterprise  with  Jim  and  Fred  Bird. 
A  year  later,  however,  he  sold  his  interest 
and  went  to-Mesmania,  where  he  purchased 
a  livery  stable,  which  he  conducted  for 
eighteen  months  and  then  sold.  His  next 
place  of  residence  was  New  Lisbon,  \\  is- 
consin,  where  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  Mr.  Tobler  in  the  livery  business, 
which  he  conducted  for  three  years.  He 
then  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner,  and  in 
1870  became  a  resident  of  Iowa,  settling  at 
Fort  Dodge.  Prior  to  this  he  went  to  Du- 
buque at  the  request  of  his  friend.  George 
B.  Burch,  a  prominent  lumber  dealer,  who 
was  then  mayor  of  the  city,  but  not  liking 
the  outlook  he  decided  not  to  take  up  his 
abode  there  and  came  on  to  Fort  Dodge. 
In  company  with  a  partner  of  Mr.  Burch  he 
started  for  Sioux  City,  looking  for  a  favor- 
able location  for  a  lumber  yard  ,and  after 
visiting  many  points  in  Iowa  they  selected 
Fort  Dodge.  Mr.  Colby  leased  property 
where  the  Colby  Brothers'  barn  is  now  lo- 
cated, with  the  privilege  of  buying  the  same 
within  two  years,  and  when  six  months  had 
passed  he  had  prospered  so  greatly  that  the 
land  was  bought  by  Mr.  Colby.  He  was 
also  in  the  lumber  business  in  Fort  Dodge 


for  three  year-  after  his  arrival  here,  and 
when  he  sold  out  he  had  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars up  n  his  bo  ks,  Ei  r  he  was  always  gen- 
erous 111  giving  credit  to  the  need) 
time  upon  the  purchases  and  thus  enabling 
many  to  build  homes  who  could  not  have 
done  so  otherwise.  In  1S70  Mr.  1 
built  his  first  livery  barn,  and  after  having 
two  wooden  structures  he  now  has  a  fine 
pressed  brick  barn  upon  the  site  of  the  old 
ones.  His  land  has  a  frontage  of  one  hun- 
dred and  seven  feet  and  a  depth  of  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  feet.  The  firm  also  owned  a 
farm  of  three  hundred  acres,  which  eventu- 
ally they  sold.  In  addition  to  renting  out 
horses  and  vehicles  of  every  description  the 
firm  has' engaged  to  some  extent  in  the 
breeding  of  tine  horses  and  now-  have  about 
eighty  head.  When  a  young  man  W.  H.  H. 
Colby  began  driving  on  the  track,  and  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  the  time  since  has 
acted  as  his  own  driver  when- his  horses 
have  been  entered  for  racers,  being  still  as 
gi  od  a  jockey  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  as  he 
was  when  a  young  man  of  twenty.  He  was 
the  owner  of  the  famous  horse  Minnie  Max- 
field,  which  dropped  dead  on  the  track  at 
Cedar  Rapids.  He  also  owned  Charles  G. 
Hays,  with  a  record  of  2:29*4;  John  A. 
Rolinds.  with  a  record  of  2:29^;  raised 
Hazel  Maid,  which  also  nude  a  record  of 
2:29^4",  and  he  gave  six  horses  in  exchange 
for  Alda.  whose  record  was  2:14.  He  was 
offered  three  thousand  dollars  for  her  at 
Terre 'Haute.  He  owned  Rollo,  which  in 
the  second  year  made  a  record  .if  2  :j,v  _> 
and  the  fourth  year  2:iSr4.  also  won  erne 
thousand  dollars  in  Omaha  and  held  the 
world's  record  twice  as  a  two-year-old. 
Finally  this  horse  was  sold  in  Rhode  Island 
for  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  In  every  line  of 
business  in  which  Mr.  Colby  has  been  en- 
gaged he  has  won   success,   and  his  enter- 


342 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


prise  and  determination  are  splendid  quali- 
ties which  might  serve  as  a  profitable  ex- 
ample to  many  others. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Airs.  Colby  were  born 
two  children  :  Fred  and  Xellie,  the  latter 
the  wife  of  Arthur  Keyes,  of  California. 
In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Colby  is  a  Mason 
and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Eagle  in  Fort  Dodge.  In  poli- 
tics he  takes  a  deep  interest  and  votes  with 
the  Republican  party,  but  has  always  re- 
fused to  become  a  candidate  for  office,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  undivided  attention  to 
bis  business,  which  has  rewarded  his  faith- 
fulness with  a  handsome  competence. 


LOUIS   ERICKSOX. 

For  over  a  third  of  a  century  this  gen- 
tleman has  been  a  resident  of  Webster 
ci  unty,  and  was  early  identified  with  its 
agricultural  pursuits.  Having  met  with 
excellent  success  in  business  affairs,  he  is 
now  able  to  spend  his  remaining  days  in 
ease  and  comfort  at  his  pleasant  home  in 
Dayton,  where  he  has  lived  for  the  past 
eleven  years. 

Like  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  the 
county,  Mr.  Erickson  is  a  native  of  Sweden, 
in  which  country  his  parents  spent  their  en- 
tire lives.  He  was  born  September  n, 
1831,  ami  is  '  ne  of  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  died  in  Sweden.  Of 
those  living  he  is  the  oldest,  the  others  being 
John  Olaf  and  Louisa,  both  residents  of 
Sweden;  and  August,  who  now  makes  his 
home  in  Dayton  township,  this  county. 

Mr.  Erickson  was  reared  and  educated 
in  In-  native  land,  and  in  1856  emigrated  to 
America.  He  took  passage  at  Stockholm 
1  m  a  sailing'  vessel,  the  Sattell,  and  after  a 


voyage  of  six  weeks'  duration  landed  in 
Xew  York.  For  two  years  he  made  his 
home  in  Chicago  while  employed  as  a  sailor 
on  Lake  Michigan.  On  the  14th  of  March, 
1S63,  he  was  married  at  Bishop  Hill,  Illi- 
nois, to  Miss  Emma  Augusta  Xewstrand, 
and  they  made  their  home  at  that  place  un- 
til coming  to  Iowa  in  1866.  Mrs.  Erickson 
died  while  on  a  visit  to  Bishop  Hill,  Oc- 
tober 5,  1884,  and  was  buried  there.  She 
left  five  children,  namely :  Emma,  who 
married  a  Mr.  Weistrom,  of  Denver,  Colo- 
tado,  and  is  now  deceased;  Ida,  who  is 
teaching  in  a  high  school  at  Butte,  Mon- 
tana :  Victor,  who  is  married  and  lives  in 
Denison,  Texas,  where  he  is  employed  as 
engineer  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas 
Railroad;  Levina,  who  is  teaching  school 
at  Whitehead,  Montana;  and  Melvin,  who 
is  now  a  student  in  the  medical  department 
of  the  State  University  at  Iowa  City.  Mr. 
Erickson  was  again  married,  October  20, 
1886,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Anna  Peterson.  There  are  no  children  by 
the  second  marriage. 

On  coming  to  Webster  county  in  1866 
Mr.  Erickson  purchased  eighty  acres  of  wild 
land  in  Dayton  township,  which  he  at  once 
began  to  break  and  place  under  cultivation, 
and  at  the  same  time  erected  thereon  the 
necessarv  farm  buildings  which  to-day  are 
still  standing.  As  time  passed  and  he  pros- 
pered in  his  farming  operations  he  added 
i''  his  property  and  now  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  "ne  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  though 
fi  ir  the  past  eleven  years  he  has  lived  a  re- 
tired life  in  the  village  of  Dayton.  When 
he  came  to  the  county  it  was  all  wild  and 
unimproved  with  exception  of  the  land 
along  tlie  edge  of  the  timber,  and  with  its 
development  and  upbuilding  he  has  since 
been  identified. 

In  1875  Mr.  Erickson  was  made  a  Ma- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


343 


son  at  Ashland  Lodge.  No.  in,  of  Fort 
Dodge,  and  is  now  connected  with  Oak 
Lodge.  No.  531,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  at- 
tends the  Swedish  Methodist  church  and  is 
a  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party.  He 
has  served  on  the  school  board  and  filled 
other  township  offices  in  a  most  creditable 
and  acceptable  manner. 


PERRY  MAPES. 


Perry  Mapes  is  a  well-known  farmer  re- 
siding on  section  36,  Newark  township,  his 
place  being  conveniently  located  within  four 
miles  of  the  village  of  Vincent.  He  was 
born  in  Cuyahoga  county.  Ohio,  on  the  10th 
of  September,  1844.  there  being  but  one 
farm  between  the  Mapes  homestead  and  the 
farm  on  which  President  Garfield  was  born 
and  reared. 

John  1).  Mapes.  the  father  1  if  our  subject, 
was  born  in  New  York  state,  in  1S07.  and 
was  a  son  of  Captain  Seth  Mapes,  also  a 
native  of  the  Empire  state.  The  family  is 
of  Welsh  origin  and  was  founded  on  Long 
Island  prior  t<  1  the  Revolutii  -nary  war.  Our 
subject's  grandfather  held  a  captain's  com- 
mission in  the  Xew  York  militia.  As  early 
as    [814   he   removed   to   Cuyahoga   county, 

<  >hio,  becoming  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 
locality,  and  there  opened  up  a  farm,  on 
which  he  lived  for  ten  years.  He  then  re- 
tni  ved  to  another  farm  in  the  same  county, 
which  place  is  still  owned  and  occupied  by 
members  of  the  family.  John  D.  Mapes 
grew  to  manhood  in  Ohio  and  there  mar- 
ried Miss  Henrietta  Patchen,  a  native  of 
Xew  York,  who  removed  to  the  Buckeye 
state  when  a  young  lady.  Her  father,  Noah 
Patchen,  was  another  of  the  early  settlers 

<  1    Cuyahoga   county.     After  his  marriage 


Mr.  Mapes  made  his  home  in  that  county 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life,  with 
the  exception  of  about  three  years  spent  in 
Ashtabula  county,  his  time  and  attention 
being  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
died  October  8,  1885,  but  his  wife,  now  in 
her  ninety-first  year,  still  survives  him  and 
continues  to  reside  on  the  old  homestead 
with  a  daughter.  Perry  is  the  sixth  in  or- 
der of  birth  in  their  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  four  daughters,  seven 
of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  while 
two  sons  and  three  daughters  are  still  liv- 
ing. 

On  the  old  farm  in  Cuyahoga  county, 
Ohio,  Perry  Mapes  passed  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth,  receiving  his  early  ed- 
ucation in  the  local  schools.  Later  he  at- 
tended Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute  and 
Baldwin  University.  When  the  country  be- 
came involved  in  civil  war,  he  resolved  to 
strike  a  blow  in  defense  of  the  Union,  and 
on  the  1 2th  of  August.  1862,  he  enlisted 
for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  in  Com- 
pany D.  One  Hundred  and  Third  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to 
the  Army  of  the  Ohio.  He  aided  the  de- 
fense of  Cincinnati,  and  the  siege  of  Knox- 
ville.  and  later,  after  an  illness,  was  on  de- 
tached duty,  serving  as  telegraph  messenger 
in  the  office  of  Knoxville  for  about  one 
year.  Subsequently  he  rejoined  his  com- 
mand and  was  with  Sherman's  army  in  the 
campaign  from  Goldsboro  to  Raleigh. 
While  en  route  from  Knoxville  h  G 
bon  ,  he  attended  the  second  inauguration 
of  President  Lincoln.  March  4.  1865.  On 
rejoining  his  command  he  did  guard  duty 
at  General  Schofield's  headquarters.  After 
the  surrender  1  E  I<  hnsti  n's  arm]  to  Gen- 
eral Sherman.  Mr.  Mapes  was  one  of  twen- 
ty-five men  that  accompanied  several  offi- 
cers from  Raleigh  to,  Greensboro,  to  receive 


344 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  surrender  of  the  army  and  property,  in- 
cluding the  rebel  officers,  guns,  ammuni- 
tion and  all  the  accoutrements  of  war.  The 
war  having  ended,  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  June 
i_\  1865,  ail('  was  mustered  out  of  service 
at  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Returning  to  his  home  Mr.  Mapes  re- 
sumed his  studies  and  later  engaged  in 
teaching  school  in  Ohio  until  1869,  when 
he  went  to  Illinois  and  followed  the  same 
pr<  fession  off  and  on  for  twenty-five  years, 
in  Fulton,  Peoria,  McLean  and  Iroquois 
counties.  Returning  to  Cuyahoga  county, 
Ohio,  he  was  there  married  March  20, 
[873,  tn  .Miss  Diana  E.  Luse.  who  was  burn 
in  the  same  township  where  her  husband's 
birth  occurred.  Her  father,  Jesse  H.  Luse, 
was  a  native  of  Trumbull  county,  Ohio, 
and  became  a  farmer  of  Cuyahoga  county. 
There  Airs.  Mapes  was  reared  and  educat- 
ed, attending  first  the  common  schools  and 
later  Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute.  She. 
too,  engaged  in  teaching  school,  both 
before  and  after  her  marriage.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mapes  began  "their  married  life  in 
Peoria  county,  Illinois,  where  they  taught 
sch<  ml  together  for  a  time.  Later  they 
1  enn  ived  t<  1  a  farm  near  Saybrook,  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  where  they  made 
their  home  for  about  five  years.  In 
1883  they  located  on  a  farm  near  Gil- 
man,  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  but  Mr. 
Mapes  left  the  land  to  be  operated  by  ten- 
ants while  he  engaged  in  school  teaching, 
lint  finally  devoted  his  attention  to  carrying 
on  the  farm.  Selling  the  place  in  1895,  he 
came  to  'Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  tak- 
ing up  his  residence  thereon  the  following 
year.  He  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
forty-four  acres  on  section  36,  Newark 
township,  and  section   1,  Colfax  township. 


and  is  successfully  engaged  in  its  operation 
and  in  stock  raising. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mapes  have  three  chil- 
dren :  Florence,  who  is  now  a  student  at 
Cornell  College,  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa ;  and 
Edwin  P.  and  Erwin  K..  who  are  both  at- 
tending Tobin  College,  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa. 
The  family  hold  membership  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  of  Vincent,  of 
which  Mr.  Mapes  is  an  official  member  and 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  hav- 
ing been  an  active  worker  in  the  same  for 
many  years.  Politically  he  has  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party  since  he  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  General  U.  S. 
Grant  in  1868,  but  he  has  never  cared  for 
the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office. 
Although  his  residence  in  Webster  county 
is  of  comparatively  short  duration,  he  has 
already  made  many  warm  friends  and  is 
held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know  him. 


AUGUST  GROSEXP.AUGH. 

August  Grosenbaugh,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Dayton,  Iowa,  is  a  vet- 
eran o<f  the  Civil  war  and  bears  an  honorable 
record  for  brave  service  in  the  cause  of  free- 
dom and  union,  and  in  the  paths  of  peace 
he  has.  also  won  an  enviable  reputation 
through  the  sterling  qualities  which  go  to 
the  making  of  a  good  citizen. 

His  early  home  was  in  the  beautiful  land 
of  the  Alps,  for  he  was  born  in  Switzerland, 
September  24.  1840.  his  parents  being 
Frederick  and  Magdalene  Grosenbaugh, 
who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that  country. 
In  their  family  were  eight  children,  namely: 
Frederick  and  Edward,  wdio  are  married 
and  continue  to  reside  in  Switzerland :  Au- 
gust, our  subject:  John,  deceased,  who  mar- 


MR.  AND   MRS.   AUGUST  GROSENBAUGH 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


347 


ried  Ida  Girod,  a  resident  of  Wooster,  Ohio; 
Mrs.  Lizzie  Droz,  also  a  resident  of  that 
place:  Anuel.  who  died  in  this  country  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years:  Julius,  who 
married  Anna  Roll  and  resides  in  Benton 
county,  Iowa;  Alcid,  who  was  accidentally 
drowned  in  the  Verdigris  river  near  Coffey- 
ville,  Kansas,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years: 
and  Louis,  who  died  in  Ohio  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years. 

Mr.  Grosenbaugh  acquired  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  in  i860 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic,  being  the  first  of 
the  family  to  emigrate.  After  seventeen 
days  spent  upon  the  water  he  landed  in  New 
York.  Locating  in  Ohio,  he  worked  on  a 
farm  in  that  state  until  his  enlistment  in  the 
Unii  n  army  during  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. On  the  15th  of  August.  1S62,  he 
joined  Company  E.  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  un- 
der Captain  William  L.  Dixon  and  Colonel 
B.  F.  Smith.  As  a  part  of  the  Second  Bri- 
gade. Third  Division.  Sixth  Army  Corps, 
the  regiment  was  under  the  command  of 
General  Sedg'wick.  but  at  different  times  it 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Eighth  and  Third 
Corps.  The  first  engagement  in  which  Mr. 
Grosenbaugh  participated  was  at  Martins- 
burg,  June  14.  1863.  when  Company  I  was 
captured  by  Lee's  army.  During  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness.  May  6,  1864,  he  was 
wounded  by  a  piece  of  flying  shell,  and  also 
taken  prisoner,  hut  managed  to  escape  on 
the  9th  of  June  and  rejoined  his  regiment 
?t  Petersburg.  He  t<  ok  part  in  the  siege  of 
that  place  from  the  27th  of  March  until  the 
2d  of  April.  1865.  After  the  surrender  of 
Lee  to  Grant.  April  9,  1865.  his  regiment 
with  the  Sixth  Corps  was  ordered  to 
Raleigh.  Xorth  Carolina,  to  meet  Sherman, 
but  on  reaching-  Danville  received  word  of 
Tohnston's     surrender    and     proceeded     110 


further.     Mr.  Grosenbaugh  took  pan  in  the 
grand  review    at   Washington,   I).  C,  June 

15.     The  war  having  ended,   1: 
then    honorably    dischargi  imbus, 

<  >hio,  July   1.    [865,  and  return 
carawas  county,  that  state. 

At  Mount  Eaton.  Ohio.  Mr.  Grosen- 
baugh was  married  Septembei  2.  [865,  I 
Miss  Susanna  Olmstead,  who  was  born  in 
Tuscarawas  county.  February  17.  1842, 
though  of  Swiss  origin,  her  parents.  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  (Ricksicker)  Olmstead,  be- 
ing natives  of  Switzerland.  Her  father 
came  to  America  in  1833  ani'  ner  mother 
four  or  five  years  later.  They  first  located 
in  Stark  county,  <  >hio,  whence  thev  removed 
h  Tuscarawas  county,  and  there  the  father 
engaged  in  fanning  throughout  life.  In 
their  family  were  ten  children,  namely: 
Mary,  wife  of  Jacob  Intermill,  of  Jewell 
county,  Kansas:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Theo- 
dore Nydegger,  who  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Ohio:  Susanna,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject; Frederick,  a  resident  of  Mt.  Pleasanl 
Michigan,  who  first  married  Sevilla  Mew- 
maw  and  second  Emma  Zingry;  Sophia. 
wife  of  Godfrey  Feller,  of  Jewell  county, 
Kansas;  Margaret,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years:  Caroline,  wife  of  William 
Putnam,  of  Stark  county,  Ohio:  Daniel,  who 
is  married  and  lives  near  QLudwig 
Michigan:  Joseph,  who  married  Louise 
Ruffer  and  also  resides  near  Ludwig 
and  Amelia,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five 
years. 

Of  the  eight  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Grosenbaugh,  Eloise.  the  eldest,  mar- 
ried Homer  Fultz  and  is  successfully  en- 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Perry, 
Iowa,  while  her  husband  is  an  engineer  on 
the  Chicago  &  Milwaukee  Railroad:  John 
J.  married  Leota  Marsh  and  is  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  al  Nemaha,  Iowa,  in  con- 


348  THE    BIOGR  \rilKAI.    RECORD. 


uection  with  \\.  Marsh,  having  buill  the  energy,  is  quick  of  perception,  forms  his 
first  elevatoi  al  thai  place;  Lena  died  al  the  plans  readily  and  is  determined  in  (heir  ex- 
age  i  i  twent)  one  years;  Fred  A.  is  a  law  ecution,  Though  he  is  now  known  as  one 
Nr|  "!  Fort  Dodge;  Amanda  died  al  the  age  of  the  capitalists  of  this  pari  of  the  state, 
i  i  two  years;  Carrie  is  preparing  herself  to  and  is  not  activel)  engaged  in  business  save 
entei  the  legal  profession ;  Otille,  who  was  a  in  the  management  of  his  investments,  it 
"'  iduate  oi  the  I  lighland  Park  ( lollege,  I  >es  was  his  close  application  and  excellent  man- 
Moines,  died  at  the  age  oi  nineteen  years;  agernenl  thai  broughl  to  him  the  high  de 
•  nd  Minnie  also  dud  al  the  age  O'f  nineteen,  gree  of  prosperity  which  is  to  day  his.     No 

1,1  the  fall  "i  [865  Mr.  Grosenbaugh  re  legitimate  business  can  be  carried  on  thai 
moved   to   Benton  county,    Iowa,  and   two  does  nol  prove  oi  benefil  to  the  community 
yeai     latei  came  to  Webster  county,  where  in  which  ii  is  located,  and  the  interests  of 
In  took  up  a  homestead  claim  oi  one  nun-  Mr.  Reynolds  have  nol  only  contributed  to 
dred  mu\  sixty  acres,  and  was  successfully  his  own  success  but  in  large  measure  have 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits   for  man)  promoted  the  commercial  activity  and  con- 
years,  and   is  now   living  a   retired  life  in  sequent  prosperity  of  Fori  Dodge. 
Dayton       Vs  he  prospered  in  business  ai  Mr.  Reynolds  is  a  western  man  by  birth 
fairs  in    added    to    his    landed  possessions  and  training,  and  early  became  imbued  with 
from  time  to  nine  until  he  now  owns  four  the  progressive  spirit  which  has  led  to  the 
hundred  and  fiftj  seven    acres   of    land    in  wonderful  development  of  the  great  district 
Kans, is;    ;i    quartei      ection    in     Burnside  this  side  of  the  Mississippi..     His  birth  oc 
township,  this  count)  ;  and  a  good  home  in  curred    near    Boonville,    Missouri,   Decern 
Dayton.     Mis  political  support  is  given  the  her  27,  [844,  and  he  is  a  son  of  S.  R.  and 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party,  V   W.   (Worley)    Reynolds,  the   former  a 
and  In   1    ,1  membei  oi  the  Grand    \nn\  of  native  oi    Vermont,   the   latter    of    Ma  sa 
the  Republic,  while  his  wife  helds  member  chusetts.     In    [839    they    emigrated  west 
ship  in  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps.     The)  ward,  taking  up  their  abode  in   Missouri, 
attend  the  Methi  clisl   Episcopal  church  and  whence  they  came  to  Eowa  in  [846,  aco  m 
are  people    ol     the    highesl    respectability,  plishing   the   entire   journe)    wjith    an    ox- 
whosc  circle  oi  friends  and  acquaintances  is  team.      The)    settled    in    Delaware   county, 
extensive.  seven  miles  north  of  Manchester,  where  Mr. 
* '  *  Reynolds   engaged     in    both    farming  and 
merchandising.      \t   that   time  his  nearest 
V  S.   R.   REYNOLDS.  neighbor  was  five  miles  away  and  the  dis- 
trict was  wild  and  unimproved.     He  aided 

Honored  and  respected  b)   all,  there  is  in  removing  a  band  of  Indians  to  a  reserva 

iiH  man  in  Fort  Dodge  who  occupies  a  more  tion    furthei    west;   wild   game  of   various 

enviable  position  in  commercial  and  linan  kinds  abounded,  and   there   were   few  evi- 

1i.1l   circles   than    A.   S.    R.    Reynolds,   nol  dences    of    the    fact   thai   civilization   had 

1   on  accounl  of  the  brilliant  success  he  taken   rool   in  this  then  wild   western  dis- 

has  achieved  bu1  also  on  accounl  of  the  hon-  trict.    A  tract  of  wild  prairie  obtained  from 

orable,   straightforward   business  policy   he  the  government    was   transformed    into    a 

hat    ever   followed      He  possesses  untiring  fine  farm  1>\    \h     Reynolds  and  thereon  ho 


'I  ill.   BIOGRAPHK  i  )RD. 


remained   until   about    fivi  At 

ame  time  he  i  arried  on  men  hai  i 
going    to    Dubuque,   a   distance   of   thirt) 
■\  here  he  would  pun  ha  e  a    mall 
of  goods,  n  ing  an  • 
to  In-   home  distri*  i,    wl  i 
pi    ed  of  them  to  his  neighboi  .     \l.ont  five 
ago  he  retired 
o  maki  ■ 

who  lives  fi  nr  miles  north  of  the  i 
family  homestead  in  Delaware  county.     He 

bi  rn  Augusl  4,   181  1,  and  still  1 
good    health,    although    hi 
failed  somewhat.     II  an  ac 

•  '1  to  his  bu 
ind   the    faithful   performanc 

ip,  and  in  his  de<  lining 
1 
whicl 
has  been  an  honorable  one  through  many 

His  wife,  who  was  born  Septi 
1-'.   1. Si 7.  dq>arted  this  lifi 

twelve  children,  of  whom    six   are  living: 

who  married    I.     ' , 
and  lives  in  Dela  R,  |j., 

i"  the 

Erne  1    II.   and    Elihu    II.. 

are  living  in  0  Buchanan 

Mr 

pending  his  boyhood 
tber  on  the  farm  and  in  his 

when,  aroi    1 
spirit  of  patrioti 

ing  south,  Imt   I 

the  Indian  ,t    u, 

the  frontier  to  quell  the  uprising  of  tl  • 
men  and  protect   the  front  •  ,'rom 

their  attacl  -I,.,,! 


1    taking  placi    at  T;      I 
land  oi  the  dee,.     '|  he  troop    1 
tin    Indian  \  about  Eon 

Li ■   ■  hou  and   tndian 

idred  whiti 
ti  d  until  d.-nk  and  the 
arm)   encamped  on  the  field,  but   th< 

eni   bai 
1    thi  ■.    had   left     I   •  ipply    train. 

W'lni'  mj    .Mi.   Ri  lartici- 

continued  in  the  [ndi; 

1  ity,  in  October, 
1 1«    ■■■<    dis<  barged  and  paid  off  at  1 1 
port,  and  [(  ,,n  the  \  irgin 

prairii 

'I  he   following  account  the 

n  from  the 
1     ■    17,  1901,  will 
erest. 

the  relief  part;.  jn   t|„: 

"In  the    ummer  1  leneral 

Sully  and  ' ,  rdered  out 

to  1I1.  .    an(j 

captlin  Indian-. 

1  ed  from  the  east  and 
al  Sully  came  up  thi 
Fort     Piei 
point  line  that   n 

the  division  of  I 

rd  and  advanced  to  the  hill 
-liinie  the  divide  ■  and 

ing.     General   Sul 

dajor  House,  with  tl 
and   remaii  1 


35° 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


small  command  turned  the  corner  of  a  sharp 
hill  and  found  itself  within  a  few  yards  of 
the  Indian  village,  which  contained  many 
thousand  men.  women  and  children.  To 
attack  this  force  alone  meant  annihilation, 
and  besides,  was  against  orders,  and  to  re- 
treat was  equally  impossible,  as  it  would 
draw  the  whole  tribe  upon  them.  The  only 
thing,  then,  that  could  lie  dune  was  to  send 
La  Tramheau.  the  half-breed  scout,  back  to 
camp  to  inform  Sully  of  their  situation  and 
trust  to  Sully's  ability  to  reach  them  before 
dark.  Major  House's  command  was  at  this 
time  about  twelve  miles  east  of  General 
Sully's  camp,  and  the  sun  was  settling  low 
toward  the  west.  The  Indians  knew  their 
advantage  over  the  soldiers,  and  while  si  m< 
of  the  young  bloods  wanted  to  finish  them 
at  once,  the  older  men  counseled  them  to 
wait  until  the  darkness,  when  it  would  lie 
more  complete,  as  the  soldiers  knew  noth- 
ing of  the  country  and.  could  not  escape 
them.  The  Indians  at  this  time  supposed 
that  this  four  hundred  men  were  all  there 
was.  The  Indians  were  confident  of  the 
ultimate  outcome,  and  walked  about  the 
o  immand  at  a  short  distance,  and  even  par- 
leyed among  themselves  as  to  which  should 
have  this  horse  or  that,  as  the  fancy  hap- 
pened to  strike  them.  They  jeered  and 
mocked  at  the  soldiers,  and  held  up  both 
hands  pointing  at  one  of  the  soldiers  to  sig- 
nify that  they  were  ten  to  one.  The  sol- 
diers agreed  that  when  the  chances  for  res- 
cue before  dark  were  gone  they  would  fight 
and  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible. 
As  the  sun  neared  the  horizon  the  Indians 
began  to  prepare  for  their  bloody  work,  and 
the  soldiers  began  to  shake  hands  and  bid 
their  comrades  goodbye,  as  there  would  be 
no  quarter  given  or  taken.  At  this  time 
the  second  and  third  battalions  of  the  Iowa 
regiment  came  up  behind  the  first  battalion 


and  then  everything  was  confusion  in  the 
Indian  village,  the  old  men.  women  and 
children  began  to  cut  down  the  tepees  and 
break  camp.  The  joy  of  the  rescued  bat- 
tallion  can  better  he  imagined  than  told. 
As  soon  as  their  comrades  reached  them 
they  immediately  began  to  attack  and  drove 
the  Sioux  before  them  over  the  hill  and 
down  into  a  small  draw,  when  the  Ne- 
braska regiment  appeared  on  the  hill  in 
front  of  them  and  they  turned  with  despera- 
tion upon  the  Iowa  cavalry,  and  for  half 
an  hour  one  of  the  most  desperate  battles  of 
the  western  frontier  ensued.  At  length 
the  Indians  discovered  a  weak  point  in  the 
Mile  line.  They  cut  everything  loose  from 
their  horses  and  escaped  into  the  darkness. 
General  Sully  captured  everything  they 
had.  clothing,  food  and  camp  equipage,  be- 
sides  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  old  men, 
women  and  children." 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Delaware 
county.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  engaged  in  chop- 
ping cord  wood  and  splitting  rails  for  two 
years.  In  1(869  'ie  accepted  a  position  as 
clerk  in  a  general  store  at  Earlville,  Dela- 
ware county,  where  he  remained  for  three 
years,  after  which  he  was  employed  in  a 
similar  capacity  in  another  store.  On  the 
24th  of  February,  1872,  he  came  to  Fort 
Dodge,  and  with  the  capital  he  had  ac- 
quired through  his  own  exertions  he  pur- 
chased a  grocery  store  at  523  Central  av- 
enue, which  he  conducted  for  one  year  and 
a  half.  He  then  erected  a  building  at  521 
Centra]  avenue  and  continued  in  the  same 
nine  years,  when  he  moved  into  the  Rey- 
nolds block  and  for  eleven  and  a  half  years 
conducted  the  store  in  that  part,  where  the 
Commercial  National  Bank  is  now  located. 
He  remained  in  that  line  of  business  for 
twenty-two  years,  during  which  time  his 
patronage  constantly  increased  as  the  result 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


35i 


of  his  enterprise,  capable  management  and 
earnest  desire  to  please  his  patrons,  coupled 
with  business  methods  that  were  above  re- 
proach. In  1894  he  disposed  of  bis  store 
ami  lias  since  given  his  attention  to  the 
management  of  his  property  interests,  fi  r 
as  the  years  have  gone  by  he  has  made  \\  ise 
and  extensive  investments  in  real  estate.  In 
188]  he  built  the  Reynolds  block,  at  the 
corner  of  Central  avenue  and  Seventh  street 
— a  bank,  store  and  office  building  with  a 
Masonic  hall  on  the  third  floor.  The  build- 
ing has  a  frontage  of  forty-nine  feet,  with 
E  depth  of  one  hundred  and  forty  feet,  and  is 
three  stories  in  height  with  basement.  It 
was  the  first  building  of  any  importance 
erected  east  of  Sixth  street,  now  Seventh 
street,  but  now  the  court  house,  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  state,  stands  opposite  the  Rey- 
nolds block.  He  also  erected  another 
building  at  the  corner  of  Ninth  street  and 
First  avenue,  north,  and  these  stand  as 
monuments  of  his  enterprise, — the  visible 
proof  of  his  life  of  business  activity. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1872,  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  M. 
F.  Wilkenson,  a  native  of  Indiana  and  a 
daughter  of  George  Wilkenson,  who  was 
an  early  settler  of  Fort  Dodge,  where  his 
widow  still  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rey- 
it  iil>  have  one  son,  Lewis  M.,  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Fort  Dodge  fire  department.  He 
has  also  been  connected  with  the  American 
Express  Company,  also  served  as  clerk  in 
the  post  office  for  a  time. 

Mr.  Reynolds  has  never  taken  an  active 
part  in  politics  aside  from  voting,  his  sup- 
port being  given  to  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  served 
on  the  school  board  for  fourteen  years,  and 
the  cause  of  education  has  found  in  him  a 
warm  friend,  ready  and  willing  to  institute 
improved  methods  that  will  lead  to  practical 


results  in  the  schoolroom.  Socially  he  is 
o  limited  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In 
[870  lie  was  initiated  into  the  order  and  is 
a  charter  member  of  Earlville  Lodge.  Such 
in  brief  is  the  history  of  one  who  ranks 
prominent  among  the  most  successful  men 
of  litis  section  of  the  state,  and  his  life 
demonstrates  the  possibilities  of  accom- 
plishment in  this  land  where  caste  or  class 
do  not  hamper  ambition  and  ability.  Stead- 
ily he  has  advanced,  and  his  energy,  de- 
termination and  straightforward  business 
methods  have  enabled  him  to  meet  compe- 
tition and  secure  a  liberal  patronage,  which 
has  brought  to  him  success. 


DAVID  RISK. 


This  well-known  citizen  of  Fort  Dodge, 
residing  at  1522  Third  avenue,  south,  was 
born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  on  the  4th  of  Au- 
gust, 1843,  his  parents  being  James  and 
Mary  Ann  (Everett)  Risk,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  the  latter  of  Bucks 
ci  unity.  Pennsylvania.  They  had  two  other 
children :  A.  C,  who  is  now  prospecting 
in  the  Rocky  mountains ;  and  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, who  died  in  Michigan.  On  leaving 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1852,  the  family  re- 
moved to  Racine,  Wisconsin,  and  resided 
there  until  1865,  when  they  went  to  Wilton, 
Minnesota,  but  the  following  year  came  to 
Iowa,  and  took  up  their  residence  on  a  farm 
in  Deer  Creek  township,  Webster  county. 
After  following  farming  for  some  years  the 
father  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Fort 
Dodge,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest. 

David  Risk  completed  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Burlington.  Wisconsin,  then 
engaged  in  teaching  school  for  two  winters 
in  that  state  and  one  winter  in  Minnesota 


352 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


during  the  residence  of  the  family  in  that 
state.  After  coming  to  Iowa  he  followed 
the  same  pursuit  in  Webster  county  during 
the  winter  months,  while  the  summer  sea- 
sons were  devoted  to  farming  for  some 
years.  He  was  secretary  of  the  teachers' 
i  rganization  in  this  county  for  a  number 
of  years. 

In  1871  Mr.  Risk  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  J.  Haviland,  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Cecelia  (Wood) 
Haviland,  who  were  natives  of  New  York, 
the  Haviland  family  being  founded  in 
Dutchess  county,  that  state,  at  an  early  date. 
After  residing  in  Princeton,  Bureau  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  for  some  time  Mrs.  Risk's  par- 
ents came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  1854, 
and  bought  a  tract  of  government  land. 
Mr.  Haviland  was  prominently  identified 
with  the  early  development  of  that  county. 
In  his  family  were  ten  children,  four  sons 
and  six  daughters.  Prior  to  her  marriage 
Mrs.  Risk  was  a  successful  teacher,  and 
taught  a  number  of  terms  in  Fort  Dodge. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Ida  is  the  wife  of  W.  S.  Johnson, 
and  they  now  reside  in  Brisbane.  Australia. 
Lyle,  the  younger  daughter,  is  engaged  in 
teaching  school  in  Deer  Creek  township, 
this  county. 

Mr.  Risk  remained  upon  the  farm, 
which  adjoined  that  of  his  father's,  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1881. 
In  that  year  he  rented  his  farm  and  re- 
■  d  to  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
took  up  the  study  of  telegraphy  and  later 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroad  as  station  agent  at 
Amiret,  Minnesota,  where  he  remained  un- 
til 1883.  He  then  returned  to  Webster 
county  and  resumed  fanning,  continuing  at 
that  occupation  until  1891,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Cowrie,  where  he  carried  on  busi- 


ness as  a  hardware  dealer  for  two  years. 
He  next  spent  six  years  at  Grand  Junction, 
Colorado,  engaged  in  the  fruit  business, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  returned  to  Fort 
Dodge,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Iowa 
Legion  of  Honor,  and  secretary  of  the 
Webster  Grange  for  a  time. 

Up  to  1883  Mr.  Risk  was  a  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  but  in  that  vear 
he  changed  to  the  Republican  party,  which 
organization  he  adhered  to  until  1896,  since 
which  time  he  has  voted  independent  of 
party  lines.  He  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  county  where  much 
of  his  life  has  been  passed,  and  those  who 
know  him  best  are  numbered  among  his 
warmest  friends. 


BENJAMIN  GRAYSON. 

Among  the  old  and  honored  residents 
of  Fort  Dodge  is  numbered  Benjamin  Gray- 
son,  who  is  a  native  of  the  old  Dominion, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Loudoun 
countw  Virginia,  October  27,  1833.  His 
parents  were  Richard  O.  and  Margaret 
(  Fitzhugh)  Grayson,  both  representatives 
of  old  and  distinguished  families  of  that 
state.  The  father,  who  was  a  large  land- 
owner, died  in  Virginia,  when  about  fi  irty 
years  of  age,  and  the  mother  when  fi  »rty- 
one.  In  their  family  were  six  children, 
namely:  Ann,  wife  of  Colonel  Fitzhugh, 
of  Staunton,  Virginia;  Mary,  wife  of  Rev. 
E.  H.  Harlow,  of  Washington.  D.  C. ;  Ben- 
jamin, our  subject;  T.  F.,  a  resident  of 
Fort  Dodge:  Richard  O..  who  was  killed 
in  the  Civil  war:  and  Helen,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

The  subject   of  this   review   was   prin- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


353 


cipally  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
county.  He  attended  an  academy  at  Lees- 
burg,  Virginia,  and  also  the  mathematical 
school  at  Alexandria,  that  state,  where  he 
took  a  cour.se  in  mathematics  and  civil  en- 
gineering. Leaving  home  in  1853.  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years,  he  went  to  Missouri, 
and  at  St.  Louis  became  connected  with  a 
civil  engineer  who  had  in  charge  the  con- 
struction of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Rail- 
mad,  and  who  appointed  Mr.  Grayson  as 
superintendent  of  the  building  of  the  road 
aliing  the  first  twenty-five  miles  cast  of  St. 
Joseph.  He  was  thus  employed  until  the  sus- 
pension nt  the  work,  when  he  came  to  Fort 
Dodge,  October  1,  1855,  as  a  civil  engineer 
in  locating  land  warrants.  He  also  acted 
as  agent  for  several  eastern  land  agencies, 
and  is  to-day  well  known  among  the  ex- 
tensive land  owners  of  Iowa. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1858.  Mr. 
Grayson  married  Miss  Nannie  S.  Rhodes, 
also  a  native  of  Loudoun  county.  \ "irginia, 
and  a  daughter  of  Captain  H.  H.  Rhodes, 
of  the  United  States  navy,  now  deceased. 
Of  the  eight  children  born  of  this  union, 
four  are  still  living,  namely:  Marion,  a 
resident  of  Hartford,  Connecticut;  Rich- 
ard, a  lumberman  of  Seattle,  Washington; 
and  Benjamin  and  Robert,  both  residents 
nl'l  >es  Mi  lines,  L  iwa. 

When  Mr.  Grayson  came  to  Fort 
Dodge  there  was  not  a  settlement  between 
this  city  and  Sioux  City,  and  those  early 
days  were  fraught  with  considerable  pio- 
neer experience.  He  served  as  assistant 
paymaster  in  the  Federal  army  for  a  time, 
returning  to  Fort  Dodge  in  1804.  since 
which  time  he  has  made  his  home  uninter- 
ruptedly here.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in 
1858,  being  the  first  man  initiated  into  the 
lodge  at  this  place.  Religiously  he  is  a 
member    of    the    Episcopal    church.       Mr. 


I  rrayson  has  made  for  himself  an  honorable 
reo  nl  m  business,  as  a  citizen,  friend  and 
neighbor  he  is  true  to  ever)  duty,  and  justly 
merits  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 


J(  Ml  AX  AXDERSOX. 

For  several  years  this  gentleman  was 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Webster 
county,  but  having  retired  from  active 
labor,  he  now  makes  his  home  in  Dayton, 
where  he  is  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts 
which  makes  life  worth  the  living.  Like 
many  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  count}',  he 
is  a  native  of  Sweden,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  that  country.  August  14.  1828. 
There  his  parents,  Anders  and  Hakanson 
(Britta)  Anderson,  spent  their  entire  lives. 
In  their  family  were  six  children,  of  whom 
three  remained  in  Sweden  and  the  others 
came  to  America,  namely:  Christina,  now 
the  widow  of  Charles  Anderson  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Sweden:  Charley,  who  is  married 
and  also  lives  in  that  country;  Julian,  our 
subject;  .Marx,  wile  of  Joseph  Freeburg,  a 
farmer  of  Dayton  township,  this  county; 
Andrew,  who  died  in  Sweden:  and  Char- 
lotte, wife  of  Swan  Nelson,  of  Wapello 
county,  Iowa. 

Johan  Anderson  received  his  education 

at  his  mother's  knee,  and  grew  to  manli 1 

in  his  native  land.  There  he  was  married 
on  the  5th  of  November,  1863.  to  Miss 
Hannah  Nelson,  who  was  born  in  Sweden. 
November  11,  1S37,  a  daughter  of  Xels  and 
Helena  Peterson.  Her  parents  came  to 
America  i,n  1881  and  made  their  home  with 
our  subject,  where  the  father  died  May  7, 
1888.  and  the  mother  January  24.  1901. 
Their  children  were  Lizzie,  wife  of  John 
Anders,  m,  of  Webster  county;  Anna,  wife 


354 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  August  Schultz,  a  farmer  of  Dayton 
township;  Hannah,  wife  of  our  subject; 
Christina,  whi  i  married  Otto  Anderson,  but 
both  are  now  deceased;  Peter,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  on  a  farm  near  Dayton ;  and 
Charles,  who  is  also  married  and  lives  near 
Dayton.  Of  the  seven  children  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  only  one  is  now 
living,  Hulda,  who  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  J. 
E.  Rydback,  now  of  Stanton,  Iowa,  and  has 
four  children,  Theodore,  Alfhild,  Eveline 
and  Linnea. 

In  1864,  the  year  following  their  mar- 
riage, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  emigrated 
to  America,  and  first  located  in  Andover, 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  they  spent  six 
years  on  a  rented  farm.  At  the  end  of  that 
period  they  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  purchased  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land,  which  he  still  owns.  To  the 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  that  place 
he  devoted  his  energies  until  1889,  when  he 
removed  to  Dayton,  and  has  since  lived  a 
retired  life.  Besides  his  valuable  farm  he 
owns  a  good  home  in  Dayton,  all  of  which 
propertv  has  been  acquired  through  his  own 
well  directed  efforts.  Industrious,  enter- 
prising and  progressive,  he  met  with  suc- 
cess in  his  farming  operations  and  is  to- 
day  quite  well-to-do.  Politically  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
religiously  both  he  and  his  estimable  wife 
are  members  of  the  Swedish  Evangelical 
Lutheran  church. 


GEORGE   MUSBURGER. 

Since  the  spring  of  1888  this  gentleman 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  Webster  county, 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  well-improved 


and  valuable  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  sections  25  and  36,  Newark 
township.  A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born 
near  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  county,  June  18, 
1844.  a  son  of  John  G.  and  Lizzie  Muv 
burger.  The  father  was  born  and  reared  in 
Germany,  and  on  coming  to  America  when 
a  young  man  he  located  in  Hamilton  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  he  followed,  farming 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  There 
he  was  married,  and  to  himself  and  wife 
were  born  four  children,  our  subject  being 
the  only  son.  His  sisters  were  Barbara, 
wife  of  Charles  Bastian,  who  was  formerly 
a  resident  of  Webster  county,  Iowa,  but 
now  lives  in  Oklahoma;  Lizzie,  wife  of 
James  Birtwell.  of  La  Salle  county,  Illinois; 
and  Mary,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Burkhart.  The 
parents  both  died  of  cholera  in  185 1,  within 
twenty-lour  hours  of  each  other. 

Thus  our  subject  was  left  an  orphan  at 
an  early  age  and  was  reared  by  strangers, 
being  forced  to  endure  many  hardships  and 
privations  and  having  but  limited  school 
privileges.  He  spent  a  part  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  mi  a  farm  in  Ohio,  and  the  re- 
mainder in  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  Coming" 
west  in  1858,  he  first  located  in  La  Salle 
county.  Illinois,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm 
by  the  month  until  after  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Civil  war.  Feeling  that  his  country 
needed  his  services,  be  enlisted  on  the  14th 
of  August,  1862,  for  three  years  or  during 
the  war,  and  became  a  member  of  Company 
F,  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  His  first  engage- 
ment was  the  battle  of  Hartsville,  Tennes- 
see, followed  by  the  battles  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Chattanooga, 
Resaca,  Marietta  and  Peach  Tree  Creek. 
During  the  last  named  engagement  Mr. 
Musburger  received  a  gunshot  through  the 


GEORGE  MUSBURGER 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


357 


right  shoulder,  and  was  disabled  for  some 
tune.  He  was  at  first  confined  in  the  hos- 
pital at  Chattanooga,  but  was  later  taken  to 
Nashville,  from  there  to  Louisville,  then  to 
Evansville,  Indiana,  and  still  later  to 
Ouincy,  Illinois.  Having  partially  recov- 
ered, he  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  and  from  that  city  was  sent  to 
Chicago,  where  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged on  the  1 6th  of  June,  1865,  the  war 
li,i\  ing  ended.  He  then  returned  home,  and 
for  three  years  worked  on  a  farm. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  [869,  in  La 
Salle  county,  Illinois,  Mr.  Musburger  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  S. 
Wakey,  a  native  of  that  county  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Elizabeth  Wakey.  By 
tins  union  were  born  four  children,  namely: 
(1)  George  W.,  born  October  7.  1S70,  is 
now  engaged  in  business  in  Fort  Collins, 
Colorado,  lie  is  married  and  has  two 
daughters,  Velma  M.  and  Zeta  P.  (2)  I  [ar- 
rison  J.,  born  July  13,  1872,  is  now  op- 
erating the  home  farm.  He  is  man  ied  and 
has  four  children,  Mabel  O.,  Vernon  J., 
Roy  F.  and  Elmer  C.  (3)  Milo,  horn  July 
<,.  [881,  is  also  at  home.  (4)  Lloyd  E., 
born  October  27,  1890,  is  attending  the 
home  school. 

For  about  five  years  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Musburger  was  engaged  in  farming  on 
rented  land,  and  then  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixteen  acres  in  La  Salle  county.  Illi- 
nois, to  the  further  improvement  and  culti- 
vation of  which  he  devoted  his  energies  For 
some  years.  He  also  added  to- it  from  time 
to  time  until  he  had  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  but  sold  that  place  in  -1888  on  his  re- 
moval to  Iowa.  Locating  in  Webster  coun- 
ty, he  purchased  a  partially  improved  place 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Newark 
township,  and  has  since  bought  an  adjoin- 
ing eighty-acre  tract.     He  has  since  built  a 


good  and  substantial  residence  and  outbuild- 
ings, has  set  out  shade  trees,  and  to  da 
one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  of  its  size  in 
the  county.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  is  engaged  in  stock  raising  and 
has  met  with  well-deserved  success  in  all  his 
undertakings.  His  prosperity  is  due  to  his 
indefatigable  labor,  enterprise  and  good 
management,  as  well  as  the  assistance  of 
his  estimable  wife,  who  has  indeed  proved  a 
true  helpmate  to  him. 

Politically  Mr.  Musburger  has  been  a 
life  long  Republican  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864. 
He  and  his  wife  attend  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  having  been  reared  in  that 
faith,  and  the}-  are  among  the  most  highly 
respected  and  honored  citizens  of  their 
community,  their  circle  of  friends  being  1  inly 
limited  by  their  circle  of  acquaintances. 


HENRY  CARR. 


Henry  Carr,  one  of  Dayton's  most  pros- 
perous and  influential  citizens,  was  born  on 
the  10th  of  December,  1833,  in  the  Shen- 
andoah valley,  his  birthplace  being  near 
Newmarket,  in  Rockingham  county,  Vir- 
ginia. His  parents,  Samuel  and  Sarah 
( Miley)  Carr,  were  natives  of  the  same 
county,  and  continued  to  reside  there  until 
1837,  when  the)-  removed  to  Jacksonburg, 
Indiana,  where  they  made  their  home  until 
called  to>  their  final  rest,  the  mother  dying 
in  1886,  and  the  father  in  1893.  He  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade. 

Our  subject  is  the  second  in  a  family 
of  eleven  children,  of  whom  the  eldest  died 
in  infancy.  The  following-  reached  years 
of  maturity:  John,  who  married  Sarah 
Tlarless  and  lives  in  Mills  county,  Iowa; 
Joseph,   a   resident  of  Wayne  county,   In- 


358 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


diana,  who  first  married  Josephine  and,  sec- 
ond, Elmira  Pike,  both  now  deceased; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  J.  Cook,  of 
Henry  county,  Indiana;  Amanda,  widow  of 
J.  C.  White  and  a  resident  of  Wayne  Coun- 
ty. Indiana;  and  Lewis  R.,  who  died  Au- 
gust  27,    1901,   in   Henry  county,   Indiana. 

Dtiring  his  boyhood  Henry  Carr  pur- 
sued his  education  in  a  log  school  house  at 
Jacksonburg,  Wayne  county.  Indiana,  the 
door  of  which  structure  was  made  of  rough 
slabs  and  the  furniture  was  of  a  primitive 
sort.  After  the  completion  of  his  education 
at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  remained 
in  Indiana  until  J  S 5 5 ,  and  then  came  to 
Webster  count)-,  Iowa,  where  he  entered 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government 
land,  at  the  same  time  buying  eighty  acres 
in  Wayne  county,  this  state.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Indiana,  where  he  continued  to 
make  his  home  until  1869. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Carr  was  married 
in  1859,  at  Corydon,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Havana 
Niday,  who  was  born  near  Ironton,  Ohio, 
in  i8_)0,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Harless)  Niday,  both  natives  of 
Virginia.  Pier  parents  were  married  in 
Lawrence  county.  Ohio,  and  from  there  re- 
moved to  Mahaska  county,  Iowa,  where 
they  spent  three  years,  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  being  passed  in  Wayne  county, 
this  state.  Of  their  twelve  children  onl) 
one  is  now  living.  Minerva,  of  William 
Houser,  of  Putnam  county,  Missouri. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carr  were  born  the 
following  children:  (  1  )  Mary  died  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  years.  (2)  John  W.,  who  is 
now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in 
Lincoln.  Nebraska,  married  Helen  Lilliard 
and  has  two  children,  Ida  and  Frances. 
(3)  Ellen  married  J.  S.  Schick,  of  Promise 
City.  Wayne  county,  Iowa,  who  died,  leav- 
ing four  children:     Warner.  Earl.  Jay  and 


Marvin.  Mrs.  Schick  now  lives  with  her 
father  in  Dayton.  (4)  Cora  is  the  wife  of 
Levi  G.  Ritchie,  living  near  Dell  Rapids, 
South  Dakota,  and  they  have  two  children: 
Vincent  and  Lulu.  (5)  Viola  married  j. 
N.  Le  Valley  and  died  in  August,  1896, 
leaving  one  child,  Frances.  (6)  Lulu  is  the 
wife  of  Judd  X.  Le  Valley,  of  Dayton,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Helen  Janette.  (7) 
Etta  is  the  wife  of  William  T.  Swanson, 
who  lives  on  a  farm  northwest  of  Dayton, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Glenn.  Mrs.  Can- 
died in  Dayton,  on  the  23d  of  April,  1891, 
leaving  many  friends,  as  well  as  her  im- 
mediate family,  to  mourn  her  loss. 

In  1883  Mr.  Carr  located  upon  the 
land  in  Dayton  township,  Webster  county. 
which  he  had  entered  from  the  government 
in  1855,  and  still  owns  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  acres,  which  is  now  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  quite  valuable.  For 
some  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  buying 
and  shipping  stock,  and  in  partnership  with 
X.  J.  Minnis  does  business  at  Dayton  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Carr  &  Company, 
dealers  in  live  stock,  grain,  hay,  oil  meal, 
buggies  and  wagons.  In  business  affairs 
he  has  steadily  prospered,  being  energetic, 
enterprising  and  industrious,  and  is  to-day 
quite  well-to-do.  He  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  Business  Men's  Building  &  Loan  As- 
sociation, of  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  the  Day- 
ton Investment  Company  and  the  First 
National  Bank,  of  Dayton,  and  is  one 
of  the  representative  and  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  the  town.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of'  Oak  Lodge,  No.  531,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M..  and  politically  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  has  served  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  several  terms  and  was 
thoroughly  impartial  in  meting  out  justice, 
his  opinions  being  unbiased  by  either  fear 
or  favor. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


359 


J.  M.   MULRONEY. 

J.  M.  Mulronej  is  now  living  a  retired 
life,  but  for  many  years  he  was  an  active 
facti  r  in  business  circles  in  Webster  coun- 
ty. He  possessed  an  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive spirit,  which  lias  ever  dominated 
the  west  and  which  has  led  to  its  rapid  and 
wonderful  development.  His  efforts  were 
of  that  particular  nature  that  contributed 
t'  i  the  general  good  as  well  as  his  individual 
prosperity,  and  thus  has  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  valued  representative  citizens  of 
tlu>  community  made  his  name  worth}'  of 
hi  norable  mention  in  this  history. 

Mr.  Mulroney  is  a  native  of  the  Em- 
erald Isle  and  the  sterling  qualities  of  the. 
--His  of  Ireland  are  noticeable  in  his  career. 
He  was  born  November  11.  1832,  and  is  a 
son  of  Patrick  Mulroney,  who,  with  his 
family,  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  Amer- 
ica when  our  subject  was  a  youth  of  thir- 
teen years.  They  located  at  Williamsburg. 
Xew  York,  where  they  resided  some  years. 
In  about  1859  the  mother  and  one  daugh- 
ter came  west,  the  father  having  passed 
away  at  Trenton,  Xew  Jersey,  where  he 
was  stopping  for  a  few  days,  attending  to 
business  affairs. 

Air.  Mulroney  remained  at  Williams- 
burg for  about  three  years  as  a  student  in 
the  schools  of  that  place.  He  also  spent 
c  ne  year  as  an  employe  in  a  blacksmith 
shop  and  then  went  to  Connecticut,  where 
fur  two  years  he  was  variously  employed, 
doing  service  upon  the  farm,  at  railroading 
and  in  the  lumber  woods.  In  1849  lle 
turned  his  face  toward  the  setting  sun  and 
by  lake,  canal  and  stage  traveled  to  Min- 
eral Point,  Wisconsin,  where  he  had  rela- 
tives living.  For  a  year  he  was  in  partner- 
ship with  three  others  on  a  flatboat  on  the 
Mississippi  river,  getting  out    and    selling 


cedar  posts  and  pickets.  The  following 
spring.  [851,  he  was  attracted  by  the  dis- 
covery of  gold  on  the  Pacific  slope.  In  or- 
der to  reach  the  gold  fields  he  was  obliged 
to  i\turn  to  New  York,  where  he  took  pas- 
sage on"  an  ocean  steamer  and  by  way  of 
the  Nicaragua  route  proceeded  to  the  [ 
en  state,  where  he  engaged  in  mining, 
searching  for  the  precious  metal.  He  also 
ran  a  mercantile  business  in  connection 
with  mining.  He  remained  in  California 
until  1857,  at  a  place  then  known  as  Soda- 
I  ar.  The  company  with  which  he  was  as- 
si  dated  also  nut  a  pack  train,  which  was 
the  only  way  of  transporting  goods  at  that 
time.  The  freight  rate  was  eight  cents 
per  pound  when  the  train  was  first  estab- 
1  acted  as  postmaster,  hav- 

ing charge  of  the  mail,  for  which  he  re- 
ceived no  compensation  for  his  work.  He 
likewise  acted  as  claim  recorder  and  was 
a  prominent  factor  in  those  early  days  in 
California  when  many  men  of  resolute 
spirit,  string  principles  and  honorable  life 
sought  wealth  there,  but  when  also  many 
men  of  dishonest  motives  attempted  to 
trol  the  settlements  and  make  money  in 
any  way  possible.  Mr.  Mulroney  can  re- 
late many  interesting  incidents  in  the  early 
days  when  lynch  law  governed  that  region, 
for  it  was  the  only  method  which  the  citi- 
zens of  worth  could  use  in  dealing  with  the 
desperate  characters  that  infested  Califor- 
nia. 

At  length  returning  to  Philadelphia, 
Mr.  Mulroney  there  disposed  of  his  gold 
dust  in  1857.  and  after  spending  a  few 
weeks  in  that  city  again  made  his  way  to 
Wisconsin,  hut  shortly  afterwards  became 
a  resident  of  Iowa,  settling  in  that  pi  rtion 
of  the  state  now  comprised  within  the 
boundary  of  Palo  Alto  county.  At  the  first 
election,  in  1858.  when  the  organization  of 


360 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  county  took  place,  he  was  elected  treas- 
urer and  recorder,  serving  for  nine  years, 
and  during  that  time  he  also  conducted  a 
cattle  ranch.  He  filled  the  position  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  at  a  time  when  there  were 
fifty-seven  voters  in  Palo  Alto  county,  and 
was  also  postmaster,  the  office  being  in  his 
own  home  and  named  Sodabar.  The  offices 
of  the  treasurer  and  recorder  were  also  in 
his  home.  He  was  a  member  of  the  rescue 
party  at  the  time  of  the  Jackson  massacre. 
So  far  west  upon  the  frontier,  however,  was 
Irs  home,  that  all  kinds  of  experiences  were 
ic  be  endured  and  the  conditions  of  life 
were  primitive.  The  settlers  wore  buffalo 
moccasins,  lived  in  log  cabins  and  provided 
nearly  everything  which  was  needed  for 
use  in  the  home  and  upon  the  farms,  \->\- 
railroad  communication  had  not  yet 
brought  the  comforts  known  to  the  older 
east.  For  several  years  Mr.  Mulrony  con- 
ducted his  cattle  ranch  and  then  in  1865 
traded  cattle  for  a  good  mercantile  business 
at  Fort  Dodge,  thus  becoming  a  partner 
of  R.  P.  Furlong,  the  store  being  located 
where  the  firm  of  Mulroney  Manufactur- 
ing Company  is  now  situated.  A  wooden 
building  stood  there  at  the  time  he  entered 
the  mercantile  business,  but  it  has  long 
since  been  replaced  -  by  a  splendid  brick 
structure.  When  ten  years  had  passed  Mr. 
Mulroney  purchased  his  partner's  interest 
and  conducted  the  business  alone  until  he 
lurried  it  over  to  his  sons,  and  now  he  is 
practically  living  a  retired  life,  on  account 
of  lis  health.  He  is,  however,  associated 
with  some  of  the  financial  concerns  of  the 
county,  being  at  present  vice-president  of 
the  First  National  Bank.  He  was  also  in- 
terested in  the  building  of  the  Minneapolis 
&  St.  Louis  Railroad,  and  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Mason  City  &  Fort  Dodge  Rail- 
road, taking  a  contract  for  the  work  on  the 


latter  line,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Mul- 
roney, Furlong  &  London. 

In  1858,  in  Palo  Alto  county,  Mr.  Mul- 
roney was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jane 
Evans,  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Evans,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  who  came  to  Iowa  at  a 
very  early  date  and  spent  his  remaining 
days  in  Palo  Alto  county.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mulroney  were  born  the  following 
children:  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  Ed 
O'Connell,  of  Bloomington,  Illinois;  John, 
deceased,  who  was  a  real  estate  dealer  of 
Fort  Dodge ;  Kyran,  who  is  supposed  to 
be  in  the  west;  Will,  Joseph  and  Louis, 
who  are  associated  in  business  at  Fort 
Dodge;  Charles,  a  physician  on  the  revenue 
cutter  stationed  in  Alaska  during  the  win- 
ters of  1901  and  1902;  Edward,  an  attor- 
ney of  Missoula,  Montana;  and  Josephine. 
The  mother  died  in  1882  and  Mr.  Mulroney 
afterward  married  Miss  Hannah  Eugenie 
Byrne,  of  Fort  Dodge,  by  whom  he  has  two 
sons,  Frank  and  Robert. 

Such  in  brief  is  the  history  of  one  whose 
identification  with  AVebster  county,  Iowa,. 
dates  from  the  period  of  its  early  settle- 
ment. He  has  witnessed  almost  the  entire 
growth  and  development  of  this  part  of 
the  state,  and  has  contributed  in  a  large 
measure  to  its  progress,  and  at  all  times  has 
manifested  a  loyal  and  patriotic  spirit  in 
behalf  of  his  adopted  land.  In  business  he 
has  ever  maintained  an  unsullied  reputation 
for  straightforward  dealing,  and  the  circle 
1  if  his  friends  is  almost  co-extensive  with 
the  circle  of  his  acquaintances. 


ALBERT  M.  HOUGE. 

This  well-known  agriculturist,  residing 
on  section  5,  Badger  township,  owns  and 
operates  an  excellent  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  which  he  has  placed  under 


JOHN  J.  HOUGE 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


363 


a  high  state  of  cultivation.  I  [e  was  In  rn  on 
the  19th  of  April,  1855,  m  Dane  county, 
Wisconsin,  and  is  a  son  1  E  John  J.  and 
Karen  S.  Houge,  of  whom  extended  men- 
tion is  made  in  the  sketch  of  Carl  J.  Houge 
on  am  ther  page  1  f  this  v<  lume. 

In  1868  our  subject  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Webster  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  and  here  he  grew  to  manhi  •  6 
amid  rural  surroundings.  He  pursued  his 
studies  in  the  1(  cal  schools,  and  aided  in  the 
work  of  the  It  me  farm  until  twent 
years  of  age,  when  he  started  1  ut  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world.  His  life  has 
been  devoted  to  farming,  and  in  that  pur- 
suit he  has  met  with  excellent  success,  as  he 
uglily  understands  all  the  duties  which 
fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist. 

On  the  nth  of  November,  1 S 7 - .  in  this 
county,  Mr.  Houge  married  Miss  Caroline 
Sampson,  a  native  of  Livingston  county, 
Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  Sam] 
who  came  to  this  country  from  Norway  and 
after  spending  some  years  in  the  Prairie 
state  removed  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in 
[867.  being  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Badger  township,  where  he  fi  llowed  farm- 
ing throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
During  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  war  he 
joined  an  Illinois  regiment  and  was  in  the 
service  three  years.  He  died  in  this  county 
about  1872.  He  had  three  children  :  Caro- 
line, wife  of  our  subject;  Sarah,  wife  of 
II.  C.  Swanson,  of  Badger  township;  and 
Lewis,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houge  have  a  family  of  nine 
children,  namely:  Carl  J.,  Louis  P.,  Will- 
iam B.,  Agnes  S..  Clarence  M..  Bessie  S., 
John  J.  and  Peter  G.,  twins;  and  Alvin  H. 
All  are  at  home  with  exception  of  Carl  J. 
and  Louis  P.,  who  are  now  earning  their 
own  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houge  began  their  domes- 


tic life  1  11  the  farm  where  they  still  reside, 
and  after  renting  it  for  several  years  was 
given  the  place  as  his  share  of  his  father's 
estate.  It  consisted  of  1  ne  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  5,  Badger  township, 
but  he  also  has  an  adjoining  eighty-acre 
tract  i  n  sectii  n  4.  He  has  tiled  and  fenced 
the  entire  aim  unt,  and  set  out  fruit  and 
ornamental  trees,  has  built  a  neat  residence 
and  good  barns  and  1  utbuildings,  and  now 
has  a  well-improved  farm  supplied  with  all 
the  accessories  and  conveniences  found 
upon  a  m<  del  farm  of  the  present  century. 
He  is  engaged  in  the  breeding  and  raising 
of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  for  market,  and  in> 
this  branch  of  his  business  he  has  also  pros- 
pered. 

The  Republican  party  has  alwa\  - 
in  Mr.  Houge  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principles  since  he  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Rutherfi  rd  B.  Hayes  in  1876,  and 
he  has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  local 
politics,  serving  as  township  trustee  two 
terms:  supervisor  of  highways  several 
years,  while  he  is  now  a  member  of  the 
board.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to 
numen  us  a  unty  conventii  ns  1  f  his  party, 
and  his  public  duties  have  always  been  most 
conscientii  msly  discharged. 


CHARLES  J.  SCHILL. 

Charles   J.    Schill,  "um- 

bered among  the  most  active  and  enterpris- 
ing farmers  of  DaytOn  township 
twenty  years,  and  was  living  on  his  farm 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
February  6,  [895.  He  was  born  in  Elf- 
berg,  Sweden,  1  n  the  tsl  of  May.  1844,  a 
son  of  Charles  M.  and  Eliza  Schill.  who 
brought   their   family  to  the  new   world  in 


364 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1862,  landing  in  New  York.  They  were 
on  the  Atlantic  ocean  for  thirteen  weeks, 
and  came  very  nearly  starving  the  last  few 
days.  After  spending  two  years  in  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  they  removed  to  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa,  where  the  father  purchased 
a  tract  of  land  and  improved  a  farm.  In 
1870  he  came  to  Dayton  and  is  now  living 
with  his  danghtcr.  Mrs.  Hedlund,  at  this 
place,  his  wife  having  died  here  in  1890. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  of 
whom  three  are  still  living,  namely :  Chris- 
tine L.,  widow  of  John  L.  Hedlund,  and  a 
resident  of  Dayton;  Frank  G.,  who  married 
Caroline  Johnson  and  lives  on  a  farm  in 
Lost  Grove  township;  and  Gustave  A.,  who 
married  Ida  Hall  and  resides  in  Fort 
Dodge. 

Charles  J.  Schill,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  had  but  little  opportu- 
nity to  attend  the  schools  of  his  native  land. 
He  was  eighteen  years  of  age  on  the  emi- 
gration of  the  family  to  America,  and  re- 
mained with  his  parents  in  Illinois  until  he 
entered  the  arm}-.  On  the  1st  of  February, 
1864,  at  Galesburg,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
!.,  Fourteenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Cavalry, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  X.  X.  Bur- 
pee and  Colonels  H.  Capron  and  F.  M. 
Davidson.  He  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  on  the  24th  of  the 
same  month,  and  the  regiment  was  as- 
signed to  Stoneman's  Division  Cavalry 
G  rps,  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  under 
General  Thomas.  Mr.  Schill's  arm  was 
broken  in  an  accident  at  Pulaski,  Tennes- 
see, caused  by  a  derailed  train,  and  he  was 
confined  in  the  hospital  for  some  time. 
After  his  recovery  he  assisted  in  the  care 
of  others  for  a  while,  but  desiring  more 
active  service  he  was  released,  and  took  part 
in  several  engagements.  At  the  close  of 
the   war   he  was  honorably   discharged    at 


Pulaski,   July  31,    1865,   and  mustered   out 
on  the  4th  of  August. 

Mr.  Schill  then  joined  his  parents  in 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  shortly  after- 
ward removed  with  the  family  to  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa.  He  was  married  July  2, 
1870,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Cannon,  of  Hardin 
township,  Webster  county,  who  was  born  in 
Ljusdahl  Helsingland,  Sweden,  September 
18,  1848,  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Chris- 
tine Cannon.  Her  family  came  to  America 
in  1854  on  the  sailing  vessel  Magda,  and 
after  six  weeks  spent  upon  the  water  landed 
in  Xew  York,  whence  they  proceeded  to 
Mercer  count}-,  Illinois,  locating  near  Xew 
Boston.  In  1861  they  came  to  Webster 
count}-,  Iowa,  by  team  and  covered  wagon, 
there  being  no  railroad  at  that  time  any 
nearer  than  Iowa  City.  There  were  few 
settlements  this  side  of  Marshalltown.  and 
they  would  often  travel  all  day  long  with- 
out seeing  a  house.  Webster  county  was 
very  sparsely  settled  and  only  a  very  few 
families  were  living  in  Hardin  township 
when  they  located  there.  Mr.  Cannon  pre- 
empted a  quarter  section  of  government 
land  in  that  township,  and  on  it  he  made 
his  home  until  his  death,  October  12,  1891. 
His  wife  died  on  the  22nd  of  January, 
1 90 1.  The_\-  were  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, ine  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those 
living  are  Christine,  widow  of  Andrew 
Seth  and  a  resident  of  Stratford,  Iowa ; 
Ellen,  widow  of  Carl  J.  Johanson  and  a 
resident  of  the  same  place;  Jonas,  who  also 
lives  in  Stratford;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  our 
subject;  and  Peter,  of  Stratford.  Unto 
Air.  and  Mrs.  Schill  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children :  Lorena,  wife  of  Emanuel 
Johnson,  employed  in  a  meat  market  in 
Dayton  ;  Millie  G.  and  Harry  M.,  both  at 
home  with  their  mother;  Arthur  J.,  who 
died  September  10,  1895,  at  the  age  of  fif- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


365 


teen  years;  Carl,  also  at  home;  and  Edna. 
who  died  September  14,  1895,  when  about 
three  years  of  age.  The  family  have  a  very 
pleasant  and  comfortable  home  in  Dayton, 
and  stand  high  in  public  esteem. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Schill  continued 
to  reside  in  Hamilton  county  until  1876, 
when  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Dayton  township,  Web- 
ster county,  to  which  he  subsequently  added 
forty  acres.  He  successfully  engaged  in 
the  operation  of  this  land  until  his  death. 
He  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  an  honored  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  while  his 
wife  was  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Relief 
Corps  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
which  he  also  attended.  His  life  was  such 
as  b  1  ci  immand  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  with  whom  he  was  brought  in  con- 
tact, either  in  business  or  social  affairs,  and 
he  was  always  found  true  to  every  trust 
reposed  in  him.  so  that  his  loyalty  to  his 
adopted  country  was  above  question,  be- 
ing manifest  in  days  1  f  peace  as  well  as 
when  he  followed  the  old  flag  to  victory  on 
southern  battle  fields. 


STILLMAN  T.  MESERVEY. 

Hon.  Stillman  T.  Meservey  is  now  rep- 
resenting his  district  in  the  state  legislature, 
and  is  known  as  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished and  honorable  citizens  of  Webster 
0  mnty.  He  is  prominent  in  the  circles  of 
the  Republican  party,  where  his  opinions 
carry  weight  and  influence  because  of  his 
honest  allegiance  to  the  platform,  his  lofty 
patriotism  and  his  unfaltering  support  of 
whatever  he  believes  to  be  right  and  just. 
Mr.  Meservey  is  numbered  among  the  na- 


tive suns  of  Illinois,  where  his  birth  oc- 
curred December  17,  1848.  He  was  aboul 
six  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Webster  county,  and  thus  he  has 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  this  lo- 
cality. His  preliminary  education,  ac- 
quired in  the  public  schools  of  Fort  Dodge, 
was  supplemented  by  study  in  the  Clinton 
Liberal  Institute,  of  Clinton,  Xew  York. 
Throughout  his  business  career  he  has  been 
identified  with  commercial  and  industrial 
interests  of  the  county  seat.  For  a  time 
he  owned  and  conducted  a  drug  store,  and 
since  its  organization  in  1871,  he  has  been 
associated  with  the  Iowa  Plaster  Associa- 
tion. As  a  business  man  he  is  extremely 
capable  possessing  the  western  spirit  of  en- 
terprise and  progress.  He  not  only  forms 
his  plans  readily,  but  is  determined  in  their 
execution,  and  with  all  he  is  straightfor- 
ward and  reliable  in  all  trade  transactions. 
Mr.  Meservey  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Anna  Scott,  of  Oneida  county,  Xew 
York,  and  their  union  was  blessed  with 
three  children:  William  X..  Lizzie  and 
Scott.  The  family  occupy  an  enviable  po- 
sition in  social  circles,  and  their  own  home 
is  celebrated  for  its  gracious  hospitality, 
which  is  greatly  enjoyed  by  their  many 
friends.  On  the  15th  of  December,  1900, 
Mrs.  .Meservey  was  called  to  her  final  re- 
ward, leaving  a  much  bereaved  family  and 
a  host  of  admiring  friends.  In  the  affairs 
of  the  city  Mr.  Meservey  has  long  been  an 
important  factor,  and  his  fellow  townsmen, 
recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  have 
called  him  to  public  office.  Three  times  he 
has  served  as  mayor  of  Fort  Dodge,  his  ad- 
ministration being  practical,  business  like 
and  progressive.  He  has  favored  improve- 
ment without  extravagance.  He  has  sup- 
ported all  practical  reforms  and  has  ever 
exercised   his  official  prerogatives    to    sup- 


366 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


port  the  measures  that  have  lead  to  sub- 
stantial development.  Several  times  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  city  council,  and  in 
1885  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature 
of  towa,  and  again  honored  with  the  posi- 
tion in  1901.  No  higher  testimonial  of  his 
capability  could  be  given  than  the  fact  that 
he  has  been  re-elected  to  office,  for  the  pub- 
lic is  a  discriminating  factor  and  although 
unscrupulous  men  sometimes  gain  office,  it 
is  impossible  for  them  to  retain  electii 
sitions  which  are  subject  to  public  criticism. 
Mr.  Meserve}  lias  left  the  impress  of  his 
individuality  upon  the  legislative  measures 
enacted  during  his  terms  of  service.  To 
each  question  that  has  come  up  for  settle- 
ment, he  has  given  earnest  and  thoughtful 
deratii  n,  and  his  course  has  ever  been 
marked  by  patriotic  devotion  to  duty,  plac- 
ing his  county  before  party,  and  general 
welfare  before  personal  aggrandizement. 


ALBERT  L.  STINE. 

Albert  L.  Stine,  farmer  and  coal  dealer, 
and  owner  <  f  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land  on  sections  3  and  to.  Pleasant  Val- 
ley township,  was  born  in  .McLean  county, 
Illinois,  fifteen  miles  east  of  Bloomington, 
September  19.  1845.  His  parents,  1).  E. 
and  Mary  (Dawson)  Stine,  were  natives 
respectively  of  Duncombe  count}-.  North 
Carolina,  and  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and 
were  intimately  connected  with  pioneer  life 
in  Iowa. 

The  Stine  family  is  of  German  descent, 
and  was  first  represented  in  America  by  the 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  who 
emigrated  from  Germany  and  settled  in 
Pennsylvania.  <  >n  the  maternal  side,  the 
grandfather  Dawson  came  from  Ohio,  and 


participated  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was 
actively  engaged  in  the  raid  on  the  Indians 
after  the  terrible  massacre  at  Spirit  Lake, 
Iowa,  and  his  patriotism  and  general  worth 
won  for  him  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of 
other  pioneers  of  this  state.  The  parents  of 
Ml  nil  L.  Stine  were  married  in  McLean 
count}'.  Illinois,  and  in  1853  removed  to 
Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  where  they  lived  until 
the  fall  of  1854,  going  then  to  Kossuth 
count}-,  this  state.  Eventually  they  re- 
turned to  McLean  county,  and  to  their  sur- 
prise found  that  the  grandfather  Dawson 
had  departed  from  his  accustomed  haunts, 
and  with  teams  and  prairie  schooners  had 
.started  with  his  family  for  Iowa.  Lie  set- 
tled in  Homer,  then  the  county-seat  of  Web- 
ster county,  where  he  bought  two  lots,  and 
afterward  came  to  Fort  Dodge,  where  he 
bought  the  four-acre  lots  now  owned  by  Mr. 
Conaway.  In  the  meantime  his  son-in-law, 
D.  E.  Stine,  finding  his  father-in-law  gone 
from  Mel. can  c<  unty,  started  in  pursuit  and 
overtook  him  at  Agency  City,  where  Mr. 
Dawson  had  rented  a  In  nisi;  ami  left  his 
family  and  one  team  of  horses.  Together 
they  took  their  families  and  moved  to  Fort 
Dodge,  where  Mr.  Stine  lived  until  the 
spring  of  1859,  after  which  he  settled  on  a 
farm, on  section  3,  Pleasant  Valley  township, 
which  property  is  now  owned  by  V.  Rogers. 
This  land,  which  was  taken  up  as  a  river 
claim,  continued  to  be  the  heme  of  the  ni  w 
settlers  until  186(1,  when  Mr.  Stine  took  up 
his  residence  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and 
engaged  in  building  and  contracting.  From 
there  he  removed  to  Olathe,  Johnson  coun- 
ty,. Kansas,  where  his  wife  died  in  April, 
1S74.  After  a  time  he  went  back  to  [owa 
and  lived  in  Carroll  county,  but  eventually 
settled  in  Denver,  Colorado,  in  r88i,  where 
he  again  married,  and  where  he  died  in 
[889.     He  was  a  Democrat   in  politics  and 


ALBERT  L.  STINE 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


309 


held  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsi- 
bility. He  was  deputy-sheriff  of  Linn 
county,  Iowa,  having  first  been  elected  con- 
stable, and  his  energy  and  varied  capabil- 
ities led  him  into  many  lines  of  activity. 
He  was  among  other  things  a  hotel  man, 
having  with  considerable  success  conducted 
a  hostelry  in  Cedar  Rapids.  He  was  the 
father  of  twelve  children  by  his  first  union, 
namely:  Albert  L. ;  Laura,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Judge  H.  P.  Moffitt  and  died  in 
Dubuque.  Iowa,  her  husband  having  died 
by  the  hand  of  an  assassin  in  Kentucky; 
J.  D.,  who  married  Miss  Talbott,  of  Car- 
roll, Iowa,  and  lives  in  Fort  Dodge;  Clar- 
inda,  who  lives  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri, 
and  married  Mr.  Blake  after  the  death  of 
her  first  husband,  Henry  Gile;  William, 
who  i>  married  and  lives  in  Xew  York 
city;  Maria,  who  lives  in  Carroll,  Iowa,  and 
is  the  wife  of  Robert  Cobuvn;  Mary,  who 
lives  near  Prairie  City,  Iowa,  and.  after  the 
death  of  her  husband,  James  Folsom,  mar- 
ried J.  Simmons;  McClelland,  who  died 
when  ten  days  old;  Frank,  who  married 
Elvira  Curtis  and  lives  in  Kansas  City,  Kan- 
sas; Nina,  who  is  the  wife  of  Warner  Mil- 
ler and  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado;  Elma, 
who  is  married  to  Frank  Thomas  and  lives 
in  Boone,  b  vva;  and  Henrv,  who  married 
Miss  Powell.  By  the  second  union  of  D.  E. 
Stine  there  were  three  children. 

The  early  education  of  Albert  L.  Stine 
is  interestingly  associated  with  the  first  log 
school  house  in  "Webster  county,  built  one 
block  west  of  wdiere  the  Wahkonsa  school 
building  now  stands  in  Fort  Dodge.  The 
teacher  of  this  school  in  1S55  was  a  Miss 
Hunt,  during  whose  term  of  service  the 
brick  school  house  was  built.  A  later  im- 
parter  of  the  principles  of  arithmetic,  gram- 
mar and  geography  was  Mr.  Gunn,  and  still 
later  Mr.  Gaylor,  who  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 


Miller  in  1859.  The  foil,, wing  winter  the 
Stine  family  removed  to  Pleasant  Valley, 
where  the  son  attended  school  during  the 
winter  months  and  worked  during  the  sum- 
mer, and  in  April  of  1864  entered  the  uni- 
versity at  Iowa  City.  The  emergency  of  the 
Civil  war  interfered  with  his  proposed  plans 
for  higher  education  at  the  university,  for 
in  June  of  1864  he  enlisted  in  Company  D, 
Forty-fourth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  un- 
der Captain  Charles  1''..  Boreland,  Colonel 
S.  H.  Henderson  and  Adjutant  General  A. 
i  Smith.  After  spending  some  time  at 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  the  regiment  partici- 
pated in  a  campaign  at  Holly  Springs, 
Mississippi,  and  were  engaged  in  guard  and 
skirmish  duty.  From  July  5,  1864,  until 
September  _\  1864,  they  were  at  Memphis, 
and  then  came  to  Cairo,  and  later  to  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  where  Mr.  Stine  was  honorably 
discharged  from  the  service  September  15, 
[864.  lie  then  returned  to  Fort  Dodge 
and  worked  on  a  farm,  and  also  engaged  in 
freighting  between  Boone,  Cedar  Falls,  Ne- 
vada and  Des  Moines  to  Fori  i  ixlge. 

On  the  24th  of  April.  1866,  at  Fort 
Dodge.  Mr.  Stine  married  Miss  Alice  Mc- 
Anally,  who  was  horn  in  De  Kalb  county, 
Indiana,  April  7,  1849,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam R.  and  Elizabeth  (Potts)  McAnally, 
the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky,  the  latter 
of  Defiance  county,  Ohio.  Her  parents 
were  married  in  the  Buckeye  state,  where 
they  made  their  home  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  then  spent  eleven  years  in  De 
Ralh  county.  Indiana.  In  the  spring  of 
r866  they  removed  to  Webster  county, 
low. -I,  and  located  m  Pleasant  Valley  town- 
ship. Upon  the  purchase  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  acres  of  land  they  lived 
for  two.  years,  and  after  disposing  of  the 
property  went  to  Cass  county,  Missouri, 
where   the    father  died   June    11.    1896,   and 


3.-o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


was  buried  at  Harrisonville,  that  county. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He 
had  been  justice  of  peace  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  had  held  most  of  the  import- 
ant township  offices  in  Indiana.  His  wife, 
who  is  now  living  in  Butler,  Bates  county. 
Missouri,  is  the  mother  of  fifteen  children : 
James,  now  deceased,  married  Mary  Knott, 
who  lives  in  Waterloo.  Indiana:  Louisa, 
also  deceased,  became  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Rhodes,  who  married  again,  and  died  in 
Webster  county,  towa;  Sarah,  who  died  at 
Kearney,  Nebraska,  married  James  Wal- 
lace, who  died  in  Bremer  county,  Iowa; 
Thomas,  who  died  in  Rochester,  Indiana, 
married  Nancy  Keely,  whose  death  occur- 
red in  Kansas  City.  Missouri;  Susan  and 
Mary  both  died  in  infancy;  Amanda,  who 
became  the  widow  of  William  Hornberger, 
lives  in  Bates  county,  Missouri,  and  has 
since  married  Albert  Rogers;  Catherine  and 
Isabella  died  in  infancy:  William  H.  mar- 
ried Kate  Corey  and  lives  in  Lehigh,  Iowa; 
Anna  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years:  Alice 
is  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Stine :  John  is  now  de- 
ceased, and  his  widow,  formerly  Martha 
Wynn,  married  again  and  lives  in  Cass 
county,  Missouri:  B.  W..  who  lives  in  Le- 
high, Iowa,  first  married  Mary  Ball  Mc- 
Anally  and  after  her  death  wedded  her  half- 
sister.  Hannah  Ball:  and  A.  L.  married 
Elizabeth  Copeland  and  lives  in  Rich  Hill, 
Bates  county.  Missouri. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stine  have  been  born 
the  following  children  :  Mary  E..  born  Jan- 
uary 2,  1868,  and  died  August  9,  1869; 
Laura  A.,  born  September  1.  1869,  and 
married  Thomas  Sebber  in  1893,  lives  on  a 
farm  in  Newark  township  and  has  two  chil- 
dren living,  Clara  and  Alice;  Daisv  I.,  born 
July  26,  1 87 1,  married  J.  J.  Fritz  in  1802, 
l^ves    at    Fort    Dodge,  and  has  one  child, 


Grace:  Mabel  C,  born  February  22,  1873. 
married  Robert  Johnston  in  1892,  lives  in 
Estherville.  Iowa,  and  has  four  children, 
Pearl,  Albert,  Ruby  and  Culbert ;  Margaret 
A.,  born  May  22,  1875,  married  Jeremiah 
Coleman  in  1896,  lives  in  Washington 
township  011  a  farm  and  has  two  children, 
Ellen  and  Lyle;  William  Ernest,  born  Feb- 
ruary 23.  1877.  is  a  traveling  salesman  fof 
the  Fort  Dodge  Grocery  Company :  Albert 
B.,  born  April  17,  1880,  died  December  16. 
1881  :  Aaron  F..  born  March  14.  1882,  lives 
in  Washington  township:  Faith,  born  Au- 
gust 3,  1884,  and  Robert  J.,  born  September 
14,  1886,  are  at  home;  Lisle,  born  Septem- 
ber 13,  1889,  died  November  10  of  the  same 
year;  Samuel  L.,  born  January  7,  1891, 
c  mpletes  the  family. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Stine  lived  in 
Webster  county  until  March  14,  1807.  when 
he  went  to  Kansas  City.  Missouri,  and 
worked  there  that  summer  at  making  hay 
and  hauling  ties  and  bricks.  On  the  idth  of 
October,  the  same  year,  he  returned  to  Web- 
ster county  and  bought  five  acres  of  land 
on  section  10,  Pleasant  Valley  township, 
and  in  iHj(>  sold  out  and  settled  on  the  Fort 
Dodge  Coal  Company's  land,  where  he  built 
a  house  and  rani  a  coal  mine  until  [896.  He 
then  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 3,  Pleasant  Valley  township,  and  after- 
ward bought  eight}-  acres,  and  at  the  present 
time  he  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  as  fine  land  as  is  to  be  found  in  the  coun- 
ty. The  coal  mine  under  his  farm  is  leased 
to  other  parties,  and  at  present  Mr.  Stine 
devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  is  a  wide-awake,  pr<  *- 
gressive  man.  and  has  added  his  share  to 
the  best  development  of  AYebster  count}". 
Mr.  Stine  is  a  popular  and  well-known  man 
and  fraternally  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent  Order    of    Odd    Fellows,    Sparta 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECOUP. 


37i 


Lodge,  No.  226,  at  Kalo.  He  is  also  as- 
sociated with  the  .Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, Fort  Donelson  Post,  at  Fort  Podge. 
Dodsre. 


JOHN  O'LOUGHLIX. 

John  O'Loughlin;  deceased,  through 
the  years  of  his  identification  with  Fort 
Podge  enjoyed  the  highest  respect  of  his 
fellow  townsmen  by  reason  of  his  strict  in- 
tegrity and  upright  dealings.  He  was  born 
in  Count)'  Clare,  Ireland,  June  20,  1820, 
and  in  early  life  came  to  the  United  States. 
Prior  to  his  departure  for  this  country  both 
his  parents  died,  and  the  trip  to  .America 
was  made  alone.  He  first  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Roundout,  New  York.  Learning 
the  mason's  trade,  he  followed  that  occupa- 
tion throughout  his  active  business  life,  and 
during  his  residence  in  Fort  Dodge,  he  also 
dealt  in  real  estate  to  some  extent. 

In  1N54  Mr.  O'Loughlin  was  married 
at  Roundout.  New  York,  to  Miss  Ellen 
Murphy,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the  Em- 
erald Isle,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
the  following  named  children:  Mary,  now 
a  resident  of  Fort  Podge,  was  born  in 
Roundout,  Xew  York,  and  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching  school  for  some  time; 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  T.  A.  Cunningham, 
of  Fort  Podge;  Ella  is  the  wife  of  C.  E. 
Griffin,  a  merchant  of  Clare,  Iowa;  and 
John  C.  is  a  mason  and  contractor  of  Fort 
Podge.  All  the  children,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  first  named,  were  born  in  Fort 
Dodge. 

It  was  on  the  1st  of  October,  1856,  that 
Air.  O'Loughlin  and  his  family  came  to 
Fort  Podge,  and  with  its  business  interests 
lie  was  closely  identified  until  his  death, 
which   occurred  June  22,    1886.     His  wife, 


who  survived  him  some  years,  passed  away 
on  the  17th  of  February,  1896.  Their 
home  was  at  546  Third  avenue,  north, 
which  house  was  built  by  Mr.  O'Loughlin 
alone  in  early  days.  He  not  only  erected 
the  walls  of  this  structure,  but  also  quarried 
the  gypsum  and  cut  the  stone,  it  taking  him 
about  five  years  to  complete  the  task,  but 
ii  to  day  stands  as  a  substantial  monument 
to  his  architectural  skill  and  handiwork. 
In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  was  found 
true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him,  and  was 
held  in  high  regard  by  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact,  either  in  business  or  social 
life. 


JOHN    LOOBY. 


For  several  years  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  actively  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  Fort  Podge  and  was  ac- 
counted one  of  its  most  reliable  and  highly 
respected  citizens.  He  was  born  in  Utica, 
Ww  York,  May  6,  1835,  and  was  a  son 
of  Thomas  Looby,  a  native  of  Ireland  and 
a  retired  gentleman.  At  an  early  day  the 
family  removed  to  Wilkesbarre,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  there  our  subject  acquired  his 
literary  education  and  also  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade.  When  the  country  became 
involved  in  civil  war  he  offered  his  services 
to  the  government,  enlisting  in  April,  iNoi. 
for  ninety  days,  as  a  member  of  Company 
P.  Eighth  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. At  the  end  of  that  time  he  was 
mustered  out  and  did  not  re-enlist  on  ac- 
o  iunt  of  rheumatism. 

Coming  to  Iowa  in  the  summer  of  1861, 
Mr.  Looby  first  located  in  Dubuque  and 
turned  his  attention  to  boat  building  in  the 
daytime  and  to  drilling  recruits  at  night  un- 
til   1862,    when   he  accepted   a   position   as 


372 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


freight  conductor  on  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western  Railroad.  The  following  year  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  as  passenger  conductor,  running 
between  Dubuque  and  Fort  Dodge,  and  re- 
mained with  that  corporation  until  1879, 
when  he  embarked  in  the  grain  and  stock 
business  and  followed  that  pursuit  for  one 
year.  The  following  year  was  spent  in 
travel  in  the  west,  and  in  1882  he  opened  a 
drug  store  in  Fort  Dodge,  which  be  carried 
on  quite  successfully  until  ill  health  caused 
his  retirement  from  business  in  1894.  Mr. 
Looby's  efforts  met  with  success  and  at  the 
time  <  f  his  death  he  was  able  to  leave  his 
family  in  comfortable  circumstances.  Mr. 
Looby  was  married  on  October  31,  1874, 
to  Miss  Annie  Goodwin,  who  was  born  in 
Watertown,  New  York,  January  7,  1856. 
Her  parents,  John  and  Mary  (McAdams) 
Goodwin,  were  natives  of  Ireland  and  Ver- 
mont, respectively.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Looby  were  born  six  children,  the  first  four 
in  Dubuque  and  the  others  in  Fort  Dodge. 
In  order  of  birth  they  are  as  follows:  Jen- 
nie, born  August  8,  1875,  is  now  the  wife 
of  Virgil  Deckert,  a  plumber  of  Fort 
Dodge;  Alice,  born  October  10,  1877,  is 
the  wife  of  J.  T.  Garland,  bookkeeper  for 
the  Iowa  Plaster  Company  of  this  city; 
Julia,  born  May  30,  1879.  is  the  wife  oi 
Herbert  L.  Dickinson,  a  farmer  of  Elreno, 
Oklahoma;  Annie,  born  January  31,  1881, 
is  the  wife  of  E.  F.  Warren,  a  machinist  of 
Chicago;  and  Agnes,  born  March  25,  1883, 
and  Esther,  born  April  25,  1886,  are  both 
attending  St.  Joseph's  Academy  of  Des 
\l<  Hies.  The  family  residence  in  Fort 
Dodge  is  at  813  First  avenue  north. 

Mr.  Looby  died  November  15,  1896, 
and  his  death  was  deeply  mourned  by  a  host 
of  warm  friends  as  well  as  his  immediate 
family.     He  was  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and 


a  member  of  Fort  Donelson  Post,  No.  236, 
G.  A.  R.  He  was  also  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  Company  G,  Iowa  National  Guards, 
and  was  one  of  the  representative  and 
prominent  citizens  of  Fort  Dodge. 


SARAH  ELMIRA  DANIELS. 

The  oft-demonstrated  fact  that  women 
possess  particular  aptitude  for  the  manage- 
ment of  agricultural  enterprises  is  happily 
illustrated  in  the  successful  career  of  Sarah 
Elmira  Daniels,  widow  of  W.  H.  Daniels, 
and  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres  on  section  8,  Webster  township.  Un- 
til her  tenth  year  Mrs.  Daniels  lived  in  Ma- 
con county,  Illinois,  where  she  was  born 
June  8,  1854,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Widick, 
subsequently  identified  with  the  substantial 
growth  of  Webster  county,  and  mentioned 
at  length  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

At  the  public  schools  of  Webster  county 
Mrs.  Daniels  diligently  continued  the  study 
begun  in  Illinois,  and  remained  under  the 
parental  roof,  a  mile  from  where  she 
now  lives,  up  to  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage with  W.  II.  Daniels,  March  2^, 
18/ 3.  Mr.  Daniels  was  born  in  Bureau 
o  mity,  [llini  is,  June  9,  184'),  a  son  of  Dan- 
iel Daniels,  the  latter  of  whom  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  chief  promoters  1  >f  the  well- 
being  of  this  county.  The  son  graduated 
from  the  district  schools  and  the  high  school 
of  Webster  City,  and  lived  with  his  parents 
until  the  time  of  his  marriage.  He  then 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  to  the  im- 
provement of  which  he  devoted  his  best  en- 
ergies up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  October 
24,  1899.  Nor  did  the  eighty  acres  repre- 
sent the  entire  result  of  his  industry,  for  as 
the  years  went  by  and  his  harvests  vielded 


W.  H.  DANIELS 


MRS.  W.  H.  DANIELS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


177 


abundantly  more  lands  came  into  his  pi  - 
n,  so  that  in  time  he  owned  more  than 
six  hundred  acres.  He  was  an  excellent 
manager  and  shrewd  business  man  and  un- 
dersto  d  how  to  best  utilize  the  land  in  the 
improvement  of  which  he  took  such  pride. 
He  raised  considerable  high-grade  stock 
and  engaged  in  general  farming,  but  was 
by  no  means  self-centered  in  his  inter 
fi  r  township  affairs  in  general  commanded 
his  earnest  consideration  and  suppi 
a  stanch  Republican  he  held  many  offices  of 
trust  and  responsibility,  and  he  was  con- 
spicuously averse  to  the  crooked  methods 
often  resorted  to  by  office  holders  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  public  welfare.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  contributed  to"  the  extent  of  his  ability 
toward  its  charities  and  support,  and  he  was 
fraternally  associated  with  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World.  In  the  Lab'  ring  Men's  Co- 
operative Life  Association  he  carried  a  pol- 
icy of  two  thousand  dollars,  and  al» 
thousand  dollars  in  the  Modern  Woodmen. 
Mr.  Daniels  was  unexpectedly  called  from 
the  surroundings  of  which  he  had  been  an 
integral  and  influential  part,  for  his  illness 
was  of  but  a  week's  duration.  He  was  a 
man  of  sterling  worth  and  unblemished  in- 
tegrity, and  the  hosts  of  friends  who  missed 
him  from  the  accustomed  haunts  appreciated 
his  many  enviable  traits  of  character. 

Mrs.  Daniels  is  at  present  the  owner  of 
two  hundred  acres  of  her  husband's  prop- 
erty, the  balance  of  the  six  hundred  acres 
having  been  divided  up  among  the  heirs  ac- 
cording to  the  terms  of  his  will.  Upon  this 
well-regulated  and  fertile  farm  she  has 
reared  the  following  children  :  Delia  Mabel, 
born  March  5.  1874.  and  now  the  wife  of 
Edward  Wooddle,  of  Webster  township; 
Bertha  Evelyn,  born  February  12,  1S77.  and 
the  wife  of  Edward  Reed,  a  farmer  of  Web- 


■■■■  nship  :  1  >aisi    ^.gnes,  boi  1  September 
6,   1879,  an''  at  present  the  win 

Hamilton,  a   farmer  living  one  mile  c 
the  Daniels  farm:  Howard  Alvin.  born  May 
30,  1882,  and  living  with  his  mother;  Will- 
iam Ralph,  horn  June  21,   [884;  Mollii 
gusta,  born   February  6,   [889;  Walter  Ed- 
gar,   horn    January    17,    [892;    Hazel 
March  30.    1896.      In  the  carry i. 
of  her  various  interests  Airs.  Daniels  is  ably 
assisted  by  three  of  her  sons,  who  are  suc- 

illy   maintaining   the  methods   adopted 
by  their  father,  and  are  in  every  way  pro- 

ive  and  broad-minded  member-  of  si  - 
ciety.  Mrs.  1  )aniels  is  a  share  holder'  in 
the  Lehigh  Savings  Bank,  and  is  a  mi 
of  the  Rebekah  Lodge  at  Lehigh.  She  has 
■  table  home,  fine  barns 
and  general  improvements,  is  a  worker  in 
the  Methi  >:  pal  church,  and  an  in- 

fluential member  of  the  social  and  material 
life  of  the  township. 


HIRAM    REEFER. 


r  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  this 
gentleman  was  identified  with  the  interests 
of  Fi  rt  Dodge,  and  was  accounted  cue  of 
its  most  highly  respected  citizens.  He  was 
born  in  Coeymans,  Albany  count}',  Xew 
York.  August  8,  1824,  and  in  early  life  was 
apprenticed  to  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Al- 
bany. After  he  had  thoroughly  mastered 
that  occupation  he  commenced  busines 
himself  as  a  contractor  and  builder. 

On  the  22d  of  September.  1847.  Mr. 
Keefer  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Susan  Rainier,  of  Western.  Xew  York,  and 
before  leaving  Albany  county  one  son  was 
hn  1'..  whose  birth  occurred 
April  20,  1853.    On  the  21st  of  April,  1856, 


378 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mr.  Keefer  and  his  family  removed  from 
Albany  to  Harvard  Junction,  McHenry 
county,  Illinois,  where  the  son  died  Febru- 
ary II,  1859.  Another  son,  Charles  M,, 
was  born  at  that  place  October  19,  1861. 
While  at  Harvard  Mr.  Keefer  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company  as  contractor  and 
builder. 

In  18G8  he  brought  his  family  to  Fort 
Dodge,  Iowa,  arriving  here  on  the  14th  of 
April,  and  here  formed  a  partnership  with 
L.  Blanden  and  H.  Norton  in  the  lumber 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Blanden, 
Norton  &  Company.  His  worth  and  abil- 
ity were  soon  widely  recognized  and  he  be- 
came a  prominent  factor  in  public  affairsv 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  city  council 
from  the  fourth  ward  and  also  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board.  His  course  was  ever 
such  as  to  commend  him  to  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  was 
bn  Light  in  contact  either  in  public  or  private 
life,  and  at  his  death,  which  ocurred  Oc- 
tober 31,  1893,  he  left  many  friends  as  well 
as  bis  immediate  family  to  mourn  his  loss. 
His  widow,  who  was  bom  on  the  1st  of 
March.  1821,  at  New  Baltimore,  Greene 
count  v.  Xew  York,  is  now  eighty-one  years 
of  age,  but  still  enjoys  good  health.  She 
makes  her  home  at  1331  Fourth  avenue 
south,  where  she  is  surrounded  by  a  host  of 
warm   friends  and  acquaintances. 

Charles  M.  Keefer,  the  only  child  of  our 
subject  now  living,  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Fort  Dodge,  and  was  connected 
with  a  grocery  store  in  this  city  in  1877  and 
1878.  On  severing  his  connection  with  the 
firm  he  commenced  railroading  as  brakeman 
on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  in  the  fall 
of  1X79,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  following 
year  was  called  to  Minneapolis  as  a  con- 
ductor on  the  main   line    of    the    Minne- 


apolis &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  with  which 
he  remained  four  years.  He  was  next 
in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Milwau- 
kee &  St.  Paul  Railroad,  and  while 
with  that  road.  September  19,  1885,  he 
fell  from  the  top  of  a  box  car,  passing 
between  two  cars,  and  falling  with  his 
right  hand  on  the  rail,  so  that  it  was 
crushed  under  the  wheels.  This  necessi- 
tated the  amputation  of  that  member. 
Since  then  Mr.  Keefer  has  been  a  book- 
keeper and  traveling  salesman,  and  makes 
liis  home  in  Fort  Dodge.  He  acceptably 
served  one  term  as  city  assessor,  to  which 
office  he  was  elected  by  a  large  majority — 
a  fact  that  plainly  indicates  his  personal 
popularity  and  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him  by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  was  mar- 
ried, May  K).  [889,  to  Miss  Lucy  E.  Cooley, 
of  Marshalltown,  Iowa. 


FRANK  L.   EASLEY. 

Probably  one  of  the  best-known  civil 
engineers  of  this  section  of  the  state  is 
Frank  L.  Fasley.  of  Fort  Dodge,  his  home 
being  at  613^2  Central  avenue.  He  was 
born  November  29,  1850,  near  Crawfords- 
ville.  in  Parke  county,  Indiana,  and  is  one 
of  a  family  of  ten  children,  having"  five 
brothers  and  four  sisters.  His  parents, 
Daniel  and  Rachel  (Newcomb)  Easley, 
both  died  in  October.  1901,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  and  seventy-five  years,  re- 
spectively. Both  were  born  in  this  country, 
and  the  father  was  a  contractor  and  builder 
by  occupation.  He  was  a  soldier  of  both  the 
Mexican  and  Civil  wars,  and  was  a  most 
loyal  and  patriotic  citizen.  In  1S51  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Ottumwa,  Iowa, 
where  in  connection  with  his  chosen  occu- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


379 


1 'an. -n  he  also  ran  a  mill  until  the  Civil  war 
broke  out,  when  he  assisted  in  organizing 
two  companies  of  infantry,  but  he  himself 
joined  the  First  Iowa  Cavalry. 

Frank  L.  Easier  acquired  his  early  edu- 
<  atii  n  in  the  public  schools  of  Ottumwa,  and 
also  studied  civil  engineering,  being  con- 
nected with  that  department  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  service  in 
starting  out  upon  his  business  career.  Com- 
ing to  Webster  county  in  1875,  he  engaged 
in  civil  engineering  and  the  study  of  law 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  before  the 
state  and  federal  courts  in  1S80.  That  year 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railway  in  the  capacity  of 
civil  engineer,  and  in  1883  was  elected 
county  surveyor  of  Webster  county,  which 
office  he  filled  for  a  number  of  terms.  He 
also  served  as  city  engineer  for  ten  vears, 
being  elected  to  that  position  in  1S84,  and 
under  his  supervision  all  of  the  sewer  mams 
of  Fort  Dodge  were  built  and  the  water 
works  reconstructed.  He  made  the  plans 
and  specifications  and  superintended  the 
erection  of  the  water  tower.  In  1884  Air. 
Easley  assisted  in  locating  and  building  the 
Mason  City  &  Fort  Dodge  Railroad,  now  a- 
part  of  the  Chicago  &  Great  Western  sys- 
tem, and  in'  1898  again  entered  the  service 
of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway  on 
double-track  work  between  Cedar  Rapids 
and  Tama  City,  and  also  laid  out  a  switch- 
yard in  Cedar  Rapids.  Being  then  trans- 
ferred, he  engaged  in  the  construction  of 
the  lines  on  Soldier  and  Boyer  rivers  near 
Dennison,  Iowa,  but  during  all  this  time  he 
made  his  headquarters  in  Fort  Dodge  and 
maintained  an  office  here.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  engaged  in  special  work  of  vari- 
ous kinds  in  the  line  of  his  profession,  and  is 
considered  one  of  the  best  and  most  capable 
civil  engineers  in  Iowa. 


On  the  3d  of  March.  iS-j.  Mr.  Easley 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Melissia 
McKinley,  a  daughter  of  Abner  McKinley, 
who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Easley  have  been  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Minnie,  the  wife  of  L.  B. 
Buswell,  of  Calhoun  county,  Iowa;  Emma, 
who  is  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Davidson  and  a 
tesident  of  Webster  county:  Andrew,  also 
a  farmer  of  this  count)  ;  Rachel,  who  is 
married  to  a  brother  of  the  other  Mr.  David- 
son and  resides  in  this  count}-;  Eva,  who 
married  a  Mr.  Reckard,  of  South  Dakota, 
where  they  make  their  home;  and  Frank, 
v\  ho  resides  in  this  county.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Easley  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
holding  the  Memphis  Rite,  ninetieth  de- 
gree. 


J.    F.   KUSTERER. 

From  crude  inactivity  and  unproductive- 
ness Mr.  Kusterer  has  developed  his  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section  5, 
Fulton  township,  until  at  the  present  time 
there  are  few  properties  in  the  county  which 
yield  more  abundant  harvests  or  reward  in- 
dustry with  more  lucrative  returns.  This 
especially  enterprising  tiller  of  the  soil  was 
bora  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  February 
20,  1854,  a  son  of  Jonathan  Conrad  and 
Caroline  (Bauer)  Kusterer.  natives  of  Ger- 
man)-. 

In  the  fatherland  Jonathan  Conrad 
Kusterer  was  a  successful  farmer,  while  she 
whom  he  eventually  married  was  a  clerk  in 
her  father's  brick-yard.  After  uniting  their 
fortunes  for  good  and  all  they  came  to 
America  in  June,  1853,  the  sailing  craft 
making  the  voyage  in  sixty-one  days.  Upon 
landing  in  New  York  they  went  direct  to 
Springfield,  Illinois,  by  rail,  and  from  there 
to   Mount   I'ula>ki.   that  state,  in  the  vicin- 


38o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ity  of  which  town  the}-  rented  land  for  ten 
or  eleven  years.  With  the  money  saved 
from  this  undertaking-  they  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Sagamon  county,  Illinois. 
upon  which  they  lived  for  eighty  years,  and 
this  was  afterward  given  in  trade  with  a 
money  consideration  for  another  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Logan  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  There  the  first  wife  died  in 
1886,  and  two  years  later  the  father  married 
Mary  Vogel;  who,  by  her  previous  mar- 
riage, had  one  son,  John,  now  living  in 
Quincy.  In  the  course  of  time  the  father's 
health  failed,  and  in  search  of  that  vitality 
supp  sed  to  be  imparted  by  the  balmy  air 
and  perpetual  sunshine  of  California  he 
went  thither  with  his  "wife,  and  died  amid 
his  delightful  surroundings  in  October, 
1901.  His  wife  now  lives  in  Mount  Pu- 
laski. Illinois.  There  were  seven  children 
in  the  family:  Wilhelmina,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Christian  Schrote,  a  farmer  near 
Mount  Pulaski;  J.  F. ;  John,  who  married 
Kate  Bresmer  and  live>  in  Fulton  township, 
Webster  ci  unity,  Iowa ;  Louis,  who  mar- 
vied  Lena  Rose  and  lives  on  the  home  farm 
in  Illinois;  Mary,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Garret  Rentmister  and  lives  near  Mount 
Pulaski;  Edward,  who  married  June  .Mc- 
Neil and  lives  in  Fulton  township,  Webster 
county,  Iowa;  and  Samuel,  who  married 
Fannie  Ellison  and  "lives  in  Sangamon 
county,   Illinois. 

As  a  buy  Mr.  Kusterer  lived  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  and  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  His  life  was  practi- 
cally uneventful  up  to  the  time  of  bis  mar- 
riage, January  30,  1878,  with  Catherine 
Voile,  who  was  born  near  Mount  Pulaski, 
Illinois,  December  2,  1858.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Kusterer  emigrated  from  Germany 
in  1830,  and  two  years  later  settled  in  Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania,  eventually  removing  to 


the  vicinity  of  Mount  Pulaski,  Illinois, 
where  thev  have  since  lived.  They  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Kusterer  is  the  oldest ;  <  reorge,  who  married 
Nancy  Broughton  and  lives  in  Kansas;  Ja- 
cob,  a  resident  of  Logan  count}-,  Illinois; 
|<  lin  C,  who  married  Leora  Lakin  and  lives 
in  Logan  county;  Frederick;  Lillie;  Louis; 
and  Walter.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kusterer 
have  been  born  six  children:  Fannie  E., 
born  September  20.  1879;  Lydia  M.,  June 
20,  [882;  Laura  A..  April  II,  1889;  Daniel 
J.,  March  28,  [892;  Luvina,  March  25, 
[894;  and  Ella  .May,  September  11,  1898. 
For  twenty-one  years  Mr.  Kusterer 
lived  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  upon  rented 
land,  and  in  the  meantime  had  purchased 
the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives,  and  upon 
which  he  moved  in  1898.  He  has  spared  no 
pains  in  general  improvements  and  has 
spent  over  two  thousand  five  hundred  dol- 
lars in  endeavoring  to  make  his  property 
.me  of  the  finest  in  Webster  county.  The 
buildings  are  constructed  after  the  most  ap- 
proved  manner,  and  the  machinery  intro- 
duced is  of  modern  construction  and  in  ac- 
cord  with  latter-day  methods  of  conduct- 
ing a  farm.  Mr.  Kusterer  is  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party,  but  has  been  too  ac- 
tively  employed  with  his  general  interests 
to  either  desire  or  seek  public  recognition. 
He  occupies  a  conspicuous  place  among  the 
progressive  agriculturists  and  citizens  of 
Fulton  township,  and  is  a  promoter  of  the 
all-around  stability  of  its  interests  and  insti- 
tutions. 


LEMUEL  LONG. 

Lemuel  L  ing,  a  retired  farmer  residing 
on  section  34,  Deer  Creek  township,  is  an 
honored  representative  of  the  early  pio- 
neers of  this  county  and  a  true  type  of  the- 


LEMUEL  LONG 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


383 


.nic,  hard}-  men  who  have  activebj  as- 
sisted in  developing  and  improving  this 
beautiful  and  fertile  agricultural  country. 
He  dates  his  residence  in  this  county  from 
the  spring  of  1856  and  in  its  development 
and  progress  he  has  taken  an  active  part. 

Mr.  Long  was  born  in  Coventry,  Con- 
necticut, October  29,  1813,  and  i-  now  the 
only  one  living  in  a.  family  of  ten  children. 
of  win im  lie  was  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 
'I  he  Long  familj  was  Founded  in  the  new 
world  by  three  brothers,  who  came  t<i  this 
ci  mitrv  in  early  colonial  days  and  settled  in 
New  York.  One  remained  in  that  state, 
but  one  subsequently  removed  to  Connecti- 
cut and  the  other  to  Pennsylvania.  From 
the  Connecticut  branch  our  subject  is  de- 
scended. His  father,  Reuben  Long,  was  a 
native  of  the  Nutmeg  state,  where  he  spent 
his  early  life  engaged  in  farming,  but  his 
last  years  were  passed  in  Erie  county.  Xew 
York,  where  he  located  when  that  region 
was  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness  ami  in 
the  midst  of  the  forest  he  cleared  and  de- 
veloped a  farm.  When  a  young  man  he 
married  Miss  Esther  Abby,  also  a  native 
of  Connecticut.  Her  father  took  part  in 
the  early  Indian  wars  and  also  in  the  Revo- 
lution, and  .her  husband  was  also  numbered 
among  the  Continental  soldiers  who  aided 
the  colonies  in  achieving  their  indepen- 
dence. 

Lemuel  Long  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  Erie  county,  Xew  York,  and  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  lie  at- 
tained his  majority.  In  1835  he  removed 
to  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  which  state  was 
then  a  territory,  and  took  up  a  claim  of 
eighty  acres,  which  he  subsequently  pur- 
chased when  the  land  came  into  market. 
There  he  opened  up  a  good  farm  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged-  in  its  operation  for  sev- 


eral years.  He  next  went  to  La  Salle  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  in  [854,  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acre-  of  wild  land  near  Ot- 
tawa, which  he  commenced  to  improve,  hut 
at  the  end  of  two  years  he  sold  that  place 
at  a  good  profit  and  came  to  Webster  1 
ty,  Iowa,  arriving  in  April.  1856.  After 
purchasing  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  wild  land  in  Deer  Creek  township, 
he  returned  to  Illinois  for  his  family.  Their 
first  home  here  was  a  log-  house,  in 
which  they  lived  for  several  years  while 
Mr.  Long-  broke  the  land  and  placed 
;'.  under  cultivation.  In  later  years  he 
sold  a  part  of  the  original  purchase 
and  bought  other  land,  and  to-day  owns 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  under 
excellent  cultivation  and  well  improved 
with  good  buildings.  In  connection  with 
general  farming  he  engaged  in  raising  and 
feeding  stock  for  market,  but  has  now  laid 
aside  all  business  cares  and  is  enjoying  a 
well-earned  rest. 

While  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo  county, 
Michigan.  Mr.  Long  was  married  in  1840 
to  Miss  Jane  Shoemaker,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Pennsylvania,  and  died  after 
coming  to  this  count}  in  1N57.  By  that 
union  seven  children  were  born,  namely: 
Reuben,  now  a  resident  of  Clarinda,  Iowa; 
Charles,  a  farmer  of  Nebraska;  Eli,  a  resi- 
dent of  Minnesota;  Joseph,  a  farmer  of 
Webster  count}-;  Mary,  wife  of  Wilson 
Lumpkin,  a  business  man  of  Louisiana; 
Martha,  wjife  of  W.  C.  Brown,  of  Fort 
Dodge.  Iowa;  Ada.  wife  of  George  Wright, 
of  Connecticut.  Mr.  Long  was  again  mar- 
ried in  this  count}-  in  1857,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Adaline  F.  Hunt,  a  na- 
tive of  Monroe  count}.  Xew  York,  where 
her  early  life  was  passed.  Her  father.. 
Ebenezer  Hunt,  was  a  miller  In"  trade  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Webster  county, 
Iowa.  In  early  life  Mrs.  Long  engaged  in 
teaching  and  taught  the  first  summer 
sch'  ol  in  Fort  Dodge.  She  died  May  26, 
1901,  leaving'  five  children:  Esther,  now 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Eechtel,  of  California; 
Erastus  E.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  on 
the  home  place;  Ellen  M.,  wife  of  W.  B. 
Miller,  of  Fort  Dodge;  Pattie  May,  wife 
of  James  B.  Garrett,  of  Fort  Dodge ;  and 
George  L.,  who  was  married  in  December, 
[899,  to  Bertha  L.  Fuller  and  had  one 
daughter.  Bertha  Ruth,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  nine  months. 

On  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Long 
became  identified  with  the  Democracy,  but 
being  a  strong  Abolitionist,  he  joined  the 
Republican  party  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war,  and  has  since  been  one  of  its 
.stanch  supporters,  lie  has  always  taken  an 
active  and  commendable  interest  in  public 
affairs  and  served  for  eight  years  as  town- 
ship trustee,  thirteen  years  as  township 
school  treasurer,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  several  years.  He  was 
reared  in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  but  has 
never  united  with  any  church  organization. 
His  long  residence  in  this  county,  covering 
almost  half  a  century  has  made  him  wideb- 
and favorably  known,  and  he  has  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact.  He  can  relate  many  in- 
teresting incidents  of  pioneer  days  in  this 
locality,  when  the  county  was  all  wild  and 
unimproved.  He  owned  the  first  threshing 
machine  ever  brought  into  the  county  and 
run  the  same  during  season  for  twelve 
years.  He  also  bought  the  first  mower  and 
reaper,  and  not  only  cut  grain  for  his  neigh- 
bors, but  fur  farmers  living  in  adjoining 
counties,  as  improved  machinery  was  very 
scarce  in  pioneer  days.  He  is  a  man  of 
tried  integrity  and  sterling  worth,  and  well 


deserves  prominent  mention  among  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  and  representative  citizens  of 
his  adopted  county. 

JAMES  O.   NELSON. 

Among  the  prominent  and  successful 
Norwegians  of  Webster  county  particular 
mention  is  due  James  O.  Nelson,  who  has 
improved  his  opportunities  in  the  land  of 
his  adoption  and  is  the  possessor  of  a  fine 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  30,  Fulton  township.  He  was  born 
in  Norway,  May  26,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of 
Xels  and  Anna  (Jenson)  Nelson,  who  were 
born  and  spent  their  entire  lives  in  the 
northern  country,  where  the  mother  died  in 
1877  and  the  father  in  1883.  Of  their  two 
living  sons,  Nels  is  a  farmer  and  is  still 
living  in  the  land  of  his  Norse  ancesu  >rs. 

Like  the  average  youth  of  Norway, 
James  O.  Xelsmi  received  a  practical  home 
training,  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
sclii  K  ils.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  sixteen  vears  of  age,  after  which  he 
was  empli  >yed  by  the  month  on  the  sur- 
rounding farms  until  the  age  of  twenty- 
i'i  >ur.  Hoping  much  from  a  complete 
change  of  surroundings,  he  emigrated  to 
America  in  1883,  and,  upon  locating  in 
Story  City,  Iowa,  was  for  a  time  employed 
by  the  railroad,  and  subsequently  worked  on 
a  farm  until  the  time  of  his  marriage  in 
Hamilton  county,  April  1.  1886.  Mrs.  Nel- 
son was  formerly  Torby  A.  Peterson,  a  na- 
tive of  Hamilton  county,  and  born  March 
13.  1869.  Her  parents,  who  were  of  Nor- 
wegian birth,  came  to  America  and  settled 
first  in  Illinois,  from  which  state  they  re- 
moved to  Hamilton  county,  Iowa,  where 
they  at  present  live.  Their  son  Oscar  is  a 
resident  of  Minnesota,  while  Bertha,  the 
wife  of  Martin  Miller,  and  Julia,  the  wife 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3?5 


of  J.    P.    Brakke,   arc   residents   of   Fulton 
tow  nship,  Webster  county. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Nelson  worked 
in  Marshall  county  fir  a  year,  and  for  the 
following  year  worked  for  his  father-in- 
law.  In  1 888  he  rented  land  for  a  year, 
and  then  bought  the  farm  upon  which  he 
now  lives,  and  where  his  first  wife  died 
March  21,  1894.  There  were  born  of  this 
union  three  children:  Nels  A.,  born  Janu- 
ary 16,  [887;  Alfred  T.,  born  March  22, 
1890;  and  Tobias,  horn  March  12,  1894, 
and  died  July  12,  1894.  April  1,  1898,  Mr. 
Nelsi  m  married  Bertha  Martenson,  who 
was  born  in  Norway  February  1,  1861,  and 
whose  father  died  in  January  of  1878,  but 
whose  mother  is  still  living  in  her  native 
land.  The  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs. 
Nelson  are :  Tobias,  who  lives  in  Mar- 
shall county ;  Martin,  who  is  a  resident  of 
Omaha.  Nebraska;  Balate,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Andrew  Brakke  and  lives  in  Norway; 
Mabel,  wdio  married  G.  Larson  and  also 
lives  in  Norway ;  Christiana,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Torbgarens  and  lives  in 
Norway ;  and  Martha,  who  is  unmarried 
and  lives  in  the  same  country.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nelson  were  born  two  children: 
Anna,  wdio  was  born  May  2,  1900,  and 
died  the  following  day ;  and  Amandel,  who 
was  born  February  13.  1902. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
also  raises  a  high  grade  of  cattle.  Al- 
though for  several  years  an  invalid,  and  at 
present  unable  to  accomplish  any  great 
amount  of  work,  he  is  able,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  his  strong  and  capable  sons,  to  keep 
things  on  the  farm  in  a  highly  prosperous 
condition.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  a 
stanch  adherent  of  the  principles  of  that 
party,  but  has  never  cared  for  political 
office.  He  is  a  man  of  high  moral  char- 
acter, as  are  most  of  his  countrymen,  and 


the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  near  his 
farm  owes  its  existence  to  his  promotion 
and  supp  n~t. 


TOHN  B.   GILL. 


Among  the  enterprising  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  Fort  Dodge  is  numbered 
the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch.  He  has  made  his  home  here  since 
the  spring  of  1869,  and  is  now  successfully 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Fourth  avenue  south  and  Nineteenth 
street.  A  native  of  the  neighboring  state 
of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in  Ogle  county, 
December  23.  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Charlotte  (Plane)  Gill,  who  were  born 
in  England  and  came  to  America  in  1837. 
By  occupation  the  father  was  a  farmer. 

For  his  early  education  John  B.  Gill  is 
indebted  to  the  public  schools  of  Byron, 
Illinois,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  and  aided  his  father 
in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  through  the 
summer  season  until  he  entered  the  army 
during  the  Civil  war.  He  first  enlisted  in 
t86i,  but  his  father  believing  him  too 
young  to  enter  the  service,  he  was  not 
allowed  to  go  to  the  front.  However,  on 
the  1 2th  of  December,  1863.  he  enlisted  at 
Byron  in  Company  M,  Seventeenth  Illinois 
Cavalry,  under  Captain  John  F.  Austin 
and  Colonel  John  L.  Beveridge.  who  was 
later  governor  of  Illinois.  From  their  camp 
at  St.  Charles.  Illinois,  the  regiment  went 
to  Alton,  where  they  did  guard  duty  at  the 
prison  fur  about  three  months.  After  this 
they  were  sent  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and 
for  some  time  was  engaged  in  fighting 
bushwhackers  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 
They  participated  in  numerous  engage- 
ments,   including-  those  at  California   Sta- 


386 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tion,  Independence,  Missouri,  and  Little 
Blue,  where  General  Marmaduke  was  cap- 
tured. The  hardest  battle  in  which  they 
took  part  was  at  Otonio  on  the  Arkansas 
line.  They  remained  there  until  after  the 
surrender  of  General  Lee.  when  they  were 
sent  out  on  the  plains  near  Fort  Worth, 
Texas.  Mr.  Gill  was  mustered  out  at  Fort 
Leavenworth,  Kansas.  November  23,  1865, 
and  received  an  honorable  discharge  at 
Springfield,  Illinois,  six  days  later. 

Returning  to  Byron,  he  remained  on 
the  home  farm  until  his  removal  to  Fort 
Dodge  in  the  spring  of  1869.  He  was 
married  in  St.  Charles,  Illinois,  to  Miss 
Mary  J.  McClane,  whose  parents  were  na- 
tives of  that  state,  and  by  this  union  seven 
children  were  born,  namely:  Xellie.  now 
the  wife  of  J.  A.  Fletcher,  who  is  engineer 
in  the  brickyards  of  fort  1  lodge;  Thomas 
B.,  who  lives  at  home  with  his  parents; 
Carrie  M.,  widow  of  Dr.  A.  P.  Anderson; 
Edith,  the  wife  of  J.  J.  O'Brien,  of  Sioux 
City,  Iowa;  Katie  M..  a  teacher  living  at 
home;  Alice,  wife  of  E.  E.  Mason,  book- 
keeper in  Olson's  drug  store;  and  Frank, 
at  home. 

After  coming  to  Fort  Dodge,  Mr.  Gill 
engaged  in  teaming  for  two  years,  and  later 
was  employed  in  the  store  of  J.  M.  Berry 
&  Company  until  i8S_\  when  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  C.  O.  Peterson  and  em- 
barked in  the  grocery  business  on  Central 
avenue,  under  the  firm  name  of  Peterson  & 
Gill.  In  1887  he  sold  his  interest  in  that 
establishment  to  his  partner  and  purchased 
the  stock  of  John  Wolfinger,  continuing  to 
engage  in  the  same  line  of  business  for  two 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  disposed 
of  his  store.  He  then  gave  his  attention 
to  the  livery  business  for  three  years,  and  on 
selling  out  was  not  actively  engaged  in  any 
business  until  1895,  when  he  erected  a  store 


building  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  avenue 
si  lutb  and  nineteenth  street  and  put  in  a 
stock  of  groceries.  This  store  he  has  since 
conducted  with  marked  success,  having  by 
fair  and  honorable  dealings  and  good  goods 
secured  a  liberal  share  of  the  public  patron- 
age. From  1895  until  1901  Mr.  Gill  was 
a  member  of  the  police  force  of  Fort  Dodge, 
and  proved  a  very  capable  and  trustworthy 
officer.  He  also  held  the  office  of  deputy 
sheriff  one  term.  In  politics  Mr.  Gill  sup- 
ports the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republi- 
can partw  For  three  terms  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  from  the  second 
ward  and  also  served  two  terms  on  the 
school  board.  Socially  he  is  connected  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  is 
an  honored  member  of  Fort  Donelson  Post, 
Xo.  2^6,  G.  A.  R. 


HENRY  HAYLER. 

This  well-known  resident  of  Fort 
Dodge  was  born  in  Battle,  County  of  Sus- 
sex, England,  on  the  4th  of  May.  1837, 
and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Weeks)  Hayler,  who  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  that  country.  The  father  was  a 
chartist  and  a  merchant  tailor.  Our  sub- 
ject has  one  brother  living  in  the  United 
States — George  Hayler,  who  is  a  resident 
of  Ann  Arbor.  Michigan.  His  half-brother, 
Guy  Hayler,  is  a  well-known  English  tem- 
perance leader,  the  editor  of  the  Temper- 
ance Witness  at  Newcastle  on  the  Tyne,  and 
the  author  of  Master  Method  George  Proc- 
tor, the  Teetotaler. 

Mr.  Hayler,  of  this  review,  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  native  place,  and  in 
1853  came  alone  to  America.     He  first  lo~ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


387 


cated  in  Lockport,  New  York,  where  he  had 
an  uncle  living,  and  for  about  six  years  was 
employed  in  sorting  wool  in  a  factory.     He 

then  learned  the  painter's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  twelve  years  at  Ann  Arbor 
Michigan,  and  then  engaged  in  farming 
near  that  city  until  1871.  which  year  wit- 
nessed his  arrival  in  Iowa.  Taking  up  a 
government  homestead  in  Calhoun  county, 
he  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation  until  1874,  when 
lie  removed  to  Fort  Dodge  and  worked  in 
an  iron  foundry  and  machine  shop  for  two 
years.  He  next  did  odd  jobs  until  1881, 
when  he  embarked  in  the  hardware  business 
and  carried  it  en  for  seven  years.  Since 
then  he  has  given  his  attention  to  garden- 
ing. He  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  the  county,  and  is  held  in  the 
highest  regard  by  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances. 

On  the  22d  of  December.  1859.  Mr. 
Hayler  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mi^ 
.Maria  Ashton,  of  Ann  Arbor.  Michigan, 
who  was  born  in  Moulton,  England,  Janu- 
ary 26.  1 84 1,  and  came  to  the  new  world  in 
185 1  with  her  parents.  Robert  and  Eliza- 
beth (Beers)  Ashton.  also  natives  of  Eng- 
land. The  father  was  born  in  Lincoln- 
shire and  was  a  bricklayer  by  trade.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  died  in  Ann  Arbor,  Michi- 
gan. Mrs.  Hayler  is  a  sister  of  the  gentle- 
men composing  the  firm  of  Ashton 
Brothers,  grocers,  on  Central  avenue,  Fort 
Dodge. 

The  children  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wiife  are  as  follows:  Elizabeth  A., 
born  October  7,  i860,  is  the  wife  of  Pro- 
fessor A.  V.  Storm,  of  Cherokee.  Iowa ; 
Emma  J.,  born  November  7,  1862.  is  teach- 
ing- in  the  high  school  of  Quimby,  Iowa ; 
Hannah  T.,  born  September  21,  1865.  is 
the    wife    of     [ason    Lowry,    a    hanker    of 


Pomeroy.  Iowa;  Robert  H..  born  March 
21.  1867.  is  a  farmer  of  Webster  county; 
Rudolph  A.,  horn  October  20,  1871,  is  an 
engineer  on  the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis 
Railroad  and  resides  in  Fort  Dodge; 
Charles  \\\.  horn  November  28,  1873,  is  a 
carpenter  of  Fort  Dodge;  Florence  A.,  born 
April  14.  1870,  is  a  teacher  by  occupation; 
Henry  Clarence,  horn  August  25,  1878,  is 
stock  clerk  for  the  Fort  Dodge  Grocery 
Company;  George  R..  born  June  25,  1880, 
is  a  graduate  of  the  State  University  and 
is  now  a  civil  engineer;  and  Arthur  F., 
born  June  12,  1885,  is  at  home.  The  fam- 
ily is  one  of  which  any  parents  might  well 
be  proud,  for  all  are  now  tilling  honorable 
positions  in  life. 


FREDERICK   E.   WEISS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the 
most  progressive  and  successful  farmers  of 
Badger  township,  where  he  and  his  sons 
own  and  operate  four  hundred  acres  of  rich 
and  arable  land  on  section  20.  about  six 
miles  north  of  Fort  Dodge.  A  native  of 
Germany,  he  was  born  in  Prussia  on  the 
24th  of  June,  1840,  and  was  a  lad  of  eleven 
years  when,  in  company  with  his  parents, 
he  crossed  the  ocean  and  settled  in  Cook 
county.  Illinois,  within  ten  miles  of  Chi- 
cago. The  family  made  their  home  upon 
a  farm,  and  there  our  subject  grew  to  man- 
hood, early  becoming  familiar  with  all  the 
duties  which  fall. to  the  lot  of  the  agri- 
culturist. At  the  same  time  he  acquired  a 
good  practical  education  in  the  common 
schools  near  his  home. 

While  still  a  resident  of  Cook  county, 
Illinois,  Mr.  Weiss  was  married,  in  1863, 
to  Miss  Amelia  Weiss,  who  is  also  of  Ger- 


388 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


man  birth,  being  born  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood as  her  husband.  She  was  a  young 
lady  on  her  emigration  to  the  new  world. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Weiss  engaged  in 
farming  and  also  worked  at  his  trade,  that 
of  a  carpenter,  near  Chicago  for  several 
years.  It  was  in  1878  that  he  came  to  Iowa 
with  his  own  and  his  father's  family,  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Badger  township, 
Webster  county,  where  he  now  resides. 
There  the  father  had  purchased  an  eighty- 
acre  farm  but  partially  improved,  and  while 
he  made  his  home  in  Fort  Dodge  our  sub- 
ject operated  the  place.  At  the  father's 
death  the  children  of  our  subject  succeeded 
to  the  place.  In  connection  with  farming 
Mr.  Weiss  has  worked  at  his  trade  in  this 
county,  and.  prospering  in  his  undertakings, 
he  has  purchased  land  from  time  to  time 
until  he  and  his  sons  now  own  over  four 
hundred  acres  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. They  have  built  a  comfortable  and 
commodious  residence  and  convenient  out- 
buildings and  made  many  other  improve- 
ments which  add  greatly  to  the  value  and 
attractive  appearance  of  the  place.  Mr. 
Weiss  alone  owns  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  adjoining  the  old  homestead,  and  is 
to-day  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  substantial 
citizens  of  his  community.  As  a  carpenter 
he  has  assisted  in  the  erection  of  many 
buildings  in  and  around  Fort  Dodge,  and  in 
this  way  has  materially  aided  in  the  up- 
building and  development  of  the  county. 

Mi",  and  .Mrs.  Weiss  have  a  family  of 
seven  children,  namely:  Louis  and  Will- 
iam are  both  married  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  the  home  place;  Henry  is  married 
and  engaged  in  the  butcher  business  in  Fort 
Dodge ;  Otto  is  also  married  and  now  holds 
a  responsible  position  in  the  county  treas- 
urer's office  at  Fort  Dodge;  Louisa  is  the 
wife  of  Rudolph  Beecher,  a  harness  maker 


of  Fort  Dodge ;  and  Albert  and  Carl  are 
both  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Air.  Weiss  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  and  twice  sup- 
ported General  Grant  for  the  presidency, 
but  since  that  time  has  affiliated  with  the 
Democratic  party.  For  several  years  he 
served  as  township  trustee  and  supervisor 
of  highways,  and  his  official  duties  were 
always  most  capably  and  satisfactorily  per- 
formed. He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church  of  Fort  Dodge  and 
are  people  of  prominence  in  the  com- 
munitv  where  they  reside. 


P.  L.  LARSON. 


One  of  the  most  progressive  and  en- 
ergetic business  men  of  Fort  Dodge  is  P.  L. 
Larson,  the  well  known  proprietor  of  the 
Larson  Greenhouse  on  the  northwest  corner 
o-f  Seventeenth  street  and  Central  avenue. 
He  was  born  at  Malmo,  in  the  southern 
part  of  Sweden,  July  6,  1 S65,  and  was 
reared  and  educated  in  that  country.  He 
also  served  one  year  in  the  Swedish  army. 
When  a  boy  of  fourteen  he  was  apprenticed 
to  a  florist,  and  in  due  time  thoroughly 
mastered  the  business  to  which  he  has  since 
devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and 
attention.  So  competent  was  he  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years  he  was  placed  in  charge  of 
a  line  greenhouse  in  his  native  land,  and 
held  the  position  two  years. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1S87,  Mr.  Larson 
came  to  the  United  States  and  first  located 
in  Litchfield,  Minnesota,  where  he  spent  a 
short  time,  and  then  went  to  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska, where  he  worked  in  a  greenhouse 
until  1891.  He  next  went  to  Denver, 
Colorado,  and  became  a  partner  in  a  florist 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3«9 


business  there.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he 
removed  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  where  lie  had 

charge  of  a  greenhouse  until  coming  to 
Fort  Dodge  in  July,  1897.  In  the  mean- 
time he  was  married  in  Denver,  on  the  30th 
of  August.  (894,  to  -Miss  Katherina  An- 
derson, who  was  born  in  Sweden. 

On  first  coming  to  Fort  Dodge  Mr. 
Larson  leased  the  greenhouses  for  two 
vears.  but  in  1899  purchased  his  present 
property,  which  he  has  greatly  improved 
and  enlarged,  now  having  sixteen  thousand 
square  feet  of  glass.  He  now  owns  five 
lots — one  hundred  and  sixty-two  and  a  half 
feet  on  Seventeenth  street  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  on  Central  avenue — which  are 
covered  by  seven  greenhouses  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  feet  in  length.  The  first  of 
these  is  devoted  to  smilax.  palms  and  ferns. 
the  second  to  tea  roses,  the  third  to  general 
propagating,  the  third  and  fourth  to  carna- 
tions, the  fifth  to  chrysanthemums  in  season 
and  bedded  plants,  the  sixth  to  American 
beauty  roses,  and  the  seventh  to  carnations 
and  violets.  The  heat  for  these  buildings 
is  furnished  by  a  fifty-horse-power  engine, 
and  recently  a  steam  trap  has  been  put  in. 
this  being  a  device  for  taking  the  condensed 
steam  from  the  pipes.  Mr.  Larson's  office 
is  a  building  eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet 
in  dimensions,  and  is  located  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  Seventeenth  street  and  Cen- 
tral avenue,  while  the  boiler  and  workshop 
is  located  at  the  rear  just  west  of  the  green- 
houses. In  the  workshop,  which  is  a  build- 
ing fourteen  by  one  hundred  and  twelve 
feet,  all  the  potting  and  packing  is  done. 
Mr.  Larson  raises  large  crops  of  lettuce 
and  parsley  all  the  year  round,  and  in  the 
spring  grows  all  kinds  of  garden  plants 
and  radishes  for  market.  During  the  winter 
be  confines  his  trade  to  cut  flowers,  palms 
and   ferns,    and    enjoys   an    excellent   trade 


extending  over  a  large  radius  around  Fort 
Dodge.  In  his  business  he  employs  four 
men  all  the  year  round.  His  greenhouses 
are  equipped  with  the  latest  improved  ap- 
pliances, including  the  latest  ventilating 
machine,  by"  which  the  entire  roof  can  be 
raised  by  simply  turning  a  crank,  lie  is 
very  progressive  in  his  methods,  is  an  en- 
ergetic, enterprising  and  reliable  business 
man,  and  well  deserves  the  success  that  has 
ci  me  to  him,  it  being  due  entirely  h 
own  unaided  efforts  and  good  business  abil- 
ity. His  residence  is  located  just  nortb  1  i 
the  greenhouses.  Fraternally  Mr.  Larsi  11 
is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


JOHN   H.   KELLY. 

By  industry  and  good  management  Mr. 
Kelly  has  attained  to  an  enviable  position 
among  the  farmers  of  Webster  county.  A 
native  of  County  Clare.  Ireland,  he  was 
horn  of  Irish  parents,  who  never  came  to 
America  and  who  are  now  deceased.  When 
fifteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  ami  up  to  1870  was  variously  em- 
ployed by  the  day.  He  understood  the  ad- 
vantage of  application  and  faithfulness,  and 
his  life  has  been  attuned  to  these  admirable 
underlying  principles. 

In  May.  187').  Mr.  Kelly  married  Ellen 
Hanrahan,  a  native  of  County  Limerick. 
Ireland,  who  came  to  the  United  States 
when  eighteen  years  of  age  and  worked  out 
in  different  families  up  to  the  time  of  her 
marriage.  Her  parents,  Roger  and  Jo- 
hannali  Hanrahan.  had  a  large  family  of 
children,  and  of  these  the  following  are  liv- 
ing: Bridget,  the  wife  of  Jerry  Greehey. 
of  Ireland;  Daniel,  who  married  Kate  Lon- 
egan  and  lives  in  Duncombe,  Iowa;  Will- 
iam, who  married  Mary  Reedy  and  liv< 


390 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  farm  north  of  Duncombe :  Roger,  who 
still  lives  in  Ireland;  and  John,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  O'Connor  and  runs  a  shoe  store 
in  Webster  City.  Eleven  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Airs.  Kelly,  nine  of 
whom  are  now  living:  Mary,  born  August 
22,  1877;  John,  January  30,  1879;  Josie, 
.May  28,  1880:  William.  May  5.  1882; 
Daniel.  May  1,  1885;  Catherine,  Novem- 
ber 4.  1883;  Nellie,  April  16,  1888;  Norah, 
January  10.  1890;  and  Agnes,  October  7, 
1893.  Two  of  the  children  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Kelly  was  section  foreman  on  the  New 
York  Central  Railway,  after  which  he  came 
to  Iowa,  and  in  March  of  1878  settled  on 
land  near  the  town  of  Duncombe,  which 
at  that  time  consisted  of  a  depot  and  store 
anil  gave  very  little  promise  for  the  future. 
His  nearest  neighbor  was  one  and  a  half 
miles  distant,  and  be  started  in  to  formulate 
prosperitv  with  almost  nothing  in  the  world 
save  willing  hands  and  plenty  of  determi- 
nation. With  the  gains  permitted  by  his 
frugality  and  wise  management  he  pur- 
chased some  land,  to  which  lie  added  from 
time  to  time,  until  at  present  he  is  the  owner 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  consti- 
tuting one  of  the  finest  properties  in  Web- 
ster county.  He  has  a  pleasant  and  com- 
fortable home,  and  is  able  to  enjoy  not  only 
the  necessities  but  many  of  the  luxuries  of 
life.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic church,  anil  is  a  Democrat  in  political 
affiliation. 


GEORGE  W.  FLOWER. 

The  family  represented  by  Mr.  Flower, 
of  Washington  township,  traces  its  an- 
cestry to  England,  whence  his  grandfather 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  New 


York  state.  His  father,  Lewis  Flower, 
was  born  and  reared  in  New  York,  and 
there  followed  the  occupation  of  a  con- 
tractor and  builder  until  his  death  about 
1851.  In  early  manhood  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Valentine,  a  native  of  New  York  and 
a  life-long  resident  of  that  state.  Born  of 
their  union  were  eight  children,  namely: 
William,  who  married  Miss  Martha  Watts 
and  is  living  near  the  old  homestead  in 
Queens  county.  New  York;  George  W.,  of 
this  sketch;  Charles,  who  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  navy,  but  subsequently  en- 
tered the  regular  army  and  was  killed  while 
in  service  in  the  west ;  Zeblin,  who  was 
also  killed  in  the  army;  Benjamin  F.,  who 
resides  in  San  Francisco,  California ;  Hen- 
rietta and  Lula.  who  died  in  childhood; 
and  John  H.  a  resident  of  Salem,  Ore- 
yon.  Some  time  after  the  death  of  Lewis 
Flower  his  widow  was  again  married,  be- 
coming the  wife  of  S.  M.  Havens.  After 
the  death  of  her  second  husband,  she  came 
west  and  visited  her  children.  Inn  finally 
returned  to  New  York,  where  her  death 
occurred  in   September.    1898. 

In  Queens  count}".  New  York,  where  he 
was  horn  December  29.  1844.  George  W. 
Flower  received  his  primary  education  in 
public  schools,  and  he  afterward  studied  in 
the  schools  of  Westchester  county,  that 
state.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  began 
to  lie  self-supporting  and  from  that  day 
forward  earned  his  own  livelihood.  At  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war  his  sympathies 
were  strongly  on  the  side  of  the  Union, 
and  he  determined  to  serve  his  country  by 
fighting  against  the  Confederacy.  On 
June  20.  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  army,  at 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  was  mustered 
into  Company  G,  Sixty-seventh  Xew  York 
Infantry,  which  was  often  called  Henry 
Ward  Beecher's  regiment.     For  a  time  he 


G.  W.  FLOWER 


MRS.  G.  W.  FLOWER 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


395 


was  stationed  at  Fort  Schuyler  and  later 
was  transferred  to  Fort  Hamilton  and 
thence  to  Washington,  D.  C  where  he 
served  under  General  Scott  and  then  under 
General  McClellan.  Later  the  regiment 
was  successively  under  Generals  Meade, 
Ulysses  S.  Grant,  Joseph  Hooker  and  Am- 
brose E.  Burnside.  In  all  the  engagements 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  up  to-  the  bat- 
tle of  Petersburg,  this  regiment  bore  a 
valiant  part  and  aided  the  northern  troops 
in  gaining  a  decisive  victor)-  on  more  than 
one  closely-contested  battlefield.  On  the 
expiration  of  the  term  of  service,  Mr. 
Flower  was  sent  to  Washington  and  thence 
to  Brooklyn,  where  he  was  mustered  out  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1864.  During  his  entire 
service,  covering  a  period  of  three  years,  he 
was  never  wounded  or  taken  prisoner,  al- 
though he  was  often  exposed  to  shot  and 
shell  from  the  Confederate  ranks. 

At  Shelter  Island,  Suffolk  county,  Xew 
York,  December  3,  1866,  Mr.  Flower  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Manwaring,  who  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  May  6,  1843.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Charles  D.  and  Elizabeth  M. 
(Hughes)  Manwaring.  natives  of  Connec- 
ticut, who,  after  their  marriage,  removed 
to  Xew  York  anil  resided  in  that  state 
until  their  death.  In  their  family  were 
four  daughters  and  six  sons,  namely :  John, 
who  married  Fidelia  Loper  and  makes  his 
home  in  Xew  York;  Charles,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-three  years ;  Henry, 
whose  home  is  in  Connecticut;  Frances, 
widow  of  Louis  Mulford  and  a  resident 
of  Xew  York  state;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs. 
Flower;  Josephine,  who  married  James 
Ward,  of  Shelter  Island,  Xew  York;  Ellen, 
wife  of  Gabriel  Edwards,  of  Amagansett, 
Long  Island;  Alexander,  unmarried,  resid- 
ing at  Shelter  Island.  Xew  York:  Arthur, 
who  died  at  fourteen  years  of  aae ;  and  Gil- 


bert, who  married  Alice  Griffin  and  makes 
his  home  at  Shelter  Island.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Flower,  namely;  Addie  T.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  nine  years;  Lillian  G.,  who  mar- 
ried Lewis  Weldon.  and  resides  at  Eagle 
Grove,  Iowa;  Minnie  V.,  now  Mrs.  Ed- 
ward Daniels,  who  has  three  children,  Ger- 
trude, Lloyd  and  Earl,  and  resides  in  Wash- 
ington township,  Webster  county;  Mary 
E.,  Mrs.  John  Xagle,  of  Freeport,  Illinois, 
who  has  two  daughters,  Flossie  and  Iraie ; 
George  W-,  an  expert  machinist,  employed 
at  Freeport,  Illinois;  Arthur  H..  who  re- 
sides with  his  parents:  Walter  G.,  who 
married  Alice  Young  and  resides  in  Ham- 
ilton county.  Iowa,  on  a  farm;  and  Gilbert 
R..  who  is  with  his  parents. 

For  a  time  after  his  return  from  the 
army  Mr.  Flower  pursued  the  occupation 
of  a  farmer  in  Xew-  York,  but.  believing 
greater  opportunities  awaited  him  further 
west,  he  came  to  Iowa  in  1872  and  settled 
in  Dubuque.  One  year  later  he  moved  to 
Delaware  county  and  after  three  vears,  in 
[876,  established  his  home  on  section  26, 
Washington  township.  Webster  county, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  The  forty 
acres  forming  his  original  purchase  com- 
prised raw  prairie  land,  which  necessitated 
the  hardest  labor  on  his  part  before  it  was 
broken  and  placed  in  a  condition  to  respond 
to  cultivation.  Energy  and  perseverance. 
however,  in  time  made  of  the  tract  one  of 
the  most  valuable  for  miles  around.  As  his 
means  increased  he  invested  in  additional 
property  and  is  now  the  owner  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  lying  principally  on 
sections  25  and  26,  all  of  which  is  improved 
farm  land.  His  crops  of  grain  are  large, 
but  are  not  sold  in  the  markets,  being  held 
to  furnish  winter  feed  for  his  stock,  of 
which    he    has    a   considerable     number     of 


396 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


head,  all  high  grade.  It  has  been  said  by 
many  that  bis  stuck  are  as  fine  as  can  be 
found  in  the  township  and  certainly  those 
who  are  familiar  with  the  stock  business 
would  at  once  judge  these  to  be  of  the  best 
strains  the  west  produces.  As  he  is  closely 
engrossed  by  the  management  of  his  farm 
and  the  care  of  his  live  stock.  Mr.  Flower 
has  no  leisure  for  participation  in  public 
affairs,  and  has  hitherto  refused  to  accept 
official  positions,  although  he  keeps  posted 
concerning  the  problems  before  our  nation 
and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  Republican 
principles. 


REV.  FATHER  RYAN". 

Among  the  most  promising  Roman 
Catholic  churches  in  Webster  county  is  the 
church  of  Saint  Joseph  at  Duncomhe.  an  in- 
stitution worth}'  of  special  mention  because 
of  the  extent  of  its  charities  and  the  steady 
increase  of  its  membership  and  general  use- 
fulness. Like  so  many  of  the  parishes  des- 
tined for  large  accomplishment  in  promoting 
morality  and  peace,  this  offshoot  of  the 
greatest  ecclesiastical  denomination  in  the 
world  had  a  small  beginning,  and  its  rise  to 
its  present  importance  among  the  uplifting 
influences  of  a  populous  district  is  due  to  the 
faithfulness  of  its  congregation,  and  the  de- 
votion of  the  fathers  who  have  directed  its 
undertakings.  The  band  of  worshippers  in 
whose  minds  and  hearts  was  conceived  the 
potent  necessity  accomplished  their  object  in 
1889,  at  which  time  the  present  completed 
structure  was  ready  for  any  emergency,  and 
a  tangible  and  practical  habitation  was  pro- 
vided for  the  continuance  of  ambitious  plans 
for  well  doing.  Father  Garland  was  in 
charge  until  1893,  when  Father  O'Brien  was 
appointed  and  continued  in  charge  until  the 


fall  of  1898.  Father  Martin  Murray  then 
received  temporary  appointment  and  re- 
mained here  until  January,  1899,  when  Fa- 
ther Leahv  assumed  charge  and  ministered 
to  the  spiritual  wants  of  members  until  May, 
1900,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the  more 
important  charge  at  Otter  Creek,  Jackson 
county,  Iowa.  At  that  time  Father  Ryan, 
the  present  pastor,  came  with  his  earnestness 
and  faith,  and  has  since  wrought  exceeding 
well  in  many  directions,  and  won  the  grati- 
tude and  good-will  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
l>een  associated. 

A  native  of  County  Tipperarv,  Ireland, 
Father  Ryan  was  born  April  11,  1864',  and 
his  father  is  still  living  in  his  native  land. 
His  primary  classical  education  was  acquired 
at  the  local  Irish  schools,  after  which  he  en- 
tered the  College  of  Saint  Patrick,  at 
Thurles,  from  which  he  was  graduated  June 
29,  1888.  After  his  ordination  he  availed 
himself  of  the  larger  possibilities  of  Amer- 
ica, and  upon  locating  in  Dubuque,  Iowa, 
September  6,  1888,  was  appointed  professor 
of  the  College  of  Saint  Joseph,  a  position 
maintained  by  him  for  six  years.  On  Sep- 
tember 1  _',  1894,  he  was  appointed  to-  a  pas- 
torate in  Delmar,  Clinton  count)-,  Iowa,  and 
on  May  20,  1900,  came  to  Duncomhe,  with 
the  most  enobling  influences  of  which  he  has 
since  been  actively  identified. 


C.  L.  GATES. 

The  high  standing  of  the  public  institu- 
tions of  Webster  county  is  due  largely  to  the 
excellent  character  of  the  men  placed  over 
their  management,  and  illustrative  of  this 
fact  is  the  wise  control  of  C.  L.  Gates,  super- 
intendent of  the  Webster  county  farm.  A 
native  of  Paw  Paw,  Lee  county,  Illinois,  Mr. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


397 


Gates  was  born  October  13.  1848,  a  son  of 
Erastus  and  Martha  (Page)  Gates,  natives 
of  Ohio.  After  the  marriage  of  the  parents 
in  Ohio  they  removed  to  Illinois  about  1840, 

and  settled  in  Lee  county,  where  the  father 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  until 
1852.  He  then  removed  to  California,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  [876,  his  wife  having 
died  in  ( )hio,  in  [856.  ]  le  was  a  Republican, 
and  a  member  of  the  Advent  church.  To 
this  worthy  couple  were  born  six  children, 
namely:  Edwin,  who  married  Polly  Robin- 
son and  lives  at  Paw  Paw,  Illinois;  Ellen. 
Who  is  the  wife  of  William  Rawdon,  and 
lives  in  California;  Jane,  who  died  in  1883. 
at  the  age  of  forty-two  years;  C.  L,  our  sub- 
ject;  George,  who  married  in  Ohio  and  lives 
in  Democrary,  Ohio;  and  Llewellyn,  who 
went  to  California  and  has  not  since  been 
heard  from. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  C.  L.  Gates  dis- 
continued his  studies  at  the  public  schools  of 
Paw  Paw.  Illinois,  and  in  April,  iSf>2,  en- 
listed in  Company  C,  Fifty-eighth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel  Lynch 
Coudy.  He  first  went  to  Chicago  and  from 
there  to  Springfield.  Illinois,  from  which 
city  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee, where  they  joined  the  Sixteenth 
Army  Corps  under  General  A.  J.  Smith.  In 
their  travels  they  visited  Holly  Springs. 
Mississippi,  and  Oxford,  in  pursuit  of  Gen- 
eral Bragg,  and  upon  returning  went  to 
Cairo  and  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  East- 
port.  Mississippi;  from  Xew  Orleans 
crossed  to  Fort  Fisher,  and  from  there  went 
to  Blakely,  near  Mobile.  Alabama,  and  after 
the  battle  at  the  latter  town  went  to  Mont- 
gomery, Alabama,  and  to  Chattanooga,  Ten- 
nessee, then  back  to  Springfield.  Illinois, 
where  Mr.  Gates  was  discharged,  in  April. 
1865,  ha\  ing  served  three  years  in  the  Union 
armv. 


After    the    war    Mr.    Gates    returned    to 
Paw  Paw,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  farming 
on   rented   land    in    Lee  county.      At    Malta. 
Dekalb  county.    Illinois,    October    10.    [868, 
he  married  Ida  M.  Collins,  who  was  born  in 
Carrollton,  Orleans  county.  Xew  York.  May 
27,    1852.      Mrs.    Gates    is    a    daughter    of 
Henry  and  Deborah  (Simpson)  Collins,  na- 
tives respectively  of  Scotland  and  New  York. 
The  parents  lived  in  Xew  York  until  1858, 
about  which  time  the  father,  who  had  been 
engaged    in    the    mercantile    business,    died. 
The   mother   came    to   Dekalb   county,    Illi- 
nois,  in    [860,  and   in    1862  married   Edwin 
I  olby,    a    native   of   Oswego  county,    New 
"\  ork.     Mr.  Colby  died  in  Illinois,  September 
30,    [889,  and  his  wife  is  now  living  in  Lee 
county,    Illinois.       By    her    first    union    the 
mother  had  two  children:     Ida,  the  wife  of 
C.  L  Gates,  and  Alma,  the  wife  of  Lorenzo 
Abby,  of  Clear  Lake.  Iowa.     Of  the  second 
union    the    following    children    were    born: 
Sherman,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Illi- 
nois;    Eddie,     who    is    married    and     lives 
in    Shabbona,    Illinois;    Archie,    who    mar- 
ried    Lucy     McGrady,     and    lives    in     Lee 
county.    Illinois;    Luna,    who    is    the    wife 
of    George    Fleming,    and    lives    in    Malta. 
Illinois;     and     Xellie.     who     is     the     wife 
of  George  Elbridge  of  Malta,  Illinois.     To 
Mr.   and   Mrs.   Gates   have  been   born   eight 
children,    namely:        Allie,   born    in   Dekalb 
county.    Illinois,    January    I,    1869,   married 
James  Winter,  and  lives  in  Utica.  Missouri; 
Charles,  born   in   Shabbona.    Dekalb  county, 
Illinois,    March    30,    1873.    married    Xellie 
Lambert,   by   whom   he  has   one  child,    Ida. 
and  lives  in  North  Dakota;  Xellie.  born  at 
Scranton,    Greene    county,    Iowa,    July    23, 
[875,   lives  with  her  parents:   Harry,  born 
in  Scranton.  September  8,  1877.  is  engaged 
in  the  railroad  business  in  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa;  Kittie,  born  in  Scranton,  February  1. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1879,  is  teaching  school;  George,  born  in 
Otho  township,  Webster  county,  Iowa,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1885,  lives  with  his  parents;  Frank, 
born  in  Otho  township.  April  2,  1886,  and 
Freddie,  horn  in  Otho  township,  June  24, 
1888,  are  both  at  home;  and  a  babe,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

For  about  five  years  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Gates  lived  on  a  farm  in  Illinois,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Scranton,  Greene  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  ami  lived  on  rented  land  until  1882. 
He  then  became  identified  with  Webster 
cainty,  Iowa,  where  he  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land  which  he  improved  and  lived  upon 
until  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  posi- 
tion of  superintendent  of  the  county  poor 
farm,  in  1895.  His  administration  has  been 
well  received  throughout,  and  very  little  of 
the  fault  has  been  found  which  one  naturally 
associates  with  institutions  of  the  kind.  Mr. 
Gates  is  a  Republican  in  political  affiliation. 
and  is  fraternally  a  member  of  the  United 
WOrkmen  of  America.  From  time  to  time 
considerable  property  has  come  into  his  pos- 
session, and  he  still  owns  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  at  Clear  Lake,  Iowa. 

The  county  farm,  of  which  Mr.  Gates  is 
now  superintendent,  was  ushered  upon  its 
era  of  usefulness  in  1874.  and  is  located 
twelve  miles  northeast  of  Callender.  Will- 
iam Crandal  was  the  first  superintendent, 
and  at  that  time  the  main  building  alone  ex- 
isted, containing  seven  rooms.  Mr.  Crandel 
\\a^  succeeded  by  Michael  Dougherty,  whose 
place  was  filled  by  J.  M.  Hood,  since  the 
regime  of  whom  Mr.  Gates  has  had  entire 
control.  The  room  at  the  disposal  of  pa- 
tients has  been  materially  enlarged,  so  that 
now  there  are  forty-eight  rooms  and  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land,  with  large 
barns,  granaries,  and  all  necessary  adjuncts 
for  the  extensive  carrying  on  of  general 
farming  and   stock-raising.     The  buildings 


are  in  good  condition  and  are  kept  scrupu- 
lous! v  clean,  and  every  where  are  evidences 
of  a  master  hand  who  is  not  only  an  admir- 
able manager,  but  who  is  as  well  a  consider- 
ate observer  of  the  needs  of  those  who  are 
placed  under  his  protection. 


AMUND  HAXSOX. 

Like  man}-  other  residents  within  the 
bounds  of  Webster  county  this  gentleman  is 
of  foreign  birth,  but  America  has  no  more 
patriotic  or  loyal  citizen.  His  early  home 
was  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  for  he 
was  born  in  Norway,  in  October,  1833,  and 
was  there  reared  to  manhood.  Before  leav- 
ing his  native  land  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Siiuinsoii,  and  to  them  one  child  was  born. 

In  1870  this  little  family  emigrated  to 
the  new  world,  and  on  landing  in  this  coun- 
try proceeded  at  once  to  Clinton  county, 
Iowa,  where  Mr.  Hanson  worked  on  a  farm 
for  four  years,  having  previously  followed 
that  occupation  in  the  land  of  his  birth.  He 
then  came  to  Webster  county  in  1874,  and 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm 
on  section  3,  Roland  township,  which  at  that 
time  was  all  wild  and  unimproved,  but  acre 
after  acre  was  soon  placed  under  the  plow 
until  it  became  a  highly  cultivated  tract. 
Later  he  bought  an  adjoining  eighty  acres; 
has  set  out  an  orchard  and  shade  trees ;  has 
erected  good  buildings;  and  to-day  has  a 
well-improved  place. 

Air.  and  Mrs.  Hanson  have  become  the 
parents  of  two  children,  namely  :  Mary,  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  Allen  Gunderson,  of  Min- 
nesota, and  has  five  children.  Albert,  Amiel. 
Alisner.  Bertha  and  Jennie;  and  Caroline, 
wife  of  Christ  Hendrickson,  whose  farm  ad- 
joins that  of  our  subject,  and  by  whom  she 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


40 1  ■ 


has  one  daughter,  Gertie.  Our  subject  and 
his  \\  ife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church 
of  Callender,  and  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  oi 
the  Republican  party  and  its  principles. 


F.  G.  PETERS"  >X. 


Enterprise  and  progress  are  the  keynotes 
to  the  career  of  F.  G.  Peterson,  postmaster 
and  business  man  of  Moorland.  A  native  of 
Norway,  he  was  born  April  10,  1861,  and  is 
a  son  of  Ole  and  (  tlena  Peterson,  who  were 
also  born  in  that  country.  When  five  years 
of  age  Mr.  Peterson  came  to  America  with 
his  parents,  who  settled  in  Fulton  township, 
Webster  county.  Iowa,  and  here  he  attended 
the  public  schools  during  the  leisure  of  the 
winter  months,  and  worked  in  the  harvest 
field  during  the  summer.  His  father  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  and  the  son  naturally 
availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  to  place 
himself  in  touch  with  this  useful  occupation, 
and  he  also  learned  the  carpenters'  trade. 

On  December  30.  1883,  Air.  Peterson 
married  Sarah  IJlinck.  who  was  born  in 
Davenport,  [owa,  June  1,  1856,  a  daughter 
of  Fred  and  Elizabeth  (Thorn)  Bliuck,  na- 
tives respectively  of  Germanv  and  Ohio. 
Her  parents  were  married  in  Davenport, 
Iowa,  and  the  father  eventually  went  to  Cal- 
ifornia, where  he  died.  The  mother  died 
February  5,  1896.  She  had  married  again. 
her  second  husband  being  William  Rowe, 
with  whom  she  lived  until  his  death  in  Dav- 
enport, shortly  before  her  own  demise.  Of 
the  first  union  there  were  four  children,  two 
of  whom  are  living:  George,  who  married 
Anna  Barwize,  lives  in  Herald.  Texas;  and 
Frank,  wdio  is  married,  lived  in  Scott  coun- 
ty, then  in  Omaha,  and  later  in  Montana. 
Of  the  second  union  of  the  mother  there 


were  three  children;  Joseph,  who  married 
Sarah  Henderson,  lives  in  Webster  City; 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  F.  1  i.  Peterson :  and  Ed- 
ward, who  married  Clara  Smith,  lives  in 
Webster  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson 
have  three  children:  Grace  I).,  who  was 
born  December  1.  1878,  and  now  lives  in 
Des  Moines,  [owa;  Alice,  born  November 
u.  [889;  and  Gladys,  born  March  17.  [894. 
Fred  and  Joseph  died  in  infancy. 

\fter  his  marriage  Mr.  Peterson  leased 
land  in  Webster  county,  and  in  [880  houghl 
forty  acres  of  land  on  section  34,  Fulton 
township,  where  he  lived  for  two  vears.  He 
then  took  up  his  residence  in  Moorland, 
bought  land  and  built  a  home,  and  also  in- 
vested in  several  business  lots,  upon  1  ne  of 
which  he  erected  the  building  in  which  is  lo- 
cated the  postoffice.  He  conducted  a  hotel 
i'ir  live  years,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the 
implement  business  in  Moorland,  and  in  time 
worked  up  one  of  the  largest  trades  in  this 
line  in  the  county.  At  present  he  carries  all 
well-known  makes  of  wagons  and  imple- 
ments, including'  the  Deering  and  McCor- 
mick  goods,  the  Gailbraith  Company's  goods 
of  Des  Moines,  and  the  Bain,  the  Newton, 
and  the  Weber  wagons.  He  also  handles  the 
Baker.  Anchor,  and  Ilreed  buggies,  and  in 
smaller  commodities  handles  pumps,  wind- 
mills, and  harness.  Pie  has  a  thorough  un- 
derstanding of  popular  needs  in  his  special 
line  of  business,  and  his  courtesy,  considera- 
tion, integrity  and  general  obligingness  have 
won  for  him  a  deservedly  large  and  increas- 
ing trade  among  the  best  people  in  the 
count}'. 

A  great  deal  of  the  influence  exerted  b\ 
Mr.  Peterson  has  been  along  political  lines. 
and  he  has  shown  particular  aptitude  for  the 
discharge  of  public  responsibility.  As  a 
stanch  Republican  he  served  as  assessor  for 
six   years,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 


402 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


school  board  for  twelve  years,  as  well  as 
road  supervisor  for  two  years.  In  1896, 
under  President  McKinley's  administration, 
he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Moorland, 
and  the  affairs  of  the  office  are  still  managed 
by  him  with  satisfaction  to  all  concerned. 
He  is  foremn  >st  in  promoting-  all  worthy 
efforts  at  municipal  improvement,  and  enter- 
tains the  most  substantial  and  progressive 
ideas  regarding  public  affairs  in  general. 
Mr.  Peterson  has  a  large  circle  of  friends  in 
Moorland,  and  even  those  who  differ  from 
him  politically  credit  him  with  being  a  pub- 
lic servant  and  business  man  in  whom  all 
may  trust,  and  who  is  fashioning  for  himself 
a  clean  and  untarnished  record. 


WILLIAM  MUNN. 


It  is  doubtful  if  any  man  in  Webster 
county  has  a  more  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  the  coal  mining  of  Iowa  than  has  William 
Munn,  jne  of  the  most  substantial  farmers 
of  Pleasant  Valley  township.  He  was  born 
in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  November 
25,  185 1,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Cather- 
ine (Gilmore)  Munn,  natives  respectively  of 
County  Donegal  and  County  Fermanagh, 
Ireland.  The  parents  were  married  in  Scot- 
land and  came  to  America  in  1851,  the  voy- 
age on  the  sailing  vessel  lasting  six  weeks 
and  three  days.  They  settled  at  Pittston,  Lu- 
zerne county,  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  in 
that  part  of  the  state  for  about  eleven  years, 
the  father  in  the  meantime  engaging  in  o  >al 
mining.  ,  They  afterwards  settled  in  Athens 
county,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  for  six 
months,  and  were  later  in  Perry  county. 
Ohio,  for  a  couple  of  years.  In  Muskingum 
county,  of  the  same  state,  they  staid  for  a 
year,  and  in  September,  1865,  settled  in  Put- 
nam county,  West  Virginia,  which  continued 


to  he  their  home  until  September,  1869. 
They  then  went  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and 
remained  for  ten  months,  and  became  iden- 
tified with  Webster  county,  Iowa,  August  1, 
1870.  As  heretofore  during  all  of  his  active 
life,  the  father  here  continued  to  engage  in 
coal  mining  up  to.  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1884,  his  wife  surviving  him  until  the  fol- 
lowing year.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politi- 
cal affiliation,  ami  was  a  member  oi  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  church.  To  this  earnest  and 
kindly  couple  were  born  eleven  children,  of 
whom  William  is  the  oldest;  James  married 
Mary  Mericle  and  lives  in  Coalville,  Iowa; 
Ellen  is  the  wife  of  John  Cooney  and  lives 
in  Washington  township.  Wehster  county; 
Mary  died  in  infancy;  Catherine  is  the  wife 
of  James  McMenamin,  of  Washington  town- 
ship; Patrick  is  single  and  lives  in  Montana; 
Robert  is  also  unmarried  and  lives  in  Colo- 
rado ;  John  is  unmarried  and  lives  in  Cooper 
township,  Webster  county;  Elizabeth  is  the 
wife  of  William  Smith  and  lives  in  Carbon, 
Iowa;  [Margarita  lives  in  Washington  town- 
ship; and  Thomas  lives  in  Colorado. 

William  Munn  attended  school  in  Perry 
and  Muskingum  counties,  and  at  Zanesville, 
Ohio,  but  at  the  age  of  eleven  started  out  to 
aid  the  family  fortunes  by  supporting  him- 
self. He  naturally  became  interested  in  his 
father's  occupation  of  coal  mining,  and 
worked  in  the  same  mines  with  him  until 
twenty-eight  years  of  age. 

On  January  12,  1880,  he  married  Jennie 
Fitzgearld  at  Corpus  Christi  church,  the 
ceremonv  being  performed  by  Rev.  Father 
Lenihan,  now  bishop  of  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. Mrs.  Munn  was  born  in  Xenia,  Ohio, 
February  27,  186 1,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Bridget  (Collins)  Fitzgearld,  natives  of 
County  Kerry,  Ireland.  The  parents  were 
married  in  Xenia,  Ohio,  the  father  having 
emigrated  to  America  in  1851,  the  mother 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


403 


coming  over  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year. 
These  young  people  had  known  each  other 
in  the  old  country,  and  renewed  their  ac- 
quaintance in  Ohio,  with  the  result  of  their 
marriage.  After  their  marriage  they  lived 
in  Greene  county  until  1869,  removing  then 
to  Clyde,  Sandusky  county,  Ohio,  where 
they  lived  until  1876,  and  in  September  of 
that  year  came  to  Iowa.  Here  the  father 
bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Washington 
township,  upon  which  he  lived  until  his 
death,  in  1885.  Before  taking  to  farming  he 
had  engaged  in  railroading.  The  mother  is 
now  living  on  the  old  homestead.  They  were 
the  parents  of  three  daughters:  Jennie; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Scott,  of  Pleasant 
Yallev  township:  and  Catherine,  the  wife  of 
Nicholas  Hanan,  of  Washington  township. 
To  Mr.  and  Airs.  Munn  have  been  born  the 
fi  Jli  wing  children  :  Kittie  S.,  born  January 
23.  1881;  Frank,  January  7,  1883;  Robert 
A.,  January  4,  1885;  Clement  J.,  February 
27,  1887;  Mary  C,  July  2_\  1889;  Ray- 
mond J.,  May  18,  1891  :  Mark  A.,  September 
18,  1894;  Harold  M.,  <  Ictober  jo.  1897;  and 
Noel  U.,  February  9,  1901. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Munn  settled  on 
the  farm  which  he  n<  >w  1  >ccupies,  and  which 
consists  of  eighty  acres  of  finely  improved 
land,  besides  an  additional  forty  acres.  He 
has  one  of  the  best  equipped  farms  in  Web- 
ster county,  and  has  a  splendid  rural  home. 
fine  barns,  and  all  modern  improvements. 
Although  independent  in  national  politics  he 
has  filled  numerous  positions  of  trust  within 
the  gift  of  his  fellow  townsmen.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  the  Assumption, 
at  Coalville.  While  the  chief  occupation  of 
Mr.  Munn  at  the  present  time  is  farming 
and  stock-raising,  he  is  known  far  and 
wide  as  one  of  the  best  posted  men  on  Iowa 
mining  in  the  state.  He  assisted  at  the 
opening  of  the  first  large  coal  mine  in  Web- 


ster county,  and  in  the  opening  of  the  large 
coal  veins  near  Des  Moines.  lie  loaded  and 
shipped  the  first  carload  of  cannel  coal  that 
went  out  of  Webster  county,  and  broke  the 
ground  for  the  first  gypsum  shafts  in  the 
count}',  this  happening  on  December  9.  1895, 
under  the  generalship  of  Thomas  Collins, 
the  promoter  of  the  enterprise.  Air.  Munn 
was  the  first  foreman  for  Mr.  Collins,  and  he 
has  since  seen  the  erection  of  all  the  gypsum 
mills  in  the  count}'.  When  he  first  came 
here  twenty  men  could  dig  all  the  coal  used 
on  the  Illinois  Central  road  between  Water- 
loo and  Sioux  City,  but  at  the  present  time  it 
is  doubtful  if  two  thousand  men  could  do  all 
the  work  required.  Fie  first  worked  in  the 
state  for  John  F.  Duncombe,  for  whom  the 
town  of  Duncombe  is  named,  the  Senator 
being  at  the  time  a  large  mine  owner,  and 
one  of  the  most  enthusiastic  developers  of 
this  particular  resource  of  Iowa.  Mr.  Munn 
is  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  fine  charac- 
ter, and  bis  services  to  bis  adopted  state 
have  been  limited  only  by  the  number  of 
vears  he  has  lived  here. 


FRANK  FIDILK  K. 


A  property  of  particular  value  because 
of  its  combined  agricultural  and  coal  de- 
veloping possibilities  is  that  of  Frank 
Fidilick,  located  on  section  1,  Fulton  town- 
ship, Webster  count}'.  Iowa.  This  genial 
and  successful  citizen  was  born  in  Bohemia, 
February  26,  1852,  a  son  of  James  and 
Mary  Fidilick,  who  came  to  America  in 
1864,  and  located  in  Cleveland.  Ohio. 
Flere  the  father  and  son  worked  in  a  pail 
factor}-  for  nearly  six  years,  and  in  1871 
shifted  their  fortunes  to  Yankton  county, 
South    Dakota,    where     they     homesteaded 


404 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


land  and  lived  thereon  for  six  months.  A 
later  place  of  residence  was  Cedar  Rapids, 
Iowa,  which  was  reached  by  wagon  and 
teams,  and  there  the}'  lived  for  six  months. 
In  the  family  besides  Frank  Fidilick  were 
three  daughters  and  two  sons,  namely  :  Joe, 
a  resident  of  fdaho;  James,  who  lives  in 
Callendef,  Iowa;  Anna,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Dursmit,  of  Moorland;  Mary,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Frank  Fibaker,  of  Boone;  and 
Sophia,  who  is  the  wife  of  Joe  Fihaker,  of 
Fulton  township,  Webster  county. 

The  education  of  Frank  Fidilick  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Bohemia, 
supplemented  by  further  study  in  the  schi  *  As 
of  Ohio.  While  living  in  Cedar  Rapids. 
Iowa.  January  26,  1879,  he  married  Rose 
Frank,  a  country  woman,  horn  in  Bohemia, 
January  26,  1862.  Her  parents  died  in  their 
native  land.  Mrs.  Fidilick  came  to  America 
in  1S76  with  relatives,  and  lived  out  as  a 
domestic  for  three  years  or  until  the  time  oi 
her  marriage.  She  has  a  brother,  Joe 
Frank,  who  lives  near  Cowrie,  and  a  sister. 
Emma  Wheatlick,  who  lives  in  San  Jose, 
California.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  Fidilick  and  wife,  namely:  Frank, 
born  November  6,  1881 ;  William.  May  6, 
1884;  Emma,  May  i<>.  [887;  Agnes,  Sep- 
tember 28.  1892;  and  Ablia,  July  31,   1895. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Fidilick  worked 
in  the  coal  mines  at  Kalo,  where  he  put  up 
a  shanty  and  boarded  his  fellow  craftsmen 
for  a  couple  of  years.  He  then  rented  a 
farm  for  five  years,  and  afterward  bought 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Fulton  township, 
which  he  eventually  disposed  of  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Elkhorn  township.  At  the  expiration  of 
ten  years  this  land  was  also  sold,  and  he 
bought  the  two  hundred  and  sixty-six 
acres  upon  which  he  now  lives. 

The  farm  upon  which  Mr.  Fidilick  has 


expended  so  much  thought  and  labor  is  well 
improved  and  has  all  modern  labor-saving 
devices.  His  home  is  a  comfortable  and 
commodious  one,  and  the  barns  and  general 
buildings  are  consistent  with  the  demands 
created  by  abundant  harvests  and  large 
stock-raising  enterprises.  The  farm  is  un- 
derlaid with  coal,  a  forty-two-inch  vein, 
sixty  feet  deep,  which  he  will  develop  as 
opportunity  affords.  In  the  meantime  he  is 
devoting  his  time  to  the  general  improve- 
ment of  his  land  and  to  the  feeding  of  large 
numbers  of  cattle  and  hogs.  A  Republican 
in  politics,  he  has  held  numerous  important 
positions  of  trust  in  his  neighborhood,  such 
as  school  director  and  road  commissioner, 
and  while  living  in  Elkhorn  township  he 
was  similarly  honored  with  public  trust. 
He  is  among  the  substantial  men  of  the 
county,  and  his  uprightness  and  devotion  to 
the  general  well  being  of  the  community  is 
unquestioned. 


SAMUEL  HEFFNER. 

The  genealogy  of  the  Heffner  family  is 
traced  back  to  Andreas  Heffner,  of  Eber- 
stadt,  a  village  four  miles  south  of  Darm- 
stadt, in  Germany.  On  the  ship  Patience, 
under  Captain  Hugh  Steele,  as  one  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  passengers  from  Wur- 
temberg  and  Palatine,  lie  crossed  the  At- 
lantic, landing  in  America  September  19, 
1749,  after  which  he  settled  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Heinrich  Heffner,  son  of  Andreas, 
ami  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a 
Revolutionary  hero,  serving  under  General 
Washington  during  his  campaign  in  Xew 
Yi  irk  and  the  retreat  through  New  Jersey. 
With  his  brave  comrades  he  suffered  the 
hardships  at  Valley  Forge  during  the  win- 


SAMUEL  HEFFNER 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


409 


ter  of  1777.  Shortly  after  this  time  lie  was 
captured  by  the  British  and  held  as  a  pris- 
oner of  war  for  two  years  before  being- 
exchanged.  He  married  Maria  Eva  Kelch- 
ner,  November  28,  1752.  Among  their  de- 
scendants was  Samuel  HefYner,  Si'.,  who 
was  born  in  Weisenburg,  Lehigh  count}-, 
Pennsylvania,  and  who  folli  wed  the  tan- 
ning business  until  his  death,  September  14, 
1872.  The  religion  of  his  ancestors  he 
made  his  own  and  held  membership  in  the 
German  Lutheran  church.  Politically  he 
voted  with  the  Democratic  party.  By  his 
marriage  to  Kate  Folck,  -who  was  born  in 
1803  and  died  in  1883,  he  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, Samuel,  of  this  sketch,  being  the  eld- 
est. Henry,  the  second  born,  who  is  living 
in  Trexlertown,  Lehigh  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, married  Rosalinda  Smith  and  has 
two  children,  Alar}-  A.  and  Emeline. 
George  makes  his  home  in  Allentown.  Penn- 
sylvania. Lydia  H.,  wife  of  Joseph  Kuhns, 
of  Seipstown,  Lehigh  county.  Pennsylvania, 
has  seven  children.  Adam  C,  Harvey  J.. 
Milton  S.,  Annie  L.,  Martha  L.,  Savanna 
A.  and  John  H.  Daniel  died,  unmarried, 
in  Webster  City,  Iowa,  October  29,  1893. 
Charles,  of  Allentown,  Pennsylvania,  mar- 
ried Caroline  Barto.  and  the}'  have  four 
children,  Annie  B.,  Jennie  D.,  Frank  S.  and 
Carrie.  David,  of  Allentown,  married  Al- 
mira  J.  Schaffer  and  has  six  children:  Mary 
Alice,  Robert  S.,  John  A.,  Ida  S..  William, 
who  d.ied  in  infancy,  and  Esther.  Peter,  of 
Fogelsville,  Lehigh  county,  Pennsylvania, 
married  Fianna  Woodring  and  has  <  me 
daughter,  Katie  L.  Mary  Ann,  twin  sister 
cf  Peter,  is  unmarried  and  lives  in  Allen- 
town. Meno  married  Isabella  Walbert,  lo- 
wborn he  had  two  children,  Lily  L  ami 
Clista  M.  He  died  at  Vienna,  Fairfax 
county,  Virginia,  in  1885.  Catherine  Maria 
died  in   infancy.      Solomon,   of  Seipstown, 


Pennsylvania,  married  Amanda  Mover  and 
lias  three  children,  Samuel  M.,  Daniel  H. 
and  Alfred  S. 

Samuel  Heffner,  who  forms  the  subject 
of  this  article,  was  born  in  Lehigh  county, 
Pennsylvania.  January  23,  1829.  Pri- 
marily educated  in  his  native  county,  he  was 
later  given  the  advantages  of  study  in 
Freeland  Seminary,  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  gained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  or- 
dinal"}- branches  of  study.  In  boyhood  he 
was  made  conversant  with  the  German 
language,  and  always  afterward  was  a  flu- 
ent speaker  of  both  German  and  English. 
Deciding  to  enter  the  medical  profession, 
Ik-  began  the  stud}-  of  that  science,  continued 
in  the  same  until  completing  a  regular 
course  of  stud}-,  after  which  he  carried  on 
a  general  practice.  Coming  to  Iowa  in  an 
early  day.  he  was  afterward  identified  with 
the  history  of  Webster  county,  where  he 
was  a  citizen  of  prominence  and  influence. 
In  1854  he. purchased  from  the  govern- 
ment a  homestead  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  upon  which  he  erected  a  cabin  built 
of  logs  and  covered  with  shingles  hewn  by 
his  own  hands.  Here  he  lived  until  i860, 
when  he  rented  his  farm  and  for  the  fol- 
lowing thirteen  years  roamed  about  among 
the  wilds  of  Colorado,  Wyoming,  Montana 
and  Idaho,  being  many  times  with  no  other 
companions  than  his  faithful  oxen  and  the 
treacherous  Indian,  in  whom  he  found  a 
warm  and  confiding  friend.  In  1873  he- 
re-turned to  his  farm  in  Webster  county,  ti 
which  he  made  such  additions  as  his  humble 
means  would  permit.  Upon  one  of  these 
newly  acquired  possessions  he  erected  a 
small,  sod-covered  shanty,  in  which  he  lived 
for  ten  years.  During  this  time  he  endured 
every  hardship  known  to  the  pioneers  of 
early  Iowa.  Many  times  within  this  period 
he  would  walk  to  Fort  Dodge,  a  distance  of 


4-io 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


fifteen  miles,  being  without  money  with 
which  to  buy  his  dinner. 

For  six  years  Mr.  Heffner  served  as 
county  supervisor.  In  national  elections  he 
voted  for  Republican  candidates,  but  in 
( ither  instances  he  voted  for  the  men  and 
measures  he  thought  for  the  best  interests 
of  all  the  people.  Like  his  father,  he  was 
a  faithful  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church  and  continued  an  earnest  worker  in 
the  same  until  death  terminated  .his  long 
and  useful  existence,  June  5,  1893. 

The  marriage  (if  our  subject  united  him 
with  Miss  Flora  E.  Spainhower,  January 
jo.  1882,  at  Homer.  Hamilton  county, 
h  wa.  She  was  born  November  28,  1858, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Lydia 
M.  (  Miller)  Spainhower,  both  natives  of 
Stokes  county,  North  Carolina,  the  former 
burn  September  2.  1823,  and  the  latter  June 
24,  [824.  They  were  married  in  their  native 
county.  April  20,  1848.  where  they  contin- 
ued to  reside  for  man}'  years  afterward. 
On  March  31.  1875.  they  arrived  in  Webster 
county.  Iowa,  where  Mr.  Spainhower  first 
leased  land  and  two  years  later  bought  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Washington 
township.  On  that  farm  the  mother  died 
July  9,  1 88 1.  and  from  there  her  body  was 
taken  to  Blanchard  cemetery  in  Washing- 
ton township.  Deprived  of  his  wife  and 
further  afflicted  by  the  loss  of  his  eyesight, 
Mr.  Spainhower  left  his  farm  and  made  his 
home  with  his  children.  He  died  September 
15,  1897,  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Heffner,  his 
oldest  daughter,  and  was  buried  by  the  side 
of  his  wife.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children:  J.  V.,  of  Maricopa  county. 
Arizona,  married  Eleanor  Crouse  and  has 
three  children,  Lydia,  John  and  Luther. 
S.  B.,  of  Coalville,  Webster  county.  Iowa, 
married  Amanda  Crouse,  a  sister  of  his 
brother's  wife,  and  they  have  six  children 


now  living:  Arthur,  Alice,  Minnie,  Sam- 
uel, Bettie  and  Anna.  W.  H.,  of  Watonga, 
Blaine  county,  Oklahoma,  married  Sarah 
DeWitt,  who  died  in  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
February  1,  1888,  leaving  two  children, 
Ralph  and  Cora.  A.  M.,  of  Fort  Dodge, 
Iowa,  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  hav- 
ing been  Alice  Widick,  who  died  near  Le- 
high, Iowa,  in  November,  1887,  after 
which  he  married  Florence  Lowry,  and  they 
have  two  children,  George  and  Ethel.  The 
fifth  member  of  the  family  circle  was  Flora, 
who  married  Mr.  Heffner.  Mary  R..  Air,--. 
.Monroe  Blakely,  resides  in  Maricopa  coun- 
ty, Arizona,  and  has  six  children,  Charles, 
Florence,  Lydia,  Cora,  Marion  and  Doris. 
The  five  children  of  our  subject  and 
wife  were  born  in  Washington  township, 
Webster  county,  Iowa.  The  eldest,  John 
S.,  born  January  11,  1883,  wno  's  now  man- 
aging the  home  farm,  was  graduated  from 
Tobin  College,  June  15,  1900,  and  expects 
to  teach  school  preparatory  to  taking  up  the 
study  of  law.  The  other  children  are: 
Floyd  M.,  born  June  24,  1884:  Daniel, 
April  4,  1886;  Mary  E..  May  12.  1889:  and 
Carl  I)..  May  1,  1893.  Since  the  death  of 
her  husband  Mrs.  Heffner  has,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  her  oldest  son.  managed  the 
home  farm  on  section  2~,  Washington 
township,  with  additional  property  on  sec- 
tions 22  and  28,  the  whole  aggregating  four 
hundred  and  thirty-eight  acres.  On  this 
homestead  she  has  recently'  erected  a  beau- 
tiful rural  home,  containing  all  the  modern 
improvements.  Other  equipments  of  a 
model  farm  are  to  be  seen  there,  including 
large  barns,  cattle  sheds  and  granaries,  and  a 
specialty  is  made  of  raising  high-grade 
stnek  for  the  market.  Among  her  other 
properties  are  three  lots  in  Gilmore  City, 
Iowa,  and  two  lots  in  Webster  City.  She 
is    a   member   of   the   Methodist   Episcopal 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


411 


church  and  a  lady  whose  many  pleasing 
attributes  of  mind  and  heart  have  drawn  to 
her  the  friendship  of  a  large  circle  of  ac- 
quaintances. 


.MORRIS  J.  BAILEY. 

The  commercial  supremacy  of  Dun- 
combe  is  fostered  and  maintained  by  the 
large  business  undertakings  of  Morris  J. 
Bailey,  one  of  the  most  ambitious  and  suc- 
cessful grain  and  cattle  shippers  of  Webster 
county.  He  was  born  in  County  Limerick, 
Ireland,  in  i860,  a  son  of  Francis  and  Ellen 
(Casey)  Bailey,  also  natives  of  Ireland. 
The  parents  were  married  in  their  native 
land  and  came  to  America  in  1865.  and,  upon 
coming  to  Boone  county,  Iowa,  resided  for 
a  few  weeks  in  Clinton,  afterwards  settling 
on  a  farm,  where  they  lived  for  two  and  a 
half  years.  They  became  identified  with 
Webster  county  in  1868,  where  the  father 
took  up  river  land,  but  later  bought  property 
in  Washington  township,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  and  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1888.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  p  li- 
tics  but  refused  to  hold  office  of  any  kind, 
and  he  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church.  The  mother,  who  is  now 
living  in  Duncombe,  reared  the  following- 
children:  Morris;  Maggie,  who  lives  with 
her  mother ;  Frank,  who  married  Myrtle 
Bailev,  and  is  connected  with  the  Carbon 
Plaster  Company  of  Fort  Dodge;  Katie,  who 
is  the  wife  of  X.  J.  Wagner,  a  merchant  at 
Duncombe;  and  James,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years. 

Until  his  sixteenth  year  Morris  J.  Bailey 
attended  the  public  schools  in  Washington 
township  during  the  winter  time,  and  work- 
in  the  harvest  held  during  the  summer.  As 
an  independent  venture  he  started  out  in  rail- 


road business  as  sta'tion  agent  for  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company  at  Duncombe,  a 
position  which  he  held  i*  r  about  five  and  a 
half  years.  He  afterwards  held  similar  posi- 
tions at  different  points  on  the  road,  and  was 
thus  employed  up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage, 
June  16,  1884.  , 

Mrs.  Bailey  was  formerly  Bridget  O'Con- 
nor, a  native  of  Dubuque,  Iowa,  born  in 
1862.  and  a  daughter  of  Patrick  O'Connor, 
who  was  born  in  Ireland.  The  father  mar- 
ried in  his  native  land  and  emigrated  to 
America  about  1856.  and  settled  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  from  which  city  he  removed  to 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  thence  to  Fort 
Dodge.  He  later  settled  on  a  farm  in  Web- 
ster county  where  himself  and  wife  eventual- 
ly died.  The}-  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children  :  Patrick,  who  married  Ellen 
Downev,  and  lives  in  Industry,  Iowa;  Mag- 
gie, who  is  the  wife  of  John  Hannarahan, 
and  lives  in  Webster  City:  Arthur  L.,  who 
also  lives  in  Webster  City  ;  Bridget,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Morris  J.  Bailey;  and  Nick,  who 
is  unmarried  and  is  engaged  in  the  book  and 
shoe  business  in  Webster  City. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bailey  were  born  the 
following  children :  Francis.  Arthur.  Jo- 
seph, Ellen.  Anna  and  Blanch.  Francis  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years,  and  Joseph  at  the 
age  of  one,  both  being  buried  on  the  same 
day. 

For  a  time  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Bailey 
remained  in  the  railroad  business,  and  then 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Dun- 
combe for  a  year  ami  a  half.  Upon  the  death 
of  his  brother,  who  was  a  partner,  he  dis- 
posed of  the  store  and  bought  another  gro- 
cery, which  he  later  sold  in  order  to  enter 
the  hardware  business.  A  still  more  recent 
occupation  was  that  of  postmaster,  which 
office  he  held  for  four  years,  and  subsequent- 
ly he  engaged  in  the  elevator  and  grain  busi- 


412 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ness,  which  is  his  present  lucrative  means  of 
livelihood.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  modern 
elevator  of  large  dimensions,  and  has  an 
enormous  trade  in  the  buying  and  selling 
of  grain  and  other  elevator  commodities. 
He  is  also  interested  on  a  large  scale  in  the 
purchase  and  sale  of  hogs  and  cattle.  Mr. 
Bailey  owns  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  Colfax  township,  and  also 
town  lots  and  buildings  in  Buncombe,  and 
is  interested  in  the  coal  and  lumber  business. 
No  mure  enterprising  citizen  has  helped 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  locality,  or 
has  more  faithfully  and  intelligently  studied 
the  needs  of  the  commonwealth.  Politically 
a  Democrat,  be  has  upheld  the  political 
honor  of  his  adopted  town  while  holding 
various  responsible  positions,  among  which 
is  that  of  township  clerk,  maintained  for 
thirteen  years.  He  has  also  been  alderman 
of  Duncombe,  and  is  president  of  the  school 
board.  Fraternally  he  is  associated  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Ancient 
Order  United  Workmen,  and  the  Yoeman. 
Himself  and  family  are  members  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  church.  Mr.  Bailey  is  a  re- 
markably successful  man  and  is  indebted 
solely  to  his  own  efforts  for  the  position 
which  he  now  occupies.  Among  the  numer- 
ous attributes  which  have  strengthened  his 
hold  upon  the  hearts  and  common  sense  of 
his  friends  and  associates  is  an  unswerving 
integrity,  a  well  balanced  judgment,  a  genial 
and  optimistic  personality,  and  a  heart  at- 
tuned to  the  agreeable  as  well  as  substantial 
things  of  life. 


VV.  F.  CARVER,  M.  D. 

Among  the  younger  representatives  of 
the  medical  fraternity  now  engaged  in  prac- 
tice in  Webster  county,  probably  none  stands 


higher  than  Dr.  \Y.  F.  Carver,  of  Fort 
Dodge,  who  limits  his  practice  to  the  diseases 
of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat.  He  was 
born  in  Madison  county,  Iowa,  December  6, 
1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Caleb  Carver,  a  native 
of  Lee  county,  this  state.  It  was  about  1837 
or  1838  that  the  Doctor's  paternal  grandpar- 
ents, William  and  Mary  Carver,  removed 
from  their  old  home  in  Kentucky  to  Iowa. 
but  after  spending  a  short  time  in  this  state, 
went  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  and  later  to 
Missouri,  where  they  died,  their  remains  be- 
ing interred  at  Joplin.  In  1861  the  Doctor's 
father  returned  to  Iowa,  and  has  since  made 
his  home  in  Madison  county.  He  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Boicourt,  who  was  born  in 
Illinois,  of  French  ancestry,  and  died  in 
1895.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  seven  are  still  living,  six  sons 
and  one  daughter. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Dr.  Carver 
was  reared  and  educated,  and  there  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  for  a  time.  In 
early  manhood  he  became  a  registered  phar- 
macist, and  began  the  preparation  for  his 
chi  >sen  profession  in  the  Iowa  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Des  Moines,  but 
finished  his  course  at  the  Hospital  College  of 
Medicine  in  Louisville.  Kentucky,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  with 
honor  in  1893,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  and 
was  then  engaged  in  general  practice  at  Mur- 
ray, Clarke  county,  Iowa,  for  six  vears.  He 
subsequently  took  a  special  course  at  the 
Chicago  Polyclinic  and  Illinois  State  Eye 
and  Ear  Infirmary,  and  then  located  in  Fort 
Dodge,  where  he  has  since  followed  his  pro- 
fession with  marked  success,  having  built  Up 
quite  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  Since 
locating  at  Fort  Dodge.  Dr.  Carver  has  de- 
vi  'ted  his  entire  time  to  the  eye.  ear.  nose  and 
throat  and  the  adjustment  of  glasses. 

Dr.  Carver  was  married  April  4,  1894,  to 


W.  F.  CARVER,  M.  D. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


415 


Miss  Edith  I.  Bishop,  a  daughter  of  Captain 
J.  F.  Bishop,  oi  Des  Moines,  who  is  edit*  r 
of  the  Grand  Army  Advocate,  and  Wo- 
man's Relief  Corps  Magazine.  To  them  have 
been  born  three  children,  namely :  Susan 
M.,  William  Franklin.  Jr.,  and  James  Clay- 
ton. 

By  his  ballot  the  Doctor  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  part). 
Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  fraternally  is  connected 
with  the  Masonic  order  and  the  improved 
Order  of  Red  Men.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
American  Medical  Association,  the  Iowa 
State  Medical  Society,  and  the  Fort  Dodge 
District  Medical  Society.  While  living  in 
Clarke  count)-  he  served  two  terms  as  county 
coroner  anil  was  also  health  officer  of  his 
town  for  a  time.  In  Clarke  county — his 
former  place  of  residence — the  Doctor  estab- 
lished an  enviable  reputation  and  during  the 
three  years  of  his  residence  in  Fort  Dodge  he 
has  become  identified  with  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  Webster  count)-  and  is  rapidly  at- 
taining a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  the  peo- 
ple of  his  acquaintance. 


JAMES  B.  IXGALLS. 

James  B.  Ingalls  was  born  in  Hancock 
county,  Illinois.  December  29,  1839,  and 
was  reared  in  Jefferson  and  Webster  coun- 
ties, Iowa.  During  the  years  of  youth  he 
worked  en  a  farm  in  the  summers  and  at- 
tended school  in  winter.  At  Border  Plains, 
January  25,  1862.  he  enlisted  in  Company 
D,  Sixteenth  Iowa  Infantry,  which  was  mus- 
tered into  the  Union  service  in  Davenport, 
and  drilled  at  Benton  Barracks,  later  being 
ordered  south  and  taking  part  in  the  battles 
of  Shiloh  and  Corinth,  and  the  campaign  in 


front  of  Vicksburg  under  General  Grant.  In 
[863  he  returned  home  on  a  furlough,  and 

at  the  expiration  of  thirl)  days  rejoined  the 
army  at  Cairo,  proceeding  up  the  Tennessee 
river  to  Clifton,  and  then  across  the  country 
to  join  General  Sherman  at  Buzzard's  Roost. 
On  July  22,  when  Hood  made  the  move 
against  the  left  wing  1  f  Sherman's  army, 
he  ami  eighteen  other  soldiers  were  captured 
by  the  Confederates  and  taken  to  Andersoti- 
ville,  where  he  remained  for  sixty  days, 
meantime  suffering  all  the  horrors  that  made 
the  prison  famous  throughout  the  world. 
After  his  release  he  joined  Sherman  at  At- 
lanta and  accompanied  him  on  the  march  to 
the  sea,  thence  went  to  Washington  and  took 
part  in  the  grand  review.  Next  he  was  or- 
dered to  Parkersburg.  Virginia,  and  there 
took  a  boat  for  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where 
he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Davenport,  Iowa, 
July  26,  1865.  Returning  home,  he  resumed 
work  on  the  farm  and  also  was  employed 
f(  >r  a  time  in  railn  >ading. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ingalls  was  solem- 
nized at  Border  Plains,  July  23,  1885,  and 
united  him  with  Mrs.  China  ( Hendricks) 
Crawford,  who  was  born  in  Marion  county,' 
Tennessee.  November  5,  [845,  a  daughter  of 
Mark  and  Man-  1  Standerfer)  Hendricks, 
natives  respectively  of  Indiana  and  Tennes- 
see. Some  years  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hendricks  removed  to  Missouri, 
in  1855,  and  there  both  died,  the  father  in 
1862  and  the  mother  in  1X72.  Their  family 
consisted  of  ten  children  :  Blackstone,  de- 
ceased;  Anderson,  who  was  killed  while  in 
the  service  of  his  country  during  the  Civil 
war ;  Caroline,  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Prior,  de- 
ceased;  Jane,  widow  of  Lafayette  Prigmore, 
and  a  resident  of  Marion  county,  Tennessee; 
Phrenix,  who  died  in  California:  Skelton, 
who   died   during   the   Civil    war;    Amanda, 


416 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mrs.  Josiah  Conn,  who  died  in  Hickory 
county,  Missouri;  Harrison,  who  married 
Susan  Steinhaugh.  and  lives  in  Indian  Ter- 
ritory ;  China,  .Mrs.  Ingalls;  and  Fatten,  de- 
ceased. 

By  her  first  marriage  Mrs.  Ingalls  had 
four  children.  No  children  were  horn  of  her 
union  to  Mr.  Ingalls,  but  they  have  adopted 
a  daughter.  Winnie  May,  who  was  born  in 
Lehigh,  Iowa,  November  14,  1885.  Mrs. 
Ingalls  is  connected  with  the  Order  of  Re- 
bekahs.  and  Mr.  Ingalls  is  a  member  1  f  the 
Odd  Fellows,  and  also  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  They  attend  the  Church  of 
Christ  in  Lehigh,  and  contribute  to  its  main- 
tenance. Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  firm 
in  his  allegiance  to  the  party,  and  interested 
in  public  affairs.  His  home  property  com- 
prises forty  acres  on  section  25,  Washington 
township,  and  in  addition  he  owns  property 
in  Lehigh. 


THOMAS  B.  INGALLS. 

The  homestead  of  Mr.  Ingalls,  purchased 
by  him  in  1 88 1,  stands  on  sections  36  and  25, 
Washington  township,  and  is  among  the  val- 
uable farms  of  Webster  county.  The  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  comprising  the  es- 
tate have  been  placed  under  first-class  culti- 
vation, and  it  is  the  owner's  ambition  to 
maintain  a  high  grade  of  improvements, 
making  of  the  land  a  model  farm.  To  a 
large  degree  he  inherits  the  qualities  of 
thrift  and  unswerving  integrity  that  charac- 
terized his  Scotch  forefathers,  while  from 
his  maternal  ancestors  he  inherits  the  Ger- 
man resourcefulness  and  firmness  of  will. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Ingalls  was  Abraham 
Ingalls.  a  native  of  New  York  state  and  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  iNij,  bearing  as  brave 
a    part    in    conquering    British    arms   as    his 


father  before  him  had  done  in  the  Revolu- 
tion. After  going  to  Illinois  he  made  his 
home  in  McHenry  county,  later  settling  in 
Jefferson  county.  Iowa,  and  improving  a 
tract  of  farm  land.  In  1854  he  became  a 
resident  of  Washington  township,  Webster 
count)-,  Iowa,  and  here  remained  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  November  28,  1878. 
While  living  in  Illinois  he  married  Margaret 
Barger,  who  was  born  in  Virginia  and  died 
in  Iowa  in  1866.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children,  namely  :  James,  who  married 
Mrs.  China  Crawford,  and  lives  in  Wash- 
ington township,  Webster  county;  Malinda, 
widow  of  Joel  Wilson,  and  a  resident  of 
Dayton,  Yamhill  county,  Oregon;  Willie, 
who  died  in  infancy;  and  Thomas  B.  There 
were  also  four  children  born  of  the  father's 
previous  marriagje  to  Mary  Sea. 

Thomas  B.  Ingalls  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county.  Iowa,  March  29,  1847.  He  received 
his  schooling-  in  a  district  school  in  Wash- 
ington township  and  the  village  school  of 
Border  Plains.  After  seventeen  years  of  age 
he  gave  his  entire  time  to  assisting  his  father 
on  the  home  farm.  At  Border  Plains.  Janu- 
ary 14,  1866,  he  married  Ruth  E.  Floyd,  who 
was  born  in  Wisconsin  on  Christmas  day  of 
1849.  and  was  one  of  the  four  children  of 
Charles  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Floyd.  She 
died  December  22,  1866.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Ingalls  took  place  in  Fort 
Dodge,  Iowa,  September  4.  J 872,  his  wife 
being  Victoria  Thomas,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  January  18.  1855.  Her  par- 
ents. Asa  and  Elizabeth  (  Knapp)  Thomas, 
were  natives  respectively  of  Connecticut  and 
Xew  York  state,  and  were  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  her  father  died  in  1856. 
Three  vears  later  her  mother  was  married 
to  Stephen  Whitbeck.  and  they  then  came  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  Dekalb  count)-  and  rent- 
ing land  for  two  years.     Their  next  location 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


417 


was  at  Homer,  Iowa,  where  Mr.  Whitbeck 
carried  on  a  drug  business.  Later  he  bought 
three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  near  Algona, 
l"\\a.  but  moved  his  family  to  Fort  Dodge, 
where  his  wife  died  in  1889.  Since  then  he- 
has  been  in  the  west,  principally  at  <  ireat 
Falls,  Montana.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  three  now  living:  William 
W.,  who  lives  in  Washington;  A.  G.,  who 
married  Margaret  Pendergast  and  makes  his 
home  at  Great  Falls.  Montana;  and  Clar- 
ence, who  is  married  and  resides  in  Minne- 
apolis, Minnesota,  being  in  the  railroad  busi- 
ness. 

By  the  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Ingalls  one 
child  was  born,  William,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred at  Border  Plains,  N<  ivember  1  7.  1 81  ■>  i. 
He  married  Ida  Story.and  lives  at  Lehigh, 
J'  '\\  a.  To  the  second  marriage  nine  children 
were  born,  namely:  Frederick,  who  was 
born  April  1,  1874.  and  now  lives  in  Fort 
Dodge:  George,  also  of  Fort  Dodge,  born 
April  22,  187(1;  Elizabeth,  who  was  born 
June  22,  187s,  and  died  February  22.  1879; 
Minnie  B.,  born  December  7.  1879:  Harry, 
who  was  born  June  18.  [882,  and  died  in  in- 
fancy; Thomas,  who  was  born  November 
24,  1883.  and  died  in  March.  1885;  Artie. 
born  August  12,  1888;  Bessie  V.,  April  25, 
189]  :  and  Grace  M.,  who  was  born  October 
23,  1893,  and  died  July  21,  1894.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Ingalls  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  on 
that  ticket  he  has  been  elected  to  the  various 
ti  iw  nship  offices.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


L.   K. -FROSLAXD. 

One  of  those  enterprising  sons  of  Nor- 
way   who   reflect   credit    upon    their    native 

1.  nd  rind  upon  the  country  of  their  adoption 


is  L.  K.  Frosland,  who  was  born  in  Nor- 
way in  1834.  and  whose  parents  were  horn, 
reared  and  were  married  in  the  northern 
land,  where  also  their  death  occurred.  In 
the  family  besides  L.  K.  was  a  brother, 
Johannes,  who  lives  lin  Cajhoun  county, 
Iowa,  a  brother,  Andre,  who  still  lives  in 
Norway,  and  a  sister,  Johanna  Knudson, 
who  is  a  resident  of  her  native  land.  In 
[863  Mr.  Frosland  was  married  in  Norway 
to  Rachel  Olson,  whose  father  died  in  that 
country,  but  whose  mother  is  now  living 
with  her  daughter  and  son-in-law,  and  is 
eighty-six  years  of  age. 

Anticipating  much  from  a  complete 
change  of  surroundings,  Mr.  Frosland  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1871.  accompanied  by 
hi-  wife  and  mother-in-law.  the  voyage  last- 
ing thirteen  days.  The  little  party  came  im- 
mediately to  Iowa,  and  twenty-four  years 
after  reaching  the  state  Mr.  Frosland  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  two  miles  south 
•  \  I  norland,  upon  which  he  lived  for  five 
war-,  afterward  locating  upon  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives.  His  first  purchase  on 
section  8  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  and  two  years  later  he  bought 
an  additional  eighty  acres,  all  of  which  he 
ii'  w  owns  and  has  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  Upon  this  farm  have  been 
reared  the  following  children:  Carrie,  who 
frst  married  Isaac  Dawson  and  is  now  the 
wife  of  J.  C.  Haggem,  of  Badger.  I 
Oleana,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  C.  Ander- 
son, the  owner  of  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Fulton  town-hip:  Gertie,  win  is  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Ness,  of  Fulton  township; 
Anna,  who  is  living  at  home;  Minnie,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Ole  Anderson,  of  Everett; 
Matt,  who  is  living  with  his  father;  and 
Elizabeth,  who  is  about  to  complete  her 
education.  Two  children  have  died  in 
America.     Mr-.   Frosland  comes  of  an  en- 


4I! 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ergetic  family,  as  best  illustrated  by  her 
brother,  Andrew  Olson,  who  married  Lena 
Anderson  and  lives  in  Fulton  township. 
When  he  arrived  in  America  he  was  one  of 
a  party  of  eight,  whose  expenses  across  the 
water  amounted  to  four  hundred  dollars. 
Arriving  in  New  York,  his  available  assets 
consisted  of  five  hundred  dollars  in  cash  and 
any  ami  unit  of  determination,  and  upon  set- 
tling  in  Iowa  he  put  up  a  cheap  house, 
bought  six  cows  and  paid  down  one  hun- 
dred dollars  towards  a  span  of  horses,  after 
which  he  had  hardly  a  cent  to  his  name. 
At  present  he  owns  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  and  is  a  successful  man  and  honored 
citizen. 

Mr.  Frosland  makes  a  specialty  of  rais- 
ing red  polled  cattle  and  high-grade  hogs, 
and  feeds  and  ships  large  numbers  of  live 
stock.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church,  and  is  a  Republican  in 
political  affiliation.  His  son.  Matt,  runs 
his  farm,  and  has  developed  genuine  ability 
as  an  agriculturist  and  stock-raiser.  Mr. 
Frosland  has  an  enviable  standing  in  the 
community,  where  his  integrity  and  public- 
spiritedness  are  a  matter  of  pride  to  his 
fellow  townsmen. 


WALTER  CLARK  GOODRICH. 

The  family  represented  by  this  well- 
known  farmer  of  Webster  township  is 
among  the  oldest  in  the  county,  having  been 
founded  here  by  his  parents,  Walter  and 
Minerva  (Beach)  Goodrich,  who  arrived 
in  what  is  now  Lehigh  on  the  17th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1855.  At  that  time  only  two 'or  three 
families  had  established  homes  here  and  the 
entire  Des  Moines  valley  was  a  wilderness, 
in  which  as  yet  few  attempts  at  improve- 


ment had  been  made.  Only  a  pioneer  can 
understand  and  appreciate  all  the  hardships 
they  endured,  all  the  discouragements  they 
overcame  in  an  effort  to  give  their  children 
desired  advantages  and  lay  up  for  them- 
selves a  competency  for  old  age. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Licking  county,  Ohio,  August  4,  1808,  and 
on  reaching  manhood  was  married  at  New- 
ark, that  county,  March  9,  1830,  to  Miss 
.Minerva  Beach,  who  was  born  in  Stratford, 
Connecticut,  on  the  24th  of  September. 
1807.  Unto  them  were  born  seven  sons,  all 
i>f  whom  are  still  living,  namely:  Curtis 
Augustus,  a  retired  farmer  of  Hodgeman 
county,  Kansas,  now  living  in  Dodge  City, 
that  state;  George  A.,  who  is  a  carpenter 
and  painter  of  Galena,  Ohio,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  temperance  work:  Benja- 
min B.,  a  retired  farmer  and  old  settler  of 
Texas  county,  Missouri;  Ezekiel  L,  a  gen- 
eral gardener  of  Sedalia,  Missouri;  El- 
bridge  and  Rolland  E.,  both  residents  of 
Lehigh,  Iowa;  and  Walter  C,  of  this  re- 
view. As  previously  stated,  Mr.  Goodrich 
brought  his  family  to  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  in  1855,  and  settled  on  the  present 
site  of  Lehigh.  He  was  a  man  of  excep- 
tional ability  along  mechanical  lines,  and 
during  his  early  residence  here  followed 
various  occupations.  As  a  cabinet  maker 
and  carpenter  he  manufactured  furniture, 
looms,  spinning  wheels  and  wagons  and 
built  houses  for  the  early  settlers.  As  a 
blacksmith  he  made  their  tools,  sharpened 
their  plows  and  shod  their  horses  and  oxen ; 
and  as  a  cooper  he  made  tubs  and  barrels 
in  his  shop.  He  also  manufactured  coffins 
and  caskets  and  did  a  general  undertaking 
business.  He  did  some  dentistry,  and  al- 
though he  did  not  practice  medicine,  he  d<  <c- 
tored  his  neighbors  with  simple  remedies 
when    they   were   ill.      From     the    age    of 


WALTER  GOODRICH,  Sr. 


WALTER  C.  GOODRICH 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


423 


twenty-one   Mr.   Goodrich   was   a   preacher 

and  untiring  worker  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  attended  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  the  people  as  well  as  their  physical 
necessities.  He  christened  the  babies  and 
as  they  grew  up  taught  them  to  live ;  he 
married  them  when  they  were  grown;  and 
when  death  came  he  preached  their  funeral 
sermons  and  comforted  the  mourning" 
friends.  His  life  seemed  entirely  devoted 
to  1  thers.  He  took  considerable  interest  in 
public  affairs,  and  at  one  time  served  as  a 
member  of  the  count}-  board  of  supen 
After  a  useful  and  well-spent  life  he  p 
quietly  away  July  7,  1901,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-two  years,  eleven  months  and 
three  days.  His  estimable  wife  died  March 
7.  [890.  She  was  a  woman  of  somewhat 
remarkable  character,  and  her  influence  in 
the  pioneer  district  was  for  good.  When 
eleven  years  of  age  she  was  converted  and 
a  year  later  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  she  was  ever 
after  a  faithful  member.  Throughout  her 
life,  which  was  protracted  to  a  great  age, 
she  retained  the  faith  in  her  savior  which 
had  characterized  her  as  a  child,  and  at  her 
death  the  entire  community  mourned  the 
loss  of  a  personal  friend. 

Concerning  the  last  days  of  Mrs.  Good- 
rich the  following  may  be  appropriately 
quoted  from  one  of  the  local  papers;  "No 
years  of  her  life  were  happier  than  her  last 
years;  no  hours  of  her  life  were  happier 
than  the  last.  Her  life  work  had  been  to  lit 
herself  for  death,  and  when  the  summons 
came  she  had  her  wedding  garments  on. 
Age  did  not  seem  to  impair  her  faculties, 
and  her  vision  of  futurity  seemed  all  the 
clearer.  In  praising,  exhorting  and  counsel- 
ing were  her  last  days  passed,  and  as  the 
last  moments  came  it  was  as  but  falling  into 
an  easy  slumber,  so  peaceful  did  she  seem. 


The  tired  hands  were  folded,  but  the  deeds 
that  they  have  done  will  never  he  forgotten. 
The  loving  voice  is  hushed  and  still,  and  lips 
as  but  silent  clay,  but  the  songs  that  have 
been  sung,  the  words  of  admonition  and 
thankfulness  that  have  been  uttered,  will 
live  in  memory's  halls  forever.  For  over 
three  score  years  and  ten  one  Master  only 
did  she  serve,  and  He  was  served  faithfully 
and  well." 

While  his  parents  were  living  in  Frank- 
lin count}-,  Ohio,  Walter  Clark  Goodrich 
was  horn,  April  _\  1848.  He  remembers 
the  long  journey  across  the  Mississippi  A'al- 
lev  into  Iowa  when  he  was  seven  years  of 
age  and  also  recalls  vividly  the  lonely 
stretch  of  country  where  the  family  estab- 
lished a  home.  For  a  time  he  walked  four 
miles  into  Yell  township  and  attended  school 
near  the  present  farm  of  George  Marsh. 
The  school  was  held  in  a  log  cabin  with  an 
old-fashioned  fireplace  and  resembled  all 
frontier  "temples  of  learning,"  having  seats 
of  slabs  upheld  with  pegs  and  without 
desks.  After  he  was  fifteen  he  ceased  at- 
tending school  and  gave  his  time  wholly  to 
work  in  his  father's  shop,  assisting  in  mak- 
ing coffins,  chairs,  wheels,  etc.  He  also 
worked  1  m  a  farm  in  Sumner  township  to 
some  extent. 

At  Fort  Dodge.  March  6,  1873,  Mr. 
Goodrich  was  married  by  Rev.  Lozier  to 
Miss  Margaret  A.  Ewing,  who  was  horn 
in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania.  March 
6,  1851,  a  daughter  of  David  T.  and  Maria 
G.  (Stockton)  Ewing.  also  natives  of  that 
county,  the  former  bom  August  23.  1805, 
the  latter  July  5.  1809.  Her  parents  were 
married  in  June.  1833,  and  continued  to  re- 
side in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  un- 
til the  spring  of  1853.  when  they  removed 
to  Illinois,  and  made  their  home  in  that 
state  until  coming  to  Webster  county.  Iowa, 


424 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  the  fall  of  1858.  By  occupation  her 
father  was  a  farmer.  As  a  Republican  he 
took  quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics. 
and  filled  many  county  and  township  offices, 
including  those  of  sheriff,  assessor  and  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  In  religion  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  died  at  Meadville,  Crawford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  December  25,  1880,  and  his 
wife,  who  long  survived  him,  departed  this 
life  April  12,  1897,  at  the  home  of  our  sub- 
ject in  Webster  county,  Iowa.  In  girlhood 
she  joined  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  she  was  a  member  until  1859,  when 
site  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  was  a  member  of  the  same 
throughout  the  remainder  of  her  life.  Of 
the  nine  children  born  to  this  worthy  couple 
live  are  still  living,  namely:  Mrs.  Alary  A. 
Baifd,  a  resident  of  Pawnee  Rock,  Kansas: 
Airs.  Sarah  Jane  Beach,  of  Port  Dodge, 
Iowa;  James  R.  Ewing,  of  Pawnee  Rock, 
Kansas:  and  D.  C.  Ewing  and  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet A.  Goodrich,  both  of  Lehigh.  Iowa. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born 
the  following  children:  Nellie  A.,  born 
July  2?.  1874;  Jennie  I..  July  13,  1876; 
Foster  P..  January  11,  1880;  James  B., 
August  7,  1886;  and  Walter  Roland,  De- 
cember 5,  1892.  All  are  living  with  the  ex- 
ception of  James  B..  who  died  August  5. 
1887. 

Prior  to  his  marriage  Mr.  Goodrich 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Fort 
Dodge,  and  assisted  in  building  a  number 
of  residences.  He  also  built  the  first  plat- 
fi  irm  in  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  room.  After 
bis  marriage  he  spent  three  months  in  team- 
ing for  the  potteries  of  Fort  Dodge.  He 
then  rented  land  two  and  a  half  miles  west 
of  Lehigh,  and  continued  to  operate  leased 
property  until  1890,  when  he  purchased  and 
settled  upon  his  present  farm  on  section  8, 


Webster  township.  At  one  time  he  also 
worked  in  the  coal  mines  near  Lehigh,  and 
engaged  in  the  undertaking  business  in  that 
town.  A  man  of  energy  and  ambition,  he 
has  never  hesitated  to  grasp  any  opportunity 
whereby  his  financial  success  might  be  en- 
hanced, and  his  industry  and  perseverance 
are  deserving  of  prosperity.  As  the  incum- 
bent of  all  of  the  township  offices,  lie  has 
been  closely  identified  with  local  affairs,  and 
has  been  active  in  the  work  of  the  Republi- 
can party.  Under  his  parents'  careful  guid- 
ance and  Christian  training  he  was  early  led 
to  identify  himself  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  has  since  been  one  of 
its  earnest  workers.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Independent  Order  of  <  >dd 
Fellow  s. 


EMANUEL  E.   LOW. 

Among  the  prominent  citizens  and  suc- 
cessful agriculturists  of  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  is  Emanuel  E.  Low,  whose  fine  farm 
i-  located  on  section  3,  Yell  township,  and 
is  surrounded  by  some  of  the  finest  scenery 
in  the  state.  His  beautiful  residence,  over- 
looking the  Des  Moines  river,  is  an  ideal 
country  home,  and  is  fitted  with  the  con> 
forts  and  conveniences  of  modern  life. 

A  native  of  the  sister  state  of  Illinois, 
Mr.  Low  was  born  June  21,  1840.  on  the 
old  national  road  near  Martinsville,  Clark 
county,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Low,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Randolph  county.  Vir- 
ginia, March  11,  1772.  The  father  was 
first  married  in  Ohio,  November  4.  1813, 
in  Miss  Margaret  Hughey.  who  was  born 
May  28,  1775.  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  Keziah, 
born  October  17.  18 14,  died  October  9, 
1816;  Jesse,  born  July  28,    1816,  married 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


425 


Matilda  Crawford,  and  died  leaving  a 
widow  and  nine  children,  the  former  still 
a  resident  of  Clark  county,  Illinois;  Sally, 
born  June  21,  1818.  died  November  2, 
[819;  Margaret,  born  December  4.  1820, 
married  John  A.  Landreth.  who  died  in 
1NN7,  and  she  now  makes  her  home  with 
our  subject;  and  Andrew,  born  December 
12.  1823.  married  Diana  Crane,  now  de- 
ceased, and  lived  in  Clark  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  died  in   1854. 

William  Low  was  again  married,  Au- 
gust 15.  1824.  his  second  union  being  with 
Sabrina  Davis,  who  was  also  born  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  Virginia,  July  6.  179'!.  and 
seven  children  blessed  this  marriage,  name- 
ly: Jonathan,  horn  July  17.  1825.  mar- 
ried Susannah  Rodman,  who  died  in  Arkan- 
S«  s,  while  his  death  occurred  in  Indian  Ter- 
ritory. John,  born  June  30.  1827,  died 
February  19.  1899.  He  married  Phoebe 
Rogers,  who  now  resides  in  Rooks  county. 
Kansas.  Elizabeth,  born  September  3. 
[829,  married  Levi  Curtis,  who  died  in  Yell 
township,  Webster  count}-.  Iowa,  in  1853, 
and  she  subsequently  wedded  Sanford  Day. 
Her  death  occurred  in  1858.  Piety,  1"  in 
in  Clark  count}-.  Illinois.  Ma}-  1,  1832, 
married  James  Rogers,  who  died  in  Clark 
county,  Illinois,  in  1897.  William  married 
Elizabeth  Corbin  and  resides  in  Emmet. 
Idaho,  Sabrina  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years.      Emanuel   E.   completes  the  family. 

William  Low.  the  father  1  if  our  sub- 
ject, served  as  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812, 
under  the  c<  mmand  of  General  W.  H.  Har- 
ris, m.  During  his  residence  in  Fairfield, 
1  Mir  1.  he  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  long  period  of  thirteen  years, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  removed  to 
Rush  county.  Indiana,  where  he  resided  Eot 
two  years.  He  next  made  his  home  upon 
a  farm  in  Clark  county,  Illinois,  for  eight- 


een years,  and  in  1855  came  to  Webstei 
count}-.  Iowa.  locating  on  a  river  claim  in 
Yell  township.  There  his  death  occurred 
June  10.  1  So;,  and  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject passed  away  in  May,  1876.  the  remains 
1  if  both  being  interred  in  Bass  cemetery. 
Yell  township.  Both  were  earnest  and 
o  nsistent  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  the  father's  political  support 
was  given  the  Republican  part}-. 

In  his  boyhood  Emanuel  E.  Low  at- 
tended the  district  schools  of  Clark  county, 
Illinois,  the  first  temple  of  learning  being 
one  1  f  the  little  log  cabins  fast  disappear- 
ing from  sight.  it<  facilities  not  reaching 
the  demands  of  any  hut  the  remotest  pio-= 
neer  settlements.  Later  Mr.  Low  pursued 
hi;  studies  in  a  neat  frame  structure  in  the 
same  county,  and  subsequently  took  an 
academic  course  at  Martinsville,  Illinois. 
From  eighteen  to  twenty  years  be  assisted 
his  father  in  his  fanning  operations,  go- 
ing then  into  the  sawmill  business,  to  which 
lit  has  devoted  a  considerable  portion  of 
his  time.  He  has  both  taste  and  talent  in 
the  line  of  mechanical  engineering  and  has 
given  much  attention  to  that  occupation. 

Mr.  Low  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  to  Iowa,  and  at  Burnside  he 
was  married.  October  22.  1863,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Nicholas,  who  was  born  in  Lu- 
zerne county,  Pennsylvania,  March 
[848,  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Abigail 
(Johnson)  Nicholas.  Her  mother  was  born 
in  the  same  county,  twelve  miles  from 
Scranton,  hut  the  birth  of  her  father  oc- 
curred in  Cornwall,  England,  October  16, 
[815.  Coming  west  in  the  fall  of  1861, 
Mr.  Nicholas  located  in  Webster  county. 
Iowa,  where  he  followed  mining  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  bought  a  farm  in  Yell  town- 
ship, which  he  operated  for  seven  years. 
He  not  only  broke  his  own  land,  but  as- 


426 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sisted  others  in  placing  their  land  under 
cutlivation,  and  became  widely  known 
Jmu  his  section  of  the  count}".  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican.  Socially  he 
was  identified  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  religiously  was  an 
earnest  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  tak- 
ing quite  an  active  part  in  religious  af- 
fairs. His  first  wife  died  in  1857  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  McGuife  cemetery,  and  he 
subsequently  took  his  two  youngest  chil- 
dren and  removed  to  Republic  county,  Kan- 
sas, locating  near  Scandia,  where  he  was 
later  united  in  marriage  to  Phoebe  McGuire, 
who  died  there.  Selling  his  landed  interests 
in  that  state,  he  subsequently  returned  to 
Iowa,  to  make  his  home  with  his  daughter 
in  Lehigh.  He  was  taken  ill  while  visiting 
his  daughter.  Mrs.  Margaret  Rolfe,  in 
Burnside.  and  died  there  April  16,  1897. 
All  of  his  seven  children  were  by  his  first 
marriage,  these  being  Margaret,  wife  of  S. 
F.  Wheelock  Rolfe,  who  resides  on  a  farm 
near  Burnside.  Webster  county :  Mary  Jane, 
wife  of  W.  C.  Beem.  of  Lehigh:  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  our  subject:  Martha,  deceased 
wife  of  Daniel  Towrrlev.  who  lives  near  Le- 
high in  Yell  township:  George,  who  mar- 
ried Hattie  Aver  and  resides  in  Dixon, 
Wyoming;  Thomas,  who  married  Rose 
Goodwin  and  lives  near  G  >ffeyville,  Kan- 
sas; and  Francis,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
months. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Low  were  born 
eight  children,  whose  names  and  dates  of 
birth  are  as  follows:  Ulysses  E..  May  23, 
Lezelle.  May  1.  1867;  George  E., 
March  18,  1869;  Elizabeth  Mary.  April  13. 
1S71  :  Margaret  A..  March  31.  1873;  Emri 
Alfred,  February  24.  1S75 :  Christina 
Viola,  February  13.  1877:  and  Minnie 
Frances.  February  15.  1879.  Lezelle  died 
March  20,  1S89.  but  the  others  are  all  living 


and  are  at  home  with  their  parents  with 
the  exception  of  George  E.,  who  now  re- 
sides in  Fort  Dodge. 

In  1892  Mr.  Low  bought  his  present 
farm  of  seventy-three  acres  1 .11  section  3, 
Yell  township.  He  raises  s<  me  of  the  fin- 
est stock  in  the  state,  giving  special  atten- 
tion to  that  line  of  business,  and  keeping 
nothing  but  high-grade  stock.  His  stand- 
ing in  his  locality  is  that  of  an  excellent  ag- 
riculturist, although  his  attention  has  not 
been  given  exclusively  to  farming.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  manifested  his  patriotism 
and  loyalty  by  enlisting  in  1862  in  Company 
B.  First  Battalion  under  the  command  of 
el  Sawyer,  and  was  in  active  service 
on  the  Minnesota  frontier,  with  headquar- 
ters at  Fort  William  Emmitt.  Mr.  Low  is 
a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  but  has 
never  been  willing  to  accept  office,  his  per- 
sonal business  being  enough  to  absorb  his 
time  and  attention.  His  wife  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  the 
family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  com- 
munity where  thev  reside. 


THOMAS  A.  McCARYILLE. 

The    fertility     and     resourcefulness    of 

Webster  county  has  developed  the  metal 
and  ability  of  many  tillers  of  her  soil,  and 
among  the  most  earnest  appreciators  of  the 
opportunities  thus  presented  to  their  con- 
sideration none  have  more  faithfully  dis- 
charged their  trust  than  has  Thomas  A. 
McCarville.  one  of  the  agriculturists  located 
on  section  16.  Fulton  township.  A  native 
of  Lafayette  county.  Wisconsin,  he  was 
])■  rn  February  8.  1865.  a  son  of  Dennison 
and  Catherine  (Timtnins)  McCarville,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born   in   Ireland   in 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


427 


1835,  and  the  latter  in  Detroit,  Michigan, 
in  1838. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  McCarville  were 
married  in  Waldwick  township,  Iowa  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  in  [864,  and  went  directly 
to  Lafayette  county,  where  the  father 
owned  land,  and  where  they  lived  until 
1890.  They  then  located  in  Fulton  town- 
ship, Webster  county,  Iowa,  whither  they 
had  been  preceded  by  three  of  their  children, 
and  here  the  father  died  March  29,  1890. 
To  this  devoted  and  conscientious  couple 
were  born  eight  children,  of  whom  Thomas 
A.  is  the  oldest;  Mary  A.,  horn  November 
8.  1866,  is  at  present  keeping  house  for  her 
mother;  Dennis  L.,  born  May  21,  1868, 
married  Jennie  Halligan  and  lives  on  sec- 
tion 16.  Fulton  township;  Katie  A.,  born 
July  25,  1870,  married  Michael  Welch,  of 
Jackson  township;  John  ].,  born  June  4, 
1874.  married  Margaret  Flannery  and  lives 
on  the  east  half  of  section  16,  Fulton  town- 
ship; James  E..  born  in  1876,  is  living  at 
home;  Dominick,  born  in  1870,  married 
Teresa  R.  McCormick  and  resides  in  Mur- 
ray county,  Minnesota,  where  he  removed 
in  the  spring  of  1902;  and  Elizabeth  died 
at  the  age  of  one  year  and  eight  months. 
The  four  brothers.  Thomas,  Dennis,  Joseph 
and  James,  each  occupy  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  section  H>.  Fulton  township, 
Webster  count}-.  L  iwa. 

At  the  district  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood Thomas  A.  McCarville  received  his 
primary  education,  a  beginning  supple- 
mented by  much  study  and  research  in  later 
years.  While  still  living  on  his  father's 
farm  he  took  a  lively  and  intelligent  inter- 
est in  agricultural  matters  in  general,  and 
entertained  broad  and  expanding  ideas  of 
the  best  way  to  conduct  a  farm  and  de- 
velop its  possibilities.  Otherwise  his  youth 
Mas  uneventful. 


On  September  6,  1804,  Mr.  McCar- 
ville married  Josephine  Loehr,  who  was 
born  in  Fulton  township.  January  29,  1876, 
her  parents  having  been  born  in  Germany, 
although  they  arc  now  residents  of  this 
count}-.  The  other  children  born  into  the 
Loehr  famil)  are;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Mels 
Ellingson,  of  Calhoun  count}-,  Iowa;  Caro- 
line, wife  of  Harry  Watson;  George,  a  resi- 
dent of  Moorland:  Lorna,  wife  of  Frank 
Few.  of  Oskaloosa,  Iowa;  Fred,  who  mar- 
ried Tilla  Dickinson  and  resides  in  Fulton 
township;  Alice,  wife  of  John  Benoit,  of 
Tara,  Iowa;  Charlej  ;  Frank;  and  Adolph. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCarville  have  been 
lorn  four  interesting  children:  Mary,  born 
August  1,  1895;  Joseph  D.,  born  May  9. 
1897;  I.eo,  who  was  born  May  9,  1899,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  five  months;  and  Ed- 
mond,  born  November  24,  1901. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Mc- 
Carville had  made  such  headway  that  he 
owned  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives, 
and  which  contains  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
acres.  He  immediately  settled  thereon,  and 
has  since  diligently  applied  himself  to  mak- 
ing a  name  and  place  for  himself  among 
the  prosperous  farmers  of  the  region. 
Aside  fn  an  general  farming  he  breeds  Jer- 
sey hogs  and  high-grade  cattle,  and  in  the 
latter  capacity  supplies  a  large  market  trade. 
His  farm  is  among  the  most  complete  in  the 
county,  ami  the  most  up-to-date  methods 
prevail,  aided  by  the  latest  improved  labor- 
saving  machinery.  A  Democrat  in  poli 
tics.  Mr.  McCarville  has  done  much  to  main- 
tain the  standard  of  political  service  ac- 
ceptable to  the  highest  intelligence  and  un- 
questioned morality,  and  has  creditably  held 
numerous  township  offices,  being  at  pres- 
ent a  trustee.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  church  at  Moorland.  Mr. 
McCarville  is   one  of  the  most   influential 


428 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farmers  of  Fulton  township,  and  his  many 
lire  personal  attributes  have  won  for  him 
the  friendship  of  many  the  respect  of  all. 


A.  J.  LOEHR. 

One  of  the  most  successful  of  the  Ger- 
man-Americans who1  have  contributed  to 
the  upbuilding  of  Webster  county  is  A.  J. 
Loehr,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  Febru- 
ary 28,  1 83 1 ,  and  received  the  substantial 
early  "training  of  the  well-to-do  Teutonic 
youth.  His  father,  Jodocus  Loehr,  was  for 
many  years  a  tax-collector,  and  died  during 
the  progress  of  the  Civil  war,  while  his  wife, 
formerly  Fredericka  Degraaf,  died  in  1841. 

Upon  completing  his  education  in  the 
lower  schools  of  Germany  at  the  age  of  nine 
years,  A.  J.  Loehr  entered  the  upper  school, 
which  he  left  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  As  a 
provision  for  the  future  he  then  apprenticed 
tc  an  apothecary  and  served  for  three  years, 
going  later  to  another  city  in  the  fatherland 
where  he  received  excellent  training  in  the 
Free  dispensary,  an  institution  provided  for 
the  poor,  remaining  there  eighteen  months. 
He  was  then  otherwise  employed  fur  a  year, 
and  in  1852  set  sail  in  a  vessel  bound  for 
American  shores,  and  arrived  in  New  York 
harbor  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  from 
Antwerp.  In  Chicago  he  secured  a  position 
in  the  Wallick  drug  store  on  the  corner  of 
Clark  and  Ouincy  streets,  and  after  two 
years  went  to  Milwaukee,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  year  and  a  half.  A  later 
charge  was  in  Two  Rivers,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  managed  a  drug  store  for  some 
time,  and  subsequently  located  in  Manito- 
woc, where  he  worked  in  a  sawmill  for 
three  years.  In  St.  Louis  he  afterward 
found  employment,  and  was  in  the  southern 


city   at   the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil   war. 

In  1861  Mr.  Loehr  enlisted  in  Conv 
pany  K,  Second  Missouri  Infantry,  for 
three  months,  and  later  enlisted  for  three 
years.  During  his  service  he  was  under 
command  of  Generals  Lyons,  Fremont,  Mc- 
Cook,  Sheridan,  Rosecrans  ami  Sherman, 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Corinth, 
Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga  and  Mission 
Ridge,  besides  many  minor  batjtles  and 
skirmishes.  Enlisting  as  a  private,  he  was 
afterward  commissioned  second  lieutenant, 
and  at  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge  was  ad- 
vanced by  General  Sheridan  to  the  rank  of 
captain  of  Company  F,  a  position  main- 
tained until  he  was  mustered  out.  His  dis- 
charge at  St.  Louis  in  October,  1864, 
marked  the  end  of  a  service  faithfully  and 
valiantly  performed. 

In  the  spring  of  [865  Mr.  Loehr  mar- 
ried Sophia  Gochee,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
man)'. Her  parents  never  left  their  native 
land.  Mrs.  Loehr  had  one  brother,  who 
died  in  a  Kentucky  hospital  during  the  Civil 
war.  After  their  marriage  the  young 
couple  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  by 
team,  the  journey  being  delayed  by  a  blind- 
ing snowstorm.  Arriving  at  Fort  Dodge 
after  many  trials  and  tribulations,  they  lo- 
cated on  a  rented  farm,  and  afterward  took 
up  river  land,  which  they  improved  and 
eventually  sold.  In  1872  Mr.  Loehr  bought 
the  property  which  he  now  owns  on  section 
10,  Fulton  township,  and  when  fairly  used 
to  the  new  order  of  things  his  home  was 
made  desolate  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  who 
passed  away  January  5,  1873.  Mrs.  Loehr, 
who  was  buried  in  Moorland  cemetery,  left 
a  family  of  ten  children  to  the  care  of  her 
husband:  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  Nels 
Elligson,  of  Calhoun  county,  Iowa;  Caro- 
line, who  married  Harry  Watson  and  died 
in  the  fall  of  1900;  George,  a  resident  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


429 


Moorland;  Laura,  wife  of  Frank  Pugh,  of 
Bussey,  Iowa;  Josie,   wife  of  T.   M.  Mc- 

Carville.  of  Fulton  township:  Alice,  wife  of 
John  Benoit.  of  Tara,  Iowa;  Fritz,  who 
married  Tillie  Dickerson  and  lives  in  Fulton 
township;  Charles;  Frank;  and  Adolph. 

On  December  1.  1897,  Mr.  Loehr  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Eliza  Gochee.  who  was  born  in 
Indiana,  August  5,  1842,  her  parents  being- 
natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and  Indiana. 
Her  father,  who  is  now  past  eighty-seven 
years,  is  living  in  Illinois,  while  her  mother 
died  in  Illinois  in  1869.  Mrs.  Cochee  had 
seven  sisters  and  one  brother :  Melinda, 
wife  of  James  Haldron,  of  Missouri;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  James  Morgan,  both  of  whom 
are  now-  deceased,  the  latter  having  met 
a  tragic  death  in  a  cyclone  at  Storm  Lake  in 
1882  ;  Louisa,  wife  of  James  Hill,  of  Illinois  ; 
Evelyn,  widow-  of  Henry  Thompson,  and  a 
resident  of  Empire,  Illinois;  Rebecca,  wife 
of  C.  P.  Moore,  of  Illinois;  and  Melissa,  wife 
ot  Jack  Gassoway,  also  of  Illinois.  By  her 
former  marriage  Mrs.  Loehr  had  eight  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  deceased.  Those 
living  are  Mary  Hendricks;  Ella  Hiveley. 
a  resident  of  Evanston,  Iowa;  Thomas,  of 
Monona  county,  Iowa;  Louis;  Prentiss; 
and  Elmer. 

At  the  present  time  Mr.  Loehr  owns 
eight  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  six 
hundred  and  forty  of  which  are  in  Dent 
county,  Missouri.  He  is  a  scientific  farmer, 
and  understands  how'  to  make  the  most  of 
his  fertile  property.  In  addition,  he  is  an 
ambitious  and  enterprising  citizen,  who 
takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertains 
to  the  development  of  his  township.  In 
politics  Mr.  Loehr  has  always  been  in  favor 
of  Democracy,  but  is  in  no  sense  a  strict 
party  man,  believing  it  right  to  vote  for 
the  candidates  best  qualified  for  the 
office.       He     has     upheld     the     reputation 


lor  a  clean  political  record  in  the  coun- 
ty, and  has  held  numerous  important  official 
positions,  lie  voted  for  the  three  assassi- 
nated presidents,  Lincoln.  Garfield  and  Mc- 
Kinley.  Fraternally  Mr.  Loehr  is  associ 
ated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  at  Fort  Dodge,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  also  at 
Fort  Dodge.  Fie  is  a  man  of  advanced 
views  and  liberal  tendencies,  and  has  intelli- 
gently  studied  the  needs  of  the  community 
with  which  he  has  been  for  so  long  identi- 
fied. 


JOHN  P.  BRAKKE. 

Norway  has  sent  away  from  her  moun- 
tainous shores  man}-  faithful  and  devoted 
sons,  who  have  transferred  their  allegiance 
to  the  United  States  and  become  integral 
parts  of  the  prosperity  of  their  adopted 
land.  Among  those  who  have  profited  by 
the  fertility  of  Iowa  may  be  mentioned 
John  P.  Brakke,  whose  well-improved  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  is  proof  of 
the  deserving  credit  of  the  owner.  He  was 
reared  to  a  life  of  industry  and  thrift  under 
the  faithful  guidance  of  his  parents  in  Nor- 
way, where  he  was  born  October  21,  1852. 
His  father,  Peter  Brakke,  was  a  farmer  dur- 
ing his  entire  active  life  and  died  in  1897, 
while  the  mother,  Celia  (  Birkland  )  Brakke, 
is  still  living  in  her  native  land,  although 
bem  as  long  ago  as  1813.  Qt  the  children 
reared  under  the  careful  guidance  of  this 
devoted  couple  but  two  sons  are  now  liv- 
ing, and  of  these,  Iver  has  never-  wandered 
from  the  surroundings  of  his  youth,  and  is 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising. 

Upon  the  paternal  farm  in  the  north 
country  John  P.  Brakke  was  taught  to  be 
a  good  farmer  and  faithful  member  of  so- 


43Q 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ciety,  and  interspersed  with  his  farm  duties 
was  attendance  at  the  public  schools.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  he  left  home  and  followed 
a  wandering  fancy  fur  the  deep,  and  For 
nearly  thirteen  years  shipped  on  various 
sailing  craft  in  the  North  sea.  He  eventu- 
ally brought  Up  mi  American  shores,  and 
April  j^.  t88l,  located  in  Lee  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  for  two  years  he  worked  on  a 
farm  by  the  month.  He  later  found  him- 
self in  Story  county,  Iowa,  where  he  worked 
at  farm  labor  for  a  couple  of  years,  and  was 
thus  enabled  to  make  some  headway  and  to 
save  enough  money  to  justify  him  in  marry- 
ing. 

On  January  7,  1885,  Mr.  Brakke  wed- 
ded  Julia  Peterson,  who  was  horn  in  Lee 
county,  Illinois,  September  15,  1864.  of 
Ni  irwegian  parentage,  her  father  and 
mother  having  emigrated  to  America  be- 
fore their  marriage,  which  occurred  about 
1S60.  They  arc  now  living  in  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa,  on  a  farm,  and  are  the  parents 
of  three  children,  of  whom  Bertha  is  the 
wife  of  Martin  Miller  and  lives  on  section 
20,  Full  on  township,  Webster  county,  while 
Oscar  married  Sophia  Anderson  and  lives 
in  Minnesota.  Ten  children  have  been  horn 
h  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brakke,  namely:  Celia, 
born  May  22,  1885  ;  Nlellie,  born  August  13, 
1886;  Inger  C,  born  March  5,  1888:  John 
C,  born  July  20.  1889;  Emma,  who  was 
born  August  8,  1890,  and  died  January  7, 
1891 ;  Martin  E.,  who  was  horn  May  4. 
1893,  and  died  July  20,  1896;  Berthine,  who 
was  born  October  14.  1895.  and  died  Janu- 
ary 15,  1896;  Marthene,  born  March  14, 
1897;  Louisa,  born  June  15,  1899;  and 
Elma,  born  March  20,  1901. 

Following  his  marriage  Mr.  Brakke 
rented  a  farm  for  a  year,  and  then  unwed 
to  the  farm  which  has  since  Wn  his  home. 
At  first  in  a  raw  and  unpromising  condition, 


unceasing  labor  and  well-directed  plans  have 
produced  a  gratifying  fertility,  and  the 
original  value  of  live  dollars  an  acre  has 
been  entirely  lost  sight  of.  A  year  ago  Mr. 
Brakke  built  a  tine  home  which  cost  over 
a  thousand  dollars,  and  which  is  fitted  with 
modern  improvements,  and  is  otherwise 
comfortable  and  wisely  conceived.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  national  politics,  and  though 
devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  his  party, 
has  never  sought  office  of  any  kind,  although 
for  six  years  he  served  as  township  trustee. 
He  is  deserving  of  emphatic  credit  for  the 
success  which  has  crowned  his  labors,  for 
many  obstacles  have  presented  themselves  to 
block  his  progress  but  have  been  overcome 
by  grit  and  determination.  Four  years 
after  his  marriage  his  wife  became  a  bed- 
ridden invalid,  ami  for  three  years  he  de- 
spaired of  her  recover}-.  Eight  doctors  de- 
creed that  her  case  was  hopeless,  but  in 
spite  of  these  predictions  she  began  to  im- 
prove and  has  since  been  a  comfort  and  help 
to  her  devoted  family.  This  and  other 
drawbacks  have  not  broken  the  courageous 
spirit  of  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers 
in  the  township  or  retarded  his  general  use- 
fulness as  one  of  the  most  progressive  citi- 
zens of  the  community. 


FRANCIS  P..  DRAKE, 

Francis  B.  Drake,  one  of  Otho's  most 
prominent  and  influential  citizens,  was  born 
in  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York,  July 
27,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  David  B.  and  Caro- 
line (Wilson)  Drake,  natives  of  Vermont 
and  New  Hampshire,  respectively.  The 
Drake  family  trace  their  ancestry  back  to 
the  Puritans  who  settled  in  Massachusetts 
in  colonial  days.     When  nineteen  vears  of 


F.  B.  DRAKE 


MRS.  F.   B.  DRAKE 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


435 


age  die  grandfather  of  our  subject  rerrn  ved 
to  Addison  ci  unity,  Vermont,  and  there  lived 
upon  one  farm  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred when  he  was  ninety-six  years  of  age. 
Jn  early  life  he  was  a  member  of  the  state 
militia,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war. 

When  a  young  man  David  B.  Drake 
went  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York, 
where  he  carried  on  business  as  a  \v< 
manufacturer  fur  some  time,  and  also 
cleared  and  improved  a  large  farm.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  energy  and  perseverance  and 
was  usually  successful  in  every  under- 
taking. In  his  family  were  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  but  only  our 
subject  and  his  sister.  Mrs.  Harriet  L.  Tay- 
lor, are  now  living,  the  latter  being  a  widow 
and  a  resident  of  Xew  York. 

Mr.  Drake,  of  this  review,  passed  his 
rl  and  youth  in  his  native  state,  and 
assisted  his  father  in  his  various  occupa- 
tions. He  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  his  father  leased  his  farm  and  from 
that  time  on  he  worked  in  the  woolen  fac- 
tory at  Stockholm,  Vermont,  when  not  in 
school.  He  was  given  good  educational  ad- 
vantages, attending  the  academy  in  Potts- 
dam  for  some  time.  On  attaining  his  ma- 
jority he  commenced  teaching  school. 

In  1854  Mr.  Drake  came  to  Iowa  and 
entered  a  tract  of  government  land  on  sec- 
tion 30,  Otho  township.  Yv'ehster  county, 
but  did  not  locate  upon  his  land.  During 
the  following  winter  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school  in  Davenport,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1X55  assisted  in  selecting  the  swamp  and 
over-flowed  lands  in  Tama  county,  Iowa. 
The  next  summer  he  was  appointed  by  the 
county  judge  as  one  of  the  commissioners 
to  select  the  swamp  lands  of  Webster  coun- 
ty,  which  at  that  time  included   Hamilton 


county.  In  the  spring  of  [858  .Mr.  Drake 
settled  on  section  28,  1  Hho  township,  where 
he  lived  until  August,  [866,  and  then  1m  lught 
a  farm  011  section  _\  Clay  township,  which 
was  wholly  unimproved,  all  around  him 
being  wild  land,  lie  extended  the  boundar- 
ies of  his  farm  until  he  had  two  hundred 
and  rifty  acres,  and  successfully  engaged  in 
its  cultivation  until  1900,  when  he- sold  the 
place  and  remi  ived  toOtho,  where  he  bought 
li  ts  and  built  an  elegant  residence,  where 
he  now  lives. 

On  the  10 th  of  April.  1S57.  Mr.  Drake 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Caroline 
E.  Hart,  a  daughter  of  Norman  Hart,  of 
whom  extended  mention  is  made  in  the 
sketch  of  X.  11.  Hart  on  another  page  of 
this  volume.  Mrs.  Drake  vva^  horn  in  Glas- 
tonbury. Connecticut,  on  the  16th  of  May, 
1833,  hut  was  only  a  year  old  on  the  re- 
moval of  the  family  to  Hancock  county, 
Illinois,  and  in  1854  they  came  to  Webster 
connty.  Iowa.  She  taught  the  first  school 
ever  conducted  in  this  county,  it  being  in  a 
li  g  cabin  near  Border  Plains.  (  >ur  subject 
and  his  wife  have  no  children  of  their  own 
but  have  reared  two:  Charlotte  Malander, 
who  was  taken  into  their  home  at  the  age 
of  nine  years  and  was  educated  by  them 
and  given  all  the  advantages  of  an  own 
child.  She  is  now  the  widow  of  Frank 
York  and  resides  in  Dayton.  Charles  H. 
Bostwick  v.:  eared  and  educated  by 

them,  making  his  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Drake  from  the  age  of  three  years  until  he 
attained  his  majority. 

For  nearly  hal'f  a  century  our  subject 
has  been  identified  with  the  affairs  of  Web- 
ster county,  and  is  recognizi  1'  the 
most  valuable  and  useful  citizens  of  his 
community.  In  [857  he  was  appointed 
and    was    the   first 


43& 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


master  of  Otho,  which  position  he  filled  for 
several  years.  He  has  held  all  of  the  town- 
ship offices,  and  was  a  member  of  the  county 
board  of  supervisors  from  the  fifth  district 
one  term. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  still  the  owner  of  a 
good  farm  on  sections  19  and  20,  Otho 
township,  which  he  now  rents  to  Hoyt  N. 
Hart,  sou  of  Dr.  G.  D.  Hart.  He  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  breeding  thoroughbred 
short  horn  cattle,  of  which  he  has  a  fine 
herd  upon  his  farm,  and  also  breeds  high- 
grade  horses  and  hogs,  giving  much  atten- 
ti<  m  tn  his  stock. 

In  early  life  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drake  united 
with  the  Congregational  church,  and  have 
ever  taken  quite  an  active  and  prominent 
part  in  all  church  work,  especially  in  the 
Sunday  school.  For  many  years  he  served 
■as  superintendent  and  assisted  in  organizing 
a  number  of  Sunday  schools.  He  has  also 
been  a  deacon  in  his  church  fur  fifteen  years, 
and  his  life  has  ever  been  in  harmony  with 
his  professions.  Politically  he  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  is  ever  ready 
and  willing  to  aid  any  enterprise  calculated 
tn  promote  the  interests  of  his  community 
or  advance  the  general  welfare.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  township  organization  that 
controls  the  demonstrations  on  the  4th  of 
July,  commencing  with  1876,  and  Decora- 
tion Day,  and,  thanks  to  the  committee 
which  has  the  celebrations  in  charge,  these 
two  'lays  are  always  observed  by  the  good 
people  of  Otho  township,  aside  from  the 
city  demonstration.  On  Decoration  Day 
services  are  held  on  the  farm  of  Dr.  G.  D. 
Hart  adjoining  the  Otho  cemetery,  and 
great  preparations  are  made  for  celebrating 
both  days.  Mr.  Drake  is  pre-eminently 
public-spirited  and  progressive  and  does  all 
in  his  power  to  advance  the  moral,  social 
and  material  welfare  of  his  community. 


CHRISTOPHER  ARNOLD. 

This  well-known  resident  of  Fort  Dodge 
is  one  of  the  leading  German-American  citi- 
zens of  the  place,  and  in  his  successful 
business  career  he  has  shown  the  character- 
istic thrift  and  enterprise  of  his  race.  He 
was  born  in  Xiedernhall,  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  February  24,  1822,  a  son  of 
Charles  and  Maria  S.  (Kraft)  Arnold.  The 
father  was  a  well-educated  man  and  for 
fifty  years  engaged  in  teaching  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  land.  Our  subject  at- 
tended college  at  Ingelfingen  and  prepared 
himself  for  the  legal  profession.  Prior  to 
his  emigration  to  this  country  he  served  as 
clerk  in  different  offices  and  was  elected  as 
police  commissioner  with  inspector  duties 
of  one  of  the  formerly  free  cities  of  Ess- 
lingen,  also  city  clerk  and  recorder  of 
Goeppingen  up  to  the  time  of  his  departure 
in  October,  1854. 

On  the  24th  of  October,  1848,  Mr.  Ar- 
nold was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Rosina  Unger,  of  Hochdorf,  Germany, 
whose  parents  were  farming  people  of  that 
county.  By  this  union  were  born  six  chil- 
dren, but  only  two  are  now  living:  Wil- 
helmina  and  Mary,  both  at  home  with  their 
father.  The  wife  and  mother  died  in  Oc- 
tober, 1896.  One  son,  Carl,  died  January 
31,  1901,  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  drug  business. 

Bidding  good-bye  to  home  and  native 
land,  Mr.  Arnold  came  to  America  in  1854, 
and  nine  months  later  was  joined  by  his 
wife  and  family.  He  first  learned  the  cigar- 
makers  trade  in  Montgomery  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, then  moved  to  Buffalo,  New 
York,  where  he  lived  for  a  short  time,  next 
he  located  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania.  In  the 
spring  of  1857  Mr.  Arnold  came  to  Fort 
Dodge,  and  started  a  barber  shop,  which  he 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


437 


carried  on  until  1865.  In  connection  with 
the  simp  he  also  conducted  a  saloon  for 
eight  years.  In  1865  he  became  a  member 
of  a  firm  operating  a  flouring  mill.  Five 
years  later  he  bought  his  partner's  interest 
and  continued  to  carry  on  the  business  alone 
until  1878,  when  the  mill  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  He  three  times  rebuilt  the  mill  in  two 
years,  it  having  been  injured  by  fire,  water 
and  ice  on  different  occasions.  In  1878  he 
was  elected  county  recorder  and  after  filling 
the  office  for  one  term  he  retired  from  ac- 
tive business  in  1880  to  enjoy  a  well-earned 
rest  and  the  fruits  of  former  toil.  In  1878 
he  was  appointed  notary  public,  and  by  re- 
appointments he  has  held  the  office  since. 
He  has  built  and  still  owns  several  business 
blocks  in  Fort  Dodge,  from  which  he  de- 
rives a  good  income  and  can  well  afford  to 
lay  aside  all  business  cares.* 

Fraternally  Mr.  Arnold  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellow's. 
As  a  public-spirited  and  enterprising  man, 
he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  affairs 
and  has  efficiently  served  as  a  member  of 
the  city  council  nine  years  and  a  member  of 
the  school  board  fifteen  years.  He  also 
served  as  township  clerk  and  treasurer  for 
two  terms  and  was  township  trustee  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Although  a  foreign-born  citi- 
zen, his  patriotism  is  never  questioned  and 
he  well  merits  the  confidence  and  respect 
reposed  in  him. 


GEORGE  CHRISTIAN   SCLEICH- 
HARDT. 

Among  the  natives  of  Germany  who 
have  sought  homes  on  this  side  of  the  At- 
lantic and  have  become  useful  and  valued 
citizens  of  the  communities  in  which  they 


have  located  is  numbered  George  C. 
Schleichhardt,  now  a  well-to-do  and  sub- 
stantial resident  of  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  his 
home  being  at  814  Ninth  street  north.  He 
was  born  in  Saxony,  German}-,  January  4, 
1833,  and  was  eighteen  years  >  if  age  when,  in 
the  fall  of  185 1,  he  came  to  the  new  world 
with  his  parents,  Christian  F.  and  Magdalena 
(Rankert)  Schleichhardt.  There  were 
three  children  in  this  family :  Charles  F., 
George  C.  and  Wilhelmena,  who  while  a 
resident  of  Illinois  was  united  in  marriage 
with  William  Kelner.  Later,  when  her 
family  came  to  this  state,  tlfey  accompanied 
them  and  continued  to  make  their  home  in 
Iowa  for  about  twenty  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  they  removed  to  Germany, 
where  she  died  in  March.  1890.  Her  hus- 
band still  resides  in  that  country.  Their 
marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  chil- 
dren:  Willie  and  Emma.  Both  are  mar- 
ried and  reside  in  the  fatherland. 

On  their  emigration  to  this  country  our 
subject's  family  located  in  La  Salle  county. 
Illinois,  after  a  few  days  spent  in  New  Or- 
leans, where  they  landed.  Three  years  were 
spent  in  Illinois,  and  in  1856  they  came  to 
Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  the  journey  being  made 
by  team  from  Iowa  City.  At  that  time 
there  were  still  many  Indians  in  this  state, 
who  caused  the  early  settlers  much  annoy- 
ance, and  wild  game  of  all  kinds  was  plenti- 
ful, our  subject  having  shot  many  a  deer. 
There  were  only  a  few  log  houses  and  one 
brick  store  in  Fort  Dodge  when  the  family 
arrived  here,  and  Mr.  Schleichhardt  has 
therefore  witnessed  almost  the  entire  de- 
velopment and  upbuilding  of  the  city.  He 
joined  a  company  sent  against  the  Indians 
right  after  the  massacre  at  New  Ulm,  Min- 
nesota, in  1862,  and  assisted  in  subduing 
the  red  men.  As  he  has  never  married,  he 
remained    at    home   caring   for   his    parents 


438 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


during-  their  declining  years.  In  his  native 
land  the  father  conducted  a  large  bakery, 
but  after  coming  to  this  country  followed 
farming.  He  died  March  6,  [869,  and  his 
wife,  who  long  survived  him.  passed  away 
July  20,  1886. 

.Mr.  Schleichhardt,  of  this  review,  fol- 
lowed farming  quite  successfully  until  1875, 
when  he  removed  to  Fort  Dodge,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  until 
1894.  He  has  also  been  interested  in  the 
real  estate  business,  and  is  to-day  the  owner 
oi  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Dickinson  county,  Iowa. 
He  has  considerable  money  out  at  interest. 
and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Fort  Dodge.  In  all  his  undertak- 
ings he  has  steadily  prospered,  and  his  suc- 
cess has  come  to  him  through  energy,  labor 
and  perseverance,  directed  by  an  evenly- 
balanced  mind  and  by  honorable  business 
principles. 


THOMAS  DOXAHOE. 

One  of  the  most  prosperous  ami  snccess- 
ful  business  men  of  the  northwest  part  of 
the  county  is  Thomas  Donahoe,  the  well- 
known  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Clare, 
lie  was  born  in  Hazleton,  Pennsylvania, 
June  25,  1847.  an'l  is  a  son  OI  James  and 
Ann  Donahoe,  both  natives  of  County 
Cavau.  Ireland,  the  former  burn  in  Bailie- 
borough,  the  latter  in  Cootehill.  About 
[836  the  father  came  to  the  new  world  and 
four  years  later  the  mother  also  crossed  the 
Atlantic  and  took  up  her  residence  in  this 
O  untry.  Being  a  coal  miner,  he  at  first 
worked  in  the  mines  of  Pennsylvania  until 
[856,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Fort  1)  dge,  Tow  a.  and  in  the  fall  of  that 
year,    in    connection     with     Tom    Flahertv, 


opened  the  first  coal  mine  at  this  place,  it 
being  known  as  the  Colburn  bank.  That 
winter  they  were  assisted  in  their  work  by 
Walter  Ford,  the  father  of  the  present 
county  auditor  of  Webster  county.  For 
two  or  three  years  Mr.  Donahoe  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  coal  firm  of  Elliott  Col- 
burn, and  then  removed  to  Pocahontas, 
Iowa,  but  in  i860  returned  to  Webster  coun- 
ty, and  purchased  a  quarter  section  of  land 
a  few  miles  south  of  the  village  of  Clare, 
and  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, which  he  successfully  followed  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
April,    1889.     His  wife  died  in  September, 

1895- 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters, 
namely :  Thomas,  of  this  review ;  Peter, 
a  resident  of  Pocahontas  count}',  Iowa: 
Charles,  now  mayor  of  Clare:  Rose  A., 
wife  of  P.  J.  Crilly,  who  is  conducting  a 
livery  stable  at  that  place:  and  Mary  J., 
who  is  keeping  house  for  our  subject. 

Thomas  Donahoe  spent  the  first  nine 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  state,  and  l>e- 
gan  his  education  in  its  public  schools.  In 
1856  he  accompanied  the  family  on  their  re- 
moval to  Fort  Dodge  and  later  to  Poca- 
hontas. Iowa,  where  he- continued  to  attend 
school  until  twelve  years  of  age.  After  the 
return  of  the  family  to  Webster  county  he 
assisted  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm 
until  May,  1889,  when  he  came  to  Clare  and 
entered  the  Bank  of  Clare  as  cashier. 
M>out  three  years  later  that  institution  was 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Clare,  with  a  capital  of  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars,  and  R.  P.  Furlong  was 
made  president :  C.  J.  Saunders,  vice-presi- 
dent:  and  Thomas  Donahoe.  cashier.  The 
bank  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition  and 
does  a  large  business  among  the  farmers  liv- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


439 


ing  around  Clare,  carrying,  on  an  average, 
about  ninety  thousand  dollars  of  deposits. 
As  a  business  man  Mr.  Donahoe  lias  been 
eminently  successful  and  he  and  his  bn  thers 
arc  to-day  among  the  large  land  owners  of 
the  enmity.  Straightforward  and  reliable  in 
all  things,  he  generally  carries  forward  to 
successful  completion  whatever  he  under- 
takes, and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
capable  business  men  of  his  community. 

\s  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citi- 
zen. Mr.  Donahoe  has  ever  taken  a  deep  in- 
terest in  public  affairs,  and  in  1868,  soon 
after  attaining  his  majority,  was  elected 
clerk  of  Johnson  township,  which  office  he 
acceptably  filled  for  eight  years.  He  then 
served  as  township  assessor  two  years,  and 
was  secretary  of  the  board  for  nine  years 
from  1870.  He  was  also  township  trustee 
two  terms,  and  then  again  served  as  clerk 
for  nne  term.  His  devotion  to  the  public 
good  is  unquestioned  and  arises  from  a  sin- 
cere interest  in  the  welfare  1  if  his  fell*  w  men. 


michael  Mcdonald. 

No  more  enterprising  farmer  promotes 
the  well-being  of  Webster  comity  than 
Michael  McDonald,  who  was  born  in  Ren- 
frew county.  Canada.  February  16,  1865.  a 
son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (O'Brien)  Mc- 
Donald. The  other  children  of  the  family 
were  as  follows:  Charles,  who  now  lives 
in  Denver,  Colorado:  John,  who  married 
Dora  Morley,  a  native  of  County  Cork,  Ire- 
land, and  makes  bis  home  in  Colfax  town- 
ship, Webster  count}'.  Iowa:  Richard,  who 
married  Annie  McMannis  and  lives  one 
mile  south  of  Duncombe:  James  and  Jo- 
seph, who  are  both  with  their  father;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Patrick  Ledden,  who  came  to 


this  country  from  County  Limerick.  Ire- 
land, at  the  age  oi  twenty  years,  and  now 
resides  near  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa:  Mary,  wife 
oi  I  In  mas  McManus,  who  lives  near  In- 
dustry,  Iowa:  Carrie:  Tressie;  and  Maggie. 

James  McDonald,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Ireland,  and  was  reared 
to  farming  pursuits.  About  1855  be  came 
to  America  and  settled  in  Canada,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  and  where  be  was  mar- 
ried in  April,  1862,  to  Elizabeth  O'Brien. 
In  1871  be  removed  to  Iowa  and  settled  in 
Hamilton  county,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
railroad  business,  and  was  section  foreman 
for  four  years.  He  then  decided  to  devote 
his  future  entirely  to  farming,  and  to  facili- 
tate bis  extensive  plans  for  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  purchased  five  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  land,  to  which  he 
received  a  clear  title.  This  property  was 
purchased  from  eastern  speculators,  and  has 
ever  since  been  the  Meld  of  activity  for  this 
broad-gauged   farmer  and   citizen. 

Upon  the  fertile  acres  of  this  well-con- 
ducted farm  Michael  McDonald  developed 
industry  and  ability,  and  remained  under 
Ins  father's  capable  instruction  until  attain- 
ing his  majority.  On  February  I,  [891, 
he  married  Mary  Hogan,  of  Badger,  Iowa, 
who  died  four  years  after  her  marriage. 
Of  this  union  there  were  born  three  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  while  Charles 
W.  McDonald  is  making  his  home  with  bis 
paternal  grandparents. 

On  August  15,  1900,  Mr.  McDonald 
married  Kathryn  Reed,  who  was  born  in 
County  Kilkenny.  Ireland.  March  5,  [878,  a 
daughter  of  Patrick  and  Mary  Reed,  who 
were  the  parents  also  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Margaretta,  who  is  the  housekeeper 
for  Father  Burke,  of  Corpus  Christi  church, 
Fort  Dodge:  Mary,  who  lives  in  Omaha, 
Nebraska:   John,   who   was  born   in   Ireland 


440 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  is  a  farmer  by  occupation;  Johanna, 
who  is  unmarried  and  keeps  house  for  her 
father;  Ellen,  who  is  working  in  a  steam 
laundry  in  Mason  City,  Iowa;  Tern,  who 
assists  his  father  with  the  management  of 
the  home  farm;  Michael,  who  is  employed 
on  the  railmad  in  Fort  Dodge;  Bridget, 
who  lives  on  the  home  farm  in  Ireland; 
Patrick,  who  also  lives  in  Ireland  ;  and  Will- 
iam, who  was  born  in  Ireland  and  still 
makes  that  country  his  home.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Donald crime  to  America  when  thirteen 
years  of  age,  and  upon  locating  in  Port 
Dodge  became  housekeeper  for  Father 
Burke,  continuing  in  this  capacity  up  to  the 
time  nf  her  marriage,  when  the  position  was 
assumed  by  her  sister. 

In  1888  Air.  McDonald  purchased  forty 
acres  .if  land,  which  he  improved  and  built 
up,  and  so  successful  was  he  that  the  follow- 
ing year  Ik-  bought  eight}-  acres  directly  op- 
posite, upon  which  he  erected  the  commod- 
ious and  comfortable  residence  which  has 
since  been  his  home.  His  untiring  industry 
and  ability  are  evinced  by  the  general  air 
of  thrift  and  enterprise  everywhere  appar- 
ent, and  by  the  abundant  harvests  which 
reward  well-directed  energy.  He  is  one  of 
the  scientific  farmers  of  the  township,  and 
exerts  a  wide  influence  on  the  side  of 
progress  and  good  government. 


GEORGE  COOMBER. 

As  one  .if  the  very  earliest  settler-  1  I 
Otho  township,  George  Coomber  was  instru- 
mental in  advancing  the  best  interests  of 
his  adopted  locality,  and  up  to'  the  time  of 
bis  death,  November  14,  1900,  enjoyed  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  many  friends 
and  associates  who  had  profited  by  his  well- 


directed  and  useful  life.  He  was  born  in 
England  in  January,  1837,  and  received  but 
a  limited  education  in  his  youth.  In  1852 
he  embarked  on  a  sailing  vessel  with  his 
parents  and  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks 
landed  in  Montreal,  Canada.  Afterward 
they  removed  to  Lena,  Stephenson  county, 
Illinois,  where  the  parents  purchased  a  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres  and  lived  until  their 
death. 

Until  attaining  his  majority  George 
(  11  mber  lived  on  his  father's  farm,  after 
which  he  rented  land  for  a  time.  When 
just  twenty-one  he  married  Mary  Cheney, 
and  by  this  union  there  were  three  children, 
Henry,  Richard  and  Mary,  and  of  these 
In  ili  sons  are  now  deceased.  While  living 
with  her  husband  and  children  in  Otho 
township  Mrs.  Coomber  died,  and  April  19, 
1874,  the  husband  married  Mary  J.  Cheney, 
widow  of  M.  1).  Cheney.  The  second  Mrs. 
(  in  mber  was  horn  March  29,  1839.  in  Illi- 
nois, ami  was  formerly  Mary  Jane  Scott. 
On  April  2,  1 S 5 - .  she  married  M.  D. 
Cheney,  who  died  January  4.  1809,  leaving 
two  children,  Phoebe  and  Franklin. 

Air.  and  Mrs.  Coomber  at  once  took  up 
their  residence  where  she  now  lives,  but  at 
the  time  they  hardly  realized  the  comforts 
and  pleasures  which  later  developments 
brought  into  their  lives.  Then  there  was  a 
little  log  cabin  on  the  farm  which  served 
as  a  place  of  residence  pending  the  general 
upbuilding  of  the  district,  and  this  was  later 
supplanted  by  a  neat  frame  house  with  more 
modern  conveniences.  As  harvest  suc- 
ceeded harvesl  vistas  of  possibility  were 
opened  up,  and  all  needed  improvements 
were  introduced,  so  that  the  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  owned  by  Airs.  Coomber 
has  fc\\  superiors  in  the  township.  Air. 
I  oomber  was  a  Republican  in  political 
affiliation,  but  ever   refused  the  offices   ten- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


443 


dered  by  his  fellow  townsmen.  lie  was  a 
broad-minded,  progressive  man.  and  his 
services  in  various  capacities  will  never  he 
f<  rgotten  by  those  who  are  to-day  reaping 

the  benefit  of  Ins  industry  and  good  man- 
agement. 

In  the  family  of  which  Mrs.  Coomber  is 
a  member  were  the  following  brothers  and 
sisters:  Mrs.  Olive  Knapp,  a  resident  of 
Kansas;  Mrs.  Luanda  Cheney,  now  de- 
■  I  ;  Andrew,  a  resident  of  Pi  cahi  mas 
county,  Iowa,  who  married  Alice  McAlister; 
John,  a  resident  of  Iowa  county,  who  mar- 
ried Rosa  Bell;  Mrs.  Lunica  Hildebrand,  a 
resident  of  the  state  of  Washington;  Mrs. 
Lydia  Henon,  of  Keokuk  county;  Mrs. 
Maggie  Cheney,  of  Millersburg,  Iowa; 
Christ,  who  died  in  his  eighteenth  year; 
and   two  others  who  died  in  infancy. 

Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Coomber  his 
widow  has  succeeded  to  his  entire  estate, 
having  purchased  the  shares  of  i  ther  heirs. 
This  farm  comprises  one  hundred 
twenty  acre's  of  finely  improved  land,  upon 
which  Mrs.  Coomber  is  making  extensive 
improvements,  erecting  new  buildings,  etc. 
Her  daughter  resides  with  her  and  assists 
in  the  management  of  the  farm. 


ANDREW  HOWER. 

This  well-known  citizen  of  Fort  Dodge, 
who  is  n<  b  so  successfully  engaged  in  busi- 
ness as  a  wholesale  dealer  in  flour,  o  mes 
from  the  fatherland,  and  the  strongest  and 
most  creditable  characteristics  of  the  Teu- 
tonic race  have  been  marked  elements  in  his 
.life  and  have  enabled  him  to  win  success  in 
the  face  of  opposing  circumstances.  He 
sses  the  energy  and  determination 
which  -nark  the  people  of  Germany,  and  by 


the  exercise  of  his  powers  lie  has  steadily 
progressed,  and  has  not  only  won  a  hand- 
some o  mpetence  but  has  commanded  uni- 
versal respect  b)  his  straightforward  busi- 
ness methi  ds. 

Mr.  Bower  was  born  in  Germany, 
March  19,  1840.  and  was  seven  yeai 
when  his  father,  Nicholas  Hower,  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  accompanied  by 
In-  ten  children.  The  family  first  located  in 
Dunkirk,  New  York,  but  in  1849  rem'  ■'' 
to  Wayne  county,  Michigan,  the  father  pur- 
chasing a  farm  near  Plymouth  Junctii  n,  1  11 
which  they  lived  for  two  years.  In  1851 
they  went  to  Minnesota,  where  our  subject 
grew  to  manh 1. 

When   the  Civil   war  broke   out  he   re- 
1  to  strike  a  lis  ad  pted  coun- 

try, and  in  the  [2th  of  July.  r86i,  en- 
listed 1  any  K,  Second  Minn 
Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain  Cover- 
dale  and  Colonel  Van  Cleve.  (  ioini 
Kentucky,  his  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  January  19, 
1862,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Mills 
Springs.  Pittsburg  Landing.  Shiloh,  Stone 
River,  Murfi  and  Chickamauga,  be- 
sides a  large  number  >  f  skirmishes.  In 
1862  Mr.  Hower  was  made  corporal  and 
served  in  that  capacity  until  the  cLse  of  the 
war.  I  >n  the  ioth  1  if  Marcl 
captured  at  Big  Shanty,  Gei  rgia,  and  taken 
to  Andersonville  prison,  where  he  was  in- 
carcerated    nine     months,    suffering   untold 

tii  11s.       1  Hiring 
time  he  contracted   swamp   fever  and 
received   a   sunstroke,    from    the   effects    of 
which   lie  has   never   fully   recovered.     <  >n 
being  released  fn  m  prison  .Mr.  Hower 
sent  to  Wilmington,  South  Carolina,  where 
the  Union   forces  were  in  possession  of  the 
city.   and.   being    .  thirty-day    fur- 

li  usrh,  hi'  then  returned  to  hi-  In  me  in  Min- 


444 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nesota.  He  rejoined  his  command  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  arriving  there  on  the  daj  of 
the  grand  review,  and  was  then  sent  to 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  horior- 
ablj  discharged  July  n,  1865.  He  had  two 
brothers  in  the  same  company,  while  his  old- 
est brother  served  in  the  Fourth  Minnesota 
Infantry.  One  of  these,  Jacob  Hower,  was 
wounded  during  a  battle  in  South  Carolina, 
and  died  from  the  effects  of  the  same  Janu- 
ary 2) ,  1898. 

On  die  19th  of  March,  [866,  Mr.  Hower 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Katherine 
]  [ansel,  whose  father  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. Both  parents  are  now  deceased. 
Although  no  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  nir  subject  and  his  wife  have  three 
adopted  children  that  they  have  reared  as 
their  own. 

Mr.  Hower  came  to  Fort  Dodge  in  [866 
and  embarked  in  the  butcher  business,  hut 
was  unsuccessful  in  that  enterprise.  He 
next  worked  in  a  brickyard  for  about  two 
years,  after  which  lie  engaged  in  teaming 
until  [880,  when  lie  opened  a  grocery  -tore, 
but  the  following  year  again  met  witli  mis- 
fortune, his  store  being  destroyed  bv  fire. 
With  characteristic  energy,  however,  he  was 
again  ready  for  business  at  the  end  of  three 
days,  though  he  started  with  practically 
nothing.  His  father  died  in  August.  1881, 
and  while  going  to  the  funeral  his  wife  was 
injured  in  a  wreck  on  the  Minneapolis  & 
St.  Louis  Railroad.  These  misfortunes 
caused  Mr.  Hower  to  close  out  his  busi- 
ness. About  eight  month-  later  he  em- 
barked in  hi-  present  enterprise  a-  a  whole- 
sale dealer  in  Hour,  and  in  this  undertaking 
he  has  steadily  prospered,  his  sales  now 
amounting  to  about  twelve  thousand  dol- 
lars worth  per  month.  In  [896  he  built  the 
I  lower  block  on  the  corner  of  Central  ave- 
nue and   Twelfth   street,   and   to-day   o\\  ns 


considerable  real  estate,  valued  at  seventy 
thousand  dollars.  His  life  is  a  living 
illustration  of  what  ability,  energy,  force  of 
character  can  accomplish,  and  it  is  to  such 
men  that  the  west  owes  its  prosperity,  its 
rapid  progress  ami  its  advancement.  So- 
cially Mr.  Hower  is  a  member  of  Fort  Don- 
elson  Post,  No.  236,  ( i.  A.  R.,  and  relig- 
iously is  a  member  of  Sacred  Heart  church 
of  Fort  Dodge. 


HENRY  WIDICK. 

Both  in  the  townships  of  Webster  and 
Hill  and  in  the  village  of  Lehigh  Mr.  Widick 
has  many  acquaintances,  having  made  his 
home  in  each  for  a  sufficient  period  to  enable 
him  to  identify  himself  with  local  movements 
and  to  attract  by  his  honorable  character  a 
host  of  warm  personal  friends.  At  this 
writing  his  home  is  in  the  township  of  Webs- 
ter, where  he  owns  a  farm  comprising  one 
hundred  and  sixty-nine  acres  of  land,  under 
cultivation  to  the  various  cereals.  Besides 
this  property,  he  owns  a  neat  residence  and 
several  lots  in  Lehigh,  and  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Lehigh  Valley  Savings  Bank. 

Macon  county,  Illinois,  is  Mr.  Widick's 
native  county,  and  September  30,  1828.  the 
date  of  his  birth.  His  father,  John  Widick, 
a  West  Virginian,  removed  to  Illinois  in 
earl)-  manhood  and  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. During  the  exciting  election  of  1840 
he  cast  his  ballot  for  William  Flenry  Harri- 
son, and  he  was  one  of  the  most  pronounced 
adherents  of  the  Democratic  party  in  his  lo- 
cality. By  his  first  marriage  lie  had  four 
children.  William,  Michael,  Margaret  and 
Emanuel,  all  of  whom  are  deceased.  Llis 
second  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Cath- 
erine Trauber.     Of  the  children  horn  to  this 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


445 


union  we  note  the  following:  Elizabeth  be- 
came the  wife  of  L.  B.  Walker,  of  Macon 
county,  Illinois:  Ril  married  Mary  A.  Lynch 
and  after  her  death  was  united  with  Mrs. 
Esther  Hartman.  and  later  with  Mrs.  Fisher, 
and  now  lives  in  Homer.  Iowa;  Aaron  was 
twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Elizabeth 
McDaniel,  and  his  second  Lucinda  Pound; 
Eli,  who  lives  near  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
was  three  times  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Susan  Cox.  his  second  Harriet  Hill,  and  His 
third  Sarah  E.  Darmor;  Edmund  married 
Nancy  Ann  McDougal,  and  lives  m  Moul- 
trie county,  Illinois:  Henry  was  next  in  or- 
der of  birth;  and  the  youngest  was  Josiah, 
who  married  Hannah  Hill,  and  makes  his 
In  me   in    I  >ade  county,   Missouri. 

Five  different  country  schools,  all  held 
in  log  buildings  and  all  conspicuous  by  rea- 
son of  their  exceedingly  primitive  furnish- 
ings, afforded  Henry  Widick  all  the  educa- 
tional advantages  he  ever  received.  When 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  he  hade  a  Iasl 

g 1-bye  to  his  school  days  and  took  upon 

himself  the  serious  responsibilities  oi  life. 
beginning  to  work  upon  a  farm  and  receiv- 
ing eight  dollars  a  month.  During  three 
summer  seasons  he  worked   in   the  employ 

Sam  Towers,  meantime  hoarding  his 
small  earnings  in  order  that  they  might  ap- 
ply on  the  purchase  of  land.  Together  with 
hi-  hi'  (hers  Aaron  and  Edmund,  he  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acre-  of  raw  land 
in  Illinois,  and  this  he  assisted  in  breaking 
and   placing  under  cultivation. 

About  this  time  his  first  marriage  oc- 
curred, which  united  him.  October  31.  1850, 
with  Elizabeth  Matthew-.  This  lady  was 
;  a  family  of  -even  children,  the  others 
being  Mary  Jane.  Sylvira.  John.  Nancy,  Su- 
san and  William.  Of  her  marriage  there 
were  seven  children,  namely:  William  H.. 
born  July  14.  1852;  Sarah  E.,  June  S.  1854: 


Laura  E.  August  0.  1856;  Arminda  F... 
August  4.  1859;  Luvina  A..  October  12, 
[863;   Ida  May.  July  29,    [867;  and  Gi 

C,  August  j,}.  1872.  The  oldest  -on.  who 
lives  near  Burnside,  Webster  county, 

married  Mary  Blanchard  ami  has  two  chil- 
dren. Sarah  is  the  widow  of  W.  H.  Daniels, 
and  has  eight  children.  Laura  E.  married 
I..  Ewing,  of  Webster  count}-,  and  is  the 
mother  of  eight  children.  Arminda  E.,  Mr-. 
Charles  Daniels,  of  Webster  county,  has  six 
children.  Luvina.  deceased,  was  the  wife 
of  A.  Spainhower,  of  Fort  Dodge,  [owa. 
Ida  May  married  George  Lowrie,  of  Webs- 
ter township,  and  they  have  three  children, 
i-  (  .  died  September  o.  1874.  when 
two  year-  1  f  age.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  in  1878. 

During  much  of  his  acitve  life  Mr.  Wid- 
ick was  a  resident  of  his  native  county  of 
Macon,  Illinois,  but  in  1864  he  changed  his 
scene  of  activity  to  Iowa,  settling  in  Webs- 
ter county  and  buying  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  acres  in  Webster  township.  From 
there  he  moved  to  Lehigh,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  ten  years,  and  meantime  ac- 
quired hi-  present  farm  in  Webster  town- 
ship. Both  by  piece] it  and  example  he  up- 
holds Prohibition  doctrine-,  while  in  religion 
he  is  identified  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  and  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  trustees.  At  different  times  he 
has  held  various  township  office-. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Widick  took 
place  at  Decatur,  Illinois,  in  [879,  uniting 
him  with  Mr-.  Catherine  Elizabeth  Low  rv. 
who  was  b  ni  in  <  ihio,  October  29,  1837, 
a  daughter  1  f  John  and  Dorothy  (Shriver) 
Ccnnard.  To  the  union  of  her  parent-  there 
were  born  five  children,  those  besides  herself 
being  named  as  fi  How-;  Charles,  who  mar- 
ried Jennie  I  >avis,  and  lives  in  Illinois ;  Sarah 
A.,  widow   of  John  King,  of  Wheaton,  Illi- 


446 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nois  ;  Hannah,  Mrs.  James  Lowry,  deceased; 
and  Angelina,  wife  of  David  McCrurv,  of 
Elwin,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Widick  has  been  twice 
married,  her  first  husband  having  been 
Charles  Lowry,,  who  was  drowned  June  20, 
1N77.  By  him  she  had  three  children: 
George,  who  married  Ida  May  Widick.  and 
operates  a  farm  in  Webster  township;  Flor- 
ence, wife  of  A.  M.  Spainhower,  of  Fort 
Dodge;  and  James  E.,  who  married  Emi 
Hanson,  and  lives  in  Lehigh.  The  only 
child  horn  to  the  union  of  Mr.  Widick  and 
Mrs.  Lowry  is  a  daughter.  Anna  1)..  who  is 
at  home. 

+-*+-*■ — 

Z.   W.   THOMAS. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  and  pros- 
perous business  men  of  northwestern  Iowa 
is  Z.  W.  Thomas,  of  Fort  Dodge,  who  came 
to  this  city  less  than  twenty  years  ago  with 
only  twenty-five  dollars  in  his  pocket.  To- 
day he  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  land 
owners  in  the  county  and  has  real  estate  in- 
terests in  man)-  portions  of  the  west,  but  his 
efforts  have  not  heen  confined  alone  to  this 
line,  and  in  other  branches  of  business  ac- 
tivity  he  has  manifested  his  splendid  execu- 
tive force,  kei'ii  discernment,  sound  judg- 
ment  and  unremitting  diligence,  with  the  re- 
sult that  prosperity  has  crowned  his  labors, 
and  Webster  count)"  now  numbers  him 
among  her  men  of  affluence. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  a  native  of  Damascus. 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  born  May  18, 
1856,  his  parents  being-  Jesse  and  Johanna 
B.  (Stanley)  Thomas,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  Buckeye  state.  The  father 
represented  an  old  New  York  family,  the 
mother  was  descended  from  Virginian  an- 
cestry, and  through  many  generations  both 
families  had   resided   in   this   country.      In 


1S65,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  children, 
Jesse  Thomas  came  to  Iowa,  locating  at 
Oskaloosa,  where  the  subject  of  this  review 
obtained  his  early  education  that  was  later 
supplemented  by  a  course  in  ph'ili  isophy  in 
Penn  College,  of  Oskaloosa.  He  was  reg- 
istered among  the  students  at  the  opening 
of  that  institution  and  his  mental  training 
there  well  equipped  him  fur  the  practical 
duties  of  business  life.  When  a  young  man 
he  engaged  in  merchandising-  and  for  one 
year  followed  fanning,  while  at  intervals  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school.  After  his 
graduation  in  Penn  College  he  entered  the 
office  of  Captain  Searle,  of  <  Iskaloosa,  learn- 
ing the  abstract  and  insurance  business. 
He  then  read  law  for  a  year  with  Major 
J.  F.  Lacey,  now  congressman  from  the 
sixth  Io\- a  district,  and  afterward  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  State  University, 
at  Iowa  City,  where  he  was  graduated  with 
the  class  of  1884. 

Immediately  thereafter  Mr.  Thomas 
was  admitted  to  the  Iowa  bar  and  the  same 
year  was  licensed  to  practice  in  the  United 
States  district  and  circuit  courts.  He  came 
a:  once  to  Fort  Dodge,  and  has  since  en- 
gaged in  practice  in  real  estate  law  in  the 
courts.  At  the  same  time  he  has  carried 
on  an  abstract,  land  and  loan  business.  He 
is  now  associated  with  H.  E.  Bush}',  an  at- 
torney, and  the  firm  is  doing  an  extensive 
business.  Mr.  Thomas  has  property  in  Kan- 
sas, Nebraska,  Colorado.  North  Dakota  and 
in  various  places  in  Iowa,  and  now  owns 
twenty-two  hundred  acres  in  Webster  coun- 
ty. He  also  does  a  general  insurance  business 
and  his  large  patronage  in  that  department 
has  materially  increased  his  income.  In  addi- 
tion to  ill  his  other  interests  he  individually 
operates  two  farms,  which  he  has  stocked 
with  fine  grades  of  cattle  and  horses.  He 
has  two  creameries,  one  at  Fort  Dodge  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


447 


■the  other  at  Industry,  and  altogether  he  em- 
ploys about  forty  men.  He  owns  and  con- 
ducts a  milk  depot,  and  sends  out  four 
wagons  from  the  Oakdale  dairy,  of  which 
h,'  is  the  proprietor.  This  is  situated  three 
miles  west  of  the"  town  and  is  equipped  with 
al!  modem  accessories  for  the  care  of  milk. 
His  stock  farm,  situated  two  and  a  half 
miles  north  of  the  town,  comprises  five  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  and  the  one  on  the 
west  of  Fort  Dodge  contains  four  hundred 
and  eighty  acres.  He  also  has  a  farm  near 
Barnum,  and  each  one  of  his  farming  prop 
cnies  is  worth  about  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
On  the  1st  of  October,  1885,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Thomas  and 
Miss  Mice  Busby,  of  Mahaska  county, 
Iowa,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  two 
children:  Dana  E  and  Edith  Irene,  aged 
respectively  fifteen  and  three  years.  The 
parents  hold  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  take  an  active  interest  in' 
its  work  and  contribute  liberally  to  its  sup- 
port. Mr.  Thomas  is  one  of  its  trustees. 
He  has  served  for  one  term  as  a  member  of 
the  city  council  and  is  always  deeply  inter- 
1  ted  in  everything  pertaining  to  the  wel- 
fare and  progress  of  the  community.  Fort 
Dodge  ranks  him  among  her  leading  and 
valued  citizens.  His  business  success  seems 
almost  phenomenal,  vet  it  has  been  won 
'along  the  lines  of  old  and  time-tried  max- 
ims. It  proves  that  "honesty  is  the  best 
policy,"  for  in  all  his  dealings  he  has  been 
straightforward  and  honorable,  following 
no  questionable  methods,  his  career  bearing 
the  closest  investigation  and  scrutiny,  llis 
judgment,  however,  is  rarely  at  fault  in 
business  matters,  his  perseverance  conquers 
obstacles  and  his  unremitting  diligence  has 
gained  f>  r  him  enviable  prosperity,  while 
ai  the  same  time  he  has  maintained  an  un- 
tarnished  reputation.       Such     a    man   is   a 


power  in  any  community,  and  Fort  Dodge 
is  fortunate  that  he  allied  his  interests  with 
hers. 


C.  H.  CHURCHILL,  M.  D. 

One  of  the  most  exacting  of  all  the 
higher  lines  of  occupation  to  which  a  man 
may  lend  his  energies  is  that  of  the  physi- 
cian. A  most  scrupulous  preliminary  train- 
ing is  demanded  and  a  nicety  of  judgment 
little  understood  by  the  Laity.  Then  again 
the  profession  brings  its  devotees  into 
almost  constant  association  with  the  sadder 
side  of  life — that  of  pain  and  suffering, — 
sc  that  a  mind  capable  of  great  self-control 
and  a  hea.rl  responsive  and  sympathetic  arc- 
essential  attributes  of  him  who  would  essay 
the  practice  of  the  healing  art.  Thus  when 
piofessional  success  is  attained  in  any  in- 
stance it  may  lie  taken  as  certain  that  such 
measure  of  success  has  been  thoroughly 
merited.  Doctor  Churchill  has  won  a  most 
enviable  position  in  the  ranks  of  his  chosen 
calling,  and  his  practice  extends  far  and 
wide  in  Webster  county,  where  so  many 
years  of  his  life  have  been  spent. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Madison,  Wis- 
consin, May  21,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  E.  A. 
and  Laura  (Powers)  Churchill,  the  former 
a  native  of  Leroy,  New  York.  In  the  fam- 
ily were  hut  two  children,  and  the  sister  of 
1  air  subject  died  when  two  and  one-half 
years  of  age.  The  father  took  up  his  abode 
in  the  Badger  state  in  1N45  and  there  re- 
sided tTr  twenty  years,  coming  hi  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  in  October,  1865.  He  was  a 
contractor  and  builder  and  for  the  past  ten 
years  has  lived  retired.  On  arriving  in  this 
county  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Fulton  town- 
ship, securing  fn  m  the  government  the 
homestead  claim  in   1866.     There  was  only 


448 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


one  house  between  their  primitive  dwelling 
and  Fort  Dodge,  a  distance  of  ten  miles, — 
their  neighbor  being  J.  Q.  Mack.  Three 
aunts  of  the  Doctor,  who  are  sisters  of  his 
father,  are  still  living  upon  the  old  home 
place. 

Doctor  Churchill  began  his  education  in 
Iowa  in  the  summer  of  l866,  when  he  at- 
tended school  fur  a  month,  the  teacher  being 
Anna  J.  Churchill,  who  instructed  the  chil- 
dren of  that  part  of  the  county  in  his  father's 
In  une.  Through  the  period  of  his  boyhi  od 
and  youth  he  assisted  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  fields  during  the  summer  months  and  in 
the  winter  season  continued  his  education. 
At  the  age  of*  nineteen  he  began  teaching 
and  was  a  successful  instructor.  Having 
mastered  the  branches  of  the  common 
schi  .els,  he  further  continued  his  own  edu- 
cation in  Cornell  College,  at  Mount  Ver- 
non, leaving  that  institution  after  com- 
pleting the  work  of  the  junior  year.  Pre- 
paring for  medical  practice  in  the  Rush 
Medical  College  of  Chicago,  he  was  grad- 
uated in  that  institution  in  [886  with  the 
degree  of  M.  D.,  and  nine  years  later  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  Cornell  College.  Dr.  Churchill 
began  practice  in  Lehigh,  where  he  remained 
until  June.  1888,  when  he  came  to  Fort 
Dodge,  where  he  has  since  enjoyed  a  large 
and  constantly  growing  patronage.  He  is 
a  general  practitioner,  yet  pays  much  at- 
tention to  surgical  work  and  is  particularly 
^killed  in  that  department  of  the  profession. 

On  the  1 8th  of  September,  1885,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  our  subject  and 
Miss  Cora  A.  Bond,  of  Lehigh,  who  died 
March  _>_>.  1901,  leaving  two  sons:  Charles 
I'arkes  Bradford,  who  was  born  October 
20,  [887;  and  Glenwood  Bond,  born  Au- 
gust 15,  1890.  In  his  political  views  the 
Doctor  is  a  Democrat,  endorsing  the  prin- 


ciples set  forth  by  Grover  Cleveland.  In 
[892  he  was  elected  coroner  and  filled  that 
position  continuously  until  1897.  He  be- 
Icngs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity; 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen: 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America:  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees;  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum; and  the  Auxiliary  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  He  is  medical 
examiner  for  all  of  these  orders  with  the 
exception  of  the  first  named,  and  he  is  now 
surgeon  for  the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis 
Railroad.  In  the  line  of  his  profession  he 
is  connected  with  the  Fort  Dodge  District 
Medical  Society,  the  Sioux  Valley  Medical 
Society,  the  Iowa  State  Medical  Society, 
the  American  Medical  Association,  the 
Iowa  State  Railway  Surgeons  Society  and 
the  Iowa  State  Western  Medical  Associ- 
ation. The  Doctor  is  a  deep,  earnest  and 
discriminating  student,  interested  in  every- 
thing that  tends  to  advance  his  profession 
or  to  solve  the  problem  to  that  mystery 
which  we  call  life.  He  keeps  thoroughly  in- 
formed concerning  the  advanced  thought  of 
the  day  and  his  efficiency  is  shown  in  the  ex- 
cellent results  which  follow  his  labor. 


ERWIX   TAYLOR. 


A  native  son  of  Iowa.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
bom  in  Delaware  county.  October  29,  i860, 
s  son  of  Seth  and  Clarinda  (Raymond)  Tay- 
lor, who  are  now  living  on  a  small  farm  on 
section  7.  Burnside  township.  The  parents 
were  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  two  of  the 
mother's  brothers  were  soldiers  in  the  Civil 
war.  Of  the  eight  children  born  into  the 
family  two  died  in  infancy,  and  the  others 
are:  William,  who  married  Catherine  Lee. 
now  deceased,  and  resides  in  South  Dakota: 


ERWIN  TAYLOR 


MRS.  ERWIN  TAYLOR 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


453 


Chester,  a  fanner  in  Webster  county,  luwa, 
who  married  Evelyn  Floyd;  Lewis,  a  farmer 
in  Minnesota,  who  married  Mary  Bower; 
Erwin;  Ora,  living  near  Lehigh,  Iowa,  who 
married  Anna  Nichols;  Thomas,  living-  in 
South  Dakota,  who  married  Susie  Manore; 
Carrie,  who  lives  in  Clay  canity.  Iowa,  and 
is  the  wife  of  Albert  Montrie. 

Air.  Taylor  was  educated  m  the  district 
schools  and  worked  at  farming  until  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  August  21,  1881,  with 
Alary  A.  Daniels,  who  was  born  November 
20,  1S60.  Her  parents  were  natives  re- 
spectively of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Taylor  has  four  brothers  and  sisters  living, 
namely:  Lucy  Ann.  who  is  the  wife  of 
Benjamin  Ouibell,  of  Vincent,  Iowa;  I".  X.. 
who  married  Eva  Widick  and  lives  near  Le- 
high; Flora  E..  who  married  William  H. 
Goodrich  and  lives  east  of  Lehigh;  and 
Emma,  who  is  the  wife  of  Arthur  Owen- 
son.  of  Winnebago  count}.  Air.  and  Mrs. 
Tayli  >r  have  tw<  >  children  :  Alfred,  win  1  \\  as 
born  June  11,  iSS_>.  and  Besta,  who  was 
In  irn  April  28,  1890. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Taylor  removed 
to  the  northern  part  of  Webster  count}-, 
where  he  lived  on  a  farm  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  rented  his  father-in-law's 
farm  for  a  couple  of  years.  The  farm  which 
he  now  own-,  and  lives  upon  was  rented  in 
1885  for  three  years,  after  which  he  pur- 
chased eight}'  acres  of  the  land,  and  as  his 
fortunes  have  increased  has  kept  adding  to 
his  possessions  until  at  present  he  has  to 
show  for  his  industry  and  enterprise  two 
hundred  and  ninety-five  acres  of  good  farm 
land  all  in  one  body.  He  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising,  and  feeds 
considerable  cattle,  ami  does  his  own  ship- 
ping. His  interests  are  by  no  means  self- 
centered,  but  extend  to  the  needs  of  his 
fellow    townsmen    and    to   the   general    im- 


provement of  the  community  of  which  he  is 
a  valued  citizen.  He  is  a  stock-holder  in 
the  Lehigh  Savings  Lank,  and  in  the  cream- 
er}- at  Burnside.  A  Republican  in  nal 
politics,  he  held  the  office  of  road  commis- 
sioner for  eight  years,  and  is  at  present  a 
memb  [tool  board.     Both  Air.  and 

Mrs.    Taylor    are    members    of    the    United 
Brethren  church  in  Clay   township. 


ELMER  L.  ANDERS!  >N. 

The  farming-  interests  of  Burnside  town- 
ship are  signally  advanced  by  the  praisewor- 
thy efforts  of  Elmer  L.  Anderson,  who  has 
a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixtj 
on  section  5.  He  was  born  in  Lain  Alto 
count}-,  [owa,  April  21,  1867,  his  parents 
having  settled  there  the  year  before.  The 
father,  who  is  now  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business  in  Fort  Dodge,  was  a  valiant  sol- 
dier during  the  Civil  war,  and  braved  the 
hardships  and  dangers  incident  to  strife  for 
four  years  and  six  months. 

The  education  of  Elmer  L.  Anderson 
was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Em- 
met and  Webster  counties,  and  at  the  age 
01  twenty-three  years  he  entered  upon  an  in- 
dependent farming  life  upon  a  place  f 
eight}-  acres  purchased  on  section  5]  Burn- 
side township.  In  his  father's  family,  be- 
sides himself,  were  four  sisters:  Florence, 
who  is  teaching-  at  Tobin  College,  at  Fort 
:  Alattie.  who  is  teaching- in  the  public 
schools  at  Fort  Lodge;  Mae.  who  is  engaged 
in  educational  work  at  Callender,  Iowa  ;  and 
Ernie,  whi  1  died  in  infancy. 

On   February   22,    [891,    Mr.    Anderson 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Grace  AJcIntire. 
win  1  was  1,  irn  X<  i-\  ember  9,  [869,  ami  v 
parents  now  live  in  Lehigh,  where  tin 


454 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


conducting  a  restaurant.  Mrs.  Anderson  has 
four  sisters  and  one  brother:  Malissa,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Frank  Tuller,  of  Fort  Dodge; 
Rose,  who  also  lives  in  Fort  Dodge;  George, 
who  lives  at  Lehigh;  Elmai,  who  is  the  wife 
of  J.  M.  Fortney,  of  Otho,  Iowa;  and  Hal- 
lie,  who  is  living  at  home.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Anderson  have  been  born  three  children : 
Clarence,  born  October  31,  1892;  Merle, 
born  November  16,  1893;  and  Max,  born 
June  14,  1895. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Anderson  went 
to  housekeeping  on  his  farm  and  lived  there 
four  years,  and  also  worked  other  land  which 
was  rented.  He  was  so-  successful  that  he 
later  disposed  of  that  place  and  bought  the 
larger  one,  upon  which  he  now  resides,  and 
where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
hog  raising.  He  thoroughly  understands  the 
business  to  which  he  is  devoting  the  best 
years  of  his  life,  and  his  friends  predict  a 
continuance  of  his  present  prosperity. 


THOMAS  S.  BILSTAD. 

This  well-known  resident  of  Callender  is 
a  Norwegian  by  birth,  and  in  his  successful 
business  career  he  has  shown  the  character- 
istic thrift  and  enterprise  of  his  race.  Be- 
ginning with  no  capital  except  that  acquired 
by  his  own  industry,  he  has  accumulated 
some  valuable  property,  and  is  to-day  one  of 
the  mi  .st  prosperous  citizens  in  the  western 
part  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Bilstad  was  born  in  Norway  June  5, 
1852,  and  received  a  fair  common-school 
education  in  his  native  land.  In  1871,  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years,  he  crossed  the  ocean, 
and  on  landing  on  the  shores  of  this  country 
proceeded  at  once  to  Vernon  county,  Wis- 
consin,  where  he  worked   at   railroad   con- 


struction for  three  years,  in  the  meantime 
gaining  a  knowledge  of  the  English  lan- 
guage. 

At  the  end  of  that  time  Mr.  Bilstad  came 
to  Webster  count}-,  Iowa,  in  company  'with 
his  father  and  the  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily, the  journey  being  made  with  an  ox- 
team,  while  driving  their  other  stock.  They 
arrived  here  in  May,  1875.  Our  subject 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
wild  prairie  land,  and  immediately  set  to 
work  to  break  the  virgin  soil  with  ox-teams. 
LJpon  his  place  he  built  a  small  house,  and  as 
time  passed  made  many  other  useful  and 
valuable  improvements,  including  two  sets 
of  good  farm  buildings  separated  by  a  road 
which  divides  his  farm.  He  has  extended 
the  boundaries  of  his  place  from  time  to 
time  until  they  now  contain  four  hundred 
acres,  which  he  placed  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  which  he  successfully  ope- 
rated until  1896.  In  1892  he  bought  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides,  but  did  not  lo- 
cate thereon  until  four  years  later.  This 
place  is  pleasantly  located  just  north  of  Cal- 
lender, in  fact  ten  acres  of  it  are  within  the 
corporate  limits  of  the  village.  It  consists 
of  fifty  acres  and  is  well  improved,  there  be- 
ing a  large  and  comfortable  residence,  in 
which  the  family  now  live. 

In  1882,  in  this  county,  Mr.  Bilstad  mar- 
ried Miss  Melissa  Nelson,  also  a  native  of 
Norway,  who  died  three  years  later,  leaving 
one  daughter.  Mollie,  who  is  at  home  with 
her  father.  He  was  again  married  in  1886, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Christina 
Larson,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Nor- 
wav.  She  has  one  son  by  her  first  mar- 
riage, C.  M.  Larson,  a  commercial  traveler 
residing  in  Callender,  who  is  married  and 
has  three  children,  Floyd,  Jay  and  Francis. 
With  our  subject  resides  his  grandson,  Clar- 
ence Johnson,  whose  mother  died  when  he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


455 


was  two  years  old,  and  who  has  since  made 
his  In inie  with  his  grandfather. 

Politically  Mr.  Bilstad  has  been  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  its 
principles  since  he  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  in  1876,  but 
he  has  never  cared  for  the  honors  or  emolu- 
ments of  public  office,  though  he  served  as 
supervisor  of  highways  at  one  time.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church  of  Callender,  and  are  among  the 
most  highly  respected  and  honored  citizens 
of  their  community.  Air.  Bilstad  belongs 
to  that  class  of  men  whom  the  world  terms 
self-made,  for  coming  to  this  country  empty- 
handed,  he  has  conquered  all  the  obstacles 
in  the  path  to  success,  and  has  not  only 
secured  for  himself  a  handsome  competence, 
but  by  his  efforts  has  materially  advanced 
the  interests  of  the  community  with  which  he 
is  associated. 


JAMES  MARSH. 

Although  during  much  of  his  active  life 
Mr.  Marsh  has  been  a  resident  of  Kansas, 
he  has  now  returned  to  Webster  county, 
where  he  made  his  home  during  his  youth. 
Since  his  return  he  has  taken  up  farm  pur- 
suits with  the  energy  and  determination 
characteristic  of  him  in  every  walk  of  life, 
and  is  meeting  with  the  success  that  his 
efforts  merit.  He  was  born  in  Lake  county, 
Illinois,  January  8,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  Marsh,  Sr.,  concerning  whom  men- 
tion is  made  upon  another  page  in  this  vol- 
ume. When  he  was  but  a  boy  he  gained  his 
primary  education  in  the  schools  of  Lake 
county,  and  after  the  family  came  to  Iowa 
he  was  a  student  in  the  schools  of  Webster 
county.  When  he  was  seventeen  he  left 
school  in  order  to  turn  his  whole  attention 


to  assisting  his  father  on  the  home  farm, 
and  while  so  doing  he  acquired  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  all  the  details  connected  with 
the  management  of  a  farm. 

When  twenty-one  years- of  age  Mr. 
Marsh  started  nut  in  the  world  fur  himself. 
At  that  time  much  was  being  said  concerning 
the  future  of  Kansas  and  the  prospects  it 
offered  ambitious  and  energetic  young  men. 
These  reports  induced  him  to  settle  in  that 
state.  At  first  he  was  employed  in  killing 
buffalo  and  antelope,  the  hides  of  which 
were  disposed  of  at  fair  prices.  He  was 
also  employed  in  herding  cattle.  Later,  how- 
ever, he  acquired  land  holdings  and  gave  his 
attention  to  the  clearing  and  improving  of  a 
farm  in  Russell  county. 

For  some  years  after  going  west  he  led 
a  bachelors  life,  but  finally  brought  a  bride 
to  his  home,  having  been  married  at  Russell 
February  25,  1881,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  E. 
Burnett-Blanding,  who  was  born  in  Missouri 
May  9,  1864.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  (Moss)  Burnett,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  In 
1864  the  family  moved  from  Missouri  to 
Iowa  and  settled  at  Eddyville,  Wapello  coun- 
ty, where  Air.  Burnett  died  during  the  same 
year.  In  1868  Mrs.  Burnett  became  the 
wife  of  Levi  Blanding,  who  was  a  native 
of  New  York  state.  After  their  marriage 
they  continued  to  make  their  home  in  Eddy- 
ville until  1877,  when  they  removed  to  Bar- 
ton county,  Kansas.  There  the  death  of 
Airs.  Blanding  occurred  October  i_\  1001. 
Air.  Blanding  still  makes  his  home  in  that 
county,  as  does  also  the  only  sister  of  Mrs. 
Marsh,  Martha,  who  is  the  wife  of  Freder- 
ick Haddon.  The  only  child  of  Mr.  and 
Airs.  Marsh,  Charles  Albert,  was  born  De- 
cember 7,  188 1.  They  have  also  an  adopted 
daughter,  Mamie,  who  was  born  April  15, 
1893. 


456 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


On  disposing  of  his  Kansas  laud,  in 
[896,  Mr.  Marsh  returned  to  Iowa,  arriving 
in  Webster  county  on  the  1st  of  June.  At 
first  he  rented  farm  property  here.  His  first 
purchase  was  made  in  February,  [900,  when 
he  In  night,  on  section  30,  Yell  township,  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  raw  and  unim- 
proved land,  which,  however,  his  judgment 
told  him  would  be  susceptible  to  cultivation 
and  capable  of  being  largely  enhanced  in 
value.  Since  settling  on  this  place  be  has 
devoted  his  attention  closely  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  property,  and  has  erected  a  sub- 
stantial class  of  buildings,  including  house, 
barn  and  outbuildings.  He  shares  the  opin- 
ion held  by  many  farmers  that  more  profit 
can  be  secured  from  feeding  crops  to  stock 
than  from  selling  them  in  the  markets. 
Therefore  much  of  his  grain  is  used  for 
feed.  He  has  on  his  farm  a  number  of 
Shorthorn  cattle.  .Morgan  and  Norman 
horses,  and  thoroughbred  O.  I.  C.  hogs,  in 
the  breeding  of  all  of  which  be  is  engaged. 
His  political  views  are  in  harmony  with  the 
platform  of  the  Republican  party,  and  his 
support  is  given  to  its  men  and  measures. 
In  religion  he  is  connected  with  the  Baptist 
church,  while  fraternally  be  is  associated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


ALBERT   A.    WILKINSON. 

Albert  A.  Wilkinson,  who  resides  on 
section  j  1 ,  Gowrie  township,  is  the  owner  of 
a  valuable  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  sections  j  1  and  22,  whose 
neat  and  thrifty  appearance  well  indicates 
his  careful  supervision.  Substantial  im- 
provements are  surrounded  by  well-tilled 
fields,  and  all  of  the  accessories  and  con- 
veniences of  a  model  farm  are  there  found. 


Mr.  Wilkinson  is  proud  to  claim  Iowa 
as  his  native  state,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Tama  count)'.  July  30,  1856.  His  father, 
Anthony  Wilkinson,  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1 81 7,  and  was  a  lad  of  fifteen  years  when 
lie  came  to  the  United  States  with  bis  father, 
William  Wilkinson.  The  family  located  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  were  among 
the  hr->t  settlers  of  that  locality.  In  early 
life  Anthony  Wilkinson  learned  the  car- 
penter's and  joiner's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  some  years,  and  in  the  meantime 
went  up  and  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
rivers  between  Cincinnati  and  New  Orleans 
many  times.  He  and  a  brother  b  >th  t< » »k  part 
in  the  Mexican  war  and  afterward  received 
land  warrants  for  their  services.  In  1849 
the  family  all  removed  to  Iowa  and  took  up 
their  residence  in  Tama  county,  where  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject  died  some  time 
later.  Anthony  Wilkinson  located  his  land 
warrant  in  that  count}',  and  also  bought  and 
entered  other  tracts  of  land  to  the  amount 
of  four  hundred  acres,  which  he  fenced  and 
improved,  converting  the  tract  into  a  good 
farm.  In  1850  he  returned  to  Coshocton 
county.  Ohio,  and  there  married  Miss  Sarah 
Ann  Graham,  who  was  born  in  that  county, 
of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  her  father  being 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  locality.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilkinson  spent  their  entire  mar- 
ried life  in  Tama  county,  Iowa,  where  he 
died  November  10,  1888,  and  she  Decem- 
ber 26,  1896,  their  remains  being  interred 
in  the  home  cemetery.  They  had  a  family 
of  twelve  children  who  reached  years  of 
maturity,  and  three  sons  and  two  daughters 
are  still  living. 

On  the  old  home  farm  Albert  A.  Wil- 
kinson grew  to  manhood,  early  becoming 
familiar  with  every  department  of  farm 
work.  He  first  attended  the  common 
schools  and  later  the  Friends  Academy  at 


A.  A.  WILKINSON 


MRS.  A.  A.  WILKINSON 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


461 


La  Grand,  and  subsequent!)  engaged  in 
teaching'  in  lama  and  Webster  counties. 
It  was  in  1880  that  he  came  to  this  county 
and  located  in  Gowrie  township  where  he 
now  resides.  For  three  or  four  years  he 
and  a  brother  engaged  in  farming  together, 
I  nit  since  then  he  has  been  alone  in  business. 
His  first  tract  of  land  consisted  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  raw  prairie,  which 
he  fenced  and  broke,  ami  later  he  added  to 
it  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
adjoining  and  still  later  forty  acres  more. 
He  lias  erected  thereon  good  and  substan- 
tial buildings,  and  to-day  has  one  of  the  best 
improved  and  most  desirable  farms  of  its 
size  in  Webster  county.  In  connection  with 
its  operation  he  is  also  successfully  engaged 
in  stock  raising. 

At  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  December  27, 
1883,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Wilkinson  and  Miss  Martha  McGrew,  also 
a  native  of  Tama  count}'.  Her  father, 
Findley  McGrew,  was  born  and  reared  in 
Ohio,  and  there  wedded  Miss  Mary  C.  Tra- 
liern,  a  native  of  Knox  county,  that  state. 
In  1856  he  removed  to  Marshall  county, 
Iowa,  and  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Marshall 
and  Tama  counties.  He  died  April  23, 
189 1,  but  his  widow  is  still  living,  and  now 
makes  her  home  with  a  daughter  in  Mar- 
shalltown. Iowa.  They  had  eight  children, 
four  suns  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  one 
son  died  in  childhood  and  three  sons  and 
three  daughters  survive.  Mrs.  Wilkinson 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Marshall  county. 
<  M~  the  three  children  born  to  our  subject 
and  his  wife  one  died  in  infancy  and  Wil- 
ford  at  the  age  of  four  years.  The  only 
one  now  living  is  Ralph  R.,  who  was  born 
June  25,  1886. 

Politically  Mr.  Wilkinson  has  been  a 
life-long  Republican,  having  supported  every 


presidential  candidate  of  that  party  since 
voting  for  James  A.  Garfield  in   1880,  but 

lie  has  never  sought  political  honors,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests.  He  is  a  stanch 
friend  of  education,  and  has  efficiently 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and 
treasurer  of  the  district.  In  the  spring  of 
[887  lie  returned  to  the  old  home  farm  and 
carried  it  on  for  two  years,  but  since  1889 
has  resided  uninterruptedly  in  this  county, 
lie  attends  and  supports  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a 
member,  and  both  merit  and  receive  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  all  who  know  them. 


CHRIS  M.  SOLSO. 

Chris  M.  Solso.  living  on  section  1,  irr 
Washington  township,  was  born  in  Norway 
March  29,  1863,  a  son  of  Mathew  and  Anna 
(Simmsrue)  Solso,  also  natives  of  Norway. 
The  mother  died  in  her  native  land  about 
1867,  and  in  1870  the  father  brought  his  lit- 
tle family  to  America,  and  upon  landing  in 
Xew  York  proceeded  to  Iowa  Falls,  Iowa, 
and  front  there  to  Webster  county.  He  lo- 
cated on  section  25,  Washington  township, 
and  in  1878  thought  to  improve  his  prospects 
by  removal  to  Antelope  county,  Nebraska, 
where  he  bought  land  and  where,  in  1880, 
he  married  Bertha  Oleson.  He  then  moved 
to  Newman  Grove,  Madison  county,  Ne- 
braska, where  he  opened  a  general  merchan- 
dise store,  which  he  is  still  successfull)  con- 
ducting. He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
church.  There  were  thirteen  children  born 
of  his  first  union,  namely:  Gillena,  wife  of 
Michael  Thompson,  living  in  Boone  county, 
Nebraska;  .Andrew,  who  married  Anna  Hov- 


462 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


elschrude,  and  after  her  deatli  wedded  Mary 
Anderson,  and  lives  in  Newman  Grove,  Ne- 
braska ;  Annie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Louis 
Nuesi  me,  and  lives  in  Webster  county, 
Iowa :  Nettie,  wife  of  Olof  Cleveland,  living 
in  Webster  county,  Iowa;  John,  who  is  un- 
married and  lives  in  Newman  Grove,  Ne- 
braska; Olaf,  who  married  Rosa  Holverson, 
and  lives  in  Newman  Grove;  Ola,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  Matthew,  who  is 
unmarried  and  lives  in  Newman  Grove;  Ma- 
tilda, who  also  is  single  and  lives  in  Newman 
Grove;  Selma,  who  was  the  twin  sister  of 
Matilda,  and  died  in  infancy;  Clara,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years:  Carl,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  and  two  infants 
who  died  before  being  named. 

While  still  quite  young  Mr.  Solso  was 
obliged  to  assist  in  the  family  support,  and 
when  fourteen  years  old  discontinued  attend- 
ance at  the  district  schools  and  began  to 
work  out  by  the  month  on  surrounding 
farms.  On  December  28,  1885,  at  the  school 
house  in  Washington  township,  he  married 
Gurine  L.  Nelson,  who  was  born  in  Clinton 
county  August  19,  t868,  a  daughter  of  Hen- 
rv  and  Belle  ( Belland) '  Nelson,  who  were 
born  in  Norway  June  9,  1842,  and  October 
7,  1840,  respectively.  The  parents  were 
married  May  14,  1863,  in  Norway,  and  came 
to  America  July  4,  1868,  and  settled  in  Clin- 
ton county,  Iowa,  near  Calamus.  Here  the 
father  died  December  8,  1875,  after  which 
the  mother  removed  to  Story  county,  near 
Story  City,  where  she  lived  for  five  years, 
going  then  to  Webster  county,  where,  in 
1880,  she  married  Berger  Larson,  a  native 
of  Norway.  Mr.  Larson  died  May  14. 
1899.  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  home 
of  her  son-in-law,  Mr.  Solso,  December  20. 
1901,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  Mr. 
Nelson  and  Mr.  Larson  were  Republicans, 
and  both  were  members  of  the  Norwegian 


Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Solso  is  the  second 
oldest  of  the  children  in  her  mother's  fam- 
ily. Martha  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen ; 
Hannah,  the  wife  of  Price  Cunningham, 
lives  in  Kossuth  county,  Iowa ;  Margaret 
died  in  infancy ;  and  Carl  J.  died  at  the  age 
of  three  months.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Solso 
have  been  born  seven  children :  Henry  Mar- 
tin, born  February  22,  1887;  Arthur  S., 
March  7,  1889;  Carl  H.,  August  n,  1892; 
Mabel  Luella,  July  7,  1894;  Lawrence  G., 
March  20,  1896;  Helen  Amanda,  August  7, 
[899;  and  John  Adrian,  December  15,  1901. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Solso  rented 
land  for  a  couple  of  years,  and  then  removed 
to  Pocahontas  county,  Iowa,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  year.  Upon  returning  to  Wash- 
ington township,  Webster  county,  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  1,  built  a  com- 
modious and  well-planned  house  and  large 
barns,  and  introduced  all  modern  improve- 
ments. He  is  engaged  in  general  farming, 
and  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  high-grade 
stock  for  market.  He  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  held  many  township  offices,  ami  nig 
others  being  that  of  school  trustee,  a  position 
maintained  for  several  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church.  Mr. 
Solso  is  a  progressive  and  enlightened  citi- 
zen, and  takes  an  active  interest  in  general 
township  and  county  affairs. 


FRANCIS  FAWKES. 

No  more  earnest  advocate  of  kindliness 
ami  humanity  has  exerted  an  uplifting  influ- 
ence in  Webster  county  than  Francis 
Fawkes,  home  missionary  in  the  Congrega- 
tional church  and  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Otho.  He  was  born  in  Gloucestershire, 
England,  December  20,  1838,  and  is  a  son 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


463 


of  Samuel  and  Sarali  (Austin)  Fawkes,  also 
natives- of  England.  The  father,  who  was 
a  we.uer  it  fine  cloth,  worked  at  his  chosen 
occupation  until  about  forty  years  of  age, 
and  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  govern- 
ment in  the  brass  foundry  at  Sheerness.  He 
came  to  America  in  1866  and  located  near 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  he  farmed  on  a  small 
scale  and  worked  in  the  lead  mines.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1893,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine  years,  he  came  to  live  with  his 
son.  at  whose  home  he  died  in  January, 
1896,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  He 
had  three  sons:  Charles  first  married  Jennie 
Samuels,  now  deceased,  and  afterward  mar- 
ried her  sister,  Kate,  with  whom  he  is  living 
in  Dubuque ;  and  Allen  O.  married  Clara 
Woodhouse,  and  is  also  living  in  Dubuque. 
Six  children  born  into  the  family  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

At  the  early  age  of  thirteen  the  common- 
school  education  of  Francis  Hawkes  was  in- 
terrupted by  the  necessity  of  self-support, 
"and  he  therefore  entered  a  cloth  factory. 
where  he  remained  for  four  years.  He  then 
engaged  as  warehouseman  for  a  drug  con- 
cern at  Sheerness,  and  at  the  end  of  eight 
years  decided  to  avail  himself  of  the  larger 
possibilities  of  America.  Arriving  in  the 
states  March  7.  1864,  ne  found  the  country 
in  the  throes  of  the  Civil  war,  and  at  once 
betook  himself  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  he 
found  employment  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store 
for  two  years.  He  then  entered  the  home 
missionary  work  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  Iowa,  and  has  been  connected 
with  this  branch  of  endeavor  continuously 
since  1866.  As  predicted  by  early  circum- 
stances, his  education  has  been  self-acquired, 
and  is  therefore  on  broad  and  practical  lines. 
and  in  keeping  with  the  demands  of  his  work 
and   influential  position   in   the  community. 

Fellow     passenger     on     the     ship     that 


brought  Mr.  Fawkes  to  America  in  1864 
was  Elizabeth  Fawkes,  a  first  cousin,  whom 
he  married  in  1865,  in  Dubuque,  Iowa.  Mrs. 
Fawkes,  who  was  the  mother  of  one  son, 
Herbert,  now  living  in  Chicago,  died  three 
years  after  her  marriage,  of  consumption. 
On  September  1,  1869,  Mr.  Fawkes  married 
Susan  Woodhouse,  of  Dubuque,  Iowa,  who 
was  born  October  26,  1847.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Kentucky.  During  their 
fourteen  years  of  happy  married  life  Mr.  and 
Mis.  Fawkes  lived  in  Durango,  where  he 
continued  his  ministrations  in  the  church  and 
out  of  it,  and  where  his  wife  was  killed  by 
lightning  July  4,  1883.  She  left  two  sisters 
and  one  brother :  Josqah,  who  lives  in  Du- 
rango;  Airs.  Amanda  Clark,  who  resides  in 
Texas ;  and  Malina,  who  is  unmarried  and 
living'  in  Durango. 

Of  the  second  union  of  Mr.  Fawkes 
seven  children  were  born  :  Harriet,  the  wife 
of  N.  J.  L.  Findley,  of  Otho  township,  this 
county;  Edith  A.,  wife  of  John  Spensley, 
of  Dubuque;  Otis,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years;  Clement,  who  is  living  at  home; 
Nora;  Sarah;  and  Ernest.  On  November 
20,  1890,  Mr.  Fawkes  married  Margaret  W. 
Martin,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  came 
to  America  in  1875.  She  is  one  of  five  sisters 
now  living:  Jeafiette,  the  widow  of  Andrew 
Craig,  of  Fort  Dodge:  Mrs.  Francis 
Fawkes;  Mrs.  Jane  Forbes,  of  Kalo;  Mrs. 
Andrew  Johnson,  who  is  living  on  a  farm 
in  Otho  township ;  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Knott, 
of  Colorado. 

While  preaching  in  Franklin  county, 
Iowa,  Mr.  Fawkes  lived  at  Dows  for  three 
years,  after  which  he  came  to  Otho  and  took 
charge  of  the  church  here  for  live  years. 
He  then  resigned  and  returned  to  Dubuque 
county,  where  he  farmed  and  preached  in 
the  Congregational  church  during  twelve 
summers.     In  1889  he  returned  to  Otho  and 


464 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


assumed  charge  of  the  church  here,  and  has 
since  made  this  his  home  and  his  uninter- 
rupted object  of  solicitude.  Mr.  Fawkes 
owns  eighty  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he 
has  placed  about  twenty-five  hundred  dol- 
lars' worth  of  improvements,  and  which  has 
a  good  house,  barn  and  outbuildings,  with  a 
thorough  system  of  drainage.  The  better  t>  1 
attend  to  the  multitudinous  duties  incident 
to  his  pastorate,  this  farm  is  ■  rented  out, 
though  Mr.  Fawkes  makes  his  home  upon 
the  place.  He  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
scattered  over  the  localities  which  have  at 
different  times  benefited  by  his  largeness  of 
heart  and  his  practical,  helpful  Christianity, 
and  the  good  that  he  has  accomplished  has 
been  limited  only  by  the  time  allowed  f(  ir 
the  doing. 


RUFUS  P.  HUNTER. 

Roland  township  probably  has  no  more 
prominent  or  influential  citizen  than  Rufus 
P.  Hunter,  whose  home  is  on  section  26, 
where  he  owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of 
three  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  came  to 
Iowa  in  1850,  and  for  a  third  of  a  century 
has  been  a  resident  of  Webster  enmity.  He 
was  born  in  Botetourt  county,  Virginia,  on 
the  James  river,  September  30.  1838,  and  is 
a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  first 
families  of  that  state.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Francis  Hunter,  was  a  native  of  the 
Old  Dominion,  as  was  also  bis  father,  Lewis 
C.  Hunter,  who  was  born  in  1799.  On 
reaching  manhood  the  latter  married  Mis> 
Rebecca  Linkinhoker,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  state,  and  there  they  continued  to  re- 
side until  after  the  birth  of  five  of  their  chil- 
dren. By  occupation  the  father  was  a 
farmer.  On  leaving  Virginia,  in  1856,  he 
came  to  Iowa  and  settled  in  Marion  county, 


being  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  region. 
I'pi  m  the  farm  which  he  there  opened  up 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  died 
in  1887,  his  wife  surviving  him  about  ten 
years. 

Mr.  Hunter,  of  this  review,  was  seven- 
teen years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removel  to  Iowa,  and  he  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  arduous  task  of  open- 
ing up  a  new  farm  in  Marion  county.  His 
school  privileges  being  meager,  he  is  what 
may  be  termed  a  self-educated  man.  On 
reaching  manhood  he  left  the  parental  roof 
and  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  several  sum- 
mers. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  1866,  in  Marion 
county,  Mr.  Hunter  led  to  the  marriage 
altar  Miss  Rachel  Metcalf,  a  native  of  Kos- 
ciusko count}-,  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Sarah  Metcalf,  who  removed 
with  their  family  to  Marion  county,  Iowa, 
in  1854.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunter  had  eight 
children,  namely:  Elva  Ellen,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Charles,  at  home;  Warren,  who  is 
married  and  resides  in  Callender,  Iowa; 
Mosier,  Oran,  William,  Grover  and  Maude, 
all  at  home.  The  daughter  has  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  this  county,. 
and  is  now  a  student  at  Tobin  College,  Fort 
Dodge. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hunter  engaged 
in  farming  in  Marion  county  for  some 
years,  but  in  1876  he  rented  his  farm,  which 
consisted  of  eighty  acres,  and  removed  to^ 
Pleasantville,  where  as  a  carpenter  he  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building  for  two 
years.  He  then  came  to  Webster  county 
and  purchased  the  farm  of  eighty  acres 
where  be  now  resides.  In  his  farming  op- 
erations he  has  been  eminently  successful, 
and  has  accumulated  considerable  property, 
being  now  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and 
sixtv    acres     of    land,     divided   into   three 


R.  P.  HUNTER 


MRS.  R.  P.  HUNTER 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


469 


Janus.     With  the  exception  of  twenty-lour 

acres  Mr.  Hunter  has  broken  all  his  land. 
There  is  a  good  residence  upon  his  place, 
and  the  barns  ami  other  outbuildings  are  in 
perfect  harmony  therewith.  In  connection 
with  general  farming  Mr.  Hunter  is  quite 
■extensively  engaged  in  the  raising  and  feed- 
ing of  stock,  and  annually  ships  from  two  to 
four  carloads  to  the  city  markets.  A  man 
ot  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance,  he 
has  prospered  in  his  undertakings,  and 
through  his  own  well-directed  efforts  has 
become  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  ot 
his  community. 

Air.  Hunter's  political  support  is  given 
the  Democracy,  and  he  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential ballot  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
[860.  lie  was  been  a  delegate  to  numerous 
county  and  state  conventions,  and  assisted 
in  nominating  Boise  for  governor  of  the 
state.  For  fourteen  years  he  served  as  jus- 
tice ot  the  peace,  and  filled  the  office  of 
supervisor  of  highways  about  the  same 
length  of  time.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  school  board  several  years,  and  his 
official  duties  have  all  been  most  capably 
and  satisfactorily^  performed.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  Cowrie  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  is  a  man  of  considerable  promi- 
nence in  the  community  where  he  resides. 


T.  P.  URELIUS. 


The  well-improved  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Burnside  township  belong- 
ing to  J.  P.  Urelius  is  a  property  acquired 
after  long  years  of  struggle  and  untiring 
industry  on  the  part  of  the  owner.  How- 
ever, a  willingness  to  work  is  a  national 
trait  of  his  Swedish  countrymen,  and  many 
of  them  have  early  surrounding  conditions 
in  common  with  his  own.  He  was  born  in 
Sweden  January  20.  1847.  anc^  owing  to  the 


limited  resources  of  the  Family,  was  obliged 
when  very  young  to  devote  his  time  to  much 
work  and  little  play,  and  in  consequence  edu- 
cation played  a  minor  pan  during  his  child- 
hood. 

His  father  was  born  in  Sweden  in  1819, 
and  his  mother,  formerly  Eliza  Catherine 
Surnson,  was  horn  in  the  same  country  in 
1824.  and  died  in  1898.  The  parents  never 
emigrated  from  the  fatherland,  and  letters 
received  from  the  head  1  f  the  family  indi- 
cate that  he  is  still  fixing  and  in  possession 
of  unimpaired  faculties.  There  were  five 
son,  m  the  family,  and  of  these.  Gust  mar- 
ried Matilda  Carlson  and  lives  in  Dayton 
township.  Webster  county,  Iowa;  Carl  Emil 
married  Anna  Bolun  and  lives  in  Henry 
county.  Illinois:  Jonas  August  married  Tilda 
Colen  and  lives  in  Clay  township.  Webster 
county,  Iowa;  and  Per  married  Hilda  Gund- 
bach  and  lives  in  Chicago1.  Of  the  daughters 
Christine  Elizabeth  lives  in  Sweden,  as  does 
Caroline  Sophia,  wife  of  August  Samuelson. 

Conscious  of  the  limitations  which  con- 
fr<  nteil  him  in  his  native  land.  Mr.  Urelius 
emigrated  to  America  in  1868,  and  settled 
in  Altoona,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  for 
others  for  several  years.  He  then  rented 
land  upon  which  he  lived  for  about  six  years, 
and  in  the  management  of  which  he  was 
fairly  successful.  Much  of  his  good  fortune 
in  life  he  generously  attributes  to  the  fru- 
gality and  assistance  of  his  wife,  whom  be 
married  January  9,  1877,  and  who  was,  be- 
fore her  marriage,  Christina  Swans. m.  a  na- 
tive of  Sweden,  born  September  _>^.  1854. 
Mrs.  Urelius  came  to  America  with  her  par- 
ents in  187J,  and  located  in  Altoona,  where 
her  father  died  in  1899.  and  her  mother  in 
1895.  She  had  limited  educational  oppor- 
tunities in  her  youth,  and  after  coming  to 
the  United  States  worked  out  in  Altoona 
until  her  marriage.     She  had   four  brothers, 


47o  THE   BIOGR  M'llliWL   RECORD. 

namely:     rohn,   who  died    al    the    age  of  wall  September  27,   1839,     ''l'  's  a  s"n  "'" 

twentj  nine  years  in  America ;  Andrew,  who  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Goldworthy)  Quick, 

married  Mar)    Moline  and  lues  in  Moline,  both  oi  whom  died  in  England.     There  he 

Illinois;  Charley,  who  married    Miss   Hfcti  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  early  life  was  em- 

strom  and  lives  in  Galva,  Illinois;  and  Ed  ployed  in  the  tin  mines.    Before  leaving  that 

ward,  who  married    Pilla  Johnson  and  lives  countrj  hcwas  married  in  Cornwall;  in  May, 

at   Altoona,   Illinois.     Three  children  have  [862,  to  Miss  Emma  Bray,  an  English  lady, 

Ihvii  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  I'rclius,  as  fol-  and  a  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Emma  I  Car- 
lows:  Emma  Elizabeth,  who  died  al  the  age  vis)  Bray,  who  also  died  in  the  old  country, 
of  seventeen ;  Selina  fosephine,  who  is  living  Hiree  years  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
:ii  home;  and  Carl  Edwin  Luther,  also  al  and  Mrs.  Quick  crossed  the  ocean,  and 
home.  joined  her  brother,  Michael  Bray,  In 
Mr.  Urelius  became  identified  with  Michigan,  our  subject  rinding  emploj 
Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  1882,  and  for  ment  in  the  copper  mines  of  the  Lake 
three  years  lived  on  a  rented  farm  near  liar-  Superior  region.  The  brother  subsequently 
court,  after  which  he  removed  to  a  rented  came  to  Webster  county;  toWft,  and  Mrs. 
Farm  in  Dayton  township,  which  continued  Quick  and  her  family  afterward  joined  him, 
t<>  l>e  Ins  home   lor   four   years.     In  Clay  while  our  subjeel  remained  in  Michigan  until 

township    he    later    rented    a    farm    for    three  [875,   when  he,  tOO,  came  to  this  state.      For 

years,  and  eventuall)  saved  enough  money  about  seventeen  years  he  engaged  in  farm 
t,>  purchase  his  presenl  farm  in  Burnside  ing  upon  rented  land  in  the  southern  part 
township.  Since  taking  possession  this  farm  of  the  county,  but  in  [889  purchased  one 
has  been  greatlj  improved  by  Mr.  Urelius,  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Roland  town- 
general  farm  work  being  facilitated  b)  the  ship,  where  he  now  resides.  This  place  he 
addition  of  modern  and  labor-saving  machin-  has  fenced,  broke  and  improved,  and  also 
ery.  He  is  a  past  master  <>\  the  faculty  of  has  added  to  it  until  he  now  has  one  hun- 
tilling    the   soil    to    the   best    possible   advan-  died   and   sixty  acres  under  a   high   state  of 

tage,  and  as  a  result  his  crops  are  rarely  dis-  cultivation,     lie  has  erected  a  comfortable 

appointing,  and  his  finances  have  increased  residence  and  good  outbuildings,  has  tiled 
with  the  passing  of  every  harvest.  Mr.  the  land  and  set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees. 
Urelius  is  a  Republican  in  national  politics,  which  add  greatlj  to  its  attractive  appear- 
but  has  never  sOUghl  or  desired  official  rcc-  ance.  At  present  he  owns  another  tract  of 
ognition.  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  fort}  acres  on  section  28,  the  same  township, 
Evangelical  church  at    Burnside,  and  con-  making  two  hundred  acres  in  all. 

tributes   to  the  extent   of  his  ability   toward  Unto    Mr.    and    Mrs.    Quick    were    horn 

its  maintenance  and  charities.  nine  children,   as    follows:     Richard    is   now 

married   and    resides   at    (.'hire,    [owa,    being 

♦"♦"* 

agent   ami   telegraph  operator   lor   the    Rock 

RICH  \KI)  QUICK.  Island  Railroad  al  that  place;  Mary  Kmma. 

who  was  horn  in  England,  died  in  this  coun- 

This  well  known  farmer  residing  on  sec  try  iii  1SS0.  aged  fifteen  years;  Bessie  is  the 

lion    jo,    Roland    township,    is    a    native   i>\  wife    of    Thomas    Nicholson,    who    owns    a 

England,  Ins  birth  having  occurred  in  Corn-  valuable  farm  adjoining  that  of  our  subject) 


I  HE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


17' 


[da  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Somerville,  a 
substantial  farmer  of  Roland  township, 
whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  volume;  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Baxter,  a  residenl  of  Lake-  <  ii\.  Iowa,  and 
a  conductor  on  the  Chicago  &  Northwe  tern 
Railroad;  Neva  is  tin-  wife  oi  Emerj  Stet- 
son, a  business  man  of  Cherokee,  Iowa; 
\\  illiam  II.,  who  is  unmarried,  is  noi 
gaged  in  business  in  Lead,  South  Da 
kota  ;  Leona  is  the  wife  of  Ira  <  arr,  a  farmer 
ol  Ri  land  ti  >\\  nship  ;  and  R  >l  «rl  I  .  is  at 
home  assisting  his  father  in  the  operation 
ol  the  farm. 

Since  becoming  a  naturalized  i  itizen  Mr. 
Quick  has  always  affiliated  with  the  Reputn 
lican   party,  and   cast   his   firsl    presidential 

>te  i'  'i"  Rutherford  B.  I  faj  es  in  1876      I  te 

term  as  supervisor  of  highways, 

and  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board, 

hui  has  ne\ er  cai ed  for  political  preferment. 

l!i  'th  he  and  his  w  i  fe  are  acti\  e  and  

tent  members  of  the  Methodisl  Episcopal 
church  of  '  iowrie,  and  arc  held  in  the 
esl   regard  by  all  who  have  the  plea  Lire  of 
their  acquaintani 


ENOS  A.  CHURCHILL, 

The  fitting  reward  of  a  well  spent  li 
honorable  retirem<  nt  ft  ind  a  pet  ii  id 

1  in  whirh  to  enjoy  the  fruil  -.  of  for 

in'  1    toil.     'I  hrough  many  w.u  -    Mr    I   linn  li 

ill  was  a  well  known  factor  in  industrial  life 
contributing  largely  to  the  improvement  of 
I '">  t  I  >odge  through  his  work  a-  1  onl 
and  builder,  hut  now,  with  a  comfortable 
he  is  enjoying  a  well  merited 
rest  amid  friends  and  neighbors,  vbo  e  teem 
and  honor  him  for  his  sterling  worth. 
.Mr.  Churchill  was  born  in  Leroy,  Gene 


-mi  y,     <  h    '  1 1 1.,  Septi  mbei    1 1.  1831, 
and  is  a  son  of  Bradford  and  Mar)  I  Mams) 
I  hui  chill,   both   of   whom    ■■•  ei  e   nal  i 
Vermont,  when-  they  were  reared  and 
ncd.      i  liej    rqjresented  old   New   En 
families,  and  on  lra\  ing  the  '  Ireen  Mi 
state  they   took    up   their  aljode   in    I 
New  York,  in  1821 .     In  in.;  1  il, 
to  Niagara  count) .    oi    the    Empire 

w  here  they   remained   until    [866,    when      li 

came  ti i  Iowa,  purchasing  a  farm  in  Fulti  n 
township,  Webster  county.  I  here  the  father 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
d<  ath,  w  In  hi  ici  ui  i  ed  Man  h  •  i .  1881 .  w  hen 
he  was  eight ;  one  eat  1  a  agi  I  lie  im  ther 
died  in  I  ulton  tov  nship,  at  tin  agi  1  1  1 
two,  Bradford  <  liurchill  w  a  i  carpi  liter  by 
trade  and  followed  that  pui  uil  in  the  eai  lier 
eat  oi  hi  ■  life,  but  latei  1  at  1  ied  on  fai  m 
ing,  In  the  famil)  were  1  1  hildren,  four 
oi  whom  yet  survive,  namelv  :  Rosetta,  who 
is  living   on   the  old   homestead   in    I 

hip  :    Eno      V,   of   this    rev  iew  ;    Sarah 
J.  and  Judith  Ann.  who  are  also  living  on  the 

old   hi  'ine    fai  111 

Em  >-     \.    <    linn  lull    wa  i    Ii        ill. 111    a 

old  when  his  parents  remo^  ed  to  Niagara 
1  ount) .  New  York,  w  hi  re  he  pursued  his 
education  in  the  publii     1  h  1  arned 

the  1 .11  penti  1     ti  ade      In  18 

ard,  taking  up  his  abode  near  Mai 
\\  isconsin,  w  het  e  he  ed  farming 

his    former  1  ccupatii  n.      For  twent) 
In-  made  hi    homi    in  tin    Ba 
then    -  tught  a  mori 

ing  in  Webster  county,  towa,  in  1865.     For 
he  lived  in   F01  ind  on  the- 

at  ion   ■  f  that    p  1 
-  laim    in    Fulton    tow  nship 
his  energies  to  the  cultivation  and  impt 
ment  of  his  land  through  tl  ■  g  lif- 

1  ars.     I  h-  then  returned  to  Fort  I  )i  dge 
and  followi  until 


472 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  recent  date.  Many  evidences  of  his  handi- 
work are  seen  in  the  substantial  buildings 
of  this  city.  He  always  lived  faithful]}"  up 
to  the  terms  of  his  contract,  was  strictly  fair 
and  honorable  in  his  business  relations  and 
therefore  enjoyed  the  unqualified  confidence 
of  his  fellow  men. 

Air.  Churchill  was  married  February  i, 
1855.  to  Laura  Jane  Powers,  a  native  of 
Sacketts  Harbor,  New  York,  hut  at  the  time 
of. her  marriage  a  resident  of  Columbia  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin.  They  had  two  children,  and 
the  daughter  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a 
half  years,  while  their  son.  C.  H.  Churchill, 
is  now  a  prominent  physician  of  Fort  Dodge. 
The  father  has  filled  a  number  of  local  of- 
fices. He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for 
six  years;  was  township  clerk  for  eight 
years;  and  in  all  life's  relations  he  has  been 
found  true  to  duty.  Since  1876  he  has  been 
a  Democrat,  but  was  formerly  identified  with 
the  early  Republican  party,  voting  for  Pres- 
ident Lincoln  and  General  Grant. 


BERTEL  LARSON. 

Bertel  Larson  is  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  and  energetic  business  men 
of  Roland  township  and  his  life  is  an  ex- 
emplification of  the  term  "the  dignity  of 
labor."  The  possibilities  that  America 
offers  to  her  citizens  he  has  utilized,  and 
though  he  came  to  this  country  in  limited 
circumstances,  he  has  steadily  and  per- 
severingly  worked  his  way  upward,  leaving 
the  ranks  of  the  many  to  stand  among  the 
successful  few. 

Mr.  Larson  was  horn  in  Denmark,  De- 
cember 13.  1845,  aiK'  's  one  °i  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  nine,  five  sons 
and  four  daughters,  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity.    The  other  three  died  in  infancy.    Of 


this  family  nine  came  to  America,  two  sisters 
of  our  subject  being  now  residents  of  A\ "is- 
consin  and  another  of  Iowa,  while  one 
brother  lives  in  Nebraska,  another  in 
Florida,  and  three  (including  a  half- 
brother  )  make  their  home  in  Iowa. 

It  was  in  [862  that  our  subject  crossed 
the  Atlantic  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
New  York,  where  he  enlisted  in  December, 
1863,  for  three  years,  becoming  a  member 
of  the  Fifteenth  United  States  Infantry, 
the  Civil  war  being  then  in  progress.  As  a 
sailor  he  was  first  on  a  scouting  boat  along 
the  coast,  but  was  later  transferred  to  his 
command  at  .Mobile,  and  was  in  active  serv- 
ice until  the  close  of  the  war.  His  regiment 
was  then  ordered  west  and  was  stationed  at 
Fort  Wingate,  New  Mexico,  where  his  term 
of  enlistment  expired  and  he  was  mustered 
out.  For  about  eight  years,  however,  he 
remained  in  the  wilds  of  the  west,  engaged 
in   hunting,  trapping  and   scouting. 

In  1874  Mr.  Larson  went  to  Racine, 
Wisconsin,  and  was  there  married  on  the 
1st  of  November,  1875.  to  Miss  Carrie  T. 
Knutson.  a  native  of  Norway.  They  have 
become  the  parents  of  three  sons  :  Lawrence 
C,  Merril  C.  and  William,  who  now  assist 
in  the  operation  of  the  home   farm. 

Shortly  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Larson 
brought  his  bride  to  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
and  in  1876  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
where  he  now  resides,  which  he  at  once 
commenced  to  improve  and  cultivate.  Meet- 
ing with  success  in  his  farming  operations, 
he  has  added  to  this  place  from  time  to1  time 
until  he  now  has  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  in  the  home  farm,  which  is  con- 
veniently located  on  section  to.  within  a 
mile  and  a  half  of  Callender.  Mr.  Larson 
also  owns  another  tract  of  eighty  acres  in 
the  same  locality,  making  three  hundred  and 
sixty   acres   of   land,   which  he  has   placed 


BERTEL  LARSON 


MRS.  BERTEL  LARSON 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


477 


under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  lie  has 
not  confined  Ins  attention  wholly  to  agri 
cultural  pursuits,  however,  hut  has  been  in- 
terested in  a  number  of  business  enter- 
prises, lie  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Farmers  Alliance  store  at  Callender.  which 
was  the  beginning  of  that  town,  and  lie  was 
one  of  the  directors  and  secretary  of  the  as- 
sociation, which  continued  in  business  there 
for  ten  years.  He  is  also  a  director  and 
vice-president  of  the  Callender  Savings 
Bank,  and  a  director  and  solicitor  of  the 
Webster  County  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany. 

Mi'.  Larson  supported  General  U.  S. 
Grant  for  the  presidency  in  1868  and  187J, 
but  of  recent  years  has  been  independent  in 
politics.  In  1877  he  was  the  first  constable 
elected  in  Roland  township,  anil  has  since 
filled  various  local  offices,  serving  as  super- 
visor of  highways,  township  clerk  and 
treasurer  of  the  township,  having  filled  the 
last  named  office  for  about  twenty  years. 
He  has  also  been  a  delegate  to  county  and 
state  conventions,  and  has  always  faithfully 
discharged  any  duty  which  has  devolved 
upon  him  either  in  public  or  private  life. 
Sociallv  he  is  a  member  of  Gowrie  Lodge, 
No.  506,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  the  Legion  of  Honor. 

For  over  twenty-six  years  Mr.  Larson 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  and  has 
therefore  witnessed  the  greater  part  of  its 
growth  and  development.  In  its  progress 
he  has  manifested  a  deep  interest  and  has 
ever  taken  his  part  in  support  of  those 
measures  calculated  to  prove  of  public  bene- 
fit. His  strict  integrity  and  honorable  deal- 
ing in  business  commend  him  to  the  confi- 
dence of  all :  his  pleasant  manner  wins  him 
friends;  and  he  is  one  of  the  popular  and 
honored  citizens  of  his  community. 


WILLIAM  SCHRAM. 

Much  credit  is  due  William  Schram  for 
the  enterprise  which  has  placed  him  among 
the  foremost  farmers  of  Burnside  township. 
A  native  of  Germany,  he  was  born  Novem- 
ber 15,  i860,  and  when  four  years  old  came 
to  America  with  his  father,  Ferdinand 
Schram,  and  family,  the  voyage  lasting  forty 
days.  Arriving  in  the  land  for  which  he 
entertained  such  glowing  hopes,  the  father 
lived  in  Chicago  for  three  years  and  en- 
gaged in  railroading,  and  continued  the  same 
occupation  for  six  years  after  his  removal 
to  Boone,  lova.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  came  to  Webster  count}',  lova,  took 
up  his  residence  in  the  vicinity  of  Dayton, 
where  he  purchased  a  river  claim  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  and  made  thereon  many 
improvements,  but  owing  to  a  disputed  title 
he  eventually  lost  the  property,  which  was 
the  case  with  many  other  early  settlers. 
While  still  occupying  this  property  his  wife 
died,  July  1,  1873,  and  he  eventually  went 
to  live  with  his  son  William,  at  whose  home 
he  passed  away  October  21,  1900.  In  the 
family,  besides  William,  were  Charles,  who 
married  Minnie  Finnic  and  lives  in  Norfolk, 
Nebraska;  John  C,  who  is  married  and  lives 
in  Chicago;  August,  who  married  Mary 
Yost  and  lives  in  Hancock  county,  Iowa; 
Frank,  who  married  Lena  Sandford  and 
lives  in  Britt,  Iowa;  and  Minnie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  George  Groner  ami  lives  at   Boone. 

William  Schram  passed  an  uneventful 
childhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  during 
the  winter  months  attended  the  district 
schools.  On  October  23,  1879,  he  married 
Carrie  Wolf,  who  was  born  in  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois. March  3,  1858,  of  German  parentage. 
After  living  in  Chicago  for  six  years  her 
family  removed  to  Webster  county.  Iowa, 
and  settled  near  [>ayton,  on  the  farm  where 


478 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  father  died  in  July,  1878,  while  the  moth- 
er died  August  20,  1899.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children :  Louis,  a 
farmer  in  Butler  county.  Iowa ;  Charley, 
who  is  married  and  living  in  Nebraska ; 
Henry,  who  married  Lena  Petzneck  and  lives 
in  Oklahoma ;  John,  a  farmer  of  Oklahoma ; 
and  Minnie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Bane 
and  lives  in  Dayton,  Iowa. 

Two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Schram  left  his  father's  farm  and  settled 
upon  rented  land  eight  miles  northwest  of 
Dayton,  where  he  lived  for  eight  years.  He 
then  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  the  land  upon  which  he  now  resides,  and 
to  which  he  afterward  added  forty  acres,  so 
that  his  present  farm  contains  two  hundred 
acres  of  land.  He  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising,  and  is  especially 
successful  in  the  latter  occupation.  Upon 
this  well-improved  farm  the  following  chil- 
dren have  beai  born:  Mary,  born  July  9, 
1879:  Clara.  May  12.  1881  ;  Gust.  January 
10,  1883  ;  Edith.  July  5.  1885  :  Lena,  August 
28,  1890;  Edna,  April  3,  1893;  and  Wine. 
November  25   1899. 

Mr.  Schram  is  by  no  means  self-centered 
in  his  interests,  but  takes  an  active  part  in 
the  general  upbuilding  of  the  township.  He 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  Lehigh  Valley  Sav- 
ings Bank,  and  is  a  business  man  of  extend- 
ed experience  and  unquestioned  integrity. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church,  and  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party,  as  are  also  his  brothers. 


E.  W.  SORBER. 


Among  the  representative  business  men 
of  Gowrie  none  are  more  deserving  of  men- 
tion in  this  volume  than  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces  this  sketch.     Keen  discrim- 


ination, unflagging  industry  and  resolute 
purpose  are  numbered  among  his  salient 
characteristics,  and  thus  he  has  won  that 
prosperity  which  is  the  merited  reward  of 
honest  effort. 

A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  he  was  born 
on  the  Susquehanna  river,  in  \\ 'ilkesbarre, 
Luzerne  county,  March  20,  1839,  and  is  a 
son  of  Philip  Sorber,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county  in  18 10.  His  grandfather, 
George  Sorber,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Key- 
stone state,  while  the  great-grandfather  was 
a  native  of  Germany  and  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Pennsylvania.  On  reaching  manhood 
Philip  Sorber  married  Aliss  Rebecca  Ains- 
worth,  of  Binghamton.  Xew  York.  In  early 
life  he  followed  the  millwright's  trade,  but 
after  coming  to  Iowa,  in  1840,  be  bought  a 
tract  of  government  land  in  Jackson  county 
and  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He 
resided  there  until  1865,  when  he  removed 
to  Webster  county,  and  continued  to  engage 
in  agricultural  pursuits  thn  lughout  his  active 
business  life.  After  the  death  of  his  wife, 
which  occurred  in  1872,  he  made  his  home 
with  our  subject,  and  died  in  Gowrie  in 
1891,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-one 
years. 

E.  W.  Sorber  was  only  six  years  old 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Iowa,  and 
he  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm  in 
Jackson  county.  His  school  privileges  were 
limited  and  the  greater  part  of  his  education 
was  acquired  under  his  mother's  teachings, 
she  being  a  well-educated  lady.  In  i860  he 
was  married  in  Jackson  county  to  Miss  M. 
J.  Bonham.  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  David  Bonham,  who  was  also  a  pio- 
neer of  Jackson  county. 

During  his  youth  Mr.  Sorber  served  a 
three  years  and  a  half  apprenticeship  to  the 
millwright's  trade,  which  he  followed  until 
the  Civil   war  broke  out.      Prompted  by  a 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


479 


spirit  of  patriotism,  he  enlisted  in  1861,  in 
Company  I.  Twelfth  [owa  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, from  which  he  was  discharged  in 
1862,  and  re-enlisted,  this  time  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  F,  Forty-fourth  Iowa 
Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  remained 
until  mustered  out  of  service  in  October, 
1864. 

The  following  year  Mr.  Surlier  came  to 
Webster  county  and  purchased  a  farm,  and 
in  connection  with  its  operation  he  engaged 
in  contracting  and  building,  and  was  also 
employed  on  public  works,  assisting  in  build- 
ing the  Fort  Dodge  school-house,  which  was 
later  destroyed  by  tire.  In  the  fall  of  1873 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Cowrie,  and  for 
some  time  thereafter  gave  his  entire  attention 
to  his  building  interests,  and  is  still  engaged 
in  contracting  to  some  extent.  He  has  erect- 
ed many  business  blocks  and  private  resi- 
dences, besides  the  school-house  here,  and 
has  materially  assisted  in  the  development 
and  improvement  of  the  town.  In  1883  he 
embarked  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking 
business,  which  he  still  carries  on  with  good 
success.  Since  its  organization  he  has  been 
a  stockholder  of  the  Gowrie  Savings  Bank, 
which  has  become  one  of  the  substantial 
moneyed  institutions  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Sbrber  has  been  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  bis  faithful  wife,  who  died 
in  1896,  leaving  three  children,  namely:  (1) 
Florence  Imogene  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Trip- 
lett,  of  Gowrie,  and  they  have  five  children, 
Earl,  Elsie,  Clare.  Frankie  and  Fannie.  (2) 
Inez  G.  is  the  wife  of  \Y.  E.  Bomberger,  a 
prominent  business  man  and  banker  of  Gow- 
rie, and  they  have  one  child,  Ethel.  (3) 
Nellie  E.  is  at  home  with  her  father. 

Although  reared  a  Democrat,  Mr.  Sor- 
ber  became  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  on  attaining  his  majority,  but  for  the 
past  few  years  has  been  identified  in  politics 


and  votes  for  the  men  whom  he  believes 
best  qualified  for  office  regardless  of  party 
lines.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  numerous 
conventions,  and  his  fellow  citizens,  recog- 
nizing his  worth  and  ability,  called  upon 
him  to  serve  as  mayor  of  Gowrie  for  several 
years.  He  also  filled  the  office  cf  township 
clerk  many  years,  and  his  official  duties  were 
always  most  capably  and  satisfactorily  per- 
formed. He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post  of  Gowrie,  of  which  he  is 
past  commander,  and  in  which  be  served  as 
adjutant  and  a  member  of  the  relief  com- 
mittee for  some  years.  He  also  belongs  to 
the  .Masonic  lodge  of  that  place,  and  the  Odd 
Fellows  lodge  and  encampment  of  Fort 
I)'  dge.  The  career  of  Mr.  Sorber  has  ever 
been  such  as  to  warrant  the  trust  and  con- 
fidence of  the  business  world,  for  be  has 
ever  conducted  all  transactions  on  the  strict- 
est principles  of  honor  and  integrity.  His 
devotion  to  the  public  good  is  unquestioned 
and  arises  from  a  sincere  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  his  fellow  men. 


J.  P.  HOLMSTROM. 

J.  P.  Holmstrom,  one  of  the  successful 
business  men  of  Dayton  township,  was  born 
in  Sweden  September  29,  1839,  and  is  a  son 
of  Johannes  and  Lizzie  ( Neils)  Johnson, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  that  country. 
They  married  in  their  native  land,  and  there 
died,  having  had  six  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  only  one  who  came  to  this 
country.  The  family  was  as  follows:  Carl 
J..  Clause  A..  Andrew.  Anne  Louisa,  J.  P. 
and  Helen,  all  residing  in  Sweden  except 
our  subject. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  his  native 
land  until  he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  and 
then    worked    upon   various    farms    by   the 


480 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


month  until  he  came  to  America,  in  1865, 
He  sailed  from  Malma,  Sweden,  and  landed 
in  New  York  city,  whence  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago.  There  he  remained  a  short  time,  and 
then  removed  to  Altoona,  Knox  county,  Illi- 
nois, settling-  in  the  township  on  the  border 
of  Henry  county,  where  lie  rented  land  and 
remained  there  Until  1870. 

On  March  11,  1868,  Mr.  Holmstrom 
married,  in  Galesburg,  Illinois.  Anna  Louise 
Lindquist,  a  native  of  Sweden,  who  was 
born  October  21,  [849,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Johannes  and  Catherine  Johnson,  both 
natives  of  that  country.  Mr.  Johnson  died 
in  his  native  land,  but  his  wife  came  to 
America  in  1866  and  settled  at  Andover, 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  she  died  at  the 
home  of  our  subject.  Mrs.  Holmstrom  was 
one  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  came  to 
America  except  one.  They  were  John,  who 
died  in  Sweden  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  John- 
.-011.  ;i  farmer  of  Clay  township.  Webster 
county.  Iowa;  Charles,  who  lived  for  a  time 
in  Henry  count}-,  Illinois,  but  now  resides  in 
Dayton  township,  Webster  county,  Iowa; 
August,  a  resident  of  Dayton,  Iowa;  Johan- 
nes, who  married  Lotta  Johnson  and  resides 
in  Henry  county,  Illinois;  Christina,  wife  of 
Charles  Donnelson,  of  Dayton.  Iowa;  Caro- 
lina, wife  of  Lawrens  Bjorkgrain,  of  Day- 
ton.  Iowa;  and  Mrs.  Holmstrom. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmstrom  nine  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  namely:  Peter  mar- 
ried Selma  Ecklind  and  now  resides  at  Cur- 
lew. Palo  Alto  county.  Iowa:  Hilma  died  in 
1869;  Malvina  died  in  1880:  Hilma  resides 
with  her  parents  and  is  a  school  teacher  in 
Clay  township;  Alfred  assists  his, father  on 
the  farm;  Sarah.  Mary,  Martin  and  Laffler 
are  all  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  farmed  in 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  for  three  years,  and 
then,  in  1870,  removed  to  Webster  county. 


Iowa,  where  he  rented  land  for  one  year  in 
Dayti  >n  township,  and  then  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  Lost  Grove  township,  on  section  17. 
In  1874  he  sold  that  farm  and  returned  to 
Dayton  township,  where  he  purchased  a 
quarter  section  on  section  17,  at  eleven  dol- 
lars and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  This 
land  was  all  raw  prairie  land,  but  he  im- 
proved it,  erected  good  farm  buildings  and 
an  excellent  residence,  when  his  neighbors 
were  living  in  cabins.  At  this  time  Gowrie 
was  not  yet  established,  railroads  had  just 
come  into  the  neighborhood,  and  all  the  trad- 
ing had  to  he  done  at  Boone  and  Fort  I  lodge. 
Later  he  sold  eighty  acres  of  his  quarter  sec- 
tion and  purchased  eighty  acres  on  section 
8,  which  was  also  rawr  prairie  land.  Ener- 
getically he  started  in  to  improve  it,  and 
again  erected  good  structures,  a  comfortable 
house  and  commodious  barn.  At  present  he 
owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  excel- 
lent farming  land,  all  well  improved,  on  sec- 
tion 27,  Clay  township,  Wrebster  county.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  raising  stock  for  the 
market,  and  his  product  always  meets  with 
ready  and  profitable  sale  on  account  of  their 
excellence. 

In  politics  Mr.  Holmstrom  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  a  great  many  years.  In 
religious  matters  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of 
Dayton,  Iowa,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee. 


GEORGE  R.  PEARSOXS. 

Great  credit  is  due  to  the  men  of  cour- 
ageous spirit,  of  determined  purpose,  of 
laudable  ambition  and  honorable  purpose 
who  have  the  courage  to  face  and  overcome 
the  difficulties  and  hardships  of  life  on  the 
western   frontier,   to-  establish  business  en- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


481 


terprises  and  carry  civilization  into  a  hither- 
to wild  region.  There  is  much  to  contend 
with  in  so  doing,  for  though  nature  is  bounti- 
ful in  her  gifts  they  are  •  nl\  bestowed  after 
earnest  labor,  and  it  is  the  man  who  has 
to  meet  the  natural  conditions  that  has  the 
hardest  part  to  perfi  rm  in  claiming  a  dis- 
trict for  the  uses  of  the  white  race.  Mr. 
Pearsons,  however,  came  to  northwestern 
Iowa  when  the  task  of  development  and 
progress  had  scarcely  been  begun  and  with 
strong  resolution  he  entered  upon  the  work 
of  winning  success  here.  With  keen  fore- 
sight  he  realized  that  the  future  was  bright 
with  promise  and  he  was  content  to  await 
tlie  coming  .if  the  harvest  of  his  labors. 
Since  t868  he  has  lived  in  Webster  county 
and  lias  conducted  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant real  estate  transfers  which  have  led 
to  the  settlement  and  improvement  of  this 
portion  of  the  state,  while  his  identification 
with  railroad  building  has  been  of  the  great- 
est possible  benefit  to  the  region. 

Air.  Pearsons  was  horn  in  Bradford, 
Orange  county,  Vermont,  August  7.  1830, 
and  comes  of  a  family  of  Scotch  lineage. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Hannah  (Put- 
nam) Pearsons,  the  latter  a  granddaughter 
of  General  Putnam,  the  distinguished  officer 
of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Both  parents 
were  natives  of  the  Green  Mountain  state 
and  at  death  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  cem- 
etery at  Bradford.  The  father  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven  years,  but  the  mother 
reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety-six. 

In  the  schools  of  his  native  town  ( iei  >rge 
R.  Pearsons  pursued  his  education  and  re- 
mained in  Bradford  until  twelve  years  of 
age.  His  youth  was  spent  upon  the  farm, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Vermont  Central  Railroad, 
in  the  capacity  of  station  and  fuel  agent  and 
train   master.      Thus   he  first   became  asso- 


ciated with  railroad  work.  In  1865  he  re- 
moved to  Chatsworth,  Livingston  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  three  vears- 
in  the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road. In  1868  he  came  to  Fort  Dodge  and 
has  since  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  laud 
with  the  exception  of  three  years  when  he 
gave  his  undivided  attention  to  the  building 
of  a  railroad  which  is  now"  a  part  of  the  Min- 
neapolis &  St.  Louis  Railroad  system.  Ik- 
was  one  of  seven  men  who  successfully  pro- 
jected and  executed  the  plan,  his  associates 
being  A.  McBane,  William  Grant,  George 
Bassett,  J.  M.  Mulroney,  I.  Garmoe  and  E. 
Prussia.  The  company  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  the  Fort  Dodge  &  Fort 
Ridgely  Railroad  Company,  with  W.  Brown 
as  the  first  president,  while  George  Bassett 
later  filled  the  office  and  the  others  were 
directors  of  the  company.  Its  treasurer  was 
1.  Garmoe  and  Mr.  Pearsons  became  super- 
intendent and  had  entire  charge  of  the  con- 
struction of  the  road,  which  was  operated  by 
the  company  until  1879,  when  it  was  sold 
to  the  Minneapolis  6c  St.  Louis  Railroad, 
Mr.  Pearsons  also  owned  an  interest  in  the 
Iowa  Pacific  grade  from  Fort  Dodge  to  Bel- 
mont. Wright  county,  and  kept  the  claim 
good  by  changing  titles  until  the  road  was 
sold  to  the  Great  Northern  in    1884. 

Luring  most  of  the  time  Air.  Pearsons 
continued  his  real  estate  business  and 
through  his  efforts  the  county  has  been 
largely  settled.  In  1884  he  began  draining 
two  great  swamps  containing  twenty-five 
hundred  acres  in  Humboldt  county,  known 
as  Owl  Lake — an  impassable  marsh.  At  a 
cos1  of  six  thousand  dollars  he  succeeded  in 
making  all  this  tillable  land,  digging  a  ditch 
nine  miles  long,  thirty  feet  wide  and  seven- 
teen feet  deep  in  the  largest  part  and  sixteen 
feet  wide  and  six  feet  deep  in  the  smallest 
part.     This  is  the  largest  ditch  ever  dug  by 


482 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


an  individual  in  Iowa.  Mr.  Pearsons  still 
owns  most  of  the  land  thus  drained,  con- 
stituting one  i  if  the  finest  farms  in  the  west. 
In  addition  to  this  he  owns  over  two  thou- 
sand acres  in  Humboldt  county  and  has  one 
fine  farm  adjoining  Fort  Dodge.  While 
with  the  Illinois  Central  he  sold  laud  to  the 
value  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand 
dollars  in  eight  days,  In  [869  he  drove 
from  Fort  Dodge  to  Sioux  City  when  there 
were  but  four  houses  between  the  two  points, 
these  being  at  Cherokee.  Twice  during 
these  stirring  times  was  Mr.  Pearsons  lost  in 
blizzards,  first  in  1873  when  only  a  mile 
from  his  home,  fie  was  in  a  snow  bank  for 
hours,  and  for  two  days  confined  in  the  ca- 
boose  of  a  coal  train,  until  help  came  to  his 
assistance.  His  other  experience  was  in 
Montana,  when,  together  with  the  stage 
driver,  he  was  lost  on  a  high  open  prairie 
and  had  a  narrow  escape  from  death.  He 
can  sit  for  hours  and  with  stories  of  frontier 
life  entertain  one.  so  vividly  can  he  recall 
the  incidents  of  those  times. 

Since  that  time  he  has  witnessed  a  great 
transfi  >rmati<  m  of  the  c<  unity,  as  the  land  has 
been  claimed  by  enterprising  farmers  and 
transformed  into  rich  farms,  dotted  here  • 
and  there  with  tine  homes,  schools  and 
churches,  while  in  their  midst  villages  and 
towns  have  sprung  up  and  extensive  com- 
mercial and  industrial  interests  have  been 
introduced.  From  1885  until  1888.  inclu- 
sive, Mr.  Pearsons  held  the  office  of  Indian 
inspector,  traveling  from  one  agency  to  an- 
other. During  that  time  he  visited  all  the 
Indian  reservations  in  the  United  States  ex- 
cept in  the  Indian  Territory,  thus  going 
among  the  wilder  tribes. 

While  still  in  Vermont  Mr.  Pearsons  w  as 
united  in  marriage  to  Aliss  Wealthie  Porter, 
a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  state,  who 
died  in  1880.     Their  children  were:     Tolm 


Ik,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Fort 
Dodge;  George  A.,  a  real  estate  dealer  at 
Los  Angeles,  California;  Daniel  K.,  who  is 
managing  the  extensive  farm  in  Humboldt 
county;  and  Louisa,  the  wife  of  Hon.  J.  P. 
Dolliver.  .Ml  were  horn  in  Vermont.  In 
[882  Mr.  Pearsons  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Lulu  P. 
Waldron,  of  Fort  Dodge. 

Aside  from  his  business  Air.  Pearsons 
has  contributed  in  large  measure  to  the  up- 
building and  improvement  of  northwestern 
Iowa,  and  has  given  hearty  co-operation  to 
all  the  various  movements  and  measures 
which  have  benefited  Fort  Dodge.  In  1873 
he  was  elected  and  served  as  mayor  of  the 
city,  and  in  1890  and  1891  be  was  again 
chi  'sen  ti  1  the  1  >ffice;  1  lis  administration  was 
practical,  progressive  and  business-like  and 
won  him  high  commendation.  For  many 
terms  he  has  served  on  the  school  board,  and 
the  cause  of  education  has  found  in  him  a 
warm  friend.  He  gave  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party  until  1882, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  independent. 
For  thirty-three  years  he  has  lived  in  this 
city,  and  his  life  is  as  an  open  book.  Those 
with  whom  he  has  so  long  been  associated 
entertain  for  him  the  highest  regard  and 
respect,  for  he  has  been  active  and  honorable 
in  business,  loyal  in  citizenship  and  reliable 
in  all  life's  relations. 


LOUIS  H.  HEITKAMP. 

One  of  the  prosperous  and  promising 
farmers  of  Burnside  township  is  Louis  H. 
Heitkamp,  who  is  a  native  son  of  Iowa,  born 
not  far  from  where  he  now  lives,  April  20, 
i860.  His  parents,  John  H.  and  Sophia 
(Brunchier)   Heitkamp,  were  born  in  Ger- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


483 


many,  but  married  in  America,  and  settled 
in  Webster  county,  [owa,  in  1858.  They 
were  successful  tillers  of  the  soil,  and  from 
an  original  purchase  of  eighty  acres  in- 
creased their  possessions  to  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acre-.  The  father  died  October 
7.  1895,  and  the  mother  May  21,  [900,  and 
both  are  buried  in  Dayton  cemetery.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  four 
daughters:  William  married  Louise  Brun- 
chier  and  lives  in  Boone  county,  Iowa; 
Louis  II.  is  the  next  of  the  family;  John 
married  Minnie  Walters  and  lives  in  Bay- 
ard. Iowa;  Henry  married  Anna  Linder- 
man  and  lives  in  Boone  county;  Minnie 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Linderman  and  lives 
on  section  28,  Burnside  township,  Webstei 
count}-;  and  Lena  is  the  wife  of  Louis 
Hoyer  and  lives  at  Fort  Dodge, 

Mr.  Heitkamp  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  attended  the  public  schools  during 
the  leisure  of  the  winter  months.  He  was 
married  July  2j,  1881,  to  Sophia  Mohn, 
whose  parents  emigrated  from  Germany. 
Her  mother  died  in  Iowa  in  1863.  The 
father  eventually  married  Mary  Fink,  and  is 
now  living  in  Ray  county,  Missouri.  Mrs. 
Heitkamp  has  four  brothers  and  three  sis- 
ters, namely:  Mrs.  Walter  Vance,  of  Colo- 
rado: Frank,  who  is  married  and  lives  in 
Missouri;  Fred,  who  is  also  married  and 
lives  in  Missouri;  Emma;  Albert;  and  Ed- 
ward. Eleven  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Airs.  Heitkamp.  as  follows ;  Carrie, 
born  May  8,  1882;  Martin,  October  15. 
1883;  Albert,  June  26,  1885:  Frank,  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1887:  Minnie,  April  8,  1889; 
Lillie,  April  19,  1891 ;  Tilla,  February  12, 
1892;  Hazel,  May  9,  1895  ;  Luella,  February 
12,  1897:  Florence,  December  2j.  1898;  and 
Ervin,  November  9,  1900. 

Upon  starting  out  in  the  world  for  him- 
self Mr.  Heitkamp  rented  a  farm  in  Burn- 


side  township  for  eight  years,  and  in  1889 
boughl  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
upon  which  he  now  lives.  At  that  time  the 
property  was  raw  prairie  land,  and  a  stranger 

to  pl«.w  or  implement  of  any  kind,  \< 
day  the  abundant  harvests  reward  an  un- 
ceasing toil  and  wise  management,  and  the 
land  which  was  originally  worth  twelve  dol- 
lars and  ;•.  half  an  acre  is  among  the  most 
desirable  in  the  township.  Mr.  Heitkamp 
bought  an  additional  eighty  acre-  in  1894 -on 
the  same  section,  and  engages  in  general 
farming  on  a  large  scale,  and  buys,  feeds 
and  ships  st< >ck.  lie  is  a  stanch  upholder  of 
Republican  institutions,  and  has  held  several 
0  fices  of  trust  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow 
townsmen.  He  is  a  man  of  broad  and  pro- 
gressive ideas,  and  practical  plans  for  the 
general  improvement  of  his  section,  and  ex- 
erts a  wide  influence  on  the  side  of  good 
government  and  high  citizenship. 


A.  C.  DOUGLASS. 

For  many  years  the  name  of  Douglass 
ha-  stood  for  prosperity  and  enterprise  in 
Burnside  township,  and  A.  C.  Douglass  is  a 
worthy  successor  to  his  -ire.  who  represented 
the  highest  agricultural  excellence  and  the 
most  admirable  citizenship  of  Webster  coun- 
ty. The  present  maintainer  of  family  tra- 
ditions and  industry  was  born  in  Noble 
county,  Indiana,  January  8,  1854,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  district  schools, 
and  was  prepared  for  future  activity  on  his 
father's  well-conducted  farm.  He  was  but 
two  years  of  age  when  the  family  fortunes 
were  shifted  to  Iowa,  and  he  early  evinced 
traits  of  character  which  insure  success 
wherever  he  might  in  the  future  reside. 

In  1879  Mr.  Douglass  departed  from 
the  surroundings  of  hi-  youth  and  embarked 


484 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


upon  the  uncertain  occupation  of  mining  in 
Leadville  and  -different  parts  of  Colorado, 
but  at  the  end  of  eight  months  decided  in 
favor  of  the  slower  but  surer  channels  of 
legitimate  business.  He  tried  his  hand  at 
railroading  near  Minneapolis,  Minnesota, 
for  one  summer,  and  then  returned  to  the 
home  farm,  where  he  remained  until  his  mar- 
riage, November  28,  1889,  with  Anna  Ten- 
nant,  who  was  born  near  Burnside  July  2, 
1869.  Mrs.  Douglass  is  one  in  a  family 
of  five  children,  one  son  and  four  daughters, 
the  others  being:  Maude  is  a  teacher  in  the 
city  schools  of  Jennings,  Louisiana;  Ger- 
trude is  also  engaged  in  educational  work 
and  is  living  at  home :  V.  B.  married  Ethel 
Green  and  resides  in  Griggsville,  Illinois: 
and  Nora  is  the  wife  of  O.  J.  Woodard 
and  lives  on  section  4.  Burnside  township, 
this  county.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglass:  Mabel  Gertrude, 
who  was  born  January  11,  1S91 ,  and  died 
December  22,  1897;  Vera  May.  born  May 
28,  1893  !  Bertie  Calvin,  born  June  26, 1895  ; 
Marion  Tennant,  born  December  17,  1897: 
and  Helen  Margaret,  born  May  28,  1899. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Douglass  settled 
on  a  farm  on  section  4.  Burnside  township, 
where  he  lived  until  the  spring  of  1901, 
when  be  removed  to  Ids  present  farm  of 
three  hundred  anil  twenty  acres  on  sections 
4  and  5,  the  same  township.  He  is  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  the  breeding  of  Short- 
horn cattle  and  draft  horses.  With  others 
be  is  part  owner  of  the  Norman  stallion 
Printemps.  Mr.  Douglass  leads  a  by  no 
means  self— centered  life,  but  has  interests 
which  extend  to  the  all-around  development 
of  his  township,  financially,  educationally 
and  socially,  fie  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Lehigh  and  in  the 
Burnside  Creamery. 


A  Republican  in  national  politics,  he  has 
held  several  important  offices  within  the  gift 
of  his  townsmen,  and  for  twelve  years  he 
has  been  treasurer  of  the  school  district. 
Fraternally  he  is  associated  with  the  Wood- 
men of  the  World.  Mr.  Douglass  is  a  be- 
liever in  the  best  possible  educational  facil- 
ities, and  not  only  makes  a  continuous  effort 
to  improve  the  system  of  his  township,  but 
is  giving  his  children  every  advantage  with- 
in his  power.  He  is  quite  a  musician,  and  a 
member  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Burnside  Brass  Band.  He  performs  with 
skill  upon  the  organ  and  violin,  and  has  ma- 
terially promoted  the  musical  taste  of  the 
community  in  which  he  dwells.  In  his 
younger  days  he  took  more  than  an  ordinary- 
interest  in  athletic  sports,  having  at  one 
time  made  a  record  of  a  standing  jump  of 
twelve  feet  eight  inches,  and  also  a  one-hun- 
dred yard  dash  in  about  ten  seconds.  Per- 
sonally Mr.  Douglass  is  popular  and  well 
known,  and  is  withal  an  optimistic,  genial 
and  thoroughly  entertaining  gentleman  in 
e\  ery  respect. 


DR.  GEORGE  D.  HART. 

There  is  probably  no  more  prominent  or 
highly  esteemed  citizen  in  his  section  of  the 
county  than  Dr.  George  D.  Hart,  of  Otho. 
A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in  Adams 
county,  July  26,  1835,  and  was  in  his  nine- 
teenth year  -when  the  family  removed  to 
Webster  county,  Iowa.  A  sketch  of  his 
father,  Norman  Hart,  is  given  in  connec- 
tion with  that  of  N.  H.  Hart  on  another 
page  of  this  volume. 

On  coming  to  this  county  the  Flart  fam- 
ilv  found  this  section  of  the  state  all  wild 
and  unimproved,  and  the  Doctor  assisted  in 


DR.  GEO.  D.  HART 


MRS.  GEORGE  D.  HART 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


4S9 


the  arduous  task  1  £  converting  the  raw- 
prairie  into  well-cultivated  fields,  lie  was 
married,  November  11,  1858,  to  Miss  Or- 
linda  S.  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  in 
1840,  a  daughter  of  Homer  and  Sarah 
(Minton)  Moore.  She  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  Iowa  in  1856,  and  in  the  summer  of 
the  following  year  taught  the  first  term  of 
school  in  Otho  township,  while  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1858  she  taught  the  first  term  in 
what  is  now  Elkhorn  township.  She  died 
on  the  28th  of  January,  1883,  leaving  two 
children:  (i)  Lillie  H.,  who  was  horn 
Septemher  1,  1859.  became  the  wife  of 
Fred  E.  Payne  and  died  on  the  eighteenth 
anniversary  of  her  marriage,  September  30, 
[898.  She  had  two  children,  Calla  H., 
horn  September  6,  188 1:  and  George  E., 
horn  May  id.  1S87.  (2)  Hoyt  X..  horn 
March  26,  1867,  who  is  now  engaged  in 
farming  in  Otho  township,  was  married 
February  10,  1887,  to  Carrie  M.  Plummer, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Harrison  Dolliver, 
horn  June   17.    1888. 

Dr.  Hart  was  again  married.  June  11. 
1885,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Pervilla  R.  Alsever,  who  was  horn  in 
Oswego  county.  Xew  York,  March  20, 
i^^J.  and  in  1866  came  t"  Webster  county, 
b  wa.  with  her  parents,  Abram  and  Ar- 
minda  (Fish)  Alsever.  She  had  one 
brother  and  two  sisters,  namely:  G  ra  1'... 
who  married  George  Buzzard  and  died  at 
Spokane  Palls.  Washington,  November  5, 
[889;  Milton  G.,  who  married  Edith  Good- 
year and  lives  in  Pocohontas,  Iowa;  and 
Blanche  M.,  who  has  been  a  teacher  in  pri- 
mary schools  for  thirteen  years,  and  is  now- 
employed  at  Fort  Dodge.  Mrs.  Hart  was 
also  a  successful  teacher  in  early  life  and 
followed  that  occupation    for  twelve  years. 

Unto  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  was  In  rn 
a   son,   Seth    Norman,   his   birth   occurring 


August  18,  [888.  On  the  12th  of  October, 
1895,  they  adopted  an  orphan  girl.  Albertina 
Anderson,  who  was  horn  March  29,  1880, 
and  was  married  January  1,  1901,  to  Henry 
W.  Wakeman,  a  farmer  of  Otho  township. 
They  also  have  an  adopted  son,  Dwight  M., 
a  son  of  J.  M.  Moore,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  this  county,  having  come  here  with 
his  father,  Homer  Moore,  in  1856.  Dwight 
was  born  December  16,  1876,  in  Steele 
City.  Nebraska,  and  was  only  a  week  old 
when  his  mother  died.  Her  remains  were 
brought  back  to  Otho  for  interment,  and 
the  child  was  adopted  by  Dr.  Hart  and  wife, 
the  latter  being  his  aunt.  His  father  was  a 
soldier  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  now 
lives  in  Kalo,  Iowa.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Spanish  war  DAvight  enlisted  in  May,  1898, 
in  Company  G  of  Fort  Dodge,  but  was 
later  transferred  to  Company  B,  Forty- 
ninth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  went  to 
Cuba,  where  he  served  under  General  Fitz- 
hugh  Lee  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
is  now  living  at  Nampa,  Idaho,  and  is  fol- 
lowing the  trade  of  mason.  The  Doctor 
has  ever  regarded  him  as  his  own  son. 

When  the  country  became  involved  in 
civil  war  Dr.  Hart  offered  his  services  to 
the  government  to  assist  in  putting  down 
the  rebellion.  He  enlisted  Augusl  i<>,  [862, 
in  Company  I,  Thirty-spcond  Iowa  Infantry, 
but  never  served  in  the  ranks.  When  the 
regiment  started  south  from  Dubuque  he 
was  left  in  charge  of  the  sick  at  Camp 
Franklin,  and  after  rejoining  his  command 
at  Xew  Madrid.  Missouri.  December  2.  fol- 
li  wing,  served  as  hospital  warden  during 
his  entire  term  of  enlistment  at  Jefferson 
I '.arracks.  Missouri,  where  he  had  charge 
1  if  a  ward    •  finally  dis- 

charged on  account  of  disability.  His  hos- 
pital experience  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
profession    of   medicine   and   on   his   return 


490 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  .me  he  pursued  a  course  of  study  in  the 
Homeopathic  school.  Since  then  he  has  en- 
gaged in  practice  with  marked  success. 
The  Doctor  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of 
eighty  acres  in  Otho  township  but  resides 
in  the  village  of  Otho,  where  he  has  a  beau- 
tiful home,  ami  devotes  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
Both  the  Doctor  and  Airs.  Hart  are  ac- 
tive members  of  the  Congregational  church, 
of  which  he  has  been  a  deacon  since  his 
father's  death  in  1880,  having  succeeded 
him  to  that  office.  His  political  support  is 
always  given  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  voted  for  the  three 
presidents  who  met  death  by  the  hands  of 
the  assassin.  He  was  a  charter  member  of 
Fort  Donelson  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Fort 
Dodge,  and  is  still  closely  associated  with 
his  army  comrades.  He  receives  and  merits 
the  high  regard  of  the  entire  community  in 
which  he  lives.  Those  who  know  him  best 
are  numbered  among  his  wannest  friends, 
and  no  citizen  in  Webster  county  is  more 
honored  or  respected. 


SYLVESTER  B.  RICHEY. 

Prominent  among  the  leading  citizens 
and  successful  agriculturists  of  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  is  Sylvester  B.  Richey,  a  large 
land  owner  and  successful  breeder  of  fine 
cattle  and  stock.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  June  22,  1848,  his  par- 
ents being  Gasper  T.  and  .Martha  (Rich- 
ards) Richey,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Pennsvlvania.  although  their  marriage  was 
celebrated  in  Ohio,  where  they  resided  for  a 
number  of  years.  There  Gasper  T.  Richey 
owned  a  tract  of  farming  land  and  a  water- 
power  grist  and  sawmill.  In  the  fall  of  1854 
he  removed  his  family  to  Webster  county. 


Iowa,  settling  in  Dayton  township,  where 
he  entered  fine  three-quarter  sections  and 
eighty  acres.  This  was  all  raw  prairie  land 
at  that  time,  but  his  industry  and  ability 
brought  it  to  a  fine  state  of  cultivation  and 
productiveness.  The  first  pioneer  home  was 
of  hewed  logs,  twenty  by  twenty-eight  feet 
in  dimensions,  two  stories  in  height,  and  so 
soundly  was  it  constructed  that  it  remains  of 
use  to-day,  on  section  28,  Dayton  town- 
ship. For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Richey 
was  county  supervisor,  and  also  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  and  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  His  political  faith  was  in  the 
Democratic  party,  and  he  was  long  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mrs. 
Richey  died  November  18.  1892,  and  his 
death  occurred  in  April,   1882. 

Their  children  numbered  twelve,  seven 
of  whom  still  survive,  these  being:  Marga- 
ret, who  is  the  wife  of  Cyrus  Burnett,  of 
Dayton;  Mary,  who  married  J.  R.  Lyons 
and  lives  in  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa;  Priscilla. 
who  married  L.  Emerson;  Etta,  who  mar- 
ried Abraham  Daughenbaugh.  of  Gowrie, 
Iowa:  Gasper  A.,  who  married  Hattie  Ly- 
ons and  resides  in  1  >ayti  m  ;  James,  who  mar- 
ried Louisa  Baker  and  resides  in  Pilot 
Mound.  Iowa:  and  Sylvester  B..  of  this 
sketch. 

Our  subject's  early  educational  advan- 
tages were  afforded  in  the  Richey  district 
school,  in  Dayton  township,  his  attendance 
being  during  the  winters,  while  his  summers 
were  occupied  with  duties  on  the  farm.  On 
March  27,  1870,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Angeline  Mahan,  who  was  born  in 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  September  25,  1848. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Edward  K.  and  Hul- 
dah  (Monro  Mahan,  the  former  of  whom 
was  a  native  of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  the 
latter  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married 
in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  and  lived  there  until 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


491 


in  the  spring-  of  1855.  At  that  time  Mr. 
Mahan  removed  his  family  to  Keokuk,  Iowa, 
where  they  remained  (hiring  the  summer,  in 
the  fall  locating  on  a  river  claim  in  Yell 
township,  Webster  county.  He  then  went 
back  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  five 
years,  and  then  returned  to  WebsteT  county, 
Iowa.  In  1871  Mr.  Mahan  went  to  Kansas. 
and  there  took  up  a  homestead  claim  and  im- 
proved it.  remaining  there  until  his  death. 
February  5.  1893.  His  wife  died  on  Febru- 
ary 13.  1893.  only  eight  days  intervening". 
Mrs.  Richey  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of 
.nine  children,  the  other  members  being: 
George,  who  married  Jane  Aver  and  lives  in 
Kansas:  Samantha.  who  died  at  the  age  of 
fifteen :  Hannah,  who  is  the  wife  of  Louis 
Barrett,  of  Basin,  Big  Horn  county,  Wyo- 
ming; Mathew,  who  married  Eliza  Scott, 
and  resides  in  Oklahoma;  John,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  Republic  county,  Kansas ; 
Van.  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Okla- 
homa: Allison,  who  is  married  and  resides 
in  Kansas;  and  Sally,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Xoel  Cooper,  of  Rqxiblic  county,  Kansas. 

The  children  burn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rich- 
ey are:  George  B..  born  June  14.  1871. 
married  Tina  Eslic  and  resides  on  a  farm  in 
Yell  township,  this  county,  their  four  chil- 
dren being  Lloyd.  Lizzie,  Lester  and  I'.essie. 
Harry  F..  born  October  29.  1875,  Roy  ('■.. 
born  February  22,  1879,  James  E..  born 
July  23.  1885.  and  Shelby  S..  born  October 
26,    1887.   are  all   at  home. 

In  the  spring  of  1875  Mr.  Richey  of  this 
sketch  moved  to  Yell  township,  where,  the 
fall  previous,  he  had  bought  a  quarter  section 


of  land  on  section 


This  was  only  par- 


tially improved,  but  in  1886. our  subject 
erected  a  most  comfortable  and  attractive 
country  house,  and  has  commodious  barns, 
grain  and  cattle  sheds  and  every  appurte- 
nance for  successful  modern  farming,  for  he 


is  one  of  the  progressive  agriculturists  who 
regard  farming  not  only  as  an  occupation 
but  a  great  business  requiring  study  and 
close  attention.  Mr.  Richey  is  one  of  the 
large  land  owners  in  this  county,  having  four 
hundred  acres  in  Veil  township,  two 
hundred  acres  on  sections  27  and  28,  Dayton 
township,  while  his  wife  is  the  fortunate 
holder  of  some  six  acres  of  valuable  resi- 
dence property  in  Dayton.  He  has  given 
special  attention  to  the  raising  of  thorough- 
bred red  polled  cattle  and  Poland  China 
hogs,  which  require  the  greater  part  of  his 
yield  of  corn. 

Mr.  Richey  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
public  and  educational  affairs,  and  has  served 
as  supervisor  and  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  life-long 
Democrat.  Mrs.  Richey,  the  estimable  wife 
of  our  subject,  is  a  descendant  in  the  mater- 
nal line  from  loyal  sol, Hers  in  the  war  of 
1812,  one  uncle  having  given  seven  vears  to 
his  country's  service  during  the  Indian  trou- 
bles, and  of  him  it  is  recorded  that  he  was 
pursued  seven  times  in  one  day  by  the  sav- 
ages. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richey  are  worthy 
and  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  are  most  highly  esteemed 
throughout  the  township  for  their  hospitality 
anil  many  excellent  traits  of  character. 


TAMES  SAYLES. 


Among  the  energetic  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  Webster  count)  who  have  met 
with  success  in  their  chosen  calling  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres  pleasantly  lo- 
c.ted  on  section  35,  Roland  township,  with- 
it'  two  miles  and  a  half  of  the  village  of 
( ;i  i\vrie. 


492 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


His  early  home  was  on  the  other  side 
oi"  the  Atlantic,  for  he  was  born  on  the  Isle 
01  Man,  January  17,  1847,  ,ns  parents  being- 
Robert  and  Catherine  (^  Moore)  Sayles,  who 
were  life-long  residents  of  that  country. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  however,  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  and  a  weaver  by  trade. 
His  last  days  were  spent  on  the  Isle  of  Man. 
Thomas  Moore,  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  there,  and,  being 
a  sailor,  lost  his  life  at  sea.  Robert  Sayles, 
who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died  on 
the  Isle  of  Man  in  1867,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  six  years  later.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children  who  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity, and  seven  of  the  number  still  sur- 
vive. 

In  the  land  of  his  birth  James  Sayles 
passed  ids  boyhood  and  youth  upon  a  farm, 
and  received  a  limited  education,  which  has 
been  greatly  supplemented  by  reading  in 
later  years.  In  1865,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  arriving 
in  New  York  on  the  night  President  Lin- 
coln was  assassinated — April  14.  He  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Brimfield,  Peoria  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  had  a  sister  living,  and 
there  worked  on  a  farm  by  the  month  for 
several  years. 

Later  Mr.  Sayles  went  to  Grundy  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  while  there  he  was  married, 
November  26,  1868,  to  Miss  Georgia  Anna 
S\  nits,  a  native  of  Somersetshire,  England, 
and  a  daughter  of  James  Symes,  who 
brought  his  family  to  America  and  settled 
in  Grundy  county  at  an  early  day.  There 
Mrs.  Sayles  was  principally  reared.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  eight  children, 
namely:  Cora  M..  at  home;  Belle,  wife  of 
William  Crouch,  of  Somers,  Iowa;  William, 
who  is  assisting  his  father  in  the  operation 
of  the  farm;  Agnes,  w^ife  of  Ed  Larson,  of 
Lohrville,  Iowa;  Florence,  a  teacher  in, the 


Webster  county  schools ;  and  May,  Lucile 
and  Georgia,  all  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Sayles  engaged 
in  farming  on  rented  land  in  Grundy  county, 
Illinois,  until  1877,  when  he  came  to-  Web- 
ster county,  Iowa,  and  spent  one  year  in 
Cowrie.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he  purchased 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Roland  township,  on 
which  he  located  the  following  spring.  He 
lias  since  built  an  addition  to  the  house 
standing  thereon,  and  has  made  many  use- 
ful and  valued  improvements  which  add 
greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  place.  He  has 
ai^o  bought  more  land  and  now  has  one 
hundred  acres,  which  is  under  cultivation, 
and  yields  to  the  owner  bountiful  harvests  in 
return  for  the  care  and  labor  bestowed  upon 
it.  Mr.  Sayles  raises  a  good  grade  of  stock, 
^and  usually  fattens  a  carload  oi  steers  for 
the  city  market  annually. 

In  politics  Mr.  Sayles  is  independent, 
his  first  presidential  vote  being  cast  for 
General  U.  S.  Grant,  the  Republican  candi- 
date. He  takes  great  interest  in  educational 
affairs  and  has  given  his  children  the  best 
possible  advantages  along  that  line,  and 
three  of  his  daughters  became  successful 
teachers.  He  was  reared  in  the  Episcopal 
faith,  to  which  he  still  adheres,  although 
not  a  member  of  any  church  organization. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  prominent  member  of 
Gowrie  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which 
he  is  now  senior  warden ;  and  also  belongs 
to  Gowrie  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  having  been 
initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  that  order 
while  a  resident  of  Illinois. 


ABNER  E.   PALMER/ 

The  name  Palmer,  it  is  supposed,  had  its 
origin  in  the  old  days  of  chivalry,  during 
epoch  of  the  crusades.  It  was  the  custom 
of  the  mailed  knights  who  went  upon  these 


A.  E.  PALMER 


MRS.  A.  E.  PALMER 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


497 


pilgrimages  to  bring  back  from  the  Holy 
Land  branches  of  palms,  signalling  the  ac- 
complishment of  their  mission,  and  they 
were  called  pam  bearers.  It  is  easily  under- 
stood how  successive  changes  werejjrought 
about  in  the  name  which  ther  were  called 
until,  shorn  of  the  ideally  poetic  and  fanci- 
ful, the  tin  :dern  form  of  1 'aimer  lias  been 
evolved.  These  richly-adorned  searchers 
for  the  Holy  Grail  were  held  in  veneration 
■1>v  their  descendants,  many  of  win  an  par- 
ticipated with  creditable  distinction  in  the 
events  which  led  up  to  English  supremacy. 
Such  is  the  remote  history  of  the  family. 
Later  records  tell  of  the  founding  of  the 
family  in  America.  The  Mayflower,  which 
bn  ught  the  pilgrims  to  the  shore  of  Xew 
England  in  nun,  was  followed  the  suc- 
ceeding year  by  the  ship  Fortune,  which 
also  brought  an  heroic  hand  of  men  to  aid 
in  laying  the  foundations  of  this  republic. 
Among  the  passengers  of  this  second  craft 
was  William  Palmer,  who  settled  in  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  in  1621,  and  in  1629  his 
brother,  Walter,  crossed  the  seas  from 
England  with  John  Endicott,  who  had 
charge  of  six  vessels  of  freedmen.  From 
the  family  of  Walter  rainier,  which  con- 
sisted of  twelve  children,  has  sprung  six 
thousand  Palmers,  the  record  of  whose 
lives  is  in  possession  of  Mrs.  A.  E.  Palmer. 
Walter  Palmer,  who  married  and  settled  in 
Stonington,  Connecticut,  was  the  direct  an- 
cestor of  our  subject. 

Abijah  Palmer,  the  grandfather  of  A. 
E.,  was  born  in  Fairfield  county,  Connecti- 
cut, in  1750,  and  in  1801  married  Clarinda 
Runnels,  with  whom  he  went  to  Ohio  in 
1811,  and  located  land  in  Fitchville.  Huron 
county.  His  property  had  a  two-fold 
value,  for  the  broad  expanse  of  six  hun- 
dred acres  represented  what  was  known  as 
the  Fireland  grant,  and  took  the  place  of 


property  destroyed  during  the  war  1  f  1812, 
and  was  presented  to  him  by  the  govern- 
ment. In  this  same  war  Abijah  Palmer 
served  with  courage  and  distinction.  He 
had  eleven  children,  and  of  these,  Hiram 
Palmer,  the  father  of  A.  E.,  was  born  in 
Fitchville,  Ohio,  in  1823.  Hiram  Palmer 
married,  July  21,  1X50,  with  Maria  Briggs, 
a  native  of  Coshocton,  Steuben  county, 
Xew  York,  born  \ugust  _>j,  [830.  The 
marriage  ceremony  was  performed  by 
Esquire  Pray,  and  the  young  couple  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Fitchville  township,  where 
their  serenity  was  somewhat  disturbed  by 
the  agitation  which  shook  the  country  over 
the  slavery  question.  Mr.  Palmer  came 
out  strong  for  the  anti-slavery  cause,  and 
was  active  in  promoting  the  liberty  of  run- 
away slaves.  Palmer  Station,  named  after 
him,  was  located  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Black  river,  and  this  pi  int  was  where 
the  salves  escaped  by  In  at  which  con- 
veyed them  to  safety  in  Canada.  Air. 
1 'aimer  voted  for  James  G.  Birnev  for 
president,  and  in  1X48  for  the  Free  Soil 
candidate,  and  in  1856  allied  his  fortunes 
with  the  Repubican  party.  After  that  he 
voted  for  every  Republican  president,  from 
John  C.  Fremont  to  William  McKinley. 
He  is  now  living  in  Clarksiicld,  Ohio,  where 
his  character  and  attainments  are  appre- 
ciated by  those  who  have  known  him  dur- 
ing his  useful  and  worthy  life.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church,  and 
a  supporter  of  all  worthy  enterprises  for  the 
good  of  his  neighborhood. 

The  following  children  were  born  to 
Hiram  Palmer  and  his  wife:  Allen,  horn 
May  28,  1851,  married  Henrietta  Baker, 
and  lives  in  Fairfield  township,  Huron 
county.  Ohio;  Aimer  I7,,  is  the  next  in  or- 
der of  birth;  Charles  I\.  born  April  f>, 
1X5(1.  lives  in  Clark-Yield,    Ohio;    Lenora., 


498 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


bom  April  20,  i860,  died  February  2,  1898, 
leaving  her  husband,  Casius  Draper,  and  a 
son,  Morris,  who  lives  in  Collinwood,  <  >hio; 
Carrie,  born  October  21,  1861,  married 
George  Ronk,  of  Brighton,  Ohio,  and  has 
one  son,  Carl,  and  an  adopted  son,  Paul ; 
Tama  Luella,  born  June  18,  1863,  died 
when  a  year  and  a  half  old;  Ellsworth,  born 
January  4.  1865,  lives  in  Clarksfield,  Ohio; 
and  DeAlton  E.,  horn  November  20,  1869, 
died  August  1 1,  1891. 

Abner  E.  Palmer,  second  oldest  of  the 
grandchildren  of  Abijah  Palmer,  was  born 
in  Huron  county,  Ohio.  August  I,  [853, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Fitchville.  When  eighteen  years 
old  he  started  out  to  make  an  independent 
living,  and  worked  by  the  month  until  he 
was  twenty-six  years  old,  his  wages  in- 
creasing from  seven  dollars  to  twenty- 
three  dollars  per  month.  On  October 
1.  [879,  lie  was  married  at  Fitchville, 
by  F.  P.  Hall,  to  Gertie  A.  Barnes, 
who  wa^  born  July  1,  i860,  in  Evans- 
ton,  Iowa  a  daughter  of  Samuel  King 
and  Eliza  (Jane)  Johnson  Barnes,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Jefferson 
count}-.  New  York,  October  6,  1823,  and 
the  latter  in  Gorham,  Ontario  county.  Xew 
York.  April  8,  1827.  '  The  Barnes  family 
is  of  English  ancestry,  and  one  Joseph 
Barnes  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1736. 
He  served  in  the  old  French  and  Indian 
war,  which  ended  in  the  capture  of  Quebec, 
and  the  death  of  Wolfe.  He  was  the  fa- 
ther of  Hartwell  Barnes,  who  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  born  in  1758.  and  served 
for  six  years,  six  months  and  thirteen  days 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  His  wife  was 
formerly  Hannah  Clark,  who  was  horn  in 
Connecticut,  and  was  a  niece  of  Oliver 
Wolcott,   one   of   the   signers    of    the    the 


Declaration  of  Independence.  There  were 
eleven  ichjildren  born  of  th|is  union,  and 
one  of  these  was  Samuel  Clark  Barnes,  the 
grandfather  »f  Mrs.  Palmer.  He  was  born 
in  Wetbersheld.  Connecticut,  April  5,  1796, 
and  was  married  December  16.  181 7.  in 
New  York,  to  Miranda  Nichols,  who  was 
born  in  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts, 
December  16,  1799.  Mr.  Barnes  died  in 
Wblccttville,  Indiana,  May  4,  1874.  and 
his  wife  passed  awav  January  7,  1852,  in 
the  >ame  town.  Their  children  were  borr 
in  Xew  York,  with  the  exception  of  the 
three  youngest,  who  were  born  in  Indiana. 
Samuel  King  Barnes  was  married  Oc- 
tober  1.  [848,  at  Fitchville.  Ohio,  by  F.  P. 
Hall,  and  settled  in  La  Grange  county.  In- 
diana, where  he  engaged  in  farming.  In 
December.  1853,  'ie  journeyed  to  Webster 
county.  Iowa.  The  following  June  after  a 
seven  weeks'  journey  with  ox  teams  he  ar- 
rived with  his  family  at  the  new  home. 
While  erecting  a  log  cabin  he  lived  m 
a  tent,  and  his  first  ground  breaking  was 
where  the  church  at  Evanstbn,  Iowa,  now 
stands.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  returned  to 
Huron  count)-.  Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  of  1867 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Fitchville  township, 
upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  at  the  residence  of  his  son-in-law, 
A.  E.  Palmer,  October  20,  1891.  He  held 
several  township  offices  in  Webster  coun- 
tv.  and  was  a  stanch  Republican,  and  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  Baptist  church.  His 
wife,  who  died  March  13.  1897.  was  the 
mother  of  four  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Palmer  is  the  youngest.  Of  the  other  chil- 
dren, William,  born  June  26,  1849,  died 
August  2,  185 1.  Laura,  born  September 
21,  1852.  married  by  Rev.  F.  P.  Hall  to 
J.  C.  Evans,  September  20.  1877,  and  re- 
moved  the   same   day   to   Evanston,    Iowa. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


499 


She  was  the  mother  of  three  children: 
Pearl,  who  was  born  July  22,  1878,  and 
died  in  infancy;  Edith,  born  Septembei  [6, 
1880;  and  Edna  E.,  hum  September  12, 
1882.  Airs.  Evans  died  in  [884,  and  March 
8,  [885,  her  sister.  Mary  E.,  who  was  born 
October  5.  1854.  and  was  the  first  white 
female  child  hum  in  Webster  county,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Air.  Evans  by  the 
same  past,  r  who  had  performed  the  pre- 
vious ceremony.  Of  this  union  there  is  one 
daughter,  Lottie,  born  September  22,  (888. 
To  Mr.  and  Airs.  Palmer  have  been  born 
four  children:  King  J!.,  who  was  born 
June  18,  1880.  and  died  September  14, 
[88l  ;  Alahle  F.,  born  May  29,  1881  :  Jes- 
se \\\,  born  September  30,  [883;  and 
Chester  R.,  born  April  29,  1885. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  1 'aimer  moved 
to  Hartland,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  three  years,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  that  time  settled  in  Fitchville  township, 
Huron  county,  where  he  remained  for  six 
years.  In  A  larch.  1889.  he  became 
identified  with  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and 
as  a  beginning  bought  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Washington  township  at  twenty-six  dol- 
lars per  acre.  The  following  June  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  at  thirteen  and  one-half 
dolars  an  acre,  and  the  next  September 
bought  another  eighty  acres  for  seventen 
and  one-half  dollars  an  acre.  He  is  at 
present  the  owner  of  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Washington  township,  and  has  an 
excellent  home,  commi  dious  barns  and  out- 
buildings, well  built  granaries  and  fences, 
and  all  modern  agricultural  implements, 
and  general  improvements.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
is  a  stanch  upholder  of  Republican  issues. 
Air.  Palmer  maintains  the  traditions  and 
excellencies  of  his  capable  ancestors,  and  in 
his  own  personality  unites  those  admirable 


characteristics  which  are  everywhere  re- 
garded as  the  fundamentals  i  f  desirable 
citizenship. 

— ♦—♦ — 

ANTON  BYER. 

Anton  Byer,  one  of  the  most  intelligent 

and  enterprising  agriculturists  of  Gowrie 
township,  is  the  owner  of  a  well  improved 
and  valuable  farm  of  four  hundred  and 
fort)  acres  on  sections  ,-  and  8,  and  his 
management  of  the  place  is  marked  by  the 
scientific  knowledge  and  skill  which  char- 
acterize the  modern    farmer. 

Air.  Byer  was  horn  on  the  30th  of  Oc- 
toher,  1856,  in  Denmark,  where  his  parents, 
Nicholas  and  Christina  (Hanson)  K\er, 
siient  their  entire  lives  as  farming  people. 
In  their  family  were  the  following  children  : 
Peter  came  to  the  new  world  about  [864, 
and  first  located  in  Illinois,  hut  is  now  liv- 
ing in  California,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
fruit  culture.  John  crossed  the  Atlantic  in 
[868  and  also  settled  in  Illinois.  In  1XS1 
he  came  to  Webster  county.  Iowa,  hut  is  now 
a  resilient  of  Calhoun  county,  this  state. 
James  and  Louis  came  to  America  in  (871 
and  settled  in  Illinois,  hut  are  now  living  in 
California,  where  they  are  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising. Anton  is  the  youngest  son. 
Lena  married  James  Behimer  and  lived  for 
a  time  in  Illinois,  hut  her  last  days  were 
spent  in  Crawford  county.  Missouri,  where 
she  died  111  [893.  Katherina  died  in  I 
mark  at   the  age  of  twelve  years. 

In  the  land  of  his  birth  Anton  Byer  spent 
the  first  sixteen  years  ,,f  lus  life,  and  his 
earl_\-  education  was  in  his  natne  tongue.  \n 
1872  lie  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and 
located  in  Grundy  county,  Illinois,  where  lie 
worked  on  a  farm  for  one  man  seven  years, 
in  the  meantime  attending  the  public  schools 


500 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  some  extent.  He  also  spent  nearly  two 
years  at  the  college  in  Valparaiso,  Indiana, 
and  later  was  a  student  at  the  .college  in  Mor- 
ris, Illinois.  His  education  completed,  Mr. 
Byer  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  both 
in  Illinois  and  Iowa,  being  thus  employed  for 
seven  winters  after  coming  to  Webster  coun- 
ty in  October,  1881.  His  first  purchase  of 
land  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  but  slightly  improved,  only  forty  acres 
being  broken.  For  four  or  five  vears  he  and 
his  brother  engaged  in  farming  together. 

Returning  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Byer  was  mar- 
ried at  Ottawa,  La  Salle  county.  February 
23,  1886,  to  Ali--  Alma  Eddy,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Kendall  coun- 
ty, that  state,  and  engaged  in  teaching  school 
prior  to  her  marriage.  Her  father,  Thomas 
F.  Eddy,  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  I  le  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Grundy  county,  Illinois,  where 
lie  made  his  home  until  after  the  death  of 
his  wife,  and  then  came  to  live  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Byer,  in  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  passed  away  March  17,  1895. 
He  had  but  two  children,  his  son  being  El- 
mer Eddy,  now-  a  resident  of  Denver,  Colo- 
rado. Mr.  and  Airs.  Byer  have  two  daugh- 
ters. Mabel  ami  Bertha,  who  are  both  at- 
tending the  home  school. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  brought 
bis  bride  to  the  home  he  had  prepared  for 
her  in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  has  since 
engaged  in  farming  with  marked  success, 
having  accumulated  some  valuable  property. 
His  farm  to-day  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  well  improved  with  good 
and  substantial  buildings,  which  stand  as 
monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise.  In 
connection  with  general  farming  he  carries 
on  stock  raising  quite  successfully,  and 
usually  fattens  from  two  to  four  carloads  of 
stock  for  market  annually.     In  all  his  un- 


dertakings he  has  met  with  the  success  that 
usually  follows  the  industrious  and  profes- 
sive  man.  On  coming  to  the  new  world  he 
was  without  capital,  but  he  has  steadily 
worked  his  way  upward  to  prosperity  until 
to-day  he  is  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  his  community. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  James  A.  Garfield  in  1880  Mr.  Byer  has 
supported  every  presidential  nominee  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  has  been  a  delegate 
to  several  c<  unity  conventions.  He  has 
served  eight  years  as  assessor  of  Gowrie 
township,  which  office  he  is  filling  at  the 
present  time,  and  was  also  treasurer  of  the 
scln  10I  district  for  twenty  years.  Air.  Byer 
is  one  of  the  directors  and  stockholders  of 
the  Gowrie  Savings  Bank  of  Gowrie.  Al- 
though not  members  of  any  religious  organ- 
ization he  and  his  wife  attend  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  and  Congregational  churches,  and 
are  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
km  iw  them. 


AIRS.  HATTIE  DANIELSON. 

Airs.  Hattie  Danielson,  widow  of  the  late 
August  A.  Danielson,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Webster  count)-  since  i860,  and  is  therefore 
numbered  among  its  pioneers.  She  was 
born  in  Sweden,  November  22,  1844,  arK' 
was  a  maiden  of  sixteen  summers  when  she 
came  to  the  new  world  with  her  parents,  G. 
F.  and  Lottie  (Vegrin)  Lyon.  The  voyage. 
which  was  a  pleasant  one.  was  made  on  the 
Kentucky,  a  sailing  vessel  commanded  by 
Captain  Narraman,  and  lasted  six  weeks  and 
three  days.  On  landing  in  Boston  the  fam- 
ily came  direct  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and 
the  father  took  up  a  government  claim  in 
Dayton  township,  consisting  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land.     Here 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


503 


the  mother  died  September  12,  1872,  and  was 

laid  to  rest  in  Linn  cemetery.  Boone  county, 
Iowa.  In  1879  the  father  married  Anna 
Gustafson,  also  a  native  of  Sweden,  and  by 
his  second  union  had  two  sons,  Fred  and 
Edwin,  who  still  reside  on  the  old  hi  imestead 
farm.  There  were  thirteen  children  by  the 
first  marriage,  but  only  four  are  now  living, 
namely:  Hattie,  our  subject ;  Anna,  wife  of 
J.  P.  Danielson  of  Gowrie;  Charles  J.,  who 
married  Louise  Johnson  and  lives  in  Curlew. 
Iowa;  and  August,  who  married  Freda 
Schwartz  and  resides  in  Tekamah.  Nebraska. 
The  father  of  these  children  died  September 
j  j.  [898. 

Mrs.  Danielson  of  this  review  attended 
both  Swedish  and  English  schools  and  is  a 
well-educated  lady.  She  was  first  married 
November  5,  1865,  in  Dayton  township,  this 
county,  to  J.  A.  Ritchie,  who  was  born  in 
Ohio,  June  9,  184^.  and  died  March  n, 
1873.  His  father,  G.  T.  Ritchie,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Dayton 
township  in  1882.  The  other  children  of 
his  family  were  Margaret,  who  married  Cy- 
rus Burnett  and  lives  in  Dayton  ;  Mary,  wife 
of  Reece  Lyon,  of  Fort  Dodge;  Priscilla, 
who  married  Levi  Emerson  and  both  died  in 
.Stratford.  Iowa;  Henrietta,  wife  of  Abe 
Daughnbaugh,  of  Des  Moines;  James,  who 
married  Louisa  Baker  and  makes  his  home 
at  Pilot  Mound.  Boone  count}-.  Iowa:  and 
Sylvester,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Yell 
township,  this  county. 

On  the  24th  of  June.  1878,  our  subject 
was  again  married,  her  second  union  being 
with  August  A.  Danielson,  of  Dayton,  who 
was  born  in  Andover,  Illinois.  June  19.  1832. 
His  parents.  Jonas  and  Christine  Danielson, 
were  natives  of  Sweden,  and  on  coming  to 
America  settled  in  Andover,  Illinois.  In  the 
spring  of    1 870  they  removed  to   Webster 


county,  Iowa,  and  located  in  Lost  Gro  1 
township,  where  the  father  died  in  1872. 
The  following  year  the  mother  married 
Audel  Strand  and  now  lives  in  Dayton.  Bv 
her  first  union  she  had  six  children:  C.  « '>.. 
who  married  Christine  Lindquist,  of  An- 
dover, Illinois,  and  resides  in  Dayton.  Iowa: 
Jonas,  who  married  Anna  Lyon  and  makes 
his  home  in  Gowrie;  Gust,  who  wedded 
Alary  Peterson  and  lives  in  Wheeler  county, 
Nebraska;  August  A.:  Joseph,  who  married 
Carrie  Peterson  and  resides  in  Idaho  Falls, 
Idaho;  and  Emma,  wife  of  Charles  Swan- 
son,  of  Dayton. 

The  children  horn  to  Mrs.  Danielson  by 
her  first  marriage  were  as  follows:  1  1  1 
Edward  F..  a  general  merchant  of  Si  mers, 
Lowa,  married  Anna  McQure  and  has  two 
children  living  and  two  deceased.  (  2  )  Levi 
G.,  a  farmer  of  Dell  Rapids.  South  Dakota, 
married  Cora  Carr,  and  has  two  children 
living  and  one  deceased.  (3)  Charles  V. 
also  a  farmer  of  Dell  Rapids,  married  Susie 
Howard  and  has  two  children.  {4)  Mary 
A.  is  the  wife  of  L.  A.  Sandquist,  of  1  )ayti  >n. 
and  has  four  children.  (5)  Mattie  Jane, 
horn  March  2- .  1873,  was  married  Novem- 
ber 11,  1891,  to  Frank  W.  Johnson,  of  Day- 
ton, who  died  September  17.  1895,  and  was 
buried  in  Dayton.  She  has  two  children: 
I  lazel,  bi  irn  July  1  2,  1892  ;  and  Harold,  In  >rn 
July  23,  [894.  Airs.  Danielson  has  four 
children  by  her  second  union:  Elmer,  Lin- 
da. Mabel  and  Maude. 

ATr.  Danielson  was  engaged  in  the  livery 
business  in  Dayton  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  August  28,  1892,  and 
his  remains  were  interred  in  Dayton  0 
tery.  lie  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party  and  its  principles,  and  was 
;.  faithful  and  consistent  member  of  the  Swe- 
dish  Lutheran  church,   to  which   his   family 


5°4 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


also  belong.     They  are  people  of  prominence 

in  the  community  where  they  reside,  and  are 

held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who  know 

them. 

■» «  » 

H.  F.  AXDERSOX. 

The   sterling  traits   inherited    from    in- 
dustrious  Norwegian  ancestors  have  aided 
Mr.  Anderson  in  his  efforts  to  bring  under 
the  highest    cultivation  the    tract  of    land 
which  he    owns  in   Washington    township, 
Webster    county.      His    parents,   Xels    and 
Margaret     (Thompson)     Anderson,     were 
born,  reared  and  married  in  Norway.     With 
a  hope  of  finding  greater  opportunities   in 
America  than  in  their  native  land  they  de- 
cided to  cross  the  ocean,  and  in   1857  em- 
barked on  a  sailing  vessel,  which  for  nine 
weeks   was   tossed   to  and   fro   in    perilous 
storms  and   heavy  seas.     After  landing  in 
Quebec,  Canada,  the)'  proceeded  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  LaSalle  county,  where  the  fa- 
ther followed  the  stonemason's  trade  at  Ot- 
tawa.     In    1864  he   removed   his   family   to 
Story    county.  Iowa,  where    he    continued 
work  at  his  trade.     From  there  he  came  to 
Webster  county  about  1869  and  at  first  set- 
tled on  river  land,  but  soon  moved  to  Wash- 
ington township  and  bought  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  and   sixty   acres.      His    last    years 
were  spent  in  Sioux  Falls,   South  Dakota, 
and  it  was  there  that  lbs  death  occurred  Sep- 
tember 14.  190 1.     In  Norway  he  had  been 
reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith  and  he  contin- 
ued an  adherent  of  that  church  after  coming 
to  America.    In  political  views  he  was  a  Re- 
publican.    Since  his  death  his  wife  has  con- 
tinued  to  make  her  home  in    Sioux  Falls. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  name- 
ly :      Carrie,   wife   of   Ole   Tjneragl    and   a 
resident  of  Hamilton  county,  Iowa;  Martha, 


who  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband, 
Louis  Anderson,  became  the  wife  of  Ole 
Peterson,  and  settled  in  Sioux  Falls,  South 
Dakota,  where  he  died  January  23,  1897; 
Andrew,  of  Sioux  Falls,  who  first  married 
Mattie  Hovia  and  after  her  death  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Bertha  Oleson;  H.  F.,  the 
subject  of  this  article;  and  Julia,  wife  of 
John  Ostlund,  of  Sioux  Falls,  South  Da- 
kota. 

While  his  parents  were  living  in  La 
Salle  county,  Mini  is.  H.  F.  Anderson  was 
born  September  9.  1861.  He  was  reared 
principally  in  Washington  township,  Webs- 
ter county,  Iowa,  where  he  still  resides,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  here. 
F;<  r  si  mie  years  he  assisted  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  home  farm,  and  then  purchased  the 
property,  which  comprised  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  12.  The  farm  has 
excellent  improvements,  including  an  at- 
tractive residence  and  commodious  barns. 
A  specialty  is  made  of  stock  raising,  which 
branch  of  agriculture  Mr.  Anderson  has 
found  to  lie  profitable.  Like  his  father,  he 
is  a  Republican  in.  politics  and  a  Lutheran 
in  religious  connections. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Anderson  took 
place  in  Newark  township.  Webster  coun- 
ty, December  10,  1888,  and  united  him  with 
Juruale  Serena  Munson,  who  was  horn  in 
Benton  county  Iowa,  June  18,  1869.  They 
are  tiie  parents  of  the  following  named  chil- 
dren :  Nora  M.,  horn  December  16.  1889; 
Mabel  M..  April. 28,  1890;  Henry  S.,  Oc- 
tober 25,  -1892;  Josie  I.,  January  29,  1894; 
Alfred  L.,  December  8,  1896;  Martin  E., 
February  9.  1898;  and  Elma  M.,  July  21, 
1 901.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Anderson,  Munse 
Munson,  was  born  and  reared  in  Norway, 
and  there  married  Martha  Hanson.  Ac- 
companied by  his  wife  he  came  to  America 
in   1868,  spending  seven  weeks  in  a  sailing 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


505 


vessel  on  the  ocean.  After  landing  in  New 
York  they  proceeded  to  Benton  county, 
Iowa,  where  lie  secured  w  rk  at  fifty  cents 
a  day.  Later  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  removal 
to  Webster  county  in  1874.  He  took  up  a 
homestead  claim  in  Colfax  township  and  for 
ten  years  devoted  himself  to  the  improving 
of  a  farm.  From  there  he  moved  to  Newark 
township  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  which  he  had  recently 
purchased.  During  1890  he  returned  to 
Norway  to  visit  his  relatives  and  old  asso- 
ciates, and  while  there  was  taken  ill  and 
died.  His  body  was  interred  amid  the  scenes 
familiar  to  him  in  his  boyhood.  His  wife 
is  still  living  in  Newark  township.  Both 
were  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith  and  con- 
tinued loyal  to  that  religion  through  lite. 
The  children  comprising  their  family  were 
named  as  follows:  John,  who  died  at  twen- 
t\  years;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Anderson;  Isabella, 
wife  of  Lars  Larson,  of  Clear  Lake,  Iowa; 
Mun.se,  who  died  in  early  manhood;  Mary, 
who  married  Osman  Peterson,  and  reside  in 
Hamilton  county,  Iowa;  Alice,  Mrs.  Holver 
Peterson,  who  resides  mi  the  home  farm; 
Hans,  who  died  at  three  years  of  age; 
Emma  and  Munse,  who  died  in  infancy. 


BENJAMIN   JONES. 

After  years  of  active  Labor  Benjamin 
Jones  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Fort 
Dodge,  Iowa,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest, 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  and  many  of 
the  luxuries  of  life.  He  was  born  in  Aber- 
garenny,  Monmouthshire,  South  Wales,  No- 
vember 10,  1837.  a  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Maria  (Richards)  Jones,  both  of  whom 
were  also  natives  of  that  country.     In  [855 


the  father  emigrated  to  America  and  located 
in  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  followed  his  trade,  that  of  a  mason,  for 
one  year.  In  1856  he  was  joined  by  his 
family  in  Tamaqua,  that  count),  and  in 
1857  removed  to  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  the  following  nine  years  were  passed. 
He  then  took  up  his  residence  in  Platteville. 
Grant  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  made 
his  In  me  for  four  years,  and  in  1870  came 
t  1  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa.  He  continued  to 
work  at  the  mason's  trade  until  a  few  years 
prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1890, 
when  he  was  eighty-three  years  of  age.  His 
wife  died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  In  the  family  of  this  worthy 
couple  were  three  children,  one  son  and  two 
daughters. 

Mr.  Jones,  of  this  review,  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  native  land  and  there 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he 
followed  after  the  removal  of  the  family 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Wisconsin,  in  connec- 
tion with  harness  making  at  Dodgeville, 
Iowa  county.  During  the  resilience  of  the 
family  in  Platteville,  Wisconsin,  from  1806 
to  1870,  he  was  engaged  in  the  meat  busi- 
ness at  that  place,  and  continued  to  follow 
that  pursuit  after  coming  to  Fort  Dodge  un- 
til [882.  He  also  dealt  extensively  in  live 
stock  during  the  entire  time  he  was  in  the 
meat  business  and  continued  in  that  line  of 
business  two  years  after  he  disposed  of  his 
meat  market,  hut  is  now  resting  from  his 
labors,  having  laid  aside  all  business  cares. 
He  has  acquired  considerable  real  estate,  in- 
cluding property  in  Fort  Hodge;  one  farm 
in  I  alhoun  o  unty,  Iowa,  and  three  in  Web- 
ster ci  iunty. 

At  Mineral  Point.  Iowa  county,  Wis- 
consin, Mr.  Jones  was  married  in  [869  to 
Mis.  Mary  E.  Martin,  and  to  them  were 
born  seven  children,  as  follows;     Francis; 


506 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Leah  M.;  Benjamin.  Jr.:  label  M.;  who 
died  November  15.  i8c;_\  aged  fifteen  years; 
Octavia;  William  H.  and  Anna.  Those  liv- 
ing  are  all  residents  of  Fort  Dodge.  The 
family  holds  membership  in  the  Episcopal 
church,  and  Mr.  Jones  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
His  success  in  life  has  been  the  result  of 
honest,  persistent  effort  in  the  line  of  hon- 
orable ind  manly  dealing,  and  through  his 
own  unaided  efforts  he  has  acquired  a  com- 
fortable competence.  He  has  also  gained 
the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  with 
with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact 
either  in  business  or  social  life. 


WILLIAM  H.  DUTCHER. 

Among  the  representative  men  of  Yell 
township,  Webster  county.  Iowa,  is  William 
H.  Dutcher.  who  was  bom  July  9,  1842,  in 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  a  son  of  Charles  and 
Nancy  (  Ratliff)  Dutcher.  both  natives  of 
Ohio,  where  they  were  married  and  where 
they  remained  for  twelve  years  thereafter, 
living  upon  a  farm.  They  then  removed  to 
Moniteau  county,  Missouri,  where  the  father 
purchased  six  hundred  acres  of  raw  prairie 
land.  This  he  broke  with  ox  teams  and 
spent  bis  life  in  cultivating  the  property,  liv- 
ing there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1885.  The  death  of  his  wife  took  place  in 
1870.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  namely : 
Reuben  married  Lucy  Harriman  and  resides 
in  Stewart,  Idaho;  John,  deceased,  married 
Camelia  Dunham,  who  now  resides  north  of 
Homer,  Iowa;  David,  deceased,  married  Ab- 
bie  Burnett,  who  lives  in  Oregon;  William 
H.,  our  subject,  is  the  next  of  the  family  ; 
Teramiah  married  Margarette  Jessup  and  re- 


sided in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  until  their 
deaths ;  Charles  married  Eliza  Jane  Steeley 
and  makes  bis  home  in  Moniteau  county, 
Missouri ;  and  Robert  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years.  The  Dutcher  family  is  of  Eng- 
lish extraction  and  its  founder  in  this  coun- 
try settled  in  New  York.  Various  mem- 
bers of  it  became  prominent,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject  being  a  well-known  Methodist 
minister. 

William  H.  Dutcher  attended  school  at 
the  Pilot  Grove  church  school  in  Moniteau 
county,  Missouri;  at  Hopewell,  Missouri; 
and  also  at  Sand  Hill  in  the  same  vicinity. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  left  schc*  >\  and 
as  bis  opportunities  in  that  direction  were 
poor  his  education  was  necessarilv  limited. 
The  schools  were  conducted  on  the  subscrip- 
tion plan  and  held  only  in  winter,  the  pupils 
working  on  the  various  farms  in  summer. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty- 
one,  assisting  his  father  upon  the  farm. 

On  June  15,  1862,  Mr.  Dutcher  enlisted 
in  Company  B,  Forty-third  Missouri  State 
Guards,  encamped  at  the  state  capital.  He 
did  guard  and  scout  duty  and  remained  in 
the  service  until  December,  1804,  when  the 
regiment  was  disbanded.  In  the  spring  of 
1805  be  came  to  Iowa  and  located  in  \\  ebs- 
ter  township,  Webster  county,  where  he 
worked  at  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  farmed 
a  little.  Marrying  that  year,  be  removed  to 
Homer,  where  he  engaged  in  carpenter  w<  >rk 
remaining  in  that  locality  three  years.  He 
then  came  to  Yell  township  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  on  section  22.  which  was  only 
partially  cultivated,  and  he  has  since  added 
to  his  property  until  he  now  owns  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  acres,  the  greater  part  of 
which  he  has  turned  over  to  his  sons,  as  be 
is  now  living  a  retired  life.  When  he  was 
actively  engaged  in  farming  lie  raised  a 
great  deal  of  stock  for  the  market,  making 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


507 


a    specialty   of  hogs,   and   also  raised   suf- 
ficient grain  to  feed  his  stock. 

On  December  u.  [865,  Mr.  Dutcherwas 
married,  at  Webster  City,  Iowa,  to  Sarah 
W.  Pierce,  who  was  born  in  Missouri  Jan- 
uary 1,  1X41 1,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Permelia  (  Eslick  Alcorn)  Pierce,  natives  of 
Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  respectively.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pierce  were  married  in  Missouri 
and  lived  there  until  1851,  the  father  being 
engaged  in  farming.  In  1851  the  family 
removed  to  Iowa,  settling  in  Webster  town- 
ship, Webster  county,  where  Mr.  Pierce  pur- 
chased seven  hundred  acres  of  wild  land. 
There  was  a  log  cabin  on  this  land,  into 
which  he  moved  his  family.  He  was  a  most 
successful  man,  possessed  great  intellect  and 
was  the  first  judge  of  Webster  county.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  always  took 
a  deep  interest  in  all  that  pertained  to  the 
advancement  of  the  community  in  which  he 
lived.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  during  his  latter  days  became 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
His  death  occurred  on  June  20.  1870,  and 
his  remains  were  interred  in  the  Vigo  cem- 
etery in  Webster  township.  The  Pierce 
family  is  of  English  extraction  and  was 
founded  in  America  by  two  brothers,  one  of 
whom  changed  the  spelling  of  the  name  to 
Pearce,  while  the  other  retained  the  original 
f<  nn,  and  it  is  to  the  latter  branch  of  the 
family  that  Mrs.  Dutcher  belongs.  They 
were  members  of  the  William  Perm  colony 
of  Quakers  that  settled  in  Philadelphia. 
The  family  has  been  well  represented  in  all 
the  wars  of  this  country;  Mrs.  Dutcher's 
great-great-uncles,  <  ie<  rge  and  James 
Pierce,  having  taken  part  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war  while  her  father  participated  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war  and  afterward  received  a 
land  warrant  for  his  services.     Her  grand- 


father, Thomas  Goldsbury  Pierce,  bad  a 
family  of  eight  children. 

Airs.  Dutcher's  mother  now  resides  with 
a  son,  R.  (i.  Pierce,  in  Homer.  Iowa.  By 
her  first  marriage  she  bad  two  children: 
Polly,  who  died  in  childhood;  and  Robert, 
who  married  Charity  1 1  ice  and  now  lives  in 
Oklahoma.  He  served  through  the  (nil 
war  as  a  member  of  Company  D,  Sixteenth 
Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  held  the  rank 
of  first  lieutenant.  By  her  second  union 
Mrs.  Pierce  bad  nine  children,  namely: 
Frank  M.,  who  enlisted  in  Company  K, 
Sixth  Iowa  Cavalry  and  died  in  the  service: 
Thomas  ( ',.,  who  enlisted  in  Company  D. 
Sixteenth  Iowa  Infantry  and  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Atlanta.  Georgia;  Samuel, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Sarah  W.,  the  wife  of 
our  subject;  Levina,  who  married  Matthew 
Landreth  and  resides  in  Baker  City,  <  )re- 
gon ;  Alexander,  who  married  Airs.  Mary 
(Dingman)  Hetzel  and  resides  at  Homer. 
Iowa;  Martha  Jane,  who  died  when  one  year 
of  age;  John  W.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years  ;  R.  ( !.,  who  married  Mary  Dutch- 
er and  later  Maud  Fisher,  and  now  lives  at 
I  [1  mer,  b  >wa. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dutcher,  namely :  (  1  )  Thomas  S., 
born  September  6,  [866,  married  Stella  Ew- 
ing  and  resides  in  Yell  township.  They  have 
four  children :  Ralph.  Forest.  Lester  and 
Ernest.  (2)  Reuben  W.,  born  September 
11,  18(18.  married  Minnie  Bankston  and  re- 
sales in  Yell  township.  The}-  have  six  chil- 
dren :  John  W..  Floyd,  Lillie.  Roy.  Frank 
M.  and  Pierce  A.  (3)  Richard  J.,  born 
April  9,  1871.  married  Hannah  Odell  and 
resid.es  in  Yell  ti  unship.  They  have  three 
children:  ('baric-.  Thressa  and  William. 
14)  Nancy,  born  February  15.  1S74.  mar- 
ried  Sidney  Culver,  of  Lehigh,  Iowa,  and 


508 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


they  have  two  children:  Florence  and  Syl- 
vester. (5)  Robert,  born  November  25, 
1877,  married  Sarah  J.  Carpenter  and  lives 
in  Yell  township.  (6)  Sadie,  born  Febru- 
ary 14,  1884,  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 
(7)  One  child  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Dutcher  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  been  honored  by  election  to  many 
of  the  township  offices,  always  giving  entire 
satisfaction  in  every  position  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  fill.  He  is  highly  esteemed 
in  the  neighborhood  where  he  and  his  fam- 
ily are  so  well-known  ami  his  life  of  hard 
work  is  now  crowned  by  years  of  ease  in 
which  to  enjoy  the  comforts  secured  by 
former  toil. 


THOMAS   PETERSON. 

It  is  doubtful  if  any  man  in  Webster 
county  is  deserving  of  greater  credit  for  the 
success  which  he  has  made  of  life  than  is 
'I  hi  imas  Peterson,  one  of  the  prosperous  and 
well-known  farmers  of  section  9,  Burnside 
township.  A  self-made  man  from  all  stand- 
points, lie  was  born  in  Sweden,  January  8, 
1845,  a  son  "f  Peter  Olson  and  Chastie 
Swanson,  who  were  born  and  passed  their 
entire  lives  in  that  country,  where  the 
mother  died  in  1886  and  the  father  in  1847. 
The  latter  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
bought  and  sold  grain,  tar,  barrels,  pork 
and  other  commodities. 

When  but  two  years  old  Thomas  Peter- 
son lost  his  father  by  death,  but  he  remained 
on  the  home  place  with  bis  mother  until 
about  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  went 
ti  work  in  his  brother's  flouring  mill  and 
remained  there  until  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  Sweden,  and  early  evinced  habits  of 
thrift    and    industry.      After    leaving    the 


flouring  mill  he  had  charge  of  his  mother's 
farm  for  about  two  years,  and  emigrated 
to  America  in  1809.  In  the  heme  family 
were  the  following  children :  Pete,  whose 
wife  is  deceased  and  who  lives  in  Minne- 
sota; Swan,  who  married  Elizabeth  Peter- 
,-'ii  and  lives  in  Minnesota;  Olof,  who  is 
married  and  lives  in  Sweden ;  Peter,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twertty-itwo  years  in 
America;  Betsy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Olof 
Swenson  and  lives  in  Sweden ;  and  Siesi- 
elga,  who  married  Xels  Williams  and  lives 
in  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

After  arriving  in  America  Mr.  Peter- 
sen went  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  where  he 
worked  at  unloading  railroad  ties  from  cars, 
and  was  glad  to  get  anything  to  do,  for  his 
available  assets  upon  reaching  New  York 
consisted  of  two  dollars  in  money  and  a 
large  fund  of  energy.  About  a  year  after 
coming  to  the  United  States  he  left  Gales- 
burg and  took  a  steamboat  at  Quincy  for 
Memphis.  Tennessee,  where  he  worked  on 
the  surrounding  plantations.  During  this 
experience  he  lived  with  two  others  in  a 
negro  hut  and  did  his  own  cooking,  the  only 
light  he  had  coming  through  the  door,  for 
there  were  no  windows  in  the  cabin.  After 
three  months  of  hard  labor  the  heavy  rains 
descended  and  ruined  the  crops,  and  all  that 
he  received  as  compensation  for  services 
rendered  was  fifteen  dollars. 

Mr.  Peterson  then  came  north  to  St. 
Louis  and  worked  on  the  railroad  for  a 
week,  but  owing  to  a  severe  illness  decided 
to  return  to  Galesburg,  Illinois,  wdiere  he 
v  as  ill  lor  three  months.  At  Moline,  Illi- 
nois, he  afterward  found  work  on  the  rail- 
road for  a  month,  but  cold  weather  setting 
io  soon  put  an  end  to  this  source  of  revenue. 
With  but  twenty  dollars  in  his  pocket  he 
hardly  saw  how  he  could  face  a  cold  winter, 
so  he  again  went  south  to  Memphis,  and 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


509 


on  the  way  the  boat  was  caught  in  a  sand 
bank  and  delayed  two  clays.  After  the  cap- 
tain had  taken  the  passengers  ashore  Mr. 
Peterson  walked  fifteen  miles  and  took  a 
tram  for  twenty  miles,  finally  .reaching 
Memphis.  On  boarding  the  boat  again  he 
was  completely  out  of  money  and  for  the 
first  and  last  time  in  his  life  was  obliged  to 
ask  for  a  meal.  He  received  some  assist- 
ance from  fellow  Masons,  however,  and 
upon  arriving  in  the  city  managed  to  secure 
employment  at  two  dollars  a  day.  Having 
tc  work  a  great  deal  in  the  cold  water  while 
making  trestles  his  companions  were  obliged 
to  abandon  the  work,  but  he  kept  at  it  until 
the  job  was  finished  and  received  for  his 
persistance    six    dollars   a    day.      After   this 

he  went  down  the  river  and.  into  the  w Is 

thirty  miles  from  any  habitation,  where  he 
made  a  big  raft  of  logs,  but  when  they 
were  all  piled  up  ready  to  float  down  the 
river  the  treasured  possession  of  weeks  of 
toil  took  tire  and  burned.  This  loss  was 
most  discouraging,  but  with  a  companion 
Mr.  Peterson  started  out  with  an  ax  and 
sought  a  job  at  building,  and  before  long 
found  a  man  who  wanted  a  house  put  up 
from  timber  yet  to  be  cut  and  prepared,  for 
which  undertaking  he  was  to  receive  one 
hundred  and  seventy  dollars.  The  day  be- 
fore the  house  was  finished  the  landlord 
said  he  was  going  to  Little  Rock  to  draw 
the  money  for  payment,  but  the  workers 
never  saw  his  face  again.  His  wife  made 
the  matter  right  to  the  best  of  her  ability, 
and  gave  Mr.  Peterson  a  pony,  saddle  ami 
bridle,  and  to  his  companion  a  watch,  re- 
volver and  a  few  dollars. 

Mr.  Peterson  then  went  to  work  on  a 
hay  press  in  the  neighborhood,  hoping-  that 
the  man  would  materialize,  but  bis  plans 
were  well  laid  and  all  were  out  of  their  just 
deserts.     After  working  on  the  hay  press 


for  ten  days  he  contracted  fewer  and  ague, 
and  so  took  passage  on  a  steamboat  for  the 
north,  but  was  so  ill  that  he  did  not  care 
whether  he  went  to  the  bottom  or  not.  Ar- 
riving in  Illinois  he  was  ill  for  three  months, 
after  which  he  went  to  work  at  husking 
corn,  and  during  the  winter  husked  five 
thousand  bushels.  He  then  rented  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Illinois  with 
his  brother,  Swan,  and  farmed  for  two 
years,  but  did  not  raise  enough  the  first  year 
to  pay  the  rent  of  the  farm.  The  second 
year  they  ditched,  hauled  corn  and  engaged 
in  divers  occupations,  and  were  therefore 
aide  to  meet  their  expenses,  but  had  nothing 
left  over. 

In  March,  1872,  Mr.  Peterson  went  to 
I'd'  t  Mound,  Boone  county,  Iowa,  and 
bioke  prairie  for  a  year,  after  which  he 
rented  land  for  a  year,  and  the  following 
year  again  broke  prairie.  After  purchasing 
forty  acres  of  land  with  the  proceeds  of 
this  lab  >r,  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Boone 
county,  and  the  next  year  bought  another 
forty  acres,  this  being  followed  two  years 
later  by  the  purchase  of  eighty  acres,  and 
three  years  later  added  eighty  acres  more. 
In.  1880  he  sold  a  quarter  section  of  land 
for  twenty-eight  dollars  per  acre,  and 
1  ought  the  two  hundred  acres  in  Burnside 
township,  Webster  county,  upon  which  he 
now  lives,  and  which  is  all  in  one  body. 
At  a  later  day  he  sold  the  balance  of  the 
J  !i  11  me  county  land. 

On  December  24,  1870.  Mr.  Peterson 
married  .Miss  Louise  Johnson,  who  was 
born  in  Sweden,  and  whose  parents  never 
left  their  native  land.  In  her  father's  fam- 
ily, besides  herself,  were  two  brothers  and 
one  sister,  namely:  Charley,  a  resident  of 
Minnesota;  Oscar,  a  farmer  of  Pilot 
Mound  t<  wniship,  Boone  county,  Iowa:  and 
Augusta,  deceased   wife  of  John    \Y.   War- 


5io 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ner.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  have  seven 
children:  Florence,  now  the  wife  of  Olof 
Peterson,  who  lives  near  her  father's  farm ; 
Minnie,  Mildred,  Alice.  Edna,  Vina  and 
Constance,  all  at  home. 

Much  of  his  success  in  life  Mr.  Peter- 
son attributes  to  the  influence  of  a  good 
and  noble  wife,  who  willingly  shared  his 
reverses  and  added  cheer  to  discourage- 
ment. From  an  association  which  was  at 
hist  characterized  by  the  greatest  frugality, 
they  have  advanced  to  a  position  where  they 
have  all  that  they  want  in  the  world,  be- 
sides the  esteem  of  the  whole  community. 
Mr.  Peterson  rents  out  a  portion  of  his 
farm,  but  still  lives  on  it.  He  is  interested 
in  the  First  National  Bank  at  Lehigh,  and 
derives  a  considerable  income  from  the 
breeding  and  sale  of  hue  stock.  A  Re- 
publican in  national  politics,  he  has  never 
been  an  office  seeker,  and  is  liberal  to  the 
extent  of  invariably  voting  for  the  best 
man.  With  his  wife  and  children  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran church. 


OLIVER  WOOD. 


Oliver  Wood,  the  well-known  postmaster 
of  Tara  and  also  the  proprietor  of  the  Em- 
pire Hotel  of  that  place,  is  an  important  fac- 
tor in  business  circles,  and  is  thoroughly  in- 
terested in  whatever  tends  ti  i  promote  the 
welfare  of  his  t<>wn  or  c<  unity.  He  was  born 
May  i,  1844,  in  Oneida  county,  Xew  York, 
which  was  also  the  birthplace  of  his  parents, 
Zepheniah  and  Betsey  (Manchester)  Wood, 
their  ancestors  being  among  the  1 'blest  fam- 
ilies of  the  county.  There  the  paternal 
grandfather,  Zepheniah  Wood,  Sr.,  followed 
farming'  throughout  his  life  and  lived  to  a 


good  old  age.  His  maternal  grandfather, 
George  Manchester,  was  one  of  the  prom- 
inent men  of  the  county  and  served  as  justice 
of'  the  peace  for  some  years.  He  was  also 
well  advanced  in  years  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  life- 
long resident  of  his  native  county,  and  was 
widely  and  favorably  known  as  an  upright 
honorable  man.  By  occupation  he  was  a 
farmer.  In  his  family  were  eight  children 
who  reached  man  and  womanhood,  and  five 
are  still  living,  namely:  George,  Stephen, 
Oliver,  Sarah  and  Amos. 

In  the  county    of    his    nativity,  Oliver 

Wood  grew  to  manh 1.  and  was  educated 

in  its  public  school>  and  the  Rome  Academy. 
He  also  worked  in  a  Rochester.  Xew  York, 
printing  house  for  one  year.  Coming  to 
Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  1865,  he  secured  a 
position  with  the  Northwestern  Stage  Com- 
pany, and  was  with  them  until  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  was  built.  He  started  in 
the  capacity  of  second  barn  boss  and  from 
that  position  he  worked  his  way  up  until  at 
the  time  of  his  resignation  he  was  route 
agent  fur  the  company  at  Fort  Dodge.  For 
;.  short  time  he  was  with  the  same  company 
in  Arkansas,  and  on  his  return  to  Webster 
county  leased  and  operated  a  coal  mine  near 
(  )tho  for  two  years.  He  then  turned  his  at- 
tention tn  farming,  having  purchased  land 
in  Johnson  township,  and  engaged  in  its  cul- 
tivation and  improvement  until  his  removal 
to  Tara  in  June,  1882.  His  house  was  the 
first  one  built  in  the  village,  and  during  his 
residence  here  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
grain  and  grocer}-  business,  while  at  present 
he  is  also  conducting  the  Empire  Hotel  and 
serving  as  postmaster.  He  erected  and 
owns  the  only  brick  block  in  Tara  and  in  ad- 
dition own-  considerable  real  estate,  includ- 
ing his  own  residence,  a  liven*  stable  and  one 
tenement  house. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


5i3 


As  a  companion  on  life's  journey  Mr. 
Wood  ch«  >se  Miss  Mary  J.  Mellor.  a  native  of 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  they 
were  united  in  marriage  January  1,  1873. 
The  children  born  to  them  were  Mary  E., 
Newton  A. ;  Xellie  B. ;  Ralph  M. ;  Oliver  C. , 
deceased  ;  Walter  A. :  Sarah  B. ;  John  F.  D. ; 
and  Mabel  E.,  deceased. 

The  Republican  party  finds  in  Mr.  Wood 
a  stanch  supporter  of  its  principles,  and  he 
lias  most  creditably  filled  the  offices  of  school 
director,  road  supervisor  and  justice  of  the 
peace,  besides  serving  as  postmaster  of  Tara 
since  President  Cleveland's  first  administra- 
tion. He  is  one  of  the  charter  members  and 
treasurer  of  the  Brotherhood  of  American 
Ye  imanrv.  No.  232.  He  is  a  man  of  excel- 
lent business  and  executive  ability,  whose 
sound  judgment,  unflagging  enterprise  and 
capable  management  have  brought  him  a 
well-merited  success.  In  manner  he  is  pleas- 
ant and  cordial,  which,  combined  with  his 
sterling  worth,  makes  him  one  of  the  popular 
citizens  of  his  community. 


S.  W.  HERRINGTON. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  and  substan- 
tial citizens  of  Yell  township,  Webster  coun- 
ty, is  S.  W.  Herrington,  who  is  a  native  of 
Iowa,  born  in  Tama,  on  the  7th  of  June, 
1856.  His  father,  John  Herrington,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  and  was  there  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (  Rickord)  Hall, 
also  a  native  of  that  state.  About  1855  they 
removed  to  Tama,  Iowa,  where  he  embarked 
in  the  sawmill  business,  prospering  greatly 
in  that  undertaking  he  became  the  owner  of 
a  half  section  of  land  in  this  locality  in  addi- 
tion to  other  large  tracts.  He  is  now  a  resi- 
lient of  Boone,  Iowa,  where  he  is  living  a  life 


of  comfortable  retirement.  In  his  political 
sympathies  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  al- 
ways supported  the  Methodist  church.  His 
wife  passed  away  June  7,  1884,  and  was 
buried  in  Otho  township,  Webster  county. 
She  was  the  devoted  mother  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  were  by  a  former  mar- 
riage, these  being  R.  Jane,  deceased  wife  of 
William  Lepley,  of  Hardin  county,  Iowa; 
and  Elizabeth,  deceased  wife  of  White 
Barnes,  of  Cody,  Nebraska.  The  children 
of  the  second  marriage  were  as  follows: 
Angeline,  wife  id"  Wilson  Stump,  of  Tama, 
Iowa;  Lucinda,  wife  of  John  Guthrie,  whose 
farm  adjoins  that  of  our  subject;  S.  W.,  of 
this  review;  A.  L.,  who  first  married  Aman- 
da Brooks  and  second  Nettie  Melenger,  and 
resides  in  Webster  county;  Mattie,  wife  of 
Levi  Humphrey,  of  Minnesota;  and  four 
who  died  in  childhood. 

The  educational  advantages  afforded  our 
subject  were  limited  to  a  short  period  in 
Tama  and  Hardin  counties,  as  he  left  school 
at  the  early  age  of  twelve  years  in  order  to 
assist  his  father  in  the  sawmill.  One  vear 
later  he  went  on  the  farm,  but  the  benl  of 
his  mind  was  in  the  direction  of  machinery 
and  he  studied  engineering,  becoming 
skilled  enough  to  run  a  stationary  engine, 
which  he  managed  for  three  and  one-half 
years  in  Hardin  county,  and  for  >ix  months 
was  an  engineer  for  the  Iowa  Central  rail- 
road. 

In  1876  Mr.  Herrington  came  to  Web- 
ster county  and  for  one  year  was  engaged 
in  running  an  engine  in  a  sawmill,  which  he 
later  bought  and  still  owns.  In  1895  he 
erected  the  new  mill  which  is  thirty-two  feet 
by  sixty-seven -in  dimensions  with  annexes 
and  is  run  by  a  thirty-horse  p<  vver  engine 
and  a  forty-horse  power  boiler.  Mr.  Her- 
rington thoroughly  understands  this  busi- 
ness, and  mo  h;  -  arranged  a  system  oi  water 


5'4 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


w  urks  which  not  only  supplies  the  plant,  but 
also  through  pipes  is  conducted  to  his  hams, 
residence  and  dairy.  The  plans  are  all  his 
own  and  he  displays  real  mechanical  genius 
in  such  matters. 

In  1878  Mr.  Herrington  was  married  in 
Lehigh,  Iowa,  to  Anna  Nelson,  who  was 
born  in  1862,  a  daughter  of  Anthony  and 
Christina  Nelson,  both  natives  of  Denmark. 
In  1874  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  came  to  Web- 
ster City,  Iowa,  and  later  removed  to  Le- 
high, where  he  was  engaged  in  the  railroad 
business,  dying  there  in  1880.  His  widow 
now  resides  at  Thornton,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Her- 
rington was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  six 
children,  the  survivors  being :  Myers,  win  > 
married  Ida  Irish,  and  resides  in  Lehigh; 
Peter,  who  married  Lizzie  McAnaly.  and 
lives  in  Webster  City;  Nettie,  who  resides 
in  Webster  county;  and  Christina,  who  mar- 
ried William  McAnaly,  and  lives  in  Lehigh. 
Mrs.  Herrington  died  February  7,  1890, 
and  her  remains  were  interred  in  Otho  cem- 
etery. 

On  January  21,  1891,  at  Toledo,  Iowa, 
Mr.  Herrington  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Nash,  who  was  born  in  West  Meath,  Ire- 
land. June  29,  1869.  Her  parents.  William 
and  Maria  (Hall)  Nash,  were  natives  of 
the  same  county,  and  on  their  emigration  to 
America,  in  1886,  settled  in  Tama,  Iowa, 
where  her  father  bought  forty  acres  of  land, 
tn  which  he  has  since  added.  He  is  now  one 
of  the  substantial  residents  of  his  locality,  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  an  active  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party.  In  his  family  of  six  children,  Mrs. 
Herrington  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth,  the 
others  being  Elizabeth .  who  died  in  infancy; 
Anna,  who  married  George  Armstrong,  and 
lives  in  Washington  township,  this  county; 
Hattie.    who    married    Chestlev    Dixon,    of 


Tama  county;  William,  who  lives  with  his 
parents;  and  a  babe,  which  died  in  infancy. 

By  our  subject's  first  marriage  were  born 
three  children :  William,  born  August  3, 
1880;  Harry,  Sq>t ember  16,  18S2;  and  Car- 
rie, on  Christmas  eve,  1889.  The  two  chil- 
dren of  the  second  marriage  were :  Ray- 
mond S.,  who  was  born  May  29,  1894,  and 
died  December  14,  1894;  and  Elmer  Har- 
old, born  April  18,  1896. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herrington  occupy  a  large 
and  most  comfortable  home,  and  in  1891  he 
erected  his  commodious  barn,  one  of  the  best 
in  this  locality.  He  owns  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  fertile  land  in  Webster  and 
Yell  townships,  and  his  wife  has  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  on  section  25,  Webster 
township.  He  and  his  wife  are  among  the 
leading  stockholders  of  the  Lehigh  Valley 
Savings  Bank.  Mr.  Herrington  calls  him- 
self a  Democrat,  but  he  is  independent 
enough  to  use  his  own  excellent  judgment, 
and  votes  for  the  man  he  feels  assured  will 
represent  the  best  interests  of  this  section. 
Public-spirited  and  progressive,  he  is  one  of 
the  representative  men  of  Webster  county. 
With  his  estimable  wife,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  he  is 
a  most  liberal  supporter. 


JOHN  L.  HAXXON. 

While  Mr.  Hannon  is  himself  a  native 
of  England,  born  in  Manchester,  July  3, 
1N43,  he  is  of  Irish  parentage  and  descent. 
His  parents,  Patrick  and  Ellen  (Reynolds) 
Hannon,  were  natives  of  Dublin,  where 
they  were  reared  and  married,  but  later 
for  some  time  the  father  was  employed  as 
master  of  horse  on  a  nobleman's  estate  in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


515 


England.  In  the  hope  that  America  might 
offer  them  advantages  greater  than  those  of 
Great  Britain,  they  decided  to  seek  a  home 
in  the  new  world,  and  in  1845  crossed  the 
ocean  in  a  sailing  vessel  that  consumed 
seven  weeks  in  the  voyage.  Landing  in 
New  York,  they  proceeded  west  to  Wiscon- 
sin, and  settled  on  a  farm,  later  buying  land 
in  Lake  county,  Illinois,  where  the  father 
died  in  December,  1854.  Accompanying 
her  children,  the  mother  came  to  Webster 
county.  Iowa,  where  she  died  January  15, 
1887.  Four  of  her  children  were  born  in 
England  and  two  in  America.  The  oldest, 
Charles,  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Twelfth 
Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  remained  at  the 
front  until  he  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Balls  Bluff,  Georgia.  James,  who  enlisted 
in  Company  H,  Eighteenth  Iowa  Infantry, 
was  drowned  near  Cairo  while  in  the  ser- 
vice. Robert,  who  married  Mrs.  Katherine 
Barnes,  and  had  four  children,  died,  in 
Washington  township,  Webster  county, 
August  10,  1900.  Andrew,  who  lives  at 
Duncombe.  Iowa,  married  Mary  Hannon, 
and  has  one  child.  Nicholas,  a  farmer  of 
Washington  township,  Webster  county, 
married  Kate  Fitzgerald,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Leo  and  Roy. 

In  this  family  John  L.  was  third  in  or- 
der of  birth.  When  the  family  came  to 
America  he  was  less  than  three  years  of 
age,  hence  his  earliest  recollections  are  of 
the  United  States,  and  he  knows  no  other 
home  than  this.  His  schooling  was  secured 
in  Bristol,  Wisconsin,  and  Lake  county, 
Illinois,  but  after  he  was  fourteen  he  left 
school  in  order  to  give  his  whole  time  to 
farm  work.  On  August  14,  1861.  at  Chi- 
cago, Illinois,  be  enlisted  in  Company  F, 
Thirty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  which  was 
mustered  into  service  there  and  ordered  to 
St.  Louis,  thence  up  the  river  to  St.  Joseph. 


next  to  Springfield,  Missouri,  and  was  then 
through  the  entire  siege  of  Vicksburg  under 
General  Grant.  A  later  order  sent  the  regi- 
ment to  New  <  Means  and  from  there  on  the 
Red  river  expedition,  across  the  gulf  to 
Texas  and  up  to  Brownsville.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  the  term  of  service.  Air.  Hannon 
was  honorably  discharged  at  Chicago,  Aug- 
ust 17,  1864,  and  returned  to  the  homestead 
in  Lake  county. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Hannon  took 
place  in  Genoa,  Wisconsin,  in  January, 
1865,  and  united  him  with  Mary  Ann  Lam- 
bert, who  was  born  in  Xew  York  in  1843.  a 
daughter  of  Patrick  and  Ann  Lambert,  na- 
tives respectively  of  Ireland  and  Newfound- 
land. Her  parents  were  married  in  New 
York  state,  lint  later  settled  in  Kenosha, 
Wisconsin,  where  the  father  died  in  1850. 
Subsequent  to  In.  death  his  widow  came  to 
Iowa  and  died  in  Ringgold  county  in  1892. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
named  as  follows:  Joseph  P..  of  Union 
county.  Iowa:  William,  who  married  Alary 
Hart  and  lives  in  Ringgold  county,  this 
state;  Kate,  wife  of  William  Beecher.  of 
Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin;  Alary  Ann, 
Airs.  Hannon:  James,  of  Montana;  John,  of 
Ringgold  county,  Iowa;  Airs.  Ellen  McGov- 
ern.  of  Chicago.  Illinois;  Rose,  who  mar- 
ried John  Shay  and  lives  in  Ringgold  coun- 
ty, Iowa;  and  Alargaret.  a  twin  sister  of 
Rose,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Ringgold 
county.  Airs.  Mary  Ann  Hannon  died  in 
1875- 

In  Chicago,  [llinois,  January  29.  1879, 
Air.  Hannon  married  Airs.  Bridget  (Du- 
gan )  Finn,  who  was  born  in  Xew  York, 
October  26,  1849.'  Her  parents.  Patrick 
and  Julia  (Madden)  Dugan,  were  natives 
ol  County  Limerick.  Ireland,  where  they 
were  reared  and  married.  In  1846  Air. 
Dugan  came  to  America  and   a  year  later 


Si6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  wife  joined  him.  They  settled  in  New 
York,  where  lie  followed  the  milling  busi- 
ness. A  subsequent  temporary  location  was 
in  Indiana,  another  in  Illinois,  and  finally 
they  removed  to  Kenosha,  Wisconsin,  where 
Mr.  Dugan  died,  in  April,  1873,  and  his 
wife  December  14,  1889.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  namely :  Walter, 
who  died  in  Ireland  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
months;  Mary,  who  is  unmarried  and  lives 
in  Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin;  Bridget, 
Mrs.  Hannon :  Anna,  who  is  unmarried  and 
lives  at  Lake  Forest,  Illinois;  John,  who 
died,  unmarried,  at  thirty-nine  years  of  age; 
and  Michael,  also  unmarried,  now  living  in 
Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin. 

By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Hannon  had 
the  following  named  children:  William, 
born  December  12.  1865.  is  now  engaged  in 
the  insurance  business  at  Cherokee,  Iowa; 
Robert,  born  November  13,  1867,  is  a  farm- 
er near  Cherokee;  Ellen,  born  July  24,  1869, 
lives  In  Chicago;  Mary,  born  April  14,  1871. 
is  the  wife  of  Emmett  Warren,  of  Webster 
Citv.   Iowa;  and  John  D.,  born   December 

20,  1873.  completes  the  family.  The  chil- 
dren born  of  Mr.  Hannon' s  second  marriage 
are  named  as  follows:  Francis,  born  April 
14,  1880;  Rose  A.,  who  was  born  August 
6,  1882,  and  is  now  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Webster  county;  Laura,  born 
December   iS,    18S4:  Agnes  D.,   September 

21.  1888;  and  Emmett  T..  December  15, 
[891.  By  her  former  marriage  Mrs.  Han- 
non has  one  son,  John  T.  Finn,  who  is  single 
and  makes  his  home  with  his  mother  and 
stepfather.  The  family  are  connected  with 
the  Roman  Catholic  church.  The  farm 
which  they  own  and  occupy  is  situated  on 
section  29.  Washington  township.  Webster 
county,  and  comprises  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  has  been 
accumulated  through  the  persistent  industry 


and  wise  management  of  Mr.  Hannon,  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
farmers  of  his  locality.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  political  belief  and  on  that  ticket  has  been 
elected  director  of  the  schools  of  his  district. 


HENRY  GIRDEY. 


The  end  of  the  praiseworthy  career  of 
Henry  Girdey,  which  occurred  March  10, 
1900,  removed  one  of  the  well  known  men  of 
this  section  of  the  county,  and  one  of  the 
best  farmers  of  Dayton  township.  The  acci- 
dent of  birth  alone  prevented  Mr.  Girdey 
from  being  an  American  in  every  sense  of 
the  word,  for  when  but  seven  years  of  age 
he  left  his  native  land  of  Norway,  where  he 
was  born  in  1842,  and  with  an  older  brother 
set  sail  for  the  quaintly  interesting  town  of 
Quebec,  Canada.  A  short  time  after  land- 
ing he  removed  to  Wisconsin  and  labored 
at  various  occupations  until  a  demand  for  his 
services  was  created  by  the  Civil  war,  and  in 
[865  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Forty-Ninth 
Wisconsin  Infantry,  under  Captain  Dens- 
more  and  General  Fallows.  The  depriva- 
tions and  exposure  to  which  he  was  subjected 
while  in  the  service  resulted  in  severe  rheu- 
matism and  neuralgia,  and  he  was  there- 
fore unfitted  for  active  work,  so  did  guard 
duty  at  St.  Louis  and  Raleigh,  Missouri. 

With  the  return  of  peace.  Mr.  Girdey 
again  lived  in  Wisconsin  and  worked  out 
by  the  day  and  month,  but  finally  came  to> 
Dayton  township.  Webster  county.  Iowa, 
where  he  succeeded  beyond  his  expectations, 
and  not  only  accumulated  a  farm  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  but  became  an 
important  element  in  the  administration  of 
town  affairs.  His  original  purchase  was  a 
quarter  section,  but  as  his  interests  increased 


Jp^t     ^*»K 

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HENRY  GIRDEY 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


5>9 


more  land  was  needed,  and  the  result  was 
thai  he  left  his  children  and  wife  well  pro- 
vided for.  He  had  three  brothers  and  one 
sister:      Sherman,    Knute,    Paul   and   Julia. 

In  his  young  manhcx  d  Mr.  Girdey  mar- 
ried Hannah  Larson,  who  was  born  in  Swe- 
den. April  1  J.  1837.  and  whose  parents  lived 
and  died  in  their  native  land.  Besides  her- 
self there  were  two  sons  and  three  daughters 
in  the  family:  Perry,  born  in  [826,  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  Sweden;  Anna,  born  in 
1833,  now  deceased;  Elsie,  born  in  1841, 
lives  in  Denmark;  Andrew,  born  in  Swe- 
den in  1835.  is  a  farmer  two  miles  west  of 
J  >a\  t<  m,  L  >wa.  Mrs.  <  iirdey  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  [864,  upon  a  sailing  vessel  which  left 
Malma,  Sweden,  and  she  landed  in  Quebec 
after  six  weeks  and  two  days.  On  the  way 
from  Quebec  to  Montreal  she  sustained 
severe  injuries  and  a  broken  arm  owing  to  a 
railroad  wreck  caused  by  an  open  railroad 
bridge.  This  catastrophy  was  the  means  1  E 
causing  death  of  more  than  one  hundred  peo- 
ple, besides  injuring  many  others.  At  the 
time  of  the  accident  a  boat  was  passing 
through  the  open  bridge,  and  the  train,  in 
speeding  on  its  way,  plunged  down  upon  the 
boat  with  terrific  force.  As  the  result  of  her 
injuries,  Airs.  Girdey  was  confined  in  a 
Montreal  hospital  for  a  couple  of  month,, 
the  expense  of  her  treatment  being  met  by 
the  railroad  company. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Girdey  were  born 
five  children,  namely  :  (  1  )  Ella  May  is  now 
the  wife  of  Adah  Leonard,  who  lives  one 
and  a  half  miles  northwest  of  Dayton,  and 
they  have  three  children  :  Frank.  Nellie  and 
Arab.  1  2)  Sherman  Andrew,  horn  August 
31,  1869,  married  Bertha  lies  and  lives  on 
r.  portion  of  the  old  homestead.  (3)  Emma 
Belle,  born  November  21,  1871,  married 
George  Khmer  and  has  two  children.  Fern 


and  Iva,  14  1  Charles  Henry,  born  April  4, 
1874,  lives  with  his  mother  and  operates  the 
1  Jd  homestead.  1  5  1  Julia  I  [annah,  horn 
November  21,  1N70,  is  also  at  home.  Mrs. 
Girdey  is  now  an  invalid,  having  suffered  1 
stroke  of  paralysis  which  extends  over  her 
whole  side  and  makes  walking  a  greal  effort. 
Air.  Girdey  was  a  public-spirited  man 
and  a  stanch  Republican,  although  he  made 
no  effort  to  secure  official  recognition.  He 
was  affiliated  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  among  whom  he  had  many  warm 
friends,  and  among  whom  his  associal 
of  a  most  genial  and  pleasant  nature. 


GEORGE  A.  DODGE. 

George  A.  Dodge,  a  skillful  farmer  re- 
siding on  section  23.  Roland  township, 
Webster  county.  Iowa,  was  born  on  the  8th 
of  March,  1855.  in  Sullivan  county.  New 
York,  his  parents  being  L.  H.  and  Julia 
Ann  (Lawrence)  Dodge,  also  natives  1  f  the 
Empire  state.  There  his  paternal  grand- 
father, Augustus  Dodge,  was  also  horn,  the 
family  being  early  settlers  of  New  York  and 
of  English  descent.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  1827,  and  spent  his  early 
life  as  a  farmer  in  Sullivan  county.  On 
craning  to  Iowa  in  1873  he  first  located  in 
Jasper  count}',  where  he  made  his  home  until 
1881,  and  then  bought  a  farm  in  Greene 
county,  which  he  operated  for  a  few  years, 
but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Payti  n.  a 
hale  and  hearty  old  man  of  seventy-four. 

In  the  county  of  hi-  nativity  (in  rge  A. 
Dodge  was  reared  and  educated,  being  given 
good  school  privileges  and  completing  his 
education  at  an  academy.  Following  Hor- 
ace Greeley's  advice  he  came  west  in  1X74 
and    settled    in    Allamakee    county,     Iowa, 


520 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


where  he  was  employed  in  a  lumber  yard 
for  nearly  three  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  removed  to  Jasper  county  and  was 
engaged  in  farming  with  his  father  for  two 
years. 

While  there  Mr.  Dodge  was  married, 
February  n,  1880.  to  Miss  Sophia  Smith, 
who  was  also  born,  reared  and  educated  in 
Sullivan  county.  Xew  York,  her  father, 
Shipman  G.  Smith,  being  a  life-long  resi- 
dent of  that  county  and  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. By  this  union  there  were  born  three 
children,  namely:  Clara,  who  was  educat- 
ed at  Tobin  College,  Fort  Dodge,  and  has 
successfully  engaged  in  teaching  school  in 
this  county  for  nearly  three  years:  Bertha, 
who  is  now  a  student  in  the  home  school; 
and  Ray,  who  died  April  15,  1901,  in  his 
twelfth  year,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Gowrie  cemetery. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Dodge  removed 
to  Marshal]  county  and  rented  a  farm  in 
Timber  Creek  township.  After  raising  two 
crops  he  came  to  Webster  county,  in  1882, 
and  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Roland  township,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  lie  erected  thereon  a  small 
house,  which  he  has  since  remodeled  and 
enlarged;  has  built  fences  and  outbuild- 
ings ;  has  set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees ;  and 
has  tilled  and  broken  the  land,  placing  it 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  has 
also  added  to  the  farm  and  now  has  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  rich  and  arable 
land.  He  raises  a  good  grade  of  stock,  and 
in  this  branch  of  his  business  is  also  meet- 
ing with  success.  At  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage he  was  in  limited  circumstances,  but 
being  industrious  and  enterprising  he  has 
steadily  overcome  the  obstacles  in  his  path, 
and  with  the  assistance  of  his  estimable 
wife  has  succeeded  in  gaining  a  home  and 
comfortable  competence. 


On  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Dodge 
became  identified  with  the  Democracy  and 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Samuel  J 
Tilden  in  1876,  but  believing  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party  best  calculated  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  people  he  now 
supports  that  great  political  organization. 
For  six  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  did  much  to>  promote  the  educa- 
tional interests  in  his  community.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  at  Gowrie.  In  1901  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dodge  attended  the  Pan-American 
Exposition  at  Buffalo,  and  also  visited  their 
old  home  and  friends  in  Sullivan  county, 
Xew  York,  spending  about  a  month  among 
the  old  familiar  scenes  of  their  youth. 


FRED  EDWARD  PAYNE. 

As  a  scientific  farmer  and  cattle  raiser 
Mr.  Payne  is  known  throughout  Webster 
county,  and  especially  in  the  latter  capacity 
has  a  reputation  second  to  none.  He  was 
born  in  Amboy.  Lee  county.  Illinois,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1857,  a  son  of  C.  H.  and  Sarah 
( Reede)  Payne,  who  were  born  in  Ver- 
mont and  married  in  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

During  his  youth  Mr.  Payne  had  but 
limited  educational  advantages,  his  train- 
ing being  confined  to  three  terms  in  the 
country  schools,  two  winters  at  Fort  Dodge, 
and  two  winter  terms  at  Lehigh.  The  early 
necessity  for  contributing  towards  the  fam- 
ily maintenance  caused  him  to  seek  employ- 
ment at  an  early  age  of  the  surrounding 
agriculturists  until  nineteen  years  of  age, 
and  what  schooling  came  his  way  was  in 
return  for  services  rendered  on  different 
farms.  At  the  age  of  twenty  long  dormant 
ambitions  took  definite  shape,  and  in  order 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  satisfy  a  craving  to  enlarge  bis  sphere 
nf  action  he  went  to  Chicago  and  learned 
the  trade  of  a  machinist. 

(  >n  September  31.  1880.  Mr.  Payne  mar- 
ried Lillie  Hart,  daughter  of  G.  D.  Id  art. 
After  about  ten  years  of  suffering  she  was 
released  by  death  September  30,  1898. 
She  was  a  woman  etf  must  exalted  charac- 
ter, and  her  patience  while  an  invalid  and 
her  beautiful  devotion  to  her  family  was 
an  inspiration  to  all  with  whom  she  came 
in  contact.  She  was  a  Christian  in  the  tru- 
est sense  of  the  word,  and  her  passing  away 
left  a  void  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  had 
known  and  loved  her.  She  was  the  mother 
if  two  children,  Calla,  born  September  6, 
1881,  and  George,  born  May   16,  1887. 

On  January  10,  1899,  Mr.  Payne  mar- 
ried Emma  Johnson,  who  bad  been  a  mem- 
ber of  his  family  for  several  years,  and  who 
had  faithfully  cared  for  his  invalid  wife  for 
six  vears  before  her  death :  She  was  born 
in  Kalo  September  4,  1880. 

After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Payne  re- 
turned with  his  wife  to  Chicago  and  worked 
for  George  P.  Bent,  the  sewing  machine 
manufacturer.  In  return  for  services  ren- 
dered he  received  eighteen  dollars  a  week, 
and  lived  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bent,  who 
charged  nothing  for  house  rent,  fire  or  gas, 
Owing  to  the  failure  of  bis  wife's  health 
he  thought  it  better  to  live  in  the  country, 
and  therefore  settled  in  Otbo>  township,  this 
county,  and  engaged  in  the  breeding  of 
thoroughbred  cattle  and  hogs.  He  is  the 
owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  his  home 
was  formerly  the  parsonage  of  the  Congre- 
gational^ church.  In  1881  be  began  to 
raise  short  horn  cattle  and  finally  had  nine- 
teen head,  and  in  1889  bought  a  red  polled 
bull  and  has  since  also  raised  that  breed  of 
cattle.  A  complete  record  is  kept  of  the 
pedigree  of  every  animal  calved,  and  this 


is  quite  an  undertaking  when  it  is  known 
that  he  has  sold  over  one  hundred  heifers 
and  one  hundred  hulls.  The  red  pi  lied 
hull  COSt  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
Mr.  Payne  is  known  as  one  of  the  most 
successful  cattle  breeders  in  the  county,  and 
his  industry  and  attention  to  his  favorite 
occupatimi  have  brought  in  their  train  sub- 
stantial   remuneratii  >n. 

A  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Payne  is 
a  stanch  upholder  nf  the  principles  and  is- 
sues of  Ins  party,  hut  has  never  desired  pub- 
lic office  and  its  attendant  distractions  ami 
responsibilities,  lie  is  a  member  nf  the 
Congregational  church,  while  his  wife  is 
affiliated  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


CHARLES   H.   REYNOLDS. 

Charles  H.  Reynolds,  who  is  now  so 
efficiently  serving  as  county  surveyor  of 
Websier  county,  and  city  engineer  at  Fort 
Dodge,  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  born  near  Man- 
chester, Delaware  count}',  December  3,  1874, 
and  was  only  two  or  three  years  old  when 
the  family  came  to  Webster  county.  His 
father,  A.  J.  Reynolds,  who  served  as  street 
commissioner  of  Fort  Dodge  for  a  time, 
died  in  this  city,  August  11,  1898.  His 
widow  still  makes  her  home  here.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  children,  one  son 
and  two  daughters. 

Charles  H.  Reynolds  was  educated  a1 
the  Fort  Dodge  high  school,  and  after  leav- 
ing that  institution  became  assistant  city  en- 
gineer in  June,  1893.  in  which  capacity  he 
served  until  April,  1899,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed city  engineer  and  has  since  filled 
that  position  in  a  most  creditable  and  satis- 
factory manner,  this  being  bis  third  term. 
In   the  summer  of    1898   when   the  county 


522 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


surveyor  moved  away,  Mr.  Reynolds  was 
appointed  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term,  and 
in  November,  1899,  was  elected  to  that 
office  and  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as 
county  surveyor  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned.  In  this  connection  he  does  con- 
siderable work  in  the  line  of  constructing' 
sewers,  building  bridges,  and  grading  and 
paving  streets,  and  is  meeting  with  well  de- 
served success  in  his  undertaking's. 

On  the  nth  of  October,  1898.  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Laura  E.  Beresford,  ami  to  them  has  been 
born  one  child,  Miriam  Margaret.  By  his 
ballot  he  supports  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  takes  quite  an 
active  and  influential  part  in  local  politics. 


ROBERT  HANNAN. 

The  late  Robert  Hannan,  of  Washing- 
ton township,  Webster  county,  was  burn  in 
England,  January  15,  1850,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  early  childhood,  subse- 
quently attending  school  in  Kenosha  county, 
Wisconsin,  and  Lake  county,  Illinois.  In 
company  with  bis  mother  be  came  to  Web- 
ster county  and,  after  his  brother  Nicholas 
left  home,  be  took  charge  of  the  farm.  His 
marriage,  in  Eagle  Grove,  Iowa,  September 
24,  1890,  united  him  with  Mrs.  Katberine 
(Ryan)  Barnes,  who  was  bora  in  County 
Tipperary,  Ireland,  February  16,  1853,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Ryan.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  County  Limerick,  as 
were  also  his  parents.  Matthew  and  Mary 
(Dwyer)  Ryan.  A  member  of  a  family  de- 
sirous of  giving  their  children  the  highest 
advantages,  be  was  sent  to  Dublin  College, 
where  be  remained  until  graduating.  Later 
he  became  an  employe  of  the  English  govern- 


ment. He  died  in  Ireland  June  6,  1865, 
when  forty-seven  years  of  age.  His  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  Martin  and  Katberine 
(O'Shannessy)  Ryan,  both  of  whom  were 
buried  at  the  Rock  of  Cashel,  one  of  the 
nn  >st  111  >ted  burying  grounds  in  Ireland.  An 
uncle  of  Mrs.  Katberine  Ryan  was  bishop 
of  the  Catholic  church  in  the  county  of 
Clare,  Ireland. 

After  the  death  of  John  Ryan,  his  widow 
brought  the  children  to  America,  landing  in 
Quebec,  July  7,  1865,  and  thence  proceeding 
to  Evansville,  Indiana.     Soon,  however,  she 
made   another  move,   this   time   settling   in 
Iowa  City,   Iowa-      In   February,   1868,   she 
was  married  to  J.  E  Ft  wers,  and  they  now 
make  their  home  in  Duncombe,  Iowa.     By 
her    first   marriage   thirteen   children   were 
born,     namely:       Matthew,     who     married 
Bridget  H.  Callahan,  but  is  now  deceased: 
Martin,  who  died,  unmarried,  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years  :  Mary,  who  married  Patrick  But- 
ler, of  Webster  county.  Iowa,  but  both  are 
now  deceased;  Michael,  of  Hailey,  Idaho; 
James,  who  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado' ;  Katb- 
erine, the  twin  sister  of  James,  and  his  wid- 
ow  of  our  subject:  John,  who  is  unmarried 
and  makes  his  home  in  British  Columbia; 
Hugh,   also   unmarried,   and   a    resident  of 
Denver,  G  loradd;  Lizzie,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Frank,  who  married  Anna  Gearren 
and  lives  in  Wallace.  Idaho;  Jeremiah,  who 
has  never  married,  and  now  makes  his  home 
with   bis   sister,    Mrs.    Hannan;   Bridget  J., 
Mrs.  John  Maloney,  of  Denver,  Colorado: 
and  Morris,  who  died  at  three  years  of  age. 
While  in  Ireland  Miss  Katberine  Ryan 
attended    a     Young    Ladies'     Seminary   in 
County  Tipperary.     At   the  age  of  twelve 
years  she  came  to  America  with  the  other 
members   of   the   family,    and    remained   at 
home  until  her  marriage,  August  6,  1871,  at 
Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  to  John  Barnes.       Like 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


525 


herself,  Air.  Barnes  was  of  Irish  birth  and 
descent.  He  was  born  in  County  Kilkenny, 
in  July.  1848,  a  son  of  Walter  and  Man- 
Barnes,  natives  of  the  same  county.  The 
mother  died  in  Ireland,  and  later  the  father 
came  to  America,  where  he  engaged  in  farm 
pursuits.  Concerning  his  death  nothing  is 
definitely  known  except  that  he  mysteriously 
disappeared  and  it  was  supposed  that  he  was 
killed  in  Buffalo,  New  York.  In  his  family 
there  were  six  children,  those  besides  John 
being  as  follows:  Alary.  Mrs.  Paul  Ryan, 
formerly  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  now  de- 
ceased: Martin,  who  married  and  settled  in 
Pottawattamie  county.  Iowa:  Richard,  who 
was  twenty-two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  death:  Michael,  who  died  in  Buffalo, 
New  York;  and  Anastasia.  Airs.  Thomas 
Malone,  who  died  in  Buffali  ►,  New  Y<  nrk. 

Throughout  his  active  life  John  Barnes 
followed  farm  pursuits,  continuing  in  the 
same  until  he  died,  January  29,  1874.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  in  religii  >n  a 
member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 
The  only  son  of  his  marriage  was  Walter 
Barnes,  who  was  born  at  Border  Plains, 
Iowa,  May  18,  1872,  and  died  December  9, 
1876.  For  many  years  after  the  death  of 
her  husband  Mrs.  Barnes  remained  a  widow, 
but  in  1890  she  was  again  married,  this  time 
to  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  pour  children 
were  born  of  their  union,  namely :  Ellen, 
born  August  27,  1891  ;  John,  May  [8,  [893; 
Elizabeth,  March  7,  1895;  and  James,  Sep- 
tember 11,  1896. 

Among  the  various  local  offices  held 
by  Air.  Hannan  were  those  of  township 
clerk,  assessor,  road  commissioner  and 
member  of  the  school  board,  in  all  of  which 
he  rendered  efficient  and  painstaking  ser- 
vice. As  township  trustee  he  was 
placed  in  intimate  connection  with  I 
ship   affairs.     Throughout   his   life  he   was 


steadfasl  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Demi 
party.     In  religii  a   Roman   I 

olic  and  for  years  acted  as  a  trustee  of  the 
church  at  Lehigh.  One  especially  note- 
worthy feature  of  his  character  was  his  aver- 
sion to  debt.  It  was  a  matter  of  pridi 
him  that  he  1  wed  m  <  man.  In  all  of  his  busi- 
ness transactions  he  was  upright,  winning 
and  retaining  the  confidence  of  those  who 
had  dealings  with  him.  He  died  August  to, 
1900,  mourned  by  a  host  of  warm  personal 
friends.  Since  his  death  Airs.  Hannan  has 
undertaken  the  management  of  the  home- 
stead farm  on  section  29,  Washington  town- 
ship, and  the  excellent  condition  of  the  prop- 
erty indicates  her  capability  as  a  business 
woman.  The  estate  comprises  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  bearing  good  improvements, 
including  a  neat  residence,  which  is  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Hannan  and  her  children. 


AUGUSTUS  JOHNSON. 

No  foreign  element  has  bec<  me  a  more 
important  part  in  our  American  citizenship 
than  that  furnished  by  Sweden.  The  emi- 
grants from  that  land  have  brought  with 
them  to  the  new  world  the  stability, 
prise  and  perseverance  characteristii 
their  people,  and  have  fused  these  qualities 
with   the   progres  and    indomitable 

spirit   of   the    west.       Mr.   J<  hnson    v. 
hy  representath  1  ass. 

IP    was  born  in  Sweden,  April  29,  [838, 

1   of  John   and   ( 'arrie  Johnson,   who 

la-ought   tli.  to   America   in 

and  I  hicago,  but  the  father  was 

111  >t  1'  «g  permit     ■  h  mie, 

rival. 
His   v  survived  him.  died  ::t 

the  sp 


526 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Reared  in  his  native  land  until  fifteen 
years  of  age,  our  subject  acquired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  that  country,  and 
Ins  knowledge  of  the  English  language  was 
self-acquired  after  coming  to  the  new  world. 
He  accompanied  the  family  on  their  emi- 
gration, and  made  his  home  in  Chicago  for 
several  years,  being  there  during  the  great 
fire  which  swept  over  that  city  in  the  fall 
of  187.1.  He  was  in  the  one-hundred-day 
service  during  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  June 
2,  1862,  in  the  Sixty-seventh  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  but  was  never  sent  out  of 
the  citv.  his  command  being  assigned  to 
garrison  duty,  guarding  prisoners.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1862,  he  was  honorably  discharged. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  1873,  in  Chica- 
go, Mr.  Johnson  married  Miss  Matilda 
Carlson,  who  was  also  born  and  reared  in 
Sweden,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
six  children,  namely:  Charles  W.,  Robert 
A.,  Hilburn  E.,  Anna  and  Minda.  all  born 
i:i  Greene  county.  Iowa;  and  Oscar,  burn 
on  the  present  homestead  in  Webster 
county. 

Coming  to  Iowa  in  1S73,  Mr.  Johnson 
first  located  in  Greene  county,  where  the 
year  previously  he  had  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land,  only  a  small  part  of  which 
had  been  broken  and  a  small  house  erected 
thereon.  To  the  further  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  that  farm  he  devoted  his  en- 
ergies until  1886,  when  he  sold  the  place 
and  removed  to  Webster  county,  buying  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Gowrie  town- 
ship, where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death.  January  29,  1902,  after  an  illness 
of  only  seventeen  days.  This  he  converted 
into  a  well  improved  and  highly  cultivated 
tract,  and  successfully  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  thereon.  From 
time  to  time  he  bought  more  land  until  he 
had  four  hundred  and  fortv  acres,  but  later 


gave  three  of  his  sons  eightv  acres  each,  as 
well  as  a  team  of  horses,  and  they  are  now 
engaged  in  farming  on  their  own  account. 
Mr.  Johnson  commenced  life  without  cap- 
ital, and  the  success  that  he  achieved  was 
due  to  his  unremitting  labor,  perseverance 
and  good  management.  He  became  one  of 
the  substantial  men  of  his  community,  as 
well  as  one  of  its  honored  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens. 

At  national  elections  Mr.  Johnson  sup- 
ported the  Republican  party,  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
but  at  local  elections,  where  no  issue  was 
involved,  be  voted  for  the  men  whom  he 
believed  best  qualified  fur  office,  regardless 
of  partv  lines.  He  served  two  years  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  in  Greene 
county,  and  three  years  in  this  county,  hav- 
ing ever  been  a  stanch  friend  of  our  public 
school  system. 


J.  E.  COXKLIX. 


The  Coriklin  family,  well  known  in 
Webster  county.  Iowa,  originated  many 
years  ago  in  Germany.  A  worthy  and  sub- 
stantial member  is  J.  E.  Conklin,  one  of 
the  prominent  and  successful  farmer  citi- 
zens of  Yell  township.  Since  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  this  state  has  been  his  home, 
although  he  was  born  in  Allegany  county, 
Maryland,  on  January  n,  1850.  His  par- 
ents, Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Herstine) 
Conklin,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  lived  until  the  death  of  the 
mother,  in  1852.  The  second  marriage  of 
Daniel  Conklin  was  to  Nancy  Scott,  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  in  1854  they  removed 
to  Indiana,  and  in  1868,  to  Warren  county. 
Iowa,  locating  near  Des  Moines. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


527 


Among  the  first  of  the  loyal  citizens  to 
respond  to  the  country's  call  for  help  in 
1861  was  Daniel  Conklin,  who  enlisted 
from  Putnam  county.  Indiana.  September 
10,  1 86 1,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Lafayette, 
Indiana.  September  18,  as  chief  musician 
of  the  Tenth  Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Third 
Brigade.  Third  Division,  of  the  Fourteenth 
Army  Corps,  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land. He  participated  in  all  of  the  engage- 
ments of  his  regiment  up  to  the  time  of  his 
honorable  discharge  by  order  the  war  de- 
partment, order  "No.    126,   March  3,    1863. 

In  1880  Mr.  Conklin  removed  with  his 
family  to  Webster  county  and  located  in 
Yell  township,  where  his  wife  died  in  1886. 
In  1891  he  married  Mrs.  E.  J.  Allen,  who 
now  resides  in  Burnside  township.  The 
children  of  the  first  marriage  numbered 
two,  namely :  Margaret,  deceased  wife  of 
A.  J.  Little,  who  is  connected  with  a  pub- 
lishing house  of  Chicago;  and  J.  E.,  of  this 
sketch.  The  children  of  the  second  mar- 
riage were:  Flora,  deceased  wife  of  Z.  T. 
Hargis.  who  resided  five  miles  south  of 
Des  Moines:  John  R.,  who  married  Angie 
Comley  and  resides  in  Sac  City.  Iowa :  and 
a  child  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  early  life  and  school  days  of  our 
subject  were  passed  in  Greencastle,  Indiana. 
He  was  eighteen  years  of  age  when  the 
family  removed  to  Iowa,  and  he  attended 
school  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
in  Des  Moines,  during  the  winter  sessions, 
passing  the  summers  in  work  on  the  farm. 
With  his  father  and  brother  he  assisted  in 
operating  a  large  farm  and  continued  there 
until  his  marriage.  His  father,  who  died 
in  1896,  gave  him  a  quarter  section  of  land 
in  Yell  township,  and  following  in  the  foot- 
steps of  that  father,  and  adopting  his 
methods,   he  has   likewise  been   successful. 


Later,  by  purchase,  he  became  the  owner 
of  eighty  acres  of  the  Conklin  estate,  which 
i-  o,n  section  32,  and  now  owns  two  hun- 
dred and  fort}'  acres  in  section  30,  in  Yell 
t<  w  nship,  where  he  not  only  carries  on 
practical  farming,  but  raises  some  of  the 
best  high-grade  stock  ever  put  on  the  mar- 
ket in  this  township. 

Mr.  Conklin  owns  an  ideal  country 
home,  his  barns,  granaries,  orchards  and 
general  surroundings  indicating  the  pros- 
perity and  good  management  which  pre- 
vails. In  public  affairs  he  has  taken  an 
active  part  and  has  been  honored  by  his 
fellow  citizens  with  almost  all  of  the  local 
offices.  His  adherence  to  the  Republican 
party  has  been  life-long. 

On  PJecember  22,  1880,  Mr.  Conklin 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Chapman, 
who  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Illinois. 
May  30,  [858,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Hannah  (H'ilburn)  Chapman,  the 
former  a  native  of  Indiana,  the  latter  of 
South  Carolina.  They  came  to  Iowa  in 
1869,  and  Mr.  Chapman  took  up  a  river 
claim,  near  Dayton,  remaining  upon  it  until 
his  death.  August  21.  1883.  His  burial 
was  at  Dayton,  Iowa.  He  was  a  man  who 
had  many  friends,  was  a  stanch  Republi- 
can and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Meth- 
(  dist  church.  His  widow  survived  until 
May  I').  [898.  She  was  the  mother  of  six 
children  :  Rebecca,  deceased  wife  of  B.  W. 
Paine,  of  Elmwood,  Nebraska:  Rhoda  C, 
who  is  the  wife  of  O.  W.  Dingman,  of 
Mesa,  G  lorado;  R.  L,  who  married  Susie 
Winslow,  and  resides  in  Winterset.  Iowa: 
I  W.,  who  married  Laura  Mead,  and  re- 
sides in  Winterset;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Conk- 
lin: and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Alexander  En- 
nis,  1  if  Kansas. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conklin  a  family  of 
nine  children  has  been  born,  namely:     Dan- 


523 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ie!  Ray,  who  was  born  October  21,  1881, 
and  died  September  25,  1893;  Maggie  E., 
born  July  17,  1883;  Joseph  W.,  born  June 
14,  1885;  Annie,  who  was  born  July  12, 
[887,  and  died  in  infancy;  William  Ernest, 
bom  July  19,  1888;  Charles  H.,  born  July 
13,  [890;  Mary  Edna,  who  was  born  No- 
vember 19,  1892.  and  died  October  31, 
1803:  Dorothea  May,  born  February  23, 
1895;  Emma  Pearl,  born  September  11, 
[897;  and  Ida  Aurel.  born  November  5, 
1901. 


NICHOLAS    HANNON. 

Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin,  is  Mr. 
Hanm  ni's  native  place,  and  August  26, 
1855,  the 'date  of  his  birth.  When  quite 
small  his  father,  Patrick  Hannon,  moved  to 
Lake  county,  Illinois,  where  his  education 
was  secured.  However,  his  advantages 
were  limited,  as  from  the  age  of  twelve 
years  he  practically  made  his  own  way  in 
the  world;  and,  although  he  afterward  stud- 
ied some  during  the  winter  months,  yet  his 
attention  was  principally  given  to  farm 
work.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  took 
charge  of  the  homestead,  in  the  management 
of  which  he  continued  for  si  me  years. 

In  Corpus  Christi  church  at  Fort  Dodge, 
Iowa,  November  24,  1884,  Father  Kelly 
performed  the  ceremony  which  united  in 
marriage  Nicholas  Hannon  and  Kate  Fitz- 
gerald, the  latter  a  native  of  Nenia,  Ohio, 
born  August  10,  1865.  Her  father,  John 
Fitzgerald,  was  born  in  County  Kerry.  Ire- 
land, in  1815,  and  at  the  age  of  about  twenty 
years  came  to  America,  settling  in  Nenia, 
Ohio.  There  he  met  and  married  Bridget 
Collins,  who  was  born  in  County  Kerry,  in 
1829,  and  crossed  the  ocean  when  eighteen 
years  old.    After  marriage  they  settled  near 


Clyde,  Sandusky  county,  Ohio,  and  re- 
mained in  that  locality  for  fifteen  years. 
Their  residence  in  Iowa  dated  from  Sep- 
tember 1,  1876,  when  they  arrived  in  Web- 
ster county.  Immediately  afterward  he 
bought  forty  acres  in  Washington  township 
and  to  the  improvement  of  this  property  he 
gave  his  attention,  continuing  there  until  he 
died,  September  19,  1885.  Since  his  death 
the  widow  has  continued  to  reside  on  the 
old  homestead.  Both  were  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  and 
always  remained  true  to  its  teachings.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  daughters,  Jennie. 
Mary  and  Kate. 

After  his  marriage  Nicholas  Hannon 
settled  on  a  rented  farm,  leaving  his  brother, 
Robert,  to  take  care  of  the  homestead.  Two 
years  later  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  acres  near  Border  Plains,  on 
sections  29,  30  and  31,  Washington  town- 
ship. Since  coming  here  he  has  erected  a 
modern  and  comfortable  residence  and  has 
also  put  up  substantial  buildings  for  the 
shelter  of  stock  or  the  storage  of  grain  and 
machinery.  Much  of  his  attention  is  given 
to  the  raising  of  stock  for  the  market,  in 
which  he  is  meeting  with  a  gratifying  de- 
gree of  success.  On  the  Democratic  ticket 
he  has  been  elected  to  various  township 
'  offices.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  identified 
with  St.  Joseph's  Roman  Catholic  church. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  sons:  Leo 
James,  born  October  28,  1887;  and  Roy 
Nicholas,  March  17,  1892. 


H.  O.  BALDWIN. 

H.  O.  Baldwin,  one  of  the  most  popular 
and  successful  photographers  of  Fort 
Dodge,  was  born  in  this  city  on  the  8th 
of   March.    1872.  a  son  of  Henry  H.   and 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


529 


Emma  (Stephenson)  Baldwin.  The  father 
is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  but  when  young 
removed  to  Ohio  with  his  parents,  his  fa- 
ther spending-  his  remaining'  days  in  G 1- 
lumbus,  that  state.  In  18115  Henry  H. 
Baldwin  came  to  Fort  Dodge,  and  having 
previously  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  Co- 
lumbus, he  found  employment  in  the  office 
of  the  Fort  Dodge  Times,  but  is  now  in 
the  mechanical  department  of  The  Mes- 
senger. In  former  years  Mr.  Baldwin  was 
associated  with  the  different  papers  of  the 
city,  but  since  1893  has  practically  lived 
retired  from  the  business.  He  served  four 
years  in  the  Union  Army  during  the  Civil 
war,  valiantly  fighting  for  the  old  flag  and 
the  cause  it  represented.  His  wife,  who 
was  horn  in  Strawtown,  Indiana,  died  in 
Fort  Dodge,  August  18,  1899,  when  about 
fifty  years  of  age.  Unto  them  were  horn 
four  children,  namely:  Carrie,  who  died  in 
1886:  H.  O..  our  subject;  Richard,  a  mail 
carrier  of  Fort  Dodge;  and  Dawn,  who  is 
her  father's  housekeeper. 

Reared  in  Fort  Dodge,  Mr.  Baldwin 
of  this  review  is  indebted  to  the  public 
schools  of  the  city  for  his  educational  ad- 
vantages. At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Garrison  Brothers,  pho- 
t'  graphers,  whose  studio  was  in  the  Crosby 
block,  over  Rudesill's  store,  which  has  since 
been  destroyed  by  fire.  There  he  served  a 
three  years'  apprenticeship  to  the  photog- 
rapher's art,  and  then  accepted  a  position 
i  1  a  studio  at  Sioux  City.  Iowa,  where  he 
remained  until  1894.  Returning  to  Fort 
Dodge,  he  then  entered  the  employ  of  F. 
A.  Garrison,  who  owned  the  gallery  now- 
occupied  by  Mr.  Baldwin,  and  worked  for 
him  until  1898,  when  he  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  the  business  and  assumed  the 
management.  In  March,  1900,  he  bought 
out  his  prrtner,  and  has  since  been  alone  in 


business,  though  he  employs  three  assist- 
ants.  A  man  of  artistic  tastes,  his  work 
possesses  exceptional  merit,  and  he  receives 
a  liberal  share  of  the  public  patronage.  His 
studio,  which  is  well  equipped  with  all 
modern  appliances  known  to  the  art,  is  sit- 
uated on  Central  avenue  opposite  the  county 
court  house,  and  is  thoroughly  up-to-date 
in  all  its  appointments. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  married  in  1895  to 
Miss  Byrd  Utley,  of  Alden,  Iowa.  He  is 
.1  prominent  member  of  the  Photographers' 
Association  of  Iowa,  is  the  present  vice- 
president  of  the  same,  and  also  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  order  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


JAMES  WELCH. 

A  faithfulness  and  devotion  to  duty  no 
less  than  untiring  industry  has  placed  Mr. 
Welch  among  the  successful  farmers  of 
Burnside  township.  He  was  born  in  Illinois 
August  27,  [826,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Re- 
becca (Baldridge)  Welch,  natives  respec- 
tively of  Kentucky  and  North  Carolina.  His 
parents,  who  were  fanning  people,  spent 
their  last  years  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  a 
si  range  coincidence  being  the  fact  that  both 
died  on  the  same  day. — March  15.  1847, — 
the  father  being  eighty-seven  years  of  age, 
while  his  wife  had  attained  the  age  of  sixty- 
three. 

Many  interesting  things  in  connection 
with  his  youth  in  the  earl}-  days  of  Illinois 
are  recalled  by  Mr.  Welch,  his  school  train- 
ing especially  being  acquired  under  very 
primitive  conditions.  Ilis  education  was 
limited  to  three  months'  study,  and  the 
schoi  1  was  held  in  a  part  of  his  father's  old 
log  cabin,  where  about  ten  pupils  delved 
into  the  intricacies  of   fractions  and   gram- 


53° 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mar.  The  teacher  used  the  time  honored 
McGuffey's  speller,  and  drew  his  moral 
teaching  from  the  New  Testament,  the  only 
portion  of  the  Bible  of  which  they  had  any 
knowledge.  The  serious  and  responsible 
side  of  life  was  presented  to  our  subject 
at  a  very  early  age,  for  his  father  was  dis- 
abled for  some  time  before  his  death  and 
the  entire  management  and  work  on  the 
farm  devolved  upon  the  youthful  shoulders 
of  his  son.  However,  he  proved  equal  to 
the  emergency  and  provided  for  his  parents 
as  lung  as  they  lived.  The  father  was  a 
preacher  in  the  Christian  church,  and  for 
many  years  combined  the  occupation  of 
farming  with  that  of  ministering  to  the 
spiritual  needs  of  his  community. 

Shortly  after  his  parents'  death  Mr. 
Welch  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Wheeler,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed May  20.  1847.  Mrs.  Welch  was 
burn  in  Ohio,  January  19,  1831,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Eliza  (Link)  Wheeler, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  early  resi- 
dents of  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  The  fa- 
ther died  in  October.  1872,  while  the  mother 
survived  him  until  August  20,  1900.  Of 
the  children  born  to  this  couple  three  daugh- 
ters and  two  sons  are  now  living,  namely : 
Baldridge,  a  farmer  of  Yell  township; 
Webster  county,  Iowa;  Sarah,  the  wife  of 
Charles  Rowley,  of  Lehigh,  Iowa ;  James 
H.,  who  married  Polly  Phipps  and  resides 
in  Audubon  county,  Iowa;  and  Thomas, 
who  married  Margaret  Bear  and  also  lives 
in  Audubon  county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Welch  have  been  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom  seven  are  now  liv- 
ing: William  H.,  a  farmer  of  Cowrie,  mar- 
ried Mary  Marshall ;  Adam  married  Cath- 
erine Bybee  and  lives  in  Oklahoma ;  John 
married  Ellen  Manchester  and  lives  in 
Burnside    township,    this    county ;    Marion 


married  Mary  Manchester  and  lives  in  the 
same  township;  Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  Rich- 
ard Manchester,  also  of  Burnside  town- 
ship; Theodore,  who  married  Amy  Prindle 
and  lives  in  Lehigh;  and  Alfred,  who  mar- 
ried Cleb  Frey  and  resides  in  Oklahoma. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Welch  lived  on 
the  home  place  until  1855,  when  he  removed 
to  another  part  of  the  county  for  a  year, 
and  then  located  in  Grundy  county,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  which  he  farmed  for 
four  years.  He  then  disposed  of  his  Mis- 
souri land  and  went  to  Keokuk  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  he  fanned  for  ten  years.  This 
property  was  also  eventually  disposed  of, 
after  which  Mr.  Welch  bought  his  present 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  on 
section  23,  Burnside  township,  Webster 
county,  for  which  he  paid  twelve  dollars 
per  acre.  He  has  been  particularly  fortun- 
ate in  many  ways,  his  harvests  well  nigh 
approaching  expectations,  and  his  stock 
bring  in  fair  returns.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  national  politics,  but  has  never  been  act- 
ive as  an  office  seeker.  For  the  long  period 
of  fifty-three  years  he  has  been  an  ardent 
worker  and  supporter  of  the  Christian 
church. 


R.  T.  MORTIMER. 


One  of  the  most  active  business  men 
of  Callender  is  R.  T.  Mortimer,  who  has 
been  engaged  in  the  grain  and  stock  busi- 
ness at  that  place  for  the  past  twenty  years. 
A  native  of  Maryland,  he  was  born  within 
two  miles  of  the  city  of  Washington,  No- 
vember 14,  1852,  and  belongs  to  a  family 
of  English  origin,  which  was  founded  in 
Pennsylvania  at  an  early  period  in  the  de- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


531 


velopment  of  that  state.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  John  Wesley  Mortimer,  was 
horn  there,  but  the  birth  of  his  father,  John 
Mortimer,  occurred  in  Virginia,  in  1823. 
The  latter  grew  to  manhood  in  the  Old  Do- 
minion, and  for  some  years  engaged  in 
truck  farming  in  Virginia  and  Maryland. 
In  1844  he  was  married  in  Maryland  to 
Mrs.  Caroline  Frasier,  who  was  also  born 
in  Virginia  of  Irish  ancestry.  Going  to 
Ohio  in  the  fall  of  i860,  he  spent  the  win- 
ter in  Columbus,  and  in  the  spring  located 
in  Muskingum  county,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues to  reside.  Since  making  his  home 
in  that  state  he  has  given  his  attention  to 
fruit  growing,  making  a  specialty  of 
peaches.  His  wife  passed  away  June  20, 
1899. 

R.  T.  Mortimer  is  one  of  a  family  of 
ten  children,  the  others  heing  John  Wesley, 
a  farmer  of  Dallas  county,  Iowa ;  William 
C,  who  died  in  Ohio  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three  years ;  Edwin,  a  farmer  living  near 
his  father  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio; 
George,  also  a  farmer  of  that  county ; 
Charles,  who  is  at  home  with  his  father; 
Caroline,  who  married  Mathew  Crawford 
and  died  in  Dallas  county,  Iowa ;  Laura, 
wife  of  Frank  Little,  of  that  county;  Mollie, 
wife  of  Charles  Untied,  of  Muskingum 
county,  Ohio;  and  Maggie,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Untied,  of  the  same  count}-. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  our  sub- 
ject attended  the  common  schools  of  Mus- 
kingum county,  Ohio,  and  remained  at 
home  until  reaching  man's  estate.  In  the 
fall  of  1 87 1  he  came  to  Iowa  and  located 
in  Dallas  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing two  years  and  in  herding  cattle  three 
years. 

There  Mr.  Mortimer  was  married,  in 
the  fall  of  1878,  to  Miss  Anna  Belle  Bart- 
lett,   a   native  of  Ohio  and  a  daughter  of 


Philip  Bartlett,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Dallas  county.  By  this  union 
were  horn  four  children,  hut  the  only  son, 
Othmer,  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  months. 
The  daughters  are  Anna,  Luella  and  Ruth 
Lucile.  The  oldest  is  now  successful lv  en- 
gaged in   teaching  music. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Mortimer  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  Perry,  Dallas  county, 
and  engaged  in  its  operation  until  1881, 
when  he  sold  the  place  and  removed  to 
Callender,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  became , the  first  grain  and  stock 
dealer  to.  permanently  locate  here,  and  has 
actively  engaged  in  that  business  ever  since, 
shipping  on  an  average  of  two  hundred 
thousand  bushels  of  grain  annually  and 
from  one  hundred  and  five  to  two  hundred 
carloads  of  stock.  When  he  took  up  his 
residence  here  the  town  contained  only  one 
store,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  a  few  dwell- 
ings, and  in  its  upbuilding  and  develop- 
ment he  has  borne  a  prominent  part.  He 
assisted  in  organizing  the  Farmers'  Co- 
operative Store;  helped  to  build  two  busi- 
ness houses,  and  has  erected  two  good  resi- 
dences. 

Mr.  Mortimer  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  he  and 
his  family  were  among  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Callender.  which  they  assisted  in  establish- 
ing, hie  has  since  been  a  member  of  its 
official  board,  serving  as  trustee  during  the 
entire  time,  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  and 
as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 
He  has  supported  every  presidential  candi- 
date of  the  Republican  party  since  casting 
his  first  vote  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes.  He 
has  taken  cjuite  an  active  and  prominent 
part  in  local  politics,  filling  the  offices  of 
secretary  of  the  township  and  justice  of  the 


532 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


peace  for  ten  years.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  several  years,  and 
does  all  in  his  power  to  advance  the  moral, 
intellectual  and  material  welfare  of  his 
town  and  county. 


WILLIAM  R.  WEAVER. 

One  of  the  most  delightfully  reminiscent 
of  the  early  pioneers  of  Iowa  is  William  R. 
Weaver,  who  suffered  all  of  the  deprivations 
and  hardships  connected  with  the  supplant- 
ing of  the  Indian  by  the  pale-face,  and  in 
tilling  the  soil  hitherto  pressed  only  by  the 
fleet  footed  aborigines  in  their  quest  for 
game.  He  was  born  in  Morris  county,  New 
Jersey,  March  27,  1824.  and  his  parents,  who 
were  also  of  American  birth,  have  long  since 
been  gathered  to  their  fathers.  As  may  be 
imagined,  education  played  but  an  inconse- 
quent part  in  his  early  years,  for  the  duties 
on  the  parental  farm  were  of  large  propor- 
tions, and  there  were  many  mouths  to  be  fed 
from  comparatively  limited  resources.  Of 
the  eight  children  of  the  family,  he  was  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth,  the  others  being: 
John,  the  oldest,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen; Benjamin,  who  died  when  twenty-four 
years  old;  Alfred,  who  married  Cath- 
erine Teets  and  died  in  Washington,  New 
Jersey,  in  1896;  Eliza,  who  married  John 
Slack  and  is  now  deceased;  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried Jacob  Hartman  and  both  are  deceased; 
Sally,  who  married  John  Van  Sickle  and 
both  are  deceased ;  and  Azubah,  who  married 
Morris  Terry  and  both  are  deceased. 

On  January  I,  1854,  Mr.  Weaver  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Catherine  Bell,  a  na- 
tive of  Warren  county,  Xew  Jersey,  whose 
parents  are  deceased.  She  had  the  follow  ing 
brothers  and   sisters :       Lewis,   of  Warren 


county,  is  now  deceased;  Almond  married 
Mary  Shampnore  and  is  deceased;  Micajah 
is  married  and  lives  in  Wisconsin ;  Delilah 
married  George  Gook,  and  after  his  death 
married  Asa  Pellubet,  of  Sussex  county, 
Xew  Jersey ;  Abner  is  deceased ;  and  Elias 
married  Elizabeth  Sutton  and  is  now  dead. 
The  following  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Airs.  Weaver:  John  F.,  born  Oc- 
tober 5,  1854,  married  Julia  Mumford  and 
lives  in  Oklahoma  with  his  wife  and  five  chil- 
dren. Edgar,  Edna,  William,  Harvev  and 
Luella;  and  George  and  Augusta,  twins, 
born  October  9,  1859.  George  is  unmarried 
and  lives  on  the  old  farm,  while  Augusta 
married  Alger  Lewis  and  lives  near  Coop- 
ersti  vvn,  X<  >rth  Dakota. 

For  a  couple  of  years  after  his  marriage 
Air.  Weaver  continued  to  live  in  Xew  Ter- 
se}' and  then  came  to  Sioux  Rapids,  Iowa, 
in  1856,  and  entered  a  quarter  section  of  land 
which  he  partially  improved.  He  disposed  of 
this  land  at  a  profit  and  came  to  live  on  a 
rented  farm  near  Fort  Dodge  for  five  years. 
He  then  took  up  his  present  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  raw  land  to  which  he  kept  add- 
ing until  he  now  has  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  a  portion  of  which  is  heavilv  timbered. 

Upon  arriving  in  the  township  Air. 
Weaver  found  but  five  or  six  settlers  al- 
ready located  here  and  these  were  fifteen  or 
eighteen  miles  apart.  The  red-skins  on  the 
Little  Sioux  were  extremely  active  and  en- 
tertained particular  preference  for  the  white 
man's  provisions  and  cattle,  and  there  were 
some  lively  and  dangerous  experiences  en- 
countered while  trying  to  protect  edibles  and 
cattle.  At  one  time  the  Weaver  cabin  was 
robbed  of  all  provisions  and  the  owner  there- 
of had  three  guns  fired  over  his  head.  At 
one  time  after  being  raided  by  the  Indians 
Air.  Weaver  was  obliged  to  replenish  his  edi- 
bles at  a  distance  of  thirty  miles  and  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


537 


goods  were  hauled  all  the  way  home  over 
the  prairies  on  a  hand  sled.  The  surround- 
ing prairies  were  prolific  of  an  abundance  of 
buffalo,  deer,  wild  turkey,  elk  and  many 
kinds  i  it"  smaller  game,  so  that  it  was  possible 
to  subsist  for  long  periods  without  the  usual 
articles  found  in  a  well  regulated  larder.  A 
nn  >st  interesting  evening  can  be  spent  with 
Mr.  Weaver  while  he  recapitulates  his  many 
trials  and  dangers  of  the  early  days  and  one 
feels  more  than  ever  the  world's  debt  to  the 
pioneer,  without  whom  the  foundation  of 
American  civilization  would  had  never  been 
laid. 

A  Democrat  in  politics  Mr.  Weaver  held 
the  offices  of  treasurer  and  recorder  when 
Buena  Vista  county  was  first  organized  and 
has  since  served  his  township  in  various  po- 
litical capacities.  He  is  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial men  who  has  ever  assisted  in  the  de- 
velopment of  Webster  county,  his  accom- 
plishment, his  character  and  public  services 
being  alike  unquestioned. 


ELIAS  XELSOX. 

Elias  Xelson,  one  of  the  representative 
Norwegians  of  Webster  county,  and  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  living  on  section  11,  Wash- 
ington township,  was  burn  on  the  farm  of 
his  forefathers  called  "Weiestad,"  near 
Haugesund,  Stavanger  Amt  county.  Nor- 
way, April  12,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
Xelson  Gord  and  Ranvae  Karinea  Elisdater 
Weiestad.  also  natives  of  Norway.  The 
father,  who  was  born  in  1814.  and  was  a 
farmer  and  fisherman  in  the  land  of  his 
ancestors,  came  with  his  wife  and  children 
to  America  in  1857.  reaching  Quebec.  Can- 
ada, the  beginning  of  July.  The  little  fam- 
ily  set  sail   from   Stavanger.   Norway,  and 


tlie  voyage  took  three  weeks  to  accomplish. 
Upon  arriving  upon  American  soil  the 
seekers  after  a  competence  located  in  La 
Salle  county,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming.  In  the  family  were  the  fol- 
lowing sons  and  daughters:  Margaret, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  in  Norway; 
Elias;  Bertha  H..  who  married  Hans  Han- 
sen, of  Clinton  count}',  Iowa,  and  now  lives 
in  Gilmore  City  with  her  husband  and  two 
children :  X.  Andrew,  who  married  Mrs. 
Engborg  and  lives  in  Day  county.  South 
Dakota,  with  her  three  children,  John.  In- 
gal  and  Ragna;  John,  who  died  in  the  fall 
of  1873  at  the  age  of  twenty-one;  Carrie, 
whi  1  married  P.  B.  Anderson,  has  one  child, 
Bertha  Kathrine.  and  lives  in  Ida  county; 
and  Margaret,  who  died  in  infancy.  Of 
the  children  born  by  the  father's  second 
marriage,  Inger  died  in  1865  at  the  age  of 
five  years;  Xels  J.,  married  Margaret  Mad- 
lein  Vendal  Christenson,  and  lives  with  his 
wife  and  four  children,  Christ.  Jessie,  Em- 
ma and  Xettie,  in  Duncombe.  Iowa ;  and 
Engle  is  a  carpenter  and  is  unmarried. 

Until  his  eighteenth  year  Elias  Xelson 
worked  on  his  father's  farm,  but  February 
2,  1865.  he  enlisted  in  the  Forty-fourth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  in  the, 
army  under  General  Thomas  fi  if  a  year. 
He  was  mustered  out  at  Camp  Irwin.  Texas, 
and  was  discharged  from  the  service  at 
Springfield.  Illinois,  in  September,  1865. 
In  the  meantime  his  parents  had  removed 
to  Clinton  county,  Iowa,  and  with  the  re- 
turn of  peace  he  naturally  sought  them  out. 

Mr.  Xelson  then  engaged  as  a  farm 
hand  until  the  time  of  his  marriage  at  Earl- 
ville.  Illinois,  March  18,  1870.  with  Mar- 
tha Julia  Peterson,  win:  was  born  in  Nor- 
way, and  had  <  ne  child  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, while  her  death  occurred  in  Decem- 
ber,   1870.      On  July  4,    1873.    Mr.    Xelson 


538 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


married  Martha  B.  Ostrus,  who  was  born 
in  Adams  township,  La  Salle  county,  Illi- 
nois August  4,  1853,  a  daughter  of  Ole 
O.  and  Engborg  (Iverson)  Ostrus.  Her 
father,  who  was  born  September  23,  1826, 
died  June  5,  1900,  but  her  mother,  who  was 
born  October  3,  1829,  is  still  living  on  a 
farm  near  Leland,  Illinois.  They  were 
married  December  27,  1846,  and  emigrated 
to  America  in  1849.  After  spending  three 
months  in  Chicago,  they  took  a  boat  for 
Ottawa,  Illinois,  and  from  there  proceeded 
to  the  Fox  river  settlement.  In  Adams 
township,  La  Salle  county.  Mr.  Ostrus  pur- 
chased  lard  and  improved  a  farm,  making 
his  home  thereon  until  his  death.  The 
house  erected  by  this  industrious  pioneer  is 
still  standing,  though  it  has  since  been  re- 
modeled, and  is  now  occupied  by  his  widow. 
He  hauled  the  logs  to  mill  to  be  sawed  into 
lumber  for  the  house,  split  the  shingles  for 
the  roof,  and  built  the  structure  himself. 
In  the  Ostrus  household  were  the  follow- 
ing children:  O.  J.,  bom  September  15, 
1847;  'ver'  ,)(>rn  May  3.  1850:  Martha  B., 
wife  of  our  subject;  Emma  C.  who  was 
born  August  24.  1854.  and  is  now  the  wife 
of  Edward  Lindeback,  of  Ellsworth,  Iowa; 
Ida  J.,  who  was  born  January  7,  1857,  and 
is  the  wife  of  A.  O.  Satter,  of  Cylinder, 
Iowa;  Josephine,  who  was  burn  May  13. 
1859,  and  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Sawyer,  of 
Leland,  Illinois;  Ella,  who  was  born  March 
7.  [861,  and  died  in  infancy;  Isabella,  who 
was  born  June  10,  1863,  and  married 
Michael  Tuntland,  of  Leland,  Illinois, 
where  she  died  January  24,  1886;  Lizzie, 
who  was  born  March  31.  1868,  and  is  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Anderson,  who  lives  near 
Leland;  and  Minnie,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 15,  1874,  and  died  in  March,  1886. 

Mr.   Mid   Mrs.    Nelson  became  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  namelv :    Clara  May, 


who  was  born  May  15,  1874,  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  H.  O.  Hansen,  of  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa,  by  whom  she  has  four  chil- 
dren, Harold  C,  Myrtle  P.,  Blanche  E. 
and  Omar  Allerd;  John,  who  was  born  May 
2,  1876,  and  died  in  infancy;  Oliver  Elias, 
born  December  1.  1877;  Isabella  Josephine, 
born  December  3,  1881 ;  Anna,  born  De- 
cember 1,  1883;  Martha  Belinda,  born 
April  22,  1886;  Minnie,  born  October  13, 
1888;  and  Jesse  Andrew,  who  was  born 
May  30,  1892,  and  died  January  25,  1893. 
Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Nelson  re- 
moved to  Iowa,  and  in  the  fall  of  1873  lo- 
cated on  section  19,  Freedom  township, 
Hamilton  county,  where  he  rented  land  for 
twelve  years.  He  then  purchased  forty 
acres,  which  was  later  disposed  of,  and  in 
1879  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Cass  county,  but  never  resided 
thereon.  This  property  was  also  sold,  and 
in  1883  Mr.  Nelson  bought  his  present  farm 
of  a  quarter  section,  in  Washington  town- 
ship. Webster  county,  upon  which  he  settled 
two  years  later.  This  property  was  raw 
and  unpromising,  but  under  the  watchful 
care  and  diligence  of  the  owner  has  been  de- 
veloped  into  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  the 
ci  untv.  He  has  a  good  house,  granaries 
and  barns,  and  modern  labor  saving  ma- 
chinery. Mr.  Nelson  is  progressive  and 
capable,  and  is  respected  by  all  who  know 
him. 


W.   W   MANCHESTER. 

From  a  many  sided  standpoint  Mr. 
Manchester  has  been  an  important  factor 
in  the  development  of  Burnside  township. 
He  was  born  near  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania. July  20,  1832,  and  is  of  English  and 
Revolutionary  ancestry,  his  parents  being 
Richard   and    Sarah    (Smith)    Manchester. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


539 


Richard  Manchester  was  born    in    the 

city  of  his  name  in  England,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  practical  common-school  educa- 
tion and  served  an  apprenticeship  as  a  ma- 
chinist and  engineer.  He  subsequently 
worked  at  his  trade  in  England,  and  con- 
tinued it  in  Pennsylvania,  whither  he  re- 
moved from  his  native  land  when  nineteen 
years  of  age.  He  was  an  expert  maker  of 
steam  engines,  and  found  it  a  practical 
source  of  remuneration  until  his  removal 
to  Ohio  in  1836,  when  he  bought  timber 
land  and  settled  down  to  general  farming. 
That  property  he  and  our  subject  cleared 
and  put  under  cultivation.  In  1857  he 
came  direct  to  Iowa  and  located  on  sec- 
tion 32.  Dayton  township,  Webster  county, 
the  miles  below  Dayton,  where  he  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  and 
also  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  opposite 
in  Boone  county,  near  Pilot  Mound.  There 
he  lived  until  his  death,  in  October,  1865. 
His  wife,  who  died  in  1869,  cherished  a 
just  pride  in  the  ancestry  of  her  family, 
who  were  not  only  loyal  followers  of  Wash- 
ington in  his  effort  to  lift  the  oppression  of 
the  colonists,  but  they  suffered  greatly  from 
a  property  standpoint,  owing  to  the  rav- 
ages and  depredations  of  war.  Several  of 
the  Smith  family  also  served  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  the  records  of  the  family  show 
that  one  and  all  were  loyal  to  their  coun- 
try, and  to  the  interests  and  obligations 
of  private  and  public  life.  Mrs.  Man- 
chester was  the  mother  of  six  children,  and 
of  these  but  three  survive.  Powell  G.  mar- 
ried Sarah  Warfield  and  lives  near  Shad- 
ron,  Nebraska,  while  Milton  D.  married 
Emma  Little  and  lives  in  the  fruit  region 
of  Arkansas. 

The  youth  of  W.  V.  Manchester  was 
not  unlike  that  of  other  farm-reared  boys, 
and  he   continued  to  live  amid   the   home 


surroundings  until  his  marriage,  February 
23,  1854,  with  Martha  J.  Kindle,  a  native  of 
Piqua,  Ohio.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  of  the  ten  sons  and 
daughters  born  to  them  but  seven  are  now 
living:  James,  a  resident  of  Texas;  Will- 
iam, who  died  in  Ohio ;  David ;  John  E.,  of 
Ogle  county,  Illinois;  Baxter;  Alexander, 
of  Ohio;  and  Samuel.  Four  sons  and  four 
daughters  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Manchester,  namely :  Richard  V.  mar- 
ried Ellen  Welch  and  lives  in  section  23. 
Burnside  township;  Walter  S.  married 
Minnie  Rufer  and  lives  on  section  8,  the 
same  township;  Elvira  J.,  wife  of  John 
Welch,  who  lives  on  section  27;  Bertha  M., 
wife  of  E.  M.  Townsend,  of  Minnesota ; 
J.  E.,  who  married  Otelia  Carlstrom  and 
was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in 
Burnside,  Iowa,  for  a  time,  but  is  now  liv- 
ing in  the  state  of  Washington ;  Frank,  who 
is  still  under  the  parental  roof ;  May,  who 
is  teaching  in  the  home  district ;  and  Jessie 
G.,  who  is  also  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Manchester  op- 
erated the  home  farm  in  Ohio,  and  the  sec- 
ond year  rented  another  farm,  upon  which 
he  lived  until  removing  to  Iowa  in  1855. 
Here  also  he  rented  a  farm  for  a  year,  and 
then  worked  in  Greene  county  for  a  year. 
after  which  he  moved  to  Webster  county 
and  purchased  eighty  acres,  which  he 
worked  in  connection  with  rented  land. 
With  the  need  of  his  services  in  demand  by 
the  exigencies  of  the  Civil  war,  he  left  his 
farm  to  be  operated  by  other  hands,  and 
January  5,  [864,  enlisted  in  Company  D. 
Thirty-second  Volunteer  Infantry,  under 
Captain  Theodore  De  Tar,  Colonel  Scott 
and  General  A.  J.  Smith.  He  joined  the 
company  at  Memphis.  Tennessee,  then 
moved  up  the  Red  river,  and  the  first  bat- 
tle in  which  he  took  part  was  the  one  which 


54Q 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


led  to  the  capture  of  Fort  Derussy.  This 
was  followed  by  the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill, 
in  which  Mr.  Manchester  did  not  engage 
owing  to  a  severe  illness.  His  next  ex- 
perience was  at  Yellow  Bayou,  an  all-day 
engagement,  then  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  after 
which  the  regiment  crossed  the  state  of 
'Missouri  and  back  in  an  effort  to  capture 
Price  while  on  his  raid.  After  this  chase 
they  returned  to  St.  Louis  and  embarked 
for  Nashville,  and  after  driving  Hood 
across  the  state  to  the  Tennessee  river, 
again  embarked  in  boats  for  Eastport,  Mis- 
sissippi, the  winter  quarters  of  the  regiment. 
After  a  lest  of  a  few  weeks  they  again)  set 
out  as  soon  as  boats  could  be  secured  for 
New  Orleans.  At  that  time  Mr.  Man- 
chester was  in  the  commissary  department, 
and  upon  arriving  at  Montgomery  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Eighth  Iowa  Veterans, 
and  did  provost  guard  duty  for  several 
days.  He  was  then  honored  with  the  po- 
sitinn  of  company  commissary,  which  he 
held  until  he  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  army, 
April  21,  1866,  Mr.  Manchester  resumed 
farming,  although  his  home  coming  was  a 
sad  one,  for  while  doing  his  duty  to  his 
country  the  parents  who,  by  precept  and 
example,  had  endeared  themselves  to  their 
children,  had  died,  and  the  old  order  of 
things  was  no  more.  In  1873  he  sold  his 
farm  and  bought  the  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  upon  which  he  now  lives,  and  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising. 
After  the  war  he  learned  to  be  a  practical 
plasterer,  and  devoted  some  time  to  that 
trade. 

In  connection  with  the  enterprise  which 
he  has  manifested  in  his  home  surround- 
ings Mr.  Manchester  has  been  prominentl) 
before  the  public  as  a  promoter  of  general 


improvement,  and  has  been  particularly  ac- 
tive in  the  affairs  of  the  Republican  party. 
Among  the  important  responsibilities  satis- 
factorily disposed  of  by  him  may  be  men- 
tioned that  of  justice  of  the  peace,  township 
clerk,  school  director  and  county  super- 
visor, the  last  named  office  being  assumed 
in  1893  for  three  years.  At  present  he  is 
president  of  the  school  board,  and  has  been 
school  treasurer  since  1881.  He  is  also 
chairman  of  the  township  Republican  com- 
mittee. He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First 
National  Bank  at  Lehigh  and  in  the  cream- 
ery at  Burnside. 


HENRY  FALLON. 


A  man  of  prominence  in  the  history  of 
Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  one  whose  life 
has  been  an  example  of  energy  and  perse- 
verance, was  Henry  Fallon,  who  first  opened 
his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  in  Ireland,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  County  Antrim  on 
the  22d  of  July,  1833.  His  parents,  Charles 
and  Mary  Ann  Fallon,  were  also  natives  of 
the  Emerald  Isle,  but  left  the  fatherland  for 
America  in  1833,  locating  in  Clinton  county, 
New  York,  where  they  resided  for  a  number 
of  years  engaged  in  farming.  They  then  re- 
moved to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  1868, 
where  the  father  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  passing  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  His  wife  died  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
five  years.  This  worthy  couple  became  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity  and  the  following  are  still 
living:  Samuel,  a  farmer  of  Douglas  town- 
ship; Mrs.  Elizabeth  Casavan  of  Sac  City. 
Iowa;  Thomas  J.,  of  Chicago;  Jerry  M.,  of 
Clay  county,  Iowa;  Maggie,  of  Sac  City; 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Dessinger,  of  Douglas  town- 
ship. 


HENRY  FALLON 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


543 


Henry  Fallon,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  grew  to  manhood  in  the  Em- 
pire state  where  he  received  his  early  educa- 
tion. His  opportunities  for  a  thorough 
sch  » 'ling  were  limited  hnt  he  made  the  most 
of  his  advantages  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  future  career.  In  1864  he  removed  to 
Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  after  living  upon 
a  rented  farm  for  two  years,  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  Douglas  township,  a 
portion  of  which  is  where  his  family  now  re- 
sides. It  comprised  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  valuable  land.  The  greater  part  of 
his  life  was  spent  in  the  care  and  cultivation 
of  this  land,  which  now  stands  as  a  monu- 
ment to  his  unceasing  energy  and  persever- 
ance. From  the  highly  cultivated  fields  and 
the  rich  pasture  lands  to  the  substantial  res- 
idence and  well  filled  barns,  the  master  hand 
of  the  owner  was  plainly  visible,  for  thrift 
and  neatness,  as  well  as  energetic  purpose, 
were  strong  elements  in  the  nature  of  Mr. 
Fallon.  He  carried  on  general  farming  and 
engaged  largely  in  cattle  raising  in  which  he 
met  with  signal  success.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  Mr.  Fallon  was  the  owner  of  five  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land  which  he  had 
acquired  through  years  of  indefatigable  la- 
bor. During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Fallon  took 
tip  arms  to  aid  in  the  preservation  of  the 
Union,  enlisting  in  Company  I,  Twelfth 
Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  1865,  and  at 
the  close  of  hostilities  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, returning  to  the  peaceful  duties  of 
his  farm. 

'While  living  in  the  state  of  Xew  York 
Henry  Fallon  met  and  won  fur  his  wife. 
Miss  Margaret  Dalton,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
who  was  born  November  9.  1835,  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Rose  Dalton,  both  of  whom 
passed  away  in  the  old  country.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fallon  were  born  nine  children,  as 
follows:     Mrs.  Julia  Fryer,  of  Cummings, 


Iowa;  Minnie,  living  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa; 
Guilford,  also  at  Fori  Dodge;  Mrs.  Maggie 
Marsh,  a  resident  of  Carroll,  Iowa;  James, 
who  resides  in  Fort  Dodge;  Mrs.  Bell 
Wamsley,  of  Jersey  City.  Xew  Jersey;  Mrs. 
Alice  Burns,  a  resident  of  Chicago,  Illinois; 
David,  living  at  Fort  Dodge;  and  Thomas, 
who  resides  at  home.  Mrs.  Fallon  has  also 
reared  one  grandchild,  Harry  Fryer,  who  is 
now  living  with  her.  Nineteen  grandchil- 
dren and  one  great-grandchild  are  the  de- 
scendants of  this  worthy  couple,  and 
throughout  Wehster  count}'  the  family  is 
held  in  high  regard.  Mrs.  Fallon,  with 
three  of  her  sons,  is  now  living  on  the  old 
homestead,  which  is  one  of  the  most  attrac- 
tive farms  in  Webster  county. 

In  politics  Mr.  Fallon  was  an  advocate  of 
Democratic  principles  and  actively  supported 
the  men  and  measures  of  his  party.  He  held 
the  office  of  road  supervisor  and  also  that  of 
treasurer  of  the  school  board  and  always 
performed  his  duties  with  promptness  and  fi- 
delity. He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Catholic  church,  and  the  members  of  his 
family  are  still  identified  with  that  religious 
organization.  He  also  held  membership  in 
the  Legion  of  Honor.  After  years  of  honor- 
able toil  and  unwavering  fidelity  to  the  prin- 
ciples which  controlled  his  life  and  brought 
to  him  the  success  he  so  well  merited,  Mr. 
Fallon  was  called  to  his  final  rest,  passing 
away  at  his  residence  in  Douglas  township 
January  21,  1901,  after  several  years  of  suf- 
fering, as  he  never  was  in  very  good  health 
after  he  returned  from  the  arm)'.  His  wife, 
who  had  patiently  labored  at  his  side  during 
the  years  of  hardship  and  toil,  and  who- was 
always  a  faithful  and  loving  companion,  and 
his  devoted  children,  are  left  to  mourn  his 
1'  iss,  while  the  memory  of  his  true  worth  and 
high  integrity  still  lives  in  the  hearts  of  the 
citizens  of  Webster  county.     In  every  walk 


544 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  life,  whether  that  of  business  or  society, 
he  ever  stood  firmly  by  his  convictions  and 
upheld  the  principles  in  which  he  believed. 
As  an  early  settler  of  Webster  county  he 
suffered  many  hardships  and  privations  in- 
cident to  the  life  on  the  plains  in  those  early 
days. 


SILAS   COREY. 


When  the  history  of  Webster  county  is 
fully  written  it  will  be  found  that  the  name 
of  Silas  Corey  figures  conspicuously  on  its 
pages,  for  through  forty  years  he  has  con- 
tributed to  the  material  development  and 
improvement  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 
His  memory  forms  a  connecting  link  be- 
tween the  pioneer  past  and  the  progressive 
present  and  his  acts  have  been  of  that  char- 
acter that,  promoting  individual  success, 
have  also  contributed  in  large  measure  to 
public  progress  and  prosperity.  His  strong- 
character,  forceful  personality  and  un- 
daunted enterprise  have  dominated  many 
movements  leading  to  substantial  impn  we- 
ment,  and  in  the  evening  of  life  he  may 
well  rest  from  his  labors,  in  the  serene  en- 
joyment of  having  wrought  along  the  lines 
of  general  good. 

Mr.  Corey  is  a  native  of  Rush  county, 
Indiana,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the 
23d  of  April,  1824,  his  parents  being  Rey- 
nolds and  Elsie  (Soules)  Corey,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Oneida  county,  New 
York,  and  representatives  of  old  New  Eng- 
land families.  At  an  early  day  in  the  de- 
velopment of  Indiana  they  removed  to  that 
state,  the  year  of  their  emigration  being 
about  1S1S.  The  father  died  in  Indiana  at 
the  age  of  sixty-three  years,  and  the  mother 
passed  away  in  Galena,  Illinois,  in  1844. 
In  their  family  were  thirteen  children,  but 
Mr.  Corey  is  the  only  son  living:.     He  has 


one  sister  living,  Diana,  who  married  Will- 
iam Pox  and  is  now  living  at  Blair,  Ne- 
braska. All  were  reared,  married  and  had 
families  of  their  own. 

In  the  state  of  his  nativity  Mr.  Corey 
siient  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth, 
pursuing  his  education  after  the  primitive 
manner  of  the  times  in  a  frontier  region,  as 
he  expressed  it,  "for  three  months  a  year  on 
the  flat  side  of  a  slab."  Though  his  school 
privileges  were  limited  he  was  anxious  to 
advance  mentally  and  would  often  walk  two 
1  r  three  miles  to  borrow  a  book.  He 
eagerly  read  anything  be  could  secure  and 
throughout  bis  entire  life  has  been  a  great 
reader,  thus  continually  broadening  his 
mind  and  adding  to  his  knowledge.  For 
three  years  he  served  an  apprenticeship  to 
the  millwright's  trade,  which  he  followed  to 
some  exient  in  Indiana,  but  gave  the  greater 
part  of  his  attention  to  carpentering. 

In  1844  Mr.  Corey  left  the  Hoosier  state 
and  went  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  where  he 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  until 
1848.  At  that  time  Rockford  was  consid- 
ered a  far  western  town.  In  1849  ne  took 
up  his  abode  in  Galena.  Illinois,  and  engaged 
in  contracting  and  building  in  Jo  Daviess 
county,  working  at  his  chosen  vocation  in 
that  part  of  the  state  for  sixteen  years.  It 
was  in  the  fall  of  1862  that  he  came  to  Iowa, 
locating  at  Fort  Dodge.  He  engaged  in 
farming  on  Holiday  creek  in  Pleasant  Val- 
ley township,  where  he  secured  a  tract  of 
land,  of  which  only  thirty  acres  were  under 
cultivation.  It  was  ninety  miles  straight 
north  to  the  nearest  neighbor  and  the  wild 
condition  of  the  country  was  manifest  on 
every  side,  showing  that  Iowa  was  then  a 
"far  west"  region.  Mr.  Corey  also  pur- 
chased and  began  the  operation  of  a  coal 
mine  on  Holiday  creek — the  first  mine  that 
was  worked  permanently  in  the  county,  Mr. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


545 


(  orej  continuing  to  take  out  the  mineral 
until  the  supply  was  exhausted.  Subse- 
quently he  purchased  coal  lauds  in  Lehigh 
and  at  present  owns  the  mines  at  that  place 
operated  by  his  son.  He  gave  his  personal 
supervision  to  the  working  of  these  mines 
until  1890  and  success  attended  his  efforts. 
His  son  has  a  dry -pressed  brick  plant  there 
and  the  business  at  that  point  is  carried  on 
under  the  name  of  the  Corey  Coal  and  Dry 
Pressed  Brick  Company.  In  1893  Mr. 
Corey  began  making  investments  in  real 
estate  at  Fort  Dodge.  Pie  built  the  resi- 
dence in  which  he  is  now  living,  and  he  has 
since  purchased  or  erected  thirteen  brick 
houses  and  also  owns  several  wooden  dwell- 
ings, lie  has  also  owned  several  farms  in 
the  county.  His  realty  investments  have 
been  judiciously  made  and  return  to  him 
a  good  income. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  1843,  Mr. 
Corey  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Louisa  A.  Bratt,  in  South  Bend,  Indiana. 
She  was  born  in  Canadaigua  county.  New 
York,  and  is  descended  from  old  Xew  Eng- 
land families,  who  early  took  up  their  abode 
in  Ontario  county.  Xew  York.  When  she 
was  about  ten  years  of  age  her  parents  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  settling  fourteen  miles  west 
of  Cleveland.  When  she  was  fourteen  years 
of  age  the  family  went  to  Indiana,  and 
there  the  parents  spent  their  remaining  days, 
and  when  death  claimed  them  they  were  laid 
to  rest  in  South  Bend,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Corey 
was  born  December  4,  1820,  and  to  her  hus- 
band has  been  a  faithful  companion  and  help- 
mate 011  the  journey  of  life.  Eleven  children 
were  born  to  them:  Silas  \\'..  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  coal  business  in  Fort  Dodge; 
Henry  A.,  a  merchant  and  miller  of  Lehigh; 
Kate,  who  married  William  II.  Mc Anally, 
of  Lehigh ;  Elsie,  the  wife  of  C.  E.  Ewing, 
of  Lehigh ;  George  W.,  of  Pueblo,  Colorado ; 


Ella,  the  wife  of  S.  D.  Connelly,  of  Le- 
high; Frank,  a  coal  operator  .at  Lehigh; 
C.  F.,  a  druggist  of  Fort  Dodge;  Lillie,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  Willie,  at  the 
age  of  eleven  months;  and  Sarah  Ann,  who 
passed  away  when  three  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Corey  lia>  always  been  deeply  in- 
terested in  politics  and  formerly  took  an 
active  part  in  political  work.  In  early  life  be 
endorsed  the  principles  of  the  Whig  party 
and  was  a  stanch  Abolitionist.  When  the 
Republican  party  was  formed  to  prevent  the 
further  extension,  of  slavery  be  joined  its 
ranks  and  has  since  remained  one  of  its 
stalwart  supporters.  His  first  presidential 
vote  was  cast  for  William  Henry  Harrison. 
In  1874  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  Fif- 
teenth General  Assembly  of  Iowa,  and  has 
filled  a  number  of  local  offices.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  first  Sons  of  Temperance 
society  organized  in  Rockford  and  has  ever 
adhered  to  the  principles  which  he  then 
espoused.  He  is  a  spiritualist  in  religious 
faith  and  through  seven  years  has  never 
missed  a  circle.  Mr.  Corey  ranks  among  the 
most  respected  and  honored  citizens  of  V\  eb- 
ster  county.  He  owes  his  success  in  life 
entirely  to  his  own  efforts,  for  he  started 
upon  bis  business  career  without  capital  or 
assistance  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years.  All 
that  be  possesses  has  been  acquired  through 
industry,  perseverance  and  honorable  busi- 
ness methods,  and  it  is,  therefore,  meet  that 
in  his  declining  years  he  should  enjoy  a 
happy  rest  from  labor. 


W.  T.  MARSH. 

William  T.  Marsh,  whose  finely  im- 
proved farm  in  Burnside  township  displays 
many  evidences  of  untiring  industry  and 
practical  knowledge  of  farming  and  stock- 


546 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


raising,  was  born  in  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
September  29,  1858,  and  has  always  lived 
in  his  native  township.  His  perseverance 
was  put  to  practically  an  early  test,  for  the 
only  education  available  was  that  dispensed 
at  a  little  log  school  house  four  miles  from 
the  parental  home,  and  this  walk,  under- 
taken in  the  cold  of  winter  and  all  kinds  of 
roads,  seems  almost  incredible  to  the  pres- 
ent-day youth  of  either  the  country  or  city. 
Until  his  twenty-first  year  he  remained  on 
the  home  farm  and  faithfully  performed  his 
share  toward  the  management  of  the  estate, 
after  which  he  engaged  for  two  years  in  the 
meat  business  in  Kalo  and  Lehigh. 

On  October  31.  1885.  Air.  Marsh  mar- 
ried Miss  Mamie  Cram,  who  was  born  in 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  December  9,  18G6,  and 
moved  with  her  parents  to  Mahaska  county. 
Iowa,  January  15,  1867.  In  December, 
1868,  they  came  in  a  covered  wagon  to  Web- 
ster county,  where  the  parents  at  present  re- 
side on  section  9,  Burnside  township.  Mrs. 
Marsh  has  two  sisters,  Mrs.  Anna  Heal,  who 
has  two  children  and  lives  on  section  9, 
Burnside  township ;  and  Mrs.  Nettie  Bow- 
ers, who  lives  in  Otho  township.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marsh: 
Nellie,  born  May  31,  1888;  and  Grace,  born 
November  2.  1S90. 

The  original  purchase  of  Mr.  Marsh  in 
Burnside  township  was  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land,  but  he  has  since  sold 
eighty  acres,  leaving  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  upon  which  he  now  lives.  His  farm 
is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  township,  and 
there  are  over  twelve  hundred  rods  of  tiling 
for  drainage,  besides  all  modern  improve- 
ments and  labor-saving  machinery.  Mr. 
Marsh  is  engaged  in  raising  cattle  and  hogs 
on  a  large  scale,  and  ships  his  stock  in  car- 
load lots.  He  is  one  of  the  most  energetic 
and  progressive  men  in  the  township,  and 


well  abreast  of  the  times  on  all  matters  per- 
taining to  his  chosen  work  and  to  current 
events  in  general.  His  interests  are  by  no 
means  limited  to  his  farm,  for  he  is  one  of 
the  stockholders  in  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Lehigh,  and  may  be  counted  on  to  fur- 
ther any  progressive  movement  for  the  up- 
building of  the  community.  A  stanch  Re- 
publican, he  has  been  honored  with  numer- 
ous township  offices,  and  has  invariably 
discharged  his  obligations  to  liis  party  in  a 
most  satisfactory  manner  and  with  due  re- 
gard for  the  best  interests  of  his  fellow 
t<  iwnsrnen.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  as  is  also  his  wife. 


DAVID  M.  DANIELS. 

Examples  of  great  energy,  strict  integ- 
rity and  financial  success  may  be  met  with  in 
every  portion  of  Webster  county.  Notable 
among  these  is  the  life  of  the  late  David  M. 
Daniels,  who  was  long  and  honorably  asso- 
ciated with  the  agricultural  development  of 
Washington  township  and  occupied  a  valua- 
ble homestead  on  section  20.  A  man  of  de- 
cided ability  he  was  generally  conceded  to 
rank  among  the  first  agriculturits  of  his  dis- 
trict. Indicative  of  his  success  is  the  fact 
that  although  he  started  in  life  without 
means  he  accumulated  a  valuable  property 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  nearly 
seven  hundred  acres  of  Webster  county  land. 

The  founder  of  the  Daniels  family  in 
Webster  county  was  Abram  Daniels,  a  man 
possessing  all  the  sturdy  traits  of  character 
which  pioneer  life  render  necessary.  Con- 
cerning his  record  mention  is  elsewhere 
made.  David  M.  Daniels,  son  of  Abram  Dan- 
iels, was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  18,  1833,  and  in  early  life 


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DAVID  M.  DANIELS 


MRS.  D.  M.  DANIELS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


5Si 


settled  in  Illinois.  A  few  years  after  his 
marriage  he  removed  to  Iowa  and  was  after- 
ward identified  with  the  agricultural  devel- 
opment of  Webster  county.  While  living  in 
Illinois  he  married  Sarah  Clark,  who  was 
born  in  Tioga  county.  Xew  York.  May  i. 
[837,  a  daughter  of  Joel  and  Betsey  (Hill) 
Clark,  natives  respectively  of  Xew  York  and 
Xew  Hampshire.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark 
were  married  in  Xew  Y<  irk  and  remained 
there  until  1842,  he  meantime  farming,  also 
working  in  the  timber  and  rafting  lumber 
down  the  rivers.  During  1842  they  settled 
ir  Bureau  county.  Illinois,  where  they  re- 
mained eleven  or  more  years,  in  the  mean- 
time cultivating  their  farm.  Coming  still 
further  west  they  settled  in  Webster  town- 
ship, Webster  county.  Iowa,  in  185,4,  and 
here  the  mother  died  in  June.  1859.  Re- 
moving to  Homer.  Iowa,  in  1865,'Mr.  Clark 
remained  there  for  a  time  and  then  estab- 
lished his  home  in  Burnside,  Webster  county, 
where  he  died  in  March.  1888.  Two  years 
after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married 
Lovina  Meade. 

When  the  Civil  war  began  the  sympa- 
thies of  Joel  Clark  were  at  once  aroused  in 
behalf  of  the  Union.  He  was  opposed  to 
slavery  and  to  the  establishment  of  the  Con- 
federacv.  On  January  25,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  D,  Sixteenth  Iowa  Infantry, 
and  soon  went  to  the  front,  but  on  account 
of  illness  was  honorably  discharged  and  re- 
turned home  in  1863.  Throughout  all  his 
active  life  he  voted  with  the  Republicans. 
Al»  ut  1859  he  served  as  deputy  sheriff  of 
AYebster  county  and  at  different  times  he 
held  all  of  the  township  offices.  Fur  years 
before  his  death  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  its  faith 
he  passed  from  earth  in  March.  1888.  Since 
then  his  widow  has  removed  to  Xebraska. 

To  the  marriage  of  Joel  Clark  and  Bet- 


sey Hill  seven  children  were  born,  namely: 
Mary  Jane,  Mrs.  John  Crumby.  of  Grundy 
county:  Sarah.  Mrs.  Daniels;  Euretta.  wife 
of  Harvey  Brooks,  of  Boone  county.  Iowa; 
Eugenia.  (  t\\  in  sifter  of  Euretta  ).  who  mar- 
ried T.  McNealy  and  lives  in  Duncombe, 
Iowa:  Hannah.  Mrs.  William  Gardner,  of 
Fayette  county,  this  state;  Trypossie,  Mrs. 
Samuel  Scoville,  of  Border  Plains:  and  El- 
tha,  wife  of  Emory  Ford,  a  resident  of  Dun- 
combe. By  his  marriage  to  Lovina  Meade, 
Joel  Clark  had  five  children,  namely :  Willis, 
who  died  in  Boone  county,  Iowa:  Carrie, 
who  died  unmarried  at  Burnside,  Iowa: 
Boyd,  of  Ames,  this  state:  Effie,  who  died  in 
childhood;  and  Cora,  who  married  John 
Nuby  and  lives  in  Arkansas.  The  founder 
of  die  Clark  family  in  America  came  from 
England,  while  through  his  maternal  ances- 
tors Joel  Clark  traced  his  lineage  to  Germany 
and  also  to  Scotch-Irish  stock.  His  father 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Daniels  made  her  In  une  in 
Illinois  during  the  stirring  events  connected 
with  the  war  of  181 2. 

Of  the  children  born  to  the  union  of 
David  M.  Daniels  and  Sarah  Clark  three 
died  in  infancy.  The  oldest  -on.  Lawrence, 
who  was  born  in  Illinois  June  21,  1853.  died 
November  3.  [895;  hi-  first  wife  was  Belle 
Ellis,  and  after  her  death  he  married  Hattie 
Gaff,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  and 
who  is  now  living  in  Saugache,  Colorado. 
The  second  son.  Joel,  was  horn  in  Iowa  Jan- 
uary 28,  1835.  and  married  Elizabeth 
Blanchard.  by  whom  he  has  three  children, 
Robert.  Grace  and  D.  M.  He  makes  his 
home  in  Washington  township.  The  oldesl 
daughter.  Stella,  was  born  in  Webster  county 
March  13.  1838.  and  became  the  wife  of 
Wilson  Sorber.  They  and  their  five  children 
live  at  Salem.  Oregon.  The  fourth  member 
of  the   family   circle  was   Emmet,  born   in 


552 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Webster  county  July  15,  i860,  and  now  re- 
sides near  Gilmore  City,  Pocahontas  county, 
this  state ;  he  married  Ida  Hayes  and  has  six 
children.  Cynthia,  bom  July  22,  1865,  mar- 
ried John  Porter,  of  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  and 
has  five  children.  Betsy,  born  September  28, 
1867,  married  Delbert  Daniels,  of  Dixon 
county,  Iowa,  and  they  have  four  children, 
David,  born  September  23,  1869,  and  now- 
living  in  Washington  township,  married 
I\lar_\-  Isham.  by  whom  he  has  four  children. 
Edgar,  born  September  16,  1S71,  married 
Minnie  Flowers  and  they  and  their  three  chil- 
dren live  in  Washington  township.  Frank, 
born  June  15,  1873.  *s  a  fanner  of  Washing- 
ton township;  he  and  his  wife,  formerly  Es- 
ther Hollis,  have  four  children.  Hartley, 
born  September  17,  1878,  married  Xellie 
Crouse  and  they  and  their  child  reside  in 
Washington  township.  Earl,  who  is  the 
youngest  of  the  large  family,  was  born  Jan- 
uary 17,  1882,  and  makes  his  home  with  his 
mother  on  the  old  homestead  in  Washington 
township. 


DAXIEL  HILL. 


Among  the  sturdy,  energetic  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  Roland  township  who 
th'  iroughly  understand  their  chosen  vocation 
and  are  consequently  enabled  to  carry  on 
their  calling  with  profit  to  themselves,  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  whose  home  is  on  sec- 
tion 7.  He  was  born  in  Durham  township, 
Oxford  county,  Canada,  April  7,  1844,  a  son 
of  C.  G.  Hill,  who  was  born  in  Vermont 
in  1805,  and  was  only  five  years  old  when 
taken  into  Canada  by  his  father,  William 
Hill,  also  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain 
state.  The  family  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county  of  Oxford,  where  they 
and  their  relatives  formed  a  large  Vermont 


settlement.  Our  subject's  grandfather 
opened  up  a  farm  near  Ingersoll,  and  there 
C.  G.  Hill  grew  to  manhood.  In  early  life 
he  was  employed  on  public  works,  and  later 
engaged  in  farming  in  Xew  York  state. 
While  there  he  met  and  married  Miss  Mary 
Rowley,  who  was  born  in  Xew  Hampshire, 
but  was  reared  in  Chautauqua  county,  Xew 
Y<  irk.  They  made  their  home  in  Oxford, 
Canada,  where  Mr.  Hill  purchased  a  farm 
and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  active  busi- 
ness life.  He  died  there  in  1898,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-three  years. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Daniel  Hill 
passed  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  was 
given  a  good  common-school  education, 
which  has  been  of  much  practical  benefit  to 
him  in  later  years.  Coining  to-  the  United 
States  in  1865,  he  spent  the  first  winter  in 
Wisconsin,  and  then  removed  to  Fort  Dodge, 
Iowa,  arriving  here  in  the  spring  of  1866. 
For  several  years  he  worked  at  anything 
which  he  could  find  to  do  in  that  vicinity, 
but  at  length  rented  land  and  turned  his  at- 
tention to  farming.  In  1884  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land  in  Roland  town- 
ship, which  he  began  to  break  and  improve 
the  following  year,  and  in  1886  he  took  up 
his  residence  thereon.  He  has  since  en- 
gaged in  its  operation  and  now  has  a  well- 
improved  and  highly  cultivated  farm  of  sev- 
enty-four acres. 

In  1867,  in  Webster  county,  Mr.  Hill 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rachel 
Casterline,  a  native  of  Decatur  county,  Iowa. 
Her  father,  B.  M.  V.  Casterline,  came  from 
Xew  Yi  >rk  to  Iowa  in  pioneer  days  and  first 
located  in  Decatur  county,  where  he  opened 
up  a  farm,  but  in  1856  removed  to  Webster 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  had  eight  chil- 
dren:  C.  G,  who  is  now  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  in  Polk  county,   Xebraska; 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


553 


Mary,  wife  of  V.  C.  Head,  of  Farnham- 
ville,  Iowa;  B.  M.  V.,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  with  his  brother  in  Polk 
county,  Nebraska ;  Frederick,  a  resident  of 
Farnhamville,  Iowa ;  Elizabeth  R.,  wife  of 
C.  A.  Hughart,  of  Webster  county;  Frank 
F..  a  resident  of  Osceola  county,  Iowa; 
Esther,  \\h<<  became  the  wife  of  Frank  Arm- 
strong, if  Fort  Dodge,  but  is  now  deceased, 
passing  away  January  12,  1902;  and  Har- 
riet, who  is  now  attending  Tobin  College, 
Fort  Dodge,  and  resides  at  home. 

Mr.  Hill  was  formerly  identified  with 
the  Republican  party  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential 'oa Hot  for  General  U.  S.  Grant,  but 
11.  w  votes  the  Prohibition  ticket,  being  a 
strong  temperance  man.  He  has  efficiently 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  but. 
has  never  cared  for  political  office.  In  re- 
ligious faith  he  is  a  Cougregationalist,  while 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  as  earnest,  consistent 
Christians  they  take  an  active  part  in  all 
church  work.  Mr.  Hill  being  one  of  the  ofh- 
cers  of  his  church  and  one  of  its  organizers. 
He  has  made  many  warm  friends  during  the 
thirty-five  years  of  his  residence  in  this 
community,  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by- 
all  who  know  him. 


WILLI  AM  B.  CRAXDALL. 

William  B.  Crandall,  a  well-known  re- 
tired farmer  of  Callender,  Iowa,  has  demon- 
strated the  true  meaning  of  the  word  suc- 
cess as  the  full  accomplishment  of  an  hon- 
orable purpose.  Energy,  close  application, 
perseverance  and  good  management — these 
were  the  elements  which  entered  into  his 
business  career  and  crowned  his  efforts  with 
prosperity. 


Mr.  Crandall  was  born  in  Madison  coun- 
ty, Xew  York,  December  2,  1832,  a  son  of 
James  and.  Dorcas  (Witter)  Crandall,  both 
natives  of  Rhode  Island,  his  ancestors  being 
early  settlers  of  that  state  and  of  English 
origin.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
James  Crandall,  Sr.,  and  his  maternal  Sam- 
uel Witter,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Madison 
county,  Xew  York.  When  a  voting  man  the 
father  1  f  our  subject  took  up  his  residence 
in  that  county,  and  there  he  was  married  and 
continued  to  make  his  home  throughout  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  his  time  and  energies 
being  devoted  to  farming.  He  died  in  1832, 
and  his  wife,  who  long  survived  him,  reared 
their  family,  consisting  of  three  sons,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest.  Samuel, 
the  oldest,  is  now  a  resident  of  Evanston, 
Webster  county.  Iowa.  Noyes  F.  laid  down 
his  life  in  defense  of  his  country  during  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion,  He  was  a  member  of 
a  Yew  York  cavalry  regiment,  and  was 
killed  in  the  Shenandoah  valley. 

Reared  in  his  native  county,  William  B. 
Crandall  acquired  his  education  in  its  com- 
mon schools,  but  his  advantages  along  that 
line  were  rather  meager.  There  he  was  mar- 
ried on  the  7th  of  March,  1853,  the  ho  1  \  1  1 
his  choice  being  Miss  Lucina  Porter,  a  na- 
tive of  Oneida  county,  Xew  York,  though 
they  became  acquainted  in  Madison  county, 
where  she  was  then  living.  Her  father,  San- 
ford  Porter,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Empire 
state. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  Mr. 
Crandall  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Madi- 
son county,  Xew  York,  but,  feeling  that  his 
country  needed  his  services,  he  laid  aside  all 
personal  interests  and  in  1862  enlisted  for 
nine  months  in  Company  A,  One  Hundred 
and  Seventy-sixth  Xew  York  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, as  a  private.  His  regiment  was  or- 
dered  south   to  Louisiana  and  assigned  to 


554 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


General  Bank's  army.  Mr.  Crandall  was 
mostly  engaged  in  picket  duty  along  the 
railroads.  During  a  skirmish  at  Brashear 
City  he  was  taken  prisoner,  but  was  soon 
afterward  paroled  and  sent  to  the  Union 
lines.  He  spent  some  time  on  Ship  Island 
as  a  par  'led  prisoner,  and  then  rejoined  his 
regiment  at  Bonnet  Carre,  Louisiana,  where 
he  remained  until  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  enlistment  and  then  returned  to  Xew 
York,  being  honorably  discharged  from  the 
service  in  November,  1863. 

In  the  following  March  Mr.  Crandall 
and  his  family  removed  from  their  old  home 
in  Madison  county,  Xew  York,  to  Webster 
county.  Iowa,  where  his  wife's  parents -had 
previously  located.  For  one  year  he  rented 
land  and  engaged  in  farming  near  Border 
Plains,  and  then  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
prairie  land  and  forty  acres  along  the  river, 
this  being  the  first  property  he  ever  owned. 
He  soon  a  inverted  the  wild  tracts  into  well- 
tilled  fields,  and  erected  thereon  good  and 
substantial  buildings.  After  operating  that 
farm  for  about  six  years,  Mr.  Crandall  was 
appointed  overseer  of  the  poor  farm,  and  ac- 
ceptably filled  that  position  for  some  years. 
in  the  meantime  selling  his  own  farm.  Sub- 
sequently he  bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Cal- 
houn county,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty-four  acres,  on  which  he  located  in  the 
spring  of  1884.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  in  Lehigh  for  a  year,  but  at 
the  end  of  that  time  he  resumed  farming, 
and  continued  to  carry  on  his  farm  until 
March,  1901,  when  he  sold  the  place  and 
bought  residence  property  in  Callender, 
where  he  now  makes  his  home,  having  laid 
aside  all  business  cares. 

Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Crandall  only  three  are  now  living, 
namely :  Henry  Dwight,  a  farmer  of  Web- 
ster county,  is  married  and  has  three  daugh- 


ters, Dora  L.,  Daisy  and  Lyle.  William  Ar- 
thur makes  his  home  in  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri. Albert  L.  is  a  farmer  of  Calhoun 
county,  Iowa.  Of  the  deceased.  Charles 
Lewis  died  at  the  age  of  six  years ;  Edward 
E.  at  the  age  of  three  years ;  John  Alfred  at 
lour  weeks;  and  one  unnamed  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Mr.  Crandall  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  James  Buchanan  in  1856,  but  four 
years  later  supported  Abraham  Lincoln  for 
the  same  office,  and  has  since  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party,  taking  quite  an  active 
and  influential  part  in  local  politics.  For 
three  years  he  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  county  board  of  supervisors,  and  previ- 
ously filled  the  office  of  township  trustee. 
He  was  also  an  efficient  member  of  the 
school  board  several  years,  and  his  official 
duties  were  always  most  faithfully  and  satis- 
factorily performed.  He  and  his  wife  were 
reared  in  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist  church, 
but  are  not  now  connected  with  any  church 
organization.  They  receive  and  merit  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  them, 
and  have  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances who  appreciate  their  sterling 
worth  and  many  excellencies  of  character. 


MRS.   ELLA  WOODARD. 

That  agricultural  knowledge  is  by  no 
means  monopolized  by  men  is  demonstrated 
by  the  superior  management  of  Mrs.  Ella 
Woodard,  whose  well-equipped  farm  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Burnside  township,  is  worthy  the 
enterprise  and  well-directed  energy  of  the 
owner.  A  native  of  Vermont,  she  was  born 
May  27,  1845,  and  is  of  American  parent- 
age. Her  father  died  in  Iowa  in  1887,  while 
the  mother  lived  until  1895.     In  the  family 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


555 


besides  Mrs.  Woodard,  who  was  formerly 
Ella  Irish,  were  two  sons  and  five  daughters, 
namely:  Mrs.  Homer  Benson,  of  Jasper 
county.  Iowa;  Mrs.  M.  C.  Holversen,  of 
Forest  City,  Iowa;  George  B.,  of  Wesley, 
Iowa,  who  married  Sadie  Weeks;  Harry, 
also  a  resident  of  Forest  City,  who  married 
Alice  Price;  Mrs.  Arthur  White,  who  died 
at  Wesley  in  1S98;  Callie.  the  wife  of 
Gifford  Rogers,  of  Jasper  county,  Iowa;  and 
Cora,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Faircloth,  of  Jasper 
county. 

Mrs.  Woodard  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  reared  on  her  father's  farm. 
On  June  10,  1862,  she  married  John  Wood- 
ard. who  was  born  August  5,  1821,  in 
Maine,  of  American  parentage  and  agri- 
cultural ancestors.  Mr.  Woodard  had  seven 
sisters  and  one  brother,  namely  :  Mrs.  Sarah 
Ames,  who  died  in  Minnesota  ;  Mrs.  Elvira 
Whiting,  who  died  in  Illinois;  Mrs.  Jane 
Weston,  who  died  in  Maine;  Mrs.  Lucinda 
Florida,  who  died  in  Illinois;  Miss  Olive 
Woodard,  who  lives  in  Illinois;  Mrs.  Lydia 
Slate,  who  died  in  Minnesota ;  Mrs.  Mary 
George,  who  died  in  Minnesota;  and  Mrs. 
Catherine  Florida,  now  living  in  Minnesota. 

The  life  of  Mr.  Woodard  was  an  active 
and  interesting  one,  and  his  ambitious  na- 
ture led  him  into  various  fields  of  activity. 
He  was  essentially  a  roamer,  and  his  nature 
was  attuned  to  the  adventurous  side  of  ex- 
istence. In  his  youth  he  worked  among  the 
pineries  and  became  a  carpenter,  and  in  185 1 
went  to  California,  hoping  much  from  the 
glowing  accounts  of  readily-gotten  gold 
which  penetrated  the  limitations  of  his  iso- 
lated northern  home.  For  twelve  years  he 
tempted  fortune  with  pick  and  ax,  with 
fairly  successful  results,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Minnesota,  whither  he  had  pre- 
viously removed  with  his  parents,  and  mar- 
ried.    After  settling-  in  Rockford  he  worked 


at  the  carpenter  trade  and  was  also  a  mill- 
wright, and  came  from  there  to  Iowa  in  the 
spring  of  1870.  In  1869  he  purchased  the 
farm  upon  which  his  widow  now  lives,  but 
after  locating  on  the  farm  he  returned  to 
the  fascinations  of  mining  in  the  Black  Hills 
of  South  Dakota.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
company  which  was  developing  the  mines, 
and  he  continued  to  trust  in  their  output  and 
to  give  his  time  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
company  for  three  or  four  years,  when  he 
wisely  disposed  of  his  shares  and  returned 
to  his  farm  in  Iowa,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred November  6,  1888.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  of  the  California  miners  to  adopt 
the  method  of  hydraulic  mining,  and  his 
company  built  a  bridge  over  the  Yuba  river 
which  is  still  standing.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Woodard  were  born  four  children:  Bell 
Van  Winkle,  of  Dayton,  Iowa;  Fern  Lun- 
dien,  of  Dayton ;  Beatrice  Smith,  of  Ouincy, 
Michigan;  and  Olive  J.,  living  on  the  home 
farm. 

Mrs.  Woodard  has  a  large  responsibility 
and  engaged  in  large  enterprises  on  her 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  fourteen  acres. 
The  property  is  well  improved,  and  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  manager  is  every- 
where apparent.  Mrs.  Woodard  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
contributes  generously  towards  its  support, 
as  well  as  towards  general  philanthropic  un- 
dertakings of  her  vicinity. 


MARTIN  STEGNER. 

This  well-known  and  successful  vet- 
erinary surgeon  of  Fort  Dodge  was  born  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  November  11,  1828, 
and  is  a  son  of  David  Stegner,  who,  to- 
o-ether  with  his  five  sons,  was  also  a  vet- 


556 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


erinary  surgeon.  Our  subject  acquired  his 
literary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Wurtemberg  and  also  attended  a  veterinary 
school.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  en- 
tered the  German  army  and  served  as  a 
sharpshooter  for  five  years. 

In  1854  Mr.  Stegner  sailed  for  the  new 
world  in  company  with  a  brother,  who  died 
while  at  sea.  On  landing  in  this  country  our 
subject  proceeded  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  spent  ten  years  as  a  veterinary  sur- 
geon, and  then  removed  to  Miami  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  made  his  home  until  com- 
ing to  Fort  Dodge  in  1869,  but  after  spend- 
ing one  summer  here  he  returned  to  Indi- 
ana, and  did  not  locate  permanently  in  this 
city  until  1875.  Here  he  has  since  followed 
his  chosen  profession  with  marked  success, 
and  is  considered  one  of  the  best  veterinary 
surgeons  of  the  count)',  sixty  years  of  his 
life  having  been  devoted  to  practice. 

Mr.  Stegner  was  married,  February  1, 
1859.  to  Miss  Margaret  Yoars,  who  was 
born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  September  18, 
1841.  of  German  parentage.  Her  father, 
George  Yoars,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stegner  have  been  born 
the  following  children :  Frederick,  born 
May  27,  i860,  is  a  resident  of  Mason  City, 
Iowa;  George,  born  January  26,  1863,  died 
March  27,  1887;  Julia  E.,  born  September 
10,  1865,  Mary  A.,  born  December  8,  1867, 
and  Mollie,  born  January  30,  1871,  are  all 
three  employed  in  a  candy  factory  and  re- 
side at  home ;  Flora  E.,  born  February  20, 
1874.  is  the  wife  of  H.  O.  Schaeft'er,  a  bar- 
ber of  Fort  Dodge;  Grace,  born  September 
3,  1877,  died  August  28,  1878;  and  Frank, 
born  May  2,  1880,  died  July  28,  1881.  The 
two  older  buys  were  born  in  Ohio  and  the 
girls  were  born  in  Indiana.  The  family  hold 
membership  in  Corpus  Christi  church,  and 
Mr.  Sterner  is  also  a  member  of  the  Inde- 


pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  his 
adopted  county,  and  has  man}-  warm  friends 
in  and  around  Fort  Dodsre. 


FREDERICK  A.  KRUCKMAN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  operates  a  fine 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Cooper  township  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  most  skillful  and  thorough  agricul- 
turists of  his  community.  He  was  born  in 
Wisconsin  March  22,  1863,  and  is  a  son  of 
F.  W.  and  Eva  (Bennaman)  Kruckman,  na- 
tives of  Germany  and  Canada,  respectively. 
Coming  to  Iowa  in  1871  they  settled  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  Webster  county,  where 
the  father  successfully  engaged  in  farming 
for  some  years,  but  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Fort  Dodge.  He  and  his  wife  have 
ten  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living, 
namely :  Mar}-.  John,  Charles,  Clara,  Fred- 
erick A.,  George,  Lucy,  Herbert,  Daniel  and 
Arthur. 

Frederick  A.  Kruckman  was  only  eight 
years  old  when  he  came  with  his  family  to 
Iowa  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Webster 
county,  his  education  being  acquired  in  the 
Fort  Dodge  schools.  Early  in  life  he  be- 
came thoroughly  familiar  with  all  the  duties 
which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist,  and 
throughout  his  business  life  he  has  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  On  the  1st  of  March,  1901,  he 
came  into  possession  of  the  Strow  farm, 
comprising  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
and  its  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  plainly 
indicates  the  careful  supervision  of  the 
owner.  In  addition  to  this  he  operates  his 
father's  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.    He  raises  corn,  wheat,  oats  and  bar- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


557 


ley,  and  annually  feeds  about  one  hundred 
head  of  cattle,  making  a  specialty  of  short- 
horns, and  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  head  of 
Poland  China  hogs. 

In  1S92  Mr.  Kruckman  married  Miss 
Josephine  Wesley,  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Iowa,  who  died  May  II,  1901,  at 
the  age  of  nine  years.  She  left  two  children, 
Floyd  J.  and  Celia  P.  In  politics  Mr.  Kruck- 
man is  an  ardent  Republican  and  in  relied'  ms 
faith  is  a  German  Lutheran.  He  is  one  of 
the  leading  farmers  of  his  community  and 
is  highly  respected  by  all  who  known  him. 


WILLIAM  L.  MITCHELL. 

William  L.  Mitchell  is  one  of  Webster 
county's  native  sons  and  a  representative  of 
one  of  her  old  highly  respected  families, 
whose  identification  with  her  history  dates 
from  an  early  period  in  the  development  of 
the  county.  He  was  born  March  3,  1863, 
on  the  old  homestead  on  section  19,  Badger 
township,  where  he  now  resides. 

Patrick  Mitchell,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  was  a 
young  man  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States.  After  spending  a  few  years  in  the 
south  he  located  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  followed  farming  for  some  years, 
and  there  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ann  Kennedy.  In  1856  he  removed  to 
Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  where  our  subject  now  resides,  having 
visited  this  county  the  fall  previous  and  en- 
tered one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  govern- 
ment land.  His  first  home  here  was  a  little 
log  house,  in  which  he  lived  while  opening 
up  his  farm,  but  it  has  long  since  been  re- 
placed by  a  more  commodious  modern  resi- 
dence. He  extended  the  boundaries  of  his 
farm  until  they  contained  two  hundred  acres 


and  transformed  the  wild  land  into  well- 
tilled  fields,  which  were  made  to  yield  abund- 
ant harvests  in  return  for  the  care  and  lal  un- 
expended upon  them.  He  continued  to  de- 
vote his  time  and  energies  to  the  cultivation 
and  improvement  of  his  farm  until  1890, 
when  he  removed  to  Fort  Dodge  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  in  ease  and  quiet. 
There  he  died  in  the  fall  of  1897,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  His 
\vid<  >\v  now  makes  her  home  with  a  daughter 
in  Estherville,  Iowa. 

Amid  rural  scenes  William  L.  Mitchell 
passed  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth, 
aiding  in  the  labors  of  the  fields  and  pursuing 
his  studies  in  the  home  schools.  On  the  re- 
tirement of  his  father  he  took  charge  of  the 
home  farm  and  has  since  successfully  en- 
gaged in  its  operation.  In  connection  with 
general  farming  he  carries  on  stock  rais- 
ing quite  extensively,  keeping  a  high  grade 
of  stock,  and  in  both  undertakings  he  has 
prospered. 

On' the  25th  of  November.  1889.  Mr. 
Mitchell  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ellen  Casey,  who  was  also  born,  reared  and 
educated  in  this  county,  and  successfully  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage. She  is  a  daughter  of  James  Casey, 
another  of  the  early  settlers  of  Webster 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  have  six 
children,  namely :  Florence,  John,  Willis, 
Helen,  Harold  and  Monica. 

Formerly  Mr.  Mitchell  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics  and  cast  his  first  presidential  bal- 
lot for  Grover  Cleveland,  but  is  now  inde- 
pendent in  politics,  and  usually  votes  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  favoring  expansion  and 
sound  money.  Reared  in  the  Catholic  faith 
he  and  his  wife  attend  that  church  at  Fort 
Dodge,  and  are  among  the  most  highly  re- 
spected and  honored  citizens  of  their  com- 
munity. 


55S 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


REV.  E.  ZUERRER. 

Rev.  E.  Zuerrer,  the  beloved  pastor  of 
St.  Paul's  Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  of 
Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  was  born  in  Switzerland 
May  5,  185 2,  and  is  a  son  of  H.  and  Eliza 
(  Schmid)  Zuerrer,  who  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  that  country.  He  has  one  brother 
and  two  sisters,  who  are  still  residents  of 
Switzerland.     His  father  was  a  judge. 

Mr.  Zuerrer  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  the  beautiful  land  of  the  Alps  and  attended 
the  Zurich  University,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1870.  In  June  of  the  follow- 
ing year  he  came  to  America  and  first  located 
in  Olmsted  county,  Minnesota,  where  he 
taught  school  until  1877,  when  he  entered 
the  theological  seminary  at  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, and  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
June,  1880. 

Being  ordained  as  a  minister  of  the  Ger- 
man Evangelical  Lutheran  church  he  took 
charge  of  the  congregation  at  Paulina,  Iowa. 
in  August,  1880,  and  remained  there  until 
November,  1892,  when  he  was  called  to  St. 
Paul's  church  in  Fort  Dodge,  of  which  he 
has  since  been  pastor.  This  church  was  or- 
ganized in  1862  and  is  now  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  During  the  pastorate  of  Mr. 
Zuerrer  the  membership  has  been  increased 
from  six  hundred  to  nine  hundred,  and  he 
has  greatly  improved  the  church  property, 
building  a  parsonage  in  1893  and  a  parochial 
school  on  Third  avenue,  south,  two  years 
later.  The  church  is  located  on  the  corner 
of  Thirteenth  and  Fourth  avenue,  south. 

Mr.  Zuerrer  was  married  in  1881  to  Miss 
Eliza  Fienup,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  a 
daughter  of  Mathias  Fienup,  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. They  now  have  three  children : 
Eliza,  born  in  1882;  Ernest,  in  1884;  and 
Walter,  in  1890.  All  have  attended  the  par- 
ochial schools  and  are  still  at  home  with  their 


parents.     Ernest  now  holds  a  position  in  the 
Commercial  Bank,  of  Fort  Dodge. 

Mr.  Zuerrer  is  a  zealous,  active  and  effi- 
cient worker  for  the  church  and  is  held  in 
high  esteem  not  only  by  the  people  of  his 
own  congregation  but  by  the  residents  of 
Fort  Dodge  e'enerallv. 


CHRISTOPHER  KNUDSON. 

Christopher  Knudson  needs  no  special  in- 
troduction to  the  readers  of  this  volume  but 
the  work  would  be  incomplete  without  the 
record  of  his  life.  There  is  probably  no  man 
in  Webster  county  who  has  been  more  prom- 
inently identified  with  her  development  and 
upbuilding,  and  he  is  often  called  the  king  or 
father  of  Badger,  in  which  town  he  is  now 
living  a  retired  life.  He  cheerfully  gives  his 
support  to  those  enterprises  that  tend  to  pub- 
lic development  and  has  been  connected  with 
many  interests  that  have  promoted  general 
welfare.  His  name  is  synonym  for  honora- 
ble business  dealing  and  he  is  always  men- 
tioned as  one  of  the  invaluable  citizens  of 
his  community. 

Mr.  Knudson  was  born  near  Stavanger, 
Norway,  February  10,  1836,  and  grew  to 
manhood  in  his  native  land  with  no  school 
privileges.  With  the  hope  of  bettering  his 
financial  condition  he  came  to  America  in 
1856,  and  on  landing  at  Quebec,  Canada, 
proceeded  by  way  of  the  Great  Lakes  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  in  Ottawa,  La  Salle  county, 
where  he  work  on  a  farm  for  several  years. 
During  the  first  winter  spent  in  this  country 
he  attended  a  night  school  for  ten  evenings 
and  there  received  his  first  instruction  in 
writing. 

Feeling  that  his  adopted  country  needed 
his  services  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil 


C.  KNUDSON  AND  WIFE 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


563 


war  he  enlisted  in  September,  [862,  in  Han- 
shaw's  Independent  Battery,  No.  6.  He  was 
first  under  fire  in  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  and 
later  took  part  in  several  skirmishes.  He 
was  subsequently  stationed  at  Loudon,  Ten- 
nessee, where  he  did  guard  duty  for  eighteen 
months.  The  war  having  ended  he  was  then 
honorably  discharged  at  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois in  June,  1865,  and  returned  to  his 
In  mie  in  Ottawa,  where  he  worked  by  the 
mi  mth  for  about  a  year. 

Mr.  Knudson  was  married  at  that  place 
July  iS,  1807,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Anna  Arnet.  who  was  also  horn  in  Nor- 
way, and  on  coming  to  the  new  world  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  located  in  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois,  where  she  grew  to  woman- 
hood. By  this  union  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely: 
Anna,  now  the  wife  of  S.  Oakland,  a  farmer 
of  Badger  township;  Adaline,  wife  of 
Thomas  Peterson,  cashier  of  the  Badger 
Bank;  Charles,  a  merchant  of  Badger;  Oli- 
ver, at  home;  Adolph  and  Alfred,  twins,  who 
are  now  operating  the  old  home  farm ;  and 
Clarence,  who  is  a  student  in  the  home 
school. 

For  one  year  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Knudson  was  engaged  in  farming  on  rented 
land  in  La  Salle  count)-,  Illinois,  then  bought 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Lee  county,  that  state,  hut  after  residing 
there  one  year  he  sold  the  place  in  the  fall  of 
[868  and  purchased  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Badger  town- 
ship. Webster  county,  Iowa.  Here  he  lo- 
cated in  March,  1869,  and  at  once  turned  his 
attention  to  the  improvement  and  cultivation 
of  that  tract.  At  that  time  Fort  Dodge  had 
no  railroad  and  he  bad  to  haul  the  lumber  to 
build  his  house  from  Iowa  Falls,  for  which 
he  paid  forty-five  dollars  per  thousand. 
The    house    that    he    erected    at    that  time 


is  still  standing  on  the  old  home  farm 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  16, 
It  has  been  remodeled  and  added  to 
from  time  to  lime,  hut  the  original  part 
is  still  there  and  at  the  time  of  its  erec- 
tion it  was  considered  the  best  house  in  his 
section  of  the  county,  costing  Mr.  Knudson 
about  seven  hundred  dollars.     The  furniture 

was  bought  in  Fort  Dodge.    Common  w 1- 

en  chairs  cost  one  dollar  each  and  a  small 
dining  room  table  seven  dollars,  and  other 
furniture  accordingly.  As  time  passed  he 
has  steadily  prospered  in  his  fanning  opera- 
tions and  has  increased  his  landed  posses- 
sions fnun  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns 
about  nine  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Badger 
township,  divided  into  four  farms.  When 
the  railroad  was  built  across  his  property 
he  laid  out  and  platted  the  town  of  Badger 
and  is  therefore  the  founder  of  that  place. 
He  continued  to  engage  in  farming  until 
[899,  when  he  retired  from  active  labor  and 
is  now  spending  his  declining  years  in  ease 
and  quiet  in  the  village,  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life, 
which  have  been  acquired  through  his  own 
energetic  and  well-directed  labors. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  General  Grant  in  [868,  Mr.  Knudson  has 
been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party  and  its  principles,  and  has  taken  quite 
a  prominent  and  influential  part  in  local  poli- 
tics. His  fellow  citizens  recognizing  his 
worth  and  ability,  have  elected  him  to  several 
positions  of  honor  and  trust,  the  duties  of 
which  he  has  most  faithfully  discharged.  He 
served  three  years  as  a  member  of  the  county 
board  of  supervisors,  was  township  treasurer 
about  ten  years  and  also  filled  the  offices  of 
assessor  and  township  clerk.  He  has  been 
a  delegate  to  both  the  county  and  state  con- 
ventions of  his  party  and  has  taken  a  very  ac- 
tive part   in   public  affairs.      Religiously  he 


564 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


is  a  Lutheran,  to  which  church  his  wife  also 
belongs.  For  almost  a  third  of  a  century 
Mr.  Knudson  lias  been  a  resident  of  Webstes 
county.  His  career  affords  an  excellent  ex- 
ample to  the  young  in  that  he  commenced 
life  in  this  country  without  capital,  but  hav- 
ing a  determination  to  succeed  he  industri- 
ously applied  himself  until  he  has  acquired 
a  handsome  competence  which  enables  him 
td  spend  his  declining  years  in  retirement 
from  active  labor.  He  is  well  km  wn 
throughout  the  county  as  a  man  of  sterling 
worth,  and  is  held  in  the  highest  regard  by 
all  who  know  him. 


GEORGE  A.  GABRIELSON. 

One  of  Dayton's  most  progressive  and 
energetic  business  men  is  George  A.  Gabriel- 
son,  a  well-known  hardware  and  agricultural 
implement  dealer  of  that  place.  In  his 
special  line  of  business  he  has  met  with  good 
success  and  by  the  energy  and  zeal  he  has 
manifested  he  has  won  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  public. 

A  native  of  Webster  county  he  was  horn 
in  Dayton  April  16,  1864,  and  is  the  son  of 
John  Gabrielson,  who  is  represented  else- 
where in  this  work.  He  attended  the  Leon- 
ard district  school  in  Dayton  township  and 
also  the  village  school  for  a  time.  On  com- 
pleting his  education  he  was  granted  a 
teacher's  certificate  and  taught  at  the  Adam- 
son  school  house  in  Clay  township  for  a 
time.  Mr.  Gabrielson  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing with  his  brother.  Axel,  and  gave  his  at- 
tention to  that  pursuit  for  ten  years.  In  1896 
he  removed  to  Dayton  and  formed  a  part- 
nership with  his  brother.  Victor,  in  his  pres- 
ent business.  They  carry  a  complete  line 
of   shelf   and   heavy   hardware,   stoves   and 


ranges,  farm  implements,  buggies,  wagons 
and  pumps,  and  are  enjoying  a  good  trade, 
which  is  constantly  increasing. 

At  Stanton.  Iowa,  Mr.  Gabrielson  was 
married  June  5,  1899,  to  Miss  Anna  Burke, 
who  was  born  in  Geneseo,  Henry  county, 
Illinois.  March  15,  1874,  a  daughter  of  Au- 
del  and  Mary  Burke,  natives  of  Sweden, 
where  ther  marriage  was  celebrated.  The 
father  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  hav- 
ing died  in  Sweden.  On  coming  to  America 
he  settled  in  Geneseo,  Illinois,  hut  later  re- 
moved to  Stanton,  Iowa,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  called  to  his  final  rest.  He 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
on  coming  to  this  state  and  to  the  original 
tract  added  from  time  to  time  as  he  pros- 
pered in  business  until  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  owned  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  well  improved  land.  His  widow  is 
still  living  and  continues  to  reside  in  Stan- 
ton. The  two  children  born  of  his  first  mar- 
riage are  both  deceased.  Those  of  the  sec- 
ond union  are  Emma,  wife  of  Alexander 
Lauger,  of  Swedesburg,  Iowa ;  Charles,  who 
married  Anna  Peterson  and  lives  on  our  sub- 
ject's father's  farm,  a  half  mile  from  Day- 
ton;  May,  wife  of  Edward  Stephenson,  of 
Chicago ;  Clara,  who  married  C.  A.  Ji  >lm- 
son,  residing  a  half  mile  from  Dayton,  and 
died  August  26,  1901 ;  Frank,  who  lives  on 
the  old  homestead  at  Stanton  ;  Adelbert,  who 
married  Nellie  Eckluud  and  resides  on  his 
father-in-law's  farm  four  miles  west  of  Day- 
ton; Anna,  wife  of  our  subject;  and  Mattie, 
who  is  now  keeping  house  for  her  brother, 
Frank. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gabrielson  have  one  child, 
Lester,  born  September  18,  1900.  They  own 
a  very  pleasant  home  in  Dayton,  where  they 
now  reside,  and  besides  this  and  his  business 
property,  Mr.  Gabrielson  still  has  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  improved 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


565 


land  mi  section  28,  Dayton  township.     He 

is  a  man  of  good  business  and  executive  abil- 
ity and  generally  carries  forward  to  success- 
ful completion  whatever  he  undertakes.  He 
attends  the  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church  and  is  a  member  of  the  [Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  The  Republican 
party  finds  in  him  a  stanch,  supporter  of  its 
principles,  but  he  has  always  refused  t<  1  ac- 
cept office,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire 
time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests. 


RASMUS  PETERSON. 

Since  the  spring  of  1887  Mr.  Peterson 
has  been  one  of  the  most  valued  and  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  Badger  township,  his 
home  being  on  section  18,  where  he  owns 
an  excellent  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  Although  of  foreign  birth  his 
duties  of  citizenship  have  been  performed 
with  a  loyalty  equal  to  that  of  any  native  son, 
and  when  the  nation  was  imperiled  by  the 
hydra-headed  monster,  rebellion,  he  went  to 
the  defense  of  the  Union  and  protected  the 
cause  of  his  adopted  country  on  many  a 
southern  battle  field. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  born  near  Stavanger, 
Norway,  April  9,  1843,  ar|d  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  land.  In  1861  he  emi- 
grated to  America  and  on  landing  in  Quebec 
came  west  by  way  of  Chicago  and  located  in 
Grundy  county,  Illinois,  where  for  some  time 
he  worked  at  anything  which  he  could  find 
to  do.  When  the  country  called  for  more 
troops  in  1862  to  aid  in  crushing  out  the  re- 
bellion he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Fifty-third 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  as- 
signed to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing and  Corinth,  and  was  in  a  number  of 


skirmishes.  Being  taken  ill  he  was  con- 
fined in  Overton  Hospital,  at  Memphis,  for 
some  time,  and  was  then  honorably  dis- 
charged and  returned  home. 

On  sufficiently  recovering  his  health  Mr. 
Peterson  resumed  agricultural  pursuits  and 
for  three  years  operated  a  rented  farm  in 
Grundy  count)*.  He  then  removed  to  La 
Salle  county.  Illinois,  where  he  also  rented  a 
farm  and  engaged  in  its  operation  for  two 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Champaign 
county,  the  same  state,  and  later  added  to 
it  another  tract  of  the  same  size,  making  a 
good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
pleasantly  located  near  Rantoul.  There  he 
spent  twenty  years  of  his  life,  and  on  selling 
out  at  the  end  of  that  time  came  to  Webster 
county  Iowa,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Badger  township,  where  he 
now  resides.  The  following  year  he  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  more,  and  to- 
day has  one  of  the  best  improved  and  most 
desirable  places  in  his  locality.  There  is  a 
neat  residence  on  the  farm,  two  good  barns 
and  convenient  outbuildings,  and  even-thing 
about  the  place  testifies  to  the  careful  su- 
pervision of  the  owner.  In  connection  with 
general  farming  he  carries  on  stock  raising 
quite  success  full}'. 

In  Grundy  county.  Illinois.  Mr.  Peter- 
son was  married  in  1864  to  Miss  Rhoda 
Johnson,  a  native  of  that  county  and 
a  daughter  of  Ole  Johnson,  who  came 
to  this  country  from  Norway  and 
was  one  of  the  first  to  locate  in 
Grundy  county.  By  this  union  were  born 
thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living, 
namely  :  Peter,  who  is  now  married  and  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  business  in  Badger;  Delia, 
wife  of  Sever  Thompson,  of  Fort  Dodge; 
Lena,  wife  of  Martin  Thompson,  a  merchant 
of  Badger;  Rasmus,  who  is  married  and  re- 


566 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sides  on  the  home  place;  Rosa,  wife  of  Louis 
Oxnes,  of  Badger ;  and  Gilbert,  Bertha,  Ar- 
thur and  Gertie,  all  at  home.  Those  de- 
ceased are:  Oscar,  Delia,  Peter  and  Olena. 
Mr.  Peterson  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Republican  party,  having  been  identi- 
fied with  that  great  political  organization 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864.  He  has  never 
aspired  to  office,  but  gives  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  his  farming  interests,  in  which 
he  has  been  eminently  successful.  He  is 
to-day  one  of  the  leading  agriculturist  of  his 
community  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  highly 
esteemed  citizens  oL  Badger  township.  Re- 
ligiously he  and  his  family  are  connected 
with  the  Lutheran  church  and  are  held  in 
high  regard  by  all  who  know  them. 


JOHN  VANDEVENDER. 

Among  the  pioneer  families  of  Webster 
county,  none  is  more  highly  honored  than 
that,  represented  by  John  Vandeventer,  a 
farmer  residing  on  section  28,  Washington 
township.  His  father,  Caleb ■  Vandevender, 
was  born  and  reared  in  New  York  and  went 
from  there  to  Ohio,  where  he  married  Kath- 
erine  Piper  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
1843  he  removed  to  Indiana  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  that  state  for  ten  years.  During 
the  spring  of  1854  he  came  to  Webster  o  mn- 
tv,  Iowa,  which  was  then  a  vast  tract  of  un- 
settled and  uncultivated  land.  He  camped 
in  a  grove  near  the  farm  occupied  by  his 
son,  John.  All  around  him  was  a  vast  stretch 
of  raw  timber  and  prairie  land  which,  how- 
ever, bore  marks  of  fertility  and  only  awaited 
the  pioneer's  care  and  cultivation  to  become 
valuable  property.     Not  a  single  house  was 


to  be  seen  in  all  the  distance  from  this  farm 
to  Batch  Grove  on  Boone  river,  thirty-five 
miles  away.  The  nearest  point  for  trading 
was  Fort  Dodge.  No  division  had  as  yet 
been  made  between  Hamilton  and  Wabster 
counties,  which  had  their  common  county 
seat  at  Homer.  The  now  thriving  villages 
of  Dayton  and  Lehigh  did  not  then  even  oc- 
cupy a  place  in  the  imagination  of  the  most 
sanguine  settler  or  on  the  map  of  the  most 
enthusiastic  boomer.  Webster  City  was 
known  as  Newcastle  and  contained  only  two 
houses.  Deer  and  elk  were  to-  be  seen  on 
every  hand  and  other  game  was  plentiful,  af- 
fording a  gratefully  received  addition  to  the 
oftimes  scanty  larder  of  the  pioneer.  Land 
sold  at  the  government  price  of  one  dollar 
and  twenty-five  cents'  per  acre,  and  even  at 
that  low  price  was  not  eagerly  sought  after, 
but  Caleb  Vandevender  was  a  man  with  a 
profound  faith  in  the  future  and  he  bought 
land,  devoted  himself  to  its  improvement  and 
in  time  became  a  prosperous  farmer.  He 
remained  in  Webster  county  until  his  death 
in  January,  1895.  He  had  been  a  prominent 
local  worker  in  the  Republican  party  and  bad 
held  all  of  the  township  offices.  In  religion 
he  was  connected  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal   church. 

The  first  wife  of  Caleb  Vandevender  died 
in  1836.  Of  her  four  children,  Eliza  mar- 
ried Michael  Butler  and  settled  near  Inde- 
pendence, Iowa,  but  is  now  deceased ;  Nancy, 
Mrs.  Augustus  Story,  died  in  Webster  City, 
Iowa ;  John,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  only  son 
of  this  marriage  and  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  June  27,  1833;  and  Mary,  the 
youngest  of  the  four,  married  Samuel  Ar- 
therton  and  died  in  this  county.  The  sec- 
ond wife  of  Caleb  Vandevender  was  Isabel 
Malotte,  a  native  of  Ohio,  now  residing  with 
her    daughter,    Mrs.    James    Jameson,     in 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


567 


Washington  township.  Four  children  were 
I  '  1 11  of  this  marriage  who  lived  to  maturity, 
one  daughter.  Ella,  having  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years.  Maria  is  the  wife  of  Henry 
Barr  and  lives  near  Paola,  Kansas;  William 
was  formerly  in  South  Dakota  but  now 
makes  his  home  in  Linn  county,  Kansas; 
Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  James  Jameson, 
of  Washington  township.  Webster  county; 
and  Daniel  resides  in  Washington  township. 
William  and  Daniel  married  sisters,  Cecilia 
and  Minnie  Marked,  but  the  former  is  now 
deceased. 

When  John  Yandevender  was  about  ten 
years  old  he  went  with  his  father  to  Indiana 
and  for  a  time  attended  school.  Later  I  e 
worked  by  the  month  in  Steuben  county,  In- 
diana, receiving  ten  dollars  a  month.  He 
acaompanied  his  father  to  Iowa  and  for 
three  years  worked  in  the  Butterworth  and 
Messmore  mill  at  Border  Plains.  Mean- 
time, in  1854.  he  had  entered  eighty  acres 
of  land  and  built  a  house  of  hewed  logs,  also 
cultivated  the  land,  so  that  he  was  able  to 
settle  upon  it  and  secure  a  livelihood  fn  >m  its 
management.  In  Webster  county,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1857,  he  married  Ellen  Mayberry, 
win >  was  born  in  McLean  county.  Illinois, 
May  7,  1839,  being  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  I  Hand )  Mayberry.  natives,  respect- 
ively, of  Tennessee  and  Ohio.  Some  years 
after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mavberry 
came  to  Iowa  and  settled  in  Humboldt  coun- 
ty, but  two  years  later,  in  1857,  they  re- 
moved to  Washington  township,  Webster 
county.  Later  they  went  to  Miami  county, 
Kansas,  and  bought  a  farm,  on  which  they 
remained  until  their  death.  In  religion  they 
were  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Their  family  comprised 
five  sons  and  four  daughters,  namely: 
George,  who  died  in  Nebraska ;  Nancy  Jane, 
a  widow  living  in  Kansas;  Priscilla,  wife  of 


John  Rutledge  and  a  resident  of  Kansas; 
Ellen,  wife  of  our  subject;  John,  who  mar- 
ried  Susie  Walters  and  lives  at  Boone  River, 
Iowa;  Henry,  deceased,  whose  widow  makes 
her  home  in  Kansas;  Martha,  widow  of  Jos- 
eph R(  >gers  and  a  resident  of  (.'<  ,1,  iradi  1 ;  Wes- 
ley, who  died  in  California;  and  Fletcher, 
who  married  Amanda  Yager  and  moved  to 
New  Mexico.  He  became  proprietor  of  a 
boarding  house  there  and  one  night  an  out- 
law attempted  to  rob  a  physician  who  was 
stopping  at  his  house,  but  the  latter  n 
and  was  killed.  The  outlaw  then  w, 
upon  by  the  family  and  by  the  neighbors  who 
had  been  attracted  by  the  outcry,  but  the 
murderous  desperado  succeeded  in  killing 
eight  persons,  including  all  of  the  Mayberry 
family  excepting  a  daughter,  ddie  latter  is 
now  married  and  living  near  Ackley,  Iowa. 
To  the  marriage  of  John  Vandevender  and 
Ellen  Mayberry  three  children  were  born. 
"James  II..  William  F.  and  Mattie.  The  older 
son,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grain  business  at 
Duincomhe.  Iowa,  married  Sarah  Owens, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children  :  Fmmett, 
deceased;  Zelpha  and  Altie.  Idle  younger 
son,  William  F.  is  unmarried  and  resides 
with  his  father.  The  only  daughter  married 
George  Best,  who  is  employed  in  the  audi- 
tor's office  at  Webster  City;  they  have  three 
children.  Marlin,  Ray  and  Claire. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  the 
sympathies  of  Mr.  Vandevender  were 
strongly  enlisted  on  the  side  of  the  Union 
and  after  a  year,  when  a  call  was  made  for 
more  volunteers,  he  offered  his  services  to 
the  country.  At  Fort  Dodge.  August  13, 
iNoj,  his  name  was  enrolled  in  Company  I, 
Thirty-second  Iowa  Infantry,  which  was 
drilled  at  Camp  Franklin,  Dubuque,  and 
thence  proceeded  to  New  Madrid,  Missouri, 
from  there  to  Fort  Pillow,  and  later  to  Co- 
lumbus,  Kentucky,    under    General     A.     G. 


568- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Smith.  The  next  objective  point  was  Vicks- 
burg,  which  had  recently  been  captured  by 
the  Federal  forces.  Under  General  Sher- 
man the  regiment  marched  to  Tombigbee 
river  and  then  returned  to  Vicksburg.  Dur- 
ing the  expedition  up  the  Red  river,  in 
which  the  regiment  accompanied  General 
Banks,  while  the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill  was 
in  progress,  Air.  Vandevender  was  captured 
by  the  Confederates  and  taken  to  Mansfield, 
Louisiana,  where  for  eleven  weeks  he  was 
detailed  as  nurse  to  Union  soldiers  in  the 
hospital.  On  being  sent  to  Parole  Camp,  at 
New  Orleans,  lie  was  exchanged  and  per- 
mitted to  rejoin  his  regiment.  His  next  lo- 
cation was  at  Spanish  Fort,  Mobile.  Ala- 
bama, and  soon  afterward  he  participated  in 
the  stirring  engagement  at  Fort  Blakeley. 
which  took  place  only  a  few  days  before  the 
surrender  of  General  Lee.  On  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  ordered  to  Montgomery,  Ala- 
bama, and  there  mustered  out  of  the  service. 
He  then  returned  to  Iowa  and  resumed 
farm  pursuits,  in  which  he  has  since  met  with 
a  gratifying  degree  of  success,  being  the 
owner  of  a  valuable  and  well  improved  tract 
of  eighty  acres  in  Washington  township. 

Every  movement  to  develop  the  material 
resources  of  his  township  or  promote  the 
welfare  of  its  residents  has  received  the  sym- 
pathy and  influence  of  Mr.  Vandevender, 
who  has  done  effective  work  along  these 
lines  through  his  efficient  service  in  the  offices 
of  road  supervisor,  constable  and  member  of 
the  school  board.  His  first  presidential  vote 
was  cast  for  John  C.  Fremont.  From  that 
day  to  this  he  has  been  stanch  in  his  al- 
legiance to  the  Republican  party  and  in  his 
support  of  its  men  and  measures.  His 
long  identification  with  Webster  countv,  ex- 
tending from  his  youth  to  the  present  time, 
and  his  close  association  with  agricultural 
affairs,  have  given  him  prominence  and  in- 


fluence among  the  farmers  of  the  county,  as 
well  as  a  high  place  in  the  regard  of  every 
acquaintance. 


CARL  J.  HOUGE. 

Carl  J.  Houge,  one  of  Badger  township's 
most  enterprising  and  progressive  farmers, 
has  spent  almost  his  entire  life  in  this  county, 
and  his  name  is  insqjarably  connected  with 
its  agricultural  interests.  He  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  one  of  the  best  farms  in  his  locality, 
it  being  a  valuable  tract  of  two  hundred  acres 
on  section  7.  He  was  born  in  Dane  county, 
Wisconsin,  May  23,  i860,  but  was  only  two 
years  old  when  brought  to  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  by  his  parents,  John  J.  and  Karen  S. 
Houge. 

The  father  was  born  in  Norway  in  181 3, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood.  On  his  emigra- 
tion to  the  new  world  about  1848,  he  lo- 
cated in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
subsequently  purchased  land  and  engaged  in 
farming  until  1868,  which  year  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  Webster  county,  Iowa.  His  first 
purchase  of  land  in  this  locality  consisted  of 
two  hundred  acres,  which  he  at  once  com- 
menced to  improve  and  cultivate.  As  time 
passed  he  added  to  his  property  from  time  to 
time  until  he  owned  thirteen  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  Wehster  and  Humboldt  counties, 
being  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  substan- 
tial men  of  his  community.  His  success  in 
life  was  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts  and 
the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife,  as  he 
came  to  this  country  empty-handed.  Being 
industrious,  enterprising  and  energetic  pros- 
perity at  length  crowned  his  offorts  and  at 
his  death  he  was  able  to  leave  his  family  in 
comfortahle  circumstances.  He  departed 
this  life  in  1892.     His  widow  still  survives 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


569 


him  and  continues  to  reside  on  the  old  home 
farm,  in  Badger  township.     She  has  never 

ridden  on  a  train  of  cars.  In  the  family  of 
this  worthy  couple  were  five  sons  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 
The  others  are  James  S-,  win  1  now  owns  and 
operates  the  old  home  farm ;  Albert  M.,  also 
a  farmer  of  this  county ;  Peter  A.,  a  mer- 
chant of  Badger:  and  Adolph  S.  All  are 
residents  of  Badger  township. 

On  the  old  home  farm  Carl  J.  Houge 
passed  his  early  life  in  much  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farmer  boys,  assisting  in  the  work-  of 
the  fields  through  the  summer  months  and 
attending  the  district  schools  through  the 
winter  season.  He  remained  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  he  attained  his  majority, 
giving  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  labors. 
On  the  4th  of  May,  1890,  was  celebrated  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Chistena  Chantland,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Chantland,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  this  county,  who  came  to 
this  state  from  Wisconsin,  but  was  originally 
from  Norway.  He  is  now  living  in  Badger 
township  one  mile  north  of  thq  town  of 
Badger.  By  this  union  were  born  three 
children,  as  follows:  Melvin  J.,  Ernest  T. 
and  Kermit  S. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houge  began  their  married 
life  upon  the  farm  where  they  stdl  reside, 
there  being  at  that  time  an  old  house  upon 
the  place,  which  has  since  given  way  to  a 
more  commodious  and  pleasant  residence. 
A  barn,  granary,  corn  cribs  and  other  out 
buildings  have  been  erected  and  the  neat  and 
thrifty  appearance  of  the  place  plainly  in- 
dicates the  careful  supervision  of  a  pains- 
taking and  progressive  owner  who  thorough- 
ly understands  the  vocation  he  has  chosen  as 
a  life  work.  He  commenced  life  here  with 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  but  has  since 
sold  a  part  of  this  and  bought  other  tracts, 
and  now  owns  two  hundred  acres  all  in  one 


body  but  on  three  different  sections.  Mr. 
Houge  gives  considerable  attention  to  the 
raising  and  feeding  of  cattle  and  hogs  for 
market,  and  in  all  his  undertakings  has  been 
eminently  successful  so  that  he  is  now  quite 
well-to-do. 

By  his  ballot  he  supports  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  and  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Benjamin  Har- 
rison. He  has  never  cared  for  office,  prefer- 
ring to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interest--.  Public-spirited  and 
progressive  he  takes  a  deep  interest  in  edu- 
cational affairs,  and  has  efficiently  served  as 
school  director  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
gives  his  support  to  every  enterprise  which 
he  believes  will  prove  of  public  benefit.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  1  -f  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  are  among  the  most  highly  es- 
teemed citizens  of  their  community. 


BEXJAMIX  FRAXKLIX  BLACK. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Black,  a  practical 
and  enterprising  agriculturist  of  Cooper 
township,  owns  and  operates  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land,  constituting 
one  of  the  valuable  and  highly  improved 
farms  of  the  locality.  His  possessions  have 
all  been  acquired  through  his  own  efforts, 
and  as  the  result  of  his  consecutive  en- 
deavor he  has  won  a  place  among  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  county. 

A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Black 
was  bom  in  Greene  county,  on  the  29th  of 
Xovember,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  James  A. 
Black,  whose  birth  occurred  in  the  same 
county,  May  19,  1822.  His  mother,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Steele,  was 
born  in  Wot  Virginia,  February  22.  [827. 
Our  subject's    paternal    grandfather,   Ben- 


57° 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


jamin  F.  Black,  was  also  born  in  Greene 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  June  10, 
1843,  while  his  wife,  who  in  her  maiden- 
hoi  d  was  Sophia  Gabler,  was  born  in  Ger- 
man}' and  died  June  23.  1852.  at  the  age 
of  forty-seven  years.  In  the  county  of  his 
nativity  James  A.  Black  still  resides,  he  and 
his  wife  being"  one  of  the  oldest  couples 
within  its  borders.  His  has  been  a  busy  and 
useful  life,  and  he  is  one  of  the  prominent 
men  of  his  locality.  He  is  both  a  lawyer 
and  farmer,  and  has  most  capably  filled  the 
position  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  other 
minor  offices.  I  lis  family  consists  of  nine 
children,  as  follows:  Charles  F...  Marion, 
Emma,  John  S.,  Anna.  James  B.,  Benjamin 
I*'..   Samuel  and  Asia. 

Benjamin  F.  Black  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  county,  and  received  his  education 
in  its  public  schools.  He  has  always  given 
his  attention  to  farming  and  in  his  chosen 
occupation  has  met  with  marked  success. 
In  1885  he  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
where  his  father  had  previously  purchased 
a  farm,  and  upon  that  place  he  has  since 
made  his  home,  having  bought  the  land  of 
his  father.  He  has  erected  good  and  sub- 
stantial buildings  thereon,  and  made  many 
(  ther  useful  and  valuable  improvements, 
which  make  it  one  of  the  most  desirable 
farms  in  the  locality.  It  consists  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  of  which  sixty- 
acres  are  devoted  to  corn  and  forty  to  small 
grain,  while  the  remainder  is  meadow  and 
pasture  land.  Mr.  P.lack  gives  much  atten- 
tion to  the  raising  of  stock,  making  a  spec- 
ialty of  polled  Angus  cattle,  and  generally 
feeds  about  five  car  loads  of  both  cattle  and 
hogs  for  market  annually.  He  has  one 
of  the  nicest  orchards  in  Cooper  township, 
covering  six  acres  and  containing  about 
four  hundred  apple  trees. 

On  the  27th  of  January.  18X5,  Mr.  Black 


married  Miss  Eva  Stevenson,  who  was  also 
born  in  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 2^.  1864,  a  daughter  of  Ellis  and 
Mary  (Jones)  Stevenson,  also  natives  of 
that  county.  Her  father,  who  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-tw  1 
years,  but  her  mother  is  still  living  and 
makes  her  home  in  Greensboro,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Their  children  were  Martin,  Alfred, 
Eva,  William,  Presley.  Parmelia,  Mary, 
Priscilla.  Maud  and  Jones.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Black  have  an  interesting  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  Mar}-  E.,  William  H,  Asia 
M.,  Florence  C.  and  Effie  L.  The  family 
attend  the  Congregational  church,  and  Mr. 
Black  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men Camp  No.  438,  at  Fort  Dodge.  Polit- 
ically he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
part}-.  Fie  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  busi- 
ness man.  and  in  manner  is  pleasant  and 
genial. 


J.  A.  NIXON. 

J.  A.  Nixorf,  the  present  popular  mayor 
of  Dayti  mi.  ti  iwa,  was  born  in  St.  Clair  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  on  r6th  of  September,  18(4,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Eliza  (Motz)  Nixon, 
natives  of  Monroe  county,  Illinois,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated.  The  father 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming  and  also 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Monroe  and 
St.  Clair  counties  for  twenty  years.  He  was 
in  the  Union  service  during  the  last  two 
vears  of  the  Civil  war.  being  a  member  of 
the  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
which  formed  a  part  of  the  Black  Eagle 
Corps,  commanded  by  General  John  A.  Lo- 
gan. He  was  with  Sherman  on  the  cele- 
brated march  to  the  sea.  While  in  the  army 
he  suffered  a  sunstroke,  from  the  effects  of 
which  he  did  not  recover  for  many  vears, 


JOHN  A.  NIXON 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


573 


and  on  account  of  ill  health  he  removed  to 
Arkansas  in  1888,  and  lie  and  his  wife  are 
now  living  on  a  farm. near  Rose  Bud,  that 
state.  They  are  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject  is  the  oldest,  the 
others  being  Sarah,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
one  and  a  half  years;  Charles,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years;  Delsie.  wife  of 
James  Hale,  of  Oklahoma;  Ellen,  wife  of 
Henry  Osborn,  of  Heber,  Arkansas;  George, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year ;  Jemima, 
John,  Emery.  Alice.  Walter  and  Willie,  all 
at  lume  with  their  parents;  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Reared  in  his  native  county.  J.  A.  Nixon 
received  a  good  district  school  education  in 
what  was  known  as  the  Irvin  and  Hickory 
Grove  school  houses,  and  in  1885  entered  the 
university  at  Valparaiso.  Indiana,  where  he 
completed  the  teacher's  course  and  then  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Sin- 
clair county,  Illinois,  for  six  years^ 

On  the  25th  of  October,  1S90.  at  Wat- 
erloo, Illinois.  Mr.  Nixon  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lucinda  Burke,  who  was 
born  there  in  1862,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Burke,  both  natives  of  Ireland.  She 
was  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  four 
of  whom  are  still  living.  Her  death  occurred 
February  8.  1893,  and  her  remains  were  in- 
terred in  a  cemetery  at  Waterloo,  Illinois. 

One  year  later  Mr.  Nixon  went  to  Law- 
rence, Kansas,  where  he  was  connected  with 
the  photographic  business  for  a  year  and  for 
a  year  and  a  half  traveled  with  the  Union 
View  Company.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
came  to  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  same  line  of  work  for  nine 
months  and  then  on  the  1st  of  September. 
1896,  removed  to  Dayton,  becoming  the 
leading  photographer  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  county. 

Mr.  Nixon  was  again  married.  Septem- 


ber S.  [896,  at  Corning,  Iowa,  hi-  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Sophia  Schuck,  who 
was  born  in  Red  Bud,  Illinois,  February  27. 
1865.  Her  parents,  William  and  Sophia 
Schuck.  are  still  residents  1  if  that  place.  Her 
father  is  a  native  of  Germany.  In  the 
Schuck  family  were  eleven  children,  of  whom 
six  are  living.  Mr.  Nixon  has  two  children 
by  his  first  marriage.  Pearl  and  Viola,  and 
one  li\   the  second,  William  Homer. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Nixon  is  a  prominent 
member  of  Granite  Lodge,  No.  33 J.  K.  of 
P.,  of  which  he  has  been  chancellor  com- 
mander for  the  past  two  years  and  ha-  also 
served  as  representative  to  the  grand  lodge 
of  that  organization.  His  fellow  citizens 
recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  elected 
him  mayor  of  Dayton  in  1899  and  he  has 
since  filled  that  office.  Never  have  the  reins 
of  city  government  been  in  more  capable 
hands  for  he  is  progressive,  energetic  and 
public-spirited,  and  does  all  in  his  power  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  city.  He  is  also 
president  of  the  park  association  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  public  improvements. 


ANTON  SPIREK. 


The  faculty  of  not  only  seizing  existing 
opportunities  but  of  creating  additional 
chances,  has  had  much  to  do  with  the  rise  1 
prominence  of  Anton  Spirek,  one  01  the  large 
land  owners,  enterprising  agriculturists,  and 
all  around  helpful  citizens  of  Webster 
county.  The  accident  of  birth  alone  prevents 
Mr.  Spirek  from  being  an  American  in  all 
senses  of  the  word,  tor  he  was  but  five  years 
of  age  when  he  left  his  native  land  of  Aus- 
tria, where  he  was  born  July  15,  1854.  and 
accompanied  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Anna 
( Houtz )   Spirek.  to  America  in  October  of 


574 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


i866.  The  family  settled  in  Washington 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  lived  for  two 
months,  and  then  removed  to  Johnson 
county  where  the  father  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  upon  which  he  lived  for  four 
years.  After  disposing  of  this  property  he 
again  settled  in  Washington  county,  pur- 
chased land  and  remained  there  until  com- 
ing to  Elkhorn  township,  Webster  county, 
in  1877.  Here  the  father  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  which  was  sit  well  utilized  that 
his  interests  in  time  required  more  room  and 
he  became  the  owner  of  two  hundred  acres. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  in  Aus- 
tria had  affiliated  with  the  Roman  Catholic 
church.  He  was  a  man  of  force,  determina- 
tion and  unquestioned  integrity,  and  his 
death,  October  6,  1890,  removed  a  man  of 
•\\  hom  the  community  was  justly  proud.  His 
wife,  who  is  still  living  at  Fort  Dodge,  is 
the  mother  of  the  following  children: 
Charles,  a  farmer  in  Elkhorn  t<  iwnship,  mar- 
ried Anna  Hoyek ;  Joseph,  living  at  Fort 
Dodge,  has  been  twice  married ;  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  Vince  Clobek,  of  Fulton  town- 
ship ;  Frank,  a  resident  of  Fort  Dodge,  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Peterson,  now  deceased ;  Albert, 
living  at  Fort  Dodge,  married  Mary 
Clobek,  of  Cedar  Rapids;  Anna  ii  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Cole,  of  Fort  I  ><  idge  ;  Xettie  is  the 
wife  of  Albert  Cole,  of  Fort  Dodge;  and  Ed- 
ward is  an  employe  of  the  Chicago  &  Great 
Western  Railroad,  with  headquarters  at  Elk- 
horn. 

The  early  education  of  Anton  Spirek 
was  acquired  under  difficulties,  for  he  had' 
to  walk  five  miles  through  the  woods  to  a 
little  log  school  house  and  attendance  at  this 
primitive  educational  institution  was  possi- 
ble only  through  the  leisure  of  the  winter 
months.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  ceased  go- 
ing to  school  entirely  and  devoted  all  of  his 
time  to  assisting  with    the    work    on    his 


father's  farm.  When  twenty-one  years  old 
he  branched  out  on  his  own  responsibility 
and  practically  applied  his  previous  train- 
ing as  manager  of  the  stock  farm  of  Theo- 
dore Hollies,  in  Cooper  township.  Webster 
county.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  filled  a 
similar  position  for  Woolset  Wells,  in  the 
same  township,  and  after  two  years  had 
amassed  sufficient  money  to  enable  him  to 
buy  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
on  section  21,  Elkhorn  township. 

In  the  meantime,  while  on  the  Hollies 
farm  Mr.  Spirek  was  married,  January  4, 
1881,  at  Fort  Dodge,  to  Anna  Wesley,  who 
was  born  in  Austria  August  10,  1856,  a 
daughter  of  Frank  and  Phrona  (Feist)  Wes- 
ley,  who  were  born  and  married  in  Austria- 
The  parents  came  to  America  in  1866  and 
located  in  Washington  county,  Iowa,  where 
the  father  bought  forty  acres  of  land,  which 
was  afterward  sold  upon  his  removal  to 
Webster  county  in  1872.  In  the  new  loca- 
tion he  enlarged  his  interests  by  purchasing 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  and 
was  so  good  a  manager  and  business  man 
that  he  came  to  own  fourteen  hundred  acres 
of  land.  He  is  now  living  in  Elkhorn  town- 
ship but  has  distributed  his  possessions 
among  his  children.  His  wife,  who  is  also 
still  living,  is  the  mother  of  the  following 
children :  Mary,  wife  of  Michael  Fox,  of 
Fulton  township;  Anna,  wife  of  Anton 
Spirek;  Joseph;  Anthony;  Albert:  Melike: 
and  Frank.  With  the  exception  of  Frank  all 
of  the  children  are  married  and  live  in  Elk- 
horn township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spirek 
have  been  born  six  children,  namely  :  Emma, 
born  November  26,  1883  ;  William,  May  29, 
1885  ;  Adam  and  Lizzie,  twins,  December  25, 
1892;  Rosie,  July  5,  1894;  and  David,  Sep- 
tember 26,   1897. 

After  settling  on  his  farm  in  Elkhorn 
township,   Mr.    Spirek  built  a  fine  modern 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


575 


rural  home,  large  barns,  granaries,  eattle 
sheds,  and  substantial  fences,  and  has  by  pa- 
tient application  and  common  sense  methods 
made  it  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Webster 
county.  To  bis  original  purchase  he  has 
added  until  he  now  owns  three  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  Politically,  Mr.  Spirek  has  al- 
ways supported  the  Democratic  party,  and 
has  held  about  all  of  the  township  offices 
within  the  gift  of  his  fellow  townsmen.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  popular  and  well-known 
residents  of  Webster  county,  and  has  taken 
all  of  the  Masonic  degrees  at  Fort  Dodge, 
being-  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  1 1 1,  and  Com- 
mander}- No.  24.  and  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
of  Des  Moines.  In  bis  general  character 
Mr.  Spirek  embodies  those  fundamental 
principles  which  have  ever  been  regarded  as 
bulwarks  of  any  community  in  which  they 
are  found.  He  is  progressive,  enterprising, 
and  charitable  to  an  unusual  degree,  and  in 
his  ministrations  to  public  need  has  never 
been  bound  by  creeds  or  dogmas,  or  indi- 
vidual prejudice.  Impartially  his  purse  and 
council  are  at  the  disposal  of  all  worthy  and 
deserving  causes,  and  he  is  known  far  and 
wide  as  one  of  the  best  farmers  and  most 
substantial  men  of  'Webster  county. 


TAMES  BASS. 


Prominent  among-  the  citizens  of  Web- 
ster county  who  have  witnessed  the  marvel- 
ous development  of  this  section  of  the  slate 
in  the  last  half  century,  and  who  have,  by 
honest  toil  and  industry  succeeded  in  ac- 
quiring a  competence,  and  are  now  able  to 
spend  the  sunset  of  life  in  quiet  and  retire- 
ment, is  the  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch.  For  many  years  he  was 
actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Davton. 


Mr.  Bass  was  bum  in  North  Carolina 
April  j-,  1832,  a  son  of  Edward  and  Mary 
(Same)  )  Has,,  who  were  of  German  de- 
scent. His  paternal  grandfather  fought  for 
American  independence  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  From  North  Carolina  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Indiana  when  our  subject 
was  three  years  old,  and  in  1855  ms  parents 
came  to  Iowa,  purchasing  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in  Boone 
county  and  later  forty  acres  of  timber  land. 
'I  he  father,  who  was  In  rn  January  17,  [789, 
died  February  3,  1883,  and  the  mother 
passed  away  July  15,  1886. 

This  worth)-  couple  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  named  children:  Jesse  mar- 
ried Polly  Landreth  and  both  died  in  Boone 
county;  Patsy  became  the  wile  of  Fennel 
Landreth  and  both  are  now  deceased;  Han- 
nah married  Thomas  Landreth  and  they 
spent  their  last  days  m  Webster  county;  Ma- 
tilda is  the  witlow  of  Matt  Cole  and  makes 
her  home  at  Mineral  Ridge;  Betsy  married 
David  Spark,  of  Boone  county,  and  both  are 
now  deceased  ;  James  is  the  next  of  the  fam- 
ily ;  John  married  Maggie  Getzman  and  lives 
in  (  )gden,  Boone  county  :  Sarah  first  married 
Jesse  Maguire  and  second  David  Landreth 
and  died  at  Missouri  Valley  Junction; 
David  married  Maggie  Conrad  and  they  re- 
side near  Boone;  and  Rachel,  deceased,  was 
the  wife  of  Cyrus  Haller. 

James  Bass  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Owen  county,  Indiana,  pursuing  his  studies 
at  a  subscription  school,  the  building  being 
made  of  logs.  He  laid  aside  his  books  at  the 
age  'f  fourteen,  and  then  assisted  his  father 
in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm  until  he 
attained  bis  majority.  In  the  fall  of  1852 
he  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  by 
working  as  a  farm  hand  managed  to  secure 
en-  ugh  capital  to  purchase  eighty  acres  of 


5/6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


government  land,  for  which  he  paid  from  one 
dollar  and  a  quarter  to  one  dollar  and  a  half 
per  acre.  This  was  situated  seven  miles 
northeast  of  Dayton  and  became  his  home- 
stead. 

In  1857  Mr.  Bass  was  married  in  Boone 
county,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Cassie  Halloway,  who 
was  also  horn  in  North  Carolina.  March  24, 
1837,  and  died  February  3,  1901.  Her  par- 
ents were  natives  of  North  Carolina,  and 
there  the  mother  died,  but  the  father  came  to 
Boone  county,  Iowa,  and  made  bis  home  with 
our  subject  until  bis  second  marriage  just  be- 
fore the  Civil  war.  He  died  in  February. 
1881,  and  was  buried  in  Beem  cemetery, 
Webster  county.  By  his  first  union  he  had 
six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters, 
but  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Fry.  of  Yell 
township,  Webster  county,  is  the  only  one 
now  living.  Two  sons  were  killed  and  an- 
other died  while  taking  part  in  the  Civil  war. 

Mr.  Bass  had  nine  children,  namely  :  ( 1 ) 
Mary  Jane  is  now  the  wife  of  Taylor  Scott, 
of  Gowrie  and  has  seven  children,  Hubert, 
Nellie,  Grace,  Clifton.  Cassie,  Wilson  and 
Leo.  (2)  Rachel  A.  is  with  her  father.  (3) 
Addie  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Bragg,  a  farmer 
of  Gowrie  and  their  children  are  Alva 
and  Mina.  (4)  Sherman,  a  resident  of 
Dayton,  married  Julia  Casebolt  and  has 
three  children,  Orville,  Effie  and  Fay.  (5) 
Grant  married  Cora  Guthrie  and  has  two 
children,  Halsey  and  Sylva.  (6)  Miles,  a 
farmer  of  Yell  township,  married  Jennie 
Nelson  and  has  two  children,  Raymond  and 
Marie.  (7)  Mina  and  (8)  Elsie  are  both  at 
home  with  their  father.  (9)  Ella  is  the  wife 
of  Dr.  L.  E.  Estick  of  Rockwell  City,  and 
they  have  one  child.  Lewis  Howard. 

There  was  an  Indian  scare  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state  right  after  the  Spirit  Lake 
massacre  and  about  three  hundred  men.  in- 
cluding Mr.  Bass,  organized  under  the  com- 


mand of  Johnson  McFarland  and  Joe  Thrift 
for  the  purpose  of  defending  the  settlers. 
1  hey  marched  from  Boonesboro  to  Hooks 
Point  and  on  to  Homer,  and  from  the  last 
named  place  were  ordered  to  Webster  City, 
where  they  spent  three  days  and  nights.  The 
companies  were  then-  disbanded  and  the  men 
returned  to  their  homes. 

In  1863  Mr.  Bass  volunteered  to  fight 
against  the  Indians  under  Captain  Williams 
of  Fort  Dodge  and  went  to  Chain  Lake  on 
the  boundary  line  between  Iowa  and  Minne- 
sota, where  they  established  barracks,  build- 
ing stockades  and  several  bouses  with  port 
holes,  through  which  they  could  fire  on  the 
red  men  and  still  be  protected.  At  that  time 
there  were  two  other  posts  between  Chain 
Lake  and  Spirit  Lake,  Captain  Ingams  be- 
ing in  command  of  one  of  these,  and  each 
day  during  the  entire  time  spent  there  com- 
munication passed  from  one  post  to  the 
other.  At  the  end  of  six  months  the  com- 
pany marched  back  to  Fort  Dodge  and  was 
disbanded. 

Mr.  Bass  joined  the  regular  service  in 
1864.  enlisting  on  the  i8tb  of  November, 
in  Company  K,  Sixteenth  Iowa  Volunteer 
Infantry,  under  Captain  Stattman.  Being 
too  late  to  join  General  Sherman  on  the 
march  to  the  sea,  they  were  ordered  to  Nash- 
ville, and  on  arriving  in  that  citv  were  quar- 
tered on  the  seventh  story  of  the  Jolly  Coffer 
House,  where  they  spent  the  night  and  were 
given  a  very  poor  supper  and  breakfast. 
The  next  morning  the  company  to  which 
our  subject  belonged  was  detached  from 
the  regiment  and  its  members  assigned  to 
different  regiments,  Mr.  Bass  becoming  a 
member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
second  New  York  Infantry.  As  soon  as  he 
drew  his  gun  he  was  placed  on  the  picket 
line  and  bullets  were  dying  thickly  about 
him  in  less  than  two  hours.  He  was  detailed 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


577 


as  guard  at  Fort  Xeglev  one  day  and  night, 
and  at  Fort  Lookout  the  following  day  and 
night.      He  saw   a   negro  brigade  make  a 
charge   on    the    rebels,    and    then    shell    the 
woods   all   one    night.      The   soldiers   were 
often    compelled    to   wade  in   the   swamps 
around  Nashville  where  the  water  was  al- 
most neck  deep,  although  the  weather  was 
bitter  cold,  it  being  between  Christmas  and 
New  Years,  and  would  make  piles  of  rails 
and  brush  on  which  to  stand  in  order  to  keep 
out  of  the  water.     When  Hood  was  driven 
out  of  Nashville  the  Union  troops  went  in 
pursuit,  but   their  supplies  were  cut  off  by 
the  rebels  and  for  seven  days  had  only  two 
days'  rations.     On  the  night  of  the  seventh 
day,   Mr.   Bass  and  his  messmates  secured 
three  ears  of  corn  when  the  mules  were  fed, 
and  parched  one-half  of  the  amount  for  their 
supper,  saving  the  remainder  for  breakfast 
next  morning.  *  The  same  evening  our  sub- 
ject noticed  one  man  eating  a  piece  of  raw 
backbone  as  he  was  marching  along,  so  fam- 
ished had  the  soldiers  became.   Mr.  Bass  and 
his  comrade  marched  all  that  day  with  noth- 
ing to  eat  except  the  ear  and  a  half  of  corn 
which  they  shared  between  them.     Our  sub- 
ject participated  in  the  battles  of  Kingston 
and  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  and  at  the 
latter  place  rejoined  his  old  regiment  under 
the  command  of  General  Sherman.     With 
his  command  he  next  marched  to  Raleigh, 
where    they    remained    two    weeks    before 
Johnston  finally  surrendered, -and  then  took 
part   in  a  two  days'   review  at  that  place. 
They  proceeded  to  Washington,  D.  C,  by 
way    of    Richmond,    and    took    part    in    the 
grand  review  in  the  capital  city.     With  his 
command  Mr.  Bass  then  went  to  Louisville, 
Kentucky,    where   he.    remained    until     dis- 
charged    from    the  service  July    19,    1865. 
Fortunately    he    was    never  wounded,  but 
during  the  battle  of  Louisa  Fords  a  bullet 


split  the  rail  he  was  carrying  for  breast- 
works between  his  hands  and  almost 
knocked  him  over.  Besides  the  battles  men- 
tioned he  took  part  in  a  number  of  minor 
engagements,  and  was  always  found  at  his 
post  of  duty,  valiantly  defending  the  old 
flag  and  the  cause  it  represented. 

After  his  return  home  Mr.  Bass  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  March,  1896,  when 
he  laid  aside  active  labor  and  removed  to 
1  )ayti  in.  In  business  affairs  he  has  steadily 
prospered  and  is  to-day  the  owner  of  eight 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Webster 
county,  lie  also  owns  the  American  House; 
half  a  business  block  north  of  the  hotel;  and 
other  property  in  Dayton,  including  a  nice 
residence  on  Main  street,  where  he  makes 
his  home.  He  also  has  a  business  lot  in 
Stratford,  Hamilton  county.  Although  now 
nearly  seventy  years  of  age  he  has  never 
made  a  deed  or  given  a  mortgage,  but  is 
still  the  possessor  of  all  the  property  which 
he  has  purchased.  Starting  out  in  .life  for 
himself  with  no  capital  his  success  is  due  en- 
tirely to  his  own  industry,  perseverance  and 
good  management,  and  he  well  deserves 
the  prosperity  that  has  come  to  him.  Fra- 
ternally Mr.  Bass  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  polit- 
ically is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 


ANDREW  HANNON. 

The  prolific  resources  of  Webster  county 
have  been  utilized  in  a  creditable  manner  by 
Andrew  Hannon,  who,  though  practically 
retired  from  active  business  or  agricultural 
life  has  in  the  past  exerted  a  wide  influence 
toward  the  improvement  of  the  farming  in- 
terests  of  his   township,      lie   was   born    in 


578 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin,  August  24, 
1850,  a  son  of  Patrick  and  Ellen  (Rey- 
nolds)   Hannon,  natives  of  Ireland. 

About  1S30  tlu  parents  left  their  na- 
tive land  and  took  up  their  residence  in 
England,  where  they  lived  until  their  emi- 
gration to  America  in  1845.  At  Kenosha, 
Wisconsin,  they  found  a  desirable  farming 
region  and  there  spent  their  busy  lives  until 
the  death  of  the  father  about  1858.  The 
mother  and  children  removed  to  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  in  1865,  and  here  the  former 
died  in  1S87.  Eight  childdren  were  born 
into  this  family,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Charles  Harrison  was  killed  at  At- 
lanta, Georgia,  during  the  Civil  war;  James 
H.  was  also  a  gallant  soldier  on  the  Union 
side  and  was  drowned  on  his  way  home 
after  the  cessation  of  hostilities;  John  M. 
is  the  next  of  the  family;  Robert  H.  is  de- 
ceased; and  Nicholas  H.  married  Katie 
Fitzgerald  and  is  now  a  farmer  in  Wash- 
ington township,  Webster  county. 

Up  to  his  sixteenth  year  Andrew  Han- 
non attended  the  public  schools  and  assisted 
with  the  numerous  duties  around  the  home 
farm.  He  then  became  identified  with  vari- 
ous lumber  concerns  in  Michigan,  and  for 
eight  years  was  a  clerk  for  the  Kirby  Car- 
penter Company  at  Menominee.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  purchased  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Washing^  n 
township,  Webster  county,  and  upon  this 
property  he  settled  after  his  marriage  with 
Mary  Harmon,  September  14,  1875.  Mrs. 
Hannon  was  born  in  Kenosha  county,  Wis- 
consin, and  is  of  Irish  parentage,  her  father 
and  mother  having  emigrated  to  America 
in  1840,  and  settled  in '  Wisconsin,  where 
the  father  died  October  7,  1857,  and  the 
mother  May  10,  1876.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  six  children :  Dennis,  who  died 
May     11,     1877,   leaving  a   wife   and   two 


daughters  living  in  Kenosha,  Wisconsin; 
Catherine,  whose  husband,  Thomas  Nugent, 
died  in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  1895; 
Peter  H.,  who  married  Nancy  Lynch,  and 
alter  the  death  of  his  wife  in  Kenosha  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  removed  to  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  eventually  died;  John  H., 
who  died  in  Webster  county  at  the  age  of 
forty-nine  years;  and  Elizabeth  H.,  who 
became  the  wife  of  James  Kelley  and  lives 
in  South  Dakota.  The  following  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hannon : 
An  infant  died  unnamed;  John,  born  Sep- 
tember 26,  1886,  died  October  31,  1899; 
Annie  H.,  burn  November  26,  1878,  died 
June  4.  1891  ;  Mildred  H..  born  July  4,  1882. 
is  at  present  living  with  her  parents;  and 
Andrew  H.,  born  October  14,  1884,  died 
June  27,  1899. 

For  twenty-eight  years  Mr.  Hannon  was 
identified  with  the  agricultural  prosperity  of 
Washington  township  and  was  an  import- 
ant factor  in  the  general  growth  of  the  dis- 
trict. Ripe  in  years  and  experience,  and 
with  the  consciousness  of  having  contrib- 
uted his  share  toward  the  work  of  the 
world,  removed  to  Duncombe  in  1890, 
where  lie  erected  one  of  the  finest  homes  in 
the  vicinity,  in  which  he  has  since  lived. 
He  superintends  the  management  of  his 
farm  of  four  hundred  and  forty  acres  near 
Duncombe,  where  extensive  farming  in  all 
its  branches  is  conducted  and  carries  on 
stock  raising  and  shipping.  In  addition  he 
owns  and  supervises  property  in  the  town  of 
Duncombe,  and  is  in  fact  one  of  the  large 
land  and  real-estate  owners  of  the  township. 
During  the  winter  of  1901-2  he  erected  the 
largest  single  business  block  in  Duncombe, 
and  is  now  conducting-  a  tobacco  store  in 
same.  Most  of  his  time  is  devoted  to  the 
buying  of  lots  on  which  he  erects  buildings 
and  then  sells  the  same,  and  Mr.  Hannon 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


579 


has  done  more  than  any  one  man  to  build 
up  and  improve  the  town.  He  draws  ali 
his  own  plans  for  the  different  buildings. 

In  politics  a  Democrat  he  is  one  of  the 
stanch  supporters  of  his  party  and  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  county  supervisors 
during  the  years  1898,  1899  and  1900.  In 
addition  he  has  held  most  all  of  the  impi  >rt- 
ant  township  offices,  and  has  discharged  his 
obligations  with  a  high  degree  of  intelli- 
gence and  due  regard  for  the  best  interests 
of  all  concerned.  Fraternally  he  is  ass.ici- 
ated  with  the  [Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. With  his  family  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Hannon 
is  one  of  the  most  substantial  men  of  his 
t^wnsliip  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  all  who  know  him. 


HENRY   WILLEY. 


The  deserved  reward  of  a  well-spent 
life  is  an  honored  retirement  from  business, 
in  which  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 
To-day,  after  a  useful  and  beneficial  career, 
Mr.  Willey  is  quietly  living  at  his  pleasant 
home  in  Vincent  surrounded  by  the  comfort 
that  earnest  labor  has  brought  him.  Since 
1882  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Webster 
county,  and  was  for  many  years  success- 
fully engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  own- 
ing and  operating  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
the  village- 
Mr.  Willey  was  born  in  Hesse,  Ger- 
man}-, November  19.  1833,  and  there  grew 
to  manhood  upon  a  farm,  receiving  good 
school  advantages,  but  his  knowledge  of 
the  English  language  has  been  self-acquired 
since  coming  to  this  country.  In  1S54  he 
emigrated  to  the  new  world,  taking  passage 


on  a  sailing  vessel  at  Bremen  and  arriving 
in  New  York  after  a  stormy  voyage  of 
about  seven  weeks'  duration,  lie  landed 
in  June  of  that  year  and  at  once  proceeded 
to  Chicago,  where  he  worked  for  about  a 
year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  went  to 
Kendall  county,  Illinois,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  later  worked  on  a  farm  in 
Cook  count)-,  that  state,  for  a  few  years. 
We  next  find  him  in  Champaign  county,  Il- 
linois, he  having  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
wild  land  near  Rantoul,  which  he  at  once 
ci  immenced  to  break,  fence  and  improve. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  operation  of  that 
place  until  1882,  when  he  sold  out  and  re- 
moved to  Webster  county.  Iowa.  Here  he 
bought  an  unimproved  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  and  to  its  develop- 
ment and  cultivation  he  devoted  his  ener- 
gies until  his  retirement  from  active  labor. 
Upon  his  place  he  erected  a  good  residence 
and  substantial  outbuildings  and  made 
many  other  useful  and  valuable  improve- 
ments. He  continued  to  reside  upon  his 
farm  until  1900  when  he  rented  it  and  re- 
moved to  Vincent,  where  he  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  in  a  house  he  erected,  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  former  toil.  As  a  stranger  in 
a  strange  land  and  unfamiliar  with  the 
English  language  he  commenced  life  in  this 
country  without  means  but  has  steadily 
overcome  all  the  difficulties  and  obstacles  in 
the  path  to  success,  and  is  now  quite  well- 
to-do  and  prosperous. 

While  residing  in  Kendall  county,  Illi- 
nois. Mr.  Willey  was  married  in  March, 
1861,  to  Miss  Doris  Evers.  also  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  was  born  in  Hanover  Aug- 
ust 20,  1828,  and  there  grew  to  womanhood. 
They  have  two  children,  namely:  Henry 
W..  who  is  now  operating  the  home  farm, 
married  Minnie  Echorn,  who  was  born  in 


58o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Iowa  of  German  parentage.  Charlotte  is 
the  wife  of  William  Frudenberg,  a  business 
man  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, William  and  Stella. 

On  becoming  an  American  citizen  Mr. 
Willev  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860. 
and  at  each  presidential  election  since  that 
time  has  supported  the  nominees  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  Although  reared  in  the 
Lutheran  faith  he  and  his  wife  now  hold 
membership  in  the  [Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  are  people  of  the  highest  respect- 
ability, having  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
all  who  know  them. 


ALFRED   DANIELS. 

During  all  of  his  life  Air.  Daniels  made 
his  home  in  Webster  county.  He  was  born 
here  December  6,  1859,  and  was  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Alary  (  Bennett)  Daniels,  natives 
of  Ohio,  a  record  of  whom  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume.  His  boyhood  was 
passed  in  the  uneventful  manner  character- 
istic of  farmers'  sons,  alternating  attendance 
at  the  district  school  in  the  winter  with 
work  on  the  home  farm  in  the  summer;  and 
on  leaving  school  he  turned  his  attention  en- 
tirelv  to  agriculture,  which  he  followed,  with 
the  excqrtion  of  short  intervals,  during  the 
remaining  years  of  his  life. 

The  marriage  of  Air.  Daniels  took  place 
in  Homer,  Iowa.  April  9,  1890,  and  united 
him  with  Miss  Edith  Ding-man.  who  was 
born  in  Hardin  county,  Iowa,  March  4. 
1874.  Her  parents,  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Loftier)  Dingman.  were  natives  of  Ohio. 
but  settled  in  Iowa  at  early  ages  and  were 
married  in  Hardin  county.  After  some  years 
in  Iowa  they  moved  to  Indiana  but  soon  re- 
turned to  Iowa,  going  from  this  state  to  Mis- 


souri, and  finally  returning  to  Hardin  coun- 
ty. Iowa.  Somewhat  later  they  settled  on  a 
farm  south  of  Homer,  where  they  now  make 
their  home.  In  religion  they  are  connected 
with  the  United  Brethren  church,  toward 
the  maintenance  of  which  they  have  been 
contributors.  Politically  he  has  always 
voted  with  the  Republican  party.  His  wife 
was  twice  married,  her  first  husband  having" 
been  Henry  McClarran,  by  whom  she  had  a 
son,  Henry.  The  latter  married  Sarah  Mil- 
ler and  still  lives  at  Mason  City,  Iowa. 

Twelve  children  comprised  the  family  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  Dingman.  Of  these 
we  note  the  following:  Samuel,  of  Webster 
City,  married  Addie  Daniels  and  after  her 
death  was  united  with  Dora  Burddorf; 
Alary  is  the  wife  of  Alexander  Pearce,  of 
Homer,  Iowa;  Isaac  married  Sarah  Whaley 
and  lives  on  a  farm  near  Homer;  Ellen  was 
first  married  to  Madison  Wheely  and  after 
his  death  became  the  wife  of  William  Emly. 
of  Webster  City ;  Charles,  of  Homer,  Iowav 
married  Addie  Morgan,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased ;  Sarah  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  years  ;  Ulysses  resides  with  his  parents  ; 
George  married  Lulu  Crane  and  resides  in 
the  vicinity  of  Homer;  Kate  is  the  wife  of 
Harry  Dayton,  of  Webster  City :  Frank 
makes  his  home  with  his  parents;  Edith  is 
the  widow  of  Alfred  Daniels,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  ;  and  Lizzie  married  Alichael  Lil- 
legard,  of  Webster  township.  To  the  union 
of  Alfred  Daniels  and  Edith  Dingman  there 
were  born  three  children,  who  are  named  as 
follows:  Daniel  W..  born  March  1.  1891  ; 
Erwin  L.,  July  13.  1S9J;  and  Charles  Mc- 
Kinley,  August  22,   1895. 

For  a  time  during  his  early  life  Alfred 
Daniels  traveled  with  Forepaugh's  circus 
and  later  with  Ringling  Brothers  as  the 
"Champion  Fat  Alan.'*  his  weight  being  then 
about  500  pounds.     After  his  marriage  he 


ALFRED  DANIELS 


MRS.  ALFRED  DANIELS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


585 


moved  to  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  on  section  9,  Webster  township,  and 

here  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  March  13, 
1899,  at  the  age  of  forty  years,  three  months 
and  seven  days.  After  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority he  always  voted  with  the  Republicans 
and  supported  their  men  and  measures.  As 
a  member  of  various  official  boards  of  his 
township  he  served  with  credit  to  himself 
and  satisfaction  to  his  fellow  citizens.  While 
he  did  not  affiliate  with  any  denomination  he 
was  of  a  religious  turn  of  mind  and  an  earn- 
est heliever  in  the  doctrines  of  Christian  it}-. 
Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Daniels,  the  su- 
pervision of  his  estate  has  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  Mrs.  Daniels,  who  has  proved  her- 
self a  capable  business  woman,  possessing 
more  than  ordinary  executive  ability,  and 
with  the  judgment  and  sagacity  necessary 
for  the  many  responsibilities  connected  witli 
the  work.   Recently  she  made  needed  altera- 

m  the  farm  house,  which  has  tli 
been  transformed  into  a  neat  and  commo- 
dious residence.  The  barns  are  substantial 
and  well  adapted  to  their  special  purposes. 
Altogether  the  farm  is  conceded  to  b< 
of  the  best  improved  in  the  township,  and 
the  high  standard  of  cultivation  under  which 
it  is  maintained  proves  the  efficient  oversight 
of  the  owner.  In  addition  to  the  raising  of 
general  farm  products,  high  grade  stock  are 

n  the  farm,  a  specialty  being  mai 
shorthorn  cattle. 


I.    W.    W  I 


Ability  as  a  farmer  is  inherited  by  Mr. 
Welch  from  a  long  line  of  agricultural  an- 
cestors, the  earliest  of  win  n  1  their 

28 


han  ests  anion-  the  mi  regi<  ms  of 

Wales.    He  was  born  January  19,  1854,  and 

his  parents,  who  are  now  residing  on  51 
23,  Burnside  township,  were  also  horn  and 
reared  in  America.  The  father  has 
twice  married,  and  Mr.  Welch  is  one  of  the 
children  of  the  second  union,  his  mother's 
maiden  name  having  been  Wheeler.  The 
other  children  in  the  family  are:  William, 
who  married  Nelsie  Marshall  and  lives  in 
Gowrie,  Webster  county,  Iowa;  Adam,  who 
married  Kate  Bibey  and  lives  in  Oklahoma; 
Marion,  who  married  Alary  A.  Manchester 
and  lives  in  Burnside;  Ella,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Richard  V.  Manchester,  and  lives  on  sec- 
tion 28,  Burnside  township ;  Theodore,  who 
married  Amy  Pringh  and  lives  in  Lehigh 
township;  and  Alfred,  who  married  Geo 
Fry  and  resides  in  Oklahoma. 

Interspersed  with  the  arduous  duties 
which  he  performed  on  his  father's  farm, 
was  the  opportunity  during  the  winter 
months  to  attend  the  disl 
which  Mr.  Welch  availed  himself  with  dili- 
gence and  forethought.  When  able  to  de- 
vote his  entire  time  to  the  farm  he  still  re- 
mained at  home,  and  at  Gowrie,  March  4, 
1876,  married  Elvira  J.  Manchester,  who 
h  in  in  Greene  county,  [ova,  December 
20,  1857.  Her  parents  now  live  on  section 
lurnside  township,  her  father,  who  i.s 
of  English  descent,  having  been  born  in 
America,  while  her  mother  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Welch  has 
ters  and  four  brothers:  Ella  lives  on  sec- 
,;,  Burnside  township;  Walter  S.  mar- 
ried Minnie  Reefer  and  lives  on  sectii  n  X, 
Burnside  township;  John  Edwin  married 
Otilla  Carlson  and  lives  in  the  state  of  Wash- 
rtha  C.  married  Edward  Town- 
send  and  lives  in  Minnesota;  Frank  is  un- 
married and  lives  at  home;  May  is  a  school 


5«6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


teacher  and  lives  at  home ;  and  Jesse  was 
formerly  a  teacher  and  lives  with  his  par- 
ents. 

For  six  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Welch  continued  to  manage  the  home  farm, 
after  which  he  bought  forty  acres  of  land 
which  he  improved  and  which  he  disposed 
of  at  the  end  of  six  years.  He  afterward 
purchased  the  one  hundred  and  sixty-acre 
farm  upon  which  he  is  now  living,  and 
which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
A  large  and  comfortable  residence  has  been 
erected  by  Mr.  Welch  and  his  barns  and 
other  improvements  are  on  an  equally  mod- 
ern anil  convenient  scale. 

Four  interesting  children. help  to  create 
a  delightful  home  atmosphere  and  give 
promise  of  future  comfort  and  usefulness. 
Elsie  was  born  November  23.  1SS0;  Floyd, 
April  11,  1S85;  Myrtle,  September  0,  1887; 
and  Clifford  V.,  June  7.  1900.  Mr.  Welch 
i  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  township 
and  is  of  practical  help  in  the  development 
of  any  wisely  thought  out  plan  of  improve- 
ment, lie  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  as  is  also  his  wife,  and  both  con- 
trihute  toward  the  maintenance  of  their 
chosen  denomination.  As  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican he  has  been  called  upon  to  till  many 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  and  is 
at  the  present  time  township  trustee,  super- 
visor and  treasurer  of  the  school  hoard. 


CHARLES  HEILEMAN. 

Charles  Heileman.  deceased,  was  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Fort  Dodge  for  some 
years  and  was  prominently  identified  with 
its  interests.  He  won  by  an  honorable,  up- 
r:glit  life,  an  untarnished  name,  and  the 
record  which  he  left  behind  him  is  one  well 
worthy  of  emulation. 


Mr.  Heileman  was  born  in  Lammsdorf, 
Germany,  on  the  13th  of  February,  1.^52, 
and  was  one  of  a  family  of  five  children, 
having  three  brothers  and  one  sister.  His 
father,  William  Heileman,  came  to  this 
country  about  1875  and  lived  with  his 
children  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1900  at  the  age  of  ninety-one 
}  ears.  Our  subject  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  first  came 
to  America  in  1869,  taking  up  his  residence 
in  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,,  but  afterward  re- 
turned to  the  fatherland.  He  remained 
there  only  a  short  time,  however,  and  on 
again  coming  to  the  new  world  settled  in 
Fort  Dodge,  where  he  continued  to  make 
his  home  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  During  his  early  residence  here  he 
worked  at  the  plasterer's  trade,  and  then 
with  a  partner  engaged  in  the  brick  and  tile 
business  from  1882  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1878,  Mr.  Heileman 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna 
Theis,  of  Fort  Dodge,  a  daughter  of  Chris 
and  Anna  (  Kriembring)  Theis,  who  were 
natives  of  Germany  and  farming  people. 
(  >ur  subject  and  his  wife  became  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  namely:  Anna,  horn 
February  10,  1879,  is  now  a  milliner;  Fred, 
born  March  25,  1881,  follows  farming;  and 
Gertrude,  horn  June  26,  1885,  and  Carl, 
born  January  22,  1891,  are  both  at  home. 

With  the  hope  of  benefiting  his  health, 
Mr.  Heileman,  in  company  with  his  wife  and 
sister,  went  to  Colorado  in  July,  1895,  hut 
not  meeting  with  the  desired  results,  they 
returned  to  Fort  Dodge,  where  he  died  May 
21,  1896,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  ( iennan  Lutheran  church,  to  which  his 
family  also  belongs,  and  commanded  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


537 


came  in  contact,  either  in  business  or  social 
life.  He  was  public-spirited  and  progres- 
sive, and  gave  his  support  to  all  enterprises 
for  the  public  good.  For  three  terms  he 
was  an  efficient  member  of  the  city  council 
and  was  creditably  tilling  that  office  when 
called  to  his  final  rest.  In  politics  he  was 
independent  and  always  voted  for  the  man 
best  suited  for  the  office,  regardless  of  party 
line-. 

■>  « ♦ 

RASMUS   S.   LUXD. 

With  the  agricultural  interests  of  Web- 
ster county  Rasmus  S.  Lund  has  long  been 
identified,  and  he  now  owns  and  operates  a 

; 1    farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 

"ii  section  10,  Badger  township,  a  part  of 
which  is  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the 
village  of  Badger.  The  fields  are  well  tilled, 
the  buildings  are  good  and  substantial;  and 
everything  about  the  place  testifies  to  the 
careful  supervision  of  a  painstaking  owner 
who  thoroughly  understands  his  ch<  sen  oc- 
cupation. 

Mr.  Lund  was  born  in  La  Salle  county, 
Illinois.  January  12.  1864.  a  sun  of  Andrew 
and  Christina  Lund,,  natives  of  Norway, 
where  their  marriage  was  celebrated.  The 
father  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  in  boy- 
hood became  thoroughly  familiar  with  all 
departments  of  farm  work.  On  his  emigra- 
tion to  the  United  States  in  1855  he  first 
settled  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  and 
bought  a  farm  near  Streator,  which  he  op- 
erated for  a  number  of  years.  There,  five 
of  his  children  were  born.  In  the  spring  of 
1870  he  and  his  family  removed  to  Web- 
ster county,  Iowa,  and  he  bought  eight}' 
acres  of  unimproved  land  in  Badger  town- 
ship, which  he  at  once  commenced  to  break 
and   cultivate.      Later   he   purchased    more 


land  from  time  to  time  until  he  finally 
owned  three  hundred  and  twentv  acres  im- 
proved with  good  buildings  ami  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  His  success  in  life 
was  due  to  his  own  industry  and  well-di- 
rected labors,  as  well  as  the  assistance  of 
his  sons,  and  he  became  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous citizens  of  the  county.  His  last  days 
were  spent  upon  the  farm  and  there  he  died 
on  the  2nd  of  Xovember,  1896.  His 
wife,  who  still  survives  him,  continues  to 
reside  on  the  old  homestead,  but  rents  the 
farm. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  child  of 
six  years  when  he  came  with  the  family  to 
this  county,  and  his  boyhood  and  youth 
were  spent  upon  the  home  farm.  He  at- 
tended private  schools  and  supplemented  his 
early  education  by  one  term  of  study  in  the 
Fort  Dodge  schools.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  accepted  a  position  as  fireman  on 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  was  in  the 
employ  of  that  company  five  years,  after 
which  he  was  with  the  St.  Paul  &  Duluth 
Railroad  in  the  same  capacity  for  a  time. 
I  le  was  then  pr<  moted  to  engineer  and  held 
that  position  until  1897  when  he  returned 
home  and  bought  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides.  Since  then  he  has  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  with  marked  success. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1889,  in  Badger 
township,  Air.  Lund  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Anna  Christenson,  a  native  of 
Norway  and  a  daughter  of  Knut  Christen- 
son, who  brought  his  family  to  America  in 
1869  and  first  located  in  Benton  county, 
Iowa,  but  seven  years  later  removed  to 
Webster  county,  where  Mrs.  Lund  was 
principally  reared  and  educated.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  have  one  child.  O  >ra. 

Mr.  Lund  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  having  been  one  of 
its  stanch  supporters  since  casting  his  first 


588 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


presidential  vote  for  Benjamin  Harrison, 
but  he  has  never  sought  or  cared  for  official 
honors,  preferring  to  give  his  undivided  at- 
tention to  his  business  interests.  He  takes 
a  commendable  interest  in  public  affairs, 
however,  and  is  now  serving  as  a  member  of 
the  city  council  of  Badger.  Air.  Lund  is  a 
member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 
Firemen,  No.  320,  of  St.  Paul,  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  No.  237,  of  St.  Paul.  He  is  one 
of  the  leading  and  representative  citizens  of 
the  town,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church. 


G.  A.  GUSTAFSON. 

In  America  labor  is  king  and  the  sov- 
ereignty that  her  liberty-loving  people  ac- 
knowledge is  that  of  business.  The  men  of 
influence  in  a  community  in  this  enlightened 
age  are  its  enterprising,  progressive  repre- 
sentatives of  commercial  interests  and  to  this 
class  belongs  Air.  Gustafson,  who  is  now 
successfully  engaged  in  the  grain  and  stock 
business  at  Dayton.  Iowa. 

1  [e  was  born  on  the  14th  of  September, 
[846,  in  Sweden,  of  which  country  his  par- 
ents. C.  A.  and  Sophia  n,  were  also 
natives.  In  1853  the  family  took  passage 
on  the  Sagadahog.  a  sailing  vessel,  which 
1  nlered  many  severe  storms  on  this  pas- 
sage and  was  ten  weeks  and  four  days  in 
co  issing  the  Atlantic.  Cholera  broke  out  on 
board  and  one-third  of  the  passengers  died. 
On  landing  in  Boston  the  Gustafson  family 
proceeded  at  once  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  where 
the  mother  died  of  the  same  dread  disease. 
winch  also  carried  away  two  sisters  of  our 
subject,    who   died   during   the   voyage  and 


were  buried  at  sea.  After  a  week  spent  in 
that  city  the  father  and  his  two  sons  went  to 
Chicago,  arriving  there  in  November,  1853. 
They  had  left  their  native  land  in  May  of 
that  year.  In  Chicago  the  father  worked  at 
his  trade  of  carpenter  and  there  he  was  again 
married  in  the  fall  of  1854.  his  second  union 
being  with  Airs.  Mary  Johnson,  nee  Gorin- 
son,  who  was  born  in  Sweden  April  18,  1823. 
In  that  country  her  parents  spent  their  en- 
tire lives,  her  father  being  a  farmer  and 
sailor  by  occupation.  "Air.  Gustafson  and 
his  family  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
in  1856,  and  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Dayton 
township,  on  which  he  made  his  home  until 
called  to  his  final  rest.  Religiously  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  po- 
litically was  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party.  His  widow  still  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  farm.  By  his  first  marriage  he 
had  four  children,  hut  our  subject  is  now 
the  only  one  living,  the  other  son,  C.  F.,  hav- 
ing died  in  1870,"  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
There  were  five  children  by  the  second  union, 
namely  :  Emma,  who  married  John  Peter- 
son, and  both  died  in  Denver,  Colorado; 
Julia  A.,  wife  of  A.  W.  Carlson,  of  Des 
Aloines ;  Alary,  wife  of  Charles  Laurens, 
who  lives  on  a  farm  near  Marietta,  Iowa; 
Tillie,  wife  of  Henry  Lincoln,  who  resides 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Dayton  township; 
and  D.  A.,  a  resident  of  Dayton.  By  her 
Ei  irmer  marriage  the  mother  of  these  children 
had  one  son,  John  A.,  who  married  Chris- 
tina Johnson  and  lives  in  Dayton. 

G-  A.  Gustafson,  of  this  review,  was 
educated  at  the  Richie  school  house,  five 
miles  southeast  of  Dayton,  where  he  pursued 
his  studies  for  about  three  months  during 
the  winter  until  sixteen  years  of  age  and  then 
devoted  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the 
labors  of  the  farm  until  he  attained  his  ma- 


G.  A.  GUSTAFSON 


MRS.  G.  A.  GUSTAFSON 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


593 


jority.  He  next  worked  as  a  machinist  in  a 
sawmill  for  two  years,  and  at  the  end  of  thai 
time  went  to  Europe,  where  he  spent  six 
months  m  traveling  over  England,  Ireland, 
Norway,  Sweden  and  Germany.  On  his  re- 
turn to  the  United  States  Mr.  <  lustafsi  >n  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  the  southern  part  of  Dayton  town- 
ship and  was  there  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1876.  lie  was  next  engaged 
in  the  stock  business  at  Ogden  for  ft  iur  years, 
and  in  t88o  came  to  Dayton,  where  he  has 
since  successfully  carried  on  operations  as 
a  dealer  in  both  sfc  ck  and  grain,  shipping 
the  first  carload  of  each  from  this  place. 

<  hi  the  26th  of  September,  1882,  in 
inty,  Iowa.  Mr.  Gustafson  mar- 
ried Miss  Minnie  Liliard,  who  was  born  in 
Sweden  February  27,  1863,  and  in  1S75 
to  the  new  world  with  her  parents,  An- 
drew and  Amy  S.  (Nelson)  Liliard.  On 
landing  in  Boston  they  journeyed  westward 
to  Dayton,  Iowa,  and  are  now  living  in 
They  have  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Minnie,  wife  of  our  subject; 
Alma,  wife  of  Jake  Held,  of  I',.  ne;  Tillie. 
wife  of  Fred  Eighmy,  of  Ames;  Fred,  a  res- 
ident of  Clinton;  Eric  and  Henry,  both  of 
Boone;  and  Albert  and  Frank.  Mr.  ami 
Mrs.  Gustafson  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as 
follows:  Charles  H.,  May  i~ ,  1884;  Josie, 
July  29,  1885;  Hiram  G,  May  10.  189]  :  and 
Edna,  March   17,   1  S< ^ 5 . 

In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Gustafson  is 
a  member  of  Dayton  Lodge,  No.  5711.  A. 
F.  &  A.  M..  and  he  attends  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a 
member.  The  Republican  party  has  always 
fottnd  in  him  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  prin- 
ciples, and  since  coming  to  Dayton  he  has 
been  prominentlv  identified  with  municipal 
affairs.     He  has  always  been  a  member  of 


the  city   council    and    was   mayor   for  three 
terms.     He  stands  high  in  both  business  and 

social  circle-  and  well-merits  the  high  regard 
in  which  he  is  held. 


C.  M.  TAPPER. 


Xo  better  illustration  of  the  characti 
tic  energy  and  enterprise  of  the  typical 
Swedish-American  citizen  can  he  found 
than  that  afforded  by  the  career  of  this 
gentleman,  now  a  well-known  resident  of 
Dayton.  Coming  to  this  country  with  no 
capital  except  his  abilities  he  has  made  his 
way  to  success  through  wisely-directed  ef- 
Forl  and  can  now  look  back  with  satisfaction 
upon  past  struggles. 

Mr.  Tapper  was  horn  August  2.  1825, 
in  Sweden,  where  his  parents,  Peter  and 
Anna  (Johnson)   Nelson,  spent  their  1 

In  their  family  were  seven  children. 
of  whom  one  died  in  infancy.  Of  the  others 
our  subject  is  the  oldest.  Louise  died  in 
Sweden  in  1858  at  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years.  John  August,  who  came  i 
in  1855,  married  Mrs.  Harriet  Schauffer 
and  resides  in  Mendota,  Illinois.  Caroline 
married  Daniel  Dohlen  and  resided  in 
Princeton.  Illinois,  but  both  are  now  de- 
ceased. Anna  Sophia  came  to  America  in 
1865  and  her  husband,  Mr.  Lindberg,  died 
in  Princeton.  Illinois,  in  1877,  hut  she  is  still 
a  resident  of  that  place.  Isaac  Thomas  em- 
igrated to  the  new  world  in  r868  and  is  now 
living  in  the  west. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  con- 
fined to  four  months  attendance  in  a  mili- 
tar\  school  of  Sweden.  He  served  eleven 
years  in  the  Swedish  army  and  was  honora- 
bly discharged  while  holding  the  rank  of 
corporal.      Before    leaving   his    native    land 


594 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  was  married,  December  26,  1848,  to 
Miss  Melvina  Vulcan,  whose  parents  were 
lifelong  residents  of  Wadstena,  Sweden,  her 
father  being  the  artist  for  the  royal  family 
at  Stockholm.  She  is  one  of  a  family  of 
ten  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  now 
living,  the  other  being  Mrs.  Gustave  Han- 
son, a  resident  of  Boston. 

At  Gottenborg,  in  1855,  Mr.  Tapper 
and  his  family  took  passage  on  a  sailing 
vessel,  the  Anna  Washburn,  commanded 
by  Captain  Mitchell,  afterward  converted 
into  a  frigate  during  the  Civil  war.  After 
a  stormy  voyage  of  six  weeks  and  three 
days  duration,  they  landed  at  Boston,  and 
from  that  city  went  to  Chicago,  remaining 
there  until  August  12,  1865.  For  three 
years  Mr.  Tapper  worked  at  the  stone  ma- 
son's trade  in  Chicago,  and  on  leaving  that 
city  went  to  Mendota,  Illinois,  where  he 
rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for  ten 
years.  In  1869  he  came  to  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  at 
five  dollars  per  acre.  This  tract  was  all 
wild  and  unimproved,  but  lie  at  once  set  to 
work  to  break  the  land  and  erect  buildings 
thereon  and  during  the  twenty-six  vears  he 
resided  there  he  converted  the  place  into  one 
of  the  best  improved  and  most  desirable 
farms  of  the  locality.  He  prospered  in  his 
farming  operations  and  is  to-day  the  owner 
of  eight\-  acres  of  land  in  Elkhorn  township; 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Sumner 
township;  and  five  acres  in  Otho  township, 
besides  his  property  in  the  village  of  Day- 
ton, where  he  has  lived  a  retired  life  since 
1897  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tapper  have  a  family  of 
three  children:  (1)  Ellen  Augusta,  horn 
April  27,  1850,  was  married  in  1869  1" 
John  Hawk,  who  died  in  1888.  She  now 
resides  in  Winterset,  Iowa,  and  has  four 
children:      Ira  T.,   Clara,   I. vie  and   Mabel. 


(2)  John  G.,  horn  May  5,  1853,  was  grad- 
uated at  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago, 
and  is  now  successfully  engaged  in  practice 
in  Elgin,  Illinois.  His  wife,  who  bore  tlie 
maiden  name  of  Hettie  Stone,  died  in  that 
city  January  16,  1899.  leaving  one  child. 
Charles.  (3)  Anna  Matilda,  born  Novem- 
ber 7,  1855,  in  Chicago,  was  married  in 
1875  to  Henry  Hawk  and  now  lives  in  Win 
terset,  Iowa. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  Air.  Tapper  has  been 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  has  efficiently  filled  the  offices  of 
school  director  and  township  trustee.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  active  and  prominent 
members  of  the  Swedish  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran church,  of  Dayton,  which  they  assisted 
in  building,  and  have  also  aided  in  the  erec- 
tion of  two  others — one  in  Callender  and 
the  other  in  Burnside.  Wherever  known 
they  are  held  in  high  regard  and  have  a  host 
i'i      warm      friends      throughout      Webster 

county. 

+*—+■ 

JOHN  REDMAN. 

John  Redman,  the  owner  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land  on  sections  4  and 
10,  Elkhorn  township,  was  born  at  Grand 
Ridge,  I. a  Salle  county.  Illinois.  February 
6,  1804,  a  son  of  Andrew  J.  and  Sarah 
(Bunger)  Redman,  natives  of  Ohio.  The 
parents  were  married  in  Ohio  and  rem<  ived 
to  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  in  iNoj,  where 
the  father  bought  land,  upon  which  he  still 
lives,  lie  is  a  Republican  politically  and  is 
affiliated  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Eight  children  constituted  his  fam- 
ily, namely :  Etbalinda.  who  is  the  wife 
of  Taylor  Rutter  and  lives  in  Webster 
countv,    Iowa;  James,   who   married   Edith 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


595 


Kime  and  lives  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois; 
John,  of  this  review;  Samuel,  who  first  mar- 
ried Anna  Shape  and  second  Nora  Mackey, 
and  lives  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois;  Will- 
iam, called  by  his  intimates  "Doc,"  who 
married  Florence  Lang-ley  and  resides  in 
Webster  county,  Iowa;  Eva,  wife  of  Henry 
Pn  \  ance.  of  La  Salle  county.  Illinois.  An- 
drew, who  is  unmarried  and  resides  in  Illi- 
nois; and  Lee.  who  married  Daisy  Law  and 
lives  in  La  Salle  county.  Illinois. 

Educationally  Mr.  Redman  had  for- 
tunate opportunities,  and  after  attending 
for  a  time  the  public  schools  at  Streator, 
Illim  is.  went  to  Adrian.  Michigan,  and  en- 
tered the  college  there.  Upon  returning  to 
Streator  he  engaged  in  further  study  and 
passed  a  successful  examination  which  per- 
mitted of  his  entrance  to  the  university  at 
Bloomington.  Owing  to  an  affection  of  the 
eyes  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  ambitious 
plans  for  further  education  when  twenty- 
five  years  of  age.  and  he  therefore  returned 
to  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  and  engaged 
in  tilling  and  farming. 

On  November  26,  1891,  at  Grand  Ridge, 
Illinois,  Mr.  Redman  married  Miss  Emily 
Scheerer.  who  was  born  in  La  Salle  county, 
March  3,  1873,  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Scheerer.  one  of  the  influential  men  of  the 
early  days  of  that  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Redman  have  been  born  four  children, 
namely:  Paul  L..  born  January  28,  [893; 
Josephine  L.,  October  8,  181.14;  Earl  A.. 
August  10,  1898;  and  Dessie  M..  January 
29,  1900.  The  three  oldest  children  were 
born  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  and  the 
youngest  in  Webster  county,  Iowa. 

After    his    marriage    Mr.    Redman    con- 
tinued to  live  in  La  Salle  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  until  1899,  when  he  re- 
ed to  Elkhorn  township,  Webster  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  and  bought  two  hundred  acre-  of 


land  on  section  4.  He  has  been  remarkably 
successful  and  nows  owns  eighty  acres  in 
addition  to  his  original  purchase,  and  is 
besides    possessor    of    considerable    Illinois 

property.  The  Iowa  farm  is  among  the  best 
improved  in  the  county,  has  a  tine  residence, 
large  barns  and  granaries  and  cattle  sheds, 
and  the  whole  is  well  fenced  and  watered. 
Mr.  Redman  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
puplican  part}'  hut  has  never  sought  or  de- 
sired public  office.  Fraternally  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
Camp  No.  438,  at  Fort  Lodge,  and  he  at- 
tends the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
From  his  German  ancestors  he  has  inherited 
thrift  and  enterprise  and  needful  conserva- 
tism,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  acquisi- 
tions of  a  prosperous  and  promising  part 
of  a  great  state. 


ANDREW  P..  JOHXSOX. 

Among  the  worthy  citizens  that  Sweden 
has  furnished  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  is 
this  well-known  farmer  residing  on  section 
3,  Badger  township.  lie  was  born  near 
Gottenborg,  in  January,  1842,  and  was 
reared  upon  a   farm  in  his  native  land,  be- 

i\  en  g I  coo 

Resolved  to  try  his  fortune  1  n  this  si< 
the  Atlantic,  he  came  to  the   United   States 
in  [870  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Cham- 
paign   county,    Illinois,    where    he     at     first 
:  on  a  farm 

ncal    and    industrious    .Mr. 
Ji  hnsi  u   soon    5a  1  ed   1  embark   in 

farming   on    his    own    account    and    for    six 
years  he  engaged  in  operating  rented  land. 
In  the  spring  of  [883  he  came  to  Iowa  and 
purchased  a    partially    improved     fan 
eight}'  acres  in   Badger  township,  of  which 


596 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  few  acres  had  been  broken  and  a  small 
house  erected  thereon.  To  its  further  de- 
velopment and  cultivation  he  devoted  his 
energies  with  marked  success  until  he 
owned  one  of  the  must  desirable  farms  of  its 
size  in  this  section  of  the  county.  He  built 
a  good  residence  and  all  the  necessary  nut- 
buildings.  He  operated  that  place  for  sev- 
eral years  and  in  the  meantime  bought  his 
present  farm,  on  which  he  located  in  1893. 
Here  he  has  laid  over  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars worth  of  tiling,  while  all  of  the  im- 
provements are  of  a  substantial  character 
and  stand  as  monuments  to  the  thrift  and 
enterprise  of  the  owner,  who  is  acknowl- 
edged to  be  one  of  the  most  progri 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  the  township. 
Besides  his  home  farm  he  owns  another  ol 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Humboldt 
county,  only  three-quarters  of  a  mile  away, 
making  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  all. 
This  property  has  all  been  acquired  through 
his  own  industry,  perseverance  and 
management,  as  he  commenced  life  in  the 
new  world  without  capital  or  the  assistance 
of  influential   friends. 

On  the  14th  of  April.  1876,  in  Cham- 
paign county,  Illinois,  Mr.  Johnson  led  to 
the  marriage  altar  Miss  Bertha  Anderson, 
whn  was  born  and  reared  in  Norway,  and 
on  coming  to  America  in  1874  settled  in 
Champaign  county,  Illinois.  They  have  two 
sons:  John  A.,  who  married  Martha  John- 
son, of  Webster  county,  and  is  now  operat- 
ing his  father's  farm  in  Humboldt  county; 
and  Albert  A.,  who  assists  in  carrying  on 
the  home  farm.  The  parents  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Lutheran  church,  of  Badger, 
and  Mr.  Johnson  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  having  always  voted  that 
ticket.  His  ambition  has  not  led  him  to 
enter  public  life,  as  he  prefers  to  give  his 
undivided  attention  to  his  farming  interests. 


He  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  his 
community  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by 
all  who  know  him. 


CHARLES  STEVENS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  essentially 
a  self-made  man,  his  success  in  life  being  due 
to  his  own  unaided  efforts,  and  the  pros- 
perity that  has  come  to  him  is  certainly 
well  deserved.  He  is  to-day  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative farmers  of  Gowrie  township, 
owning  and  operating  a  good  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  20. 

Mr.  Stevens  was  horn  near  Ban 
Maine,  April  6,  1828,  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Mary  (Starbird)  Stevens,  also  natives  of 
Id  Pine  Tree  state,  where  they  were 
married.  In  1834  they  removed  to  M 
county,  Ohio,  where  in  the  midst  of  the 
wilderness  the  lather  cleared  and  improved 
a  farm,  making  his  home  there  until  1851, 
when  lie  went  to  Hancock  comity,  Illinos, 
and  opened  up  another  farm.  Upon  the 
latter  place  he  made  his  home  until  called 
to  hi-  linal  rest.  He  was  hom  in  ijigs.  and 
died  August  14.  [865,  while  his  wife  was 
horn  December  5,  [800,  and  passed  away 
June   15,   1877. 

On  the  old  home  farm  in  .Meigs  county, 
Charles  Stevens  grew  to  manhood, 
and  as  his  school  privileges  were  limited  he 
is  almost  wholly  self-educated.  As  his 
father  was  a  wheelwright  and  carpenter,  he 
early  became  familiar  with  all  kinds  of  tools, 
and  was  employed  as  a  mechanic  for  some 
years. 

Mr.  Stevens  ws  married  in  Meigs  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  April  30.  1851,  to  Miss  Mary  J. 
Bellows,  who  was  horn  in  Nelsonville,  that 
state,  July  7,  1831,  a  daughter  of  S.  C.  and 


>$%* 

^■^.^"^^^ '     ~ 

Hh«^ 

r 

jink'  A 

i   ; 

f 

I 

• 

CHARLES  STEVENS 


MRS.  CHARLES  STEVENS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


60 1 


.Ruth  (Vanderhoof)  Bellows.  Her  father 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1795,  and,  re- 
ceiving a  college  education;  he  afterward 
followed   the   professii  teaching   and 

surveying  in  Ohio  for  many  years.  Air. 
and  Mrs.  Stevens  are  the  pari 
children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters, 
namely:  Charles  is  married  and  resides  in 
Aclaza.  Iowa;  Edwin  C.  met  death  by  acci- 
dent. November  21,  [885,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years;  Luella  T.  and  Emma  V. 
live'  with  their  parents:  Lilly  May  is  the 
wife  of  Albert  Moburg,  of  Gowrie;  and 
Nettie  Belle  is  the  wife- of  Charles  Malm. 
a  farmer  living  near  Callender  in  Roland 
diip. 
After  his  marriage  Air.  Stevens  fol- 
lowed farming  in  Ohio  until  1852,  when  he 
removed  t<  is,  and 

there  engaged  in  the  same  pursuit  for  sev- 
eral years.  In  the  meantime  the  country 
ne  involved  in  civil  war  and  he  en- 
listed in  February.  1865,  in  Company  F, 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  remained  in 
the  service  until  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
doing  guard  and  -arris,  n  duty,  and  was  at 
length  honorably  discharged  at  Columbus, 
Georgia,  in  January.  1866.  Two  of  his 
brothers  also  entered  the  army  and  on 
in  the  service  as  the  result  of  a  gunshot  re- 
ceived during  the  first  attack  on  Vicksburg, 
and  die  .flier  within  a  month  after  his  dis- 
charge. Just  before  bis  death  the  ' 
wn  >te  the  follow  ing  1< 

"Dear  Father  and  Mother: 

"I  take  perhaps  the  last  opportunity  of 
writing  you  a  few  lines.      I  received  a  severe 
wound  on  the  boat  before  leaving  Ya.- 
a  shot  from  one  of  the  rebel  skirmishers  who 
attacked  the  boat  just  before  we  left,  killing 


.ne   instantly   anil    wounding   three   others. 
The  hall  struck  me  in  the  mouth  and  lodged 

in  the  left  side  of  the  neck,  earn 
teeth  with  it.     To-day  while  1  was  gargling 
water  in  my  throat  it  caused  bleeding 
and    1   came  near  bleeding  to  death  lie: 

could  he  stopped.     1  have  no  hopes  of  ever 
getting  well.     If  I  should  not,  don't  mourn 

fur  me  hut   remember  that    I    died   an 
death  and  in  a  good  cause.      Disp 
little  property  I  have  in  a  way  that  will  make 
you  the  most  o  mfortable.     The  exped 
that    unwed    against    Vicksburg    pro\ 
failure,  a  great  many  men  lust  and  nothing 
accomplished.        The    skirmishers    tired    out 
and  opened  on  them  which   soon   put 
them  to   flight.      The   tire   was  returned   by 
oys.  Edwin  C.  Stevens." 

After  his  return  home  Mr.  Stevens 
worked  at  the  wagon  maker's  trade  for  five 
years,  and  then  I  rming  in  Illinois 

\\o   years.      In    March, •  1882,    he    re- 

■d  to  Webster  a  amty,  h  wn.  whii 
had    visited    the    previous    September, 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,   only  a   few  acres  of  which  had  been 
broken,  but  there  was  m  1   a   tree,  bush  or 
building  upon  the  place.     To  the  imp 
ment  and  cultivation   of  this   place  Ik 
since   devoted    hi-    tint  ergies.    and 

now   hi 
buildings,    surrounded   by    fruit 

1  le  ;ds,  i 
four  acres,   and   owns  a   In  wrie. 

Tie   started   1  tit  himself  empty- 

d,  and  his  pr<  sperity  is  <\\k-  to  his  own 

industry,  enterprise  and  good  management. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Stevens  was  a  Whig, 

but   since  voting   for  Abraham   Lincoln   in 

das  always  affiliated  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  While  living  in  Illinois  he 
served  as   highway   commissioner,   but  has 


602 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


never  sought  or  cared  for  political  honors. 
He  is  connected  with  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  he  and  his  family  hold 
membership  in  the  Congregational  church. 
On  the  30th  of  April,  1901,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stevens  celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  on 
which  occasion  their  children  and  many 
friends,  to  the  number  of  seventy-five,  gave 
them  a  pleasant  surprise,  and  on  leaving 
left  many  tokens  of  their  good  will  and 
esteem.  This  worthy  couple  are  widely  and 
favorably  known  and  are  held  in  the  highest 
regard  by  the  entire  community. 


HERBERT  J.   MACK. 

With  the  agricultural  and  stock  raising 
interests  of  Webster  county  Herbert  J. 
Mack  has  practically  been  identified  since 
the  spring  of  1864,  and  has  materially  aided 
in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  this 
section  of  the  state.  He  now  owns  and  op- 
erates a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seven 
acres  on  section  6,  Roland  township,  where 
he  has  made  his  home  since  the  spring  of 
1885. 

Mr.  Mack  claims  Vermont  as  his  native 
state,  his  birth  occurring  in  Addison  county 
on  the  12th  of  April,  1852.  His  father, 
John  O.  Mack,  was  also  born  in  Vermont  in 
1824,  and  was  a  son  of  James  Mack,  a  na- 
tive O'f  New  England  and  the  son  of  a  Rev- 
olutionary soldier.  On  reaching  manhood 
the  father  of  our  subject  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  Morton,  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Green  Mountain  state,  and  there 
they  made  their  home  until  after  the  birth  of 
four  of  their  children.  Mr.  Mack  being  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Addison  county.  In 
1863  he  came  west  and  after  spending  about 
a  year  in  Hardin  county,  Iowa,  he  took  up 


his  residence  in  Webster  county  in  the 
spring  of  1864.  having  previously  purchased 
a  tract  of  land  in  Elkhorn  township,  where 
he  improved  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  Being  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  strict  integrity  be  became  one  of 
the  most  prominent  citizens  of  his  commun- 
ity, and  was  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  the  county.  He  held  several 
local  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  After  a 
useful  and  well-spent  life  he  died  upon  his 
farm  in  1893.  His  wife  still  survives  him 
and  now  lives  with  a  son  and  daughter  in 
Fort  Dodge. 

Herbert  J.  Mack  was  twelve  years  old 
on  coming  to  this  county  and  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority  he  gave  his  father  the 
benefit  of  his  services  in  improving  and 
carrying  on  the  home  farm.  He  then 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  through  the 
summer  months  for  two  years,  while  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school  during  the  win- 
ter. On  the  old  homestead  farm,  October 
9.  1874.  was  celebrated  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Emeline  Names,  who  was  born  near 
De  Witt,  Clinton  county,  Iowa,  where  her 
father.  Alonzo  Names,  settled  on  coming  to 
this  state  from  New  York  at  an  early  day- 
She  remained  in  Clinton  county  until  com- 
ing to  Webster  county  when  a  young  lady, 
and  here  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  gen- 
tleman to  whom  she  afterward  gave  her 
band  in  marriage.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, namely:  Minnie  E.,  who  was  edu- 
cated at  Tobin  College.  Fort  Dodge,  and 
engaged  in  teaching  school  two  terms  prior 
to  her  marriage  to  B.  L.  Ham,  who  is  now 
engaged  in  the  implement  business  in  Som- 
ers,  Iowa;  Sadie  C,  wife  of  John  AA".  King, 
;.  farmer  of  Roland  township;  and  John  E., 
who  aids  bis  father  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm. 

Mr.    Mack   operated   a   part   of   the   old 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


603 


home  farm  for  six  years  after  his  marriage 
and  then  followed  the  same  pursuit  in  Clay 
county  for  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  [885 
he  located  on  his  present  farm  on  section 
G,  Roland  township,  Webster  county,  built 
a  small  house  and  began  to  till  the  soil.  He 
has  since  erected  a  more  commodious  and 
better  residence,  built  a  large  barn  and  sub- 
stantial outbuildings  and  now  has  a  well 
improved  farm.  He  raises  a  good  grade  of 
stock,  carrying  on  that  entei  prise  in  con- 
nection   with   his    farming   operations. 

Like  his  father  before  him  Mr.  Mack- 
is  unswerving  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  having  supported  all  of  its 
presidential  candidates  since  voting  for 
Rutherford  Ik  Hayes  in  1876,  soon  after  at- 
taining his  majority.  He  has  been  a  dele- 
gate to  numerous  county  conventions  and 
has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  local  poli- 
tics. He  has  filled  the  office  of  commis- 
sioner of  highways  and  is  now  serving  his 
tenth  year  as  assessor  of  Roland  township. 
For  several  years  he  was  also  an  efficient 
member  of  the  scho  1  board.  Religiously 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist  Episcopal   church. 


M.  F.  AXDERSOX.  D.  D.  S.,  M.  D. 

This  well-known  and  popular  dentist  of 
1  layton,  Iowa,  was  born  on  the  18th  of  Sep- 
tember. 1867,  in  Gottenborg,  Sweden,  but 
was  not  yet  two  years  old  on  the  emigration 
of  the  family  to  America  in  the  spring  of 
1869.  Up  to  that  time  his  parents.  Andrew 
and  Anna  (Johnson)  Anderson,  had  spent 
their  entire  lives  in  Sweden.  They  landed 
in  New  York  on  the  Jjd  of  April,  and  hav- 
ing determined  to  settle  in  the  west,  they 
went  to  Muscatine  count}',  Iowa,  where  the 
father  purchased  land  and  engaged  in  farm- 


ing with  good  success  for  many  vears.  He 
died  on  the  9th  of  November,  1901.  at  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and 
his  wife  is  now  living  in  Galesburg,  Illinois, 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  know  her. 
In  their  family  are  six  children,  namely: 
Amanda,  wife  of  A.  P.  Hagstrom,  of  Gales- 
burg: Emma,  wife  of  D.  L.  Peterson,  of 
the  same  city:  Lena,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
tailoring  business  in  Galesburg;  M.  F.,  of 
this   review :    Effie.   who  is   engaged   in   the 

dry    g L   business    in    Galesburg;    and   J. 

E.,  who  was  formerly  a  dentist  of  Des 
Moines,  but  recently  went  to  the  Klondike 
and  is  now  located  at  Dawson  City. 

Dr.  Anderson  obtained  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  of  Muscatine 
county  and  was  graduated  at  the  high  school 
of  Muscatine  with  the  class  .if  1889.  He 
then  took  up  the  study  of  dentistry  at  the 
State  University,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  [892  with  the  degree  of  D.  1  >.  S.,  and 
soon  afterward  opened  an  office  in  Dayton, 
where  he  has  since  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  chosen  profession  with  marked  suc- 
cess, having  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice.  In  [897  he  again  took  a  course 
at  the  State  University,  and  w  as  graduated 
at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
at  Des  Moines  in  1900.  It  will  thus  be 
seen  that  he  is  a  close  student  of  his  profes- 
sion, and  lie  well  merits  the  liberal  pa 
age  he  receives. 

At  Dayton,  June  -'5.  1895,  Dr.  Ander- 
1  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Effie  Mar- 
tindale.  who  was  born  in  Epworth,  Iowa, 
April  14,  1874,  a  daughter  of  Elijah  and 
Anna  Martindale,  who  are  now  living  in 
Dayton.  She  has  one  brother,  William,  who 
1  attending  the  State  University.  To  the 
Doctor  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
children:  Leona  Irene.  August  31,  [896; 
ami   Ronald  Martindale.  Septembers. 


6o4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Politically  Dr.  Anderson  is  a  Rq)ub- 
lican  and  at  local  elections  supports  the  men 
and  measures  which  he  believes  will  best 
advance  the  interests  of  the  people.  He 
takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  civic  so- 
cieties and  is  a  prominent  member  of  Oak 
Lodge,  No.  531,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Delta 
Chapter,  No.  51,  R.  A.  M. ;  Calvary  Cbm- 
mandery,  No.  24,  K.  T. ;  Kaaba  Temple, 
A.  A.  O.  X.  M.  S. :  Granite  Lodge,  No. 
332,  K.  of  P.:  Seni-Om-Sed  Temple.  No. 
9,  I  ).  (  >.  K.  K.,  of  ] )es  Moines,  and  Lincoln 
Homestead  Lodge  of  American  Yeoman. 


JONAS  0LDHE1ME. 

The  landed  estate  of  Mr.  Oldheime  is 
licient  size  and  importance  to  give  him 
a  position  among  the  prosperous  and  suc- 
cessful property  owners  of  Webster  town- 
ship, where  he  has  made  his  home  since 
coming  to  Webster  county.  The  farm 
which  he  owns  and  occupies  comprises  two 
hundred  and  ninety  acres,  lying  on  sections 
5,  8  and  9,  his  residence  being  on  section 
8.  1  mring  the  years  that  have  elapsed  since 
he  came  here  his  attention  has  been  closely 
given  to  placing  the  land  under  proper  cul- 
tivation and  putting  it  in  condition  to  bear 
abundant  harvests.  Besides  his  homestead 
property  he  is  the  owner  of  a  quarter  section 
of  land  in  South  Dakota  and  has  a  one-half 
interest  in  a  tract  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  also  in  that  state. 

The  family  of  which  Mr.  Oldheime  is 
r.  member  settled  in  Pennsylvania  in  an 
early  day;  in  fact,  at  a  period  so  early  in 
our  national  history  that  the  house  they 
built  was  necessarily  made  very  substantial 
in  order  to  withstand  the  attacks  of  the  In- 
dians and  it  was  also  made  of  sufficient 
size  to  enable  the  family  to  store  provisions 


for  a  possible  siege.  The  grandfather  was 
a  soldier  in  war  of  1812,  serving  with  a 
Pennsylvania  regiment.  The  parents  of  Mr. 
Oldheime  were  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Lantz)  Oldheime,  natives  respectively  of 
I  ngland  and  Pennsylvania,  and  made  their 
home  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  their  son,  Jonas,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 15,  1837.  Shortly  afterward  the  father 
was  drowned  in  the  canal  and  the  mother 
later  became  the  wife  of  Eli  Williams,  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania.  Accompanied  by  her 
son,  they  removed  to  Harrisburg,  and  there 
the  mother  died  in  February,  1844,  leaving 
two  sons,  Jonas  Oldheime  and  John  Will- 
iams, the  latter  a  resident  of  East  St.  Louis, 
Illinois. 

.1  time  after  his  mother's  death  Mr. 
(  lldheime  made  his  home  with  his  grand- 
father but  later  he  was  taken  by  a  cousin, 
Jacob  Lantz,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
he  was  old  enough  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world.  When  sixteen  he  began  to  learn 
the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  two  and  one-half  years, 
and  then  found  employment  as  a  journey- 
man in  Cumberland  county  for  one  year- 
At  that  time  many  young  men  were  seeking 
the  west  as  a  desirable  place  to  locate,  and 
he  decided  also  to  seek  a  home  where  op- 
portunities were  greater  than  in  the  east. 
For  eighteen  months  he  lived  at  Mount 
Zion,  Illinois,  and  from  there  started  E 
Pikes  Peak  at  the  time  of  the  great  excite- 
ment caused  by  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
Colorado  mountains.  However,  he  pro- 
ceeded only  as  far  as  Leavenworth,  Kansas. 
when  discouraging  reports  from  the  gold 
fields  caused  him  to  return  to  Illinois.  1  lur- 
ing the  ensuing  summer  he  was  employed  at 
Chatham.  Next  he  spent  a  year  at  Monti- 
cello,  Piatt  county,  and  then  went  back  to 
Mount  Zion  for  a  few  months,  later  settling 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


605 


at  Elwin.  five  miles  south  of  Decatur,  Ma- 
con county,  where  lie  remained  from  the 
spring-  of  1861  until  the  fall  of  1865,  mean- 
time following  the  blacksmith's  trade.  On 
making  another  removal  he  settled  in  Web- 
ster county,  [owa,  having  traded  his  Illi- 
nois property  fur  eighty  acres,  where  he  now 
lives.  Eew  improvements  had  been  made 
on  the  land.  A  house  of  hewed  legs  pro- 
tected the  family  from  the  elements  until, 
in  later  years,  a  modern  ami  commodious 
residence  was  built.  From  time  to  time  ad- 
ditions were  made  to  the  property,  which 
is  now  not  only  large  in  area  hut  fully  im- 
proved and  equipped  with  all  the  con- 
veniences of  farm  life. 

At  Elwin,  Macon  county,  Illinois,  Aug- 
ust 14,  1862,  Mr.  Oldheime  married  Har- 
riet Adeline  Widick,  who  was  born  in  that 
county  December  12,  1845,  being  one  of 
nine  children  horn  to  Riel  and.  Mary  Ann 
(Lynch)  Widick.  One  of  the  nine  died  in 
infancy;  the  others  are  named  as  follows: 
J.  J.,  who  married  Mary  Walters  and  lives 
in  Homer,  [owa;  Nanc)  Jane,  who  after  the 
death  of  her  first  husband,  Isaac  Widick, 
married  Henry  Kramer  and  resided  at  Fort 
Dodge.  Iowa,  until  her  death  in  1S74  ;  Ha" 
riet  Adeline,  Mrs.  Oldheime;  Mary  I.,  who 
after  the  death  of  her  first  husband, 
Thomas  Ellis,  of  Saguache,  Colorado,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Dr.  Baird,  and  now  lives  in 
ado;  Margaret,  wife  of  George  Dan- 
of  Webster  City,  Iowa;  Sadie,  who 
married  Commodore  Teague  and  lives  at 
Celona,  Colorado;  Asberry,  unmarried,  re- 
siding on  .Mr.  Oldheime's  farm;  and  Alice, 
Mrs.    Burton   Sparry,   of   Willmar,   Minne- 

The  fust  wife  of  Mr.  Widick  died  in 
1863.  Two  years  later  he  mined  to  Iowa 
and  settled  in  Webster  count)-,  near  Homer. 
There  he  married  Mrs.  Hartman,  by  whom 


he  had  four  children  :  Hurt,  of  Pueblo,  Col- 
.  llattie,  who  is  married  and  lives  in 
Hamilton  county,  Iowa;  Caddie,  wife  of 
William  Miller,  of  Webster  county ;  and  one 
that  died  in  infancy.  The  third  marriage  of 
Mr.  Widick  took  place  in  Homer,  < 
in  [895,  and  united  him  with  Mrs.  Fisher, 
for  some  years  he  has  been  retired  from  the 
.nine  management  of  a  farm  and  is 
making  Homer  his  place  of  abode.  From 
early  life  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party  and  a  communicant  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  family 
of  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oldheime  consists  of  three 
children :  Lizzie,  Frank  and  May.  The 
older  daughter  is  now  the  wife  of  I.  M. 
Shaefer,  whose  home  is  near  Websti 
in  Hamilton  county.  Iowa,  and  they  have 
one  child.  Ilarley.  May  is  now  the  wife  of 
William  Lang  and  resides  in  Lehigh,  Web- 
ster county. 

Ever  since  coming  to  Iowa  Mr.  Old- 
heime has  proved  his  good  citizenship  by 
taking  an  active  part  in  matters  contributing 
to  the  welfare  of  his  township  audi  count)' 
and  has  held  the  majority  of  the  township 
5,  rendering  efficient  service  in  all.  For 
some  years  he  has  had  stock  in  the  First 
National  Lank,  of  Lehigh,  and  now  is 
nected  with  its  hoard  of  directors.     Though 

1  ive  in  politics  lie  has  firm  c<  mvii 
on    political    questions    and    believes    thor- 
oughly in  the  wisdom  of   Republican  prin- 
ciples.    In  relii  te  and  his  wife  a 
the  Me'thodisl    Episcopal   faith. 


CARL   CHRISTENSON. 

Among    the    wide-awake    and    energetic 

citizens  of  Webster  county  whose  lives  have 

agricultural  pursuits  is  Carl 

Christenson,    wb  on    section    2, 


6o6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Badger  township.  He  proudly  claims  Iowa 
as  his  native  state,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Benton  county  on  the  14th  of  July.  1870. 
His  father.  Knude  Christenson,  was  born 
in  Norway  in  1834,  and  there  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1853  to  Miss  Ellen  Peterson,  also 
a  native  of  the  Land  of  the  Midnight  Sun. 
They  continued  to  make  their  home  in  that 
country  until  after  the  birth  of  ten  of  their 
children,  the  father  being  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. In  1870  he  brought  his  family  to 
America  and  on  landing  came  direct  to 
Iowa,  his  destination  being  Benton  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land 
for  several  years.  In  September,  1877,  he 
removed  to  Webster  count}',  where  he 
had  previously  purchased  eighty  acre^  of 
partially  improved  land,  and  to  its  further 
development  and  cultivation  he  at  once 
turned  his  attention.  Prospering  in  his 
farming  operations  in  this  county  he  was 
able  to  add  to  his  landed  possessions  from 
time  to  time  until  he  had  four  hundred  acres, 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  being  in  the 
home  farm  on  section  2,  and  eighty  acres 
on  section  11,  the  same  township.  He 
continued  to  actively  engaged  in  his 
chosen  <  ccupation  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  December  27,  1887.  His  wid- 
ow and  sons  then  took  charge  of  the  place 
and  have  since  built  a  more  commodi- 
ous and  modern  residence  and  a  good  barn 
and  have  made  many  other  useful  and  valu- 
able improvements  which  add  greatly  to  the 
attractive  appearance  of  the  place. 

Of  the  fourteen  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Christenson,  only  four  are  now  living, 
namely :  Andrew,  a  farmer  of  Hancock 
county,  Iowa:  Samuel,  who  now  owns  and 
operates  two  hundred  acres  of  his  father's 
estate:  Anna,  wife  of  R.  S.  Lund,  whose 
sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume; and  Carl,  the  subject  of  this  review. 


Carl  Christenson  was  only  seven  years 
old  on  the  removal  of  the  family  to  this 
county  and  here  he  grew-  to  manhood,  re- 
ceiving a  good  practical  education  in  the 
local  schools  and  at  the  same  time  acquiring 
an  excellent  knowledge  of  agricultural  pur- 
suits by  aiding  in  the  work  of  the  farm.  On 
attaining  his  majority  he  took  charge  of  the 
home  place.  He  now  owns  and  operates 
two  hundred  acres — a  portion  of  his  father's 
farm — which  he  has  bought.  The  mother, 
who  has  sold  all  her  land,  now  makes  her 
home   with   our   subject. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1893,  m  Web- 
ster county,  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Christenson  and  Miss  Carrie  Hagen, 
who  was  born  near  Albert  Lea,  Minnesota, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Iver  Hagen,  a  native  of 
X<  irway.  On  coming  to  the  new  world  her 
father  settled  in  Minnesota,  but  later  lived 
in  Winnebago  county.  Iowa,  for  a  time  and 
then  removed  to  Idaho.  Mrs.  Christenson 
spent  her  early  life  in  all  three  of  those 
states.  The  four  children  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  are  Ernest,  Eva,  Ellen 
and  Lloyd. 

Politically  Mr.  Christenson  has  been  a 
lifelong  Republican,  having  affiliated  with 
that  party  since  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Benjamin  Harrison  in  1892,  but 
he  takes  no  very  active  part  in  politics. 
With  his  wife  and  mother  he  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Lutheran  church,  of  Badger,  and 
well  merits  the  high  esteem  in  which  be  is 
uniformly  held,  having  the  entire  confidence 
and  good  will  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


H.   E.   NELSON,   M.   D. 

Prominent  among  the  energetic,  enter- 
prising and  successful  citizens  of  Dayton, 
is  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


007 


sketch.  He  has  not  only  met  with  success 
in  the  line  of  his  profession,  but  lias  also 
prospered  in  business  affairs,  and  by  Ins  con- 
nection with  various  enterprises  and  indus- 
tries has  materially  advanced  the  interests 
of  Dayton  and  the  surrounding  country. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Fort  Dodge  on 
the  9th  of  December,  i860,  and  is  a  son  of 
August  and  Matilda  (Samuelson)  Nelson, 
natives  of  Sweden,  where  their  marriage 
was  celebrated.  In  1867  they  took  passage 
on  a  sailing  vessel  and  after  a  voyage  of 
seven  weeks  landed  in  Xew  York  city, 
whence  they  came  direct  to  Dayton,  Iowa, 
and  took  up  their  abode  in  a  house  on 
Main  street,  the  site  of  which  is  now  occu- 
pied by  a  barber  shop.  There  the  father  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a  carpenter  and  con- 
tractor for  a  year,  and  then  removed  to  a 
farm  in  Lost  Grove  township,  west  of  Day- 
ton, where  he  followed  fanning  for  one 
year.  He  then  resumed  carpentering  and 
has  since  made  his  home  in  Fort  Dodge, 
where  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  city 
council  three  terms.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  and  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics.  In  his  family  are 
three  children:  Emma,  wife  of  Rev.  L. 
Larson,  now  a  resident  of  Essex,  Iowa; 
Victor,  who  was  married  in  [890  to  Bessie 
Elliott  and  lives  in  Chicago;  and  H.  S.,  of 
this  review! 

Dr.  Nelson  first  attended  the  common 
schools  and  later  the  high  school  of  Fort 
Dodge,  where  he  completed  his  education. 
He  also  took  a  course  and  was  graduated 
from  a  business  college  in  Fort  Dodge  and 
was  then  bookkeeper  for  a  hardware  com- 
pany 1  me  year.  Later  he  held  a  similar  posi- 
tion with  the  Andrew  Moe  Grocery  Com- 
pany two  years.  At  the  end~of  that  time  he 
entered  the  medical  department  of  the  State 


University  at  Iowa  City,  where  he  was  a 
student  during  the  school  year  of  1890-91, 
and  then  attended  Rush  Medical  College, 
Chicago,  for  two  years,  graduating  in  1893, 
with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  first  engaged 
in  practice  at  Lehigh,  Iowa,  where  he  re- 
mained twenty-one  months,  and  in  [894 
came  to  Dayton,  where  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed his  chosen  profession  with  marked 
success,  having  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice. 

On  the  2J(1  of  June.  1898.  Dr.  Nelson 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Leona 
Beem,  who  was  born  in  Lehigh  December 
31.  1872,  a  daughter  of  W.  C.  and  Jane 
(  Nichols)  Beem,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio 
and  Pennsylvania,  respectively,  and  were 
married  in  Lehigh,  Iowa,  where  they  still 
live.  Their  children  are  Lillie.  wife  of  Sam- 
uel McClure,  of  Fort  Dodge;  Mert,  also  a 
resident  of  that  city  and  a  fireman  on  the 
Fort  Dodge  &  Omaha  Railroad ;  Leona,  wife 
of  our  subject;  and  Minnie  and  Flovd,  who 
live  with  their  father  in  Lehigh.  The  Doc- 
tor and  his  wife  have  one  child,  Frances 
June,   born  June   3,    [899. 

In  collection  with  his  father-in-law, 
Dr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the  Lehigh  Brick 
&  Tile  Company,  whose  works  are  located 
at  Lehigh,  and  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  same.  He  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Day- 
ton Investment  Company;  a  stock  holder 
of  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Dayton,  and 
tlie  Mitchell  Implement  Company,  of  Fort 
Dodge;  and  is  a  member  of  the  Minnesota 
Land  Company,  of  Dayton,  which  owns 
about  three  thousand  acres  of  Minnesota 
land.  The  Doctor  is  examining  physician 
for  all  of  the  old  line  insurance  companies 
doing  business  in  Dayton  and  has  served  as 
city  physician  since  locating  there.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Webster  County,  Iowa  State 
and  American  Medical    Associations,  and  is 


6o8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


niie  of  the  most  progressive  and  popular 
physicians  of  his  native  county,  as  well  as 
one  of  its  most  energetic  and  enterprising 
business  men.  He  is  also  secretary  of  the 
Dayton  Telephone  Company  and  was  one 
i>i"  its  pronn  ters  and  organizers. 


WILLIAM  S.  EWING. 

The  life  which  this  narrative  sketches 
began  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
August  t_\  1839,  and  closed  in  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  August  12  1896.  The  fifty- 
seven  wars  intervening  between  these  two 
dates  represented  an  era  of  activity  and  use- 
fulness, during  which,  through  the  exercise 
of  untiring  industry  and  great  perseverance, 
a  competent  cured   in    agricultural 

pursuits. 

The  parents  of  William  S.  Ewing  were 
T.  and  Maria  ( r.  1  Stockston)  Ew- 
ing, natives  of  Pennsylvania  who,  some 
years  after  their  marriage,  moved  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Bureau  county  in  1853.  For  a 
year  the  father  worked  on  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad,  after  which  he  cultivated 
farm  land  for  five  seasons,  first  in  Bureau 
and  later  in  Putnam  counties.  From  Illi- 
nois hi  came  to  Webster  a  unity ,  Iowa 
settled  upon  a  quarter  section  of  raw  land. 
As  yet  not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  in  the 
soil.  The  land  remained  in  the  primeval 
condition  of  nature.  The  task  of  breaking 
the  ground  and  preparing  it  for  cultivation 
was  no  sinecure,  but  the  father  and  his  sons 
had  energy,  perseverance  and  patience  md 
carried  on  their  work  courageously.  With 
a  team  of  horses  in  the  lead  and  a  team  of 
0  in  following,  the  land  was  ploughed  and 
brought  into  preparation  for  the  crops, 
which  in  due  time  were  planted.     Buildings 


were  put  up  as  the  means  of  the  family  per- 
mitted. In  time  the  farm  came  to  he  a  val- 
uable property.  In  1881  the  father  returned 
to  Tennsylvania  to  visit  his  old  friends-,  ex- 
pecting to  enjoy  a  pleasant  vacation  from 
his  many  responsibilities,  but  while  there 
he  died  very  suddenly  of  heart  failure.  His 
wife   survived    until    1898. 

In  the  family  of  David  T.  Ewing  there 
were  six  daughter  and  three  sons,  but  three 
died  in  childhood.  Those  now  living  are 
as  follows:  .Mary  A.,  wife  of  Harvey  S. 
Baird,  of  Barton  county.  Kansas;  Sarah  J., 
Mrs.  Alexander  Beach,  of  Fort  Dodge, 
James  R.,  who  married  Hannah 
Kline  and  lives  in  Barton  county.  Kansas; 
Clinton  D.,  of  Webster  county,  Iowa;  and 
Margaret  A.,  wife  of  Walter  C.  ( loodrich,  of 
Webster  township,  this  county.  The  sur- 
viving son,  who  resides  in  Webster  county, 
Clinton  IT.  is  one  of  the  best  known  farm- 
Webster  township,  where  he  owns 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  17. 
For  a  number  of  terms  he  has  been  township 

>0r.  His  first  marriage  occurred  at 
Homer.  Iowa,  September  13,  1864,  and 
united   him   with   Harriet   M.    Rector,    who 

born  in  Licking  county.  Ohio,  March 
[6,  1846,  and  died  in  Webster  county.  Iowa, 

91.  Seven  children  were  horn  of  their 
union:  Mary  M.,  William,  Walter,  Edgar, 
Stella,  George  E.,  Alva  Floyd  and  May.  He 
was  a  second  time  married,  at  Lehigh.  Iowa, 
November  6,  1893,  his  wife  being  Mrs.  El- 
sie 1  Core)  I   Holiday,  wdio  was  born  in  Illi- 

md  came  to  Iowa  with  her  father,  Silas 
now  a   retired   merchant   residing  in 
Fort  Dodge,  this  state 

With  his  parents  William  S.  Ewing  came 
to  Iowa  in  1858  and  settled  in  Webster 
c<  unity,  where  he  engaged  in  cultivating  a 
farm  of  forty  acres.  During  the  subsequent 
vears  of  his  life  he  devoted  himself  closelv 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


609 


to  agricultural  pursuits  and  aside  from  vot- 
ing the  Republican  ticket  did  not  take  any 
part  in  political  affairs,  nor  was  he  active 
in  any  fraternal  organizations  besides  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Tn  his 
tastes  he  was  domestic,  in  his  character  up- 
right and  honorable  and  in  his  friendships 
stanch  and  true. 

In  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  April  17, 
i860,  William  S.  Ewing  married  Miss 
Frances  M.  Conger,  a  native  of  that  county, 
born  September  6,  1845.  She  and  a  brother 
who  died  in  infancy  were  the  only  children 
of  Cortez  Conger,  and  she  was  left  an  or- 
phan at  seven  years  of  age  by  the  death  of 
her  parents.  Of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Ew- 
ing twelve  children  were  born,  of  win  mi  the 
following  attained  mature  years :  Wilde, 
of  Webster  township,  Webster  county, 
who  married  Xellie  McFarland,  now  de- 
ceased: Minnie,  who  married  George  Rec- 
tor, of  Coalville,  Webster  county,  and  has 
two  children;  Viola,  Mrs.  Edward  White, 
who  has  four  children;  May.  Mrs.  George 
Libby,  who  resides  in  Lehigh,  Iowa;  Dot, 
who  is  in  Lehigh;  Anna  and  Elsie,  who 
make  their  home  with  their  mother  on  the 
farm;  Guy,  living  in  Lehigh;  and  Frank, 
who  resides  with  his  mother  and  manages 
the  home  farm. 


CHARLES  S.  TOMLINSON. 

This  well-known  and  popular  engineer 
on  the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad, 
with  headquarters  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  was 
born  in  Greencastle,  Putnam  count}-,  In- 
diana, February  25,  1849,  alu^  >s  a  son  °f 
J.  A.  and  Mary  J.  (Woodruff)  Tomlinson, 
who  were  natives  of  Kentucky  and  farming 
people.     When  he  was  seven  years  of  age 


the  family  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
arriving  here  on  the  30th  of  September, 
1856,  and  they  located  on  a  farm  in  Sum- 
ner township,  which  was  their  home  until 
[872,  and  then  removed  to  Fori  Dodge. 
Here  the  father  engaged  in  the  grain  and 
stock  business  quite  successfully  until  fail- 
ing health  caused  his  retirement.  He  died 
January  to,  [891,  leaving  a  wife  and  four 
sons  and  two  daughters,  who  survive  him. 
Since  his  death  two  of  his  sons  have  died. 
Mrs.  Tomlinson  was  born  April  13,  1828. 
The  brother  of  our  subject  is  Orin  W.,  who 
resides  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  and  has 
been  a  telegraph  operator  for  the  Big  Four 
Railroad  for  eighteen  years. 

Charles  S.  Tomlinson  received  his  early 
education  by  studying  nights  while  working 
with  his  father  and  others  on  the  farm  dur- 
ing the  day  time.  On  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  Fort  Dodge  in  1872  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Company  and  in  February  of  the  follow- 
ing year  was  made  fireman,  which  position 
he  remained  in  for  six  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1878  he  took  the  examination  for  engineer,, 
which  was  passed  successfully,  and  was  sent 
to  Dubuque,  where  he  had  charge  of  a 
switch  engine  for  four  months.  He  then 
went  upon  the  mad  as  engineer,  and  in  1880 
was  given  a  run  between  Chicago  and 
Champaign,  Illinois,  on  the  Chicago  divi- 
sion, and  later  was  transferred  to  the  south 
division  between  Centralia  and  Cairo.  Illi- 
nois, for  a  short  time.  Mr.  Tomlinson  then 
returned  to  Iowa  and  was  given  a  run  be- 
tween Waterloo  and  Sioux  City.  In  Febru- 
ary, 188  r,  he  left  the  employ  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  and  on  the  27th  of  March 
entered  the  sendee  of  the  Minneapolis  & 
St.  Louis  Railroad  with  headquarters  at 
Fort  Dodge,  as  freight  and  passenger  en- 
gineer and  he  has  been  with  that  company 


6io 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ever  since,  and  is  to-day  the  fourth  oldest 
man  in  their  employ,  as  well  as  one  of  their 
most  trusted  and  highly  respected  engineers. 
On  the  29th  of  September,  1884,  Mr. 
Tomlinson  married  Miss  Sarah  E.  Dewer 
Swartz,  O'f  Waukesha  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  children:  Har- 
ley  G.,  March  19,  1886;  and  Maude,  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1890.  The  older  is  now  deceased, 
passing  away  February  6,   1898. 


J.  A.  ANDERS!  IN. 

One  of  the  most  successful  of  the  Swed- 
ish-Americans, of  Pleasant  Valley  township, 
is  J.  A.  Anderson,  who  was  born  in  Sweden. 
September  9,  1851,  a  son  of  Anders  and 
Buel  (  Oleson)  Jepson,  who  were  born, 
reared  and  married  in  their  native  land.  Ac- 
cording to  custom  our  subject  assumed  his 
lather's  first  name,  adding  the  letters  "on." 
The  mother  died  in  Sweden,  but  the  father 
is  still  living,  though  an  old  man  and  past 
his  years  of  usefulness.  There  were  but 
three  children  in  the  family,  of  whom  J. 
A.  Anderson  is  the  oldest;  Xels.  who  is 
married  and  is  still  a  resident  of  Sweden, 
as  is  also  Olaf,  who  married  Mary  Peterson. 

In  his  youth  Mr.  Anderson  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Sweden,  and  in  May,  of 
1874,  when  twenty-two  years  of  age,  came 
to  America.  In  McKean  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, he  worked  in  a  sawmill  for  three 
years,  and  while  there  learned  considerable 
of  the  English  language,  of  which  he  knew 
scarcely  a  word  at  the  time  of  emigration. 
In  [878  he  removed  to  Pleasant  Valley 
township,  Webster  county.  Iowa,  where  his 
winters  were  spent  in  the  coal  mines  at 
Coalville,  and  his  summers  in  the  harvest 
fields  of  the  surrounding  farms.     In   1881 


he  bought  forty  acres  of  partially  im- 
proved land  mi  section  4,  Pleasant  Valley 
township,  and  this  was  sold  at  a  profit  in 
1893,  Mr.  Anderson  having,  in  1889.  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  on  section  3  of  the  same  township.  At 
the  time  there  was  a  very  small  house  on  this 
latter  property  and  the  ground  was  not  en- 
tirely cultivated.  Upon  settling  upon  the 
farm  in  1893  he  laboriously  worked  for  its 
best  improvement,  and  the  same  year  built 
a  substantial  rural  home,  this  improvement 
being  followed  by  the  erection  of  large  barns 
and  general  buildings,  and  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  high  grade  modern  machinery. 

February  13,  1875,  Mr.  Anderson  mar- 
ried Betsie  Johnson,  in  Elk  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, Mrs.  Anderson  being  a  native  of 
Sweden,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Anna 
Mary  (Bayred)  Martinson,  natives  also  of 
Sweden.  The  parents  were  married  in  that 
country  and  there  the  father  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years,  in  1885,  but  the  mother 
is  still  living,  and  is  seventy-eight  years  of 
age.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Betsie,  who  is  now  Mrs.  J. 
A.  Anderson;  Annetta,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Olof  Seaberger,  of  Clay  township ;  Mary, 
who  has  taught  the  same  school  in  Oalsted, 
Sweden,  for  about  thirty-five  years ;  Ingrie, 
who  is  married  and  lives  in  Denmark;  Jo- 
hannah,  who  works  in  a  factory  in  Den- 
mark ;  Bertilda,  who  is  a  dress  maker  in 
Sweden;  and  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Henry  Hannaball,  a  prominent  contrac- 
tor and  builder  of  Denmark.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Anderson  have  been  born  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Emma,  born  in  Pennsylvania 
July  14,  1876,  married  Peter  Croonquist 
May  1.  1894.  lives  on  a  farm  in  Pleasant 
Valley  township,  and  has  three  children, 
John  Oscar,  Bettie  Elvira  and  Olga  Eliz- 
abeth.    Axel  Johan,  born  January  30,  1879, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


611 


died  December  17,  1880.  Julian  August 
Theodore,  born  October  23.  1885,  died  at 
the  age  of  eleven  months  and  seven  days. 
Arthur  William,  burn  February  6,  t888, 
lives  with  his  father.  Amanda  Elvira,  born 
November  13,  1891,  is  also  at  home. 

Mr.  Anderson  now  owns  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  Val- 
ley township  and  also  is  the  possessor  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Charles  Mix  county.  South  Dakota.  Another 
possession  is  the  mineral  right  under  the 
farm  of  forty  acres  belonging  to  Mr.  Stein. 
His  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  township  is 
known  as  the  Cedar  Dale  Farm  and  it  is 
conducted  on  thoroughly  scientific  principles, 
and  with  due  regard  to  the  advanced  meth- 
ods observed  in  the  most  enterprising  cen- 
ters of  agricultural  activity.  Mr.  Anderson 
is  a  Republican  and  a  stanch  supporter  of 
his  party  but  has  never  found  time  to  hold 
office.  His  first  presidential  vote  was  cast 
fi  ir  James  A.  Garfield.  He  is  a  moral  in- 
fluence in  the  community  whose  interests  he 
has  done  so  much  to  promote,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church, 
and  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
'When  the  Coalville  church  was  erected  he 
was  on  the  building  committee,  and  it  was 
largely  due  to  his  intelligent  efforts  that  the 
matter  was  carried  on  so  satisfactorily.  He 
enjoys  the  confidence  of  all  who  know  him 
and  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers 
of  the  township. 


CHARLES  I.  LUNGREN. 

Since  the  spring  of  1877  Charles  I.  Lun- 
gren  has  been  a  resident  of  Webster  county. 
Iowa,  and  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  its  farming  and  stock  raising  interests. 


He  has  recently  rented  his  farm,  however, 
and  moved  to  Gowrie,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  general  merchandise  business  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Briggs,  Lungren  & 
Lungren,  having  purchased  a  third  interest 
in  the  enterprise. 

Mr.  Lungren  was  burn  in  Sweden,  No- 
vember 20,  1845,  an(l  Passed  his  boyhood 
and  youth  upon  a  farm  in  his  native  land, 
acquiring  a  good  practical  education  in  the 
Swedish  language.  He  is  mostly  self-edu- 
cated in  English,  however.  On  coming  to 
the  United  States  in  1868  he  located  in 
Bureau  county,  Illinois,  where  for  three 
years  he  worked  on  the  farm  of  R.  D.  Jacobs 
near  Maiden  and  later  operated  a  rented 
farm  for  five  years.  At  the  end  <  if  that 
time  he  came  to  Webster  county.  Iowa, 
which  he  visited  in  1 875,  and  at  that  time 
bought  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of  raw  land, 
some  of  which  he  had  broken  before  locat- 
ing here.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he  fenced  the 
place  and  built  a  good  residence,  and  the 
same  year  raised  a  fair  crop.  Since  then 
he  has  purchased  eighty  acres  adjoining  in 
Greene  county,  and  now  has  a  well  improved 
and  valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixtj 
acres  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  ever  given  considerable  attention  to  the 
raising  of  stock,  and  is  numbered  among  the 
successful  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  his 
community. 

While  residing  in  Bureau  county,  Illi- 
nois, Air.  Lungren  was  married,  September 
28,  1872,  to  Miss  Emma  Peterson,  also  a 
native  of  Sweden,  who  came  to  the  new- 
world  when  a  girl  of  fifteen  years  and  grew 
to  womanhood  in  Illinois.  She  died  March 
11.  1892,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Gowrie 
cemetery.  Mr.  Lungren  has  four  sons :  J. 
H.,  the  eldest,  who  is  now  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Gowrie;  H.  W.,  a 
resident  of  Colorado  Springs.  Colorado;  O. 


6l2 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


E.,  who  is  a  student  in  the  Iowa  State  Col- 
lege at  Ames;  and  A.  F..  who  is  a  student  at 
Tobin  College,  Fort  Dodge.  Four  children 
died  in  infancy,  Jennie  being  sixteen  months 
old  at  the  time  of  her  death. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  Lungren  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principles  since  he  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  James  A.  Garfield  in  1880,  and  he 
has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  local  poli- 
tics. He  has  tilled  the  offices  of  supervisor 
of  highways  a  few  terms;  township,  trustee 
four  years;  a  member  of  the  school  board 
fifteen  years;  and  president  of  the  district 
3  part  of  the  time.  He  has  also  been  a  dele- 
gate to  the  county  convention  of  his  part}-, 
and  in  whatever  position  he  has  been  called 
upon  to  fill  he  has  proved  a  most  efficient 
and  faithful  officer.  Pie  was  1  me  1  if  the  orig- 
inal members  of  the  Lost  Grove  Lutheran 
Mission  church,  with  which  he  is  still  con- 
nected, and  is  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and 
sterling  worth. 


OLE  SHELDOX. 


The  expression  "the  dignity  of  labor"  is 
exemplified  in  the  life  record  of  this  gentle- 
man, who  without  reserve  attributes  his  suc- 
cess to  earnot  work.  Of  excellent  business 
ability  and  broad  resources  he  has  attained  a 
prominent  place  among  the  substantial 
farmers  of  Webster  county  and  is  now  able 
to  lay  aside  active  labor  and  spend  his  re- 
maining years  in  ease  and  quiet,  enjoying 
the  handsome  competence  acquired  by 
former  toil. 

Mr.  Sheldon  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born 
January  14,  1841.  His  early  life  was  spent 
upon  a  farm  and  to  a  limited  extent  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  that  country, 


but  his  knowledge  of  the  English  language 
has  been  self-acquired  since  coming  to 
America.  It  was  in  i860  that  he  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
worked  by  the  month  for  two  or  three 
years. 

There  Mr.  Sheldon  was  married.  May 
_>o.  1862,  to  Miss  Christine  Nelson,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Norway  and  was  a  girl 
of  eleven  years  when  she  came  to  the  new 
world.  She  grew  to  womanhood  in  Colum- 
bia and  Dane  counties,  Wisconsin.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Sheldon  rented  a  farm  in 
Lodi  towndiip,  Columbia  county,  for  a  few 
j  ears  and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
ci  mnt.  I  le  was  at  length  able  to  purchase  a 
place  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres 
in  Dane  county,  on  which  was  an  old  small 
house  and  a  few  other  improvements,  and  to 
us  further  development  and  cultivation  he  at 
once  turned  his  attention.  He  built  a  better 
residence,  a  barn  and  fences,  and  engaged 
in  the  operation  of  that  farm  until  the  fall 
of  1868,  when  he  sold  the  place  and  came  to 
Webster  county.  Iowa.  Soon  after  his  ar- 
rival he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  wild  land 
in  Badger  township,  on  section  io.  which  he 
soon  transformed  into  well  tilled  fields.  As 
he  prospered  in  his  new  home  he  added  to 
his  property  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
owns  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  rich 
and  arable  land,  divided  into  three  farms, 
which  are  well  improved,  and  he  also  owns 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
South  Dakota-  Without  capital  he  com- 
menced life  in  America — a  stranger  in  a 
strange  land — and  his  success  is  attributable 
to  bis  own  untiring  industry  and  good  man- 
agement and  the  assistance  of  his  estimable 
wife.  He  has  erected  two  houses  in  the 
village  of  Badger,  making  each  his  home  at 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


613 


different  times,  and  in  the  last  built  by  him 
he  ii'  >\\  resides. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheldon  were  born 
eight  children,  as  follows  :  Oliver  A.,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume; 
Xels.  who  owns  and  operates  a  farm  in 
Badger  township:  Rosa,  wife  of  Louis 
Clave,  a  hanker  of  Otterson,  Iowa:  Mary, 
wife  of  L.  A.  Jenson,  clerk  of  the  courts 
of  Winnebago  county,  Iowa;  Albert,  who 
now  operates  the  old  home  farm;  Anna,  who 
is  now-  assistant  cashier  in  the  hank  with  her 
brother-in-law  "at  Otterson;  Edward,  a  law- 
student  now  at  Vermillion.  South  Dakota: 
am1  ( )le.  who  is  a  well-educated  young  man 
and  is  now  engaged  in  clerking  in  Badger. 

Mr.  Sheldon  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  hut  takes  no  active  part  in  politics 
aside  from  voting.  He  has  served  as  commis- 
sioner of  highways  but  has  never  sought  or 
cared  for  office.  He  and  his  wife  are 
both  consistent  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church  of  Badger,  and  are  held  in  the  high- 
est regard  by  all  who  know  them.  He  is 
pre-eminently  a  self-made  man  and  his  life 
demonstrates  what  can  be  accomplished 
through  energy,  careful  management,  keen 
11  ire-sight  and  the  utilization  of  the  powers 
with  which  nature  has  aidowed  one  and  the 
opportunities  with  which  the  times  surround 
him. 


AUGUST  PUTZKE. 

Farming  has  proved  a  profitable  and 
pleasant  occupation  to  August  Putzke.  who 
was  born  in  Prussia  August  29,  1846,  his 
parents  also  being  natives  of  that  country, 
where  they  passed  their  entire  lives.  He 
was  educated  in  his  native  land,  and  worked 
on  his  father's  farm  until  emigrating  to 
America  in  1867,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 


years.  In  his  adopted  country  he  w:orked 
for  a  year  on  a  farm  near  Watertown,  Wis- 
consin, and  then  found  employment  on  a 
farm  in  Green  county,  that  state,  for  three 
years.  His  next  scene  of  activity  was 
Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  where  he  met  with 
an  unfortunate  accident  while  running"  a 
threshing  machine,  and  was  incapacitated 
therefrom  for  four  months.  He  subse- 
quently tried  his  luck  in  the  Wise*  msin  piner- 
ies for  a  couple  of  months,  then  returned  to 
Green  county,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm 
[1  ir  a  year. 

On  April  18.  1873.  Mr.  Putzke  married 
Augusta  Welk,  who  also  was  born  in  Prus- 
sia, the  date  of  Iter  birth  being  November 
29.  1854.  Her  mother  is  deceased,  and  her 
father  is  living  in  Stearns  count)'.  Minne- 
sota, where  two  of  his  sons  also  make  their 
home.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Putzke,  namely:  Edward  T., 
a  farmer  on  section  6,  Dayton  township, 
Webster  county,  who  married  Clara  Dowd; 
Clara  Amanda,  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Howarth, 
of  Souix  City.  Iowa;  Matilda  C.  wife  of 
W.  E.  Powers,  a  barber  of  Dayton;  Malinda 
E.,  Samuel  P..  Louesa  Wilhelmina,  Julia 
Augusta,  and  Daisy  Malinda,  ail  five  at 
hi  mie. 

Following  his  marriage.  Mr.  Putzke 
bought  a  team  of  horses  and  a  wagon  and 
drove  to  Fort  Dodge.  Iowa,  and  in  October 
of  the  same  year  located  on  the  farm  on  sec- 
tion ,X.  Dayton  township.  Webster  county, 
which  has  since  been  his  home.  An  inter- 
esting- fact  connected  with  his  arrival  in  the 
township  is  that  the  log  house  on  the  farm, 
which  contained  forty  acres  and  cost  fifteen 
dollars  per  acre,  was  the  first  erected  in  the 
township,  and  hi  it  was  held  the  first  town- 
ship election.  The  success  which  rewarded 
Mr.  Putzke's  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment has  resulted  in  additions  to  his  origin- 


614 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


al  property,  so  that  now  he  has  in  his  own 
right  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  line 
farm  land,  which  is  devoted  to  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising. 

Air.  Putzke  is  a  Republican  in  national 
politics,  and  while  carrying  on  unusually 
large  enterprises  on  his  farm  has  yet  found 
time  to  creditably  serve  his  township  while 
holding  important  positions  of  trust.  He 
was  township  trustee  for  six  years,  and  has 
been  a  school  director  for  twenty  years,  and 
was  for  six  years  president  of  the  board- 
He  is  the  friend  of  education,  and  his  ser- 
vices in  connection  with  the  improvement 
in  the  school  system  have  been  valuable  and 
appreciated.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church. 


OLIVER  A.  SHELDON. 

Oliver  A.  Sheldon,  one  of  the  energetic 
and  progressive  farmers  of  Badger  town- 
ship, his  home  being  on  section  10,  has  been 
a  resident  of  this  county  since  October, 
1867.  He  was  born  in  Columbia  county, 
Wisconsin,  on  the  31st  of  March,  1863,  and 
is  a  son  of  Ole  Sheldon,  a  prominent  farm- 
er of  Webster  county,  whose  sketch  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

Coming  to  Iowa  when  only  five  years 
old  our  subject  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  this  count}*  and  was  educated  in 
its  public  schools.  He  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  he  had  arrived  at  man's 
estate,  giving  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
labor.  He  spent  about  two  years  in  Badger 
buying  grain  for  other  parties  and  later  was 
a  member  of  a  firm  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  in  Arnold  for  a  time.  He  next  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  rented  land  for  about 
z.  year  and  then  operated  one  of  his  father's 
farms  for  four  years.     In  1890  he  returned 


to  the  old  homestead  where  he  was  reared 
and  has  since  engaged  in  the  operation  of 
that  farm,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  He  raises  a  good  grade  of 
sti  ck  and  in  both  undertakings  is  meeting 
with  well  merited  success. 

In  Badger  township,  April  12,  1891,  Mr. 
Sheldon  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Judith  Chantland,  who  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  this  county  and  here  she 
engaged  in  teaching  school  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage. Her  father,  Thomas  Chantland,  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Badger  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheldon  have  an  interesting- 
family  of  four  children,  namely:  Ole  Cur- 
tis, Susan  Teresa,  Florence  W.  and  James 
Robert. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  James  G.  Blaine,  Mr.  Sheldon  has  affili- 
ated with  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
never  sought  or  desired  official  honors,  lie 
was,  however,  elected  township  assessor  and 
served  in  that  capacity  one  term,  and  he  has 
also  been  a  delegate  to  numerous  a  unity 
conventions  of  his  party.  Religiouslv  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran church,  of  Badger,  and  are  among  the 
most  highly  respected  citizens  of  their  com- 

munity. 

■»  • » 

MARY  H.  ANDREWS. 

Mary  II.  Andrews,  who  is  the  owner  of 
a  well  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres  on 
section  .27,  Otho  township,  was  born  in 
Licking  county,  Ohio,  June  29.  1840.  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  Clark  and  Deborah 
(Clafflin)  Fuller,  who  were,  born  in  Xew 
York  state,  the  former  January  16.  1794. 
and  the  latter  August  18,  1802.  The  par- 
ents were  married   November   2,    1820. 

Daniel   Clark   Fuller  moved   from   Xew 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


615 


York  to  Ohio  in  [833  and  settled  in  Lick- 
ing county,  where  he  lived  for  forty  years 
upon  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
He  then  removed  to  Fori  Dodge,  Iowa, 
and  lived  there  until  his  death  in  practical 
retirement  from  business  cares.  His  wife, 
who  afterward  came  to  Otho  and  spent  her 
remaining  years  with  Norman  Hart,  was 
the  mother  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 
namely:  Mrs.  Andrews,  of  this  review: 
Orin  P..  who  married  Amarida  Cooley, 
now  deceased,  and  lives  in  North  Dakota; 
Edwin,  who  died  March  [,  1862,  at  Grass- 
hopper Falls,  Kansas,  his  first  wife  hav- 
ing been  Henrietta  Pence,  and  his  second 
wife  May  Moore,  also  deceased;  Sarah. 
who  married  D.  C.  Stemson  and  both  are 
deceased;  Jane,  wife  of  Norman  Hart,  of 
Kalo :  Clark,  who  married  Rowena  Mi  "ire 
and  both  are  dead:  and  Deborah,  a 
widow  living  at  Kalo,  her  first  husband  hav- 
ing been  John  Van  Valkingburg,  and  her 
second.   Cornelius   Clafnin. 

Mrs.  Andrews  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  also  at  the  Episcopal  Acad- 
emy at  Granville,  Ohio,  from  which  she 
eventually  graduated.  For  the  following 
ten  years  she  engaged  in  educatii  >nal  w<  »rk 
in  different  parts  of  the  country,  her  Last 
term  of  school  being  in  the  district  in  which 
she  now  lives.  Her  marriage  occurred  De- 
cember 22,  1866,  the  ceremony  uniting  her 
with  C.  B.  Andrews  being  performed  at  the 
Congregational  parsonage  by  Rev.  B<  ying- 
ton.  Mr.  Andrews  was  born  in  Wood 
county.  Ohio,  June  8,  1836,  and  was  a  son 
of  James  and  Arzelia  (Fitch)  Andrews,  the 
latter  of  whom  died  in  Wood  count}-  Ohio, 
while  the  former  died  at  Border  Plains, 
Webster  count}-,  in  December,  1896. 
The  father  remarried  after  the  death 
of  his  first  wife,  who  was  the  mother  of 
Mr.    Andrews,    and   with   his    second    wife 


came  to  Border  Plains  in  1851,  and  they 
were  among  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  that 
region.  Their  effort  to  obtain  a  competence 
was  accompanied  by  all  of  the  trials  and 
deprivations  incident  to  frontier  life,  \  et 
the}  made  rapid  progress  among  the  crude 
conditions  by  which  they  were  surrounded, 
and  reared  their  children  to  be  useful  men 
and  women.  The  children  were:  Eliza, 
who  lives  at  Border  Plains  and  is  the  widow 
of  Christopher  Brogettie  Osman,  who  died 
in  the  state  of  Washington;  Emma,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Wilson  Graves,  of  Madison, 
Wisconsin;  and  Samuel  Ilelmer.  who  lives 
in   Minnesota. 

C.  B.  Andrews  served  during  the  Civil 
war  for  three  years  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Thirty-second  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  participated  in  many  of  the  important 
battles  of  the  war.  He  was  under  command 
of  General  Banks,  Colonel  Scott  and  Cap- 
tain Dowd,  and  was  discharged  from  the 
service  August  24,  [865.  I  te  was,  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrews  were  horn 
four  children:  Clark  Elmer,  horn  March 
2  1868,  married  Adelia  Parsons  and  lives 
on  the  home  place  with  his  three  children, 
Clarence.  Florence  and  Marie;  Howe  X., 
horn  February  21,  1N70.  married  Jennie 
Myers,  and  is  engaged  in  the  carpenter  bus- 
iness  at  Fort  Dodge;  Arzelia.  horn  March 
7.  [873,  married  Fred  Hancock,  who  i^  en- 
gaged in  the  implement  business  at  Fort 
Dodge;  and  Osman,  horn  February  20. 
[880,   lives  at  Fort  Dodge. 

Mrs.  Andrews  has  a  pleasant  home  on 
the  property  which  was  formerly  the  pride 
of  her  husband,  and  which  in  the  original 
contained  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre- 
is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,   and   has   the  reputation   of  being  a 


6i6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


good  manager  and  successful  business 
woman.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  at  Kalo. 


WALLACE  F.  SPERRY. 

The  abundant  resources  of  Otho  town- 
ship  have  been  utilized  to  the  fullest  extent 
by  Wallace  F.  Sperry,  one  of  the  large  land 
owners  of  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  one 
of  its  most  scientific  farmers  and  stock 
raisers.  He  was  born  in  Columbia  count}'. 
New  York,  January  27,  1854,  his  parents 
and  grandparents  being  also  of  American 
birth.  His  father.  Frederick  L.  Sperry,  who 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  came  to  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  in  iS(>~.  and  settled  upon  the 
land  now  occupied  by  our  subject,  having 
entered  eighty  acres  of  river  land  which  he 
improved  and  upon  which  he  made  his  home 
until  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1898.  By 
bard  work  and  good  management  he  in- 
creased his  possessions  until  he  owned  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  all  of 
which  is  now  owned  by  his  son,  as  well  as  an 
additional  one  hundred  acres,  making  in  ail 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  The  wife 
and  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Mary  J.  Taylor,  passed  away  in  1888.  In 
the  family  were  four  sons  who  reached  years 
of  maturity,  namely:  M.  L.,  who  married 
Kate  Kinkaid  and  lives  in  Fort  Dodge;  X. 
G.,  also  a  resident  of  Fort  Dodge;  Wallace 
F.,  of  this  review :  and  W.  V. 

Wallace  F.  Sperry  received  his  education 
in  the  district  schools  near  his  boyhood 
home,  and  was  reared  to  an  appreciation  of 
the  many  benefits  to  be  derived  from  a  prac- 
tical, enterprising  agricultural  life.  He 
continued  to  assist  his  father  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  home  farm  until  his  marriage,  in 


July.  1883,  Miss  Alma  Smith  becoming  his 
wife.  She  was  born  in  Henry  count}-,  Iowa, 
November  14,  1857,  a  daughter  of  Loring 
W.  and  Caroline  (Gardner)  Smith,  the 
former  horn  in  New  York.  January  r,  1827, 
and  the  latter  in  Xew  Hampshire,  June  29, 
[829.  Her  parents  were  married  February 
16  1854,  and  the  following  year  left  their 
home  near  Madison,  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Henry  county,  Iowa,  where  they  lived  until 
coming  to  Webster  county  in  1859.  After 
residing  on  a  farm  near  Fort  Dodge,  pur- 
chased several  years  before,  they  removed 
to  that  city,  where  Mr.  Smith  died  August 
26,  1891.  His  wife  still  makes  her  home 
in  Fort  Dodge.  Mrs.  Sperry  takes  a  just 
pride  in  her  ancestry,  of  which  authentic 
record  has  been  kept  since  1650.  The  fam- 
ily was  first  represented  in  America  by  Jo- 
seph Smith,  who  emigrated  from  his  home 
in  England  about  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  and  since  that  time  his  de- 
scendants have  been  creditable  acquisitions 
to  their  respective  places  of  residence.  Mrs. 
Caroline  Smith  is  of  Scotch  descent  and  is 
the  mother  of  the  following  children  :  Mrs. 
Hattie  Martin,  a  resident  of  Henry  county. 
Iowa;  Sherman  E.,  who  died  August  27, 
1  888,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years  ;  Car- 
rie R.  who  is  a  stenographer  in  Denver, 
Colorado;  Charles  L..  who  lives  in  Fort 
Dodge;  Fred  E.,  who  died  in  [878;  and  Al- 
ma, now-  the  wife  of  our  subject.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sperry  have  eight  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Fred  L..  April  1,  1881  ;  Lisle  W..  June  15, 
1SS7;  Merle  M..  born  April  4.  1889;  Ward, 
born  October  2j,  1891 ;  Elibu  C.  June  9, 
1893;  Mavis  and  Mildred,  twins.  March  19. 
1895;  and  Irene,  August  26,  1897. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Sperry  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  of.  land  in  Otho  town- 
ship, to  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


619 


which  lie  at  once  turned  his  attention,  and 
lias  since  bought  the  interests  of  the  other 
heirs  in  the  old  homestead.  He  is  success 
fully  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  although  he  devotes  more  time  to 
the  dairy  business  than  to  feeding  and  sell- 
ing stock.  He  is  one  of  the  most  energetic 
and  up-to-date  men  of  his  community,  and 
is  foremost  in  all  efforts  to  improve  the  edu- 
cational and  material  standing  of  the  town- 
sHib  in  which  he  makes  his  home. 


S.  E.  LE  VALLEY. 

S.  E.  Le  Valley,  one  of  the  honored  vet- 
erans of  the  Civil  war,  and  a  well-known 
retired  farmer  of  Dayton,  Iowa,  was  horn 
on  the  24th  of  March,  1834,  in  Luzerne 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  on  the  paternal 
side  is  of  French  lineage.  His  father.  J. 
N.  Le  Valley,  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  in  that  state  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Laura  Ann  Allen,  who  claimed 
Connecticut  as  her  birthplace.  In  1833  they 
renn  >ved  to  Pennsylvania,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  make  their  home  until  1857,  when 
thev  went  to.  Illinois  and  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Knox  county,  where  the  mother 
died  in  1866  and  the  father  two  years  later. 
He  was  a  stone  mason  by  trade  and  a  stanch 
Democrat  in   politics. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom  four  died  in  in- 
fancy, the  others  being  Debbie  D.,  who  mar- 
ried Michael  Slocum  and  died  in  Pennsyl- 
vania; Daniel,  who  married  Maria  Row  and 
also  died  in  Pennsylvania;  George  C,  who 
first  married  Harriet  Brunson  and  second 
Jane  Miles  and  makes  his  home  in  Knox 
count}',  Illinois;  Francis  and  Levi  H.,  who 
both  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years  ; 


Silas,  who  married  Minerva  Onielia  and  re- 
sides in  Pennsylvania;  and  S.  E.,  our  sub- 
ject. 

The  last  named  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Pennsylvania  and  assisted 
his  father  until  twenty-two  years  of  age. 
Leaving  home  in  1856  he  went  to  Knox 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing upon  rented  land  until  after  the  Civil 
war  broke  out.  Prompted  by  a  spirit  of 
patriotism  he  enlisted  August  14.  1862,  in 
Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Second  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  under  General 
Ward.  His  command  crossed  the  Ohio 
river  at  Louisville  and  proceeded  to  Frank- 
fort and  on  to  Bowling  Green  and  Scotts- 
ville,  Kentucky.  They  were  mounted  and 
did  scout  duty  for  nine  months.  From 
Scottsville  they  went  to  Gallatin,  Tennessee, 
and  later  to  Nashville.  Luverne,  Chatta- 
nooga and  Atlanta.  During  the  early  part 
of  his  service  Mr.  Le  Valley  took  part  in 
a  number  of  skirmishes,  but  his  first  im- 
portant battle  was  that  of  Buzzards  Roost, 
followed  by  the  engagements  at  Resaca, 
Dallas,  Casville,  Xew  Hope  Church  (Burnt 
Hickory),  Lost  Mountain.  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Marietta  and  Vining  Station, 
which  brought  the  army  to  the  Chattahoo- 
chee river.  Crossing  that  stream  they  en- 
gaged in  battle  at  Peach  Tree  Creek.  Later 
they  participated  in  the  battle  of  Atlanta,  and 
on  leaving  that  city  accompanied  Sherman 
on  his  celebrated  march  to  the  sea.  They 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Lawtonville  and 
Columbia,  South  Carolina,  and  Averysboro 
and  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  and  then 
proceeded  to  Goldsboro  without  opposition, 
being  stationed  there  at  the  time  of  Lee's 
surrender.  From  there  they  went  to  Ral- 
eigh in  time  to  witness  the  surrender  of 
Johnston  to  Sherman  and  then  proceeded 
northward   to    Washington,    D.    C,    where 


620 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Le  Valley  took  part  in  the  grand  re- 
view and  was  mustered  out  June  6,  1865. 
He  was  slightly  wounded  at  Atlanta.  From 
private  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  sergeant  and 
was  serving'  in  that  capacity  when  the  war 
ended. 

After  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Le  Valley 
returned  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  by  the  month  on  a  farm.  On  the 
1st  of  February,  1866,  he  married  Miss  El- 
mira  F.  Le  Valley,  a  (laughter  of  C.  II.  and 
Harriet  Le  Valley,  who  were  married  in 
New  York  and  on  coming  west  settled  in 
Knox  county,  Illinois.  Her  father  died  in 
1895,  but  her  mother  is  still  living.  Their 
family  consisted  of  one  son  and  seven 
daughters,  namely:  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
William  Suydan,  of  Knox  county.  Illinois; 
George  H.,  who  married  Hannah  Lane  and 
resides  in  Knox  county;  Elmira  F.,  wife 
of  our  subject:  Mary,  wife  of  If.  P.  Tate, 
of  Dayton,  Iowa;  Julia,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty  years;  Hattie,  wife  of  William 
Palmer,  of  Galesburg.  Illinois:  Emma,  de- 
ceased wife  of  Alonzo  Harrison,  of  Colo- 
rado; and  Xellie.  wife  of  Charles  Perkins, 
of   Ottumwa,    Iowa. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  seven 
children:  (  1  )  Judd  N.,  a  resident  of  Day- 
ton, married  Lulu  Carr  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Frances  and  Helen.  (2)  Daniel  O., 
of  Dayton,  married  Carrie  Bennett  and  has 
four  children,  Ethel,  Eddie,  Edith  and  Nel- 
lie. (3)  Fred  S.,  of  Dayton,  married  Xellie 
Dowd  and  has  two  children,  Harley  and 
Harvey.  (4)  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  William 
Snyder,  of  Belmond,  Iowa.  (5)  Willie  W. 
is  at  home  with  his  parents.  (6)  Stella  is 
the  wife  of  William  Olmstead,  of  Dayton, 
and  they  have  three  children.  Juddie,  Ora 
and  Chauncey.  1  j)  Chauncey  makes  his 
home  with  his  parents. 

Mr.   Le  Vallev  continued   his    residence 


in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  until  1876  when 
he  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Dayton  township,  which  he  success- 
fully operated  until  1892.  Renting  his  place 
lie  removed  to  Dayton,  where  he  owns  a 
nice  home,  and  a  year  after  locating  here  he 
sold  his  farm  and  embarked  in  the  meat 
business,  conducting  a  market  for  nine  years. 
Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party  and  has  most  efficiently  filled  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  are  active  and  faithful  members  of 
the  Methodist  church,  of  which  he  is  trus- 
tee and  steward,  and  he  is  also  connected 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  while  his  wife  holds 
membership  in  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps. 
As  a  citizen  he  has  alwavs  been  true  and 
faithful  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him,  so 
that  his  loyalty  is  above  question,  being 
manifested  in  days  of  peace  as  well  as  when 
he  followed  the  old  flag  to  victory  on  south- 
ern battlefields. 


EDGAR  L.  WOODDLE. 

Particularly  worthy  of  mention,  as  prov- 
ing what  it  is  possible  for  energetic  young- 
men  to  accomplish  in  Webster  county,  is  the 
success  which  is  rewarding  the  enterprise 
and  Kvi.se  judgment  of  Mr.  Wooddle,  of 
Webster  township.  He  was  born  in  Rock 
Island  county,  Illinois,  April  22,  1S74,  and  is 
a  member  of  a  well-known  family  concern- 
ing whom  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of 
Albert  Wooddle.  When  he  was  a  boy  he 
was  given  such  advantages  as  the  district 
schools  of  Rock  Island  county  afforded,  and 
after  coming  to  Iowa  he  was  for  a  short  time 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


621 


a  student  in  the  Lehigh  schools.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  lie  left  school,  in  order  to  assist 
his  father  on  the  heme  farm,  and  during-  the 
winter,  when  there  was  little  to  do  on  the 
farm,  he  clerked  in  a  store. 

In  Webster  township.  June  18,  1893, 
Mr.  Wooddle  married  Miss  Delia  M. 
Daniels,  who  was  born  here  March  5,  1874. 
and  is  a  daughter  of  William  Henry  Daniels, 
a  native  of  Bureau  count}-.  Illinois.  Mention 
of  the  Daniels  family  appears  in  the  sketches 
of  Daniel  and  C.  N.  Daniels,  elsewhere  in 
this  work.    Agriculture  has  so  far  been  Mr. 

W ldle's  occupation  in  life.    For  a  time  he 

rented  a  farm  belonging-  to  his  wife'-,  grand- 
father, and  afterward  cultivated  land  owned 
by  his  father-in-law.  meantime  saving  his 
accumulations  in  order  that  he  might  invest 
in  land  for  himself.  In  1897  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  lying  on  section  [6. 
With  this  piece  as  nucleus,  be  has  kept  add- 
ing to  his  property,  until  now  his  landed 
possessions  aggregate  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  sections  16  and  17,  while  his 
wife  owns  an  eighty-acre  tract  on  section  17, 
these  several  properties  adjoining  and  form- 
ing one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  entire  town- 
ship. 

One  of  the  chief  ambitions  of  Mr.  Wood- 
die's  life  has  been  to  make  his  farm  the  peer 
of  any  property  in  the  entire  county,  and 
how  well  he  is  succeeding  a  glance  at  his 
place  indicates.  A  neat  residence  gives  the 
family  a  desirable  abode,  and  suitable  gran- 
aries provide  a  place  of  storage  for  crops, 
while  barns  and  cattle  sheds  provide  shelter 
for  the  stock.  The  land  is  divided  and  sub- 
divided into  fields  of  convenient  size,  some 
for  the  pasturage  of  stock  and  others  for 
the  raising  of  grain.  Especial  attention  is 
paid  by  the  owner  to  the  raising  of  high- 
grade  stock  for  the  market,  and  it  is  in  this 
line  that  he  has  met  with  the  greatest  suc- 


cess. A  number  of  very  fine  In  irses  are  t<  1  be 
seen  on  the  farm,  as  well  as  full-blooded  cat- 
tle- The  grain  raised  on  the  farm  is 
as  feed  for  the  stock,  which  has  proved  more 
profitable  than  its  sale  in  the  markets.  It 
would  seem  that  the  management  of  his 
property,  together  with  all  the  responsibility 
attached  to  the  breeding,  feeding  and  selling 
of  cattle,  would  engross  all  of  Mr.  Wood- 
die's  time,  but  we  find  that  he  has  for  eight 
winters  found  time  to  engage  in  mining,  and 
lie  kept  in  touch  with  the  occupation  through 
his  membership  in  the  Miners'  Union.  At 
this  writing  he  is  connected  with  the  Amer- 
ican Yeoman   Lodge. 

While  he  has  thus  far  in  life  refused  to 
accept  official  positions.  Mr.  Wooddle  is  in- 
terested in  public  affairs,  keeps  posted  con- 
cerning the  problems  brought  before  our 
government,  and  supports  the  Republican 
party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  connected 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
c<  mtribute  to  its  maintenance.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Lehigh  Valley  Savings  Bank 
and  has  other  interests  that  are  important. 
Indeed,  his  success  is  unusual  for  one  of  his 
age,  and  without  doubt  he  will  be  in  a  posi- 
tion to  retire  from  active  business  cares  with 
a  competency  sufficient  for  all  of  his  remain- 
ing vears.  at  a  time  when  man}-  men  are 
]ust  getting  a  fi  u  rthold  in  the  business  world. 
In  his  family  there  are  three  children,  name- 
ly: Gladys  M..  born  March  5,  1804:  Lewi- 
S..  March  jo,  181)7:  and  Mildred,  August 
22.  1900. 


JACOB   INTERMILL. 

An  esteemed  citizen  and  successful  farm- 
er as  well  as  a  large  land  owner  in  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  is  Jacob  Intermill,  whose 
property  is  located  on  sections  X  and  5,  Day- 


622 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ton  township.  His  birth  <  ccurred  in  Switz- 
erland April  8,  1843,  h's  parents  being 
Christian  and  Elizabeth  ( Creubuel  1  fnter- 
inill.  who  were  born,  reared  and  married  in 
Switzerland.  In  i860  they  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  settling  in  Tuscarawas  coui> 
ty,  <  )hio,  where  the  father  died  five  years  la- 
ter, after  which  the  mother  made  her  home 
with  our  subject  until  her  death,  in  1890. 
They  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  our 
subject  being  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 
The  1  thers  were  as  folloWs:  Christian  mar- 
ried Anna  Weir,  now  deceased,  and  lives  in 
Oakdale,  Nebraska;  Elizabeth  is  the  widow 
of  John  I  louder  and  resides  in  I'.urnside 
township,  tli^  county;  Rose  is  the  widow  of 
John  Schwenderman  and  lives  in  Burnside 
township;  John  married  Charlotte  Eckhart 
and  lives  in  Vincent,  Webster  county;  Sam- 
uel died  in  [865  at  the  age  of  twenty-six; 
Susan  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Echer,  of  Canton, 
Ohio;  Margrel  is  the  wife  of  David  Brown, 
of  Fort  Dodge,  towa;  Madeline  married 
Nicholas  Finzer  and  resides  in  Hicksville, 
Ohio;  Annette  married  John  Wenger  and 
lives  in  Canton,  Ohio;  Mary  died  in  Switz- 
erland at  the  age  of  ten  years;  and  Rudolph 
married  Carrie  Porch  and  lives  in  Webster 
county. 

I  'mil  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  our 
subject  knew  no  other  land  than  his  native 
Country.  After  the  family  settled  in  Ohio 
he  attended  school  in  older  to  perfect  him- 
self in  the  English  language.  For  five  years 
he  remained  at  home  assisting  his  father  on 
the  farm,  at  the  same  time  studying  the 
English  tongue,  and  succeeding  in  a  wonder- 
ful degree.  He  then  went  west,  stopping 
first  in  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
farmed  on  shares  for  two  years,  after  which 
he  removed  to  Jasper  county,  Iowa.  The 
trip  was  made  overland  in  a  prairie  schooner. 
From  there  he  went  to  Benton  county  and 


two  years  later  came  to  Webster  county,  in 
ing  a  river  claim  of  one  hundred 
and    sixty   acres. 

Two  years  later  Mr.  Intermill  went  to 
Philadelphia  and  in  February,  1X71.  he  was 
married  to  Catherine  Steit/e.  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Maggie  1  Waggoner)  Steitze,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  that  country.  Mrs.  Intermill 
was  one  in  a  family  of  four  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living  in  America,  the  others  be- 
ing: Peter,  who  married  Kate  Kuster  and 
lives  in  Rigorsville,  Ohio;  Maggie,  who 
married  Jake  Grow  and  resides  at  the  same 
place;  and  John,  who  married  a  Miss  Echart 
and  lives  in  Dover.  Ohio.  Mrs.  Intermill, 
the  firs]  wife  of  our  subject,  died  May  13, 
1872,  and  was  buried  in  Rigorsville,  Ohio. 
One  child  was  horn  to  that  union,  William 
I-'.,  who  married  Matilda  Norstrum  and  lives 
in   Bruce,  South  1  )akota. 

Mr.  Intermill  remained  at  work  on  a 
farm  near  Canton,  Ohio,  until  the  fall  fol- 
lowing and  then  returned  to  Iowa.  On  Sep- 
tember hi.  [872,  at  Canton,  he  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  Snyder,  a  native  of  Switzerland, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Sny- 
der, both  of  whom  were  horn  in  Switzerland. 
The  mother  died  and  the  second  marriage 
of  Mr.  Snyder  was  to  Elizabeth  Pfester. 
By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Snyder  had  three 
children,  namely:  Godfreid,  a  resilient  of 
Stratford,  Iowa:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Intermill;  and  Lew.  who  lives  with  his 
brother.  Eight  children  were  horn  by  Mr. 
Snyder's  second  marriage,  namely:  John, 
who  lives  in  Ohio;  Mary,  who  married 
James  Geisenger  and  lives  in  Akron.  Ohio; 
Josephine,  Fred  and  Susan,  .also  residents 
of  Akron;  and  George.  Nicholas  and  Sam- 
uel, who  also  live  in  Ohio. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Intermill  eight  chil- 
dren were  born:    Anna,  born  July  3,  1873, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


623 


was  married  February  i_\  [896,  to  Alberl 
Rufer  who  was  born  in  Bureau  county,  tlli- 
nois,  March  31,  1869,  and  they  live  in  I  »a} 
ton  township,  this  county.  Their  four  chil- 
dren arc  Clarence,  Florence,  Harold  and 
( irace.  The  1  >ther  members  1  >\  the  [ntermill 
family  arc:  Charles,  at  home;  Katie,  wife 
of  Edward  Gabriedson,  of  Dayton,  towa; 
Louisa,  wife  of  Alvin  Kramer,  of  Burnside 
township;  Minnie:  Lydia;  Lilly;  and  Flos- 
sie. 

Mr.  [ntermill  owns  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  some  of  the  most  valuable 
land  in  Dayton  township  and  also  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Bruce,  Brookings 
county,  South  Dakota.  Although  lie  lias 
long  been  a  firm  believer  in  a  Republican 
party  management  he  is  no  politician,  and 
refuses  to  accept  any  public  office.  I  lis  re- 
ligious ci  nnection  is  with  the  German  Evan 
gelical  church,  in  which  faith  he  was  reared. 
Mr.  [ntermill  lias  been  a  very  busy  and  in- 
dustrious man  and  lias  accumulated  his  large 
property  interests  through  his  own  endeav- 
1  irs  and  enji  iys  the  high  esteem  of  his  felli  1  . 
citizens. 

4  »  » 

A.  J.  CROUSE. 

The  rer<  'Hi  < ■  1  i < . 1 1  -  •  r  \  1  ' 
back  to  the  pioneer  days  of  Webster  county, 
to  which  he  came  in  childhood  and  with 
which  he  lias  since  been  identified,  being 
a  well-known  farmer  1  m  sect  inn  21,  Wash- 
ington township.  He  was  born  in  Owen 
county,  Indiana,  April  22,  [845,  and  is  a 
son  of  [saacand  Nancj  (Cornelius)  Crouse, 
natives  of  North  Carolina.  Jli-  father  was 
born  November  28,  [808,  and  his  mother 
Decemher  10.  [803.  Alter  their  marriage 
id  from  North  Carolina  to  In- 
diana,  settling  in  Owen  county,   where  he 


took   up  a    government   claim.      The    year 
[85]     witnessed    their    arrival    in    Webster 
o  lunty,  I'  wa.      \t  thai  time  the  o  >vm\ 
Hamilton  and  Webster  were  one,  und< 
name  1  »f  Webster,  and  w  itli  the  cot 
at  Ih  :iiicr.    Settlers  were  few  ,  imp 
conspicuous  bj  their  absence,  ami  hard 
and  privations  were  the  common  1' t  of  all 
who,    with   a   pioneer's   brave   heart,    peni 
trated  these  then  primitive  wilds. 

The  family  were  wholl)    without  means 
and  the  father  was  Had  to  secure  work  in 
building    a    gristmill.      1 1  is    employer    hail 
taken   up  a  government  claim,  hut  becom 
ing  discouraged   with  prospects,  turned  his 
land  and  1'  ig  house  over  to  VEi    1  rou  se,  and 
it  was  there  thai  the  family  spent  the  m  I 
winter  in  Iowa,    ddic  weather  was  unusually 
severe  and  for  weeks  the  snow  laj   four  feel 
deep,  effectually  depriving  the  familj  of  all 
Me  intercourse  with  other  pioneers.  The 
log  house    offered    hut    meager    profc 
fn  mi   the  elements,    fi  ir    the   o  'Id    w  1 
had  come  1  m  bef<  ire  there  had  been  an  op 
portunity  to  daub  up  the  crack-,  in  order  to 
keep  '  'Ut  the  ci  'Id.     Ti  1  add  t' '  their 
ings  there  was  no  stove  and  no  elm 
As  a  result  of  the  exposure  they  were  af- 
fllicted  with  the  ague,  with  which  the 
fered  constantly  and  seriously.     Howi 
when  spring  came  the}     1    m  recovered  from 
the  effect-  of  the  hard   winter.      The  father 
began  to  break  up  the  land  preparatot 
cultivation.     The  house,  too,       <     n  ndered 
a.  better  protection  from  wind  and  weather, 
and    when  am  ther   w  inter   began    dim 
k   without    fear    of     further    suffering.      In 
1852  they  built  a  log  house  four  and 
half  miles  south  of  II  miei   on   I  >i  n  m< 
and  there  remained   until    [857,  when  they 
d  to  Brush)  creek  and  bought  a  quarter 
aining  some  imp 
merits.     It  was  on  tin-  place  that  Mr.  I 


•624 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


•died  on  September  29,  1887.  His  wife  had 
passed  away  July  19,  1883.  Both  were  bur- 
ied at  Dun-combe,  Iowa.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  six  children.  The  eldest.  Jane,  was 
born  August  1.  1832.  and  became  the  wife 
■of  Robert  Wilgus  of  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
but  both  are  now  deceased.  They  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children.  Sarah  Ann  was 
born  December  14,  1834.  and  makes  her 
home  with  W.  L.  Crouse  in  Webster  county. 
John  Henry,  who  was  born  August  30,  1836, 
married  Betsy  Newsum  and  resided  in  Web- 
ster county  until  his  death,  on  April  7,  1881. 
Polly  Paulina,  born  April  12,  1840,  became 
the  wife  of  William  Paine  and  died  in  Web- 
ster county  in  1897.  She  is  survived  by  one 
child.  A.  J.  was  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth,  while  the  youngest  is  Rebecca,  horn 
October  9,  1848,  and  now  the  wife  of  George 
Townsend.  of  the  state  of  Washington. 

The  school  advantages  afforded  by  Web- 
ster count}"  during  pioneer  days  were  exceed- 
ingly limited  but  A.  J.  Crouse  succeeded  in 
acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  three  R's  and 
subsequent  habits  of  observation  and  self- 
culture  have  made  him  a  well  informed 
man.  The  school  which  he  attended  was 
the  result  of  the  ingenuity  of  the  farmers, 
they  having  clubbed  together  and  built  .1 
school  house,  which  they  supported  by  sub- 
scription. His  attendance  at  the  school  was 
limited  to  three  months  in  the  winter;  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  the  year  he  was  em- 
ployed in  helping  on  the  farm.  He  re- 
mained on  the  homestead  until  he  was 
twenty- four.  At  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa.  Janu- 
ary 6,  1868,  he  married  Cordelia  M.  Jaques, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio-  August  1 1,  1850,  and 
died  in  Iowa  June  8,  1898.  Her  parents, 
Varnum  and  Juliana  (Porter)  Jaques  were 
born,  reared  and  married  in  Ohio.  After 
his  death  the  widow  came  to  Iowa  and  set- 
tled in  Webster  countv.    Her  death  occurred 


in  1896  at  the  home  of  her  son.  Franklin, 
near  Salt  Lake  City.  Utah.  In  her  family 
there  were  eight  children,  James,  John, 
Jason,  Charles.  Caleb,  Franklin.  Adeline 
and  Cordelia. 

Mr.  Crouse  is  the  father  of  seven  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom,  Ellora  Evelyn, 
was  born  November  6,  1869,  and  died  when 
seventeen  days  old.  Parella  Lenoria.  who 
was  born  November  22,  1870,  married  The- 
ron  Pratt,  of  Washington  township,  Web- 
ster county,  and  they  have  one  child,  Blanche 
May.  John  Wesley  Crouse,  the  oldest  son 
in  the  family,  was  born  April  26,  1873.  He 
was  married  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  December 
20,  1899,  to  Miss  Jennie  C.  Webb  a  native 
of  Webster  county,  born  June  2,  1883.  She 
was  one  of  five  children,  whose  parents,  Mar- 
shall M.  and  Kate  (Ding-man)  Webb,  are 
natives,  respectively,  of  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  and  New  York  state,  now  residing  a: 
Fort  Dodge.  J.  W.  Crouse  and  wife  have 
one  daughter,  born  October  25,  1900.  The 
fourth  child  of  Mr.  Crouse  is  Nellie  Ala- 
meda, born  May  28,  1877,  and  married  May 
11.  1899,  to  Hartley  Daniels,  by  whom  she 
lias  one  child.  They  live  in  Webster  county. 
The  fifth  child  in  the  family  is  Jessie  May 
Ursula,  born  April  7,  188 1.  She  was  mar- 
ried January  4,  1900,  to  Arthur  Stump,  of 
Webster  county,  and  died  October  4,  1901. 
The  youngest  children  of  Mr.  Crouse  are 
Teddy  Varnum,  born  June  n,  1883.  and 
Frederick  William,  born  October  26,  1888, 
both  of  whom  are  at  home. 

Ever  since  his  marriage  Mr.  Crouse  has 
continued  to  operate  the  homestead  farm, 
which  he  has  improved  by  building  a  resi- 
dence and  barns  and  by  placing  the  eighty 
acres  under  excellent  cultivation.  The  prop- 
ertv  lies  on  section  21,  Washington  town- 
ship. While  managing  his  various  personal 
interests,  he  finds  time  to  participate  in  local 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


625 


affairs  and  is  well  posted  concerning  move- 
ments brought  before  the  people  for  the  ben- 
efit! of  the  county.  At  different  times  he  has 
held  a  majority  of  the  township  offices,  till- 
ing these  positions  with  fidelity  and  intel- 
ligence. In  his  political  views  he  is  in  sym- 
pathy with  Populist  doctrines  and  usually 
votes  with  the  People's  party,  although  his 
citizenship  is  too  broad  to  be  confined  to  the 
narrow  limits  of  any  political  organization. 
First,  last  and  always  he  favors  such  plans 
and  measures  as  will  promote  the  welfare  of 
the  people. 


SWAN  JOHNSON. 


(  >ne  nf  the  most  prominent  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  Dayton  is  Swan  Johnson, 
who  is  now  so  efficiently  serving  as  county 
supervisor  from  district  No.  4.  His  early 
home  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic, 
for  he  was  bdrn  in  Sweden.  May  14,  1844, 
and  there  spent  the  first  seventeen  years  nf 
of  his  life.  In  1861  he  came  to  America  in 
company  with  his  parents,  Andrew  and 
Christiana  (  Anderson  )  Johnson,  the  voyage 
being  made  in  the  Margretta,  a  sailing  ves- 
sel. After  six  weeks  spent  upon  the  water 
they  landed  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and 
fn  m  there  went  to  New  York  and  on  to 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  the  father 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  near  Orion,  and  to 
its  cultivation  and  improvement  he  devoted 
his  energies  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  died  in  1887,  but  the  mother  is  still 
living  and  continues  to  reside  in  Orion,  Illi- 
nois.  hi  their  family  were  six  children, 
namely:  John,  who  married  Margaret 
Sneges,  and  resides  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa; 
Mary  C,  wife  of  Hans  Shult,  of  Henry 
county,  Illinois ;  Swan,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  ;  Jonas  P.,  a  resident  of  Gowrie,  Iowa, 
who  wedded  Alary  Larson,  and  has  repre- 


sented Webster  county  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture; Annie,  who  married  P.  E.  Coleson  and 
died  in  Boone  county,  Iowa;  and  Alggert 
A.,  who  married  Ida  Sten,  and  resides  in 
Calhoun  county,  Iowa. 

Swan  Johnson  celebrated  his  seventeenth 
birthday  in  mid-ocean  on  the  emigration  of 
the  family  to  America.  He  began  his  edu- 
cation in  his  native  land,  and  attended  schi  »ol 
in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  to  a  limited  ex- 
tent for  about  two  years,  but  he  had  little 
opportunity  for  study  as  he  worked  in  the 
coal  mines  of  Knox  and  Warren  counties, 
Illinois,  during  the  winter  months  and  as  a 
farm  hand  through  the  summer  season,  be- 
ing thus  employed  for  six  years. 

On  the  1 6th  of  March,  1867,  in  Andover, 
Henry  count}',  Illinois,  was  celebrated!  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Johnson  and  Miss  Mar- 
garet England,  who  was  also  born  in  Swe- 
den, February  2.  1847,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Cathrina  (Coleson)  England,  natives 
of  the  same  country.  In  1853  the  family 
came  to  the  United  States  on  a  sailing  ves- 
sel, which  cast  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New 
York  after  a  voyage  of  ten  weeks.  Going 
to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  Mr.  England  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land,  a" span  of  horses,  a  wagon  and  three 
cows,  for  all  which  he  paid  three  hundred 
dollars  in  gold,  and  in  his  farming  1  iperatii  <ns 
met  with  good  success,  being  quite  well-to- 
do  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1 887.  His  widow  now  makes  her  home  at 
Victoria,  Knox  county.  Unto  them  were 
horn  five  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Johnson 
is  the  oldest;  Andrew,  deceased,  married 
Anna  Heed  and  lived  in  Knox  county; 
Christina  is  the  wife  of  Heun  Lindeberg, 
of  the  same  county;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of 
Jonas  Hidmond,  now  of  Hancock  county. 
Iowa;  and  Peter  married  Anna  Coleson  and 
makes  his  home  in  Knox  county,  Illinois. 


626 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  eight  chil- 
dren, namely:  Frank  A.  \\ ..  who  lives  on 
Ins  lather's  farm  in  Boone  county.  Iowa, 
married  Hulda  Nurestrom  and  has  one  child, 
Ro'sie.  Anna  R.  is  the  wife  of  P.  A.  Stark, 
of  Dayton,  Iowa,  and  has  three  children, 
Swan  T..  Alice  and  Ernest.  Wesley  S.  A. 
was  formerly  engaged  in  the  hardware  busi- 
ness in  Des  Moines,  but  is  now  engaged  in 
the  same  business  in  Cowrie.  Ernest  J.  E., 
a  hardware  merchant  of  Dayton,  married 
Daisy  Lumblad  and  has  one  child  Lucile. 
Henry  S.,  Emma  L.,  Hester  M.  and  Mary 
C.  are  all  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Johnson-re- 
moved to  Boone  county,  Iowa,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  raw 
prairie  land,  to  which  he  subsequently  added 
another  tract  of  the  same  size,  and  there  he 
erected  buildings,  built  fences  and  made 
many-  other  improvements  until  he  had  a 
well  cultivated  and  desirable  farm.  In  1892 
he  retired  from  active  labor  and  moved  to 
Dayton,  where  he  owns  a  good  home.  In 
business  affairs  he  has  steadily  prospered 
and  is  to-day  the  possessor  of  some  valuable 
property  and  one  of  the  directors  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Dayton.  He  still  devotes 
a  part  of  his  time  to  the  real  estate,  loan  and 
foreign  transportation  business  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Johnson  &  Company,  and 
for  thirty-three  years  has  engaged  in  auc- 
tioneering all  over  this  section  of  the  state. 
He  is  president  of  the  Swedish  Mutual  In- 
surance Association  of  Webster  and  adjoin- 
ing counties,  which  was  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  Iowa,  and  in  the  management  of 
its  affairs  has  met  with  marked  success, 
having  saved  for  its  members  ewer  seventy- 
live  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Johnson  has 
traveled  all  over  the  United  States  in  the 
interests  of  the  Union  Pacific  Land  Depart- 
ment, and  in  all  his  undertakings  has  been 


very  successful,  so  that  he  is  to-day  one  of 
the  most  substantial  and  prosperous  citi- 
zens of  his  community. 

He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Swedish 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Dayton, 
which  was  organized  thirty-three  years  ago, 
and  is  ti  i-day  1  me  of  its  leading  members  and 
trustees.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican  and 
an  ardent  advocate  of  the  .principles  of  that 
party ;  and  fraternally  is  a  charter  member 
of  Castle  Lodge,  of  Dayton.  As  a  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  he  has  taken 
quite  a  prominent  and  influential  part  in 
public  affairs,  and  was  once  the  candidate 
of  his  party'  for  the  legislature.  He  served 
as  supervisor  of  Boone  county,  and  is  now 
filling  the  same  office  in  Webster  county  in 
a  most  creditable  and  acceptable  manner. 


CHRISTIAN  FLICKINGER. 

The  agricultural  prestig'e  of  Webster 
county  is  being  fostered  and  maintained  by 
the  laudable  efforts  of  Christian  Flickinger, 
who,  solely  through  his  own  efforts  has  be- 
come the  possessor  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land.  He  was  born  in 
Switzerland  January  4,  1849,  an^  upon  the 
mountain  sides  of  his  native  land  his  ances- 
tors had  for  many  years  tended  their  flocks 
and  awaited  the  coming  of  the  harvests.  His 
parents  were  natives  also  of  Switzerland, 
where  they  lived  and  died,  the  father  in 
1871  and  the  mother  in  1899.  There  were 
four  sons  and  three  daughters  in  the  paren- 
tal family,  namely :  Susan,  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Isher,  of  Switzerland ;  Dave,  who 
is  now  married  a  second  time,  his  former 
wife,  Barbara  Schewendnan,  having  died  in 
Switzerland;  Mary,  wdio  married  Christ 
Wenger,  and  died  in  her  native  land;  Eliza- 


MR.  AND  MRS.  CHRISTIAN  FLICKINGER 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


629 


Ik-iIi.  who  married  Jacob  tsher  and  died  in 
Switzerland;  John,  who  married  Miss  Wen- 
ger  and  is  living  in  the  old  country;  and 
Jacob,  who  came  to  America  but  whose 
w  here. 1I1-  uts  are  unknow  n. 

In  his  youth  Christian  Flickinger  had 
fair  opportunities  for  acquiring  an  educa- 
tion, for  the  common  school  system  oi 
Switzerland  lias  no  superior  in  the  world. 
Under  his  father's  capable  leaching-  he 
learned  also  to  lie  a  model  farmer,  and  was 
thus  employed  until  his  marriage  in  1879, 
with  Elizabeth  Wenger,  who  is  the  child 
1  if  Swiss  parents.  ller  father  never  left 
his  native  land  and  died  October  27, 
[889,  while  tlie|  mother  is  living  with 
her  son-in-law,  and  is  seventy-five  years  of 
age.  Besides  herself  there  was  one  daugh- 
ter and  two  sons  in  the  family;  John  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Felman  and  lives  in  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  while  his  wife  and  daughter  live 
at  Fort  Dodge;  Rosa  married  Jacob  Kuinze 
and  lives  in  Switzerland;  and  Fred  married 
Mrs.  Clara  Dallenbach  and  lives  in  Denver, 
Colorado. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Flickinger  re- 
mained for  three  years  in  Switzerland,  and 
in  1883  came  to  America,  arriving  in  New 
York  harbor  January  1st.  From  the  east  he 
came  direct  to  Webster  count}',  Iowa,  where 
he  rented  laud  and  farmed  until  1895.  He 
then  bought  a  quarter  section  of  land  in 
Dickinson  count}-,  this  state,  and  in  [897 
bought  eighty  acres  in  Burnside  township, 
Webster  county,  to  which  two  years  later,  he 
added  an  adjoining  eight}-  acres.  Ills  farm 
on  section  27  is  the  home  place,  upon  which 
is  a  large  rural  home  residence,  and  com- 
modious barns,  besides  modern  improve- 
ments in  the  line  of  machinery.  While  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  general  farming,  con- 
siderable attention  is  devoted  to  stock  rais- 
ing,   and   grazing   upon    his    meadows    Mr. 


Flickinger  has  man}  standard  bred  cattle 
and  horses.  He  also  feeds  a  great  deal  of 
stock-. 

Idle  following  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  flickinger:  Rosa,  In  rn  in 
1879,  is  now  tlie  wife  of  Christ  Howd< 
Burnside  township;  Amel,  born  in  r88o,  is 
at  present  working  out;  Alfred,  horn  in 
[881,  Christ,  horn  in  [882,  Ernest,  horn  in 
[883,  are  all  living  on  the  home  place;  Paul, 
born  in  [885,  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years; 
Edward,  born  in  1887,  Herman,  horn  in 
1891,  Clara,  horn  in  [895,  Verne,  horn  in 
1898,  and  August,  horn  in  1900,  are  with 
their  parents. 

Mr.  Flickinger  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church.  In  political  affiliations  he  is 
associated  with  the  Republican  party  and 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  school 
board.  In  general  affairs  of  the  township 
he  is  keenly  alive  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  and  may  lie  counted  mi  to  fur- 
ther any  worthy  cause.  Aside  from  his 
farm  management  he  has  interests  in  many 
directions. 

*-►♦ — 

CHARLES    X.   DANIELS. 

In  passing  through  Webster  count}'  a 
stranger  is  impressed  by  the  prosperous  and 
attractive  appearance  of  many  of  the  rural 
homes.  Among  those  that  are  conspicuous 
for  first-class  improvements  may  be  men- 
tioned the  estate  of  Mr.  Daniels,  comprising 
five  hundred  and  eight}  acres  and  forming 
what  is  everywhere  conceded  to  he  one  of 
the  finest  farms  in  the  entire  county.  The 
larger  p  >rti<  in  of  the  pn  iperty  lies  1  m  sectii  ms 
().  4  and  5,  Webster  township,  hut  the  estate 
also  extends  into  section  33,  Washington 
township,  where  stands  the  commodious  and 
comfortable   residence,  erected   in    1805   by 


030 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  present  owner.  Large  barns,  cattle 
sheds  and  granaries  add  to  the  complete 
equipment  of  the  farm,  and  over  the  whole 
estate  is  an  air  of  thrift  that  bespeaks  a 
capable   head    and    intelligent    management. 

In  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  Charles  X. 
Daniels  was  born  July  8,  1854.  When  a  small 
child  lie  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  with 
his  father,  Daniel  Daniels,  who  is  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  For  a  time  he  at- 
tended the  Daniels  school  in  Webster  town- 
ship, held  in  a  log  cabin  built  and  at  one 
time  occupied  by  his  grandfather  .Mercer. 
Primarily  educated  in  these  primitive  sur- 
roundings) he  was  later  given  more  substan- 
tial advantages,  and  was  a  student  in  the 
Webster  City  school.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  secured  a  teacher's  certificate  and  for 
five  years  afterward  he  taught  in  Washing- 
ton and  Webster  townships.  However, 
teaching  was  but  a  stepping  stone  to  the 
occupation  of  farming,  which  he  had  chosen 
for  his  life  work,  and  as  sunn  as  he  was  in 
a  position  to  undertake  farm  pursuits  inde- 
pendently, he  began  to  till  the  soil. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Daniels  was  solem- 
nized in  Webster  township,  March  23,  1879, 
and  united  him  with  Arminda  E.  Widick, 
who  was  born  August  4,  1859,  in  Macon 
county,  Illinois,  five  miles  from  the  city  of 
Decatur.  In  childhood  she  was  brought  to 
Iowa  by  her  father,  Henry  Widick,  who  be- 
came an  influential  resident  of  Webster 
county.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dan- 
iels are  as  fellows:  Charles  E.,  born  April 
8,  1SS1  Elsie  1;...  born  <  )ctober  6,  1882; 
Mary  Elizabeth.  July  30.  1885;  Alice  May. 
who  \\a>  horn  May  5,  [888,  and  died  Octo- 
ber 14.  1901  ;  John  M.,  born  March  1.  1892; 
and  Blanche  Ethel,  March  3,  1896. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Daniels  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Webster  township. 
The  property  was  partially  improved  and  he 


proceeded  to  place  it  under  first-class  culti- 
vation, planting  the  various  cereals  to  which 
the  si  ;1  was  adapted.  With  the  excepts  n  of 
(  ne  year  spent  in  Kansas,  for  the  benefit  of 
his  wife's  health,  be  continued  to  reside  on 
this  estate  until  1889,  when  he  purchased 
and  settled  upon  his  present  homestead.  Be- 
sides  the  latter  property,  he  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Hodgeman  county, 
Kansas.  Numbered  among  his  various  in- 
terests is  his  connection  with  the  Lehigh 
Valley  Savings  Bank  as  a  stockholder, 
while  his  wife  holds  stock  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Lehigh.  It  has  never 
been  his  desire  to  enter  the  field  of  poli- 
tics, and  he  has  always  refused  to  accept 
official  positions;  vet  he  is  interested  in 
whatever  promotes  the  welfare  of  county, 
state  and  nation,  and  believes  thoroughly  in 
Republican  principles.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica, while  in  religious  associations  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  which  he  is  a  trustee,  and  to  the  mainten- 
ance of  which  he  has  been  a  regular  con- 
tributor. 


ABE  ANDERSON. 


One  of  the  well-known  and  most  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  Webster  county,  who 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  its  agri- 
cultural and  public  interests  since  locating 
here  in  1875,  is  Abe  Anderson,  the  owner 
of  one  of  the  most  valuable  estates  in  Day- 
ton township. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Anderson  occurred  Au- 
gust 27.  1839.  in  Sweden,  and  he  is  a  son  of 
Andrew  and  Mary  Anderson,  who  were  na- 
tives of  that  country,  where  they  spent  their 
lives.  Our  subject  was  the  second  in  order 
of  birth  in.  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


631 


daughters,  the  others  being:  J<  hn,  who  mar- 
ried Louisa  Solemans,  and  resides  in  Swe- 
den: Andrew,  who  married  Mary  Swan- 
son  and  is  a  resilient  of  Dayton  township, 
this  county;  August  C,  who  married  Ma- 
tilda Johnson,  and  lives  in  Dayton  township; 
Christiana,  wife  of  Lot  Leburg,  of  Chicago  : 
Mary,  wife  of  Evine  Burygree,  of  Har- 
court,  Iowa:  and  Eva  Lottie,  who  lives  un- 
married, in  Chicago. 

In  his  early  years  out  subject  attended 
the  schoi  )ls  1  if  his  native  country,  and  accord- 
ing' to  the  law.  served  his  allotted  time  in 
the  Swedish  army.  He  worked  for  eight 
years  at  the  carpenter  trade  and  also  was  a 
practical  farmer,  before  he  decided  to  emi- 
grate to  America.  His  mother  felt  as  if 
-he  could  not  part  from  her  son,  but  he  gave 
her  his  promise  that  he  would  return  in  a 
few  years,  hoping  that  fortune  would  favor 
him  in  the  new  land. 

Misfortune  overtook  hum  almost  at  the 
first  stage  of  his  journey  as  the  boat  on 
which  he  sailed  from  Guttenborg  was  so 
heavily  loaded  that  it  was  stopped  by  the 
authorities,  causing  a  week's  delay  at  Got- 
tenborg.  -However  the  matter  was  finally 
adjusted  and  he  landed  in  the  city  of  New 
York  July  5.  1866.  Crossing  the  continent 
as  far  as  Chicago,  Mr.  Anderson  secured 
remunerative  employment  in  the  plow  fac- 
tiry  of  Young  &  Hapgood,  where  he  re- 
mained for  one  year,  and  then  went  to  St. 
I. 'in-.  Missouri,  and  was  an  employe  in  the 
Baxnum  plow  factory  for  seven  years,  in  the 
meantime  living  a  frugal  life  and  saving  his 
money.  Remembering  his  promise  to  his 
devoted  old  mothei,  and  also  remembering 
the  maiden  who  was  awaiting  him  in  the  old 
home,  he  then  decided  to  return  on  a  visit 
to  Sweden,  and  reached  there  in  1875.  The 
J03   of  all  concerned  may  be  imagined,  but 


Mr.  Anderson  found  hi-  mother  blind.  This 
wa-  an  affliction  indeed  but  he  had  lived  in 
a  o  untry  where  such  wonderful  surgical 
operations  were  performedd  that  he  was  de- 
termined to  take  his  mother  to  a  specialist 
in  the  city  of  G  ttenb  irg  and  see  if  her  sight 
could  not  lie  restored.  lie  had  the  great 
satisfaction  of  not  only  having  the  difficulty 
removed,  but  of  her  being  able  to  read,  by 
the  use  1  f  glasses. 

When  a  year  had  been  spent  among  the 
old  scene-.  Mr.  Anderson  began  to  feel  as 
if  he  must  return  to  the  bustle  and  oppor- 
tunity of  the  United  States  again,  and  with 
him  came  Miss  Anna  Bankson,  to  whom  he 
was  married  July  2S,  1875.  in  the  city  of 
I  Imago.  She  was  born  in  Sweden.  Feb- 
ruary 24.  1844.  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Christiana  Bankson.  both  natives  of  Swe- 
den. Her  father  died  when  she  was  a  child, 
and  her  mother  in  1873.  Her  brothers  bofch 
reside  in  Sweden.  A  family  of  four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson, 
namely:  Hilda.  Carl,  John,  and  Teckla, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Anderson  de- 
cided to  become  a  farmer  and  landowner, 
and  with  that  end  in  view  came  to  Iowa,  lo- 
cating in  Dayton  township,  Webster  coun- 
ty, where  he  owned  a  one-third  interest  in 
a  quarter  section.  Three  years  later  his 
brother,  C.  A.,  and  John  O.  Swanson  dis- 
solved partnership,  the  two  brothers  taking 
the  land  and  Mr.  Swanson  taking  the  stock 
and  implements,  Die  brothers  still  own  that 
tract.  C.  A.  living  on  the  north  half  of  it, 
and  our  subject  on  the  south  half.  At  the 
time  of  settlement  this  was  raw  prairie  land, 
and  they  had  all  the  improving  to  do.  The 
nearest  railroad  was  at  Boone  and  Fort 
Dodge,  and  the  trading  was  necessarily  done 
at  a  little  store  in  the  then  straggling  village 


^ 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Dayton.  All  of  the  grain  had  to  be 
hauled  to  Grand  Junction,  a  distance  of  six- 
teen miles. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  lived  to  see  so  many 
wonderful  changes  that  the  country  almost 
seem-  like  a  different  one,  and  he  has  done 
his  full  share  in  the  progress  and  develop- 
ment. He  has  built  one  of  the  finest  resi- 
liences and  one  of  the  best  barns  in  Webster 
count}'  and  now  owns  three  hundred  and 
twent}  acres  of  land,  on  sections  29  and  30, 
Dayton  township.  He  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs,  has  been  secretary 
of  the  school  hoard  for  twenty-one  years, 
road  commissioner  and  school  trustee.  Al- 
though a  firm  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party,  he  desires  no  political  honors,  only 
being  willing  to  serve  in  some  position 
which  he  knows  will  enable  him  to  benefit 
his  locality.  The  religions  connection  of 
the  family  is  with  the  Mission  church  at 
Harcourt,  Iowa. 


BERNARD  SUER. 


One  of  the  thoroughly  successful  stock 
raisers  and  farmers  of  Webster  county  is 
Bernard  Slier,  whose  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  is  located  in  Burnside  and 
Yell  townships.  He  was  born  in  Schuylkill 
county.  Pennsylvania,  July  15,  184(1,  his  fa- 
ther being  a  native,  of  Hanover.  Germany, 
while  his  mother,  formerly  Elizabeth  Fecht, 
was  born  in  Coeurlouir,  France.  The  par- 
ents were  married  in  Pennsylvania  and  lived 
there  for  a  few  years,  after  which  they  re- 
moved to  Grant  comity,  Wisconsin,  where 
they  owned  property  and  where  the  father 
died  in  March,  1 S57.  while  the  mother  lived 
until  1872.  The  elder  Sner  was  a  Democrat 
in  national  politics,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  church. 


At  a  practically  early  age  Bernard  Suer 
was  confronted  with  the  serious  and  re- 
sponsible side  of  life,  for  when  twelve  years 
1  1  age  his  father  was  killed  in  the  lead  mines 
of  Wisconsin,  and  the  support  of  the  rest  of 
the  family  rested  upon  his  inexperienced 
shoulders.  He  was  therefore  obliged  to  dis- 
continue his  training  at  the  little  log  school 
house  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home,  and  to 
settle  down  on  the  farm  which  his  father  had 
never  occupied  and  there  work  hard  fn  lin- 
early morning  until  late  at  night.  The 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  afforded  an 
opportunity  for  a  little  broader  existence, 
and  at  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  October  31, 
[863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  First  \\  is- 
consin  Volunteer  Cavalry,  and  became  a 
soldier  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He 
participated  in  many  of  the  engagements  of 
the  war  and  in  many  skirmishes  of  minor 
importance,  and  assisted  in  the  capture  of 
the  noted  southern  leader,  Jefferson  Davis, 
May  jo,  1865.  On  July  16,  1865,  he  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service,  and 
then  returned  to  his  home,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  vear. 

In  the  spring  of  1866  Mr.  Suer  went  to 
St.  Louis  and  worked  in  the  rock  quarries 
and  brick  yards,  and  in  the  fall  went  to  New 
Orleans  and  remained  until  the  following 
spring.  Fie  afterwards  returned  to  St. 
Louis  and  remained  until  1869,  which  year 
found  him  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  work- 
ing in  the  brick  yards.  He  then  located 
in  Ray  county,  that  state,  where  he  worked 
in  the  coal  mines. 

On  March  21,  1873,  Mr.  Suer  married 
Louise  Lierman,  who  was  born  in  St. 
Louis,  October  2j,  1858,  her  father,  Daniel 
Lierman,  being  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
her  mother,  Mary  (Flicke)  Lierman,  being 
born  in  Alsace  Lorraine,  now  a  province  of 
Germany.     Her  parents  were  married  in  St. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


633 


Louis  and  removed  to  Ra)  county,  Mis- 
s<  uri,  where  the  father  bought  a  farm,  upon 
which  lie  lived  until  his  death  in  [872.  His 
•wife,  who  survives  him  and  is  living  in 
Lexington,  Missouri,  is  the  mother  of  three 
sons  and  three  daughters:  Michael,  who 
married  Minnie  Houth  and  lives  in  Rich- 
mi  nd,  Missouri;  Louise,  who  married  Bern- 
ard. Suer;  May.  who  married  George  Phil- 
lipps  and  lives  at  Kalo,  Iowa;  John,  who 
married  Nora  Ashford  and  lives  in  Lex- 
ington, Missouri,  and  Edward,  who  mar- 
ried Emma  Ashford  and  lives  in  Lexingti  a. 
dr.  and  Mrs.  Suer  have  been  horn  the 
following  children:  Benjamin,  who  was 
tx  rn  Jul\-  4.  1876,  and  married  Ruby  Ford, 
h\  whi  in  he  had  two  children.  Archie  and 
Hazel;  John  F.,  who  was  born  May  19. 
[878,  and  married  Bertha  Holloway;  Will- 
iam F.,  born  September  21,  1880:  Daniel 
G.,  born  April  24.  1882;  Frank  A.,  born 
May  11,  1884;  Emma  May,  horn  July  23. 
[888;  Bertha  Anna,  born  Oct'  her  27,  [89I  : 
Mary  Elizabeth,  burn  May  23,  1894;  and 
Elizabeth  Allen,  born  December  25,  1896. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Suer  lived  in 
Richmond,  Missouri,  until  1874.  at  which 
time  he  removed  to  Boone  county,  Iowa, 
and  in  1877  returned  to  Richmond,  where 
he  remained  until  1879.  Upon  removing 
to  Lehigh  he  bought  a  farm  and  worked  in 
the  mines  and  now  has  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found 
in  Burnside  township.  The  rural  home  is 
finely  constructed  and  beautifully  located, 
and  the  improvements  are  the  latest.  The 
land  at  the  time  of  purchase  was  practically 
unimproved,  and  be  has  placed  it  under  cul- 
tivation and  built  the  new  home  wherein  he 
now  lives.  Mr.  Suer  raises  stock  for  mar- 
ket, and  lias  the  reputation  of  being  one  of 
the  most  successful  stock  men  in  the  county. 
IK-  is  fraternally  associated  with  the  Inde- 


pendent (  )rder  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
He  also  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church, 
while  his  wife  is  associated  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church. 


DANIEL  W.  VANDEVENDER. 

Many  years  ago,  during  the  days  1  1"  the 
prairie  schooners,  one  of  those  primitive 
conveyances,  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  oxen, 
wended  it  way  across  the  country  from  Ohio 
tc  Iowa.  Many  of  the  most  successful  men 
-  1  [owa  well  remember  a  journey  of  this 
kind  and  their  tin  ughts  often  wander  back 
to  the  days  before  railroads  were  introduced, 
before  telegraphs  and  telephones  had 
brought  the  whole  country  into  the  most 
intimate  relations,  and  before  L  wa  had  be- 
et me  one  of  the  greatest  commonwealths  of 
the  United  States.  The  wagon  referred  to 
brought  the  Vandevender  family  to  Webster 
count}".  Iowa,  two  other  families  coming 
at  the  same  time  and  settling  here.  This 
was  in  1855.  A  son  was  horn  into  the  fam- 
ily, December  29.  1859.  an^  he  it  is  who 
forms  the  subject  of  this  article.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Washington  township  and  he 
is  still  a  resident  of  the  same,  making  his 
home  on  section  28. 

Until  fourteen  years  of  age  Mr.  Van- 
devender attended  the  sch<  "1  in  district  Xo. 
2.  Washington  township.  He  then  went  ta 
Buchanan  county,  this  state,  and  secured 
work  on  a  farm  near  Independence,  receiv- 
ing seventeen  dollars  a  month,  which  was 
considered  splendid  wages  for  a  boy.  After 
one  year  there  he  returned  to  his  home  and 
remained  a  year,  then  went  to  Prairie  du 
Chien.  Wisconsin,  and  from  there  to  the  vil- 


634 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lage  of  Seneca  on  the  Wisconsin  river,  where 
he  spent  four  months.  From  Wisconsin  he 
went  to  Kansas,  where  lie  was  employed  in 
Miami  county  for  six  months,  and  then 
w  ent  t<  i  Shaw  nee  county.  For  a  year  he  was 
employed  with  the  Atchison,  Topeka  & 
Santa  Fe  Railroad  at  Topeka.  Returning 
to  Iowa  from  Kansas,  he  spent  eight  months 
in  Webster  county  and  then  went  to  the 
northern  part  of  the  state.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  settled  on  the  homestead  on  section 
28,  Washington  township,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  having  in  1899  bought  out  the 
other  heirs  to  the  property,  and  now-  owns 
eighty  acres  of  finely  improved  land.  In 
addition  to  the  raising  of  general  farm 
products,  lie  gives  considerable  attention  to 
the  raising,  buying  and  selling  of  stock.  A 
progressive  spirit  characterizes  him  as  a 
citizen.  It  has  always  been  his  aim  to  sup- 
port those  movements  that  are  calculated  to 
benefit  the  people  and  develop  local  resources. 
Like  all  of  his  name  in  Webser  county,  lie- 
is  energetic,  capable  and  intelligent.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Republican,  and  on  the  regu- 
lar party  ticket  has  been  elected  to  all  <  I 
the  township  offices,  being  at  this  writing 
township  clerk.  In  fraternal  relations  he  is 
connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  Camp 
at  Duncombe. 

In  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  June  11.  1882, 
Mr.  Vandevender  married  Miss  Minnie  I. 
Markell,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin  Sep- 
tember 6,  1866.  Her  father.  S.  V.  Markell, 
was  a  native  of  Xew  York  and  in  early  life 
moved  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  married 
Elizabeth  Sickels.  In  1807  they  settled  in 
Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  purchasing  a  farm 
in  Union  township  north  of  Osage.  Here 
Mr.  Markell  has  since  resided  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  short  time  in  South  Dakota, 
where  he  conducted  a  general  store  at  Win- 
fred.      Politically   he   is  a   Republican,   and 


in  religion  adheres  to  Methodist  Episcopal 
doctrines.  His  wife  died  in  January,  1881, 
and  was  buried  at  Stacyville,  Mitchell  coun- 
ty. They  were  the  parents  of  the  following- 
named  children:  Ella  A.,  who  married  S. 
G.  Palmer,  of  Mitchell  county,  and  has  five 
children;  William,  of  St.  Paul,  Minesota, 
who  first  married  Emma  Nye  and  after  her 
death  was  united  with  Elsa  Failing,  by 
whom  he  has  three  children  :  Cecilia,  of  Min- 
neapolis, Minnesota,  who  is  married  and  has 
two  children:  Minnie,  now  Mrs.  Vande- 
vender; Jessie,  who  married  William  Cults, 
lias  one  child  and  lives  near  Portland,  Ore- 
gon; and  Hettie,  who  died  at  three  years  of 
age.  Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vande- 
vender three  daughters  and  a  son  were  born, 
namely :  Edith  May,  born  February  24, 
1884;  Mabel  Louisa,  March  27,  1886; 
George  Harrison,  August  5,  1888;  and  Etta 
Leona.  January  18,  1899. 


C.  A.  GABRIELSOX. 

C.  A.  Gabrielson  is  a  native  of  Sweden, 
a  land  which  has  contributed  some  of  the 
best  citizens  to  the  United  States,  and  par- 
ticularly has  Iowa  benefited  by  this  emigra- 
tion. He  was  born  February  26,  1855,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  Gabrielson,  who  brought 
his  family  to  America  when  our  subject  was 
quite  young. 

In  the  schools  of  Dayton  township, 
Webster  count}-,  Iowa.  Mr.  Gabrielson  ac- 
quired bis  early  education  in  the  English 
language,  later  becoming  one  of  the  pupils 
in  the  Leonard  district  school,  the  sessions 
of  which  were  held  in  a  log  cabin.  During 
the  winters,  until  he  was  twenty-one  years 
old,  Mr.  Gabrielson  embraced  every  possible 
opportunity     for    obtaining    an     education. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


635 


During  the  summers  from  the  time  he  was 
ten  years  of  age,  he  was  employed  in  some 
furm  of  useful  work.  His  first  work  was 
for  Eli  Geyer,  driving  a  hor.se  used  in  op- 
erating a  machine  making  broom  handles, 
for  which  he  was  paid  ten  cents  a  day,  this 
being"  in  1865. 

Mr.  Gabrielson  then  worked  for  his  fa- 
ther for  three  years,  assisting  him  in  break- 
ing prairie  on  the  home  farm.  This  was 
followed  bj  five  years  of  continuous  work 
for  Daniel  Northum,  during  which  time  he 
learned  every  detail  of  practical  farming. 
Next  he  was  employed  by  Henry  Girdy,  now- 
deceased,  and  then  for  one  year  by  Jonas 
Hedburg,  and  also  Peter  Ostrum.  Mr. 
Gabrielson  next  rented  a  farm  and  managed 
it  for  two  years,  during  which  time  he  had 
the  advantage  of  boarding  at  home.  About 
this  time  he  was  offered  good  wages  on  the 
Northwestern  Railroad,  and  remained  with 
thai  corporation  for  one  year,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  with  the  Minneapolis  &  St. 
Louis  Railroad,  after  which  he  located  on 
the  tine  farm  he  now  occupies. 

Mr.  Gabrielson  is  now  the  fortunate 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre-  of 
valuable  land  on  section  7,  Dayton  town- 
ship. Webster  county,  which  lie  has  greatly 
improved.  His  residence,  barns,  fence-  and 
orchards  testify  to  his  industry,  and  he  is 
now  one  of  the  best  agriculturists  and  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Gabrielson  was  married  June  22. 
1882,  to  .Miss  Clara  Nelson,  who  was  born 
May  9.  1857,  in  Sweden,  a  daughter  of  J. 
P.  and  Anna  (Peterson)  Nelson,  both  of 
whom  were  also  natives  of  Sweden.  Her 
family  came  to  America  in  1862,  and  settled 
in  Boone  county,  Iowa,  where  .Mr.  Nelson 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
river  land,  improved  it  and  resided  upon  it 
until  his  death,  in  February,  1870,  his  burial 


being  in  Linn  cemetery.  lie  was  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
church,  and  a  Republican  in  his  political  be- 
lief. The  mother  of  Mrs.  Gabrielson  died 
in  September,  1893,  and  was  laid  to  rest 
by  the  side  of  her  husband.  They  reared 
a  family  of  ten  children,  namely  :  Frank, 
who  served  one  year  in  the  Civil  war.  mar- 
ried Louisa  Nelson  and  lived  in  Madrid, 
Iowa,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-four 
years;  Caroline,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
Peter  Ostrum,  of  Dayton,  Iowa;  Edward, 
who  served  three  years  in  the  Civil  "war, 
married  Louisa  Lunblad,  and  lived  in  Boone 
county.  Iowa,  where  he  died  in  1884;  <  Iscar 
lived  at  Dayton,  Iowa,  where  he  died  un- 
married in  July,  1897,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
nine:  David  died  in  1887,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-five  years;  John,  who  died  in  (897, 
married  Matilda  Anderson  and  lived  in  Lost 
Grove  township;  August  resides  in  Wash- 
ington; (  'lara  is  now  Airs.  <  iabrielson  ;  Theo- 
dore died  m  Sweden;  and  Gustine  died  in 
the  first  week  after  the  arrival  of  the  family 
in  America,  at  Mineral  Ridge.  Iowa. 

The  children  born  to  our  subject  and 
wife  were:  Carl  ( )scar,  born  September  22, 
1883,  died  June  10,  1884:  Vena,  born  No- 
vember 6,  1S84.  died  August  18,  [887; 
Vernef  is  the  twin  brother  of  Vena;  Hat- 
tie  was  born  March  28,  [886;  Amy  May 
was  born  April  4,  [889;  Van  Axel  was  born 
December  17,  1890;  Clara  Axeline  was  born 
December  14,  [891;  and  Victor  Irving  was 
born  April   26,    1895. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Gabrielson  and  wife 
located  on  their  present  farm  and  there  they 
reared  their  children  and  have  become  iden- 
tified with  the  interests  of  the  locality.  Mr. 
Gabrielson  has  been  particularly  successful 
in  raising  his  high-grade  cattle — polled  An- 
gus and  shorthorns —  and  also  Poland 
China  hogs. 


636 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  public  affairs  Air.  Gabrielson  has  been 
verv  prominent  and  lias  efficiently  served  for 
four  years  as  township  assessor,  and  has 
also  been  road  commissioner  and  school  di- 
rector. Socially  he  is  connected  with  Syca- 
more Camp.  M.  W.  A.,  of  Dayton,  and  is  a 
generous  contributor  to  the  Swedish  Luther- 
an church  of  Dayton.  His  success  in  life 
may  he  attributed  in  a  great  measure  to  his 
energy  and  industry,  and  he  enjoys  the  es- 
teem of  all  who  know  him.  and  is  generally 
regarded  as  one  of  the  progressive  men  of 
the  vicinity. 


THEODORE  JAQUES. 

A  lifelong  resident  of  Iowa,  now  resid- 
ing on  section  9,  Washington  township, 
Webster  count}-,  Air.  Jaques  was  born  in 
Danville  township,  Des  Moines  county,  this 
state,  November  J4.  184c;.  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Elizabeth  (lies)  Jaques,  natives,  respectively, 
of  New  York  and  Ohio.  Some  years  after 
their  marriage  the  parents,  in  1842, moved  to 
Iowa,  settling  near  Burlington  and  purchas- 
ing farm  property.  In  [852  they  came  to 
Webster  county  and  entered  a  tract  of  land 
in  Yell  township,  where  they  remained  until 
they  died,  he  in  1873  and  she  in  1886.  Their 
bodies  were  interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Bor- 
der Plains.  Porn  of  their  union  were  ten 
children.  The  eldest.  Prances,  became  the 
wife  of  Francis  Fuller  and  is  now  deceased. 
He  has  since  married  again  and  lives  in 
Fort  Dodge.  I.  D.  married  Charlotte 
Chandler  and  makes  his  home  in  Okarche, 
Oklahoma.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
the  third  of  the  family.  James  married 
Marie  Rowey  and  lives  in  Webster  county. 
John  P.  is  also  married  and  living  in  this 
county.  Lorenzo  D.  married  Victoria  Sim- 
mons  and   resides    in    Kossuth   county,    this 


state.  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  Gilbert  Town- 
send,  of  Webster  county.  The  other  chil- 
dren died  in  infancy. 

The  primary  education  of  Theodore 
Jaques  was  secured  in  the  Port  Dodge 
schools,  and  later  he  studied  in  the  district 
schools  of  Veil  township.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  began  to  work  as  a  farm  hand  and 
soon  was  receiving  thirteen  dollars  a  month. 
On  starting  out  in  the  world  for  himself,  he 
rented  land  in  Washington  township,  where 
he  remained  fourteen  years,  meantime  sav- 
ing his  earnings  in  order  that  he  might  in- 
vest in  property. 

On  January  j<S,  [882,  at  Border  Plains, 
he  married  Rodasky  Florilla  Southard,  who 
was  born  in  Des  Moines  comity,  Iowa,  Au- 
gust 30,  1852,  and  was  a  daughter  of  David 
Southard.  After  his  marriage  Air.  Jaques 
settled  upon  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased, 
comprising  eighty  acres  on  section  i),  Wash- 
ington township,  and  he  has  since  conducted 
farm  pursuits  in  a  scientific  and  skillful 
manner,  which  proves  that  he  made  no  mis- 
take in  selecting'  his  calling.  In  politics  he 
is  a  pronounced  Republican  and  fraternally 
affiliates  with  the  Odd  Fellows.  I  lis  wife 
died  at  their  home  October   16,    1899. 


X.    II.   HART. 

X.  H.  Hart,  who  for  almost  half  a  cen- 
tury has  been  connected  with  the  agricul- 
tural and  general  advancement  of  Webster 
county,  was  born  in  Glastonbury,  Hartford 
count}'.  Connecticut,  Jul}-  io.  1826,  a  son 
of  Xorman  and  Alarcia  (Hale)  Hart,  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  this  count}-.  It  was  in 
[854  that  the  family  came  west  and  took  up 
their  residence  in  Otho  township,  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  when  this  section  of  the  coun- 


NORMAN  HART,  Jr. 


MRS.  NORMAN  HART.  Jr. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


641 


try  was  almost  a  wilderness,  there  being 
luit  two  families  living  in  Fort  Dodge  at 
that  nine.  Here  the  mother  died  March  13, 
[875,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years, 
while  the  father  lived  until  March  30,  1878, 
and  had  also  attained  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Throughout 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  he  followed  farm- 
ing, and  met  with  good  success.  In  the 
family  were  four  children,  three  suns  and 
one  daughter,  of  whom  N.  H.  is  the  oldest; 
L.  \\  .  owns  land  in  Otho  township,  hut  is 
now  a  widower  and  is  living  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Cora  Payne,  in  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa;  Caroline  E.  is  the  wife  of 
F.  B.  Drake,  a  retired  farmer  of  (  Hho  town- 
ship; and  George  1'..  of  Otho  township, 
married  first  Orlinda  Moore  and  after  her 
death  wedded  ,Pervilla  Allsever. 

Educationally  Mr.  Hart  was  better 
favored  than  the  average  farmer's  son  dur- 
ing his  time,  for  after  finishing  the  training 
at  the  district  schools  he  entered  Mission 
Institute,  an  advanced  school  near  Quincy, 
llliii' lis.  where  he  remained  between  1840 
and  1844.  He  then  returned  to  the  home 
farm  and  assisted  in  its  management,  and 
was  thus  engaged  until  his  marriage.  Sep- 
tember 22.  i860.  His  wife  was  formerly 
Miss  Jane  M.  Fuller,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  state.  September  13.  1830.  and  taught 
with  good  success  in  the  district  schools  of 
Ohio  and  Iowa  for  about  twelve  years 
prior  to  his  marriage.  Her  father  died  at 
Fort  Dodge.  Iowa,  in  [871,  and  was  buried 
nn  Otho  cemetery,  after  which  her  mother 
made  her  heme  with  Mrs.  Mart,  at 
whose  home  she  died  in  March.  1895. 
In  the  family  besides  Mrs.  Hart  there 
were  three  sons  and  three  daughters: 
O.  P.  lives  in  North  Dakota ;  Edwin  died 
in  Kansas  in  1-86]  ;  Clark,  who  died  in  1895. 
married    Rowena    A.    Moore,    and    was    for 


nver  thirty  years  associated  with  Mr.  Hart 
in  the  general  farming  and  stock-raising 
business;  Sarah  married  Dr.  Stimpson  and 
both  died  in  <  >bio;  Mr-.  Deborah  II.  Claff- 
lin  i-  a  w  id' '\\  and  lives  near  Kalo,  I 
and  Mrs.  Mary  11.  Andrew-  is  also  a 
widow  and  lives  in  <  >tho  township.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hart  has  been  born  one  daughter, 
Theta  ()..  who  was  born  October  2- .  [863, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  George  F.  Findlay. 
She  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and 
attended  Olivet  College  at  Olivet.  Michi- 
gan, for  three  years,  subsequently  gradu- 
ating from  the  college  at  Tabor,  Iowa.  She 
engaged  successfully  in  teaching  for  several 
3  ears. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hart  started  out 
in  engage  in  independent  farming,  and  set- 
tled upon  the  land  which  ha-  -nice  been  the 
source  of  his  increasing  properity,  on  sec- 
tion 20,  Otho  township.  He  is  the  owner 
1  if  nne  hundred  and  eighty-eight  acres  of 
land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  a 
1"  in'  11  of  which  i-  rented  to  other  parties, 
the  balance  being  devoted  particularly  to  the 
raising  of  high-grade  stuck,  mostly  short 
horns,  and  Poland  China  lings.  Mr.  Hart 
is  a  Republican  in  national  politics,  and  has 
at  different  times  held  almost  all  the  town- 
ship offices  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow 
townsmen.  He  has  also  exerted  a  n 
and  philanthropical  influence  in  the  com- 
munity, is  a  generous  contributor  to  all 
worthy  causes,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
take  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  church 
and  Sunday  school  wrk.  For  about  thirty- 
live  years  she  has  been  teacher  of  the  pri- 
mary class  in  the  <  Itho  Sunday  school.  She 
is  a  zealous  Christian  worker  and  a  leading- 
member  of  the  Ladies  Aid  Society.  She  is 
also  very  proficient  in  culinary  matters,  is  a 
good  housekeeper  and  an  excellent  enter- 
tainer.    Mr.  Hart  has  long  been  a  member 


642 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  County  Sabbath  School  Association, 

and  in  support  of  that  cause  has  for  the  past 
thirteen  years  attended  each  of  the  township 
Sunday  school  conventions  in  all  of  the 
twenty-three  townships  of  Webster  county. 
For  twelve  years  he  has  also  been  a  member 
of  the  executive  committee  of  the  State  Sab- 
bath School  Association,  and  for  the  past 
four  years  has  been  chairman  of  the  auditing 
committee.  He  always  endeavors  to  attend 
every  meeting  of  the  State  Association  and 
also  the  meetings  of  the  executive  commit- 
tee, and  is  untiring  in  his  work  for  the  Sab- 
bath school  and  all  undertakings  for  the  bet- 
terment of  his  fellowmen. 


ALBERT  SOUTHARD. 

The  farm  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr. 
Southard  lies  on  section  17.  Washington 
township,  and  comprises  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  bearing  indications  of  intelli- 
gent oversight  on  the  part  of  the  owner. 
Mr.  Southard  was  born  in  Danville,  Des 
Moines  county.  Iowa.  August  31.  [856,  and 
is  a  son  of  David  and  Phoebe  (Wilrox) 
Southard,  the  former  born  in  Licking  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  September  27,  1819,  and  the  latter 
born  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  Novem- 
ber 1,  1819.  They  were  married  in  Licking 
county,  Ohio,  December  1 1,  1841,  and  after- 
ward continued  to  make  that  county  their 
home  for  five  years,  when  they  settled  in 
Will  count}-.  Illini  i-.  However,  one  year 
later  they  returned  to  Licking  county.  In 
1849  they  again  came  west,  this  time  set- 
tling in  Des  Moines  county,  low  a.  Coming 
to  Webster  county  in  1857.  the  father 
bought  a  tract  of  land  which  is  now  the  site 
of  Duncombe.  The  family  made  their  home 
in  Fort  Dodge  and  then  in  Homer,  but  soon 


came  to  Washington  township,,  where  the 
father  died  November  13,  1874.  Since  then 
the  mother  has  remained  on  the  homestead, 
with  her  youngest  child  and  only  son,  Al- 
bert. 

The  oldest  child  of  David  and  Phoebe 
Southard  was  Luetta  Almeda,  who  was 
born  in  Licking  county.  Ohio,  February  19, 
1843,  and  died  November  26,  1844.  The 
second  daughter,  Rachel  Elizabeth,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  county  August  17,  1845, 
became  the  wife  of  William  Welsh,  who 
died  in  Washington  township,  Webster 
county,  in  the  fall  of  1890.  The  third 
daughter.  Rodasky  Florilla",  was  born  Au- 
gust 30,  1852,  and  became  the  wife  of  Theo- 
dore Jaques,  of  Washington  township, 
where  she  died  October  16,  1899.  The  re- 
maining member  of  the  family  circle  is  the, 
subject  of  this  sketch.  The  children  of  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Welsh,  were  as  follows:  Ida 
Viola-,  born  December  3,  1870.  died  August 
21,  1877;  Albert  Roy,  born  July  22,  1876, 
married  Louise  Hilibsch  August  1,  1900, 
since  which  time  they  have  made  their  home 
in  Pleasant  Valley;  Phoebe  Ora  was  born 
March  24.  1881  ;  and  William  Ray,  August 
24,  1883. 

The  marriage  of  Albert  Southard  took 
place  in  Washington  township  on  New 
Year's  day  of  1885,  and  united  him  with 
Ida  Wellington,  who  was  born  in  Rolling- 
stone  county,  near  Winona,  Minnesota,  De- 
cember 19,  1858.  Her  parents,  William  F. 
ami  Anna  (Leitch)  Wellington,  natives,  re- 
spectively, of  Batavia,  New  York,  and  Ire- 
land, were  married  in  Minnesota,  and  some 
year-  later  moved  to  Dane  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  Mr.  Wellington  died  July  18, 
1865,  leaving  two  children.  Ida,  now  Mrs. 
Southard,  and  Laura,  Mrs.  Samuel  Jami- 
son, of  Portland,  Oregon.  In  1870  Mrs. 
Wellington    was    agfain  married,  becoming 


NORMAN    HART,  Sr. 


MRS.  NORMAN   HART,  Sr. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


647 


the  wife  of  Robert  Carden,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. They  moved  to  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  and  bought  a  farm,  on  which  Mrs. 
Carden  died  August  21,  1894.  Of  this 
union  three  children  were  horn,  namely : 
Anna,  who  married  John  Berleen  and  lives 
in  Hamilton  county,  Iowa;  Susie,  Mrs.  Al- 
bert Coate,  of  Webster  county;  and  Will- 
iam, who  married  Nellie  Perry  and  lives  in 
Webster  county. 

The  genealogy  of  the  Southard  family 
is  traced  back  to  England.  The  mother  of 
our  subject's  father  was  a  Miss  Snyder  and 
came  from  Germany.  Two  of  the  great- 
grandfathers of  Mr.  Southard  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Mrs.  Si  utliard  is 
also  a  descendant  of  English  ancestry,  the 
Wellingtons  being  allied  to  the  Duke  of 
Wellington  stock,  while  through  her  mother 
she  traces  her  lineage  to  Scotch-Irish  an- 
cestors. 


J.  P.  JOHNSON. 

Among  the  prosperous  citizens  of  Day- 
ton township.  Webster  county.  Iowa,  is  J. 
P.  Johnson,  who  was  born  February  24, 
1834,  in  Sweden,  and  is  the  son  of  Gernan 
and  Fredrika  Swanson,  having  changed  his 
name  to  Johnson  since  coming  to  this  coun- 
try. The  parents  lived  in  Sweden,  where 
the  father  died,  but  the  mother  afterward 
came  to  America  and  settled  at  Lost  Grove, 
Webster  county.  Iowa,  where  she  died  in 
the  early  part  of  the  year  1901.  <  )ur  sub- 
ject was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children. 
the  others  being  Lotta.  widow  of  J.  Neur- 
leen,  and  a  resident  of  Stockholm.  Sweden; 
Christina,  wife  of  Alfred  Rinkquist,  who 
lives  near  Gowrie,  Iowa;  Johannah,  wife  of 
John  Carsonson,  residing  near  Harcourt, 
Iowa;  Matilda,  wife  of  Alfred  Burgman,  of 
eene  county.  Iowa;  Clara,   wife  of  John 


Main,  who  resides  near  Leonard,  Iowa;  and 
Frank,  who  married  Mary  Johnson  and  re- 
sides  in  ( Jalesburg,   Illinois. 

Our  subject  attended  school  [or  a  short 
time  in  his  native  land,  in  all  amounting  to 
about  two  years.  Ills  father  was  a  poor 
man  and  could  afford  but  few  educal 
advantages  to  his  children.  All  of  the  chil- 
dren were  forced  to  work  hard  upon  the 
farm,  and  in  [866  our  subject  decided  to 
seek  his  fortunes  in  a  new  land.  Borrowing 
the  price  of  his  passage,  he  sailed  from  Got- 
tenberg  and  landed  in  New  York  after  a 
long  voyage.  From  that  city  he  went  di- 
rect to  Altoona,  Illinois,  where  he  worked 
for  a  farmer,  earning  the  first  year  two 
hundred  and  fifteen  dollars;  the  second  year 
two  hundred  and  forty  dollars  ;  and  the  third 
year  between  five  and  six  hundred  dollars. 
Every  penny  of  this  money  that  it  was  pos- 
sible for  him  to  save  he  put  aside.  The  fol- 
lowing two  years  he  saved  nine  hundred 
dollars,  and  then  rented  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  in  Knox  count},  Illinois,  paying 
five  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre 
for  it.  The  first  year  he  lost  money  on  ac- 
count of  drought,  but  the  next  year  he  had 
better  success,  ami  after  seven  years  of  rent- 
ing, in  1876,  he  removed  to  Iowa  and  located 
on  the  place  he  now  owns  on  sectii  11  27. 
Dayton  township,  Webster  county,  where  he 
purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  at 
twenty-two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  pei 
a  part  of  which  was  under  cultivation,  but 
there  were  no  buildings.  This  he  at  1  nee 
remedied  and  now  owns  two  hundred 
on  section  31.  Dayton  township,  and  has 
one  of  the  besl  farms  in  Webster  county, 
and  it  is  supplied  with  excellent  buildings, 
a  comfortable  home  and  substantial  barn. 

On  September  30.  1X71,  Mr.  Johnson 
was  married  to  Johannah  I  )orothea  Burman, 
a   native   of    Swollen,    born    in    1S50.   and   a 


648 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


daughter  of  Andrew  Mungers.  Mrs.  John- 
son lias  une  brother  and  two  sisters,  name- 
ly: ifelen.  wife  of  George  Lundeen.  of 
West  Altoona,  Iowa;  Amanda,  wife  Alfred 
Ericson,  of  Webster  county,  Iowa;  and  Al- 
fred, who  married  the  sister  of  our  subject, 
Miss  Matilda  Johnson.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson  the  following  children  have  been 
born:  Esther  Christina,  born  February  19, 
[876,  married  Amiel  Ruddeen,  of  Dayton 
township,  and  the}-  have  three  children, — 
Omar.  Melville  and  a  baby;  Anna  Elizabeth, 
born  September  18,  1871,  married  John 
Singrain,  of  Greene  count}-.  Iowa,  and  they 
have  two  children, — Melvin  and  a  baby 
girl;  Fr-ank  J.,  born  July  20,  1874,  resides 
with  his  father  and  manages  the  _farm; 
Clara,  born  April  20,  1876,  resides  with 
her  parents:  Obed  S.,  born  May  5,  1881, 
graduated  from  Tobins  College  at  Fort 
Dodge,  and  is  now  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  being  a  great  student;  Nellie  Rebec- 
ca, born  June  9.  1887,  is  attending  school 
and  resides  with  her  parents. 

In  politics  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  Republican 
and  has  served  as  school  director  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  has  often  been  nominated 
for  other  offices,  but  refused  to  run.  He 
attends  the  Mission  church  at  Harcourt  and 
is  very  earnest  in  his  church  work.  Having 
attained  his  present  prosperity  by  hard  work 
and  careful  management,  he  may  well  feel 
satisfied  with  the  result  of  his  endeavors, 
and  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  neigh- 
bors for  his  many  excellent  qualities. 


ORRIX  L.  REED. 


Orrin  L.  Reed,  a  prominent  and  success- 
ful farmer  of  Cooper  township,  was  born 
in  Michigan,  on  the  27th  of  October,  1858, 


his  parents  being  Hiram  and  Mary  ( 13utler) 
Reed,  who  were  natives  of  Vermont  and 
Michigan,  respectively.  In  1866  the  family 
came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  the  fa- 
ther purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land  in 
Cooper  township,  which  has  been  converted 
into  the  fine  farm  now  occupied  by  our  sub- 
ject. To  the  improvement  and  cultivation 
of  his  land  Hiram  Reed  devoted  his  time 
ami  attention  throughout  life,  and  was  a 
sturdy  and  progressive  farmer.  After  a  use- 
ful  and  well  spent  life,  he  died  February  2, 
1901,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  a  stanch  Republican  in 
politics,  and  was  a  faithful  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
to  which  his  wife  also  belongs.  She  sur- 
vives him  and  still  resides  on  the  old  home 
farm.  One  child,  Orrin  L..  our  subject,  was 
the  result  of  this  union.  They  also  reared 
Leonora,  who  lived  with  them  twenty  years. 
She  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Paine. 

Mr.  Reed  of  this  review  was  only  eight 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  bis  parents 
on  their  removal  to  Iowa,  and  is  indebted 
to  the  public  schools  of  Webster  county  for 
his  educational  advantages.  Throughout 
his  active  business  life  he  has  followed  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  and  is  to-day  success- 
full}'  operating  the  old  home  farm,  which 
consists  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
rich  and  arable  land  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  well  improved.  Mr.  Reed 
usually  raises  about  fifty  acres  of  corn  and 
seventy-five  acres  of  small  grain,  the  re- 
mainder being  meadow  and  pasture  land. 
He  gives  some  attention  to  stock  raising, 
keeping  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  head  of 
cattle,  a  large  number  of  hogs  and  about 
ten  horses,  young  and  old. 

In  February,  1884,  Mr.  Reed,  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Xettie  S.  Wood- 
worth,  a  native  of  Wisconsin,  and  an  adopt- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


649 


ed  daughter  of  Spencer  L.  and  Frances  L. 

\\ lw  1  nli.       Mr.     Woodwi  irth    came    ti  1 

Webster  count)  in  [863  and  settled  in  Pleas- 
ant Valley  township,  where  the  gypsum 
mills  are  now  located.  Here  he  carried  on 
farming  for  aboul  thirty  years,  but  is  now 
living  a  retired  life.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried February  2,  190J. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  are  the  parents  of 
two  children.  Floyd  X.  and  Addie  L.,  and 
they  are  also  rearing  a  little  motherless  bo} , 
whom  they  call  Robert  Henry.  In  his  po- 
litical views  Mr.  Reed  is  a  Republican  and 
gives  his  support  to  every  enterprise  which 
he  believes  will  prove  of  public  benefit. 


JONAS  P.  LILYARD. 

One  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Burn- 
side  township  is  Jonas  P.  Lilyard,  who  was 
born  in  Sweden  in  1853,  and  until  his  thir- 
teenth year  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
in  his  native  land.  Owing  to  the  many 
mouths  to  itmd  in  the  family.  Jonas  had 
little  opportunity  to  go  to  school,  for  it  early 
became  his  duty  to  contribute  his  mite  to- 
wards the  general  sustenance.  Of  the  ten 
children  besides  himself  John  is  a  resident 
of  Sweden  ;  Andrew  is  married  and  lives  in 
Boone  county,  Iowa;  Charles  lives  in  Ne- 
braska; Samuel  lives  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren in  Nebraska;  August  is  married  and 
1-  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  in 
Colorado;  Clans-  is  a  resident  of  Kansas 
City,  Missouri;  Frank  lives  in  California; 
Fred  is  a  fanner  near  Dayton,  Iowa;  Anna 
is  the  wife  of  Albert  Leonard  and  lives  in 
Minnesi  ita. 

In  1868  the  Lilyard  family  left  the  home 
of  their  forefathers  in  Sweden,  and  emigrat- 
ed to  America  in  search  of  better  opportuni- 


ties. Upon  locating  in  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, the  different  members  worked  out 
among  the  fanners  of  the  locality,  but 
eventually  removed  u<  the  vicinity  of  Day- 
ton, Iowa,  where  the  death  of  the  father  oc- 
curred August  5,  [879,  and  where  the 
mother  is  still  living. 

With  his  brothers  Jonas  P.  Lilyard  con- 
tinned  to  work  on  different  farms  until  his 
marriage  with  Anna  Swenson  in  Clay  town- 
ship, March  t8,  1880.  Mrs.  Lilyard  was 
born  in  Sweden  November  10.  1858,  and 
came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  five 
years  of  age.  The  family  located  in  An- 
dover,  Illinois,  where  the  father  was  a  day 
laborer,  and  later  lived  in  Burnside  and  Clay 
townships,  Webster  county,  Iowa,  for  about 
thirty  years.  Mr.  Swensen  has  profited  by 
his  industry  and  enterprise  since  coming  to 
America,  and  is  now  the  possessor  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in  Clay 
township.  To  himself  and  wife  have  been 
horn  ten  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Lilyard  is 
the  only  daughter.  The  other  children  are: 
Charles,  who  married  Emma  Holstram  and 
lives  in  Henry  count)-,  Illinois;  John,  who 
married  Ida  Johnson  and  is  a  general  mer- 
chant in  Dayton.  Iowa:  William,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Johnson  and  is  also  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business  at  Dayton;  Vic- 
tor, who  married  Emma  Johnson,  and  who 
lives  in  Gowrie,  Iowa;  Oscar,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Burnside;  Alfred,  who 
married  Anna  breed  and  is  a  farmer  in 
Burnside  township;  Gilbert,  who  1-  single 
and  living  at  home;  Norton,  who  is  also 
unmarried  and  is  engaged  in  business  with 
his  brother  Victor  in  Gowrie.  Four  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lil- 
yard:  Floyd,  horn  January  31,  1881; 
Laura.  November  15.  1884;  Carrie,  May  31, 
1887:  and  Edith,  October  5.  1890. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Lilyard  lived  for 


•650 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  year  on  rented  land  near  Dayton,  and  ow- 
ing to  the  fact  that  he  had  practically  noth- 
ing tn  begin  with,  the  greatest  economy  and 
thrift  prevailed  in  the  little  household.  He 
later  rented  other  land,  upon  which  he  lived 
fur  seven  years,  and  (hiring  that  time  pros- 
pects brightened  perceptibly,  and  so  much 
money  was  saved  over  and  above  expenses 
that  in  1X84  Air.  Lilyard  purchased  eighty- 
acres  of  land  on  section  29,  Burnside  town- 
ship. So  successful  was  he  after  this  in- 
vestment that  he  was  soon  enabled  to  still 
further  add  to  his  possessions  by  the  pur- 
chase of  forty  acres,  upon  which  he  now 
lives,  and  upon  which  he  has  a  tine  and  com- 
modious  residence,  with  substantial  and 
•convenient  outhouses  and  barns.  A  general 
farming  industry  is  carried  on.  and  in  con- 
nection therewith  considerable  stock  is  fed. 
Air.  Lilyard  is  a  Republican  in  national 
politics,  and  owing  to  his  particular  fitness 
has  held  several  positions  of  trust  in  his 
township,  and  has  rendered  valuable  service 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  Himself 
and  family  are  members  of  the  Swedish 
Evangelical  church  at  Burnside.  Air.  Lil- 
yard is  regarded  as  one  of  the  reliable  and 
substantial  farmers  and  citizens  of  his  town- 
ship, and  is  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him. 


.    EMORY  D.  PORTER. 

During  an  early  period  in  the  settlement 
of  America  the  Porter  family  emigrated 
from  Scotland  and  settled  in  Rhode  Island. 
Later  generations  made  their  home  in  New 
York,  and  a  number  bearing  the  name  were 
participants  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Irie 
Porter,  the  father  of  Emory  D.,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Madison  county,  New  York,  and  in 
1849.  at  the  time  of  the  gold  excitement  in 


California,  he  went  to  the  Pacific  coast  by 
way  of  Cape  Horn,  returning  east  in  1851. 
However,  a  year  later  he  again  went  to 
California,  this  time  by  way  of  the  Isthmus 
of  Panama.  The  pursuit  of  gold  and  silver 
mining  led  him  as  far  into  the  interior 
as  Nevada,  and  there  he  died  in  1871.  Fra- 
ternally he  was  a  Mason  and  in  politics  voted 
with  the  Republican  party.  His  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Susan  Jaques,  was 
horn  in  Oneida  county.  New  York,  and  now 
resides  at  Independence,  Iowa.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Yarnum  Jaques,  a  typical  fron- 
tiersman, who  was  an  unerring"  shot  and 
fond  of  hunting,  keeping  a  pack  of  hounds 
to  accompany  him  on  his  hunting  expedi- 
tions. In  fishing,  too,  he  was  unusually 
skillful.  He  kept  up  a  friendly  acquaintance 
with  the  Indians  and  frequently  traded  with 
them  for  skins  and  hides.  In  the  midst  of 
these  various  diversions,  he  did  not  neglect 
the  management  of  his  farm,  but  was  said 
to  lie  a  very  progressive  and  enterprising 
farmer. 

Emory  D.  Porter  was  the  only  son  of  his 
parents.  When  a  boy  he  attended  school 
in  Knoxboro,  New  York,  but  left  school 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  and  from  that  time  to 
the  present  has  made  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  During  1870  he  came  to  Iowa  and 
settled  in  Washington  township,  Webster 
countw  Few  improvements  had  been  at- 
tempted here  at  that  time.  The  railroad,  al- 
ways  the  forerunner  of  civilization,  had  not 
yet  been  built  through  the  county,  and  all 
the  regions  around  here  were  sparsely  set- 
tled. With  a  desire  to  earn  the  wherewithal 
necessary  to  begin  farming,  he  ran  a  sta- 
tionary  engine  on  the  Des  Moines  river  for 
two  years,  and  then  rente*d  land  for  a  similar 
period.  With  the  means  thus  accumulated 
he  invested  in  farm  property,  buying  eighty 
acres  of  partly  improved  land  on  section  21, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


6u 


Washington  township.  In  the  bringing  of 
this  land  under  cultivation  and  the,  making 
of  desirable  improvements  he  has  shown 
zeal  and  a  progressive  spirit.  From  time  to 
time  additional  purchases  have  been  made 
until  his  landed  possessions  now  aggregate 
two  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  all  lying  in 
this  township.  The  residence  is  an  attract- 
ive country  home  with  modern  improve- 
ments. In  addition  to  the  raising  of  crops 
Mr.  Porter  has  engaged  in  buying  stuck 
and  grain  here  for  the  past  fifteen  or  more 
years,  and  he  also  raises  on  his  farm  high- 
grade  stock  for  the  market.  Additional- to 
these  interests,  he  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
First  National  Hank  of  Lehigh,  Iowa.  On 
the  Republican  ticket  he  has  been  elected  to 
almost  all  of  the  township  offices  and  is  now 
township  treasurer,  which  office  he  has  held 
for  seventeen  years.  Since  1886  he  has  been 
connected  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  Le- 
high. He  is  also  a  member  of  Spartan 
Lodge,  No.  226,  I.  O.  O.  F.,'at  Kalo,  Iowa, 
and  Wahkowsa  Camp,  No.  53,  at  Fort 
Dodge. 

In  Augusta.  New  York,  April  25,  1869, 
Mr.  Porter  married  Miss  Carrie  M.  Powers, 
who  was  born  in  London,  England,  April 
3,  1849.  Her  parents,  George  and  Marie 
Raym  >r,  were  natives  of  England,  and  came 
to  America  when  she  was  eighteen  months 
old.  Her  father  died  when  she  was  six 
years  of  age  and  her  mother  three  years 
later,  leaving  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Porter's 
sister  being  Emma,  wife  of  A.  P.  Truth, 
who  resides  near  Munnsville.  New  York. 
After  cuming  to  the  United  States  Mr. 
Raynor  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  n  Middletown, 
New  York.  He  and  his  wife  were  identified 
with  the  Baptist  church,  but  Mrs.  Porter 
was  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  and 
thirty-five  years   ago  united   with   that   de- 


nomination  at  Knoxboro,  New  York.  In 
[899,  accompanied  by  her  daughter  Cecil, 
she  visited  in  the  east,  renewing  the  asso- 
ciations  of  her  girlhood,  and  at  that  time 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  her  old  Sunday- 
school  teacher  and  attending  the  class  of 
which  she  had  been  a  member  so  long  ago. 
In  C900  she  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  at  Lehigh,  Iowa,  and  has  since 
been  active  in  its  work.  After  the  death  of 
her  1111  ither,  she  was  taken  into  the  home  of 
A  Walter  Powers,  a  farmer  whose  family 
numbered  ten  children,  and  there  she  re- 
mained until  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Porter. 
"I  hey  are  the  parents  of  the  f<  Ah  '\\  ing  named 
children:  Augusta  Sabrina,  who  was  born 
June  26,  1870,  and  died  February  14,  1877; 
Emory  Edson,  who  was  born  August  29, 
[874,  and  died  January  jj,  1877;  Minnie 
Luella,  who  was  born  March  9,  1877,  and 
became  the  wife  of  Charles  Cn  nise,  1  >f  Wash- 
ington township,  November  10,  1897; 
George  Woolsey,  who  was'born  March  25, 
1879,  and  died  December  26,  1882;  Arthur 
I).,  born  January  19,  1884;  Cecil  M.,  Oc- 
tober 3,  1888;  and  Robert  Earl,  September 
3,  1892.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  also  have  an 
adopted  son,  George  W.,  who  was  born 
April  6,  1883. 


WALLACE  W.  DANIELS. 

One  of  the  most  promising  farmers  in 
Washington  township  is  Wallace  W.  Dan- 
iels, who  was  born  in  Webster  county,  Sep- 
tember r6,  1871,  a  son  of  David  and  Sarah 
(Clark)  Daniels,  for  many  years  identified 
with  the  best  agricultural  interests  of  this 
county.  In  the  Brushy  district  Mr.  Daniels 
attended  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  same 
time  industriously  applied  himself  to  learn- 
ing farming  in  all  its  phases.     Out  of  the 


652 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


early  experience  thus  impressed  upon  his 
mind  he  evolved  practical  theories  for  use 
in  future  years,  many  of  which  have  been 
applied  with  undeniable  results. 

Oil  January  7,  1894,  he  married  Minnie 
V.  Flowers,  who  was  born  in  Earlville, 
Iowa,  October  20,  1871,  a  daughter  of 
George  W.  Flowers.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Daniels  have  been  burn  three  interesting 
children:  Lloyd  Gilbert,  born  May  _>_>. 
1 N04 ;  Gertrude  Elizabeth,  born  February 
11.  1896;  and  Earl  Raymond,  born  Decem- 
ber 3,  1900. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Daniels  contin- 
ued to  live  on  the  home  place,  and  for  six 
years  managed  the  farm  for  his  mother.  At 
the  present  time  he  owns  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  on  section  8.  Washing- 
ton township,  and  he  also  owns  a  quarter 
section  of  land  in  Ransom  county.  North 
Dakota.  He  devotes  his  time  principally  to 
the  raising  of  high-grade  stock  for  market 
purposes,  and  his  stock-raising  ami  general 
fanning  are  conducted  on  scientific  and  ap- 
proved lines.  He  has  been  remarkably  suc- 
cessful, and  is  accounted  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  progressive  farmers  in  his 
part  of  the  county.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  but  has  never  intimated  a  desire  to 
hold  office.  With  his  wife  he  is  a  member 
of     the     Methodist     Episcopal     church     at 

Brushy. 

*-•-• 

LUCIUS  W.  HART. 

Lucius  W.  Hart  has  been  one  of  the 
most  extensive  land  owners  of  Webster 
county  and  still  has  valuable  possessions. 
For  many  years  he  was  closely  associated 
with  farming  interests  but  is  now  living  re- 
tired, enjoying  a  rest  which  he  has  truly 
earned  and  richly  deserves.     If  we  examine 


into  the  life  record  to  find  the  secret  of  his 
success,  we  will  learn  that  his  prosperity 
has  been  gained  along  the  old  and  time  tried 
maxims,  such  as  "There  is  no  excellence 
without  labor,"  and  "Honest}'  is  the  best 
policy."  Industrious,  energetic  and  enter- 
prising, he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  up- 
ward until  he  now  occupies  a  prominent  po- 
sition upon  the  planes  of  affluence. 

Lucius  W.  Hart  is  a  native  of  Glaston- 
bury. Connecticut,  born  on  the  28th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1837,  his  parents  being  Norman  and 
Marcia  <  Hale)  Hart.  He  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  four  children, 
all  of  whom  are  yet  living,  the  eldest  being 
Xorman  H..  while  diose  younger  than  our 
subject  are  Carolin-,  the  wife  of  E.  B.  Drake 
and  Dr.  George  Hart.  Lucius  W.  Hart, 
of  this  review  was  only  six  years  of  age 
when  his  father  with  the  family  left  Con- 
necticut for  the  west,  taking  up  his  abode  in 
Illinois,  in  which  state  the  family  residence 
was  maintained  until  1854.  In  that  year 
they  removed  to  Iowa,  locating  in  Webster 
county. 

Mr.  Hart  of  this  review  was  at  that  time 
twenty-seven  years  of  age.  He  had  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Illinois,  continuing  his  studies  until  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  after  which  his  at- 
tention was  devoted  to  farm  work.  He  had 
early  received  practical  experience  in  the 
work  of  the  fields,  having  assisted  in  the 
plowing,  planting  and  harvesting  as  soon  as 
st length  fitted  him  for  such  duties. 

When  twenty-four  years  of  age  Mr. 
Hart  was  united  in  marriage  on  the  1st  of 
May.  1851,  to  Miss  Catherine  Livingston,  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  the  daughter  of 
rt  G.  Livingston,  who  went  to  Illinois 
at  an  early  date.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation and  in  his  family  were  eleven  chil- 
dren, Mrs.  Hart  being:  the  youngest.     The 


L.  W.  HART 


MRS.  LUCIUS   W.   HART 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


657 


marriage  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children.  DeWitl 
Clinton,  who  was  born  in  Illinois,  February 
23,  1852,  died  at  about  die  age  of  thirty- 
seven  years.  He  had  married  Miss  Mary 
Wakeman  and  they  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children.  His  widow  now  resides  in  Otho 
township,  Webster  county.  The  second  of 
the  family  died  in  infancy.  Cora  A.,  who 
was  born  in  Iowa.  November  16,  1857,  is 
the  wife  of  F.  R.  Payne,  by  whom  she  has 
three  daughters  and  two  sons,  their  home 
being  now  in  Williams.  Hamilton  county. 
Carrie,  born  in  Webster  county,  in  Decem- 
ber, i860,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  A.  Payne, 
a  brother  of  her  sister's  husband.  They 
reside  in  Berlin,  Wisconsin,  and  have  five 
sons  .-111(1  two  daughters.  The  wife  of  our 
subject  passed  away  in  March,  1886.  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven  years  and  her  remains 
were  interred  in  Otho  cemetery.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church  and 
3  mosl  estimable  lady,  whose  influence  was 
felt  for  good  throughout  the  community. 
From  early  boyhood  until  his  retirement 
from  business  life,  Mr.  Hart  carried  on  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  When  the  family 
came  to  Iowa  he  secured  a  claim 
from  the  government  in  Webster  county, 
and  af»er\vard  purchased  land  until  he  was 
the  owner  of  four  hundred  acre-.  Much 
of  this,  however,  he  has  given  to  his  chil- 
dren. He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  south  of  *  )tho  and  sixty-four  acres  on 
section  jo.  Otho  township.  For  several 
years  past  he  has  been  living  in  retirement 
anil  now  makes  his  home  with  his  son-in- 
law  Mr.  Payne  in  Williams.  He  was  a 
most  progressive  and  enterprising  agricul- 
turist and  his  efforts  brought  to  him  de 
served  success,  lie  improved  his  farms  with 
all  modern  equipments  and  his  labors 
lir>  night  t<>  him  rich  reward.    In  his  political 


views  he  has  always  been  a  Republican  and 
has  long  been  a  consistent  and  zealous  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  church.  As  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Webster  o  mntv,  he  is  hi  sn- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 
lie  came  to  this  portion  of  the  state  a;  an 
early  period  in  its  development  and  watched 
it-  gradual  transformation  from  a  wild  dis- 
trict into  a  densely  populated  region;  its 
raw  prairie  land,  as  the  result  of  cultivation 
and  improvement  became  '  rich  farming 
tracts.  Towns  and  villages  sprung  up. 
churches  and  schools  were  built  and  many 
lines  of  business  activity  were  introduced. 
In  all  of  the  work  of  advancement  and 
pn  gress  Mr.  Hart  has  taken  a  deep  interest 
and  just  pride,  and  has  ever  faithfully  per- 
formed his  duties  of  citizenship,  while  in 
business  he  has  sustained  an  unassailable 
reputatii  n. 


WILLIAM  WREDE. 

One  of  the  representative  citizens  and 
successful  farmers  of  Webster  count)'.  Iowa, 
is  William  Wrede.  the  owner  of  some  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  the  richest  si  ll 
in  this  great  state.  His  birth  occurred  Jan- 
uary 5,  1856,  in  Cook  county.  Illinois,  his 
parents  being  Henry  and  Minnie  1  Tim  1 
Wrede.  who  were  born,  reared  and  married 
in  Germany.  In  the  autumn  of  1855  the 
parents  decided  to  emigrate  to  the  United 
State-  in  order  to  better  their  condition,  and 
embarked  on  a  sailing  vessel  at  Bremen,  and 
after  a  passage  of  seven  weeks,  reached  New 
York  in  safety.  Work  was  plentiful  for 
tin  m  willing  to  perform  it.  ami  none  were 
more  willing  than  Henry  Wrede.  For  live 
years  the  family  were  residents  of  the  grow- 
ing city  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Wrede 
was  one  of  thc  faithful  workers  0:1  the  rail- 


658 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


which  now  extern  1  in  every  direction 
from  that  great  center. 

The  rich  lands  of  the  state  of  Iowa  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  Mr.  W'rede,  and  in 
i860,  with  oxen  and  a  prairie  schooner,  the 
family  made  the  journey  overland,  and  lo- 
cated in  Webster  county.  In  Dayton  town- 
ship, he  bought  forty  acres  of  raw  prairie 
land  and  went  to  work  with  his  character- 
istic energy  and  industry.  His  first  desire 
was  to  provide  a  home  and  shelter  for  his 
family  and  later  for  the  stuck  which  he 
soon  accumulated,  resulting  in  the  erection 
of  a  small  frame  house  and  sheds,  these  hav- 
ing walnut  siding  on  the  outside,  no  plaster, 
but  brick  walls  on  the  inside.  The  bricks 
were  made  by  the  family  and  sun-dried. 
This  home  was  not  as  attractive  as  later 
ones,  but  it  was  warm  and  comfortable,  and 
was  the  family  home  for  twenty-two  years. 
Then  a  removal  was  made  to  the  residence 
now  occupied  by  our  subject. 

In  1882  the  father  moved  to  Colorado 
for  the  benefit  of  his  son's  health  and  re- 
sided there  for  eight  years,  returning  then 
to  Webster  county.  For  the  succeeding 
eight  years  the  parents  resided  with  our 
subject,  but  in  1890  the  mother  died,  and 
since  that  time  the  father  has  resided  in 
Ogden.  Iowa,  with  his  son  Charles.  Few 
men  have  been  more  successful  in  their 
farming  operations  than  Mr.  W'rede.  In 
his  earlier  life  be  voted  with  the  Democratic 
party,  but  cast  his  last  vote  for  President 
McKinley.  His  religious  connection  has  al- 
ways  been  with  the  German  Lutheran 
church,  where  he  is  most  highly  esteemed. 

William  Wrede,  of  this  sketch,  was  the 
eldest  in  a  family  of  three  children,  the 
others  being:  Charles,  who  married  Anna 
Bergeman,  and  is  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  at  Ogden,  Iowa:  and  Theodore, 
who  married  Cecelia  Bergeman,  who  now 


resides  at  Ogden,  Iowa,  her  husband  dying 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years. 

Until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  our 
subject  attended  the  Leonard  school  at  Day- 
ton, Iowa,  then  leaving  his  books  in  order 
to  assist  his  father  in  the  management  of 
the  farm,  and  remaining  with  him  until  he 
reached  his  majority.  On  May  II,  1875, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Caroline 
Haganow.  who  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
where  she  was  born  February  1,  1854,  a 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  Minnie  (Bachet) 
Haganow,  both  of  whom  were  born,  reared 
and  married  in  Germany.  They  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1865  and  settled  in 
Cook  county.  Illinois,  later  moving  to  Fort 
Dodge.  Iowa,  where  they  now  reside,  Mr, 
Haganow  being  a  stone  mason  by  trade. 
Mrs.  Wrede  has  one  sister. — Frederika,  who 
married  Charles  Mandelko.  and  resides  in 
the  Missouri  valley,  near  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wrede  a  family  of 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  Alvira,  who 
was  born  July  2.  1876.  and  is  the  wife  of 
Fred  Zeitz,  residing  on  his  farm  near  Chur- 
dan,  Greene  county.  Iowa;  Edward,  born 
August  14,  1881 ;  Henry,  born  February  24, 
1883;  Samuel  and  Sarah,  twins,  born  Au- 
bust  1,  1885;  Matilda  and  Caroline,  twins, 
born  September  6,  1887;  William  M.,  born 
July  22,  1890;  David  T.,  born  November 
17,  1892:  Caroline  E..  born  July  7.  1894; 
and  Therese  Minnie,  born  May  24.   1896. 

Mr.  Wrede  has  been  one  of  the  most 
successful  farmers  in  his  township.  After 
his  marriage  he  and  wife  remained  for  one 
year  on  the  home  farm  and  then  went  to 
Fort  Dodge,  where  he  spent  one  year  at  car- 
penter work,  returning  then  to  the  farm 
where  the  family  have  resided  ever  since. 
Mr.  Wrede  owns  two  hundred  acres  on  sec- 
tion 4  and  eighty  acres  on  section  3.  Dayton 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


659 


township,  and  is  one  of  the  progressive  and 
intelligent  agriculturists  of  his  section,  be- 
lieving in  scientific  fanning  and  proving,  by 
his  success,  that  his  ideas  are  sensible.  His 
fields  yield  abundant  harvests  and  his  high- 
grade  stuck  find  a  ready  market. 

In  politics  Mr.  Wrede  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. His  interest  in  educational  mat- 
ters lias  induced  him  to  serve  for  a  number 
of  years  as  school  director,  and  treasurer 
for  twenty-one  years.  He  is  a  member  and 
has  reared  his  family  in  the  precepts  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church,  and  enjoys  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  community  in 
which  he  has  spent  bis  life. 


GEORGE  F.  RHOADES. 

The  fitting  reward  of  a  well  spent 
lite  is  an  honorable  retirement  in  •  which 
in  enjoy  the  fruits  of  former  toil,  and 
this  has  been  vouchsafed  to  George  F. 
Rhoades.  He  is  what  the  world  calls 
a  self-made  man.  With  limited  edu- 
cational  privileges  and  no  financial  as- 
sistance he  started  out  in  life  as  a  common 
laborer,  but  becoming  imbued  with  a  laud- 
able ambition  to  obtain  something  better,  he 
made  the  most  of  his  opportunities  and 
through  unremitting  energy,  diligence  and 
perseverance,  he  commanded  not  only  suc- 
cess, but  also  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 
He  is  now  numbered  among  the  representa- 
tive and  progressive  citizens  of  Webster 
City. 

George  F.  Rhoades  was  born  in  Pick- 
away county.  Ohio,  April  4,  1839,  and  is 
a  son  of  Allen  and  Nancy  (Flannigan) 
Rhoades,  who  were  also  natives  of  Ohio, 
where  the  father  followed  the  occupation  of 


farming.  The  father  died  in  1842  and  the 
mother  afterward  became  the  wife  of  Absa- 
lom Julian,  b)  whom  she  had  three  children. 
Elias,  William  and  Minnie.  By  her  first 
marriage  there  were  two  sons  and  two 
daughters:  Mary,  the  widow  of  D.  Norton, 
of  Champaign,  Illinois;  Hannah,  the  widow 
of  Ellis  Wellington,  of  Nebraska;  John, 
who  died  when  twelve  years  of  age;  and 
George  F.,  of  this  review.  The  mother 
passed  away  in  1880  in  Iroquois  county, 
Illinois,  where  she  had  resided  for  a  number 
of  years  and  the  stepfather  of  our  subject 
died  several  years  previously. 

When  only  four  vears  of  ag"e  George  F. 
Rhoades  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  he  had  attained  to 
manhood.  His  uncle  was  a  farmer  and  our 
subject  worked  in  the  fields  during  the  sum- 
mer months,  while  in  the  winter  seasons  he 
pursued  his  education  in  the  district  schools. 
At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  his  patriotic 
spirit  was  aroused,  and  in  the  fall  of  t86l 
he  enlisted  at  Centerville,  Ohio,  as  a  mem- 
ber  of  Company  I,  Fifty-eighth  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  William  Morris  and  Colonel  Dies- 
ter.  His  regiment  at  different  times  was 
under  the  command  of  Generals  Grant, 
Sherman  and  Wallace.  He  served  three 
vears  and  two  months  as  a  private  and  was 
never  wounded.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg,  and  the  battle  of  Arkansas 
Post,  and  was  also  mi  mortar  boats  at  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  having  been  detailed  for 
that  duty'  In  February,  1863.  be  was  trans- 
ferred from  the  army  to  the  navy,  being 
thus  engaged  until  the  following  August, 
when  he  again  joined  the  land  force.  On 
the  14th  of  January,  1865,  he  was  mustered 
out  at  Columbus.  Ohio,  paid  off  and  honor- 
ably discharged. 


66o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Not  long  afterward  Mr.  Rhoades  moved 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Piatt  county,  where 
he  worked  at  farm  labor  and  also  engaged 
in  driving  cattle  for  a  drover  until  1867. 
In  that  year  he  was  married  and  soon  after- 
ward engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count, lie  continued  to  reside  in  Piatt 
county  until  the  fall  of  1899,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  business  interests  in  Illinois  and 
came  to  Webster  City.  Iowa,  where  he  has 
a  handsome  residence  and  is  now  living  re- 
tired. 

In  1867  Air.  Rhoades  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Savanna  Coberley,  who  was 
born  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1840,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Hannah  1  Watkins  i 
Coberley.  Her  father  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation and  with  his  family  removed  to 
Piatt  county,  Illinois,  whence  he  afterward 
went  to  Rates  county,  Missouri,  where  both 
he  and  his  wife  spent  their  last  days.  Mrs. 
Rhoades  has  three  brothers  and  two  sis- 
ters who  are  yet  living:  Chandler  is  a 
resident  (if  Missouri;  Rachel  is  the  wife  of 
William  Switzer,  of  Adrian,  Bates  count}-. 
Missouri;  and  Victoria  is  the  wife  of 
Stephen  Gillan,  of  llates  county.  The  home 
of  Mr.  and  Airs.  Rhoades  has  been  blessed 
with  five  children:  Allen  J.,  who  married 
Nora  Mulvane,  and  is  living  in  Webster 
county:  George  P..  who  married  Eva  Haw- 
thorne and  makes  his  home  near  Flagstadt, 
Webster  county;  William  1).,  who  married 
Bird  Edgar  and  is  living  at  Storm  Lake; 
Charles  1'...  who  married  Ida  B.  Grant  and 
makes  his  home  at  Webster  City;  and  Dais) 
M.,  the  wife  of  J  I.  S.  Toney,  of  Webster 
City. 

Mr.  Rhoades  maintains  pleasant  rela- 
tions with  his  eld  army  comrades  through 
his  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.  I  f  i  -.  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.    In  his  political 


views  he  is  a  Republican,  but  the  honors 
and  emoluments  of  office  have  had  no  attrac- 
tion for  him,  as  he  has  ever  preferred  to  give 
his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  af- 
fairs, in  which  he  has  ewer  met  with  grati- 
fying success,  lie  to-day  owns  a  half  sec- 
tion of  land  in  Webster  county  and  a  half 
sectii  <n  near  Storm  Lake.  He  deserves  great 
credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished,  for  he 
had  \cw  advantages  in  youth  and  when  he 
started  upon  an  independent  business  career 
he  worked  as  a  common  laborer.  He  was 
ambitious,  determined  and  progressive, 
however,  and  these  qualities  in  America  al- 
ways win  success.  Gradually  Mr.  Rhoades 
has  worked  bis  way  upward  and  with  the 
passing  years  has  gained  a  handsome  com- 
petence, which  now  ranks  him  with  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  Webster  City.  He  has 
ever  discharged  his  duties  with  marked 
ability  and  fairness,  for  he  is  a  most  loyal. 
public-spirited  citizen.  As  a  business  man 
he  has  been  conspicuous  among  his  asso- 
ciates, not  only  for  his  success,  but  for  his 
probity,  fairness  and  honorable  methods.  In 
everything  he  has  been  eminently  practical, 
and  this  has  been  manifest  not  only  in  his 
business  undertakings,  but  also  in  social  and 
private  life. 


JOHN   BLOOMBERG. 

A  highly  respected  and  well-known 
farmer  of  Webster  county,  who  can  show 
one  of  the  finest  farms  and  some  of  the  best 
catle  in  the  state,  is  John  Bloomberg,  who 
was  born  April  8.  1843,  m  Sweden,  but  the 
United  States  now  claims  hir.  as  one  of  her 
worthy  citizen^. 

The  parents  of  Air.  Bloomberg.  John 
Lawrence  and  Anna  (Christman)  Bloom- 
berg,  were  born   also   in   Sweden  and   lived 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


661 


there  until  the  death  of  the  father,  which 
left  the  mother  alone,  and  live  years  later,  in 
[870,  she  came  to  this  countr)  to  make  her 
home  with  her  one  remaining  daughter, 
Minnie,  wife  of  Charles  Peterson,  Mrs. 
Peterson  died  at  Cambridge,  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  and  the  mother  then  came  to  live 
with  her  only  son,  our  subject,  remaining 
with  him  until  her  death,  in  1888. 

Until  he  was  fifteen  years  old  Mr. 
Bloomberg  attended  the  schools  in  his  native 
land,  and  then  determined  to  emigrate  t<  1 
America.  He  first  went  to  Germany,  where 
he  found  a  sailing  vessel  bound  for  the 
United  States  and  took  passage.  Although 
the  trip  consumed  six  weeks  and  three  day-, 
the  weather  was  pleasant,  but  cholera  broke 
out  on  hoard  and  thirteen  passengers  died. 
Finally  one  spring  morning  the  young 
Swedish  lad  stood  on  the  shores  of  the  new 
world. 

Fond  of  adventure  and  willing  to  work. 
and  possessing  also  the  knack  of  making 
friends.  Mr.  Bloomberg  managed  to  reach 
Chicago  in  March,  1864.  There  he  enlisted 
in  the  United  States  Navy  and  was  sent  to 
Cairo.  Illinois,  where  he  went  aboard  the 
gunboat  "Oriol,"  which  was  soon  afterward 
sent  up  the  Mississippi  river  to  Mound  City 
and  from  there  to  Vicksburg,  where  it  was 
used  to  guard  the  river,  lying  at  Rodney, 
between  Vicksburg  and  Memphis.  Later 
the  boat  went  to  Memphis,  from  there  to 
Natchez,  and  then  to  Cairo,  and  in  the  lat- 
ter city  Mr.  Bloomberg  received  his  dis- 
charge in  August. 

By  this  time  he  had  seen  a  considerable 
amount  of  country  and  had  become  some- 
what accustomed  to  the  new  country's  ways. 
He  returned  to  Chicago,  going  from  there 
to  Galesburg,  ami  a  week  later  to  Andover, 
Henrv  county,  Illinois,  where  he  secured 
work  on  a   farm.      At   that  place  March   _\ 


[882,  lie  was  married  to  Lottie  Nelson, 
who  was  born  in  Henry  county,  south 
of  Andover,  December  10,  1852-,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Sockreson  and  Lou- 
isa Nelson,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
mes i,\  Sweden.  They  came  to  America 
some  time  in  the  '50s  and  settled  in  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  where  the  father  died  in  !  )c- 
toher,  1872.  the  mother  in  February,  1S92, 
and  both  were  buried  in  Andover. 

Might  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nelson^  these  being:  Christina,  de- 
ceased wife  of  Charles  Bloom,  of  Galesburg. 
Illinois;  Sophia,  who  is  single  and  lives 
with  her  brother  John,  in  Henry  county; 
Carrie,  deceased  wife  of  David  Loregrin,  of 
Montgomery,  Iowa;  Lottie,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject; Ida,  who  is  the  wife  of  David  Carl- 
son, and  lives  at  Baker,  Boyd  county,  Ne- 
braska: Minnie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
years:  Matilda,  who  died  in  infancy;  and 
John,  who  resides  in  Henry  county,  Illinois. 

For  twenty  years  Mr.  Bloomberg  made 
Henrv  county.  Illinois,  his  home,  but  in 
1 88 1  he  came  to  Webster  county.  Iowa,  and 
bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
raw  prairie  land,  paying  two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  per  acre,  and  a  tract  of  forty 
acres,  for  which  he  paid  eight  dollars  an 
acre.  This  land  Mr.  Bloomberg  broke  and 
began  the  building  of  the  shelters  for  his 
stock  as  soon  as  he  had  erected  a  comfort- 
able home.  It  seems  wonderful  that  so 
sh(  n"t  a  time  has  elapsed  since  he  began  his 
improvements  there,  so  complete  are  all  his 
farm  equipments  at  the  present.  At  that 
time  Dayton  had  about  one  dozen  houses 
and  Harcourt  consisted  of  a  freight  car  and 
one  house.  Neighbors  were  far  apart,  but 
there  was  a  feeling  of  kindness  and  good 
fellowship  abroad  at  that  time  which  was 
very  pleasant,  and  every  dour  opened  hos- 
pital ilv  to  the  stranger  guest. 


662 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Air.  Bloomberg  has  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  the  county,  located  on  section  30,  I  lay- 
ton  township,  and  he  is  widely  known  as  a 
successful  raiser  of  some  of  the  finest  stock 
put  upon  the  market.  In  all  his  operations 
he  is  ably  assisted  by  his  adopted  son,  Os- 
car Bloomberg,  who  was  born  June  6,  1880, 
and  has  received  parental  care  from  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bloomberg  since  his  infancy.  Both 
men  are  supporters  of  the  Republican  party 
and  are  members  of  the  Swedish  Methodist 
church.  By  close  application  and  honest  and 
industrious  effort  Mr.  Bloomberg  has  be- 
come one  of  the  substantial  and  highly  re- 
spected men  of  his  locality. 


ANDREW  ANDERSON. 

Among  the  prosperous  and  successful 
citizens  of  Dayton  township,  Webster  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  Andrew  Anderson  occupies  a 
leading  position.  He  was  born  November 
24.  1X42,  in  Sweden,  being  a  son  of  Andrew 
and  Mary  Anderson,  both  of  whom  were 
also  natives  of  Sweden,  where  they  lived  and 
died. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  his  na- 
tive land,  and  when  he  reached  manhood 
served  for  two  years  in  the  army.  Realiz- 
ing that  much  better  opportunities  were  of- 
fered young  men  in  America,  in  1869  he 
sailed  from  Gottenberg.  Unfortunately 
smallpox  broke  out  on  board  the  ship  and 
the  passengers  were  all  held  in  quarantine 
at  Newark  for  eleven  days,  but  he  finally 
reached  New  York  city,  from  which  point 
he  made  his  way  to  Chicago,  it  taking  near- 
ly five  days  to  make  the  journey.  From 
Chicago  he  journeyed  to  Dayton,  Iowa,  and 
obtained  work  upon  the  railroad,  which  was 
being  constructed  between  Des  Moines  and 
Fort  Dodge. 


After  the  railroad  was  completed,  Mr. 
Anderson  hired  out  to  a  farmer  and  for  an 
entire  year's  work  received  only  twenty-five 
dollars,  although  he  labored  hard  and  faith- 
fully. He  then  rented  land  in  Dayton  town- 
ship, and  in  1870  he  purchased  forty  acres 
of  raw  prairie  land  from  the  railroad  com- 
pany. This  land  he  broke  and  put  in  a 
state  of  cultivation.  Later  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  31, 
Dayton  township,  which  he  still  owns,  it 
being  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Webster 
county,  well  supplied  with  outbuildings,  a 
commodious  barn  and  comfortable  house. 
Mr.  Anderson  makes  a  specialty  of  raising 
high-grade  stock  for  the  market  and  his 
product  always  meets  with  a  ready  sale. 
During  the  years  he  has  been  engaged  in 
his  present  calling  he  has  proved  that  he 
thoroughly  understands  farming  and  his  ad- 
vice is  sought  upon  agricultural  matters  by 
his  neighbors. 

On  April  24,  1867.  Mr.  Anderson  was 
married,  in  Sweden,  to  Mary  Swanson,  win  1 
was  born  there  October  28,  1839,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Swan  J.  and  Anna  (Carleson)  Swan- 
son,  both  of  whom  were  born,  lived  and 
died  in  Sweden.  Mrs.  Swanson  died  when 
Airs.  Anderson  was  only  twelve  months  old, 
and  Mr.  Swanson  married  Eva  Carleson, 
his  sister-in-law,  who  was  also  a  native  of 
Sweden.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  two 
children,  namely:  Mrs.  Anderson;  and 
John,  deceased,  who  married  Christina 
Blomquist,  and  came  to  America,  his  widow 
being  now  a  resident  of  Lost  Grove  town- 
ship, Webster  county,  Iowa,  having  married 
Charles  Blomquist.  There  were  seven  sons 
and  three  daughters  born  of  the  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Swanson.  six  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. The  remaining  children  reside  in 
Sweden,  where  they  married  and  are  all 
happy  and  prosperous. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


663 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  lour  chil- 
dren were  born;  namely:  Oscar,  who  was 
born  in  Sweden,  September  22,  1868,  mar- 
ried Hannah  Johnson  and  resides  on  a  farm 
in  Lost  Grove  township,  this  county.  They 
have  four  children. — Eva,  Marian,  Walter 
and  Collins.  John,  horn  September  10, 
1877,  is  single  and  assists  his  father  on  the 
farm.  Charles,  born  August  10,  1879,  lives 
with  his  father.  Hilda  May,  born  June  24, 
1  NX  1 .  is  also  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  Republican 
and  he  has  served  most  acceptably  as  school 
director  and  road  commissioner,  giving  en- 
tire satisfaction  to  his  constituents  as  well 
as  the  township  at  large.  In  religious  mat- 
ters, he  attends  the  Swedish  Evangelical 
Lutheran  church  of  Harcourt,  Iowa,  to 
which  he  is  a  liberal  contributor.  Having 
gained  his  present  position  of  prosperity 
through  his  own  unaided  efforts,  Mr.  An- 
derson may  well  be  proud  of  his  success, 
and  also<  of  the  fact  that  while  he  was  thus 
laboring  to  add  to  his  possessions,  he  yet  had 
time  to  make  and  retain  many  friends,  all 
of  whom  respect  and  esteem  him  in  the  high- 
est degree. 


G.  A.  FREED. 


From  a  substantial  Swedish  ancestry 
Mr.  Freed  inherits  habits  of  thrift  and  econ- 
omy, which  have  been  of  inestimable  value 
to  him  as  one  of  the  large  land  owners  and 
practical  farmers  of  Burnside  township.  He 
was  born  in  Sweden.  December  5,  1858,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
reared  to  lie  a  model  farmer.  His  parents, 
Andrew  F.  and  Mary  (Peterson)  Freed, 
came  to  America  in  1864,  when  their  son, 
G.  A.,  was  but  six  years  of  age,  and  he 
therefore   has   but    faint   recollection   of   the 


conditions  among  which  he  was  born  and 
spent  his  earliest  childhood.  The  parents 
settled  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  they 
lived  for  a  year,  going  later  to  Altoona, 
Knox  county,  that  state,  where  the  father 
worked  out  at  farm  labor  for  a  year.  They 
then  went  to  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  and 
three  years  later  sold  that  land  and  came  to 
Iowa  in  1868.  Here  they  bought  eighty 
acres  three  miles  south  of  Dayton.  Webster 
county,  but  later  removed  to  Boone  county, 
and  still  later  to  Fort  Dodge,  where  they 
died  within  a  short  time  of  each  other  and 
were  buried  on  the  same  daw 

For  about  seven  years  G.  A.  Freed  as- 
sisted his  father  with  the  work  about  the 
home  farm.  On  December  4,  1881,  he  mar- 
ried Sophia  Anderson,  who  was  born  in 
Sweden  and  came  to  America  with  her  par- 
ents, settling  in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  and 
later  removing  to  Iowa.  Mrs.  Freed  has 
one  brother,  (Gust,  who  is  unmarried,  and 
has  followed  the  fickle  fortunes  of  the  sea 
for  eleven  years,  being  now  on  his  way  to 
South  Africa;  and  one  sister.  Christine,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Christ  Christenson,  and  lives 
at  Atlantic,  Iowa.  She  has  also  three  step- 
brothers and  one  step-sister;  August  Sea- 
gren.  who  has  two  children  and  lives  in 
Curlew.  Iowa:  .Albert,  who  is  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Curlew.  Iowa;  Fred,  who  lives  in 
the  same  town;  and  Anna,  who  is  working 
out.  The  boys  are  tradesmen,  carpenters 
and  blacksmiths.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freed:  Martin,  born 
July  23.  1X82;  Florence,  March  6,  1884; 
and   Myrtle,  January    15,    1896. 

Desiring  to  be  thoroughly  independent, 
Mr.  Freed  left  the  home  farm  after  his  mar- 
riage, and  for  a  year  rented  a  farm  two 
miles  south  of  Dayton,  and  afterwards  lived 
on  another  farm,  also  rented,  for  two  years. 


66,± 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


He  then  bought  a  farm  in  Clay  township, 
upon  which  he  lived  for  seven  years,  and 
after  disposing-  of  that  land  bought  the  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  in  one  body  which 
constitutes  his  present  home.  He  has 
utilized  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner  his 
opp  rtunities  since  coming  to  his  present  lo- 
cation, and  has  a  property  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  well  equipped  with  com- 
fortable residence,  convenient  and  modern 
barns,  as  well  as  all  manner  of  late  devices 
for  "simplifying  farm  labor.  He  raises  a 
large  amount  of  grain  and  engages  in  gen- 
eral farming,  and  also  feeds  and  ships  stock. 
He  is  a  progressive  and  wide-awake  member 
of  a  thrifty  agricultural  community,  and  is 
in  favor  of  all  measures  for  elevating  the 
general  standing  of  the  township. 


ALLEX  J.  RHOADES. 

In  an  early  day  in  the  history  of  Amer- 
ica the  Rhoades  family  emigrated  from 
Germany  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
whence  later  generations  removed  to  Ohio. 
George  F.  Rhoades.  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Pickaway  county,  the  latter  state, 
removed  to  Piatt  county.  Illinois,  in  1865, 
and  secured  employment  with  Mr.  Piatt,  in 
whose  honor  the  county  was  named.  His 
earnings  were  carefully  and  frugally  saved 
and  funned  the  nucleus  of  his  subsequent 
possessions.  His  first  purchases  were 
small,  but  as  time  passed  by  he  ac- 
quired increasing  possessions  and  finally 
his  landed  estate  aggregated  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres.  In  the  fall 
of  1899  he  disposed  of  his  landed  in- 
terests in  Illinois  and  came  to  Iowa,  set- 
tling in  Webster  City.  Hamilton  county. 
Four  years  before  he  had  purchased  three 
hundred     and     twenty     acres     in     Webster 


count)-.  Iowa,  and  later  acquired  the  owner- 
ship of  four  hundred  acres  at  Storm  Lake. 
Iowa.  These  various  holdings  and  his  real 
estate  in  Webster  City  represent  the  accumu- 
lations of  his  active  years,  and  prove  him 
to  be  man  of  wise  judgment  in  the 
making  of  investments  and  superintending 
of  properties.  His  property  in  Webster 
county  lies  on  sections  13  and  24.  Washing- 
ton township,  and  is  managed  by  his  son, 
Allen  J.  Rhoades.  who  makes  his  home  upon 
the  place. 

During  the  Civil  war  George  F.  Rhoades 
enlisted  in  Company  I.  Fifty-eighth  Ohio 
Infantry,  and  served  for  three  years  and 
three  months,  receiving  an  honorable  dis- 
charge at  the  expiration  of  bis  term  of  serv- 
ice, and  not  long  before  the  close  of  the  war. 
Since  the  organization  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  he  has  been  identified  with 
it.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and 
on  that  ticket,  during  his  residence  in  Piatt 
county,  Illinois,  he  was  elected  to  all  of  the 
offices  of  his  township.  As  county  super- 
visor he  was  instrumental  in  promoting  en- 
terprises for  the  benefit  of  the  people.  His 
circle  of  acquaintances  was  large  in  Piatt 
ci nint}-,  and  everywhere  he  was  honored  and 
respected.  On  his  removal  from  there  ex- 
pressions of  regret  were  heard  on  every 
hand,  for  it  was  realized  that  one  of  the 
most  active  pioneers  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zens would  lie  lost  to  the  county  by  his  de- 
parture. Indicative  of  the  regard  in  which 
he  was  held  is  the  fact  that  a  handsome 
medal  was  presented  to  him  by  Franklin 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Monticello,  with  which 
he  had  long  been  connected. 

In  the  family  of  George  F.  Rhoades  and 
wife  there  are  five  children,  of  whom  Allen 
J.  is  the  oldest.  The  second  son,  George 
Edward,  married  Eva  Hawthorne,  of  Mon- 
ticello, Illinois,  and  has  one  daughter,  Helen. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


665 


They  make  their  home  in  Washington  town- 
ship. Webster  county,  where  he  cultivates  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  13.  The  third  sun.  William  D., 
married  Bird  Edgar  and  has  two  children, 
George  and  Edith.  They  make  their  home 
at  Sturm  Lake.  Iowa.  The  youngest  son, 
Charles  B..  married  Ida  Belle  Grant,  and 
resides  in  Webster  City,  Iowa,  where  he 
was  clerk  in  the  Wilson  Hotel,  but  is  now 
a  traveling  salesman.  The  only  daughter. 
Daisy  May.  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Toney,  of 
Webster  City.  Mure  extended  mention  is 
made  of  the  father  1  in  another  page  of  this 
volume. 

Allen  J.  Rhoades  was  born  in  Piatt 
county,  Illinois,  January  17.  1870,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  principally  in  the 
schools  of  Dublin,  that  state.  On  starting 
out  for  himself  he  secured  employment  in 
running  a  traction  engine  and  also  ran  an 
engine  for  a  dredge-boat.  His  next  venture 
was  the  putting  up  of  windmills  and  con- 
tracting for  wells.  In  1893  ne  came  to  Iowa 
and  nn  the "28th  of  December,  of  the  same 
year,  at  Emmetsburg.  Palo  Alto  county,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Xora  Mull- 
vain,  whn  was  born  in  McLean  county,  111., 
December  1.  1875.  Her  parents,  Francis 
.Augustus  and  Anna  (  Rankin )  Mullvain. 
were  natives  of  Illinois,  and  married  in  Piatt 
county,  that  state,  where  they  remained 
some  years,  thence  moving  to  McLean  coun- 
ty. In  i8<)2  they  settled  at  Emmetsburg, 
Iowa,  but  two  years  later  returned  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  at  Osman,  McLean  county. 
In  the  spring  of  iqoi  they  again  came  to 
Iowa  and  now  reside  near  Webster  City. 
Politically  Mr.  Mullvain  was  reared  in  the 
Democratic  faith  and  believes  in  the  major- 
it}  of  the  principles  adopted  by  that  party, 
but  inclines  toward  prohibition.  In  religion 
he  is  a  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Meth- 


odist Episcopal  church.  Of  his  children  the 
eldest  is  the  wife  of  Allen  J.  Rhoades,  and 
the  others  are  si  ins.  namely:  Lee.  a  farmer 
at  Osman,  Illinois;  Harvey,  who  resides  in 
Decatur.  Illinois;  Earl  and  Vern,  of  Web- 
ster City. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Rhoades  re- 
turned to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  the  tubu- 
lar-well business  in  Piatt  county,  remain- 
ing there  until  his  return  to  Iowa  in  1896. 
Since  then  he  has  had  the  supervision  of  his 
father's  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  _>4.  Washington  township. 
Webster  county.  low  a.  He  is  proving  him- 
self to  be  a  scientific  and  up-to-date  farmer, 
and  maintains  a  high  class  of  improvements 
upon  his  place.  At  this  writing  he  makes  a 
specialty  of  Polled  Angus  cattle  and  Poland 
China  hogs,  with  both  of  which  he  is  suc- 
cessful. To  facilitate  the  work  of  the  farm 
he  has  convenient  cattle  sheds,  substantial 
barns  and  granaries,  while  he  and  his  wife 
occupy  a  modern  and  commodious  residence. 
In  addition  to  managing  the  farm,  he  has 
during  recent  years  also  had  charge  of  drill- 
ing the  wells  for  the  water  works  at  Be- 
ment,  Illinois,  and  the  city  wells  at  Sulli- 
van, that  state.  Like  his  father,  he  believes 
firmly  in  the  wisdom  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples, and  advocates  protection  of  home  in- 
dustries, the  continuance  of  the  gold  stand- 
ard, and  the  policy  of  expansion.  Among 
the  local  offices  held  by  him  are  those  of 
road  supervisor  and  school  director,  both  of 
which  he  has  filled  with  judgment  and  dis- 
crete m. 


JOHX  GABRIELSOX. 

Among  the  highly  respected  citizens  of 
Dayton.  Webster  county,  Iowa,  is  John 
Gabrielson,    a    worthy    representative  of  a 


666 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


country  to  which  the  United  States  has 
learned  to  look  for  men  of  brawn  and  brain, 
steady  and  industrious,  who  finally  become 
the  best  of  American  citizens. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Gabrielson  occurred  in 
Sweden,  November  16,  1826,  his  parents 
being-  Gabriel  and  Martha  Catherine  (Nel- 
son) Johnson,  both  of  whom  lived  out  their 
days  in  their  native  country.  They  had  but 
two  sons,  our  subject  and  his  brother,  An- 
drew Augustus.  The  latter  came  tO'  Amer- 
ica with  John,  in  1857,  and  married  Mary 
Swanson,  also  a  native  of  Sweden,  who 
died  in  December,  1900,  in  Colorado.  He 
now  lives  in  Andover,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Gabrielson  of  this  sketch  came  to 
this  country  with  his  family  when  he  was 
about  thirty  years  of  age.  On  June  25, 
1853,  in  Sweden,  he  was  married  to*  Flor- 
ence Peterson,  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Eliza 
(Samuelson)  Johnson,  both  of  whom  died 
in  Sweden,  having  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  came  to  America  with  the 
exception  of  three. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gabrielson  were:  Axel,  born  in  Sweden, 
married  Clara  Nelson  and  lives  in  Dayton ; 
Charles  G.  burn  at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  in 
1857,  died  unmarried,  in  August,  1900; 
Frank  A.  married  Ida  Jansen,  and  conducts 
a  hardware  business  at  Sioux  Rapids.  Iowa; 
George  A.  married  Anna  Bork  and  lives  in 
Dayton,  where  he  has  a  hardware  business; 
Eddie  married  Kate  Intermill  and  is  now 
a  retired  farmer  in  Dayton;  Victor  married 
Hannah  Sackerson  and  is  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  with  his  brother  in  Day- 
ton; Hattie  C,  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  in  Webster  county,  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-seven  years ;  and  Mary  married 
Hans  Shold,  a  blacksmith  in  Dayton. 

Mr.  Gabrielson  recalls  his  trip  to  Amer- 
ica as   one   of  his    pleasantest   experiences, 


both  on  account  of  the  pleasant  weather  en- 
countered and  also  because  of  the  kind  and 
careful  attention  bestowed  upon  his  two 
hundred  passengers  by  good  Captain  Ny- 
gard.  As  a  testimonial  of  their  personal 
regard,  the  passengers  presented  him  with  a 
thirty-dollar  clock.  Landing  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  Mr.  Gabrielson  went  direct 
to  Chicago,  and  from  there  to  Galesburg, 
Illinois,  where  many  of  his  countrymen  are 
located.  In  the  spring  of  1858  he  came  to 
Dayton  Iowa,  living  there  until  his  enlist- 
ment for  service  in  the  Union  army  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war.  He  became  a  member 
of  Company  C,  Second  Iowa  Infantry,  un- 
der General  John  A.  Logan,  joining-  the 
army  at  Rome,  Georgia,  and  marching  with 
Sherman  from  Atlanta  to  Savannah.  He 
was  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  at  the  time 
of  the  surrender  of  Johnston  to  Sherman, 
and  then  accompanied  his  regiment  to 
Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  discharged  in 
May,  1865,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  at  Clinton,  Iowa. 

Upon  his  return  to  Webster  count)-  Mr. 
Gabrielson  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  near  Dayton  and  lived  there 
from  the  fall  of  1865  to  1888.  improving 
the  property  all  the  time.  He  also  bought 
eighty  acres  on  section  7,  Dayton  township, 
and  this  he  gave  to  his  son.  He  owned 
five  acres  of  very  valuable  timber  land,  but 
he  has  disposed  of  that,  and  now  resides 
in  a  very  comfortable  and  substantial  home 
in  Dayton. 

Few  foreign-born  citizens  have  taken  a 
deeper  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  their 
adopted  country  than  has  Mr.  Gabrielson, 
from  the  time  he  offered  his  life  in  her  de- 
fense until  the  present,  having  most  faith- 
fully served  in  almost  all  of  the  local  offices 
of  trust  and  responsibility  within  the  gift 
of  his   fellow   citizens.     He  has  been  road 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


667 


commssioner  for  several  years,  township 
trustee,  for  six  years  was  a  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  and  for  eight  years 
was  township  assessor,  performing  the  du- 
ties of  all  of  these  positions  with  an  eye  sin- 
gle to  the  benefit  of  the  community. 

Mr.  GabrieJson  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
casting  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
during  his  term  of  service,  while  in  Rome. 
Georgia.  He  is  one  of  the  valued  members 
of  the  Grand  Army  Post  and  from  1870 
to  [900  was  trustee  of  the  Swedish  Meth- 
odist church.  No  citizen  stands  higher  in 
public  esteem  in  Webster  county  than  John 
Gabrielson. 


D.   D.   DANIELS. 


Although  one  of  the  younger  farmers 
in  Washington  township,  Mr.  Daniels  has 
prospered  to  a  gratifying  extent,  and  his 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  8,  bears  many  evidences  of  his  skill 
and  good  management.  A  native  son  of  the 
county,  he  was  born  September  23,  1869. 
a  sun  of  David  M.  and  Sarah  (Clark) 
Daniels,  who  are  mentioned  at  length  in 
another  part  of  this  book.  While  still  very 
young  Mr.  Daniels  evinced  habits  of  indus- 
try and  thrift,  indications  fostered  by  the 
capable  training  of  his  father,  who  was  one 
mi  tlie  substantial  tanners  of  the  county. 
His  education  was  acquired  at  the  public 
schools,  which  he  attended  during  the  leisure 
of  the  winter  months,  the  summer  time  be- 
ing devoted  to  the  multiplicity  of  duties 
upon  the  home  farm. 

On  October  25,  1892.  he  married  Mary 
E.  Isham,  who  was  born  in  Washington 
township,  February  28.  [872,  a  daughter  of 
Eugene  and  Alpha  C.  (  Dryden  )  Isham. 
natives  of  Dane  county,  Wisconsin.     She  is 


descended  from  English  ancestors  who  set 
tied  in  New  York  and  constituted  what  is 
known  as  the  old  Knickerbocker  stuck-,  and 
on  the  paternal  side  she  claims  kinship 
through  her  grandmother  with  Colonel 
Clough,  who  followed  the  martial  fortunes 
of  Washington  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Her  parents  were  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  Wisconsin,  and  in  1872  removed  to 
Webster  county,  Iowa,  where  the  father 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Washington  township,  and  where  the 
mother  also  owned  a  similiar  amount  of 
land.  They  lived  here  until  the  spring  of 
1894,  when  they  disposed  of  their  Webster 
county  land,  and  bought  two  hundred  and 
fortv  acres  in  Cass  township.  Hamilton 
county,  upon  which  they  at  present  reside. 
The  father  is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church.  Nine  children 
were  born  into  this  family,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Daniels  is  the  oldest;  Anna  E..  the  wife  of 
Frank  E.  Creed,  lives  in  Washington  town- 
ship and  has  two  children:  Ada  C,  the  wife 
of  J.  C.  Carpenter,  lives  in  Wright  county. 
Iowa,  and  has  one  child;  Bessie  H.  lives 
with  her  parents:  Cassius  I.  died  July  31, 
1898,  at  the  age  of  thirteen:  Harry  D.  died 
March  31.  1887,  at  the  age  of  seven  months: 
Ray  D.  lives  with  his  parents:  and  Mason 
C.  and  Robert  E.  are  also  at  home.  To  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  Daniels  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren :  Eva  }'...  born  November  10.  r S94 : 
Eugene  W.,  January  21,  1897:  Marian, 
December  1  1.  [899;  rind  David  D.,  May  2j. 
1 901. 

For  a  vear  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Dan- 
iels fanned  on  the  homestead,  and  then  re- 
ed to  another  part  of  the  same  farm, 
where  he  lived  a  year.  He  then  came  to  his 
present  farm  in  Washington  township,  out 
.if  which  he  developed  a  fine  property,  fitted 
with  every  modern  improvement,  including 


668 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


commodious  house,  barns,  granaries,  good 
fences  and  the  latest  agricultural  imple- 
ments. He  also  owns  some  timber  land  in 
Webster  township. 


CARE  SCHRADER. 


The  ability  of  the  German  to  transfer 
his  allegiance  and  thrift  to  American  shores 
ami  to  become  an  integral  part  of  the  pros- 
perity of  his  adopted  location  is  illustrated 
in  the  career  of  Carl  Schrader.  one  of  the 
large  land-owners  of  Dayton  township,  and 
a  man  who  has  depended  solely  upon  his 
own  efforts  for  the  place  which  he  occupies 
to-day.  The  first  thirty  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  Germany,  where  he  was  born 
April  20.  1845.  and  where  he  was  reared  on 
a  farm  and  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
His  father  died  in  1858,  but  his  mother  lived 
tn  accompany  her  son  to  the  United  States, 
where  she  died  near  Watertown,  Wisconsin. 
in  1884.  Carl  was  the  second  oldest  child 
in  the  family,  and  the  other  children  were : 
Johanna,  who  died  near  Watertown  two 
months  before  the  mother;  William,  who  is 
married  and  lives  near  Charles  City,  Iowa; 
and  August,  who  came  to  America  in  1870 
but  died  shortly  after  landing. 

While  still  in  Germany  Mr.  Schrader 
married,  in  1868.  with  Eliza  Drager,  who 
died  the  following  year,  leaving  one  child 
who  is  now  living.  In  June,  1870.  Mr. 
Schrader  married  Soplhia  Drager,  whose 
parents  are  both  dead,  the  mother  having 
died  in  1880  while  living  with  her  daugh- 
ter and  son-in-law.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schrader  have  been  born  seven  children, 
namely :  Herman,  a  farmer  in  South  Da- 
kota,  who  married  Elza  Meyer;  Frank,  also 
a    farmer   of   South    Dakota,    who  married 


Emma  Williams;  William,  living  with  the 
rest  of- the  family  in  South  Dakota;  Anna; 
Julian;  Paul;  and  Elza.  The  last  four 
named  are  living  at  home. 

Shortly  after  his  second  marriage,  in 
1870.  Mr.  Schrader  embarked  with  his  wife 
and  mother  from  European  shores,  and  in 
due  time  sailed  into  Xew  York  harbor,  the 
journey  taking  a  month.  He  went  direct 
to  Wisconsin  and  lived  on  a  farm  for  about 
four  years,  working  for  another  man.  He 
arrived  in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  [874, 
and.  with  the  money  saved  from  his  toil 
bought  eighty  acres  of  the  land  upon  which 
he  now  lives.  Prosperity  has  rewarded  his 
efforts,  and  with  the  coming  of  many  suc- 
cessful harvests  his  fortunes  were  increased 
sufficiently  to  permit  and  even  necessitate 
the  purchase  of  additional  land,  so  that  he 
now  owns  a  quarter  section  of  fine  farm  land 
on  section  6,  of  Dayton  ti  wnship.  His 
property  is  well  stocked,  and  whether  in 
stock-raising  or  general  farming.  Mr. 
Schrader  endeavors  to  keep  abreast  of  the 
times  and  to  introduce  such  methods  and 
improvements  as  to  place  him  in  the  front 
ranks  of  progressive  tillers  of  the  soil  ami 
cattle  breeders.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, but  always  votes  for  the  best  man.  and 
has  never  desired  public  office.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


TOHX  CRAM. 


For  thirty-one  years  Mr.  Cram  has  been 
an  active  promoter  of  the  best  interests  of 
Burnside  township,  and  during-  all  this 
period  has  lived  continuously  upon  his  pres- 
ent farm  on  section  10.  In  his  youth  he 
was  reared  to  an  appreciation  of  a  life  of 
agriculture,  and  in  Onondaga  county.  Xew 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


669 


York,  where  he  was  born  July  9,  [836,  was 
early  taught  to  be  of  assistance  in  the  per- 
formance of  those  duties  incident  to  profit 
able  farming-.  His  father.  Jehiel  Cram, 
was  burn  about  183]  in  Burlington,  Ver- 
mont, and  was  of  English  lineage,  although 
his  father*  Ebenezer  Cram,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Green  Mountain  state.  The  lat- 
ter had  a  family  of  seven  suns.  Jacib,  Orin, 
Lorin.  Alhanan.  Jehiel.  Heman  and  George, 
all  born  in  Vermont.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  a  tanner  and  manufacturer  of 
leather  and  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  shoes  for  a  number  of  years.  He  mar- 
ried Susan  Chase,  who  was  likewise  born  in 
Vermont  and  whose  ancestors  came  to 
America  as  Pilgrims  on  the  Mayflower.  In 
i860  the  parents  became  residents  of  Illinois, 
removing  thence  to  Mahaska  comity.  Iowa, 
in  1868.  There  the  mother  died  about  1874, 
while  the  father  died  at  the  home  of  his  son 
in  Thayer.  Kansas,  in  1883.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  sons  and  1  me  daughter  :  Dan- 
iel, who  died  in  Onondaga  county,  Xew 
York;  David,  who  died  in  Carroll  county, 
Illinois,  and  left  three  children:  Henry,  who 
died  in  Thayer,  Kansas,  leaving  a  wife  and 
one  child :  Heman.  who  married  Frances 
Shook  and  resides  at  Thornburg,  Keokuk 
county,  Iowa;  and  Mary  P..  the  wife  of 
William  Smith,  of  Kansas.  Two  of  the 
sons,  David  and  Henry,  served  in  the  Civil 
war. 

John  Cram,  of  this  review,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  and  as  an  aid 
to  future  independence  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  which  he  followed  up  to  the  time 
of  his  marriage,  which  important  event  in 
his  life  occurred  December  27.  1859,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Harriett  \Y.  Cush- 
man.  She  was  horn  at  Buffalo  Grove.  Ogle 
comity,  Illinois,  January  14.  1839;  her  fa- 
ther   was    a    native  of   Georgia,   Vermont, 


while  her  mother  was  horn  April   18,    1X17. 
in   Delaware  county,   Xew   York.     In    [836 
the  former  removed  to  Buffalo  Grove,  Illi- 
nois, and  two  years  later,  with  a  colony  of 
seventy  people,  the  lady  whom  he  made  his 
wife   also  located  there.     The  ancestry   of 
the  Cushman  family  can  be  traced  back  in 
direct  line  through  eight  generations.     Rob- 
ert  Cushman,    the   first   of   whom   we  have 
authentic   record,   was  born   in   England   in 
1580,  and  with  the  Pilgrim  fathers  came  to 
America,     where    he    filled     the    office    of 
colonial     agent.       He     died     in     England, 
whither  he  had  gone  on  a  trip  in  the  interest 
of  the  settlers.     Thomas  Cushman.  the  rep- 
resentative   in    the    second    generation,    was 
born   in    England,    February    3,    1608,    and 
wedded  Mary  Allerton.    He  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  the  historic  craft,  the  Mayflower,  and 
died  Decemher    11.    1O91.      Elkanah   Cush- 
man, of  the  third  generation,  was  horn  June 
1,    1651,  married   Elizabeth  Cole,   and  died 
in  Plymouth,   Massachusetts.   September  4. 
1727.     John  Cushman,  of  the  fourth  gen- 
eration,   was    born    August    13.    1690,    and 
married  Johanna  Pratt.     Their  son,  Charles 
Cushman,   was  born   at   Plymouth.   Massa- 
chusetts, September  3.  1735.  wedded  Mary 
Hardey.  and  died  in  Rutland,   Vermont,  in 
1 791.    Frederick  Cushman.  of  the  sixth  gen- 
eration, was  horn  in  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
in    1758,    married    Alice   Coswell,    and   died 
October  22,    1852.     They   were   the  great- 
grandparents     of     Mrs.     Cram.       Solomon 
Cushman,  the  grandfather,  was  horn  in  Bur- 
lington,   Vermont,    in     1785.    and    married 
Phila    Strong.      Their    son.    Charles    Cush- 
man. the  father  of  Mrs.  Cram,  was  horn  in 
Vermont,   October   24.    1X11.    and    wedded 
Mary  B.   Waterbury,   who   was  horn  April 
[8,   1X17.  at  Andes.  Delaware  county.  Xew 
York.    She  was  descended  from  English  an 
cestry,  who  were  Pilgrims  and  also  came  to 


670 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


America  on  the  Mayflower.  The  family  is  a 
prominent  and  honored  one  of  New  Eng- 
land and  has  been  represented  in  the  two 
wars  with  England.  Eventually  representa- 
tives of  the  name  removed  to  New  York  and 
thence  to  Illinois  with  a  colony  of  seventy, 
settling  in  Ogle  county,  where  Mrs.  Cush- 
nian.  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Cram,  is  still  liv- 
ing at  an  advanced  age. 

In  her  family  were  four  children.  Ed- 
win S.  Cnshman.  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Cram, 
was  born  in  August,  1841,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Nampa,  Idaho,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  fruit  growing  and  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness. At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he  en- 
listed in  Polo,  as  a  member  of  Company  E, 
Ninety-second  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served 
fur  three  years.  John  W.  Cushman,  the 
second  brother  of  Mrs.  Cram,  was  born  at 
Buffalo  Grove,  Illinois,  August  14,  1844. 
and  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Ninety-second 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  when  three 
years  had  passed  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran. 
He  was  with  Sherman  on  the  celebrated, 
march  to  the  sea.  He  wedded  Mary  Lewis 
and  for  a  number  of  years  engaged  in  the 
jewelry  business  in  Polo,  Illinois,  where  he 
died  in  1888.  Phila  Cushman,  born  Oc- 
tober 1,  i860,  now  makes  her  home  with  her 
mother  in  Polo. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cram  has 
been  blessed  with  three  children:  Anna. 
born  September  _>_>,  1861,  is  the  wife  of  Ed- 
win Heal  and  with  their  two  children  they 
reside  on  section  10,  Burnside  township. 
Mary  F.,  born  December  9,  1866,  is  the  wife 
i  l  W.  T.  Marsh,  by  whom  she  has  two  chil- 
dren, and  their  home  is  on  section  3,  Burn- 
side  township;  and  Inez  M.,  who  was  born 
March  9,  1871,  is  the  wife  of  Colly  C. 
Bowers,  a  farmer  residing  on  section  33, 
Otho  township,  by  whom  she  has  four  chil- 
dren :     John,  Floyd,  Harriett  and  Iva. 


Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Cram  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  Ogle  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  remained  for  five  years,  and  in 
1866  .removed  to  Keokuk,  Iowa.  In  Jan- 
nary,  1870,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Web- 
ster county,  Iowa,  and  settled  on  his  present 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  -twenty  acres. 
The  land  was  then  but  partially  improved, 
but  soon  the  labors  of  Mr.  Cram  were  effect- 
ing a  change  in  the  appearance  of  the  place. 
The  fields  were  placed  under  cultivation  and 
the  green  tints  of  summer  gave  promise  of 
golden  harvests  in  the  autumn.  Barns  and 
other  necessary  buildings  were  erected  and 
Anna,  the  eldest  daughter,  planted  many  of 
the  fine  trees  which  adorn  the  place.  In  ad- 
dition to  general  farming  Mr.  Cram  has  en- 
gaged in  the  breeding  of  Ohio  imported 
Chester  white  hogs  and  he  also  raises  and 
ships  other  stock,  thereby  annually  increas- 
ing his  income. 

Mr.  Cram  has  always  taken  an  active 
and  intelligent  interest  in  local  politics  and 
for  twelve  years  has  been  an  efficient  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board.  Fraternally  he  is 
identified  with  Lehigh  Lodge,  No.  27,  I.  O. 
O.  F.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church  in  Lehigh  and  to  the  extent  of  his 
ability  contributes  toward  its  charities  and 
general  maintenance.  His  judgment  and  ad- 
vice are  of  great  value  in  connection  with 
all  important  township  enterprises  and  he  is 
accounted  one  of  the  leading  and  influential 
residents  of  the  community. 


GEORGE  C.  LEMON. 

George  C.  Lemon,  one  of  the  successful 
and  enterprising  farmers  of  Washington 
township,  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
May  5,   1843.  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


671 


Jane  (Carter)  Lemon,  the  latter  of  win  mi 
was  born  in  Ohio  and  died  Februan  28, 
1871,  while  the  former  still  lives  in  Ohio 
and  is  eighty-two  years  of  age.  Of  the  eight 
children  born  to  the  parents  two  sons  and 
one  daughter  survive  and  are  residents  of 
Zanesville,  and  of  these.  Frank  married 
Lucy  Arter;  Serena  is  the  wife  of  Will 
Pherson;  and  Elmer  married  Laura  Carter. 

While  assisting  with  the  work  on  his 
father's  farm  George  C.  Lemon  attended 
the  district  schools  as  opportunity  offered, 
and  afterward  worked  out  by  the  month 
until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  On  March 
25,  [866,  he  married  Martha  Ferguson,  who 
was  born  in  Livermore,  Pennsylvania,  No- 
vember 19,  1845,  a  daughter  of  J.  G.  and 
Maria  (  Watson)  Ferguson.  The  father 
was  a  shoemaker  and  farmer.  Of  his  eight 
children  but  four  are  living:  Watson,  a 
tanner  of  Missouri,  married  Lizzie  Waters, 
ami  after  her  death  married  Anna  Thomp- 
son; Samuel,  living  at  Homer,  Iowa,  mar- 
ried Mollie  Stotts ;  and  Cinda,  a  resident  of 
Zanesville,  is  the  wife  of  Will  Temple.  Of 
the  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lemon, 
five  died  in  infancy,  and  May  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  the  surviving  children  being 
George  A.,  Frank  and  Morton. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Lemon  set- 
tled in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  which 
continued  to  be  his  home  for  thirteen  years, 
ami  where  he  was  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing, gardening  and  coal  mining  with  the 
success  to  be  expected  from  one  of  his  en- 
ergy and  practical  common  sense.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  stay  in  Ohio  he  settled 
upon  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  Washington  township.  Webster  county. 
Iowa,  and  this  farm  has  profited  by  his  in- 
dustry and  good  management  and  is  one  of 
the  most  desirable  farms  in  the  township. 
\dded   to   a   comfortable  and   commodious 


farm  resilience  there  are  good  barns  and  out- 
houses, and  the  implements  include  all  of  the 
known  aids  to  expeditious  labor-,,  not  the 
least  valuable  of  which  is  an  up-to-date 
threshing  outfit.  Mr.  Lemon  is  known  for 
his  public  spiritedness,  for  his  business  sa- 
gacity and  his  unquestioned  integrity. 


DANIEL  A.   PETERSON. 

For  nearly  half  a  century  Daniel  A. 
Peterson  has  been  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural and  political  advancement  of  Day- 
ton township,  where  he  owns  one  hundred 
and  seventy  acres  of  finely  improved  land, 
redeemed  from  a  wild  state  by  years  of 
arduous  toil.  One  of  the  most  progressive 
of  the  Swedish-Americans  in  Webster 
county,  he  was  born  in  Sweden,  December 
22,  1840,  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Maria  Peter- 
son, who  emigrated  to  America  in  1849.  an^ 
located  in  Madrid,  Boone  count)-,  Iowa.  In 
1852  they  removed  to  Dayton  township, 
Webster  county,  where  both  eventually  died, 
the  father  December  19.  1885,  and  the 
mother  in  September,  1893.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters : 
John,  who  married  Charlotte  Hanson  and 
resides  in  Oregon;  Matilda,  the  wife  of  E. 
S.  Atkinson,  of  Stratford,  Iowa;  Lars  A., 
who  married  Augusta  Carlson  and  is  a 
farmer  living  on  section  34,  Dayton  town- 
ship.  this  county:  Augusta  W..  who  mar- 
ried Charles  Asp  and  died  in  Mississippi  in 
1880;  Emma,  who  died  at  sea  at  the  age  of 
six  years  while  the  family  were  coming  to 
America  :  Melker.  who  died  in  Dayton  town- 
ship at  the  age  of  four  years :  and  Jennie, 
wife  of  A.  A.  Olson,  of  Ogden,  Iowa. 

Before  coming  to  America  with  his  par- 
ent*   Mr.    Peterson    attended    the    country 


672 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


schools  of  Sweden  for  two  summers,  and 
afterward  studied  at  Madrid.  Iowa,  and 
later  still  in  a  little  schoolhouse  one-half 
mile  from  his  present  home.  He  remained 
on  the  parental  farm  until  his  marriage, 
January  20,  1861,  with  Sophia  Hanson,  who 
was  born  in  Sweden,  December  17,  1X4(1, 
and  came  to  America  with  her  father  in 
1853,  'ier  mother  having  died  in  the  old 
country.  They  settled  first  in  Hardin  town- 
ship, Webster  county,  and  then  in  Boone 
county,  where  the  father  died  in  i860.  He 
had  hut  one  son,  John  A.,  who  was  a  valiant 
soldier  during  the  Civil  war,  and  died  in  a 
hospital  in  Mound  City.  Illinois,  from  dis- 
ease  contracted  in  the  service.  Of  the  chil- 
dren born  to  .Mr.  and  Airs.  Peterson,  Manda, 
Bertha,  Willie  and  Linda  died  in  infancy, 
and  the  children  still  living  are:  Edward,  a 
cashier  in  the  State  Bank  at  Stratford ; 
Nellie,  the  wife  of  Elmer  Shostrom,  who 
lives  in  Dayton  and  has  three  children, 
Ethel,  Russel  and  a  babe  unnamed;  May, 
the  wife  of  August  Olson,  who  lives  in 
Bi  one  county  and  has  three  children.  Ver- 
ner,  Floyd  and  Gay;  Maude,  a  student,  who 
is  living  at  In  me  ;  and  Ruben,  also  attending 
school  and  living  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Air.  Peterson  lived 
with  his  father  for  two  or  three  years,  after 
which  he  purchased  the  land  upon  which  he 
now  lives.  He  is  the  oldest  living  settler  in 
the  township,  having  been  here  continuously 
since  1852.  When  he  first  arrived  here 
there  were  but  four  others  in  the  township, 
but  these  have  long  since  passed  away,  and 
he  alone  recalls  the  hardships  and  depriva- 
tions which  beset  those  who  ventured  to  till 
the  primitive  si  il. 

The  particular  fitness  of  .Mr.  Peterson  for 
official  office  has  been  recognized  by  his 
fellow  townsmen  on  many  occasions,  and  as 
a  loyal  Deiw  crat  lie  served  for  one  term  as 


county  recorder,  ami  is  at  present  township 
assessor.  Though  still  retaining  all  of  his 
land  he  rents  out  considerable  of  it,  but  lives 
nevertheless  in  the  old  homestead  which  has 
weathered  the  storms  of  succeeding  sum- 
mers and  winters.  In  the  estimation  of  all 
who  have  profited  by  his  industry  or  en- 
joyed his  friendship  he  is  held  in  high 
esteem,  and  is  one  of  the  most  venerable  and 
kindly  gentlemen  in  his  neighborhood. 


JOEL  ELLIS  DANIELS. 

A  native  of  the  county  which  has  since 
been  his  home,  and  toward  the  improve- 
ment of  which  he  has  so  earnestly  worked. 
Joel  Ellis  Daniels  was  born  January  28, 
1  <S 5 5 ,  a  son  of  David  M.  and  Sarah  W.  Dan- 
iels. He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  under  his  father's  able  instruction 
learned  to  lie  a  model  farmer  and  good  busi- 
ness man. 

On  February  22,  1876,  Mr.  Daniels  mar- 
ried Flizabeth  Blanchard,  who  was  born  in 
Des  Moines  county.  Iowa.  November  19, 
[856,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  and 
Susanna  (Cronk-)  Blanchard.  natives  of  In- 
diana. The  parents  were  married  in  De^ 
Moines  county  and  lived  on  a  farm  there 
for  about  fifteen  years,  and  came  to  Webster 
county  in  1864.  They  then  bought  land  in 
Dayton  township,  upon  which  they  lived  for 
three  years,  removing  then  to  Washington 
township,  where  they  lived  until  1899. 
Their  property  was  then  disposed  of  at  a 
profit  and  they  took  up  their  residence  in 
Webster  City,  where  they  are  living  in  com- 
parative retirement  at  the  present  time. 
They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Preston,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  :  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  W.  H. 
Widick  and  lives -near  Burnside;  Mrs.  Joel 
Ellis  Daniel-;  Louisa,  wdio  is  the  widow  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


673 


W.  A.  Powell  and  lives  in  Webster  City; 

Henry,  who  married  Cora  Baldridge  and 
lives  near  Lehigh;  Emma,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Carrie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years ;  Beecher,  who  married  Martha  Blair 
and  lives  at  Fort  Dodge;  and  Emmett,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Daniels  have  been  horn  three  children: 
Robert  P.,  born  February  23,  1877,  was 
married  in  1900  to  Mamie  Clawson  and  lives 
in  Washington  township;  Grace,  born  Oc- 
tober to,  [879,  married  Emery  Moore,  Feb- 
ruary if',  181)7,  and  has  one  child,  Leslie; 
and  David  M.  is  living  at  home. 

Following  his  marriage  Mr.  Daniels 
lived  where  the  town  of  Brushy  now  stands, 
but  at  that  time  the  railroad  was  not  built 
through.  He  has  farmed  continuously  ever 
since,  and  after  the  building  of  the  railroad 
also  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grain 
and  general  produce  for  a  couple  of  years, 
but  lost  heavily  in  the  venture.  However, 
he  has  the  faculty  of  rising  above  adverse 
circumstances,  and  no  loss  has  ever  de- 
stroyed his  innate  enthusiasm  or  belief  in  a 
brighter  future.  He  now  owns  over  eight}' 
acres  of  good  farm  land,  devoted  to  general 
farming  and  stock-raising,  and  besides  he 
feeds  and  ships  considerable  stock.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  con- 
tributes to  the  best  of  his  ability  towards  it- 
maintenance.  Fraternally  he  is  associated 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
Duncombe  Camp  No.  3370.  Alhough  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  an  office  holder  in 
the  past,  he  at  present  neither  desires  nor 
seeks  public  office,  preferring  to  devote  all 
of  his  time  to  the  management  of  his  farm 
and  the  care  of  his  interesting  family.  Mr. 
Daniels  has  many  friends  in  the  county  in 
which  he  has  always  lived  and  his  progress- 
iveness  and  integrity  are  known  far  and 
wide. 


AUGUST  JOHNSON. 

Sweden  has  sent  many  of  her  most  de- 
serving sons  to  profit  by  the  large  oppor- 
tunities of  America  and  to  lend  the  strength 
of  their  desirable  national  characteristic-  to 
the  development  of  the  less  worn  resources 
of  their  adopted  country.  One  whose  en- 
terprise and  thrift  has  resulted  in  his  owner- 
ship of  nine  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  is  August  John- 
son, who  was  born  in  Sweden,  October  7, 
1850,  a  son  of  parents  who  spent  their  en- 
tire lives  in  that  country,  the  death  of  the 
father  occurring  in  1857,  while  the  mother 
survived  him  until  1891.  In  the  family  be- 
sides August  Johnson  there  were  five  other 
children,  and  of  these  Gustav,  a  farmer  in 
Boone  county.  Iowa,  married  Lottie  Swan- 
son  and  has  five  children;  Charles,  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  died  in  Louisiana  some 
time  during  the  early  '70s;  Frank,  a  farmer 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Sweden,  married 
Tilda  Johnson ;  Lotta,  also  living  near  the 
old  Swedish  homestead,  married  Gust 
Gustofson;  and  Fred,  a  farm  laborer,  died 
in   Nebraska  in   1890. 

From  earliest  youth  August  j<  Jmsi  m 
had  ambitions  beyond  the  limits  of  his  na- 
tive land,  and  while  attending  the  public 
schools  and  performing  such  duties  as  fell 
to  his  lot  on  the  home  farm,  was  quietly 
laying  plans  to  better  his  prospects.  In 
1870,  when  about  twenty  years  of  age.  he 
set  -ail  from  Gottenberg.  Sweden,  and  after 
a  tempestuous  voyage  of  six  weeks  and  five 
days  landed  in  New  York  harbor.  From 
New  York  city  he  took  a  train  to  Galva, 
Illinois,  where  he  lived  for  five  years.  There 
Mr.  Johnson  worked  for  a  time  on  a  farm, 
and  later  engaged  in  the  dingy  work  in  the 
coal  mines  of  Stark  county,  Illinois.  In 
the  spring  of  1875  he  returned  to  the  land  of 


674 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  birth,  but  the  end  of  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  found  him  again  in  Illinois,  whence  he 
removed  to  Webster  count}',  Iowa,  which 
has  since  been  his  home. 

In  this  county  Mr.  Johnson  was  mar- 
ried in  1876  to  Augusta  Johnson,  whose 
father  died  in  Sweden,  but  whose  mother 
came  to  America  in  1876,  and  made  her 
home  with  her  son-in-law,  where  she  died 
in  January,  1900.  In  the  family  besides 
Mrs.  August  Johnson  were  the  following 
children:  Alexander,  who  married  Clara 
Isaacson  and  is  a  farmer  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Sweden;  Ida,  a  resident  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa;  Frank,  a  farmer  of  Buena 
Vista  county,  Iowa;  and  Charley,  a  resident 
of  Atlantic.  Iowa.  Of  the  children  horn  to 
August  Johnson  and  his  wife  but  one  sur- 
vives, Carl,  who  is  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth.  Arthur  died  in  his  third  year;  Henry 
died  when  nine  months  old;  and  Ernest 
died  when  eleven  months  old. 

The  first  land  investment  of  Mr.  John- 
sun  in  Webster  cnunty  was  eight}-  acres  in 
Dayton  township,  purchased  for  fourteen 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Owing  to  good 
management  and  extended  knowledge  of  the 
best  way  to  run  a  farm  his  interests  in- 
creased with  the  passing  of  every  year,  until 
he  found  use  for  the  nine  hundred  and  forty 
acres  now  in  his  possession.  Added  to  a 
general  farming  enterprise  he  devoted  par- 
ticular attention  to  the  buying,  selling  and 
snipping  of  cattle  and  hogs,  and  makes  a 
specialty  of  fine  Durhams,  of  which  he  is 
feeding  eighty  head  at  present.  Mr.  John- 
son ranks  among  the  most  intelligent  and 
scientific  farmers  in  the  county,  and  is  a 
welcome  acquisition  to  two  townships,  for 
two  hundred  acres  of  his  land  are  located 
in  Burnside  township.  With  his  wife  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Swedish  Mission  church  at 
1  'ill  it  Mound,  and  is  a  sincere  worker  for  the 


advancement  of  all  philanthropic  and  hu- 
manitarian projects  of  his  locality.  Al- 
though an  upholder  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples and  issues,  he  is  not  active  in  the  local 
undertakings  of  his  party,  but  prefers  rather 
to  devote  all  of  his  time  to  his  farm  and 
home. 


C.   A.    SWANSON. 


C.  A.  Swanson,  of  Dayton  township, 
was  horn  in  Sweden,  September  11,  1854, 
and  is  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Anna  Swan- 
si  in,  natives  of  that  country,  where  they  lived 
and  died.  They  were  very  worthy  people 
and  carefully  trained  their  four  children, 
who  were  as  follows :  Mary,  wife  of  John 
N.  Peterson,  a  farmer  of  Dayton  township; 
Alfred,  deceased,  who  married  Carrie  Han- 
son, now  a  resident  of  Pilot  Mound,  Iowa: 
C.  A.,  our  subject;  and  an  infant  who  died 
in  Sweden. 

As  his  parents  were  poor,  our  subject 
only  had  the  opportunity  to  attend  school 
a  few  days,  having  to  devote  all  of  his  time 
to  making  shoes.  Which  trade  he  learned 
when  only  a  child.  He  was  but  fourteen 
years  of  age  when  brought  to  America  by 
his  brother  and  sister.  The  little  party 
sailed  from  Gottenberg.  by  way  of  Liver- 
pool, and  finally  landed  in  New  York  city, 
whence  they  traveled  to  Illinois,  by  way  of 
Chicago,  and  settled  at  Altoona,  Knox 
county. 

After  locating  there  the  young  boy 
worked  for  two  years  upon  a  farm  by  the 
month  in  order  to  earn  sufficient  money  to 
pay  for  his  passage,  he  having  been  obliged 
to  borrow  it.  In  the  spring'  of  1869  he  lo- 
cated in  Webster  county.  Iowa,  and  worked 
as  a  farm  hand  at  fourteen  dollars  a  month 
for  about  twelve  years.     At  the  expiration 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


675 


of  that  time  he  had  saved  enough  mone)  to 
warrant  his  renting  land,  and  for  ten  years 
he  farmed  rented  land.  Jn  the  fall  of  [890 
Mr.  Swanson  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  teres  of  land  on  section  u»,  Dayton 
township,  which  is  now  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  Webster  county.  Recently  he  has 
erected  a  new  and  commodious  residence, 
which  is  fitted  with  modern  conveniences, 
and  it,  with  his  substantial  barn,  cattle  sheds 
and  other  outbuildings,  neat  fences,  good 
orchard  and  well-cultivated  fields,  demon- 
strate that  he  is  an  excellent  farmer  as  well 
as  a  good  manager.  Mr.  Swanson  devotes 
nmst  of  his  attention  to  raising  high-grade 
stuck  fur  the  market,  and  raises  sufficient 
grain  to  feed  his  herds. 

(  )n  May  14,  1884,  he  married,  at  Strat- 
ford,  Iowa,  Hulda  Charlotte  Munson,  who 
was  horn  near  that  place  June  23,  i860,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Charlotte  (Hagg) 
Munson,  both  natives  of  Sweden.  The 
father  came  to  America  in  1849,  and  the 
mother,  who  was  horn  in  1832,  came  in 
1850,  when  she  was  eighteen.  They  were 
married  in  Xew  Sweden,  Iowa,  where  they 
made  the  acquaintance  of  each  other.  Mr. 
.Munson  was  a  successful  farmer  and 
amassed  one  hundred  and  eight)-  acres  of 
land,  then  retired  in  1900,  and  is  now  re- 
siding with  his  wife  at  Stratford.  Mrs. 
Swanson  was  1  me  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  now  living:  Hulda 
C.  is  the  oldest.  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Johnson,  a  furniture  dealer  of  Strat- 
ford. Iowa,  and  they  have  four  children. 
Rosina,  horn  August  15,  18(19,  became  the 
wife  of  William  Wordblon,  who  died  March 
7,  1898,  and  his  widow  now  resides  with 
her  father  and  two  children,  Esther  and 
Cyrus.  Dora  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  Dahl, 
a  resident  of  Lost  Grove  township,  and  has 
four    children.      Ernest    II.    married    Grace 


Olson  and  lives  on  the  homestead  farm. 
The)-  have  one  child. 

To  our  subject  and  wife  were  horn  seven 
children,  namely:  Charles  Herbert,  born 
March  17,  1885;  Oscar  Theodore,  October 
18,  1886;  John  Wesley,  February  19,  1891 ; 
Lawrence  Edward,  June  17,  1893;  Lloyd 
Henry,  December  8,  1895;  Elmer  Vincent, 
November  4,  1897;  ami  Anna  Leona,  De- 
cember  16,    1900. 

In  politics  Mr.  Swanson  is  a  Republican, 
but  has  never  had  the  time  or  desire  to  hold 
office,  his  private  affairs  absorbing  his  at- 
tention. He  attends  the  Swedish  Methodist 
church  at  Harcourt,  Iowa,  of  which  he  is 
a  liberal  supporter.  Throughout  the  com- 
munity he  is  highly  esteemed,  and  the  suc- 
cess which  has  attended  his  efforts  is  well 
merited. 


MILES   H.    ALLEN. 

Miles  H.  Allen,  one  of  the  progressive 
farmers  of  Burnside  township,  traces  his 
ancestry  back  in  unbroken  succession  to  the 
time  of  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims.  For 
man)  years  his  forefathers  lived  in  Massa- 
chusetts but  eventually  members  of  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  different  parts  of  the  east 
and  middle  west.  Ohio  profiting"  to  a  consid- 
erable extent  by  the  industry  and  good  citi- 
zenship of  a  number  who  bore  the  name. 
The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  in 
Dayton,  Webster  count)-.  Iowa,  April  12, 
1866,  his  parents  being  Samuel  and  Eliza 
(Gyer)  Allen,  the  former  born  in  Ohio,  in 
March,  1829,  while  the  latter  was  born  in 
Indiana,  September  20,  1835.  It  was  in 
the  year  1855  that  they  removed  to  Iowa, 
settling  on  a  farm  in  Dayton  township, 
where  they  remained  until  the  father's  death, 
which    occurred   September   7.    1882.      His 


676 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


widow,  who  is  now  living  in  Burnside,  was 
married  in  March,  1892,  to  Daniel  Conklin, 
who  died  in  1896.  By  her  first  marriage  she 
became  the  mother  of  the  following  named: 
David  M.,  born  July  2cS,  1854,  married 
Julia  Goltry  and  is  a  farmer  of  West  Day- 
ton; Francis  M.,  born  January  30,  1857. 
wedded  Mary  Moore  and  is  a  farmer  of 
Dayton  township;  Yiretta,  born  June  11, 
1859,  's  tne  w',e  °f  Herbert  Lewis,  a  resi- 
dent of  Pocahontas  Center.  Iowa;  Mary 
Ellen,  born  May  29,  1862,  is  the  wife  of 
Fred  Marsh,  who  resides  on  section  9,  Burn- 
side  township;  Miles  H.,  of  this  review,  is 
the  next  of  the  family;  Eli  S.,  born  August 
4,  1869,  married  Sarah  Landreth  and  re- 
sides in  Yell  township;  Jennie  May.  born 
December  13,  1875,  is  living  with  her 
mother;  and  one  daughter  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Allen,  whose  name  forms  the  cap- 
tion of  this  review,  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  his  township,  and  remained 
at  home  with  his  parents  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  He  then  began  farming  on 
his  own  account  and  for  five  years  engaged 
in  the  cultivation  of  rented  land,  after  which 
be  purchased  the  farm  of  one  hundred  acres 
upon  which  he  now  resides.  He  has  placed 
his  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
has  made  many  improvements  thereon  and 
has  erected  a  comfortable  rural  home  to- 
gether with  good  barns  and  outbuildings 
for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  1887,  Mr. 
Allen  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie  Holt, 
who  was  born  in  Dayton,  Iowa,  January  2^. 
[866,  her  parents  being  Joseph  M.  and 
Martha  C.  1  Payne)  Holt,  who  were  natives 
of  Tennessee  but  became  residents  of  this 
state  in  1859.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen 
has  been  born  one  child,  Lester,  whose  birth 
occurred  November  24,  [888.  Mr.  Allen 
has  filled  several  important  offices  within  the 


gift  of  the  people  of  his  township,  and  has 
1  lone  much  to  promote  educational  interests 
in  his  locality  as  a  director  and  president  of 
the  school  board.  He  is  well  known  as  an 
enterprising  agriculturist  ami  progressive 
citizen  and  his  worth  is  widely  acknowledged 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity. 

It  will  be  interesting  in  this  connection 
to  append  something  of  the  history  of  Mrs. 
Allen's  parents,  who  were  well  known  peo- 
ple of  this  section  of  the  state.  Her  father. 
Joseph  M.  Holt,  was  born  in  Tennessee  and 
was  a  son  of  Barrot  and  Mary  O.  (Long) 
Holt.  The  former  was  born  in  Virginia,  in 
1778,  and  when  about  twenty-five  vears  of 
age  left  the  Old  Dominion  for  Tennessee, 
where  he  lived  for  many  years,  when  in  1850 
he  and  his  wife  accompanied  their  son  Jo- 
seph to  Missouri,  where  they  remained  for 
six  years,  coming  thence  to  Webster  county. 
Here  Barrot  Holt  died  December  2$,  1859. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  England  ami  in 
1740  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  Virginia, 
where  they  spent  their  remaining  days. 
Barrot  Holt  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Long, 
who  was  born  in  Winchester,  Virginia,  in 
1786,  and  died  in  Missouri  in  1853.  She 
accompanied  her  brother  to  Tennessee  and 
it  was  in  that  state  that  she  met  and  married 
Barrot  Holt.  Her  father  came  from  Hol- 
land to  America  in  1776.  At  that  time  the 
American  Revolution  was  in  progress.  The 
war  was  unpopular  in  England  and  King- 
George  III  was  reduced  to  the  "military 
necessity"  of  hiring  troops  from  other  na- 
tions and  the  men  who  were  sent  as  soldiers 
had  no  choice.  They  were  forced  to  go  to 
America  to  shoot  and  be  shot  at  because 
their  masters  at  home  were  paid  so  much 
apiece  for  each  soldier  furnished:  At  that 
time  every  able-bodied  man  in  Holland  had 
to  serve  for  at  least  one  year  in  the  regular 
armv.     It  was  thus  that  Mrs.  Holt's  father 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


677 


came  to  America,  hired  by  the  sovereign 
of  Holland  to  the  king  of  England,  but  not 
wishing  to  fight  against  the  colonies,  he  de- 
serted from  the  British  army  and  joined  the 
American  forces  under  Washington.  He 
was  then  sent  to  the  frontier,  where  he 
fought  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Then  he 
located  in  Virginia,  was  married  there  and 
made  his  home  there  until  his  death. 

Joseph  M.  Holt,  the  son  of  Barrot  and 
Mary  (Long)  Holt,  was  horn  in  Greene 
countw  Tennessee,  August  12,  1829,  and 
made  his  home  in  that  state  until  1850,  when 
he  removed  to  Missouri,  coming  thence  to 
Iowa  in  1856.  He  was  married  in  Tennes- 
see, September  27,  1849,  to  Miss  Louisa  J. 
Payne,  who  died  March  25,  1859,  leaving 
a  son.  Virgil  A.,  who  was  born  in  Missouri, 
January  25,  1855,  and  is  now  a  stock-buyer. 

In  1862  the  Indians  became  dissatisfied 
with  the  Indian  traders  and  the  non-payment 
of  the  money  clue  them.  Bands  of  warriors 
were  perpetrating  horrible  massacres  in 
Minnesota,  [owa  and  Dakota,  so  in  the  fall 
of  [862  Mr.  Holt  enlisted  in  a  company  at 
Fort  Dodge,  and  was  sent  to  Spirit  Lake 
to  protect  the  northern  part  of  Iowa.  A 
strong  Eort  was  built  and  the  troops  re- 
mained there  for  four  months,  when,  find- 
ing the  trouble  had  ceased,  they  were  sent 
home  in  January,  1863.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year  Mr.  Holt  enlisted  in  the  Union  army 
at  Des  Moines,  but  was  rejected  on  account 
of  imt  being  an  able-bodied  man. 

Returning  to  Webster  count}-,  Iowa,  Mr. 
Holt  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  C.  Payne. 
October  13,  1864.  and  from  that  time  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  May  18,  1 X9 5 .  he 
made  his  home  in  Webster  count}-.  The 
lad}'  was  a  daughter  of  Jehu  R.  and  Alvina 
(Milburn)  Payne.  The  Payne  family  was 
also  established  in  Virginia  at  an  early  day. 
Her  grandfather,  Henrv  Payne,  was  born  in 


the  Old  Dominion  and  when  a  young  man 
went  to  Tennessee  and  thence  to  Illinois, 
settling  near  Springfield.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Glossin,  whose  ancestors  came  from 
England  in  the  seventeenth  century.  She 
was  born  in  Virginia  and  died  at  their  home 
near  Springfield,  Illinois.  Mr.  Payne's 
grandfather  came  from  England  in  [682 
with  a  band  of  English  Quakers  under  Will- 
iam Penn  and  settled  near  Philadelphia. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  Henry  Payne 
removed  from  Illinois  to  Webster  City, 
Iowa,  where  he  remained  until  his  death. 
His  son,  Jehu  R.  Payne,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Holt,  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Tennessee,  December  12,  1808,  and  after 
arriving  at  years  of  maturity  married  Al- 
vina Milburn,  who  was  born  in  Greene 
county,  Tennessee,  April  4,  1809,  her  par- 
ents being  Jonathan  and  Nancy  A.  (  Em- 
merson  )  Milburn.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  May  17.  1776,  and  died  in 
Greene  county,  Tennessee,  in  18 16.  He 
served  throughout  the  war  of  1812  and  died 
in  Tennessee  about  two  years  after  his  re- 
tirement from  the  army.  He  was  of  Welsh 
descent.  His  wife,  Nancy  A.  Emmerson. 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  May  3.  ^JjS.  and 
was  descended  from  Scotch  ancestors  who 
came  to  America  during-  the  seventeenth 
century.  She  died  in  Greene  county,  Ten- 
nessee, in  1852.  Their  daughter  Alvina  be- 
came the  wife  of  Jehu  R.  Payne,  and  in 
1851  he  and  his  family  went  to  Illinois, 
where  thev  lived  one  year;  removing  then 
to  Marshall  county.  Iowa.  Three  years 
later,  in  1854,  the\-  became  residents  of 
Webster  count}'  and  Mr.  Payne  purchased 
land,  continuing  its  cultivation  until  his 
death.  He  died  there  June  10,  1884,  and 
his  wife  passed  away  September  6.  1866. 
Among  their  children  was  Martha  C.  Payne, 
who  was  born  January  17.  1S47.  and  became 


6;  8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  second  wife  of  Joseph  M.  Holt  and  the 
mother  of  Airs.  Allen.  Unto  Mr.  and  Airs. 
Holt  were  born  the  following-  children : 
Ah -in ma,  born  February  10,  1868,  was  mar- 
ried February  10,  1897,  to  Fred  Bedford,  of 
Hotchkiss,  Colorado,  and  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage she  taught  school  for  a  number  of 
years;  Frank,  born  January  14,  1870,  died 
April  18,  1S92;  Joseph,  born  January  31. 
1872, was  married.  January  26,  1895,  to 
Cora  Heifry,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  Oklahoma  until  his  death.  May 
24,  1901  ;  Ettie,  born  April  13,  1874.  is  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa;  Melissa,  born  April  15,  1876, 
died  in  March,  1880;  Barrot  W.,  born  April 
10,  1878,  died  in  1879;  Clyde,  born  May  16, 
1880,  is  at  home;  Vesta,  born  November  4, 
1882,  and  Ferd,  born  December  11,  1884, 
are  also  at  home. 


FRANK  DAYTON. 

The  earliest  associations  of  Air.  Dayton 
are  connected  with  Iowa,  where  he  was  born, 
in  Howard  county,  October  16,  1859.  His 
father,  Hiram  Dayton,  a  native  of  Alani- 
toba,  settled  in  Howard  county  in  an  early 
day  and  there  met  and  married  Frances 
Pooper,  who  was  born  in  New  York  state. 
After  a  short  time  in  Howard  county  they 
crossed  the  plains  to  California,  making  the 
long  journey  in  a  prairie  schooner  drawn  by 
oxen.  Subsequently  they  again  became 
residents  of  Howard  county,  but  during  the 
'50s  went  back  to  the  Pacific  coast,  where 
Hiram  Dayton  was  employed  in  running-  a 
sawmill.  Returning  to  Iowa  in  1871,  he 
established  his  family  in  Homer  and  se- 
cured employment  for  himself  in  operating 
a  sawmill  on  the  Boone  river  for  Smith  & 


Warner.  A  year  later  he  moved  his  family 
nearer  the  mill,  and  after  another  year  he 
leased  the  mill  property,  which  he  and  a 
partner  operated  for  some  time.  His  next 
location  was  near  Fort  Dodge,  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  present  site  of  the  Duncombe 
mill.  From  there  he  moved  to  Jake  Crouse's 
mill,  across  from  the  mouth  of  Boone  river. 
After  a  short  time  he  bought  a  threshing  ma- 
chine and  engine,  which  he  operated  for  two 
years.  Returning  to  the  business  with  which 
he  had  been  most  particularly  associated,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  D.  Porter  and 
engaged  in  sawing-  ties  on  the  Boone  river 
for  B.  C.  Dixon.  After  a  year  the  mill  was 
moved  to  the  AIcGuire  Bend,  and  soon  after- 
ward the  property  was  sold.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  had  charge  of  a  mill  owned 
by  Hamlin  &  Sketchley,  and  finally  bought 
the  plant,  which  he  moved  to  Brushy  creek, 
then  to  Crooked  creek  and  finally  to  Homer, 
where  he  operated  a  feed  and  saw  mill  com- 
bined. 

A  subsequent  business  enterprise  man- 
aged by  Hiram  Dayton  was  the  operating 
of  a  mill  at  Coalville,  Webster  count}-, 
where  he  leased  a  tract  of  timber  land  owned 
by  Thomas  and  Frank  Collins.  On  selling 
that  mill  he  settled  in  Dayton,  Iowa.  There 
he  turned  his  attention  to  a  different  line  of 
work,  embarking  in  the  drug  business,  with 
Dr.  C.  L.  Warner  as  a  partner.  Two  years 
later  he  moved  to  Webster  City.  Iowa,  and 
then  spent  six  months  in  travel  through  the 
west.  Returning  to  Iowa,  he  accompanied 
a  son  to  Alinneapolis  and  bought  a  sawmill, 
which  he  set  up  on  Holiday  creek,  and  op- 
erated the  same  in  that  location  from  Sep- 
tember to  February.  The  mill  was  then 
moved  to  Brushy  creek.  When  his  son 
Charles  bought  his  interest  in  the  plant  he 
went  to  Homer  and  opened  a  blacksmith's 
shop.     Since  then  he  has  continued  to  reside 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


679 


in  that  town.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  lias  been  elected  by  his  party  to  various 
local  offices.  In  fraternal  relations  he  is 
connected  with  the  lodge  and  encampment 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  also  with  the  Rehekahs. 

In  the  family  of  Hiram  Dayton  there 
were  eight  children.  The  eldest.  Jeannette, 
married  Philip  Miller,  by  whom  she  has  one 
child.  They  make  their  home  in  Webster 
City,  where  Mr.  Miller  is  engaged  in  the 
real-estate  business.  The  second  in  order  of 
birth  is  Prank,  the  subject  of  this  article. 
The  third  child,  Harry  M.,  married  Kate 
Dingman,  and  they  and  their  two  children 
reside  in  Webster  City.  Charles,  of  Web- 
ster township,  married  Mary  L.  Goodrich 
and  has  three  children  living.  Inez  married 
Frank  Sherman  and  lives  at  Fergus  Falls, 
Ottertail  county.  Minnesota.  The  above 
named  are  the  only  members  of  the  family 
who  attained  maturity,  three  children  hav- 
ing died  when  young. 

The  schools  which  Frank  Dayton  at- 
tended were  radically  different  from  those  of 
the  1  'pening  years  of  the  twentieth  century. 
Most  of  them  were  held  in  log  cabins,  with 
slab  seats,  puncheon  floors  and  old-fashioned 
fireplaces.  While  at  Fort  Dodge  he  studied 
in  a  subscription  school,  and  later  made  his 
home  with  the  parents  of  Dr.  Warner, 
meantime  attending  school.  After  he  was 
fifteen  his  studies  ceased  and  he  became  an 
assistant  to  his  father,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  twenty-one.  In  Web- 
ster township,  Webster  county.  Februar) 
20,  1881,  he  married  Mary  A.  Wilson,  who 
was  burn  November  23,  i860.  Her  father. 
Lawrence  K.  Wilson,  a  native  of  England, 
came  to  America  in  early  life  and  settled  in 
Iowa.  For  many  years  he  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  in  politics  he  always  sup- 
]"  rted  the  Democratic  party.  Throughout 
all  of  his  later  years  he  worshipped  with  the 


United  Brethren  denomination.  His  wife 
was  Susan  Southwell,  who  was  born  in 
England  and  came  to  America  at  fourteen 
years  of  age.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Wil- 
son, which  occurred  in  Hamilton  canity, 
Iowa,  November  28,  [886,  ln~  widow  was 
married  to  Edward  M.  Abb  tt.  <  If  her  first 
marriage  there  were  the  following  named 
children :  Aquilla,  who  married  Florence 
Goodrich  and  lives  in  Algona,  Iowa;  Mary 
A.,  who  married  Frank  Dayton:  Lawrence, 
who  married  Ruth  Crousier  and  makes  his 
home  at  Fairfield,  South  Dakota:  William, 
who  died  at  thirty-one  years  ,.f  age:  Perry, 
who  married  Anna  Stage  and  lives  at  Blue 
Earth  City,  Minnesota:  Alice,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Goodrich,  of  Webster  City:  John,  who  is 
unmarried  and  makes  his  home  with  his 
mother.  In  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dayton  there  are  three  children,  Hiram  L, 
Susie  and  Myrtle. 

After  his  marriage  Frank  Dayton  settled 
on  the  Daniels  farm  near  Homer,  Iowa, 
where  he  remained  about  one  year,  and 
then  was  a  partner  of  his  father  for  three 
years-.  A  subsequent  enterprise  was  farm- 
ing, purchasing  the  farm  which  he  now-  oc- 
cupies. The  land  was  then  covered  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  timber,  and  man}-  months 
of  constant  industry  were  necessary  in  order 
to  place  it  in  condition  for  cultivation.  As 
a  result  of  his  perseverance  the  tract  of 
nearly  five  hundred  acres  i*;  now  conceded 
to  be  1  me  of  the  best  farms  in  Webster  u  wn- 
ship.  It  lies  on  sections  10  and  11.  and  is 
improved  with  a  neat  residence  and  sub- 
stantial barns.  Stock-raising  i^  one  of  the 
specialties  of  the  owner,  who  raises  high- 
grade  cattle  and  hogs  for  the  market,  and  is 
also  interested  in  horses,  being  a  trustee  of 
the  Percheron  Horse  Company  of  Homer, 
Iowa.  All  of  th:  grain  raised  on  the  farm 
is  fed  to  the  stock,  which  Mr.  Davton  has 


68o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


found  tu  be  more  profitable  than  selling  it 
in  the  markets.  In  addition  to  the  manage- 
ment of  this  property,  lie  is  interested  in 
blacksmithing  and  alsu  in  the  sawmill  busi- 
ness on  Brushy  creek,  Webster  township. 
Like  his  father,  he  is  a  firm  believer  in  Dem- 
ocratic principles,  and  has  held  all  of  the 
township  offices.  Fraternally  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  lodge  and  encampment  of  Odd 
Fellows,  besides  belonging  to  the  Order  of 
Rebekahs. 


CLARENCE  S.  PRATT. 

In  a  very  early  day  in  the  history  of 
America  the  Pratt  family  crossed  the  ocean 
from  German}-  and  settled  in  New  York. 
Later  representatives  bore  an  honorable  part 
in  bringing  success  to  American  arms  dur- 
ing the  Revolution!  and  the  war  of  1812. 
William  Pratt,  father  of  Clarence  S.  Pratt, 
was  born  in  Chenango  count}-.  Xew  York) 
in  1812,  and  in  1839  married  Harriet  Nash, 
whi  1  was  born  in  a  village  known  as  Pratt's 
Hollow,  in  Madison  county,.  New  York.  For 
some  years  after  their  marriage  they  re- 
mained in  the  east,  but,  following  the  west- 
ward tide  of  emigration,  in  1851  they  sought 
a  home  beyond  the  vicinity  of  their  old 
home.  With  four  yoke  of  oxen  they  drove 
through  from  New  York  to  Illinois,  and  in 
their  primitive  prairie  schooner  landed  in 
Chicago,  a  village  of  a  few  houses  located 
in  the  midst  of  a  swamp.  Prospects  for 
the  future  of  the  town  were  so  gloomy  that 
land  was  offered  for  sale  at  three  dollars  an 
acre,  yet  found  no  buyers.  Settling  about 
twenty  miles  from  the  then  village,  they  con- 
tinued there  for  three  years,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Fayette  county,  Iowa,  locating 
near  West  LTnion.  in  1857,  on  land  which 
Mrs.    Pratt    secured   with   a    land   warrant 


which  her  father  had  received  in  recogni- 
tion for  his  services  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  The  family  made  their  home  in  that 
county  for  about  twenty  years.  In  1878 
the  parents  came  to  Webster  county,  where 
our  subject  had  located  the  year  previous, 
and  the}-  made  their  home  with  him  for  five 
years,  he  having  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Washington  township.  Subsequent- 
ly the  mother  bought  a  tract  of  land,  and 
the  old  people  were  cared  for  by  their  son 
Allen,  who  cultivated  and  improved  the  farm 
for  them.  In  politics  Mr.  Pratt  was  a  Re- 
publican. His  death  occurred  on  the  farm 
in  1891,  and  his  wife  passed  away  April 
17,  1898,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years, 
six  months  and  three  days.  They  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children.  The  eldest.  James 
Monroe,  died  in  earlv  childhood,  as  did  also 
Ellsworth  and  Jedidah,  while  Asa  O.  died 
at  twenty-five  years,  and  Dorlesca  when 
nineteen.  Melvin  was  a  young  man  when 
the  Civil  war  came  on.  and  he  at  once  en- 
listed' in  an  Iowa  regiment.  During  the 
engagement  at  Gettysburg  he  fought  for  two 
days  in  the  ranks,  when  he  was  taken  ill  and 
soon  afterward  died  in  a  hospital.  Elvin 
L..  a  twin  brother  of  Melvin,  was  also  a 
soldier  in  the  Union  army  and  was  wounded 
at  Pea  Ridge.  The  youngest  of  the  fam- 
ily. Allen  L..  married  Mary  Scott.  Septem- 
ber 29,  1901.  and  resides  on  a  farm  in  Wash- 
ington township. 

It  was  the  custom  of  Clarence  S.  Pratt 
in  early  childhood  to  arise  very  early  in  the 
morning,  do  all  the  chores  of  the  farm  (his 
older  brothers  being  in  the  arm}-  ),  and  then 
walk  two  miles  to  school,  returning  late  in 
the  afternoon  to  resume  his  work  on  the 
farm.  His  father  being  in  poor  health,  much 
of  the  work  of  managing  the  property  fell 
upon  him.  ^ 'hen  be  was  twenty-one  his 
father  gave  him  a  span  of  colts  and  a  light 


*^  C 1 

V 

-     -  % 

*^ 

^^^™«?Tr-"'  fc  - 

>- 

MR.  AND  MRS.  C.  S.  PRATT 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


683 


spring-wagon  and  he  started  for  Nebraska. 
When  he  reached  Webster  county  the  June 
rains  rendered  further  progress  undesirable, 
so  he  remained  and  operated  a  threshing 
machine  for  his  brother.  The  next  year  he 
rented  eighty  acres  from  D.  M.  Daniels,  but 
in  the  fall  purchased  a  farm  in  Washington 
township.  His  faith  in  the  future  is  indi- 
cated by  the  fact  that  he  had  to  borrow 
money  with  which  to  make  the  first  payment 
on  the  land.  Few  improvements  had  been 
made  on  the  property,  but  the  land  was  part- 
ly broken  and  a  walnut  plank  house  had  been 
built. 

The  industry  and  capable  management 
of  Mr.  Pratt  showed  quick  results.  The  in- 
debtedness was  paid  off  and  soon  he  was  on 
the  road  to  prosperity,  largely  through  the 
scientific  and  modern  manner  in  which  he 
conducted  his  place.  After  settling  on  that 
farm  he  engaged  in  threshing  every  season, 
and  owned  a  very  fine  threshing  machine 
and  engine,  a  corn  sheller  and  corn  shredder. 
He  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Elevator  O  im- 
pany  at  Duncombe.  which  buys  and  sells 
cattle,  hogs,  lumber  and  coal.  At  no  time 
in  his  life  has  he  been  an  office  seeker,  yet 
lie  is  firm  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican 
party.  Like  all  the  members  of  his  family, 
he  is  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  patriotism, 
inherited  not  only  from  his  paternal  amis 
tors,  but  also  from  the  Xash  family  (of 
English  stock),  his  great-grandfather  Xash 
having  taken  part  in  the  Revolution  and  the 
war  of  1S1  _>. 

In  Webster  City,  Iowa,  Tanuary  21, 
1882,  Mr.  Pratt  was  united  in  marriage  t « « 
Miss  Marion  Colburn,  who  was  born  in 
Montreal,  Canada,  May  29,  1850.  a  daugh- 
ter of  Major  E.  E.  Colburn,  a  sketch  of 
whom  follow  this.  She  had  excellent  edu- 
cational advantages,  attending  first  the 
Mound     Street     Seminary,     in     Cincinnati. 


Ohio,  while  later  she  was  a  student  in  a  pri- 
vate academy,  subsequently  continuing  her 
studies  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  and  then  com- 
pleting her  education  in  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity of  Cincinnati.  She  has  devoted  her- 
self to  school  teaching  and  has  acquired  an 
excellent  reputation  for  success  in  that  work. 
For  fifteen  years  she  was  connected  with  the 
public  schools  of  Webster  county;  for  three 
years  was  a  teacher  in  the  high  school  of 
Fort  Dodge,  and  at  one  time  was  principal 
of  the  schools  of  Lake  City.  In  February, 
1902,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pratt  sold  their  farm  to 
P.  T.  Flynn,  of  Duncombe.  and  the  last  of 
April  moved  to  Snohomish.  Washington. 
There  they  have  bought  a  handsome  resi- 
dence, and  after  a  life  of  toil  expect  to  take 
life  more  easily. 


MAJOR  E.  E.  COLBURX. 

Major  Ezekiel  Elliott  Colburn,  an  hon- 
ored veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  was  for  sev- 
eral years  prominently  identified  with  the  in- 
dustrial interests  of  Webster  county,  and 
during  that  time  became  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  this  community.  He 
was  born  in  Parisville.  Xew  York.  July  14, 
1814,  and  was  descended  from  English  no- 
bility. During  their  residence  in  this  coun- 
try the  Colburn  family  has  ever  been  a  very 
patriotic  and  loyal  one.  having  representa- 
tives in  every  war  in  which  America  has 
been  engaged.  The  Majors  parents  were 
Rev.  Thomas  Chandler  and  Sarah  (Phil- 
lips )  Colburn,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Chester.  Vermont,  April  15.  ijS,}.  and 
died  in  Montreal,  Canada,  January  T2.  1S48, 
while  the  latter  was  born  in  Surrey,  New 
Hampshire,  October  14,  1788.  and  died  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  July  9,   [876.     They  were 


684 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


married  at  Madrid,  New  York,  on  the  24th 
of  December,  1809.  Mrs.  Colburn's  father 
was  a  physician  practicing  in  the  town  of 
Surrey,  New  Hampshire,  and  her  husband's 
father  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman. 

The  Major  was  named  both  for  an  uncle 
and  for  Commodore  Elliott,  who  was  a  dis- 
tant relative  of  the  family.  When  only  four 
years  old  he  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  to  Montreal,  Canada,  and  be- 
ing reared  among  French  Canadians  he  was 
able  to  speak  the  French  language  as  fluent- 
ly as  the  English.  He  received  a  thorough- 
ly practical  business  education,  and  began 
his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  a  hardware 
store  of  Montreal. 

In  that  city,  September  30,  1837,  Major 
Colburn  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Helen 
Bostvvick,  who  was  a  native  of  that  place 
and  was  then  about  eighteen  years  of  age. 
She  was  educated  at  a  fashionable  boarding 
school  in  Schenectady.  New  York,  of  which 
state  her  father  was  a  native,  being  a  de- 
scendant of  the  Bostwick  family  that  came 
to  this  country  from  England  in  1630.  Unto 
the  Major  and  his  wife  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Helen,  who  is  a  music 
teacher  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Sarah  L.,  who 
resides  with  her  sister  Helen;  Frederick, 
also  a  resident  of  Cincinnati:  Elliott,  whose 
home  is  near  Puget  Sound  in  Washington; 
and  Marion,  wife  of  Clarence  S.  Pratt, 
whose  sketch  appears  above.  The  older  of 
the  two  sons  married  Elizabeth  Davis,  of 
Portsmouth,  Ohio,  and  has  an  only  daugh- 
ter. Mrs.  Alice  Moeller,  now  a  resident  of 
the  city  of  Mexico.  The  younger  son  mar- 
ried Ella  R.  Cramer,  and  they  have  three 
children :  Lloyd,  who  served  in  the  Span- 
ish   \nierican  war;  Dell  Rose;  and  Florence. 

During  the  residence  of  both  the  Bost- 
wick and  Colburn  families  in  Canada  they 
never  gave  up  their  allegiance  to  the  United 


States.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage  the 
Major  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  busi- 
ness in  Montreal,  and  later  was  part  owner 
of  an  extensive  wholesale  flouring  mill,  but 
the  firm  was  one  of  the  many  that  failed  dur- 
ing a  financial  depression  at  that  time,  and 
he  concluded  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  United 
States.  He  first  went  to  New  Orleans,  and 
accepted  a  position  as  bookkeeper  and  for- 
eign (French)  correspondent  in  a  large 
wholesale  sugar  house.  He  was  delighted 
with  that  beautiful  city,  but  fearing  the  cli- 
mate would  prove  too  great  a  change  from 
what  he  had  been  accustomed  to  in  Canada, 
he  retraced  his  steps  as  far  as  Cincinnati, 
where  his  brother  Charles  had  already  lo- 
cated. There  the  Major  embarked  in  the 
wholesale  dry  goods  business  as  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Watts  &  Colburn,  but  failure 
again  overtook  him  during  the  panic  of  1855. 

In  those  dark  days  the  "great  west" 
was  the  hope  and  beacon  of  young  and  un- 
successful business  men,  so  with  several 
others,  including  Messrs.  Booth  and  Kava- 
nagh,  Major  Colburn  journeyed  to  Fort 
Dodge,  Iowa,  which  at  that  time  was  scarce- 
ly more  than  a  frontier  military  post.  He 
pre-empted  a  half-section  of  land  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Des  Moines  river,  and  after 
four  years  of  disheartening  hardships  inci- 
dent to  a  frontier  settlement,  during  which 
time  the  railroad  looked  for  did  not  ma- 
terialize, he  returned  to  Cincinnati  in  [860 
to  engage  in  the  insurance  business  with 
William  Glassford.  While  at  Fort  Dodge 
he  commenced  the  development  of  the  first 
coal  mine  in  Webster  county,  opening  what 
was  known  as  the  Colburn  vein.  He  oper- 
ated the  mine  with  varying  success  until  his 
return  to  Cincinnati. 

When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  offered 
his  services  to  the  government,  enlisting  in 
the  summer  of  1861.  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


685 


as  regimental  quartermaster  with  the  rank 
of  lieutenant,  but  was  rapidly  promoted, 
within  six  months  being  made  brigade  quar- 
termaster under  General  Sill,  with  the  rank 
of  colonel,  and  then  as  division  quartermas- 
ter under  Generals  Buell,  Nelson  and  Rous- 
seau, with  the  rank'  of  major.  He  became 
a  personal  friend  of  both  General  Sill  and 
General  Nelson,  and  was  highly  compli- 
mented by  the  latter  in  the  reports  which 
were  sent  to  Washington,  but  as  the  army 
business  was  imperfectly  conducted  in  the 
whirl  and  rush  of  war  times  and  especially 
owing  to  the  sudden  and  unexpected  death 
of  General  Nelson,  Major  Colburn's  papers 
were  never  formally  made  out  and  signed. 
Consequently,  beyond  his  pay  as  an  officer, 
he  reaped  no  advantage  for  himself  or  fam- 
ily, although  he  had  a  splendid  army  record. 
He  was  much  beloved  by  the  soldiers.  All 
his  spare  time  was  spent  in  the  hospital 
tents  and  numberless  were  his  acts  of  kind- 
ness for  the  sick  and  wounded. 

Upon  leaving  the  army  Major  Colburn 
accepted  the  position  of  cashier  in  the  bank 
of  H.  O.  Gilbert,  and  while  there  was  very 
fortunate  in  some  speculations,  from  which 
he  made  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  but 
this  sum  was  quickly  dispersed  in  other  ven- 
tures in  the  oil  fields  of  Kentucky  and 
Athens  county,  Ohio.  With  the  remnant  of 
his  fortune  the  Major  returned  to  Fort 
Dodge  in  1866,  and  occupied  himself  in  lay- 
ing out  the  town  of  West  Fort  Dodge.  He 
next  undertook  the  development  of  coal 
mines  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Des  Moines 
river,  sinking  three  shafts  and  about  fifteen 
thousand  dollars  in  this  disastrous  work.  Al- 
though the  coal  was  of  a  fine  quality,  faulty 
construction  destroyed  the  shafts  and  water 
accumulated  in  the  mines,  and  thus  he  lost 
his  entire  fortune. 

In    1869,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years. 


Major  Colburn  started  for  New  York,  in- 
tending to  take  up  the  battle  of  life  there, 
but  during  the  year  spent  in  that  city  he 
was  unsuccessful  in  seeking  employment,  as 
was  also  the  case  the  following  year  in  St. 
Louis.  He  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
two  men  and  went  to  Dallas.  Texas,  for  the 
purpose  of  furnishing  beef  to  a  New  York 
firm,  but  one  of  his  friends  soon  afterward 
died,  and  the  other  partner,  a  wealthy  cap- 
italist, returned  to  Xew  York,  leaving  the 
Major  to  pursue  his  plans  alone.  He  trav- 
eled all  over  Texas  and  a  part  of  Mexico 
for  a  year  or  two,  and  at  length  settled  in 
Dallas,  where  he  engaged  in  several  differ- 
ent enterprises.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  three  men  under 
the  name  of  the  Dallas  Ice  Company.  They 
built  an  immense  ice  house  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  city  with  the  intention  of  furnish- 
ing ice  not  only  to  that  place,  but  also  to 
the  towns  along  the  coast,  but  just  as  it  was 
completed  and  densely  packed  with  ice  a 
flash  of  lightning  struck  it  and  burned  it 
to  the  ground.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
-Major  Colburn  was  manager  of  a  lumber 
mill  at  Gladewater,  twenty  miles  from  Dal- 
las. Here  were  employed  two-  hundred  men 
of  a  lawless  character,  and  the  Major  never 
appeared  among  them  without  being 
armed  to  the  teeth.  The  proprietor  of  the 
mill  got  in  debt  to  him  for  his  services  as 
manager  and  rewarded  him  simply  with  a 
profusion  of  thanks  and  praise  for  his  brav- 
ery in  controlling  such  desperate  characters. 
Gladewater  being  situated  in  a  marshy 
district.  Major  Colburn  contracted  malarial 
fever,  from  which  he  died  November  30, 
1875.  The  illness  was  kept  a  secret  from 
his  family  until  hope  was  passed.  He  had 
become  a  warm  friend  of  a  noble  yi  >ung 
man,  Captain  W.  G.  Currie,  formerly  of  the 
Xew  York  Volunteers,  who  with  great  in- 


686 


NIK    lilOGRAl'IMCAL   RECORD. 


\  enience  to  himself  and  sparing  no  pains 

or  trouble  to  make  the  sufferer  comfortable 
had  the  Major  in  charge  until  the  arrival  of 
the  I.iiut's  son,  Elliott,  at  Dallas.  When  he 
passed  away  Captain  Currie  mourned  him 
.1.1  i  m  would  a  Father,  and  too  much  can- 
imi  be  said  by  the  family  in  their  gratitude 
for  thai  gentleman's  tender  can-.  The  Earn 
ilv  had  no  last  look  at  their  beloved  dead. 
For  the  remains  were  buried  in  one  ol  the 
Dallas  cemeteries.  In  early  life  Major  Col- 
burn  was  a  very  handsome  man.  anil  he  pos- 
sesed  great  and  shining  talents,  especially 
fur  financiering  and  the  management  <>f 
wholesale  wink,  but  For  some  unaccountable 
reason,  whether  ill  luck  or  the  combination 
nf  unfortunate  circumstances,  his  life  was 
>>ne  long  series  of  reverses  and  brillianl  fail- 
ures, Mis  course  was  ever  honorable  and 
upright,  and  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  and 
high  regard  nf  all  with  whom  he  came  in 
contacl  either  in  husincss  or  social  life,  so 
that  his  death  was  widely  and  deeply 
mourned'.  The  following  were  among  the 
manj    tributes  paid  in  his  memor)    at  that 

lime. 

"The  announcement  nf  the  death  ol 
Maji  'i  I' .  E.  ( '■<  ilburn  w  ill  he  receh  ed  w  ith 
sad  feelings  by  his  nld  arm)  comrades  in 
tins  vicinity.  At  the  commencement  ol  the 
war  Mr.  Colburn,  then  a  merchant  nf  Cin- 
cinnati, was  appointed  quartermaster  ol  the 
Thirty-third  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, Colonel  J.  W.  Sill  commanding. 
Naturally  of  a  military  east  nf  mind,  and 
bringing    excellent    Imsiness    qualities    to    Ins 

official  position,  he  soon  won  the  entire  con- 
fidence uf  his  commander  and  fellow  officers, 
and  the  writer  nf  this  has  often  heard  the 
late  General  Sill  speak  nf  him  in  terms  ol 
the  highest  praise  and  as  an  invaluable  of- 
ficer. Once  in  the  field  his  peculiar  fitness 
fur  the  position  soon  attracted  attention  and 


in   a   very  short    lime  he   was   placed   on   the 

i. iii  of  Major  General  Nelson,  whose  entire 
confidence  he  always  enjoyed.    The  approval 

nf  such  officers  as  the  two  ahnyc  named 
speaks  in  no  light  terms  n\  his  peculiar  fit- 
ness and  ability  as  an  officer.     Alter  the  war 

he  again  engaged  in  commeroial  pursuits, 
and  has  now  passed  away.  The  many  genial 
and  kind  qualities  of  Major  Colburn  will  be 
long  remembered  by  his  nld  comrades." 
This  article  appeared  in  a  Ross  a  >unty,  Ohio, 
paper,  November  30,  1875,  and  was  signed 

"Adjutant,"  and  mi  the  same  date  there  ap- 
peared in  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer  the  fol- 
li  iwing : 

"Major  Colburn  was  for  many  years  a 

resident  nf  this  city.      Me  was  at  one  time  in 

the  wholesale  dry  goods  Imsiness  on  Pearl 
street,  and  had  many  friends  among  business 
men,  who  esteemed  him  highl)  for  his  ster- 
ling integrity  nf  character.  Me  served  with 
distinction  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
late  war  i>\    the    Rebellion.      Me  entered   the 

service  as  a  lieutenanl  in  the  Thirtj  third 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  hut  was  speedily 
promoted  to  the  rank  nf  major  for  meritori- 
ous services  and  assigned  in  duty  mi  the 
Staff  of  the  late  ( iencral  William  Xelsmi,  w  ho 
became  a  warm  friend  <>\  his.  Me  was  die 
soldiers'  friend:  was  always  trying  to  do 
something  in  make  the  private  soldiers  more 
comfortable,  especially  the  sick-  and  wound- 
ed, There  are  many  soldiers  nf  the  nld 
\111iY  ni  the  Cumberland  who  will  remem- 
ber his  visits  to  the  hospitals  and  his  efforts 
to  alleviate  their  sufferings  and  well  was  he 
repaid  for  all  his  kindness,  for  being  far 
away  from  home  when  taken  sick  and 
among  strangers  Major  Ransom,  formerly 
nf  Ransom's  Battery,  an  nld  army  comrade, 
and  \Y.  G.  Currie.  ^\  Dallas,  sought  him 
out  and  lavished  every  care  and  attention 
upon    him    until    his    son    reached    him.    and 


THE   UK  (GRAPHICAL   REC<  )RD. 


687 


even  then  they  never  left  his  bedside  until 
all  was  over.  He  was  especiallj  devoted  to 
Ins  family  and  grieved  sadly  at  being  de- 
prived  oi  their  loving  kindness  in  his  last 
illness.  He  became  united  with  the  Protest 
ant  Episcopal  church  several  years  since,  and 
was  much  comforted  in  his  last  hours  by 
his  faith  in  the  church  and  his  hopes  of  a 
future  existence  in  the  land  where  peace 
and  happiness  reign  evermore." 


\\  [LLIAM   II.  WIDICK. 

The  fertile  acres  of  Burnside  township 
have  proved  .1  pr<  Stable  soui  ce  oi  1  e\  enu< 
to  William  II.  Widick,  who  is  the  owner  of 
two  hundred  and  fort)  acres  of  well-im- 
proved land,  and  is  engaged  in  general  farm 
ing  and  stock  raising.  He  was  born  in 
Macon  county,  Illinois,  July  14,  1852,  and 
continued  to  make  thai  his  home  until  the 
age  of  twelve  years.  The  family  then  re 
moved  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  here 
he  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  twent) 
one  years  of  age.  He  then  started  out  on 
an  independent  \  enture  in  Illinois,  and  after 
working  for  nine  months  returned  to  towa 
and  worked  on  his  lather's  farm  until  twen 
i  ]  1 1  ■..  i     .  ,11  -,  old. 

On  November  11.  [877,  Mr.  Widick 
married  Mary  A.  Blanchard,  who  was  bom 
in  Burlington,  Eowa,  December  28,  1853, 
her  parents  also  being  of  American  birth, 
and  at  present  residents  of  Webster  City, 
w  here  the  lather  is  li\  ing  a  retired  life.  'The 
famih  own  a  farm  northeast  of  Lehigh. 
Mrs.  Widick  is  one  of  a  family  of  nun  1  hil 
dren,  the  others  being:  Preston,  who  died 
.11  the  age  of  twent)  seven;  I  .i/zie,  who  mar- 
ried Joel  I'*..  DanieN  and  lives  on  a  farm  111 
Washington  township;  Louisa  J.,  widow  of 


\\  llliam  I  '<  well,  w  ho  died  in  W  eb  itei   ' 
in    [896;   Henry,  who  married  <  1  11  a    Bald- 
ridge    and    lives    mi    a    farm    iuai     Lehigh; 
Caroline,    who  died   al    the   ag<    oi 
years;  Beecher,  who  married   Martha  Blair 
and  lives  at  Fi  at  I  >odge ;  Emma,  whi  1  died 
in  infancy  ;  and  Emmet,  w ho  died  at  il, 
n\  five  years.    Two  children  have  been  born 
ti '    Mr.   and    Mrs.    Widick :     Benjamin    B 
born  December  28,  [879;  and  Louisa,  born 
September  23,  1888. 

After   leaving    his     father's    farm    Mr. 
\\  idick   lived  1  m   rented   land  southeast  of 
Dayton    for    four    years,   and    in    (882    n 
moved  to  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives, 
and  which  was  then  one  hundred  and  sixty 

acres  in  extent.      To  this  he  has  added  until 

he  1  'W  ns  the  two  hundred  and   fort;    acn 
before  mentii  med.     I  lc  has  mam    inh 
aside    from    those    which    pertain    to    his 
immediate  surroundings,  and  is  a  stockhold- 
er in  the  Lehigh  Savings  Bank,  and  has  an 
interesl   in  the  creamery  at    Burnside.     He 
is  a  Republican  in  political  inclination,  and 
is    fraternally  associated   with   the   Modern 
\\  1 h idmeii  ■  >f  America.     He  is  one  oi   the 
progressive    farmers  of  his   township,   and 
his  counsel  and  practical  assi  tance  are  evei 
at   the  disposal  of  worth)    township  entei 
prises. 


'ETER    LINN. 


Sweden  has  furnished  to  V\  ebster  COUllty 

many  of  her  most  prominenl  and  highly 
1  e  pei  ted  1  itizens,  and  t>  1  this  class  beli  mgi  d 
Peter  Linn,  whose  last  days  were  spent  in 

I  >;i\  ton,    w  liel  e   Ills    w  idow    Still    resides.       I  le 

was  born  in  Lindkopings  Lan,  Sw edi  11 
|une  21,  1823,  and  in  that  country  his  par 
mi      pent  their  entire  li\  es.     In  the  famil) 

were   six    children,     three     sons     and     threi 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


daughters.  All  of  the  former  came  to 
America,  these  being  Peter,  our  subject; 
John,  who  is  now  a  widower  and  a  resident 
of  Stratford,  Iowa;  and  Gust,  deceased. 
His  widow  makes  her  home  in  Dayton. 

In  the  land  of  hu  birth  Mr.  Linn  grew 
to  manhood,  and  was  married  in  1846  to 
Miss  Sophia  Olson,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  country,  March  24,  1822,  a  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Mary  Olson,  who  were  fann- 
ing people  and  life-long  residents  of  Sweden. 
She  has  two'  brothers,  John  Peter,  who  lived 
in  .Dayton  township;  and  Frederick,  who 
was  married  and  lived  in  Sweden  until  his 
death. 

It  was  in  1851  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linn 
bade  good-bye  to  friends  and  native  land  and 
sailed  for  the  new  world,  where  they  landed 
after  a  stormy  voyage  of  eleven  weeks.  One 
of  their  three  children  had  previously  died 
in  Sweden  and  another  in  New  York  soon 
after  reaching  this  country.  They  did  not 
tarry  long  in  the  eastern  metropolis  but  came 
at  once  to  Iowa,  and  took  up  a  government 
claim  in  Pilot  Mound  township,  Boone 
county,  on  which  Mr.  Linn  was  successfully 
engaged  in  farming  for  thirty-three  years. 
He  was  then  able  to  retire  from  active  la- 
bor and  spend  his  last  days  in  ease  and  com- 
fort, having  in  1884  purchased  a  splendid 
brick  residence  in  Dayton,  now  occupied  by 
his  widow.  There  he  died  December  22, 
1892,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  a  consistent  and  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  served  as  president  of  the  board 
of   trustees. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linn  were  born  the 
following  children :  Olaf  Peter,  born  in 
1S47,  died  in  infancy  in  Sweden;  John  Ed- 
ward, born  March  1,  1849,  died  in  New 
York.  August  1,  1851 ;  Olaf  Leonard,  born 
December  2,   1850,  died  in  Iowa  in   1852; 


Oscar  Peter,  born  January  7,  1853,  died 
March  9,  1872,  in  Iowa;  Matilda,  born  Oc- 
tober 30,  1854,  married  William  Carson, 
now  a  resident  of  Texas,  and  she  died  April 
20,  1879,  while  their  only  child  died  in  in- 
fancy; John  Frederick,  born  September  7, 
1856,  died  April  9,  1880;  Julia,  born  De- 
cember 28,  1861,  died  April  10,  1879;  and 
Maria  Sophia,  born  August  17,  1864,  died 
August  4,  1886.  Of  this  family  only  the 
mother  is  now  living.  She  is  an  earnest 
member  of  the  Swedish  Methodist  Episo  1- 
pal  church  and  is  a  most  estimable  lady  of 
many  sterling  qualities,  who  has  a  large 
circle  of  friends  in  this  communitv. 


GEORGE  F.  YUNGCLAS. 

One  of  the  most  prosperous  and  prom- 
ising of  the  younger  generation  of  farmers 
of  Webster  county  is  George  F.  Yung- 
clas,  who  was  born  in  Hamilton  county, 
Iowa,  November  14,  1875,  a  son  of  John 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Kober)  Yung'clas, 
natives,  respectively,  of  Cassel  and  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Yungclas  came  to 
America  about  1850,  and  were  married  in 
Connecticut,  where  they  afterward  lived 
for  a  short  time.  With  the  hope  of  ma- 
terially brightening  their  prospects  they 
then  removed  to  Tama  county,  Iowa, 
where  the  father  bought  eighty  acres  of 
land  upon  which  he  farmed  until  the  spring 
of  1869.  Before  removing  to  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa,  he  purchased  a  half  section 
of  land  in  1868,  and  upon  this  property  they 
eventually  settled,  and  in  time  acquired  over 
six  hundred  acres  of  land.  They  were 
among  the  most  successful  farmers  of  the 
county,  and  amassed  a  fortune  by  reason  of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


their  industry  and  toil.  At  present  the  par- 
ents are  living  at  llighview.  Hamilton 
county,  where  they  have  a  pleasant  home 
and  are  comparatively  retired  from  active 
life.  The  father  is  a  Republican  in  polities, 
and  i-  a  dev>  ted  member  and  supporter  of 
the  G  ngregaitional  church.  The  following 
children  have  been  born  into  the  family: 
Henry,  a  farmer  of  Hamilton  county,  who 
married  first,  Emma  Stahl.  and  after  her 
death.  Anna  Argubright;  Martha,  who  is 
the  wife  of  William  Burns,  of  Webster 
county;  Emma,  who  first  married  Louis 
Staid,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Stahl, 
■  •\  Geneseo,  Illinois;  Katie,  who  is  living 
with  her  parents;  and  George  F.,  our  sub- 
ject. 

At  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 

h 1   Mr.   Yungclas  studied  diligently  until 

lus  seventeenth  year,  after  which  he  de- 
voted  his  entire  time  to  assisting  with  his  fa- 
ther's extensive  farming  enterprises.  On 
August  22.  1900,  at  Webster  City,  Iowa, 
he  married  Winnie  Stahl,  who  was  born 
in  Geneseo,  Illinois,  December  4,  1882,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  (Doyle) 
Stahl.  also  natives  of  Geneseo.  The  par- 
ents were  married  in  their  native  town,  and 
in  1883  removed  t<  1  Iowa,  and  located  upon 
a  farm  purchased  by  the  father  in  Hamilton 
county.  Here  the  mother  died  in  1890, 
and  the  father  afterwards  married  Anna 
Billington,  and  lives  in  Webster  City.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  polities,  and  is  the  owner 
cf  much  property,  among  other  possessions 
being  a  farm  of  half  a  section  in  South 
Dakota.  Airs.  Yungclas  is  a  child  of  the 
first  union,  and  of  the  second  union  there 
1-  one  child.  Gladys,  who  is  living  with  her 
parents. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Yungclas  moved 
to  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives,  and 
which  is  admirably  equipped  for  the  most 


scientific  tanning.  There  is  a  modern  and 
particularly  well  built  and  well  furnished 
residence,  commodious  barns,  granaries, 
and  all  manner  of  up-to-date  agricultural 
implements.  In  all  Mr.  Yungclas  manages 
tour  hundred  and  ninety  acres  in  Hamilton 
eount\,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Webster  county.  The  house  is  located 
on  section  36,  Fremont  township,  Ham- 
ilton county.  Although  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  vitally  interested  in  the  un- 
dertakings of  his  party,  he  has  steadfastly 
refused  to  hold  officiaj  positions,  preferring 
to  devote  all  his  time  to  the  management  of 
his  large  interests.  Fie  is  one  of  the  influ- 
ential farmers  of  Hamilton  and  Webster 
counties,  and  his  friends  and  associates 
prophesy  a  future  of  extended  usefulness 
and  accomplishment. 


A.  G.  ANDERSON. 


Among  the  very  successful,  highly  re- 
spected and  well-known  farmers  of  Web- 
ster county,  Iowa,  is  A.  G.  Anderson,  who 
owns  some  of  the  most  valuable  property  in 
Dayton  township.  He  was  born  in  a  coun- 
try which  is  bound  to  the  United  States  by 
many  friendly  ties,  so  many  of  the  best  citi- 
zens in  every  part  of  this  great  land  having 
originated  in  far-off  Sweden,  where  his 
birth  occurred  June  2,  1838.  He  is  one  of 
a  family  of  eight  children,  whose  parents 
were  Andrew  and  Carrie  Anderson,  life- 
long residents  of  their  native  land.  Three 
brothers  of  our  subject  also  came  to  Amer- 
ica, these  being:  John,  deceased,  who  mar- 
ried Lotta  Anderson,  now-  a  resident  of 
Omaha,  Nebraska;  Samuel,  who  married 
Marie  Nelson  and  lives  in  Perry.  Okla- 
homa;  ami    Charles,    who    married    Carrie 


690 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Johnson,  now  deceased,  and  resides  in  Pat- 
ins,  m.  New  York. 

Air.  Anderson  of  this  sketch  was  edu- 
cated in  his  native  country,  leaving  school 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  was  con- 
firmed in  the  Lutheran  church,  at  the  age 
of  sixteen,  showing  that  his  parents  were 
careful  and  pious  people.  He  was  taught 
also  to  be  honest  and  industrious  and  was 
employed  both  at  farm  work  and  on  rail- 
road building.  He  also  worked  in  a  tan- 
nery for  a  time.  According  to  the  law  of 
the  land,  he  served  in  the  Swedish  army, 
and  he  was  twenty-six  years  old  when  he 
decided  to  emigrate  to  America.  In  [865 
he  sailed  from  Gottenberg  to  Hamburg  and 
thence  to  Xew  York.  He  was  first  em- 
ployed at  Princeton,  Illinois,  for  two  years. 
On  leaving  that  state  Mr.  Anderson  went 
to  Minnesota,  hut  a  year  later  we  rind  him 
in  Chicago,  going  thence  to  the  lumber  re- 
gions of  Michigan,  where  he  worked  in  a 
sawmill  through  one  winter,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Chicago.  In  1868  he  came  to 
Boone.  Iowa,  where  he  worked  as  a  stone 
mason. 

It  was  while  there  that  he  was  united 
in  marriage,  December  31,  1870,  to  Han- 
nah Peterson,  also  a  native  <<i  Sweden. 
She  was  born  June  3,  1850,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Sarah  ( Danielson) 
Peterson,  both  of.  whom  were  natives  of 
Sweden,  where  the  father  died.  In  [882 
the  mother  came  to  America  and  resides 
with  her  son,  Henry  Peterson,  in  Lost 
Grove  township,  Webster  county,  Iowa. 
Mr-.  Anderson  is  the  sixth  in  a  family  of 
seven  children,  the  others  being:  Henry, 
who  first  married  Tilda  Sandholm,  and  sec- 
mid  Christina  Lindquist,  and  lives  in  Lost 
Grove  township;  Sophia,  the  wife  of  John 
Johnson,  of  Sweden:  Emma,  who  was  the 
wife    of    Seaman    Anderson,    and    lived    in 


Chicago,  where  she  died  in  1871  ;  Alfred, 
who  married  Annie  Peterson  and  resides 
in  Sweden ;  Augusta,  who  married  John 
Peterson  anil  lives  in  Kingsboro,  Califor- 
nia; and  Victor,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Anderson  went 
to  Chicago,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
for  four  years,  and  then  came  to  Webster 
count}-,  Iowa,  locating  in  Dayton  town- 
ship, in  1874.  Here  he  bought  <me  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  on 
section  21,  paying  three  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  acre,  and  this  he  improved  by 
building  a  residence  and  barns.  In  t88t 
Ik  sold  it  for  a  handsome  sum.  Then 
he  bought  another  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  28,  Dayton  township,  and 
here  he  has  one  of  the  most  comfortable 
homes  and  well-equipped  farms  in  the 
township.  A  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  34  was  sold  by  him 
in  the  spring  of  1901.  Mr.  Anderson  suc- 
cessfully raises  great  numbers  of  high-grade 
stock  for  market,  feeding  many  head.  He 
has  never  saved  himself  in  his  farming  op- 
erations, always  taking  a  personal  interest 
in  everything,  and  this  is  one  secret  of  his 
success. 

I'm  Mr.  Anderson  and  his  most  es- 
timable  wife  a  family  of  twelve  children 
has  been  born,  namely:  August  W..  burn 
in  Webster  county,  January  24,  1872,  mar- 
ried Maggie  Nilson  in  February,  1894,  and 
they  have  two  children — Floyd  and  Beasle. 
They  live  in  Perry.  Oklahoma.  Carrie  M.. 
born  in  Chicago,  October  <),  1873.  in  [894 
married  Peter  Johnson,  a  farmer  of  Day- 
ton township,  and  they  have  two  sons — 
Emory  and  Lloyd.  Oscar  R..  horn  in  Web- 
ster county.  March  24.  1876,  was  married 
in  [897  to  Minnie  Peterson  and  resides  on 
a    farm    in    Dayton   township.      They    have 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


691 


one  son — Russell.  Sarah  M.,  born  June 
13,  1878,  in  Webster  county;  Julia  X.,  Au- 
gust 28,  [880;  Charles  Edwin,  February 
20,  [883;  I  In  man  E.,  February  5,  [885; 
Minnie  L..  January  4,  1887.  Nina  Au- 
gusta, June  J5,  [889;  Mable  R.,  September 
5,  1891;  and  Clarence  A.,  August  16, 
1893,  are  all  at  home.  One  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Air.  Anderson  lias  comfortably  reared  a 
large  and  intelligent  family,  who  promise 
t>  1  take  their  places  among  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  this  great  state.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  always  refused 
to  In ild  office.  Kind  and  charitable  and  in- 
terested in  all  religious  movements,  he  has 
libera]  ideas  and  does  not  hind  himself  to 
any  particular  church,  believing  that  true 
religion   consists   in   doing  one's   full   duty. 


ANDREW"  A.  VINSAND. 

Andrew  A.  Vinsand,  whose  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixteen  acres  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated mi  section  3.  Badger  township,  near  the 
village  of  Badger,  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Webster  county,  his  birth  having  occurred 
October  i_\  1870,  on  the  old  homestead 
where  he  now  reside-.  His  father,  Andrew 
K.  Vinsand,  was  born  in  Norway,  Decem- 
ber  31.  1 82 1,  and  there  grew  tO1  manhood 
and  married,  it  being  the  home  of  the  fam- 
ily until  after  the  birth  of  seven  of  the  chil- 
dren. In  1868  they  emigrated  to  America, 
and  after  spending  one  year  in  Dane  county, 
Wisconsin,  took  up  their  residence  in  Web- 
ster county,  Iowa,  where  the  father  secured 
a  tract  of  government  land  In  the  spring 
of  1870  he  located  thereon,  it  being  the  place 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  youngest 


sun.  Andrew  A.  'I'm  the  work  of  develop- 
ment and  improvement  he  at  once  turned  his 
attention,  and  was  successfully  engaged  in 
11-  operation  until  called  to  his  final  n 
the  1  1  tli  of  September,  1 8< j 7 .  His  wife 
passed  awa\  some  years  previously.  The) 
had  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  who  are  still  living. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Andrew 
A.  \  insand  pursued  his  studies  in  the  home 
school  and  aided  in  the  work  O'f  the  farm. 
After  reaching  man's  estate  he  rented  the 
place  fur  several  years,  and  when  his  father 
died  he  purchased  the  interest  of  the  Other 
heirs  and  succeeded  to  the  old  homestead 
where  his  entire  life  has  been  passed,  lie 
has  since  enlarged  and  remodeled  the  house, 
making  a  very  comfortable  home;  has  built 
a  granary,  put  up  a  windpump  and  made 
many  other  improvements  which  add 
greatly  t«)  the  value  and  attractive  appear- 
ance of  the  place.  He  is  now  accounted  one 
of  the  successful  farmers  and  stock-raisers 
of  Badger  township. 

In  Trempealeau  count},  Wisconsin,  in 
March.  1891,  was1  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Vinsand  and  Miss  Betsy  Kolve,  who 
was  horn,  reared  and  educated  in  that  state. 
and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Elmer,  Clara.  Laura  and  Elsie. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vinsand  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  he  has  been  a  stanch 
Republican  since  casting  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  Benjamin  Harrison,  hut  has 
never  cared  for  the  honors  or  emoluments 
of  public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  un- 
divided attention  to  his  business  interests. 
For  the  past  seven  years  he  has  owned  and 
operated  a  corn  sheller  in  connection  with 
his  other  work,  and  in  this  way  has  added 
not  a  little  to  his  income.  He  is  a  wide- 
awake, energetic  business  man.  and  is  also 
public-spirited  and  progressive. 


692 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


M.  H.  ANDREWS. 

Among  the  practical  and  progressive 
farmers  of  Burnside  township  is  numbered 
M.  H.  Andrews,  whose  home  is  on  sec- 
tion 24,  where  he  owns  a  most  desirable 
place  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He 
was  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  near  Rich- 
wood,  July  12,  1850,  a  soil:  of  Hiram  and 
Catherine  (Schisher)  Andrews,  both  of 
whom  were  of  German  lineage  and  natives 
of  the  Buckeye  state.  There  they  were  mar- 
ried and  continued  to  live  until  1853.  the 
father  being  engaged  in  shoemaking  and 
the  grocery  business.  On  leaving  Ohio 
they  came  to  Iowa  and  he  purchased  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Mahaska 
county,  but  after  residing  thereon  for  two 
years  they  removed  to  Indianapolis,  that 
county,  where  they  made  their  home  for  five 
or  six  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  they 
disposed  of  the  farm.  The  following  four 
years  were  spent  in  Springfield,  Keokuk 
county,  Iowa,  and  then  the  father  purchased 
another  farm  near  that  place,  whereon  the 
family  lived  until  i860,  when  the  place  was 
sold  and  they  came  to  Webster  county,  lo- 
cating in  Webster  township,  near  Lehigh. 
There  the  father  died  in  August,  [889,  and 
the  mother  in  February,   1901. 

In  order  of  birth  the  children  of  their 
family  were  as  follows:  Mary,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  John  W.  Dugger,  of  Sum- 
ner township,  this  county;  Adeline  is  the 
wife  of  Allen  Dugger,  of  Webster  county; 

Upheus  married  Sarah  L.  Carter  and  lives 
in  Nebraska;  John,  deceased,  married  Het- 
tie    I.    Beightol,    who    is   now    the    wife   of 

James    McKibben,    of  Storm  Lake,  Iowa; 

M.  H.  is  the  next  of  the  family;  and  Anna 

E.  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Aken,  of  Webster 

City,  Iowa" 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  M.  H. 


Andrews  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
various  removals  and  remained  at  home  un- 
til twenty-four  years  of  age,  acquiring  his 
education  in  the  district  schools.  He  was 
married  on  the  19th  of  March,  1874,  to 
Miss  Lillie  Dale,  who  was  born  in  Clear- 
field count}',  Pennsylvania,  January  9, 
1854.  Her  parents,  Thomas  and  Sarah 
Aurelia  (Hoyt)  Dale,  were  also  natives  of 
that  state,  the  former  born  in  Clearfield 
county,  where  their  marriage  was  cele- 
brated. From  Pennsylvania  they  removed 
to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  in  1855,  but 
three  years  later  returned  to  the  Keystone 
state.  The  following  year,  however,  we 
find  them  in  Rock  count}-,  Wisconsin, 
where  they  made  their  home  until  1863, 
and  then  removed  to  Hamilton  county, 
Iowa.  In  1866  they  came  to  Webster  coun- 
ty, locating  near  Lehigh,  where  they  re- 
sided for  many  years.  The  mother  died  1  >e- 
cember  8,  1892,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine 
years,  and  the  father  subsequently  married 
Eliza  Jane  Hoyt  and  returned  to  Rock  conn 
ty,  Wisconsin,  where  he  is  now  living  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two.  Mrs.  Andrews  is 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of 
five  children,  the  others  being :  George 
M.,  who  married  Iowa  Payne  and  both  are 
now  deceased;  Albert,  who  was  scalded  by 
falling  into  a  vat  while  making  sorghum 
molasses  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and 
died  fourteen  days  later;  Sarah,  wife  of  E. 
A.  Taylor,  of  Storm  Lake,  Iowa;  and  Em- 
ma, wife  of  George  Post,  of  Lehigh.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Andrews  became  the  parents  of 
four  children,  namely:  Thomas  H..  born 
December  24,  1874;  Clifford,  who  was 
horn  May  27,  1878,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  weeks;  Walter  C.  born  June  16,  1879; 
and  Cecil,  who  was  born  August  16,  1886, 
and  died  April  9,  1889. 

Since    his   marriage  Mr.   Andrews  has 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


693 


made  his  home  in  this  county,  and  has  given 
his  lime  and  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. At  one  time  he  owned  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land,  but  has  since  dis- 
posed of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  be- 
ing still  the  owner  of  a  tine  farm  of  m 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  24, 
Burnside  township,  besides  fifty  acres  in 
Webster  township,  to  which  he  has  fallen 
heir.  Upon  his  home  place  he  has  built  a 
good  residence,  and  made  many  other  im- 
provements which  add  greatly  to  the  value 
and  attractive  appearance  of  the  farm.  Mr. 
Andrews  is  a  thorough  and  systematic  ag- 
riculturist, and  i>  an  upright,  honorable 
man,  who  commands  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all  who  know  him. 


STEPHEN  B.  OLNEY,  M.  D. 

The  present  generation,  enjoying  the 
comforts  and  conveniences  of  the  twentieth 
century,  cannot  realize  and  scarcely  imagine 
the  trials  and  hardships  which  were  endured 
by  the  pioneers  who  made  their  way  west- 
ward, braving  the  dangers  of  frontier  life. 
Great  courage,  fortitude  and  determination 
were  necessary  ti  >  meet  these,  and  to  the  hon- 
ored  pioneers  a  debt  of  gratitude  is  due 
which  can  never  lie  repaid.  To  Dr.  Olney 
particularly  came  the  difficulties  incident  to 
living  upon  the  borders  of  civilization,  for 
his  professional  duties  called  for  long  drives 
in  all  kinds  ••(  weather.  He  had  to  face  the 
winters  storms  and  to  endure  the  heat  of 
summer,  but  never  did  he  hesitate  to  respond 
to  a  call  of  duty.  For  many  years  he  min- 
istered to  the  sick  and  suffering,  using  his 
professional  knowledge  for  the  aid  of  his 
fellow  men,  and  for  some  years  enjoyed  a 
well-earned  rest  amid  friends  who  had  for 
him  the  highest  esteem  and  regard. 


Dr.  Olney  was  born  October  13,  1821, 
in  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  and  traced 
his  ancestry  back  through  many  generations 
to  ;m  earl_\'  period  in  American  hist  ry, 
when  the  Olney  famil)  was  6  unded  in  the 
new  world.  Thomas  Olney  and  his  son  and 
namesake  were  partners  of  Roger  Williams 
in  the  proprietorship  of  the  settlement  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  our  subject  is  of  the 
eighth  generation  from  Thomas  Olney,  Sr. 
The  Olney  settlement  in  New  York  i^  also 
on  historic  grounds,  for  the  homestead  upon 
which  the  Doctor  was  born  was  a  part  of 
the  Saratoga  battlefield,  where  the  British 
under  Burgoyne  were  overwhelmed  by  the 
American  forces  under  General  Gates. 
Stephen  Olney,  the  grandfather  of  the  Doc- 
tor, was  born  on  the  Rhode  Island  planta- 
tion and  thence  removed  to  the  Empire 
state.  Benjamin  Olney,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  also  a  native  of  Saratoga  coun- 
ty. He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Berry,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  and  represented  one  of  the  early  Dutch 
families — the  Beekman — of  that  state.  She 
died  in  1823,  when  the  Doctor  was  only 
two  years  of  age,  he  being  the  only  child  of 
that  marriage,  but  the  father  afterward  mar- 
ried again  and  by  the  second  union  had  sev- 
eral children.  In  1833  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Wood  county,  Ohio,  and  settled 
in  the  midst  of  a  forest,  where  Dr.  Olney 
for  the  first  time  had  practical  knowdedge 
of  the  experience^  of  frontier  life.  There 
he  was  reared  to  manhood,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  vears  he  became  a  student  in  Miami 
College,  then  the  principal  educational  in- 
stitution in  that  part  of  the  state.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  took  up  the  study 
of  medicine  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Bur- 
ritt,  who  resided  in  what  is  now  Grand  Rap- 
ids. Ohio,  and  later  he  was  graduated  in  the 
regular  school  of  medicine  in  the  Cleveland 


694 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Medical  College,  with  the  class  of  1847. 
In  [865,  lmwever,  he  abandoned  that  system 
of  treating  diseases  and  adopted  the  sys- 
tem of  homeopathy.  He  became  a  very  suc- 
cessful practitioner  of  the  latter  school,  his 
broad  knowledge  and  his  sympathy  making 
him  most  capable  in  his  effort  to  minister 
to  tlu-  needs  of  suffering  humanity. 

For  four  or  five  years  alter  his  gradu- 
ation Dr.  Olney  practiced  in  Damascus, 
Henry  county,  and  in  Waterville,  Lucas 
county,  Ohio.  The  year  1X55  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  the  Des  Moines  valley,  becoming 
a  resident  of  Fort  Dodge  on  the  1st  of  April. 
During  the  succeeding  thirty  years  he  trav- 
eled many  miles  up  and  down  the  valley  and 
over  the  bluffs  on  either  side,  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  On  account  of  his  edu- 
cational qualifications  he  was  made  the  first 
superintendent  of  schools  in  Webster  county, 
hut  the  demands  made  upon  him  for  his 
professional  services  would  not  long  permit 
him  to  remain  in  that  capacity.  He  also 
served  in  other  public  positions,  and  in  every 
office  which  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  he  dis- 
charged his  duties  with  marked  fidelity. 

In  September,  [862,  Dr.  Olney  was  sur- 
geon of  the  Thirty-second  [owa  Infantry, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  until  January, 
1865.  lie  was  compelled  to  resign  on  ac- 
count of  his  health,  hut  through  almost  three 
years  he  carried  aid  to  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers,  many  of  whom  praise  his  memory 
and  hold  him  in  the  highest  esteem.  For 
main-  years  after  leaving  the  army  he  kept 
the  horse  which  he  rode  while  at  the  front 
,"d  which  he  purchased  in  Dubuque  in 
[862,  retaining  him  in  his  possession  until 
the  animal  died  in  1883,  when  twenty-six 
years  "Id. 

In  1841)  was  celebrated  the  marriage  oi 
Dr.  Olney  and  Miss  Stella  Badger,  of  Wood 
countv,   Ohio,   and   to  them   were  born   five 


children,  namely:  Floyd  B.,  a  practicing 
physician;  Edith  A.;  Charles  C;  Edward 
B. ;  and  Mary  Elizabeth. 

In  1890  the  Doctor  removed  to  Ham- 
monton,  New  Jersey,  and  on  March  31, 
1891,  died  from  an  attack  of  chronic  peri- 
tonitis, due  to  disease  contracted  while  in 
the  service  during  the  Civil  war. 

In  his  political  views  in  earl)-  life  the 
I  li  ctor  was  a  Whig,  and  on  the  dissolution 
of  that  party  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the 
new  Republican  party,  which  he  ever  after- 
ward strongly  endorsed,  believing  firmly  in 
its  principles  and  policy.  Socially  he  was 
connected  with  the  Masonic  Tiler,  belong- 
ing to  lodge,  chapter  and  commandery,  and 
he  exemplified  in  his  life  its_  beneficial  and 
fraternal  principles.  Judged  by  wdiat  Dr. 
Olney  did  for  his  fellow  men,  he  certainly 
occupied  a  prominent  position  in  public  es- 
teem. He  was  an  able  physician  of  Web- 
ster countv  and  probably  no  man  within  its 
boundaries  was  more  widely  known  or  held 
in  higher  regard  or  more  justly  merited  the 
universal  respect  and  confidence  of  those 
among1  whom  he  lived  so  long. 


FLOYD  B.  OLXEY,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Floyd  IS.  Olney  is  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  capable  physicians  of  Fori 
Dodge  and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  its 
most  honored  pioneer  families.  He  was 
horn  in  Waterville.  Ohio,  November  jo. 
1851,  and  in  1S55  came  to  Fort  Dodge  with 
his  parents,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  above. 
The  first  school  which  he  ever  attended  was 
taught  by  a  Mr.  Gunn.  He  pursued  his  edu- 
cation here  and  after  some  years  he  read 
medicine  with  his  father,  determining  to 
make  its  practice  his  life  work.  He  was  for 
a  time  a  student  in  a  seminary  in  Ohio.     He 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


695 


then  entered  the  office  of  the  old  Northwest 
Weekly,  the  predecessor  of  the  Messenger, 
and  learned  the  printer's  trade,  which  lie  foi- 
l-wed for  six  years.  In  [875,  however,  he 
entered  seriously  upon  the  work  of  prepar- 
ing for  the  medical  profession  as  a  -indent 
of  Hahnemann  College  of  Chicago,  where 
he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1881. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  begun  medical  prac- 
tice with  his  father  in  1879,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  an  active  representative  of  the 
profession,  enjoying  a  large  and  loyal 
patronage.  His  skill,  his  comprehensive 
knowledge  of  the  science  of  medicine  and  his 
accuracy  in  applying  his  learning  have  all 
contributed  to  his  success,  which  has  for  a 
number  of  years  ranked  him  among  the  lead- 
ing physicians  in  Webster  county. 

On  the  5th  of  April.  1877.  the  Doctor 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mi--  llattie  E. 
Greig.  a  native  of  New  York,  and  at  that 
time  a  resident  of  Fort  Dodge.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  four  children,  but  Kate 
died  in  1899  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years. 
The  living  are  Anne,  Elizabeth  and  Doris. 

The  Doctor  is  identified  with  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men  and  with  several 
other  associations.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  served  as  pension  examiner 
under  Presidents  Harrison  and  McKinley. 
He  keeps  in  touch  with  the  advanced 
thought  in  his  profession  and  his  reading 
and  research  are  continually  broadening  his 
knowledge  and  making  his  efforts  of  greater 
value  to  his  fellow  men. 


A.  A.  PRALL.  M.  D. 

Among  those  who  devote  their  time  and 
energies  to  the  practice  of  medicine  and  have 
gained  a  leading  place  in  the  ranks  of  the 
profession  is  Dr.  A.  A.   Prall.  of  Dayton, 


lie  i-  a  native  of  Iowa,  horn  near  Kei 
qua,  Van  Buren  county,  in  July.  [860,  and  is 
a  son  1  1    rhomas  and  Rachel   I  R  ii 
Trail,  the  former  horn  in  P(  l,  No- 

vember 11,  1800,  the  latter  in  Ohio. 
maternal  grandmother,  Mrs.  Sarah  Richard- 
son, was  a  most  intelligent  woman,  \vl 
early  life  learned  from  the  Indians  the  use 
of  roots,  herbs,  harks,  etc.,  as  cure-  for  dis- 
1  1  \  at  i'  'ti-  kinds,  .1-  she  subsequently 
practiced  medicine  among  her  neighb  rs, 
who  relied  more  upon  her  judgment  than 
upon  that  of  the  regular  physicians.  In 
March,  i860,  the  parent-  of  our  subject 
came  to  Iowa  and  took  up  their  residence  in 
Johnson  county.  After  the  Civil  war  broke 
out  the  father  enlisted  in  September.  1862, 
at  Iowa  City,  in  Company  G.  Twenty-sec- 
ond Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Dr.  Prall  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  six 
sons,  the  others  being  as  follows:  Nathan 
C.  married  a  Miss  Miller  and  makes  his 
home  in  Warren  county.  Iowa;  Ellsworth, 
a  resident  of  Mason  City,  Iowa,  has  been 
twice  married :  Charles  is  married  and  re- 
sides in  Warren  county:  George  Franklin 
married  a  Miss  Randalman  and  lives  in  Des 
Moines:  and  James  is  married  and  make-  his 
home  in  Warren  county. 

The  Doctor  was  educated  for  his  pro- 
fession at  a  medical  college,  Chicago,  where 
he  also  took  a  post-graduate  course.  For 
a  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  staff  of  St. 
Luke's  Hospital  at  Niles,  Michigan,  where 
he  added  to  his  theoretical  knowledge  by 
practical  experience  in  the  treatment  of  dis- 
eases. He  then  came  to  Dayton,  Iowa,  and 
has  since  successfully  engaged  in  practice  at 
this  place. 

Dr.  Prall  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Delia  E.  Bufkin.  a  daughter  of  L.  H. 
and  Sarah  1  Kenworthy)  Bufkin.  The 
Doctor  is   a   member  of  the  National   and 


696 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Iowa  State  Eclectic  Medical  Associations, 
and1  is  examining  surgeon  for  a  great  many 
insurance  companies  and  fraternal  organiza- 
tions, including  the  Independent  Order  of 
I  iild  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
American  Yeomen,  to  which  he  belongs.  For 
two  years  he  served  as  county  physician  of 
Boone  county,  Iowa,  and  for  the  past  three 
years  has  been  county  physician  for  three 
townships  in  Webster  county.  He  is  a  pro- 
gressive member  of  his  profession,  and  his 
skill  and  ability  are  attested  by  the  liberal 
patronage  he  enjoys. 


ANDREW  JOHXSOX. 

With  the  agricultural  interests  of  Yell 
township  Andrew  Johnson  has  been  closely 
identified  for  many  years,  and  now  owns 
and  operates  a  well-improved  farm  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  32. 
He  was  born  in  Sweden,  November  29, 
1857,  and  was  fourteen  years  old  when 
brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents,  J.  A. 
and  Christine  Johnson,  who  were  also  na- 
tives of  Sweden  and  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1871.  After  spending  ten  years  as 
a  laborer  in  Elgin,  Illinois,  the  father  came 
tn  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  1885,  and  now 
makes  his  home  with  our  subject  on  a  farm 
near  Dayton.  He  has  two  other  sons: 
John,  who  married  Christina  Swanson  and 
lives  in  Elgin,  Illinois;  and  Frank,  who  mar- 
ried Emma  Peterson  and  resides  in  Emmet 
count).  Iowa. 

Mr.  Johnson,  of  this  review,  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Illinois,  and  came  to  Iowa 
in  1885.  Believing  Webster  county  to  be 
a  favorable  location,  he  settled  in  Veil  town- 
ship, where  he  now  has  a  tine  farm  under  a 


high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  he  car- 
ries on  stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of 
Hereford  cattle. 

In  1879  our  subject  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ida  Johnson,  a  native  of 
Sweden  and  a  daughter  of  J.  J.  and  Helena 
Johnson.  She  has  six  brothers  and  sisters, 
namely :  Conrad,  who  first  married  Jennie 
Gustafson,  now  deceased,  and  second  Mrs. 
Hanna  Nelson,  and  is  now  conducting  a 
meat  market  in  Dayton;  Charles  O.,  who 
first  married  Emma  Peterson,  now  de- 
ceased, and  second  Edith  Peterson,  and  lives 
in  Elgin,  Illinois;  Peter,  who  is  single  and 
lives  in  this  county ;  Axel,  who  married 
Lina  Anderson  and  follows  farming  in 
Webster  county,  Iowa;  and  Jennie  and 
Hilda,  twins,  the  former  of  whom  lives  with 
our  subject,  and  the  latter  with  her  father 
in  Dayton,  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
three  children :  Warren,  Tollie  and  Al- 
thead,  all  at  home  with  their  parents.  The 
family  hold  membership  in  the  Swedish 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of  Dayton,  and 
are  people  of  prominence  in  the  community 
where  they  reside. 


JOHN  L.  HEDLUND. 

There  was  probably  no  more  energetic 
or  enterprising  business  man  in  Dayton, 
Iowa,  than  John  L.  Hedlund,  now  deceased. 
He  was  born  in  Jemptland,  Sweden,  on  the 
17th  of  March,  1837.  His  parents  were 
poor  and  his  early  advantages  were  few.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  \ears  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Web- 
ster county,  Iowa. 

Subsequently  Mr.  Hedlund  went  to 
Bishop  Hill,  Henry  count}-,   Illinois,   where 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


697 


he  remained  until  the  death  of  his  step- 
father, when  he  returned  to  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  to  care  for  the  family,  he  being  the 
oldest  of  the  seven  children.  His  mother 
was  a  cripple  and  one  sister  was  a  helpless 
invalid.  He  became  the  head  of  the  family 
at  the  death  of  his  step-father,  and  although 
the  charge  was  a  heavy  one,  the  task  was 
cheerfully  undertaken,  and  loyally  did  he 
care  for  those  depending  upon  him  when 
most  young  men  would'  have  been  looking 
ahead  to  their  own  interests. 

On  the  8th  of  July.  1867,  Mr.  Hedlund 
married  Miss  Christina  Schill,  of  Boone 
county,  Iowa,  who  was  born  in  Sweden,  Oc- 
tober 1,  1846,  and  was  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  she  came  to  the  United  States  with  her 
parents  and  three  brothers,  the  latter  being 
Charles,  who  married  Elizabeth  Cannon 
and  lives  in  Dayton ;  Frank,  who  married 
Caroline  Johnson  and  resides  in  Harcourt ; 
and  Gus,  who  married  Ida  Hall  and  makes 
his  home  in  Fort  Dodge. 

Of  the  eleven  children,  born  to  Mr.  and 
Airs.  Hedlund  six  are  living,  namely: 
Franklin,  who  wedded  Mary  Harper,  of 
Fort  Dodge,  and  with  his  family,  consisting 
of  wife  and  three  children,  resides  in  Day- 
ton; Melvin,  who  married  Selma  Olson  and 
lives  on  a  farm  east  of  Dayton;  Charles,  at 
home  with  his  widowed  mother;  Maude, 
who  was  married  May  29,  1901,  to  Ben 
Lundquist,  of  Dayton;  and  Myrtle  and  Lo- 
rena,  both  at  home. 

Mr.  Hedlund  carried  on  farming  with 
marked  success  until  August.  1892,  when  he 
removed  to  Dayton,  and  there  made  his 
home  until  called  to  his  final  rest  on  the  16th 
of  April,  1894.  He  was  engaged  in  buying 
and  shipping  stuck  in  partnership  with 
Charles  Lundblad,  and'  in  that  undertaking 
he  also  prospered,  being  able  to-  leave  his 
family  in  comfortable  circumstances.     Soci- 


ally he  was  a  member  of  Oak  Lodge,  No. 
531,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  politically  was 
identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
filled  the  office  of  assessor  for  many  years, 
and  also  served  as  township  trustee.  His 
course  in  life  was  ever  such  as  to  gain  for 
him  the  commendation  of  all  with  whom  he 
was  brought  in  contact,  and  in  his  death  the 
community  realized  that  it  had  lost  a  valued 
and  useful  citizen — one  devoted  to  the  pub- 
lic good. 

Besides  her  pleasant  home  in  Dayton, 
Mrs.  Hedlund  owns  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  this  county,  and  in  the  man- 
agement of  her  affairs  has  displayed  excel- 
lent business  and  executive  ability.  She 
sold  thirty  acres  of  timber  land  adjoining 
the  town  of  Dayton  for  a  park.  She  is  a 
most  estimable  lady  who  makes  many 
friends  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all 
who  know  her. 


JAMES  TOOHEY. 

Prominent  among  the  developers  of  the 
town  of  Duncombe  may  be  mentioned 
James  Toohey,  who  was  born  near  Lucau, 
Ontario,  Canada,  October  n,  1855,  a  ^"n 
of  Timothy  and  Mary  (Reder)  Toohey, 
who  were  horn  in  Ireland  and  still  live  in 
Canada.  Into  the  family  has  been  born  the 
following  children:  Bridget,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Dennis  McGee;  Martha,  who 
sister  in  St.  Joseph's  Hospital  at  Chatham, 
Ontario;  James;  Julia,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Michael  O'Mara,  of  Ontario;  Margretta, 
who  is  the  wife  of  John  Carroll,  of  Ontario; 
Hugh,  who  married  Kate  Duff  and  lives  in 
Manitoba;  Dennis,  who  married  Anna  Car- 
roll and  lives  in  Ontario;  and  (  Mrnelms,  who 
married  Bridget  Harry  and  also  lives  in  On- 
tarii '. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Until  his  twenty-sixth  year  Jerries 
Toohey  worked  on  his  father's  Canadian 
farm,  and  his  education  was  equal  to  that  of 
the  average  country  reared  boy.  Upon  leav- 
ing his  northern  home  he  located  in  Michi- 
gan and  for  three  or  four  years  worked  in 
the  pineries,  after  which  he  went  to  Storm 
Lake,  Iowa,  and  rented  a  farm  for  three 
years.  During  this  time  he  married  Julia 
Gallery,  who  was  born  in  New  York  state 
and  came  to  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  with  her 
parents,  who  were  of  Irish  birth.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Toohey  lived  in  Fort  Dodge 
and  engaged  in  daily  labor  for  a  couple  of 
years,  locating  then  in  Duncombe,  where  he 
started  his  present  successful  business. 

For  a  time  his  home  was  made  desolate 
on  account  of  the  tragic  death  of  his  wife, 
who.  owing  to  a  burn  received  while  attend- 
ing to  her  household  ditties,  which  proved  to 
be  beyond  all  human  aid,  died  Janu- 
ary 3.  [895.  On  September  <>,  1896,  Mr. 
Toohey  married  \'<>ra  Lonergan,  who  was 
born  January  21,  1868,  in  County  Tippe- 
raiv.  Ireland,  a  daughter  of  Patrick  and 
Alice  (Casey)  Lonergan,  farming  people  of 
that  country.  Thirteen  children  were  born 
into  the  Lonergan  family,  eight  of  whom 
survive:  Margretta,  who  lives  in  Austra- 
lia; Kate,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Ryan,  oi 
Ireland;  Johanna,  who  is  the  wife  of  Pat 
Beary,  also  of  Australia;  Alice,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Richard  Hackett,  of  Australia; 
Bridget,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Condon,  of 
Ireland;  Nicholas,  who  lives  111  Australia; 
and  John,  who  married  Ellen  Kirby  and  lives 
in  Ireland.  Mrs.  Toohey  came  to  America 
in  1878,  and  located  in  Duncombe,  Iowa, 
where  she  had  relatives  living.  Afterward 
she  engaged  in  general  house  work  in  Fort 
Dodge,  and  for  three  years  was  housekeeper 
for  Father  O'Brien  up  to  the  time  of  her 
marriage.     For  four  years  she  lived  in  Que- 


bec, Canada.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Toohey:  Thomas,  born 
August  23.  1897  ;  and  Mary  J.,  born  October 
12,   1899. 

Mr.  Toohey  is  among  the  progressive 
and  influential  citizens  of  Duncombe,  and 
Ins  assistance  may  be  always  counted  on  to 
further  any  wise  scheme  for  improvement. 
He  has  erected  a  fine  home  in  the  town,  and 
his  interests  also  extend  to  the  country, 
where,  in  Washington  township,  he  owns 
eighty  acres  of  fine  land.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  political  affiliation,  and  is  fraternally  as- 
sociated with  the  Foresters. 


LEE  VINTON  SMITH. 

One  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly 
respected  citizens  of  Sumner  township  is  Lee 
Vinton  Smith,  who  was  born  on  the  18th 
of  July.  1S35,  in  Tioga  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  which  state  his  father  was  also 
a  native,  while  his  mother  was  bom  in  Ot- 
sego county,  New  Yonk.  The  father  labored 
long  and  earnestly  in  the  ministry,  being  at 
first  connected  with  the  Baptist  church  and 
later  with  the  Universalist  denomination, 
and  he  accomplished  much  good  in  the 
world.  Fie  carried  his  ministrations  into 
Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  and  finally  came 
to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  about  the  close  of 
the  Civil  war.  Locating  on  a  farm  near 
Lehigh,  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  connection  with  his  ministerial  labors 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
died  on  the  7th  of  October,  1894,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  in  November  of  the  same 
year.  The}'  were  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom 
Lee  Vinton  is  the  eldest,  the  others  being 


MR.  L.  V.  SMITH 


MRS.  L.  V.  SMITH 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


701 


Martha  J.,  who  died  in  Utah;  Harvey,  who 
died  in  Fort  Dodge,  [owa;  Silas  V.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Lehigh;  Aaron,  deceased;  and 
Laura,,  wife  of  John  Buck,  who  lives  near 
Lehigh. 

While  attending  the  public  schools  near 
his  boyhood  In une  Mr.  Smith  was  variously 
employed,  and  his  life  was  rather  uneventful 
until  the  breaking  nut  of  the  Civil  war  cre- 
ated a  need  for  his  services.  At  Detroit, 
Michigan,  August  8,  1861.  he  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  Fifth  Michigan  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  under  the  immediate  command 
of  General  McClellan.  Owing  to  physical 
disability  brought  on  by  the  exposure  ami 
vicissitude  of  armv  life  he  was  incapacitated 
fi  >r  active  service  and  was  mustered  out  on 
the  roth  of  November,  1862.  For  almost 
two  years  after  his  return  home  he  was  ill, 
and  then  went  to  Minnesota,  hoping  much 
from  an  all  around  change  of  climate  and 
occupation.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  re- 
turned tn  Iowa,  and  has  since  made  his 
home  in  Webster  county.  His  first  pur- 
chase of  land  consisted  of  eighty  acres  in 
Sumner  township,  which  he  later  traded  for 
the  forty-acre  tract  on  which  he  now  lives. 
His  present  place  is  pleasantly  located  on 
section  12.  is  highly  cultivated  and  well  im- 
proved, the  buildings  being  of  a  good  sub- 
stantial character.  In  connection  with  gen- 
eral fanning  Mr.  Smith  is  engaged  in  stock 
raising  quite  extensively,  and  is  meeting  with 
g 1   success   in  his  undertakings. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  1873,  was  cele- 
brated his  marriage  to  Mrs.  Arathusa  Price. 
nee  Summers,  who  was  a  native  of  Cascade, 
Iowa,  and  the  widow  of  M.  D.  P'rice.  She 
had  two  brothers  and  two  sisters,  and  at 
the  time  of  her  death,  which  occurred  May 
28.  1895,  she  left  two  children  by  her  for- 
mer marriage:     1).    J.   Price,   who   married 


Phoebe  Frey  and  lives  in  Cla)  township,  this 
count}-;  and  Clara,  who  married  John  Q. 
Beam,  hut  is  now  deceased. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Smith  is 
a  Republican,  and  at  an  earl\  da; 
register  of  deeds  in  Minnesota.  Religiously 
he  is  an  earnest  and  consistent  memtx 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  fra- 
ternally is  connected  with  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  and  the  Independent  (  Irder 
of  Good  Templars.  He  is  one  of  the  old 
and  honored  citizens  of  his  community,  hav- 
ing been  an  eye  witness  of  almost  the  entire 
development  and  upbuilding  of  the  county, 
and  in  the  work  of  progress  he  has  been  an 
important  factor.  He  has  aided  in  trans- 
forming the  wild  land  into  highly  cultivated 
fields,  and  has  done  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote the  interests  of  the  community  in  which 
he  resides.  His  career  in  life  has  ever  been 
such  as  to  command  for  him  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been 
brought  in  contact,  and  there  is  probably  no 
man  in  the  community  held  in  higher  regard 
than  Lee  Vinton  Smith. 

life's  journey. 

Always  we  journey  to  the  tomb. 

When    the   skies   are   wintry,    or    when    the 

flowers  bloom. 
Sooner  or  later  life's  journey  is  o'er, 
For  us  the  seasons  come  no  more. 

There  are  varied  experiences  along  the  way, 
Sunshine  alternates  with  storm}'  day, 
Hastening  to  that  bourne, 
From   whence  no   traveler   doth    return. 

I  -ife  has  its  trials,  its  teal's. 
Mingled  with  the  passing  years, 
Till   the  dark-winged   angel's   call. 
And  we  before  the  reaper  death  fall. 


702 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Jesus,  our  help  divine,  and  guide, 
Saving  all  who  will  in  Thee  confide, 
Receptive    of    Thy    love,    uplifted    by    Thy 

grace, 
In  the  new  Jerusalem  may  we  have  place. 


JOHN  L.  HAMILTON. 

John  L.  Hamilton,  of  Lehigh,  Iowa,  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  factors  in  the 
business  circles  of  that  thriving  little  town, 
and  is  a  man  whose  worth  and  ability  have 
gained  him  success,  honor  and  public  con- 
fidence. He  enjoys  the  well-earned  dis- 
tinction of  being  what  the  public  terms  a 
self-made  man,  and  an  analyzation  of  his 
character  reveals  the  fact  that  enterprise, 
well-directed  effort  and  honorable  dealing 
have  been  the  essential  features  in  his  pros- 
perity. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  born  on  the  3d  of 
October,  1848,  in  Lanarkshire,  Scotland,  of 
which  country  his  parents,  James  and  Jo^ 
lianna  Hamilton,  were  life-long  residents. 
The  father,  who  was  a  miner  by  occupation, 
died  in  1869,  and  the  mother  passed  away 
in  1847.  In  their  family  were  eight  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  three  daughters,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  namely :  Robert,  a 
resident  of  Webster.  Pennsylvania;  John  L., 
of  this  review;  James,  a  farmer  of  Webster 
county,  Iowa ;  Thomas,  a  resident  of  Alle- 
gheny county,  Pennsylvania;  and  Mrs.  John 
( !aster,  also  a  resident  of  that  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  native  land,  but  left 
-1I1.  ol  at  the  age  of  eight  years  and  com- 
menced mining,  which  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed for  forty  years.  In  1868  he  crossed 
the  broad  Atlantic  and  landed  in  Montreal, 
Canada,  whence  lie  proceeded  to  Pittsburg, 


Pennsylvania,  where  he  made  his  home  un- 
til  1875. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Hamilton  was 
married.  May  2,  1872.  to  Miss  Mary  Jane 
Gillingham,  who  was  born  in  the  Keystone 
state,  June  30,  1840,  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Jane  1  Gibson)  Gillingham,  also  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  where  the  father  died  in 
1897,  the  mother  in  February,  1899.  They 
had  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, namely :  William,  a  resident  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania;  Lyle,  wife  of 
George  Jenkins,  of  Pennsylvania ;  Hugh, 
who  was  killed  in  the  mines  of  that  state, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years ;  and  Mary 
Jane,  wife  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton  have  become  the 
parents  of  six  children :  James,  born  April 
19,  1873,  is  now  serving  as  first  corporal  in 
the  Twenty-sixth  United  States  Infantry  in 
the  Philippines ;  Lizzie  Jane,  born  November 
13,  1874,  is  the  wife  of  F.  A.  Avers,  who  is 
agent  for  the  Crooked  Creek  Railway  and 
Coal  Company  at  Lehigh ;  Anna,  born  April 
28,  1875,  was  formerly  a  teacher  in  the  Le- 
high schools;  and  Mildred,  born  October 
22,  1877,  George,  born  October  13,  1879, 
and  Lyle,  born  August  25,  1883.  are  all  at 
home. 

On  leaving  Pittsburg,  Mr.  Hamilton  and 
his  family  removed  to  Coalville,  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  where  the)'  spent  four  years, 
and  then  came  to  Lehigh,  where  he  engaged 
in  mining  for  some  years.  In  1885  he  was 
made  superintendent  of  the  Crooked  Creek 
Mining  Company,  and  held  that  responsible 
position  for  six  years,  after  which  he  was 
superintendent  of  the  mines  for  the  Crovs  & 
Rogers  Mining  Company  at  Boonesboro  un- 
til 1895,  when  he  returned  to  Lehigh  and 
embarked  in  the  lumber  business.  He  now 
deal-  in  all  kinds  of  building  material  and 
agricultural  implements,  and  is  president  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


703 


the  Lehigh  Valley  Savings  Bank,  which  he 
organized  July  I,  1901,  and  which  now  has 
a  surplus.  The  other  officers  of  the  bank 
are  C.  M.  Trumbar,  cashier,  and  W.  C. 
Beeni,  vice-president  and  director.  Mr. 
Hamilton  owns  a  good  home  in  Lehigh,  be- 
sides some  business  houses  on  Main  street, 
and  some  lots  in  McKeesport,  Pennsylvania. 
In  business  affairs  he  has  steadily  prospered 
during  his  residence  here,  and  is  to-day 
quite  well-to-do.  His  life  record  is  one  well 
worth)-  of  emulation  and  contains  many  val- 
uable lessons  of  incentive,  showing  the  pos- 
sibilities that  are  open  to  young  men  who 
wish  to  improve  every  opportunity  for  ad- 
vancement. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  also  affiliates  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World.  In  political  sentiment  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  on  the  school 
board  and  city  council,  being  a  member  of 
the  first  council  of  Lehigh.  He  is  a  recog- 
nized leader  in  public  affairs  and  always 
uses  his  influence  to;  promote  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  town. 


A.  W.  SCOTT. 


(  >ne  of  the  most  thrifty  and  .successful 
agriculturists  of  Cowrie  township  is  A.  W. 
Sci  1 1 .  who  1 1\\  lis  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  on  sections 
26  and  27.  He  dates  his  residence  in  Iowa 
from  1855.  and  has  made  his  home  in  Web- 
ster county  since  1879.  He  was  born  on  the 
28th  1  i  <  Ictober,  1846,  in  Clermont  county, 
<  Hin'.  and  i>  a  son  'if  Elias  Scott,  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  born  in  1804.  On  reach- 
ing'   manhood  the   father  went   to  Ohio  in 


[825,  and  settled  in  Clermont  county,  where 
he  married  Miss  Sarah  Hall,  who  was  born 
in  Cincinnati.  Mr.  Scott  continued  to  reside 
in  that  county  for  some  years,  being  engaged 
in  fruit  growing,  and  there  all  his  children 
were  born.  He  next  made  his  home  in 
Marion  county,  Indiana,  fur  five  years,  and 
in  1855  removed  to  Jones  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  conducted  a  wayside  inn  for  seven 
years.  Going  to  Linn  county,  in  1861,  he 
located  on  a  farm  near  Central  City,  and 
devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  agri- 
culture. There  he  died  in  1889,  having  sur- 
vived his  wife  about  two  years,  her  death 
having  occurred  in  1887. 

A.  W.  Scott  was  a  lad  of  nine  years 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Iowa,  and  was  reared  in  Jones 
and  Linn  counties,  his  education  being  ob- 
tained in  country  schools.  On  the  14th  of 
March,  1876,  he  was  married  in  Johnson 
county,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Jennie  Graham,  a  na- 
tive of  that  country  and  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Graham,  one  of  its  early  settlers, 
who  was  formerly  from  Maryland.  By  this 
union  were  born  three  children,  namely : 
Maud,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Mason  Ellis, 
of  Gowrie,  and  has  one  son,  Walter  Scott; 
and  Graham  and  Ellen,  both  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Scott  followed 
farming  in  Linn  county  for  a  time,  raising 
four  crops,  and  in  October,  1879,  removed 
to  Webster  county,  purchasing  eight}-  acres 
of  land  in  Gowrie  township,  which  he  at 
once  commenced  to  break  and  improve.  As 
he  prospered  in  his  farming  operations  he 
added  to  his  farm  from  time  to  time  until 
he  now  lias  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  on  which  he  has  erected  a 
good  residence  and  substantial  outbuildings. 
He  has  also  set  out  shade  and  fruit  trees  and 
made  many  other  improvements  which  add 


704 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


i  beauty  of  the  place.  He  raises  a  good 
grade  of  stock,  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
most  skillful  farmers  of  his  locality.  Al- 
though he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  in 
limited  circumstances,  he  has  steadily  over- 
come the  ohstacles  in  the  path  to  success  and 
is  now  quite  well-ti  -di  . 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1865,  Air.  Scott  has 
never  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  has  taken  quite  an  act- 
ive interest  in  local  politics.  lie  has  been  a 
delegate  to  county  and  state  conventions; 
has  served  as  tow  nship  trustee  several  term- ; 
and  was  once  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  but 
refused  to  qualify.  As  a  member  of  the 
School  board  for  several  years,  he  did  much 
to  promote  the  educational  interest-  of  bis 
township  by  securing  better  schools  and 
more  competent  teachers.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Scott  are  earnest  and  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  church  of  Gow- 
rie.  and  he  is  now  serving  as  one  of  its 
deacons.  Wherever  known  they  are  held  in 
high  regard,  and  the  fact  that  those  who 
know  them  best  are  numbered  among  their 
warmest  friends  is  evidence  of  their  noble 
b\  es. 


TOHX   BURNS. 


To  such  native  sons  as  John  Burns 
Webster  county  looks  for  its  most  intelli- 
gent development  and  its  highest  citizenship. 
Although  cme  of  the  younger  generation  of 
agriculturists,  having  been  born  in  Pleasant 
Valley  township,  June  1,  1868,  he  represents 
the  teeming  vitality  of  a  region  of  vast  pos- 
sibility, of  which  fact  no  one  is  more  thor- 
oughly conscious.  His  parents,  John  and 
Mary  i  Condon )  Burns,  are  natives  re- 
spectively of  County  Mayo  and  Count}r  Tip- 


perary.  Ireland,  and  have  led  lives  broader 
than  the  average  farmer  and  his  helpmate. 
The  father  came  to  America  when  but 
eleven  years  of  age,  Ireland  having  lost  its 
greatest  interest  for  him  because  of  the  death 
of  his  parents.  He  settled  in  Philadelphia 
and  became  stabile  boss  for  a  large  livery 
and  stage  firm,  in  win  >se  employ  he  remained 
for  about  four  years.  The  following  four 
years  were  spent  in  similar  capacities  in  and 
near  the  Quaker  city,  after  which  he  re- 
moved to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  later  to  Des 
Moines,  eventually  finding  his  way  to  Fort 
Dodge.  Here  he  became  interested  in  the 
team  freighting  business,  and  hauled  the  first 
load  of  goods  taken  from  Iowa  City  to  Fort 
Dodge.  While  in  the  freighting  business 
he  heard  a  great  deal  about  the  chances 
awaiting  the  venturesome  in  the  gold  fields 
on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  in  1858  he  started 
out  to  make  his  way  thither,  accompanied 
by  two  families  who  owned  between  them 
two  yoke  of  oxen  and  one  wagon.  The 
vicissitudes  of  primitive  travel  seemed  to  de- 
velop inharmonious  tendencies  among  the 
tourists,  the  upshot  of  which  was  that  they 
decided  to  separate,  and  in  order  to  divide 
equally  they  sawed  the  wagon  in  two,  each 
fiction  appropriating  two  wheels  and  a 
y  ike  of  oxen.  This  riff*  in  the  lute  proved 
more  serious  for  Mr.  Burns  than  for  the 
rest,  for  he  was  thus  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources,  and  for  the  remainder  of  the  way 
to  the  Golden  West  was  obliged  to  walk. 
Nevertheless  he  reached  his  destination  in 
due  season  and  met  with  fair  success,  so  that 
lie  continued  to  engage  in  mining  for  about 
four  years,  and  during  that  time  owned  two 
claims.  About  the  time  the  Civil  war  broke 
out  he  returned  to  Fort  Dodge  and  engaged 
in  freighting  for  Uncle  Sam.  hauling  mu- 
nitions of  war  from  Fort  Leavenworth  to 
Kansas  City,  Missouri.    At  a  later  period  he 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


705 


saw  active  service  at  the  front,  and  contin- 
ued in  the  employ  of  the  government  until 
the  close  of  the  war. 

With  the  return  of  peace  Mr.  Burns 
again  settled  in  Fort  Dodge  and  continued 
his  freighting  business,  and  at  the  end  of  a 
year  went  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  shorl  time,  going  then  to  St. 
Louis,  which  also  proved  an  unprofitable 
place  to  live  in.  A  short  time  afterward 
lie  went  to  Natchez,  Mississippi,  where  he 
engaged  in  ditching,  and  remained  thn  nigh 
the  winter,  returning  in  the  spring  t <  ►  his 
former  In -me  in  Fort  Dodge.  In  the  vi- 
cinity of  the  town  he  purchased  a  farm  and 
then  worked  for  George  Creelv,  in  the 
suburbs.  The  following  winter  he  put 
in  his  time  at  Xatchez  at  his  occupa- 
tion of  ditching.  In  the  spring  he  was  mar- 
ried at  Fort  Dodge,  and  then  began  farm- 
ing for  himself  on  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  Valley  township, 
Webster  county.  He  was  most  successful 
as  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  was  par- 
ticularly interested  in  the  latter  occupation, 
-.>  that  he  eventually  came  to  own  a  whole 
section  of  land.  Rich  in  experience  and  the 
material  things  of  life,  he  retired  from  busi- 
ness in  1892,  and  has  since  lived  in  a  pleas- 
ant home  purchased  at  Fort  Dodge,  and  is 
resting  on  the  laurels  of  a  life  well  spent  and 
admirably  planned.  He  has  invariably  taken 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  al- 
though a  stanch  Democrat,  has  preferred  the 
quiet  life  of  the  farmer  to  the  uncertain 
strife  of  political  competition.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber 'if  the  Catholic  church. 

John  Burns,  Jr.,  the  only  child  of  our 
subject,  enjoyed  all  the  advantages  which 
surround  the  well-to-do  farmer'-'  sons.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  until  his  four- 
teenth year,  and  later  profited  by  individual 
research  and  intelligent  observation.     From 


earliest  boyhood  he  was  his  father',-,  most 
trusted  assistant  and  reliable  helper,  and  he 
learned  to  be  a  model  farmer  and  an  excel 
lent  judge  of  fine  stock.  On  August  25, 
1890,  at  Eagle  Grove,  Iowa,  he  married 
Evelyn  A.  Hannon,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed b\  Rev.  Father  Garland,  at  St. 
Mary's  Catholic  church.  Airs.  Burns  was 
born  in  Kenosha,  Wisconsin,  July  13,  [869, 
a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Anna  |  Lynch ) 
Hannon,  natives  of  Kenosha  county,  Wis- 
consin. The  parents  were  married  in  that 
state,  where  the  mother  died,  and  in  iS-S 
the  father  removed  to  Webster  county, 
Iowa,  and  lived  mi  his  farm  in  Wa 
ton  township.  Here  he  married  Margaret 
Murphy,  and  died  July  7.  [894.  His 
widow  has  since  become  the  wife  of  John 
Kclley.  who  lives  seven  miles  north  of  Dun- 
combe.  In  politics  Mr.  Hannon  was  a 
Democrat,  and  he  held  a  number  of  import- 
ant offices,  being  supervisor  of  Webster 
county  for  two  terms.  In  religious  faith  he 
was  a  Catholic.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had 
five  children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living : 
Evelyn  A.,  now  Mrs.  Burns;  Lucy,  wife  of 
Henry  Kelly,  of  this  count}-;  and  Grace, 
wife  of  Alfred  David,  who  lives  on  a  farm 
near  Coalville,  Iowa.  Of  the  second  union 
there  are  two  children  living :  Geneveive 
and  Wilfred,  both  at  home.  The  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Burns,  Jr.,  are 
Francis  E.,  born  May  2,  1891  :  Mary,  who 
was  born  October  18,  1892,  and  died  No- 
vember _'_'.  [895;  Anne,  born  January  20. 
1894;  John,  born  August  3.  1895;  Evelyn 
Rose,  who  was  born  February  3,  [895,  and 
died  February  1,  [902;  Mary,  who  was  born 

October   14,    1898.  and  died  June    1,    1 

and  Bertha  Agnes,  horn  June   1,   1901. 
After  his  marriage  John  Burns,  Jr. 
tied  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  on  sec- 
tion 2,  Pleasant  Valley  township,  and  which 


706 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


consists  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
splendidly  improved  land.  He  has  just 
completed  one  of  the  finest  rural  homes  in 
the  county,  and  his  barns,  granaries,  cattle 
sheds  and  general  appointments  are  in  ac- 
cord with  the  most  advanced  and  scientific 
farming  and  cattle-raising.  He  has  a  fine 
herd  of  short-horn  cattle  and  a  drove  of 
sheep,  and  raises  in  large  numbers  Berkshire 
hogs  and  Percheron  horses.  He  is  ac- 
counted one  of  the  finest  judges  of  live  stock 
in  the  county,  an  ability  inherited  from  his 
father  and  fostered  by  long  experience  while 
under  the  parental  guidance.  He  is  intelli- 
gently alive  to  the  best  demands  of  the  citi- 
zen and  farmer,  and  appreciates  the  fact  that 
as  the  farmer  wills  and  accomplishes  so  the 
country  prospers  or  languishes.  He  there- 
fore keeps  in  touch  with  all  advancement  in 
machinery  and  method,  and  has  one  of  the 
most  complete  and  remunerative  farms  for 
many  miles  around.  Although  a  Democrat, 
Mr.  Burns,  like  his  father  before  him,  de- 
votes the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  his 
home  interests,  and  has  never  entered  the 
arena  of  political  striving.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church,  and  is  fraternally  as- 
sociated with  the  Order  of  Foresters  and  the 
Yeomen. 


C.  D.  WATERBURY. 

I 
Prominent  among  the  capable  financiers 
and  successful  business  men  of  Webster 
county  is  numbered  C.  D.  Waterbury,  the 
well-known  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Dayton.  A  native  of  Illinois,  he 
was  born  in  Ogle  county,  October  12,  1855, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Electa  (Mallory) 
Waterbury,  the  former  born  in  Andes,  Del- 
aware county,  New  York,  and  the  latter  in 


Sullivan  county,  that  state.  The  family 
dates  their  residence  in1  America  back  to 
1646,  when  Samuel  Waterbury  came  to  this 
country  on  one  of  the  trips  made  by  the  May- 
flower and  settled  in  Stamford,  Connecti- 
cut. There  he  lived  and  died,  as  did  also  the 
next  generation  of  the  family.  Later  some 
of  his  descendants  removed  to  Nassau  coun- 
ty, New  York,  and  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather was  born  in  the  town  of  Andes, 
Delaware  county,  that  state,  which  was  also 
the  birthplace  of  his  grandfather.  John 
Waterbury,  who  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine 
children.  In  1836  the  latter  removed  to 
Illinois,  making  the  trip  with  ox  teams,  and 
entered  a  large  tract  of  government  land  in 
Ogle  county,  so  arranging  it  that  each  of 
his  ten  children  received  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  that  county  and  continued  to  make 
his  home  there  throughout  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  Of  his  ten  children  only  one  is 
now  living — Mrs.  Mary  B.  Cushman,  who 
has  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four 
years.  She  is  the  widow  of  Charles  Cush- 
man and  a  resident  of  Polo,  Illinois. 

Shortly  after  their  marriage  the  parents 
of  our  subject  left  New  York  and  removed 
to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where  the  father 
purchased  land  and  engaged  in  farming 
quite  successfully  upon  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
September  19,  1871.  During  the  dark  days 
of  the  Civil  war  he  served  one  year  as  a 
member  of  the  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer 
Cavalry,  and  was  subsequently  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  also 
belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Presbyterian  church.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican.  In  1891  his 
widow  became  the  wife  of  Arah  Leonard, 
and  now  resides  in  Davton,  Iowa.     Bv  her 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


707 


first  marriage  she  had  four  children :  Fred 
M.,  who  married  Ella  Healy,  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  died  in  1881.  while  his  wid- 
ow now  resides  on  a  farm  in  her  native 
county:  one  who  died  in  infancy;  C.  D.,  of 
this  review;  and  Harriet,  who  died  at  the 
age  1  >f  sixteen  years. 

C.  D.  Waterbury  began  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  near  his  boyhood  home 
in  Ogle  county,  and  later  attended  the  high 
I  of  Polo,  Illinois,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  1876.  The  following 
three  years  were  spent  in  California,  he  be- 
ing engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Yolo  and 
Sacramento  counties.  On  his  return  to 
Polo,  Illinois,  he  studied  law  in  the  office  of 
Judge  J.  D.  Campbell  for  two  years,  and 
then  came  to  Webster  county.  Iowa,  where 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1881.  He  has 
since,  however,  given  his  attention  principal- 
ly to  the  banking  business,  establishing  what 
was  then  known  as  the  Bank  of  Dayton, 
which  in  October,  1866,  was  re-organized 
under  the  name  of  the  State  Bank,  and  in 
April,  1900,  the  name  was  again  changed 
to  the  First  National  Bank  of  Dayton.  It 
is  one  of  the  solid  financial  institutions  of 
the  county  and  does  a  successful  general 
banking  business.  Mr.  Waterbury  is  widely 
known  as  a  man  whose  word  is  as  good  as 
his  bond,  and  although  a  comparatively 
young  man  his  advice  was  eagerly  sought 
on  matters  .  if  finance  by  men  of  m<  >re  mature 
years. 

On  the  nth  of  March,  1880.  Mr.  Water- 
bury  was  married  in  Knox  county,  Illinois, 
to  Mi<>  E.  Frances  Le  Valley,  who  was  born 
in  that  county  in  1859.  a  daughter  of  George 
C.  and  E.  Jane  1  dames)  Le  Valley.  She 
died  in  April.  1895.  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Dayton  cemetery.  By  that  union  two  chil- 
dren were  born:     Mabel  and  Jessie. 

Mr.   Waterbury  is  a  prominent  Mason, 


belonging  t<>  Oak  Lodge.  No.  531.  A.  F. 
&  A.  M..  of  Dayton;  Delta  Chapter.  No. 
51.  R.  A.  M. ;  Calvary  Commandery,  X". 
24,  K.  T. :  and  Za-ga-zig  Temple.  A.  A. 
O.  N.  M.  S.  For  three  years  he  served  as 
mayor  of  Dayton,  and  is  now  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  has  had  little  time, 
however,  to  devote  to  public  affairs,  as  his 
extensive  business  interests  claim  the  greater 
part  of  his  attention.  In  addition  to  his 
banking  business  he  is  a  member  of  the  Cole 
Drug  Company  of  Dayton,  and  is  secretary 
of  the  Dayton  Investment  Company.  He 
owns  considerable  farming  propertv  in  other 
states,  especially  in  Minnesota,  and  is  to-day 
one  of  the  most  substantial  men,  as  well  as 
one  of  the  most  reliable  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  his  community.  Mr.  Waterbury 
is  a  trustee  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  of  Dayton,  and  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican in  politics. 


C.  E.  ERICKSOX. 


The  future  of  Hardin  township  rests 
securely  in  the  hands  of  such  promising  and 
industrious  young  farmers  as  C.  E.  Erick- 
son,  who  is  the  owner  of  a  well-improved 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  upon  which  he  carries 
on  general  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
comes  honestly  by  his  ability  to  successfully 
till  his  land,  for  his  parents,  wdio  were  born 
in  Sweden,  and  emigrated  to  America  in 
1850,  have  been  farmers  for  their  entire  act- 
ive lives,  and  are  now  living  on  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  Hamilton 
county.  Iowa.  Upon  this  parental  farm  C.  E. 
Erickson  was  born,  August  15.  1870.  and  is 
the  second  oldest  in  a  family  of  ten  children. 
The  others  are  Frank,  who  is  living  at 
home:   Will,   who    is    a    harness   maker  at 


70S 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Nevada.  Iowa;  Selma,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Victor  Peterson,  of  Boone  county,  Iowa; 
Louise,  who  is  living  at  home;  Eric;  Oscar; 
Abbie  ;  Julia  ;  and  James. 

C.  E.  Erickson  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  lived  on  the  home  farm  until 
his  marriage,  in  Boone  county,  September 
4.  1  Si  14,  tn  Ada  Lurena  Johnson,  the  only 
child  of  parents  born  in  Sweden.  Her 
mother  is  now  deceased,  while  the  father  is 
living  in  Stratford,  Iowa.  Three  children 
have  been  burn  to  Air.  and  Mrs.  Erickson: 
Lillie,  born  December  14.  1895;  George, 
August  _'.  [897;  and  Nellie  J..  April  14, 
1898. 

Mr.  Erickson  is  already  attaining  to 
prominence  in  township  affairs,  and  his 
judgment  and  assistance  are  in  accord  with 
the  best  government  and  greatest  progress. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  national  politics,  but 
believes  that  the  man  best  qualified  for  pub- 
lic trust  should  hold  office  regardless  of  his 
political  affiliation.  As  an  evidence  of  the 
esteem  and  confidence  which  he  has  in- 
spired among  his  fellow  townsmen  it  is  only 
necessary  to  state  that  he  has  been  township 
clerk  for  four  years,  and  is  also  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  is  a  practical  and  thorough 
farmer,  and  has  the  faculty  of  making  and 
keeping  friends. 


JAMES  L.  FINDLAY. 

Among  (  Itho  township's  most  progress- 
ive and  enterprising  citizens  is  numbered 
James  L.  Findlay,  who  is  now  successfully 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  on 
section  29.  He  was  born  on  the  5th  of  Au- 
gust, [865,  in  Lee  county,  Illinois,  a  son  of 
James  A.  Findlay.  His  paternal  grand- 
father also  In  re  the  name  of    lames.      The 


father  was  born  in  Grand  Isle  county,  Ver- 
mont, in  1828,  and  there  grew  to  manhood. 
On  leaving  his  native  state   he  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  made  his  home  there  until  com- 
ing tn  lnwa  in  the  spring  of  1871.     He  first 
sailed  in  Clay  county,  but  in  July.   1877,  he 
came  to  Webster  county  and  located  on  sec- 
t n  >n  29,  (  >tho  township,  where  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land   from 
the  Wells  estate.      To    the    cultivation  and 
improvement    of   this    farm    he   devoted    his 
time  and  energies  for  many  years,  convert- 
ing it  into  one  of  the  most  desirable  places 
of  its  size  in  that  locality.    The  present  com 
modious    residence    was    erected    in     iNSj. 
Since  locating  here  Mr.   Findlay    has    been 
thoroughly  identified  with   the  growth  and 
development  of  his  township,  and  is  num- 
bered among  in  most  useful  and  valued  citi- 
zens.    His  political  support  is  always  given 
the  men  and  measures  of     the    Republican 
party.     On   the  27th  of  October.    1863,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Olive  Good- 
year, who  was  horn  in  Geauga  county.  (  Ihio, 
in  1843.     Her  parents  were  natives  of  <  Ihio 
and  early  settlers  of  Geauga  county,  Ohio, 
but  spent  their  last  days  in  Illinois.     Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Findlay  were  born  three  si  ns, 
George  F.,  Charles  V.  and  James    L.    all 
born  in  the  Prairie  state.     Charles  V.  is  now 
one  of  the  managers  of  Tobin  Business  Col- 
lege at  Fort  Dodge.     In  the  family  there  is 
also  an  adopted  daughter.  Lib   V. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was 
acquired  in  the  district  schools  near  his  boy- 
hood home,  and  for  one  term  he  was  a  stu- 
dent at  Highland  Park  Normal  School  at 
Des  Moines.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  working  with  his  father  upon  the  farm 
until  his  marriage,  when  he  removed  to  his 
present  place,  where  he  owns  eighty  acres 
of  well-iniproved  and  highly  cultivated  land. 
In  addition  to  this  he  also  operates  his  fa- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


709 


ther's  farm  and  gives  considerable  attention 
to  stock-raising,  feeding  cattle  which  he 
ships  to  the  Chicago  market,  and  breeding 
Jersey  hogs.  lie  also  owns  an  interest  in  a 
Percheron  Norman  stallion.  "Printemps," 
43,992  and  24,262. 

Mr.  Findlay  was  married,  November 
28,  1895,  to  Miss  Harriet  Gertrude  Fawkes, 
who  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Iowa, 
July  20,  1870.  Her  mother,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Indiana,  died  in  1884,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-six  years,  at  which  time  the  family 
were  living  in  Dubuque  county,  Iowa.  Her 
father  was  born  in  England  and  was  again 
married  in  1891,  his  second  union  being  with 
Miss  Maggie  Martin.  He  now  lives  on 
section  20,  Otho  township,  and  is  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  church  at  Kalo.  By  his 
first  marriage  he  had  eight  children,  namely  : 
Frank  H.,  who  married  Ollie  Staley  and 
lives  in  Chicago;  Harriet  Gertrude,  wife  of 
our  subject;  Edith  Spensley,  a  resident  of 
Dubuque;  Otis  Vincent,  who  died  in  infan- 
cy; Clermont  Watson;  Nora  Maria;  Sarah 
Rebecca,  who  is  now  engaged  in  school 
teaching;  and  Ernest  Winfred.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Findlay  have  two  children:  Myrtle 
Olive,  born  September  17,  1897;  and  James 
Francis,  bum  March  19,  1898.  With  the 
family  resides  our  subject's  cousin,  Lloyd 
Davis,  who  has  made  his  home  with  them  for 
some  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Findlay  are  members  of 
the  Congregational  church  at  Kalo  and  are 
people  of  prominence  in  their  community. 
He  is  also  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  in  politics  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party.  For 
six  years  he  has  efficiently  served  as  town- 
ship treasurer,  and  he  has  ever  taken  an  act- 
ive and  commendable  interest  in  public 
affairs,  faithfully  discharging  any  duty  de- 
volving upon  him. 


EMORY  A.  ROLFE. 

Emory  A.  Rolfe  is  well  known  in  con- 
nection with  journalitic  interests  in  Webster 
county,  early  becoming  imbued  with  a  laud- 
able ambition  to  attain  success,  and  he  has 
steadily  advanced  in  those  walks  of  life  de- 
manding intellectuality,  business  ability  and 
fidelity  until  he  to-day  commands  the  respect 
and  esteem  not  only  of  his  community  but 
of  many  people  throughout  the  state.  He 
was  born  March  30,  1865,  near  Burnside, 
Iowa,  a  son  of  S.  F.  W.  and  Margaretta 
Rolfe,  who  were  early  settlers  of  Webster 
county.  He  completed  the  course  of  in- 
struction of  the  common  schools  and  as- 
sisted in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  until  he 
had  attained  his  majority.  Wishing  to  en- 
joy better  educational  privileges,  he  after- 
ward entered  the  Western  Normal  College 
at  Shenandoah,  Iowa,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  1890.  He  was  after- 
ward graduated  in  Highland  Park  College 
of  Des  Moines  in  1892.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  become  identified  with  educational  in- 
terests as  a  teacher,  entering  upon  the  pro- 
fession in  1886,  his  work  in  college  being 
alternated  by  his  services  as  an  instructor  in 
the  school.  From  1892  until  1894  be  was 
principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Kellogg, 
Iowa,  and  in  1894-5  he  pursued  his  classical 
studies  in  Highland  Park  College  of  Des 
Moines.  From  1895  tintil  1900  he  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  and 
under  his  direction  practical  and  substantial 
advancement  was  made.  In  1898,  however, 
in  connection  with  A.  Patron,  he  purchased 
the  Dayton  Review,  becoming  its  editor, 
and  on  the  1st  of  June,  1900,  he  bought  his 
partner's  interest,  becoming  sole  proprietor, 
at  which  time  he  retired  from  school  work 
and  has  since  given  his  entire  attention  to 
journalism.     The  paper  receives    a    liberal 


;io 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


patronage  and  is  one  of  the  leading  country 
newspapers  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1898,  Mr.  Rolfe 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lillie  A. 
Peterson,  and  they  have  a  very  pleasant 
home  in  Dayton.  In  his  political  views  Air. 
Rolfe  is  a  Republican,  and  socially  is  con- 
nected with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  his  religious  faith 
is  manifest  by  his  membership  in  the  Church 
of   1  'hrist. 


D.  D.  WOODARD. 


One  of  the  most  successful  farmers  of 
Washington  township  is  D.  D.  Woodard, 
who  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Xew 
York,  February  20,  1852,  a  son  of  O.  B. 
and  Lavina  (Bailey)  Woodard,  who  came 
to  Iowa  in  1866,  and  settled  near  Homer, 
Webster  county,  where  they  lived  for  eight- 
een months.  The  parents  then  removed  to 
a  farm,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Jewell,  where 
thev  remained  for  two  years.  For  the  fol- 
lowing two  years  they  rented  a  farm  in 
Freedom  township,  Hamilton  county,  where 
thev  eventually  bought  a  farm  and  where  the 
father  died  in  September.  1900.  The 
mother,  who  is  still  living  on  the  homestead, 
reared  to  maturity  three  children,  and  of 
these,  Brayton  B.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two,  and  Amelia,  the  wife  of  John  Miller, 
lives  on  a.  farm  in  Freedom  township,  Ham- 
ilton county. 

The  youth  of  D.  D.  Woodard  was  une- 
ventfully passed  on  his  father's  farm  and 
in  attendance  at  the  district  schools  when 
the  leisure  of  the  winter  months  permitted. 
He  subsequently  operated  a  threshing  ma- 
chine throughout  the  county,  an  occupation 
which  brought  a  neat  little  income,  and 
seemed   to   justify   his    marriage,    April    2, 


1SS4.  to  Mary  Pierce,  who  was  born 
in  Van  Buren  count}-,  Iowa.  Her  par- 
ents, Joseph  and  Nancy  (Hagler)  Pierce, 
were  natives,  respectively,  of  Ohio  and 
Tennessee,  and  were  married  in  Knox  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  in  1S35.  They  were  among'  the 
earliest  settlers  of  that  county,  where  the 
father  took  a  homestead  and  lived  thereon 
until  his  removal  to  Iowa,  when  he  located 
in  Van  Buren  county.  At  the  end  of  seven 
years  he  sold  out  with  the  intention  of  going 
to  Kansas,  but  the  guerrilla  warfare  then 
raging  in  that  state  and  western  Missouri, 
influenced  his  decision  in  favor  of  a  return 
to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  for  a  year.  In 
1865  he  settled  in  Hamilton  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  died  June  26,  1886.  As  soon  as 
his  sons  were  capable  of  managing  the  farm 
he  engaged  in  general  carpenter  work,  at 
which  lie  was  an  expert,  and  was  thus  em- 
ployed up  to  within  a  short  time  of  his  de- 
mise. His  wife  sold  the  home  farm  and  re- 
moved to  Webster  City,  Iowa,  where  her 
death  occurred  in  1897.  She  was  the  mother 
of  several  children,  of  whom  five  daughters 
and  two  sons  are  now  living:  Melissa  is  the 
wife  of  Dill  Knight,  of  Pulaski,  Iowa;  Jane 
is  the  wife  of  John  Walker,  of  Missouri; 
Martha  is  the  wife  of  James  Abernatha,  of 
the  state  of  Washington;  William  married 
Molly  Stockwell  and  lives  in  Oklahoma ; 
George  C.  married  Sarah  Hamilton  and 
lives  in  Guthrie  county,  Iowa.  The  Pierce 
family  claimed  one  hero  soldier  of  the  Civil 
w7ar.  for  A.  J.,  the  oldest  son,  was  killed  on 
the  field  of  battle.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood- 
ard have  been  horn  six  children:  Mabel, 
born  December  24,  1884;  Cora.  September 
24,  1886;  Clarence,  January  6,  1888;  Lester, 
February  26.  1890:  Ralph.  August  31,  1893", 
and  Vinnie.  who  was  born  August  1 1,  1895, 
and  died  June  30,  1896. 

After   leaving-  the   home   farm   and   his 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


threshing  business,  Mr.  Woodard  lived  in 
Hamilton  county  for  a  couple  of  years,  and 
then  removed  to  where  he  now  lives,  llis 
farm  consists  of  eighty  acres  in  Washington 
township,  and  he  also  owns  forty-six  acres 
in  Webster  township.  Mr.  Woodard  is 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  his  county,  and 
though  a  stanch  Republican,  has  never  been 
officially  connected  with  township  affairs. 
I  le  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  of  Homer,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is 
greatly  interested  in  the  breeding  of  tine 
horses,  and  is  the  owfler  of  the  Percheron 
.stallion,  "Volcan."  He  is  progressive  and 
influential,  and  has  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  all  his  neighborhood. 


THOMAS   SOMMERVILLE. 

Thomas  Sommerville,  who  is  now  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
on  section  35,  Roland  township,  where  he 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres, 
pleasantly  located  within  three  miles  of 
Gowrie,  claims  Scotland  as  his  native  land. 
Amid  the  hills  of.  that  beautiful  country  he 
was  born  January  29.  1849,  a  son  °f  A.  F. 
and  Isabella  (  Buoy)  Sommerville,  also  na- 
tives of  Scotland.  In  1852  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  new  world  and  settled  in  Mer- 
cer countw  Pennsylvania,  where  the  father 
engaged  in  mining  and  also  operated  a 
small  farm  which  he  owned.  Selling  his 
property  in  that  state,  he  came  to  Webster 
county.  Iowa,  in  1884.  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence on  the  farm  in  Roland  township  where 
our  subject  now  lives,  while  he  now  makes 
his  home  in  Gowrie,  having  retired  from  act- 
ive labor.  Thomas  is  his  oldest  son,  the 
other  children  >  if  the  family  being :    Isabelle, 


wife  of  John  Shedden,  of  .Mercer  count}-, 
Pennsylvania  :  William,  a  resident  of  Cali- 
fornia; A.  B.,  of  Gowrie,  Iowa;  J.  B.  and 
John,  both  of  Cascade  count}-,  Montana; 
II.  B.,  of  Gowrie;  and  Walter,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio. 

Air.  Sommerville,  of  this  review,  was 
only  three  vears  old  when  brought  to  this 
country  by  his  parents,  and  his  boyhood  and 
youth  were  passed  in  Mercer  county,  Penn- 
svlvania.  He  had  but  limited  educational 
advantages  in  earlv  life,  and  is  almost  wholly- 
self-educated.  At  an  early  age  he  com- 
menced work  in  the  Pennsylvania  coal  mines 
with  his  father,  and  was  there  employed  un- 
til he  reached  his  twenty-third  year.  He 
then  went  to  Illinois,  and  worked  in  the 
mines  of  Grundy  county  for  about  a  year. 
Deciding  to  try  his  fortune  still  farther  west, 
he  proceeded  to  Wyoming  in  1875,  and  was 
engaged  in  mining  at  Rock  Springs  for  sev- 
eral vears.  He  then  returned  to  Illinois, 
and  found  employment  in  the  mines  of  Km  tx 
county  for  three  years,  after  which  we  again 
find  him  at  Rock  Springs,  Wyoming,  for  a 
time.  He  was  next  interested  in  silver 
mining  in  Colorado. 

In  1884  Mr.  Sommerville  came  to  Web- 
ster county.  Iowa,  and  purchased  the  land 
which  he  now  occupies,  though  at  that  time 
it  was  only  slightly  improved.  He  spent 
about  a  year  making  improvements,  and 
then  leaving  the  farm  .in  charge  of  his  fa- 
ther he  returned  to  the  west,  and  followed 
mining  in  Wyoming,  Montana  and  Idaho 
until  February,  1896,  when  he  returned  to 
Iowa,  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  the  management  of  his  farm.  He 
has  built  a  good  residence  upon  the  place 
and  made  many  useful  and  valuable  im- 
provements, so  that  it  is  now  one  of  the  most 
desirable  farms  of  its  size  in  Roland  town- 
ship.    Mr.   Sommerville  carries    on    stock- 


712 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


raising  in  connection  with  farming,  and  is 
meeting  with  excellent  success  in  both 
branches  of  his  business. 

On  the  1 2th  of  July,  1897,  he  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Ida  Quick,  a  daughter  1  >f 
Richard  Quick,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  She  was  born  in 
Michigan,  but  was  reared  in  this  count}-. 
Mr.  Sommerville  supported  William  McKin- 
le_v  for  the  presidency  in  1900,  believing  in 
the  expansion  of  territory  and  the  protec- 
tion of  American  industries,  but  at  local 
elections  he  votes  independent  of  party  lines, 
supporting  the  men  best  qualified  for  office. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge.  Xo.  $$/,  at  Oneida.  Illinois,  where 
he  was  initiated  in  1876.  His  life  has  been 
a  varied  and  useful  one,  his  experiences  in 
the  mines  of  the  west  being  extensive,  and  he 
has  visited  a  large  number  of  the  states  and 
territories  of  the  Union,  having  seen  much 
(if  Uncle  Sam's  domains.  He  has  mined 
for  coal,  silver  and  gold  from  the  Cumber- 
land to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  is  now 
engaged  in  the  more  quiet  pursuits  of  farm 

life. 

»  »  ♦ — 

FREDERICK  GREENER. 

Frederick  Grebner  is  one  of  the  leading 
and  influential  citizens  of  Cooper  township, 
who  has  taken  an  active  part  in  promoting 
its  substantial  improvement  and  material 
development.  An  adopted  son  of  America, 
his  loyalty  is  above  question,  being  mani- 
fested by  his  service  in  the  Union  army  dur- 
ing the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 

A  German  by  birth,  Mr.  Grebner  was 
born  in  Saxony,  May  11,  1843,  an<^  >s  a 
son  of  Michael  and  Henrietta  (Weneerter) 
Grebner,  natives  of  the  same  place.  The 
father   followed  the  mason's  trade  in   Ger- 


many. In  1858  he  and  his  family  emigrated 
to  the  new  world  and  settled  in  Jo'  Daviess 
county,  Illinois,  but  he  was  not  long  per- 
mitted to  enjoy  his  new  home,  as  he  died 
from  the  effects  of  a  sunstroke  soon  after 
locating  there,  leaving  his  widow  with  five 
small  children,  of  whom  our  subject,  then  a 
lad  of  twelve  years,  was  the  oldest.  After 
residing  in  Illinois  about  ten  years  the  fam- 
ily came  to  Iowa  and  took  up  their  residence 
in  Webster  county,  but  the  mother  now 
makes  her  home  with  a  daughter  in  Yank- 
ton, South  Dakota.  Her  children  were 
Frederick,  of  this  review ;  Katie,  wife  of  R. 
Sulzbach,  of  Fort  Dodge;  Christina,  widow 
of  M.  T.  Camp,  of  Yankton;  and  Lizzie 
and  Matilda,  now  deceased. 

Frederick  Grebner  grew  to  manhood  in 
Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois,  and  attended  the 
town  schools  there,  making  the  best  use  of 
his  educational  privileges.  After  the  death 
of  his  father  he  was  obliged  to  assist  in  the 
support  of  the  family,  and  followed  various 
occupations  in  early  life,  but  since  attain- 
ing man's  estate  has  given  his  attention 
principally  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1863 
he  enlisted  in  Company  I).  Eighth  Illinois 
Cavalry,  and  served  his  adopted  country 
faithfully  and  well  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  being  honorably  discharged  in  June,. 
1865. 

On  the  12th  of  the  following  July,  Mr. 
Grebner  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lizzie  Winter,  who  was  born  in  Jo  Daviess 
count)-,  Illinois,  January  0,  1847,  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Lizzie  Winter,  both  of  whom 
are  now  deceased.  By  this  union  were  born 
five  children,  who  are  still  living:  Henry, 
Frederick  and  John,  twins.  Katie. and  Clara, 
while  Willie  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years. 

In  1871  Mr.  Grebner  came  to  Webster 
county,  Iowa,  and  has  since  made  his  home 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


713 


in  Cooper  township  with  the  exception  of 
two  years.  He  purchased  his  present  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  1873, 
and  has  since  converted  the  wild  land  into 
well-tilled  fields,  making  all  of  the  improve- 
ments upon  the  place.  He  is  engaged  in 
general  farming,  raising  from  forty  to  fifty 
acres  of  both  corn  and  small  grain,  while 
the  remainder  of  his  land  is  devoted  to  pas- 
turage. He  breeds  black  polled  and  short- 
horn cattle,  keeping  from  fifty  to  sixty  head 
upon  his  farm,  and  from  twenty-five  to  one 
hundred  head  of  hogs  and  eleven  horses. 
He  has  ever  been  a  hard-working  man,  and 
the  success  that  he  has  achieved  is  due  en- 
tirely to  the  united  efforts  of  himself  and 
wife,  she  having  proved  a  true  helpmeet  to 
him. 

Mr.  Grebner  and  his  family  attend  the 
Reformed  church,  and  he  affiliates  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  has  filled  the  ofhce 
of  assessor  of  Cooper  township  for  four- 
teen years,  and  has  been  school  director  for 
the  past  eighteen  years,  still  holding  the  lat- 
ter position.  He  belongs  to  Fort  Donelson 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge, 
of  Fort  Dodge,  and  commands  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  is 
brought  in  contact  either  in  business  or  so- 
cial life. 


H.  ROSE,  M.  D. 


One  of  the  leading  physicians  and  sur- 
geons of  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  is  Dr.  Rose, 
whose  early  home  was  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic,  for  he  was  born  near  Berlin, 
Germany,  April  14,  1849.  His  father.  Rev. 
E.  F.  Rose,  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  coun- 
try, his  time  and  energies  being  devoted  to 
ministerial  work.  He  died  in  1881,  but  his 
widow  is  still  living  and  continues  to  make 


her  home  in  Germany.  The  Doctor  and 
his  family  recently  returned  from  a  visit  to 
his  mother.  He  is  one  of  seven  children 
still  living.  Four  of  his  sisters  reside  in 
Germany,  while  the  other  makes  her  home 
in  Monroe  county,  Iowa,  and  his  brother, 
John,  is  a  resident  of  Abegglen.  His  oldest 
brother,  Paul,  was  an  ofhcer  in  the  German 
army  and  died  from  the  effects  of  wounds 
received  in  the  Franco-Prussian  war,  hav- 
ing been  wounded  on  seven  different  occa- 
sions. 

Dr.  Rose  obtained  his  literary  education 
at  a  gymnasium  in  Germany  and  then  at- 
tended lectures  at  the  Medical  University 
in  Greifswald,  where  he  was  thoroughly  pre- 
pared for  his  life  work.  On  leaving  that 
institution  he  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1872,  and  first  located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  until  1889,  and  then  removed  to 
Lovilla.  Monroe  county,  Iowa,  continuing 
in  practice  there  until  coming  to  Fort  Dodge 
in  November,  1896.  It  was  not  long  before 
his  skill  and  ability  were  widely  recognized, 
and  he  is  now  successfully  engaged  in  gen- 
eral practice  of  medicine  and  surgery. 

At  Cincinnati  Dr.  Rose  was  married, 
November  21,  1885,  to  Miss  Mary  Nedder- 
man,  of  that  city,  and  they  have  one  child, 
H.  C.  William,  now  thirteen  years  of  age. 
Since  coming  to  this  country  the  Doctor  has 
taken  considerable  interest  in  political  af- 
fairs, and  has  done  much  to  advance  the  in- 
terests of  the  Republican  party  and  insure 
its  success.  While  a  resident  of  Monroe 
county  he  was  a  member  of  the  county  Re- 
publican committee  and  has  served  as  a 
delegate  to  party  conventions  on  several  oc- 
casions. The  year  following  his  arrival  in 
Fort  Dodge  he  was  elected  county  coroner, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1899,  being  the  pres- 
ent incumbent.     He  is  examining  physician 


7'4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


for  a  number  of  fraternal  organizations  and 
insurance  companies,  including  the  Phoenix, 
the  New  York  Mutual,  the  New  York  Life 
and  the  German  Insurance  companies.  The 
Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  American  Asso- 
ciation of  Life  Insurance  Examiners  and 
the  Fort  Dodge  District  Medical  Society, 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
As  a  physician  he  has  been  quite  successful, 
and  his  ability  is  recognized  by  all,  while  as 
a  citizen  he  is  devoted  to  the  public  welfare, 
and  is  ready  at  all  times  to  do  his  part  in 
everything  that  will  tend  to  the  advance- 
ment of  his  adopted  city  and  county. 


GODFREY  SNYDER. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Snyder  has  been  a 
diversified  one,  and  he  has  been  successful 
as  a  farmer,  shoemaker  and  lumberman, 
having  also  meritoriously  served  as  a  valiant 
soldier  during  the  Civil  war.  Although 
born  in  Switzerland,  December  25,  184-2,  he 
has  but  a  faint  recollection  of  the  beauty 
and  grandeur  of  his  native  land,  for  in  1850 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  America,  and  for 
a  time  lived  in  Dunkirk,  New  York.  After 
a  while  the  family  settled  in  Ohio,  where 
the  father  died  in  March,  1901,  while  his 
wife  died  the  year  after  coming  to  the 
United  States.  The  father  was  a  shoemaker 
by  occupation,  and  in  later  life  married 
again,  the  second  wife,  who  was  formerly 
Elizabeth  Feister,  being  now  a  resident  of 
Ohio. 

Godfrey  Snyder  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion in  his  youth,  which  was  augmented  in 
after  years  by  considerable  study,  so  that  at 
the  present  time  he  is  an  unusually  well-in- 
formed man.      A    natural   consequence  was 


that  he  should  work  at  the  shoemaker's 
trade  with  his  father,  which  occupation  he 
continued  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  He 
then  engaged  in  various  work  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  lent  opportun- 
ity to-  an  otherwise  uneventful  youth,  and 
September  3,  1864,  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  Volunteer 
Infantry,  commanded  by  GeneraN  Milroy 
and  Sherman,  Colonel  Shoemaker  and  Cap- 
tain Millinger,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Murfreesboro,  Cumberland  Gap, 
Peach  Orchard,  Kingston,  North  Carolina, 
and  many  others,  and  followed  the  martial 
fortunes  of  Sherman  in  his  march  to  the 
sea.  He  was  thrice  wounded  in  the  service, 
with  a  sabre,  bayonet  and  piece  of  steel,  but 
his  wounds  did  not  materially  interfere  with 
his  activity  during  the  war.  After  being 
mustered  out  at  Charlotte,  North  Carolina, 
July  11,  1865,  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  ran 
a  sawmill  for  about  fifteen  months. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Snyder  and  Miss 
Mary  Jane  Allen  occurred  in  1870.  Mrs. 
Snyder  is  of  Scotch  descent,  and  one  in  a 
family  of  six  children,  the  others  being. 
Christina,  who  married  George  Corker,  and 
died  in  Ohio;  Maggie,  who  married  Christ 
Miller  and  lives  in  Ohio;  Peter,  who  married 
and  died  in  Ohio*;  and  Ellen,  who  was  killed 
in  a  railway  wreck  in  New  York  in  1880. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Snyder  served  during  the 
Civil  war  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Ohio  Regiment,  and  after  two  years  of-  ac- 
tivity was  discharged  for  disability. 

Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Snyder:  Cyrus,  a  resident  of 
Boone  county,  Iowa,  married  Lvdia  Woods 
and  has  two  children;  William  H.  married 
Emma  Putzka,  lives  in  Dayton  township, 
Webster  county,  and  has  two  children  ;  Mag- 
gie is  the  wife  of  John  T.  Fleming,  lives  in 
Cedar  county,   Missouri,  and  has  two  chil- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


7'5 


dren :  Ezra  married  Emma  Barquist  and 
lives  at  home;  Frank  died  at  the  age  of  fif- 
teen vears;  Pearl  is  living  at  home;  and 
Charlotte  is  also  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Snyder  engaged 
in  farming  with  considerable  success  in 
Ohio.  Michigan  and  Iowa,  and  for  five  years 
devoted  his  energies  to  lumbering  in  Ohio, 
where  he  furnished  heavy  timber  for  ship- 
building purposes.  Subsequently  he  lived 
fi  n-  fi  iiirteen  years  in  Dayton  township, 
Webster  county,  Iowa,  after  which  he  set- 
tled on  the  farm  in  Hardin  township,  which 
has  since  been  his  home.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  but  has  never  been  an  office 
seeker,  and  he  is  associated  with  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  affairs  of  the 
church.  During  his  many  years  residence 
in  Webster  county  Mr.  Snyder  has  won 
many  friends  and  the  appreciation  of  all  for 
his  disinterested  and  progressive  spirit. 


C.  A.  LUXDBLAD. 


Success  is  determined  by  one's  ability  to 
recognize  opportunity  and  to  pursue  this 
with  a  resolute  and  unflagging  energy.  It 
results  from  continued  labor,  and  the  man 
who  thus  accomplishes  his  puipose  usually 
becomes  an  important  factor  in  the  business 
circles  of  the  community  with  which  he  is 
connected.  Through  such  means  Mr.  Lund- 
blad  has  attained  a  leading  place  among  the 
representative  men  of  Dayton,  and  his  well- 
spent  and  honorable  life  commands  the  re- 
spect of  all  who  known  him. 

He  was  burn  in  Sweden  on  the  25th  of 
March.  1S50,  but  was  only  seven  years  old 
when  in  company  with  his  parents.  Andrew 


and  Carrie  Lundblad,  he  crossed  the  ocean 
and  took  up  his  residence  at  Pilot  Mound. 
Boone  county,  Iowa,  where  his  father  and 
mother  are  still  living.  The  former  cele- 
brated his  eightx -second  birthday  on  the  2jst 
of  September,  [901.  Six  of  their  children 
are  now  deceased,  while  those  who.  are  still 
living  are  Alf,  who  married  Sophia  Swanson 
and  resides  near  Pilot  Mound:  C.  A.,  our 
subject:  Lottie,  wife  of  William  Peterson,  of 
Pilot  Mound;  Lu,  wife  of  Edward  Nelson, 
of  Dayton;  Augusta,  wife  of  Andel  Bergdal, 
who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  at  Pilot 
Mound;  Julia,  who  is  now  keeping  house 
for  our  subject;  and  Henry,  who  married 
Minnie  Bishup  and  resides  in  Pocahontas 
county,  Iowa. 

In  the  public  schools  of  this  state  C. 
A.  Lundblad  acquired  his  education,  and  he 
remained  with  his  father,  assisting  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  farm  until  the  spring" 
of  188 1.  In  the  meantime  he  was  married 
at  Pilot  Mound,  February  23.  1S77.  to  Miss 
Anna  Moard,  who  was  born  in  Moline,  Illi- 
nios,  in  1859,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Martha  Moard.  both  natives  of  Sweden  and 
now  deceased.  It  was  during  the  '50s  that 
her  parents  emigrated  to  the  new  world  and 
settled  in  Moline.  They  had  four  children: 
Charles,  who  married  Xellie  Johnson  and 
resides  in  Dayton  township.  Webster  coun- 
ty, Iowa;  Andrew,  who  married  Selma  An- 
derson and  lives  in  the  same  township;  John, 
who  married  Gertrude  Shields,  of  Burling- 
i'  11.  Iowa,  and  died  in  1887.  leaving  a  wid- 
ow and  two  children,  who  still  reside  in  that 
city;  and  Anna,  wife  of  our  subject,  who 
died  June  10.  1883,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Dayton  cemetery.  There  were  three  chil- 
dren born  of  this  union,  namely:  Daisy, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  Ernest  Johnson,  of 
Dayton,  and  has  one  child,  Lucile;  John  L., 
who  was  a  student  for  two  vears  at  Carlton 


7i6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


College,  [Minnesota,  and  is  now  jn  the  em- 
ploy of  Lundblad  &  Company  at  Dayton ; 
and  Delia,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Dayton 
schools  and  is  at  home  with  her  father. 

In  1 88 1  Mr.  Lundblad  purchased  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  a  mile  and 
a  half  south  of  Dayton,  and  to  the  cultiva- 
tion and  improvement  of  that  place  he  de- 
voted his  energies  until  the  spring  of  1884, 
when  he  removed  to  Dayton,  bought  prop- 
erty and  built  his  present  comfortable  home. 
He  shipped  the  second  carload  of  hogs  ever 
shipped  from  this  place  and  has  dealt  in  both 
stock  and  grain  since  the  railroad  was  built. 
He  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  business  man, 
and  due  success  has  not  been  denied  him. 
Besides  his  property  here  he  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  improved  land  in 
Oklahoma,  and  is  a  stockholder  and  direct- 
or in  the  Farmers  State  Bank,  of  Dayton. 
He  is  now  associated  in  the  stock  and  grain 
business  with  G.  A.  Gustafson,  and  they 
have  elevators  at  both  Dayton  and  Harcourt. 
As  a  Republican  Mr.  Lundblad  takes  quite 
an  active  interest  in  local  politics  and  is  now 
serving  as  councilman,  while  for  one  term 
he  was  mayor  of  the  city.  He  has  also 
filled  the  office  of  township  trustee  twelve 
years,  and  was  a  member  of  the  school  board 
the  same  length  of  time. 


CHARLES  HUGLIN. 

The  history  of  this  esteemed  citizen  of 
Dayton.  Iowa,  is  of  unusual  interest,  and  his 
numerous  friends,  here  and  elsewhere,  will 
peruse  the  outline  as  given  below  with  keen 
relish.  Few  of  our  citizens  have  been  more 
loyal  in  their  devotion  to  this,  the  land  of 
their  adoption,  than  he  has  been  during  his 
residence  here. 

A   native   of   .Sweden,   he   was  born   at 


Smedjegarden,  Stockholm,  June  25,  1834, 
and  was  baptized  the  following  day  as  Carl 
Johan  Quiskey,  but  changed  it  to  Charles 
Huglin  while  in  the  arm)'  during  our  Civil 
war.  His  parents  were  Alexander  and 
Elenora  Quiskey,  natives  of  Stockholm.  Our 
subject  was  only  three  years  old  when  his 
father  died,  and  as  his  mother  was  not  able 
to  provide  for  all  of  her  nine  children  he 
was  placed  in  an  orphanage  in  Stockholm, 
and  remained  there  until  six  years  of  age, 
when  he  was  adopted  by  Isaac  Peterson  and 
made  his  home  with  that  gentleman  until  his 
emigration  to  America  in  1858.  The  voy- 
age was  made  on  a  sailing  vessel  and  was 
quite  a  stormy  one.  After  ten  weeks  upon 
the  water  Mr.  Huglin  landed  in  Boston,  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land,  without  a  cent 
of  money.  By  rail  he  proceeded  to  New 
Sweden,  Iowa,  by  way  of  Chicago,  and  com- 
menced work  as  a  farm  hand  at  twenty-five 
cents  per  day  and  board. 

When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  Mr.  Hug- 
lin enlisted  in  1861,  at  Orion,  Henry  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  in  the  Eleventh  Ohio  Battery, 
and  served  under  Generals  Grant  and  Rose- 
crans  for  a  little  over  three  years.  During  the 
battle  of  Iuka,  September  19,  1862,  he  was 
wounded  in  the  hip  and  in  both  legs,  though 
no  bones  were  broken.  For  ten  weeks  he 
was  confined  to  the  hospital  at  Jackson,  Ten- 
nessee, and  his  wounds  were  healed  by  his 
own  ministrations.  Later  he  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and!  from  Helena, 
Louisiana,  went  to  Millikin's  Bend,  where 
his  command  spent  two  weeks  awaiting  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  in  which  they  took  an 
active  part  up  to  the  time  of  the  surrender 
of  that  stronghold.  July  4,  1863.  After  a 
rest  of  two  weeks  they  crossed  the  river  to 
Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  and  then  proceeded 
to  Duvall's  Bluff,  where  Mr.  Huglin  was 
taken  seriouslv  ill  and  was  confined  in  the 


CHARLES  HUGLIN 


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MRS.  CHARLES  HUGLIN 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


721 


hospital  For  seven  weeks.  He  was  then  taken 
in  Keokuk,  towa,  on  a  Mississippi  river 
steamer;  and  from  there  went  by  rail  to  Cin- 
cinnati, and  on  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where 
lie  was  mustered  out  of  service  in  ( )ctober, 
[865. 

On  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Huglin  re- 
turned with  one  of  his  comrades,  Samuel 
Nelson,  to  Colona,  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
and  the  following  spring  rented  a  farm  of 
sixty  acres  near  Coal  Valley,  which  he  suc- 
cessfully operated  for  four  years.  In  the 
meantime  he  was  married  at  Andover,  Illi- 
nois, November  JJ,  1867,  to  Miss  Christina 
Louisa  Swanson,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed by  Rev.  John  Swanson.  Her  par- 
ents, Gabriel  and  Sarah  Swanson,  were  na- 
tives of  Sweden,  and  came  to  the  new  world 
in  1865,  taking-  up  their  residence  in  And- 
over, Illinois.  The  father  died  in  1887,  the 
mother  in  1900.  In  their  family  were  the 
following  children:  Roland,  who  was  mar- 
ried in  Sweden  and  now  lives  in  Moline,  Illi- 
nois; Marie,  wife  of  John  Engstrom,  of 
Burnside,  Webster  county,  Iowa;  Christina 
Louisa,  wife  of  our  subject;  Alfred,  who 
died  in  Andover,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-four years;  Ida,  wife  of  August  Daniel- 
son,  of  Moline,  Illinois;  Tilda,  wife  of  Adee 
Johnson,  of  Andover;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Gust 
Swanson,  of  Moline;  and  Minnie,  wife  of 
August  Norlin,  of  Dayton  township,  Web- 
ster county,  Iowa. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huglin  were  born 
ten  children,  namely:  Alfred,  born  July  15, 
1868,  died  July  21,  1868;  the  second,  born 
September  14,  1869,  is  a  lawyer  of  Fairfield, 
Iowa;  Luther  C,  born  August  23,  1871,  op- 
erates his  father's  farm  in  Boone  county, 
Iowa;  Elizabeth,  born  February  n,  1874,  in 
Lancaster  county.  Nebraska,  lives  with  her 
parents;  Oscar  E.,  born  January  15,  1876, 
is  on  the  old  homestead ;  Gilbert,  born  Jan- 


uary 7,  1S78,  Tilda,  born  October  23,  1880, 
and  Ida,  born  November  30,  1882,  are  all 
at  home;  Norton,  born  December  10,  1887, 
died  December  16,  1887;  and  Esther,  born 
April  (>,  t.SXd,  died  on  the  same  day. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Huglin  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  eighty  acres  near  Geneseo, 
Illinois,  for  which  he  paid  twelve  hundred 
di  'liars,  and  four  years  later  traded  that  place 
for  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
in  Lancaster  county,  Nebraska,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  three  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  removed  to  Boone  county, 
Iowa,  and  after  operating  rented  land  for 
three  or  four  years  he  purchased  a  farm,  and' 
kept  adding-  to«  his  landed  possessions  from 
time  to  time  until  he  had  three  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land  under 
cultivation  and  a  tract  of  fiften  acres  of 
timber  land.  Mr.  Huglin  continued  to  ac- 
tively engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
March,  1899,  when  he  removed  to  Dayton 
and  purchased  a  nice  home,  where  he  has 
since  lived  a  retired  life.  The  prosperity 
that  has  come  to  him  is  certainly  justly 
merited,  and  it  is  due  entirely  to  his  thrifty 
habits,  untiring  industry  and  good  business 
ability.  He  was  formerly  a  trustee  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  church,  to  which  he  be- 
longs, and  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post  at  Dayton.  In  politics 
he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  always  gives 
his  support  to  any  enterprise  calculated  to 
pn  inn  ite  the  general  welfare. 


F.  T.  SCOTT. 


More  than  forty-five  years  have  elapsed 
since  this  gentleman  arrived  in  Webster 
county,  and  he  is  justly  numbered  among 
her  honored  pioneers  and  leading  citizens. 


722 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


He  was  born  in  Noble  county,  Indiana,  Jan- 
uary <;,  1H49,  and  is  a  son  of  E.  A.  and 
Lusina  (Mars)  Scott,  natives  of  Ohio  and 
Illinois,  respectively.  They  were  married 
in  the  Buckeye  state  and  from  there  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  the  father  being  engaged 
in  farming  in  Noble  county  until  coming  to 
Iowa  in  [854.  After  spending  two  years 
in  Marion  county,  this  state,  he  removed 
to  Webster  county  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Yell  township,  just  north  of  Dayton, 
which  town  at  that  time  contained  only  two 
dwelling  houses  and  no  business  blocks. 
There  was  not  a  store  nor  blacksmith  shop 
nearer  than  Fort  Dodge.  Mr.  Scott  at  once 
turned  his  attention  to  the  improvement  and 
development  of  his  land  and  became  owner 
of  two  farms,  one  of  these  being  the  noted 
Des  Moines  river  farm,  below  Lehigh, 
wihle  the  other  was  on  the  prairie.  He  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits 
throughout  his  active  business  life,  but  spent 
his  last  years  in  ease  and  retirement  in  Day- 
ton, where  he  died  in  1896,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  of  his  community,  and  was 
called  upon  to'  serve  as  county  supervisor 
ami  till  other  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  His 
wife  still  survives  him  and  now  resides  in 
Lake  City,  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  six 
years  old  when  he  came  to-  this  county,  and 
amid  pioneer  scenes  he  grew  to  manhood. 
I  lc  attended  the  common  schools  near  his 
home,  but  the  greater  part  of  his  education 
was  acquired  through  reading  and  observa- 
tion in  later  years.  He  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
and  then  located  on  his  present  farm,  he 
and  his  brother  owning  and  operating  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  together 
for  several  years.     When  the  property  was 


divided  our  subject  took  the  quarter  section 
of  land  where  he  now  resides,  and  has  made 
all  of  the  improvements  upon  the  place,  til- 
ing and  fencing  the  land,  setting  out  shade 
and  fruit  trees,  and  erecting  a  good  set  of 
farm  buildings  thereon.  In  connection  with 
the  cultivation  of  his  land  he  is  engaged 
in  raising  a  good  grade  of  stock. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1879,  in  this  coun- 
ty, Mr.  Scott  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Bass,  a  native  of  the  county  and 
a  daughter  of  James  Bass,  who  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  the  county,  his  home  be- 
ing in  Yell  township  until  his  retirement 
from  active  labor,  since  which  time  he  has 
lived  in  Dayton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  have 
seven  children,  namely :  Hobart,  who  is 
now  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count; and  Nellie,  Gracie,  Clifton,  Cassie, 
Wilson  and  Leo,  all  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Scott  is  a  true  blue  Re- 
publican and  supported  General  U.  S.  Grant 
for  the  presidency  in  1872,  soon  after  at- 
taining his  majority.  He  served  two  terms 
as  township  trustee,  but  has  never  cared  for 
political  honors.  He  attends  and  supports 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which 
his  wife  is  an  earnest  member.  He  can  re- 
late many  interesting  incidents  of  pioneer 
days  in  this  county  when  most  of  the  land 
was  wild  and  unimproved  and  the  few  set- 
tlers were  widely  scattered.  In  those  early- 
days  he  often  saw:  large  droves  of  deer,  and 
once  saw  about  one  hundred  elk  in  one  herd 
which  had  come  down  the  river,  being  driv- 
en south  by  the  severe  winter  and  deep  snow. 
Other  wild  game  was  very  plentiful,  but  all 
have  now  disappeared,  and  the  country  has 
taken  on  all  the  evidences  of  an  advanced 
civilization.  When  Mr.  Scott  first  located 
here  the  soldiers  were  still  at  Fort  Dodge, 
which  was  then  one  of  the  frontier  posts. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


723 


In  the  improvement  and  development  of  the 

count  v  he  has  ever  borne  his  part,  and  is 
deserving  of  prominent  mention  in  its  his- 

b  t\  . 


II.  C.  GRABENHORST. 

H.  C.  Grabenhorst,  one  of  the  largest 

land  owners  and  most  ambitions  tanners  of 
Dayton  township,  was  born  in  the  province 
of  Brunswick,  Germany,  November  _'i, 
1829.  The  family,  whose  reputation  for 
industry  he  so  well  sustains,  was  first  rep- 
resented in  America  by  the  paternal  grand- 
father, who  spent  eight  years  in  America 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, and  while  absent  from  his  native  land 
followed  for  a  time  the  martial  fortunes  of 
Washington  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
In  all  he  remained  in  America  about  eight 
years  and  finally  'returned  to  the  associations 
of  his  youth  and  the  home  of  his  kindred 
and   friends. 

Henry  George  Grabenhorst,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Watzum,  Brunswick,  Germany,  March  17, 
1799,  and  spent  his  early  life  among  the 
vine-clad  hills  of  the  fatherland.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  years  he  comenced  working  on 
a  farm  near  his  native  village.  During  the 
French  Revolution  the  farmers  were  re- 
quired to  furnish  teams  to  carry  away  the 
stricken  soldiers  from  the  battlefields,  and 
he  assisted  in  the  duty  of  conveying  the 
wounded  to  the  rear  of  the  army.  Leaving 
the  farm  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade,  which 
he  followed  until  his  emigration  to  America 
in  1850.  He  landed  in  New  York,  and  from 
there  went  to  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  five  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Illinois,  locating-  eight 
miles  north  of  Chicago.     The  same  summer, 


however,  he  came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa, 
and  entered  a  half  section  of  government 
land  northeast  of  Dayton,  which  is  still 
known  as  the  Grabenhorst  place.  The  fol- 
lowing spring  he  and  his  family  took  up 
their  abode  in  the  log  house  which  is  still 
standing  upon  the  farm.  At  that  time  Day- 
ton did  not  exist,  their  nearest  postofHce  be- 
ing Homer,  which  was  then  the  county  seat 
of  Webster  county.  Iowa  City  was  their 
nearest  market,  and  thither  they  were  com- 
pelled to  go  for  their  supply  of  provisions. 
With  the  help  of  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Graben- 
horst raised  the  first  house  in  Dayton.  He 
was  twice  married  before  leaving  Germany, 
his  first  wife  having  died  in  that  country  in 
183 1,  during  the  infancy  of  our  subject. 
For  his  second  wife  he  married  Dorothy 
Branders,  who  came  with  him  to  America 
and  died  in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1885,  her  remains  being  interred  in 
Dayton  cemetery.  He  departed  this  life  on 
the  23d  of  May,  1899,  at  the  extreme  old  age 
of  one  hundred  years  and  two  months.  I  lis 
life  was  an  active  and  useful  one,  and  he 
commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
who  knew  him.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
years,  just  before  leaving  his  native  village, 
he  was  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  was  ever  afterward  a  faithful  member 
of  that  denomination-.  Besides  our  subject 
he  had  two  other  sons  and  one  daughter, 
namely  :  Andrew  married  Catherine  Bart- 
lett,  who  died  at  the  their  home  in  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1899;  Fred  married  Mrs.  Mc- 
Devitt  and  lives  in  Boone  county,  Iowa:  and 
Dorothy  married  first  Jacob  Fisher  and  after 
his  death  wedded  Bernhard  Wolf,  who  is 
also  now  deceased.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  Mr.  Grabenhorst  had  fifteen  grand- 
children and  thirty  great-grandchildren. 
He  was  always  a  home-loving  man  and  very 
devoted  to  his  family. 


724 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  children  were  reared  to  a  life  of  ag- 
riculture and  were  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Germany.  The  parents  were 
quite  well-to-do,  owning  thirteen  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Brunswick,  and  upon  this 
farm  H.  C.  Grabenhorst  remained  until 
1849,  when,  with  all  the  enterprise  of  a 
young  man  of  eighteen  years,  he  sailed  for 
the  new  world  and  eventually  found  himself 
working  on  a  farm  in  Pennsylvania.  Things 
being  greatly  to  his  liking  in  the  United 
States,  he  sent  for  his  parents  in  the  spring 
of  1850  and  after  their  arrival  in  this  coun- 
try the  family  made  their  home  in  the  Key- 
stone state  for  five  years,  as  before  stated. 

On  the  removal  of  the  father  to  Iowa, 
our  subject  went  to  Maryland,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  dairy  in  the  vicinity  of  Baltimore, 
and  owned  one  hundred  and  ninety  cows 
for  that  purpose.  He  was  successful  beyond 
his  most  sanguine  expectations,  his  irulk 
and  cream  sales  amounting  to  about  forty 
thousand  dollars  annually.  For  the  long 
period  of  sixteen  years  he  supplied  one  ho- 
tel in  Baltimore  with  milk,  delivering  be- 
tween thirty  and  eighty  gallons  daily  to  the 
appreciative  hostelry.  For  twenty-one  years 
he  remained  in  the  same  location,  and  in 
1874  removed  to  a  farm  near  Frederick  City, 
Maryland,  where  he  lived  for  seventeen 
years.  In  1891  he  decided  to  permanently 
locate  in  Iowa,  and  for  four  years  resided 
in  the  city  of  Des  Moines.  As  far  back  as 
1859  he  had  visited  his  father  in  thi ;  local- 
ity and  purchased  large  land  holdings, 
among  his  other  possessions  acquired  at  that 
time  being  two  hundred  acres  in  section  18, 
Dayton  township,  Webster  county,  and  six 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  on  section 
12.  the  latter  costing  him  between  fifty-four 
hundred   dollars  and  six  thousand  dollars. 

While  living  near  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
Mr.    Grabenhorst    married    Margaret    Ann 


Layer,  whose  family  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Pennsylvania  during  the  last  cen- 
tury, the  grandfather  having  arrived  from 
Germany  in  1816.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Grabenhorst  were  farmers  during  their  years 
of  activity  and  in  1855  the  mother  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Maryland,  the  father  having 
died  in  Pennsylvania  in  August,  1849.  She 
survived  him  until  July,  1901,  at  which 
time  she  was  eighty-five  years  of  age.  There 
were  but  three  children  in  the  family,  and 
of  these  Jacob  F.,  who  married  Christiana 
Wolf j  and  Louisa,  who  married  Daniel  F. 
Wolf  and  lived  in  Baltimore,  are  deceased. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grabenhorst  have  been 
horn  five  children  :  Jacob  F.,  who  lives  with 
his  parents  on  the  home  farm ;  William  H., 
who  lives  on  a  farm  near  Dayton,  and  mar- 
ried Eva  Haight,  of  New  York  state;  Anna 
L.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  Car- 
rie C.j  who  is  at  home;  and  George,  who 
died  when  only  sixteen  months  old. 

Several  years  ago  Mr.  Grabenhorst  dis- 
posed of  the  section  of  land  upon  which  he 
now  resides  to  his  son  and  daughter,  and 
himself  and  wife  are  now  living  on  the  farm 
with  their  children.  He  has  a  wide  ac- 
quaintance in  Dayton  township  and  is  es- 
teemed bv  all  who  know  him. 


VAN  ILES. 


Among  the  promising  and  successful 
farmers  of  Dayton  township  may  be  men- 
tioned Van  lies,  who  has  never  wandered 
far  from  his  present  home,  having!  been 
torn  two  miles  from  where  be  now  lives 
May  13,  1863.  His  parents,  John  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Southard)  lies,  who  were  of  Ger- 
man descent,  were  born  in  Ohio,  but  eventu- 
ally found  a  profitable  and  congenial  loca- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


725 


tion  in  Veil  township,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  days,  respected  and  hon- 
ored members  of  the  community.  Here, 
surrounded  by  the  fruits  of  their  industry, 
and  with  the  knowledge  of  having  wisely 
directed  their  lives,  the  father  died  January 
16,  1 901,  his  wife  having  died  April  23, 
1897.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children :  Mrs.  Alvin  Fuller,  who  lives 
on  the  old  home  place ;  Charles,  who  lives  at 
Pilot  Mound  and  married  Viola  Hook ;  Al- 
exander, who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two ; 
Van,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Fred,  who 
lives  in  Boone  county  and  married  Etta 
Phipps  ;  Leona,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Wal- 
ter Deck,  and  lives  near  Stratford ;  and  Ber- 
tha, who  is  the  wife  of  Sherman  Girdey. 

While  living  on  his  father's  farm  Mr. 
lies  not  only  learned  to  be  a  model  agri- 
culturist, but  received  a  thorough  common 
school  education,  which  he  later  practically 
applied  by  teaching  school  for  ten  terms.  On 
November  16,  1893,  he  married  Elzada 
Bowman,  who  was  born  September  6,  1866, 
in  Hamilton  count}'.  Iowa,  and  taught  thir- 
teen terms  of  school  in  Iowa  and  Arizona 
previous  to  her  marriage.  Her  parents, 
William  and  Maria  (Hardin)  Bowman, 
were  born  in  Ohio  and  were  of  German  de- 
scent. William  Bowman  went  to  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa,  in  1856,  and  lived  there  until 
his  death  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six 
years.  His  wife  came  to  this  state  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  and  has  ever  since  lived  in 
this  and  adjoining  counties,  at  present  re- 
siding with  her  son-in-law,  Mr.  lies.  Har- 
din township  was  named  for  her  father, 
Joseph  Hardin,  who  was  its  first  settler,  and 
the  first  election  held  there  was  in  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Bowman.  She  is  now  sixty-five 
years  of  age  and  is  the  mother  of  the  follow- 
ing children :  Sarah,  who  married  Frank 
Cofer,  and  lives  on  a  farm  in  Arizona:  Mi- 


nerva, now  the  widow  of  George  Bentley; 
William,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  ;  Mrs.  Van  lies ;  and  Cora,  who  lives 
at  Stratford.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  lies  have 
been  born  four  children :  Fay,  born  Octo- 
ber 7,  1894;  a  son  who  was  born  February 
28,  1896,  and  died  April  13,  1896;  Fern, 
born  December  17,  1897;  and  Clarice,  burn 
May  29,  1899. 

For  the  past  eleven  years  Mr.  lies  has 
occupied  his  present  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  which  has  yielded  him  a 
reasonable  income  for  time  and  money  in- 
vested, and  has  been  improved  in  a  thor- 
oughly scientific  manner.  Mr.  lies  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock-raising, 
and  has  a  fine  country  residence,  as  well  as 
adequate  barns  and  modern  general  im- 
provements. In  political  affiliation  he  is  a 
Silver  Democrat,  and  has  served  with  satis- 
faction to  all  concerned  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board. 


JOHN  COONEY. 

The  life  of  John  Cooney,  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  farmers  of  Washington  town- 
ship, has  been  a  varied  one.  He  was  born  in 
County  Sligo,  Ireland,  July  18,  1854,  a  son 
of  James  and  Bridget  (Berrig)  Cooney,  na- 
tives of  the  same  part  of  Ireland. 

Various  members  of  the  Coonev  family 
were  identified  with  the  religious  upheaval  in 
Ireland  caused  by  the  rigorous  mandates  of 
the  great  Cromwell,  and  Cooney  No.  4,  as 
he  was  called,  owned  the  largest  estate  in 
Ireland  during  the  Cromwell  war.  His 
property  was  confiscated  by  the  government, 
and  this  act  of  English  impudence  caused 
a  feeling  of  intense  grief  among  those  who 
had  for  so  long  lived  in  the  ancestral  abode. 
The  place  was  so  located  that  the  cows  which 


726 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


grazed  upon  the  fragrant  meadows  could 
be  watered  in  what  was  known  as  Sligo  bay, 
in  the  Irish  sea.  The  grandfather  of  John 
Cooney,  Richard  by  name,  was,  like  his 
forefathers,  a  stanch  upholder  of  the  doc- 
trine of  the  Catholic  church,  and  naught 
could  disturb  his  faith  in  its  infallibility.  He 
could  have  leased  land  for  two  shillings  six 
pence  an  acre  had  he  been  willing  to  re- 
nounce his  church  in  favor  of  the  Church  of 
England,  and  his  unwillingness  to  comply 
with  the  government  demand  increased  his 
taxes  tn  three  half  guineas,  or  eight  dollars 
per  acre. 

James  Cooney,  the  father  of  John,  lived 
in  Ireland  at  what  was  called  Skreen  Parish, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  primarily,  but 
was  general  agent  for  Pat  Durham,  the 
owner  of  many  ships  used  for  shipping  pota- 
toes to  all  parts  of  the  world.  Mr.  Cooney 
did  the  greater  part  of  the  buying  for  Mr. 
Durham,  and  in  his  combined  occupations 
managed  to  make  a  more  than  average  liv- 
ing. His  death  occurred  in  October,  1861, 
and  he  was  survived  by  his  wife  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1863.  He  was  also  a  Roman  Catho- 
lic. In  his  family  were  eleven  sons  and  one 
daughter,  four  of  whom  came  to  America. 
The  children  are  as  follows :  Daniel ; 
James ;  John ;  Hugh  ;  Patrick ;  John  ;  Mary  ; 
John;  Richard;  two  who  died  in  infancy 
unnamed;  and  Hugh.  The  children  who 
came  to  America  are :  Daniel,  who  married 
Bridget  Bradley  and  lives  at  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania;  James,  who  lives  at  Massil- 
lon,  Stark  county,  Ohio;  Mary,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  eighteen;  and  John. 

In  Ireland  John  Cooney  received  but 
a  limited  education,  and  in  1866,  at  the  age 
of  twelve,  he  came  to  America  on  the 
steamer  Hibernian.  Arriving  in  Pittsburg 
he  learned  the  iron  moulder's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  as  an  apprentice  for  three 


years.  He  then  engaged  in  coal  mining 
on  the  Monongahela  river  for  three  months, 
and  then  moved  to  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
and  continued  to  engage  in  coal  mining  for 
three  years.  He  later  spent  a  short  time 
in  Madison,  Indiana,  and  two  months  in 
St.  Louis,  going  afterward  to  Coal  Creek, 
Fountain  county,  Indiana,  where  he  spent 
the  winter  in  the  mines.  He  afterward  set- 
tled in  Braidwood,  Will  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  worked  in  the  mines  for  a  year, 
and  then  went  to  Hampton,  Rock  Island 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  in  the 
mines  for  seven  months.  At  Grand  Junc- 
tion, Greene  county,  Iowa,  he  helped  to  sink 
a  shaft,  and  this  completed,  he  moved  to 
Coalville,  Webster  county,  and  worked  in 
the  coal  mines,  remaining  there  until  1896. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  lived  frugally  and 
saved  considerable  money,  and  with  this  he 
purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives, 
and  which  consists  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
a.cres. 

On  February  22,  1888,  at  Fort  Dodge. 
Mr.  Cooney  was  married  at  the  Corpus 
Christi  church,  to  Miss  Ellen  Munn, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev. 
Father  Lannahan,  now  Bishop  of  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming1.  Mrs.  Cooney  was  born  Febru- 
ary 9.  1856,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Kath- 
erine  Munn,  natives,  respectively,  of  coun- 
ties Fermanagh  and  Donegal,  Ireland.  The 
parents  were  married  in  Ayrshire.  Scot- 
land, and  came  to  America  on  a  sailing  ves- 
sel in  1857,  the  voyage  being  a  pleasant  one 
and  lasting  seven  weeks.  They  settled  at 
Scranton,  Pennsylvania,  where  the  father 
engaged  in  mining,  and  later  lived  at  Lex 
ington,  Ohio,  and  Charlestown,  West  Vir- 
ginia. In  1869  they  came  to  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  near  which  city  they  farmed  for  some 
time,  and  in  1870  settled  in  Coalville,  Iowa, 
where  the  father  died  September  24,   1886, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


727 


.iml  the  mother  the  following  year.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children :  Will- 
iam, who  married  Jennie  Fitzgerald  and 
lives  in  Pleasant  Valley  township;  James, 
who  married  Mary  Miricle,  and  lives  in 
<  oalville,  lew  a;  Ellen,  who  is  the  wife  of 
our  subject;  Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years;  Katherine,  wife  of  James  Mc- 
Maiiii.  of  Washington  township,  this  coun- 
i\  :  Patrick,  a  resident  of  Red  Lodge,  Mon- 
tana; Robert,  who  is  engaged  in  mining  at 
Cripple  Creek,  Colorado;  John,  a  resident  of 
Pleasant  Valley  township,  this  county  ;  Mag- 
gie, who  lives  with  our  subject;  Thomas, 
a  resident  of  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado;  and 
Lizzie,  wife  of  William  Smith,  of  Pleasant 
Valley  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooney 
have  four  children  :  Mary  C,  born  March 
28,  [887;  Annie  C,  November  28,  1891  ; 
Helen  Ruth,  April  11,  1893;  and  James' R., 
August  28.  1895. 

Mr.  Cooney  has  been  unusually  success- 
ful in  his  farming  and  stock-raising,  and 
now  owns  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
acres  on  section  12,  Washington  township. 
He  has  a  good  modern  house,  ample  barns, 
sound  fences  and  well-built  granaries  and 
sheds.  Although  not  an  office  seeker  in  any 
sense  of  the  word  be  has,  at  the  earnest  so- 
licitations of  friends,  held  several  positions 
of  trust  in  the  township,  and  has  thereby  re- 
flected credit  upon  the  Democratic  party.  He 
is  a  member  of  St.  Joseph's  church  at  Dun- 
combe. 


SHERMAN   GIRDEY. 

• 

Though  one  of  the  younger  generation 
of  farmers  of  Dayton  township,  Mr.  Girdey 
is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  the 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  which 
has  For  some  time  been  under  his  manage- 


ment, is  evidence  of  his  thorough  knowledge 
of  agricultural  methods  and  devotion  to 
duly.  A  native  son  of  the  township,  he 
was  born  August  30,  (869,  and  is  a  son  ot 
Henry  Girdey,  who  was  born  in  Norway  in 
[842,  and  came  to  America  with  his  older 
brother  when  seven  years  of  age.  The 
father  served  in  the  Civil  war  with  courage 
and  deep-rooted  patriotism  for  his  adopted 
country,  and  eventually  became  a  resident 
of  Dayton  township,  where  he  accumulated 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  and 
where  his  death  occurred  March  10,  1900. 
He  married  Hannah  Larson,  who  was  born 
in  Sweden  April  12,  1837,  and  came  to 
America  in  1864.  She  is  now  an  invalid 
and  residing  on  the  property  left  by  her  hus- 
band. 

Sherman  Girdey  is  the  second  oldest  in 
his  father's  family,  the  other  children  being: 
May,  Emma,  Charley  and  Julia.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  was 
reared  to  an  appreciation  of  the  dignity  and 
usefulness  of  an  agricultural  life.  The 
father's  large  possessions  afforded  abundant 
occupation  for  all  of  the  children,  and  Mr. 
Girdey  continued  to  assist  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  homestead  up  to  the  time  of  his 
marriage,  December  8,  1897.  Mrs.  Girdey 
was  formerly  Bertha  lies,  who  was  born 
near  Stratford,  Iowa.  Her  parents,  who 
were  natives  of  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
came  to  Webster  county,  Iowa,  in  1858, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Yell  town- 
ship. Here  the}-  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  lives,  the  death  of  the  father 
occurring  January  16,  1901,  and  the 
mother  April  23,  1897.  In  their  family 
were  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  name- 
ly: Alice,  now  the  wife  of  Alvin  Fuller, 
who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  Yell 
township;  Charles,  who  married  Viola; 
Hook  and  is  a  merchant  of  Pilot  Mound ; 


728 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Alec,  who  died  in  1881  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years ;  Van,  who  married  Elzada  Bow- 
man and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  Dayton  township;  Fred,  who 
married  Etta  Phipps  and  is  a  farmer  of 
Boone  county,  Iowa;  and  Leona,  wife  of 
Walter  Deck,  who  lives  near  Stratford. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Girdey  took  pos- 
session of  a  portion  of  the  old  homestead, 
upon  which  he  now  lives,  and  here  he  has 
secured  a  good  start  in  life.  In  spite  of  his 
well-applied  energy  his  interests  are  by  no 
means  self-centered,  for  he  takes  an  active 
interest  in  promoting  the  general  improve- 
ment of  the  neighborhood,  and  is  also  inter- 
ested in  political  affairs  and  other  matters. 


N.   C.    RASMUSSEN. 

The  world  instinctively  pays  deference 
to  the  man  whose  success  has  been  worthily 
achieved,  who  has  acquired  a  high  reputa- 
tion in  his  chosen  calling  and  whose  social 
prominence  is  not  less  the  result  of  an  irre- 
proachable life  than  of  recognized  natural 
gifts.  It  is  a  pleasing  indulgence  to  write 
the  biography  of  a  man  of  this  character 
such  as  Mr.  Rasmussen  is  known  to  be.  He 
is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  business  man 
who  is  operating  the  Callender  Roller  Mills, 
of  which  he  is  the  proprietor. 

A  native  of  Wisconsin,  he  was  born  in 
Winnebago  county,  April  21,  1866,  and  is 
a  son  of  H.  P.  and  Mary  (Nelson)  Ras- 
mussen. who  were  born  and  reared  in  Den- 
mark, but  were  married  after  coming  to  this 
country.  The  father  was  a  young  man  when 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1864  and  took  up 
his  residence  in  Xeenah.  Wisconsin.  By 
trade  he  was  a  millwright,  as  was  his  father 
before  him,  aid  on  coming  to  Iowa  in  1879, 


he  built  the  mill  at  Callender,  which  he  op- 
erated for  some  years,  but  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  at  that  place.  He  and  his  estimable 
wife  have  five  children,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter:  N.  Christ,  of  this  review; 
Charles,  a  farmer  of  Roland  township ; 
Henry,  helper  and  engineer  in  the  mill  of 
which  our  subject  is  now  proprietor;  A.  P., 
also  a  resident  of  Callender ;  and  Christina, 
at  home  with  her  parents. 

N.  C.  Rasmussen  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  removal  to  Callender  and  here 
grew  to  manhood  with  limited  educational 
advantages.  He  began  his  business  career 
as  a  well  driller,  and  followed  that  occu- 
pation for  thirteen  or  fourteen  years,  with 
a  gang  of  from  ten  to-  eighteen  men.  He 
sank  a  large  number  of  wells  throughout 
various  parts  of  the  county,  and  made  over 
one  hundred  in  Callender.  At  an  early  age 
he  became  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  mill- 
ing business,  and  on  discontinuing  well  drill- 
ing he  took  charge  of  the  mill  at  Callender, 
which  he  has  since  remodeled,  putting  in  the 
roller  process,  and  to-day  has  one  of  the 
best  mills  in  the  county,  with  a  capacity  of 
fifty  barrels  of  flour  and  fifty  tons  of 
chopped  feed  every  twenty-four  hours.  He 
does  a  merchant  milling  business  and  man- 
ufactures more  meal  than  all  the  other  mills 
of  the  county  put  together,  shipping  as  high 
as  four  carloads  to  Des  Moines  at  one  time. 
He  has  a  high  reputation  for  the  excellent 
quality  of  both  flour  and  meal  manufactured 
by  him.  In  addition  to1  the  business  at  Cal- 
lender, Mr.  Rasmussen  now  owns  and  op- 
erates a  new  mill  at  Lohrville,  Iowa,  which 
is  proving  quite  profitable  owing  to  his  skill- 
ful  management. 

Mr.  Rasmussen  was  married  in  Callen- 
der, February  17,  1888,  to  Miss  Katie  Stone, 
who  was  born  in  New  York,  but  came  to 
Iowa  when  a  child  and  was  reared  in  Web- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


729 


ster  county.  Her  father,  James  Stone,  was 
a  native  of  England  and  an  early  settler  of 
this  county,  where  he  died  in  1876.  His 
widow  subsequently  became  the  wife  oi 
James  Langdon.  Her  death  occurred  in 
1891.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  three 
children  :     Clifford,  Mina  and  Thomas. 

Politically  Mr.  Rasmussen  has  been  a 
stanch  Republican  since  casting  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Benjamin  Harrison  in 
1888,  and  was  elected  and  served  as  council- 
man tor  six  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  while  his 
wife  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Callender.  As  a  pub- 
lic-spirited and  progressive  citizen  Mr.  Ras- 
mussen has  taken  a  very  active  part  in  the 
development]  and  upbuilding  of  the  town, 
and  has  erected  some  of  its  best  business 
houses  and  private  residences.  By  untiring 
industry  and  sound  business  judgment  he 
has  won  merited  success  in  all  his  under- 
takings, and  is  in  all  respects  worthy  of  the 
high  regard  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fel- 
low citizens. 


A.  STROMBERG. 


The  substantial  national  Swedish  traits 
which  insure  success  to  their  owners  in  all 
parts  of  the  world  are  embodied  in  a  large 
degree  in  A.  Stromberg,  one  of  the  enter- 
prising farmers  of  Otho  township.  A  na- 
tive of  the  province  of  Skane,  near  the  city 
of  Helsingborg,  Sweden,  he  was  born  De- 
cember 25,  1854,  and  is  of  Swedish  parent- 
age. The  family  emigrated  to  America  in 
1868  and  settled  in  Menard  county,  Illinois, 
where  the  father  worked  out  by  the  day  in 
his  effort  to  make  headway  amid  the  new 
conditions.  In  this  way  lie  managed  to 
save  some  money,  and  in  1890  removed  to 


Todd  county,  Minnesota,  where  he  bought 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  upon 
which  himself  and  wife  at  present  live.  They 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  children 
who,  with  the  exception  of  A.  Stromberg, 
are  residents  of  Minnesota;  John;  Nelson; 
Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  O.  Nelson,  and 
has  two  children;  and  A.  Stromberg. 

Mr.  Stromberg  attended  the  public 
schools  in  Sweden  and  worked  for  his  father 
on  rented  land  until  his  emigration  to  Amer- 
ica at  the  age  of  fifteen.  The  family  sailed 
from  Copenhagen  and  landed  at  Quebec, 
coming  from  there  direct  to  Illinois  in  1870. 
On  January  8,  1884,  Mr.  Stromberg  mar- 
ried Hannah  Johnson,  who  was  born  in 
Sweden,  August  jo,  1865,  her  birthplace  be- 
ing also  near  the  city  of  Helsingborg.  Her 
parents,  who  were  also  born  in  Sweden,  at 
present  live  with  their  daughter  and  her 
husband.  They  came  to  America  in  1871 
and  located  in  Menard  count)',  Illinois,  and 
that  is  where  the  young  people  became  ac- 
quainted. The  parents  came  to  Iowa  in 
1897  and  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  1900, 
on  section  28,  Otho  township,  Webster 
county.  Mrs.  Stromberg  has  but  one 
brother,  C.  E.  Johnson,  who  married  Jennie 
Winsick  and  lives  in  Minnesota.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mrs.  and  Mrs. 
Stromberg:  Ernst  Siegfrid,  born  May  30, 
1886;  and  Ebba  Eredrica,  born  March  4, 
1891. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Stromberg  left 
the  familiar  home  surroundings  and  settled 
in  Greenview,  where  he  engaged  in  house 
and  carriage  painting  until  1894.  He  then 
came  to  Iowa  and  bought  the  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  upon  which  he  now  lives,  and 
on  which  is  located  the  cemetery  and  the 
school  house.  At  the  time  of  purchase  his 
property  was  somewhat  improved.  Mr. 
Stromberg  is  a  breeder  of  fine  stock  and  red 


73Q 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


polled  cattle,  in  addition  to  carrying-  on  an 
extensive  general  farming  enterprise.  lie 
is  a  Republican  in  political  affiliation,  and 
among  the  offices  creditably  sustained  by 
him  may  be  mentioned  that  of  township  trus- 
tee and  school  director.  He  is  fraternally 
associated  with  the  Masons,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church. 


FRED    PUTZKE. 


Fred  Putzke,  formerly  one  of  the  ener- 
getic and  successful  farmers  living  on  sec- 
tion 8,  Dayton  township,  but  now  a  resident 
of  Humboldt,  North  Dakota,  was  torn  in 
Germany,  June  27,  1839,  of  parents  who 
also  were  natives  of  the  fatherland,  but  who 
never  sought  the  opportunities  existing  in 
America.  Of  the  children  born  into  this  typ- 
ical German  household  Fred  and  August 
only  are  living,  William,  the  oldest,  having 
died  during  the  war  in  a  German  hospital, 
while  Herman,  the  second  son,  died  in  his 
native  land  at  the  age  of  twenty-two. 

On  his  father's  farm  Fred  Putzke  was 
reared  to  a  knowledge  of  agriculture,  and 
his  education  was  acquired  in  the  district 
schools.  He  was  an  ambitious  lad,  and  while 
still  quite  young  began  to  dream  of  broader 
fields  and  more  reachable  chances.  It  was 
therefore  not  surprising  that  in  1863  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  and  after  locat- 
ing in  Wisconsin,  worked  out  on  different 
farms  for  a  couple  of  years.  In  1865  he 
sought  a  wife  and  helpmate  in  Wilhelmina 
Petznick,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  March 
13,  1840,  and  came  to  America  in  1865  with 
other  members  of  her  family.  Her  parents 
joined  the  children  in  the  United  States  in 
1868,  and  after  living  for  a  couple  of  years 
in   Wisconsin   removed   to   the   vicinity  of 


Grafton,  Iowa,  where  the  mother  died  in 
[88o,  the  father  surviving  her  until  [884. 
Besides  Mrs.  Putzke,  who  is  the  third  old- 
est in  the  family,  there  were  the  following 
children :  Louisa,  who  lives  in  Montrose, 
South  Dakota,  and  is  the  wife  of  August 
Meyer;  Augusta,  who  is  a  resident  of  Burn- 
side  township  and  is  the  wife  of  Christian 
Drager;  Fred,  who  married  Henrietta 
Budke,  and  lives  in  Charter  City,  Iowa;  and 
William,  who  married  Louise  Felt,  and  lives 
in  Grafton.  Iowa.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Putzke 
have  been  born  the  following  children : 
William,  a  resident  of  South  Dakota,  mar- 
ried Johanna  Meyer,  and  has  four  children; 
Louise,  also  a  resident  of  South  Dakota, 
married  August  Borke,  and  has  two  daugh- 
ters;  Herman,  a  farmer  lives  on  his  father's 
farm;  Emma,  also  living  on  the  home  place, 
is  the  wife  of  William  Snyder,  and  has  two 
children;  Frank,  a  farmer,  is  not  married; 
Ellen,  living  in  South  Dakota,  is  the  wife  of 
Amel  Borke;  Halena  and  Otto  are  living  at 
home.  The  children  have  enjoyed  all  of 
the  advantages  which  their  parents  have 
been  in  a  position  to  give  them,  and  are  well 
educated  and  capable  of  caring  for  them- 
selves. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Putzke  rented 
land  in  Wisconsin  for  three  years,  and  then 
removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa, 
where  lie  rented  another  farm.  In  1873  he 
located  on  section  8,  Dayton  township,  pay- 
ing fourteen  hundred  dollars  for  his  land. 
To  this  he  later  added  until  he  owned  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  in  the  home  place, 
and  had,  besides,  a  farm  of  four  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  a  different  part  of  the  state. 
The  property  of  Mr.  Putzke  was  well  culti- 
vated and  utilized  to  the  best  possible  ad- 
vantage, general  farming  and  stock-raising 
being  carried  on  with  successful  results. 
Mr.  Putzke  is  a  Republican  in  national  poli- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


73' 


tics,  and  has  intelligentl)  served  his  town- 
ship as  trustee  and  road  supervisor,  lie  is 
well  known  and  highly  esteemed,  and  has  the 
confidence  of  the  entire  community. 


J.   M.  GUTHRIE. 


J.  M.  Guthrie,  who  has  been  closely  as- 
sociated with  the  fanning  interests  of  Web- 
ster county  for  many  years  and  is  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  business  affairs,  was  born  in 
Ashland  county,  Ohio,  March  13,  1847. 
and  is  of  Irish  lineage.  His  father,  Rich- 
ard Guthrie,  was  also  born  in  the  Buckeye 
state,  and  his  mother's  birth  occurred  in 
Ashland  county.  They  were  married  in 
Ohio  and  the  father  died  there  in  1852. 
The  following  year  his  widow'  became  the 
wife  of  Adam  Steinhouer,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  in  1854  they  came  to  Iowa. 
After  two  years  passed  in  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  they  removed  to  Tama  county,  where 
the  husband  followed  farming  for  twenty 
years.  He  afterward  removed  to  Boone 
county,  but  when  three  years  had  passed 
returned  to  Tama  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased land,  which  he  cultivated  until  bis 
death,  in  1S77.  The  family  afterward  re- 
moved westward  and  the  mother  died  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  in  1887.  By  her  first 
marriage  she  had  three  children  :  Margaret, 
the  wife  of  Orrin  Holbrook,  who  resides 
near  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  J.  M.,  of  this  re- 
view :  and  Mary,  the  deceased  wife  of  M. 
Corrington,  of  Tama,  Iowa.  By  the  sec- 
ond marriage  of  the  mother  there  were 
eight  children,  of  whom  three  are  living: 
Melvina,  the  wife  of  J.  Hanson,  of  Des 
Moines,  [owa;  Emma,  the  wife  of  William 
Howell,  of  Council  Bluffs.  Iowa;  and 
Maria,  the  wife  of  George  B.  Scott,  of 
Omaha,  Nebraska. 


Mr.  Guthrie  of  this  review  attended 
school  to  a  limited  extent  in  Iowa  City  and 
spent  "lie  year  as  a  student  in  Tama,  but 
lii-*  educational  privileges  were  meager  and 
his  knowledge  has  been  mostly  acquired  in 
the  school  of  experience.  At  the  age  of 
seven  years  he  l>egan  earning  his  own  living 
and  has  since  been  dependent  upon  his  own 
exertions,  so  that  he  may  well  be  called  a 
self-made  man.  lie  worked  at  herding  cat- 
tle for  a  year  and  afterward  worked  for 
his  board  and  clothing  for  three  years.  He 
then  began  working  by  the  month  as  a  farm 
hand  at  a  salary  of  six  dollars  per  month, 
the  second  year  was  given  seven  dollars  and 
a  half  per  month,  and  the  third  year,  remain- 
ing in  the  service  of  the  same  employer, 
was  paid  nine  dollars.  During  the  second 
year  he  saved  enough  to  buy  a  horse,  sad- 
dle and  bridle.  The  next  year  be  engaged 
in  cutting  timber.  He  was  then  seventeen 
years  of  age. 

In  the  spring  of  1864,  when  eighteen 
years  of  age,  be  enlisted  in  Company  I!. 
Twenty-fourth  Iowa  Infantry,  at  Iowa  City, 
and  with  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  New 
(  Irleans  under  General  A.  J.  Smith,  where 
he  was  on  skirmish  duty.  Later  he  was 
ordered  to  Cedar  Creek,  but  did  not  take 
part  in  the  battle  of  that  place,  for  he  had 
become  ill  and  was  left  in  the  hospital  at 
Xew  Orleans.  In  April,  1805.  he  rejoined 
his  regiment  at  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina, 
and  from  there  went  to  Savannah.  Georgia, 
thence  to  Augusta  and  again  to  Savannah 
in  July,  1865.  arriving  home  the  following 
month. 

Mr.  Guthrie  afterward  worked  as  a 
farm  hand  by  the  month  until  1868,  when 
he  was  married,  in  Hardin  county,  in  the 
month  of  November,  to  Lucinda  E.  Her- 
ringtonj  who  was  born  in  Cedar  county, 
Iowa,  October  11,  1851.     Six  children  have 


732 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


been  born  to  them :  Mary,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  Anna,  who  died  at  the 
age.  of  three  years;  Carrie  L.,  the  wife  of 
Grant  Bass,  who  resides  on  a  farm  in  this 
county,  and  by  whom  she  has  two  children, 
Halsey  and  Sylvia;  William  M.,  a  farmer 
of  Webster  township,  who  married  Lizzie 
Brooks,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Velva ; 
James  Garfield  and  Grade,  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Guthrie  re- 
moved to  Hardin  county,  but  after  a  short 
period  returned  to  Tama  county,  where  he 
cultivated  rented  land  for  about  five  years 
and  then  purchased  forty  acres.  Selling 
that  he  came  to  Webster  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  teaming  for  a  year.  He  then 
rented  a  farm,  which  he  operated  six  years, 
on  the  expiration  of  which  period  he  bought 
thirty-seven  acres  on  section  i6,  Yell  town- 


ship. He  has  since  been  very  successful 
and  has  purchased  an  additional  tract  of 
twenty-three  acres  on  section  16,  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty-two  acres  on  section  21, 
Yell  township,  and  twenty-six  acres  on  sec- 
tion 21,  Webster  township.  When  he  took 
possession  of  his  farm  the  land  was  raw, 
but  his  labors  have  transformed  it  into  rich 
and  arable  fields  and  the  many  improve- 
ments which  he  has  added  have  made  his 
place  a  valuable  and  desirable  farm  prop- 
erty. He  has  good  barns,  cattle  sheds  and 
all  modern  equipments  and  buys  and  feeds 
cattle  for  the  market.  In  addition  to  con- 
ducting his  business  affairs  in  a  prosperous 
manner  he  has  rendered  valuable  aid  to  his 
fellow  townsmen  in  the  office  of  trustee  for 
nine  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican 
and  he  attends  the  United  Brethren  church.